FIFA World Cup 2022 thread

[Buzz Rules]

That's not the same thing. Wales getting to qualify was them overperforming, as was Saudi Arabia beating Argentina (there are 11 players on a team). Qatar was corruption pure and simple and is more like the South Korea referee match fixing.

But I've got to come back to the point that you are saying there is a scenario where 2 nations who have an intense rivalry to collude to bring about a mutually beneficial result. At the urging of a League where it doesn't matter that the outcome of the game is.
If you make statements like that, you have to back them up, otherwise you are just going to be written off as either a troll or you have a limited knowledge on what you speak about, from my view as an English fan whose been going to games home and away for over 40 years, you've just shown you have no understanding of British football.

For the record, I do watch the sport religiously (I’m an Aston Villa and NYCFC fan). I’ve watch the professional game for over 12 years and played the game for a large portion of my life. I’m just a little over passionate when it comes to the national team.

 

[sam_gordon]

that Zimmerman penalty really rubbed me the wrong way.

Did you think that WASN'T a foul? Or are you upset at Zimmerman?

most European media just write us off constantly for being simply American.

Again, who cares? Prove it on the field and it doesn't matter what anyone in the media says. You think a single game is going to change anyone's belief? Do people now think Saudi Arabia is among the elite teams?

 

[Buzz Rules]

I still am not seeing it. Yes, the US *MUST* win against either England or Iran, and not lose either game. That doesn't guarantee them going through, but gives them a pretty good shot. A win Friday IS a big help, but I just don't see it as a "must" win.

Remember 2010:

We don’t want this to have to be the case again, do we?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Did you think that WASN'T a foul? Or are you upset at Zimmerman?

Again, who cares? Prove it on the field and it doesn't matter what anyone in the media says. You think a single game is going to change anyone's belief? Do people now think Saudi Arabia is among the elite teams?

It was a penalty, I just think Zimmerman was being stupid in the moment. He usually has much better judgement. I don’t think one game changes the belief but I think every time we’re go to the knockouts we grow the game and not get brushed off by American media after 5 minutes. The USA performance does influence people wanting to check out MLS or the EPL. The sport is growing in popularity but not at the pace we need for athletes to pursue soccer over American football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

 

[Buzz Rules]

 

[sam_gordon]

Remember 2010:

We don’t want this to have to be the case again, do we?

Are we talking "wants" or "needs"? Of course I WANT the US to win both of their remaining games. However, contrary to what you have posted, we do not NEED to win both games to advance. Why do you keep moving the goal(posts)?

For that matter, why does something that happened 12 years ago have any factor in what's happening now?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Are we talking "wants" or "needs"? Of course I WANT the US to win both of their remaining games. However, contrary to what you have posted, we do not NEED to win both games to advance. Why do you keep moving the goal(posts)?

For that matter, why does something that happened 12 years ago have any factor in what's happening now?

I’m saying need. I don’t believe in having luck on your side. I believe in controlling our own destiny. Not on what England feels like doing or not doing next Tuesday.

 

[sam_gordon]

I’m saying need. I don’t believe in having luck on your side. I believe in controlling our own destiny not on what England feels like doing or not doing next Tuesday.

If we draw against England we DO control our own destiny. If we draw and Wales defeats Iran, the table is:
England: 4
Wales: 4
US: 2
Iran: 0

We will know going into Tuesday's match what GD we need. As long as we make that GD, the England/Wales match doesn't matter.

Please show me where I'm wrong. We MUST get at least 4 pts out of the next two games to control our destiny, which means we can't lose either one.

 

[londontime]

For the record, I do watch the sport religiously (I’m an Aston Villa and NYCFC fan). I’ve watch the professional game for over 12 years and played the game for a large portion of my life. I’m just a little over passionate when it comes to the national team.

As am I, but I'm not calling your FA cheats. I like passion. I've been an English football fan for almost 50 years and I don't think anyone could accuse English fans of not having passion. You say you want "Europeans" to take you seriously as fans and as a footballing nation, but statements like the PL is engineering a scenario where the Welsh FA and the English FA are colluding to get through groups isn't going to help with that. It just perpetuates the myth that US fans are deluded or not that schooled up on the history and culture of the game, which I know for a fact isn't true.

We do take the US seriously as a football team, but in the context on where they are in the pyramid of world football, and to be fair, how football is viewed in your country, where at best it's either the 4th or 5th most popular sport, and also the quality of the MLS, which is still seen in Europe as effectively as a retirement league. Almost every other country in the WC, this is our national sport. Sure, we play others, and undoubtedly the Women's game from a national team perspective is a dominant force on the world stage. But my inbox is full this morning from my american mates of the arguments of "how can a country with 300 million not put out a decent 11?" which goes to the point of where the real resources lie. The women's game is not being syphoned off with NFL, Baseball and Basketball, and those kids who show athletic ability in an English school would be in the football team as a default. I'm not sure that's the same for the US.

So I'll take your sorry for the rabbit hole as the fact that you don't think my country are cheating and we will move on.

 

[Buzz Rules]

As am I, but I'm not calling your FA cheats. I like passion. I've been an English football fan for almost 50 years and I don't think anyone could accuse English fans of not having passion. You say you want "Europeans" to take you seriously as fans and as a footballing nation, but statements like the PL is engineering a scenario where the Welsh FA and the English FA are colluding to get through groups isn't going to help with that. It just perpetuates the myth that US fans are deluded or not that schooled up on the history and culture of the game, which I know for a fact isn't true.

We do take the US seriously as a football team, but in the context on where they are in the pyramid of world football, and to be fair, how football is viewed in your country, where at best it's either the 4th or 5th most popular sport, and also the quality of the MLS, which is still seen in Europe as effectively as a retirement league. Almost every other country in the WC, this is our national sport. Sure, we play others, and undoubtedly the Women's game from a national team perspective is a dominant force on the world stage. But my inbox is full this morning from my american mates of the arguments of "how can a country with 300 million not put out a decent 11?" which goes to the point of where the real resources lie. The women's game is not being syphoned off with NFL, Baseball and Basketball, and those kids who show athletic ability in an English school would be in the football team as a default. I'm not sure that's the same for the US.

So I'll take your sorry for the rabbit hole as the fact that you don't think my country are cheating and we will move on.

I don’t think you guys cheat. I do think the referees give some of your players a pass once in awhile for being “superstars”. I did say I’m a little bitter today because of the match result. I’m usually a lot more reasonable with my predictions/analysis but I’m going to need 24 hours to get over this one. May the best team win Friday.

 

[londontime]

If we draw against England we DO control our own destiny. If we draw and Wales defeats Iran, the table is:
England: 4
Wales: 4
US: 2
Iran: 0

We will know going into Tuesday's match what GD we need. As long as we make that GD, the England/Wales match doesn't matter.

Please show me where I'm wrong. We MUST get at least 4 pts out of the next two games to control our destiny, which means we can't lose either one.

It's a fair point, Sam, and "must win" maybe be overplaying it, and I get as caught up as anyone in the whole scenario thing, but I've got to be honest, standing here now I was always most worried about the Wales game, and your scenario is true but only if we are assuming that England win the Wales game. On paper we should win them all, man for man. And that's no disrespect to the US, you have a pretty good chance of turning it on against us, as do Wales. But even if all that's true, you won't know what your GD is as the games are that the same time. So lets say Wales beat Iran 1-0 and you draw against us, you've either got to beat Iran by 2 goals or 5, depending on whose winning the England v Wales game, as by that time we would all be all be chasing 5 points to get second but with varying goal differences.

My head hurts

 

[Buzz Rules]

As am I, but I'm not calling your FA cheats. I like passion. I've been an English football fan for almost 50 years and I don't think anyone could accuse English fans of not having passion. You say you want "Europeans" to take you seriously as fans and as a footballing nation, but statements like the PL is engineering a scenario where the Welsh FA and the English FA are colluding to get through groups isn't going to help with that. It just perpetuates the myth that US fans are deluded or not that schooled up on the history and culture of the game, which I know for a fact isn't true.

We do take the US seriously as a football team, but in the context on where they are in the pyramid of world football, and to be fair, how football is viewed in your country, where at best it's either the 4th or 5th most popular sport, and also the quality of the MLS, which is still seen in Europe as effectively as a retirement league. Almost every other country in the WC, this is our national sport. Sure, we play others, and undoubtedly the Women's game from a national team perspective is a dominant force on the world stage. But my inbox is full this morning from my american mates of the arguments of "how can a country with 300 million not put out a decent 11?" which goes to the point of where the real resources lie. The women's game is not being syphoned off with NFL, Baseball and Basketball, and those kids who show athletic ability in an English school would be in the football team as a default. I'm not sure that's the same for the US.

So I'll take your sorry for the rabbit hole as the fact that you don't think my country are cheating and we will move on.

 

[sam_gordon]

But even if all that's true, you won't know what your GD is as the games are that the same time. So lets say Wales beat Iran 1-0 and you draw against us, you've either got to beat Iran by 2 goals or 5, depending on whose winning the England v Wales game, as by that time we would all be all be chasing 5 points to get second but with varying goal differences.

Assuming US/England draws & Wales def. Iran...

Scenario 1 (England/Wales draw)
US will know going into the Iran game what they need regarding GD (at the most 5, and possibly as few as 2 as you say). They will "control their own destiny". Win by enough and you're through. England/Wales doesn't matter.
Final Table:
England: 5
Wales: 5
US: 5
Iran: 0

Scenario 2 (England OR Wales defeats the other)
The US just need to beat Iran. England/Wales doesn't matter
Final Table:
England/Wales: 7
US: 5
England/Wales: 4
Iran: 0

Again, we need at least 4 points in the next two games. Six would put us at the top of the table (or worst case in a tie w/Wales). Anything less than 4 and we go home early.

 

[Buzz Rules]

France is beating Australia 4-1 right now. At least some sanity in the association football world still exists.

 

[RedAngie]

Was Wales a late qualifier, like having to win a playoff against Luxembourg or someone to get in?

 

[sam_gordon]

Was Wales a late qualifier, like having to win a playoff against Luxembourg or someone to get in?

https://www.eurosport.com/football/...ay-off-without-playing_sto8625258/story.shtml

 

[Buzz Rules]

Was Wales a late qualifier, like having to win a playoff against Luxembourg or someone to get in?

Yeah they beat Ukraine in a playoff.

 

[Buzz Rules]

 

[Buzz Rules]

 

[Buzz Rules]