The Official FIFA World Cup 2022 Megathread

[jd1981]

Regardless how they work the next World Cup the group stage will be a flawed contest. If the groups are 3 teams you can draw both and go through, you can easily have 3 sides with identical records.
If it’s 12 Groups of 4 enjoy 72 matches to eliminate 16 teams and winning your first game pretty much ensures your progression.

 

[Sniffer]

If it will start with 3 then this would be my plan...

16 groups of 3 - A B C D E etc

At the end of the groups of 3 then groups A and B merge and the result between the 2 sides who qualify for the next phase counts in the group of 4. It would mean that every result counted.

It would mean just 16 more games compared to now and just one extra game for each team who reaches the final.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Looks like they're going to 12 x 4.

Ultimately just don't create 24/48 team tournaments as they don't work whatever you do.

 

[Tony Towner]

They voted through 16 groups of 3 and a round of 32, then it was pointed out that leaves the option for the last game to be WG v Austria so they are having a rethink

FIFA consider introducing group-stage penalty shootouts

FIFA is considering introducing penalty shootouts to decide whether teams should get a bonus point if group-stage games are drawn at the expanded World Cup in 2026. The next men’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico will include 48 teams rather than 32 and is expected to have 16...

theathletic.com

 

[Alan]

Days like today I'm reminded that I'm actually more French by heritage than anything.

Weird. Still want Morocco to win, mind.

 

[Tredman]

Days like today I'm reminded that I'm actually more French by heritage than anything.

Weird. Still want Morocco to win, mind.

Change your username to Alain or get on the Saiss-train.

 

[Alan]

Alain Saïss.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

If it will start with 3 then this would be my plan...

16 groups of 3 - A B C D E etc

At the end of the groups of 3 then groups A and B merge and the result between the 2 sides who qualify for the next phase counts in the group of 4. It would mean that every result counted.

It would mean just 16 more games compared to now and just one extra game for each team who reaches the final.

Groups of 3 don't work as you can't have all the teams in a group playing the last match at the same time, which basically welcomes West Germany v Austria 1982 on a mass scale.

 

[Tony Towner]

Saiss has been superglued together and is playing. They've gone to a back 3

 

[Kenny]

If Saiss was still ours we would be on stand by to bitch about him putting Morocco first as he misses 6 months due to his hamstring no longer existing.

Thankfully we can just call Jeff and Scott names for getting rid

 

[Tony Towner]

If Saiss was still ours we would be on stand by to bitch about him putting Morocco first as he misses 6 months due to his hamstring no longer existing.

Thankfully we can just call Jeff and Scott names for getting rid

Most didn't have an issue with Saiss leaving some did, some didn't with Coady, both because we were evolving to a back 4. A few months later there's a good chance we are going back to a 3 and both would walk in over the alternatives. Football eh?

 

[Alan]

Yeah at the time I thought letting Saïss go was maybe not a great decision but I didn't foresee it causing huge problems.

I'd have him back in a heartbeat now. Ditto Coady.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

If Saiss was still ours we would be on stand by to bitch about him putting Morocco first as he misses 6 months due to his hamstring no longer existing.

Thankfully we can just call Jeff and Scott names for getting rid

No because I’m convinced he wouldn’t have behaved like a certain Mexican has. The one thing you knew you’d get with him was 100% commitment.

 

[Kenny]

Raul didn't do anything wrong did he? All his actions were club sanctioned. People talk as if he cut his own groin muscle and went on strike.
That said wish he would get that op sorted so we can all pile on him...

Also my comments on Saiss were very much tongue in cheek

 

[Johnny75]

Most didn't have an issue with Saiss leaving some did, some didn't with Coady, both because we were evolving to a back 4. A few months later there's a good chance we are going back to a 3 and both would walk in over the alternatives. Football eh?

Based on today only, we shouldn't be going anywhere near a back 5.

It really was that bad.

 

[Alan]

Just asked ChatGPT about the 48 team World Cup, it suggests putting the 3rd place sides from each Group into a playoff.

Not sure I've heard that idea bandied about just yet. Extra game for those sides, but I suppose that could be seen as the punishment for not finishing 1st or 2nd in the Group.

 

[Tony Towner]

Based on today only, we shouldn't be going anywhere near a back 5.

It really was that bad.

I hope not. The reasons to move from it were sound even if the results haven't been. The thing we all missed was Kilman and Collins not having that leadership and organisational skills needed from one of them

 

[Alan]

I hope not. The reasons to move from it were sound even if the results haven't been. The thing we all missed was Kilman and Collins not having that leadership and organisational skills needed from one of them

I think we knew Kilman wasn't that guy; the hope was that Collins could be. Unfortunately he can scarcely organize his own feet, let alone anyone else's.

 

[Alan]

So not only do FIFA's lineups not show the subs bench (stupid), but they can't even get the lineups correct in the first place!

Showed Aguerd on the graphic, well he ain't on the pitch.

 

[Alan]

Oh for fuck's sake, just ruin my enthusiasm immediately