The Official FIFA World Cup 2022 Megathread

[Deutsch Wolf]

It's just standard for international football. When was the last time a genuine top class manager took over an international side?

Lopetegui for Spain

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I think it is striking that national FAs hang on to managers who've failed/are out of their depth far more than happens in club football.

Like if Graham Potter wins nothing, literally nothing, then he isn't lasting six years at Chelsea, is he.

 

[White Wolf]

Belgium surffering from shit manager syndrome.

Seems a common disease at this WC, particularly European in nature.

Which European managers could you definitively say are good at this tournament? Spain and Netherlands have one, possibly Denmark. Not sure on Germany currently. Croatian fans aren't keen on theirs at all and all of England/France/Belgium/Portugal have a shit coach who doesn't know how to use the players at his disposal.

Good coach can really be the difference in a tournament, Italy showed that. Just wish we could get one.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Great hit

 

[Jack Regan]

Morocco in front, probably deserved too. Saiss repeating the same trick, stayed onside this time though.

 

[jd1981]

Brilliant and deserved to this throws the group wide open

 

[Johnny75]

Which European managers could you definitively say are good at this tournament? Spain and Netherlands have one, possibly Denmark. Not sure on Germany currently. Croatian fans aren't keen on theirs at all and all of England/France/Belgium/Portugal have a shit coach who doesn't know how to use the players at his disposal.

Good coach can really be the difference in a tournament, Italy showed that. Just wish we could get one.

It'll be interesting to see who the FA appoint in January once they dispose of Southgate.

There's nobody at youth level you'd take and that seems to be part of the problem.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It'll be interesting to see who the FA appoint in January once they dispose of Southgate.

There's nobody at youth level you'd take and that seems to be part of the problem.

If he quits after this tournament (might happen if we go out at QF or earlier, and the QF *should* be France) then I reckon they would go for Gerrard. Available now, big name etc etc.

They shouldn't of course.

 

[The Bear]

If Potter gets the sack I think the FA might go for him.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

They will probably be dumb enough to go for Lampard. Which will work swimmingly.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

If Potter gets the sack I think the FA might go for him.

But he isn't going to get the sack before Chelsea play another game, is he.

They won't hang around and leave it vacant, we're in qualifying for Euro 2024 in March. Italy and Ukraine so we can't mess about and leave say, Lee Carsley in charge.

 

[Johnny75]

If he quits after this tournament (might happen if we go out at QF or earlier, and the QF *should* be France) then I reckon they would go for Gerrard. Available now, big name etc etc.

They shouldn't of course.

I'd ask Poch to do it for a short amount of time until both parties sort their shit out or Poch becomes a happy man.

Poch isn't taking a job this side of summer unless it's Madrid/ Barça/ Bayern.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

He might get asked later. Pundit on Spain Germany I think

 

[WsWolf]

I'd ask Poch to do it for a short amount of time until both parties sort their shit out or Poch becomes a happy man.

Poch isn't taking a job this side of summer unless it's Madrid/ Barça/ Bayern.

He's not going to risk fucking those up to be a temp for England though is he?

England should have sacked Gareth off and moved for Potter when he was still at Brighton but they've ballsed that up now. I doubt they sack Southgate anyway so it's his job until he doesn't want it anymore.

 

[Dinowolf]

Morocco win 2-0

 

[WsWolf]

Wow. I think this result is a nail in the Belgian coffin, if Croatia beat Canada I think they'll be gone.

 

[Johnny75]

He's not going to risk fucking those up to be a temp for England though is he?

England should have sacked Gareth off and moved for Potter when he was still at Brighton but they've ballsed that up now. I doubt they sack Southgate anyway so it's his job until he doesn't want it anymore.

He wouldn't be fucking it up at all. Those jobs aren't going to be available and there would be a clause in his contact you would imagine in the unlikely event they become available.

 

[White Wolf]

Is there lots of rumours Southgate is getting sacked? I can't see it happening unless we fail in the group or lose in the last 16 to someone poor. Quarter-final exit to a decent team such as France will see him stay on until Euro 2024 surely.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Wow. I think this result is a nail in the Belgian coffin, if Croatia beat Canada I think they'll be gone.

Hard to see them beating anyone (they were insanely fortunate against Canada, should have lost 4-1 or so) and they're going to need a win.

Croatia 4
Morocco 4
Belgium 3
Canada 0

A draw would only suffice if Morocco lost by 3 to Canada, and they haven't conceded a goal yet (or really looked like conceding one).

Their number 6 looked pretty good, might be worth a punt.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Is there lots of rumours Southgate is getting sacked? I can't see it happening unless we fail in the group or lose in the last 16 to someone poor. Quarter-final exit to a decent team such as France will see him stay on until Euro 2024 surely.

The FA won't sack him, he might decide he's had enough though. It's a long time these days to be in one job, he didn't actually want it in the first place (he was interim after Allardyce with every noise being made that it was temporary only), whatever you think about his football/mindset he's a fundamentally decent man and the constant pressure must be exhausting.

I'm all for being critical when necessary - Friday was dreadful - but there's a massive contingent now in both the media and the support who have decided "play all the attackers and we'll win 4-0 every time", fucking idiots.

I suspect he would like to test himself at PL level again at some point, at 52 you start to run out of opportunities. Alan Curbishley left West Ham when he was 51 and never got another go, despite never really failing anywhere.