The Official FIFA World Cup 2022 Megathread

[Alan]

I can’t even remember what I had for breakfast this morning…

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Here’s one who’re the poorest side ever to win the World Cup?
Probably go Argentina 78 blatant bribery lead to them thrashing Peru in the last group game in the second round.

I only go back to 1990...so it'll be Italy 2006, although Deschamps in 2018 is probably the worst manager to win one in that time.

As I've alluded to, France 1998 weren't quite what people remember them as. Good team but it was mostly based around not conceding rather than amazing flair. They were miles better in Euro 2000.

 

[Johnny75]

Brazil are the last team to win every game in 90 minutes and lift the trophy in 2002.

In 1998 France needed penalties to get past Italy and extra time to get past Paraguay. Scored three goals in the R16, QF and SF - one by Laurent Blanc and two by Lilian Thuram (his only ever international goals in 142 caps, in the same game as well).

It's not so much about the results, it's more the manner of the performance and reverting to type with this England side and manager. Sides can have bad games but this is something more.

Lage won at Old Trafford but we all know he was still shit. That is the current pattern with Southgate and this England side. 3 wins in 10 this calendar year is horrific with this level of talent.

 

[Tony Towner]

Here’s one who’re the poorest side ever to win the World Cup?
Probably go Argentina 78 blatant bribery lead to them thrashing Peru in the last group game in the second round.

From those I remember so 82 onwards probably Italy in 2006 in terms of there being better sides than them in the tournament. Argentina in 86 weren't very good with one very notable exception.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Argentina 1990 are easily the worst team to make a final.

Lost to Cameroon
Beat a fragmented USSR, the country was literally falling apart
Drew with Romania and went through in 3rd place, stupid shitty 24 team tournaments
Beat Brazil, scored with pretty much their only attack, they got battered overall
Limped to penalties vs a far superior Yugoslavia and won
Ditto vs Italy

Maradona wasn't even any good.

 

[Johnny75]

From those I remember so 82 onwards probably Italy in 2006 in terms of there being better sides than them in the tournament. Argentina in 86 weren't very good with one very notable exception.

I thought that Italian side was pretty good.

From memory, the USA. World Cup was total shite and Brasil, despite having Ronaldo and Bebeto were boring as fuck.

 

[Wolf Hunting]

Are you comparing a non-league team to International football and saying England should play the same tactics?

No, not at all. Having watched that game last night, watched some of the players strolling through the game it was such a refreshing hour and a half watching two team going full tilt trying to win the game. No falling over, no snipers in the crowd, no fucking about, just an honest game of football. Quality wasn't great for sure. But I have to say during the World Cup there have been several games where the expected quality, really was nowhere to be seen.
Also, I have no attachment to Iran, Qatar, or most of the rest of the Middle East contingent. But 2 little English clubs playing their heart out (Whilst thanking their good lord for the TV money) trying to win, was really enjoyable.

 

[Wolf Hunting]

And if I can just roll that a few yards more, I don't think any of the Kings Lynn players came off the pitch saying, "We just didn't turn up"
Before the Welsh game, we heard, "We're playing for all the people back home, for all of our families, etc etc.
Then they go out and play like that. Gareth Bale had a really poor game. Passes going astray, a lack of cohesion, no flair...
But the Kings Lynn game, whilst the quality was a couple of steps down, their commitment seemed higher, and when you said, "Hard luck lads", you meant it. After the Wales game I can't imagine how many people would have been heard saying, "For fuck's sake!"
This would apply to Germany too.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

What was McCoist smoking when he watched Henry run onto a through ball from Roberto Carlos?

 

[EdgeOfTheAlps]

It's not so much about the results, it's more the manner of the performance and reverting to type with this England side and manager. Sides can have bad games but this is something more.

Lage won at Old Trafford but we all know he was still shit. That is the current pattern with Southgate and this England side. 3 wins in 10 this calendar year is horrific with this level of talent.

That was his point, win one, manage two, to then raise your game for the knockouts. Rather than it just not "clicking" yet, it's a deliberate strategy

 

[Johnny75]

That was his point, win one, manage two, to then raise your game for the knockouts. Rather than it just not "clicking" yet, it's a deliberate strategy

But Southgate isn't capable of raising his game.

He's proved that time and again.

 

[EdgeOfTheAlps]

But Southgate isn't capable of raising his game.

He's proved that time and again.

Oh I agree, that's his ploy though I'm sure

 

[EpsomWolf]

Here’s one who’re the poorest side ever to win the World Cup?
Probably go Argentina 78 blatant bribery lead to them thrashing Peru in the last group game in the second round.

Sorry mate, can’t be having that. Argentina ‘78 had a fantastic side. Kempes, Luque, Passarella and Ardiles just for starters. They took the game to a brilliant Dutch side in the final and beat them fair and square.

There was a very difficult political backdrop to the tournament and no doubt some dodgy dealings going on without which they may have never won the tournament, but I guess we’ll never know for sure. They were certainly one of the most entertaining to have won it although granted that doesn’t automatically exclude them from being the poorest.

Not sure if many remember but they even had defender Alberto Tarantini who miraculously signed for Birmingham. Now he was…. shit.

 

[Alan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1595540563306094603

Also left origami cranes and a thank you note in both Japanese and Arabic.

 

[WsWolf]

That cross from Griezmann was delicious.

 

[jd1981]

France going through but have been poor tonight Denmark missed two great chances

 

[Johnny75]

France going through but have been poor tonight Denmark missed two great chances

Being poor and winning isn't a bad thing.

Stinking the place out and saying that you're pleased with the point is fucking wank.

 

[Alan]

Being poor and winning isn't a bad thing.

Stinking the place out and saying that you're pleased with the point is fucking wank.

Johnny holding a grudge? Hard to believe

 

[jd1981]

Being poor and winning isn't a bad thing.

Stinking the place out and saying that you're pleased with the point is fucking wank.

Gaz Saunders will probably play for 0-1 defeat on Tuesday and say how good it is that we’ve gone through

 

[Tony Towner]

Johnny holding a grudge? Hard to believe

Thing is many have said the same about Southgate.
He's such a difficult England manager to judge. His offfield management of both the players and press has enabled us to go deeper in tournaments when much higher profile and higher paid England managers couldn't. His onfield management is why we've not won them