OT The official World Cup Qatar 2022 Megathread

I have Portugal in a year long fantasy league I play that covers 15 different sports, so other than the USA, that's who I'm backing!

 

Harry Kane is Englands top player, and their forward(striker). Football(soccer) is played with different formations. Some teams will have 1 player forward and keep more back. Some teams will run a 4-3-3(4 defenders playing closest to goal, 3 Midfielders, 3 forwards), 4-3-2-1(4 defenders, 3 midfielders closer to their own goal, 2 midfielders, and one forward), etc…

England will ask a lot of Harry Kane, but their midfielders/wings such as Jack Graelish will be the key for England in getting Kane opportunities. Kane would be high on the oddsmakers list of players likely to win the golden boot award for most goals by a player during the World Cup.

Likewise Poland will live or die based off of how they can create opportunities for Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski saw many 3+ goal matches in his time with FC Bayern Munich, much in part to the German clubs depth of talent with their midfield/wings. He’s yet to see the same level of individual success in the Spanish La Liga with FC Barcelona.

France’s depth of talent with Benzema and Mbappe as their strikers make them a safe vote for farthest to advance as well. Definitely favored to win their group, with Denmark most likely to spoil that. Which would likely put them up against Poland or Mexico, but could be Argentina as well. A France Vs Argentina matchup in the first knockout round would be crazy.

Belgium is a team I believe is set up well to make a deep run in the 2022 World Cup. Looking at who they would potentially play if they qualify from their group (They should win it) you have to wonder if they have the easiest road to the Quarter Finals. Belgium would have a good chance Vs Germany.

 

Was hoping the big scary Arian guy from Norway who is tearing up the EPL would be playing.

 

Damn bro, keep that info coming.
SIDENOTE: If any of you need the latest info or rumors on HS age girls soccer, I’m your guy!

 

Oh this might get exciting

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClB0BtQDhGj/?igshid=MDM4ZDc5MmU=

 

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland which is indeed having an incredible first season with his Club Manchester City.

 

Just read that he was born on England and could have played for them in the World Cup. Wow!

 

WHO WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR?

 

SHUTUP FAMS!

 

Is it over yet? Can't wait.

 

I get why a lot of people don’t like the sport. Even if you don’t watch any of the matches, maybe you’ll at least enjoy some of the highlights that will be posted in this thread.

The World Cup is huge in other countries. It will be on almost every TV in Mexico. I still remember going into a dominos pizza in Mexico and they had soccer on the TV.

The players are like Hero’s in their countries. The people of the country will be hyped if their team is making a promising showing.

Panama got destroyed one year, but they scored a goal and the Panama supporters were giddy.

It can be slow paced, but at a high level it is like a chess match. Which is why a 0-0 draw is boring for a lot of people, and may feel like a waste of time. You’ll see some 0-0/0-1 matches in the World Cup.

It is very much a sport, and to be played well it takes sincere talent and athletic ability.
I don’t like the time wasting tactics which became common place in the sport. I understand why people complain about that. A lot of times players go down with cramps.

 

Out of Groups A & B - I expect the top 4 teams to be:

Netherlands, Senegal, England, and the US. This is an extremely favorable draw - which makes the second round a definite possibility....
I figure it's either beat England + Senegal or beat Netherlands.

So yes, If the US can't get to the second round, I would still view that as a disappointing result. (Not so much that the US SHOULD make it, but that they definitely COULD make it -> which is more optimistic than I remember feeling in ~20-years).

 

There was a documentary on Iceland from the last World Cup! it was amazing to watch.

 

I have seen an FC Barcelona Game in Scotland. I’ve seen a River Plate game in Buenos Aires and a Brazil game in the Olympic Stadium in Rio and Iraqi game at the Olympics in Athens….. I never get a chance to actually go watch live sporting events. Those environments were absolutely UNREAL! People here have NO clue that we are the only ones on Earth where this isn’t the most important aspect of thier lives.

 

Talk about a lose lose situation for Qatar with this coming out. If they win everyone will think they paid Ecuador. If they lose then everyone will praise the Ecuador players for not taking the bride. Could be true, but I have a hard time believing it.

 

ROFL. I can just imagine what’s going to happen if Qatar wins that match.

 

Imagining what it would be like if we had a Lionel Messi Vs Christiano Ronaldo Finals/Semi-Finals matchup.

Begins in 21 hours, and I doubt very strongly that Ecuador will lose that game.

If they draw, what does it mean? That the accusations were BS from the start?

Ecuador might be Qatars best chance at ending the group stage with a point. Especially if Senegal has Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane by then. Not sure if Qatar plays Netherlands 2nd or 3rd. Netherlands starts Vs Senegal.

 

Liverpool fan. Feels weird to hear.