The Official FIFA World Cup 2022 Megathread

[Alan]

Argentina are infinitely beatable? Not really buying that.

Remember that 2010 Spain laid an egg in their opener against the Swiss. Don't think many would argue now that they weren't still the best team in South Africa by a pretty wide margin.

If you want to criticize how the Poles played, have at it. However, I seriously bristle at the idea that they shouldn't be allowed to celebrate moving on to the Round of 16 for the first time in decades.

 

[Tony Towner]

Equally, had they opened up and conceded a third, that would have been stupid management.

In hindsight yes, it's a cowardly way to play though and just as easily could have gone the other way and he'd have been buried for it

 

[jd1981]

Argentina are infinitely beatable? Not really buying that.

Remember that 2010 Spain laid an egg in their opener against the Swiss. Don't think many would argue now that they weren't still the best team in South Africa by a pretty wide margin.

If you want to criticize how the Poles played, have at it. However, I seriously bristle at the idea that they shouldn't be allowed to celebrate moving on to the Round of 16 for the first time in decades.

This Argentina side are nowhere near the level of that Spain side. So when to Poland learn to at least cause a superior opponent some problems? If they do the same Sunday then they’ll be going home. So basically they’re celebrating a stay of execution for 4 days.

 

[Alan]

Don't think I can carry on the argument without getting overly pointed about England's success and how it changes the way people see the game.

Suffice to say that I feel the Poles have every right to celebrate and be excited. This chance hasn't come often for them.

EDIT: @jd1981 I will admit that the Argentina 2022 : Spain 2010 comparison is a bit of a reach. The Group Stage parallels are there, tho, IMO.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

I'm sure we're all delighted we get to see more of that swashbuckling, flair-filled Poland side...

Fun fact of the day, Poland in their 3 games, the most passes they have strung together is 6.

 

[Alan]

Fun fact of the day, Poland in their 3 games, the most passes they have strung together is 6.

More the fools are México and KSA for not taking advantage of that, IMO.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I'm sure we're all delighted we get to see more of that swashbuckling, flair-filled Poland side...

As my grandson has a polish mother I’m pretty glad

 

[Jack Regan]

I could get behind the celebration if Poland had no footballing pedigree (they finished 3rd in 1982) and had it been Qatar who'd got through in the same manner then you could appreciate it. However they have players playing in the top European leagues and two strikers in the squad who play for Barcelona and Juventus respectively (plus a midfielder playing regularly for the team top of Serie A) so they're hardly plucky minnows.

I think my general annoyance is more down to the mentality that is in place for a lot of teams at this tournament, so many teams are afraid to go out and play and would much rather hope/rely on another team failing (or doing them a favour) than actually trying to get a positive result.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It put them through so they were right

 

[Alan]

Not sure if this gets said over there, but a common refrain from NFL and college football coaches is this:

"It's a results business."

Poland got the result they needed, however they did it. They're through, whilst KSA and México are boarding planes home.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

I could get behind the celebration if Poland had no footballing pedigree (they finished 3rd in 1982) and had it been Qatar who'd got through in the same manner then you could appreciate it. However they have players playing in the top European leagues and two strikers in the squad who play for Barcelona and Juventus respectively (plus a midfielder playing regularly for the team top of Serie A) so they're hardly plucky minnows.

I think my general annoyance is more down to the mentality that is in place for a lot of teams at this tournament, so many teams are afraid to go out and play and would much rather hope/rely on another team failing (or doing them a favour) than actually trying to get a positive result.

Also finished 3rd in 74

 

[Alan]

'82 was 40 years ago!! Lewandowski wasn't even a twinkle in his parents' loins!

 

[PuntsWolf]

I’m not really sure what the issue is here. Poland played the percentages and it worked.

They are allowed to celebrate getting through to the second round, that is a good result for them and they have a one off game where anything can happen to progress. They’re highly unlikely to win the thing but neither are about 26 other teams so guess they may as well not bother entering

 

[Derby Wolf]

On Poland, teams will always find ways to abuse the system in tournament football.

It's not exactly a new phenomenon looking at how Germany and Austria exploited things to their advantage in 1982.

It isn't in the spirit of [the] competition and leaves a bit of a sour taste but teams will always find and take advantage of loopholes to ensure progression.

 

[b3h]

Loopholes? What the heck

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I wouldn't say it was abusing anything, they just went with a pretty daft plan and got lucky - as whatever Mexico did was completely out of their hands, and it wasn't like they were restricting Argentina to no chances either.

Might have been pragmatic if Mexico needed to win 6-0, but they didn't. The margins were too small to show that little ambition and be confident it would work out.

Just watching the highlights now (only saw the last 10 or so live) and Mexico had loads of chances after going 2-0 up.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Yeah but they didn’t. They were through with what they had. The odds of them conceding again were higher than chasing a goal they didn’t need…

Yes Mexico may have scored, but they didn’t even against a Saudi team playing wide open with shit players and doing zero time wasting. If they had have scored then Poland then could have responded, unless it was in the 98th minute or something.

 

[Alan]

Loopholes? What the heck

Look man, there's two ways to play. My way, and the wrong way.

 

[1986]

Once again we see a fancied team progressing into the next round , impressing on the night , scoring good goals , regaining confidence and a bit of swagger , comfortable on the ball , their best player beginning to show a bit of form , and yet at the end you're left wondering , just like England , how much of it had to do with the manner in which the opposition played .
Poland just wanted to go through to the last 16 , they didn't care how . They sat back and just let Argentina had the ball - 72% possession was the stat I believe .
Very hard to assess Argentina on that match , but at least they're not as bad as we thought they might be after their opening game .
Mexico showed far too little ambition in their opening matches , and it cost them in the end .

Denmark have been a big disappointment , whereas little was expected of Tunisia . France rest all their top players , they'll be fresh for the weekend , but then again sure weren't the Polish resting as well last night .

All in all we'll be none the wiser after the Group stages as to who could win this , but let's be clear - if Southgate throws off the shackles off his team they have a great chance - just give them a chance .

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I’m more interested in today. I think Belgium are in serious danger and Germany are far from certain to qualify too.