The Road To The Desert: World Cup 2022 Qualification

[1986]

Big Nev's looking well

https://twitter.com/x/status/1579411426506047489

Crikey, he was always a big unit like a lot of goalkeepers , but's that's way beyond what I expected .

 

[The Bear]

Looks like someone out of The Sopranos.

 

[Lupo]

Looks like someone out of The Sopranos.

Or The Simpsons

 

[Tom Hark]

I think he might actually have lost a bit of weight. In the last pic someone posted on here of him a few years back, he looked ready to explode.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Reece James struggling to make it now.

 

[Nando]

That's a massive blow, he's a phenomenal player.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

we're looking a bit vulnerable at RB now.

With Walker and James out, it's Tripps and TAA on the bench.

 

[Derby Wolf]

Coady has experience at RB don't forget

 

[darlowolf64]

we're looking a bit vulnerable at RB now.

With Walker and James out, it's Tripps and TAA on the bench.

Would be a good opportunity for @Trips?

 

[Trips]

Would be a good opportunity for @Trips?

Well, I did have quite the cameo in a charity game at the weekend. You never lose the first touch and passing ability. May need a little fitness work to get ready for a World Cup though

 

[Kenny]

Reece James struggling to make it now.

Confirmed he will miss the World Cup

 

[Tony Towner]

That's a shame. There aren't many positives about the WC being when it is, the will he, won't he is though.

 

[Tony Towner]

Seeing players drop like flies and out of the WC just emphasises further that it's timing is a joke.

 

[The Bear]

Seeing players drop like flies and out of the WC just emphasises further that it's timing is a joke.

Not really. In the middle of the season they should be fitter than they are at any other time.

The end of the season should theoretically produce more injuries to players.

 

[Tony Towner]

Not really. In the middle of the season they should be fitter than they are at any other time.

The end of the season should theoretically produce more injuries to players.

That's not true though. In a normal season there'd be the best part of a month between the season ending and the WC starting, now there's a week. Chilwell and Son would both be fit after the injuries they've just picked up ordinarily, the former will be out and the latter touch and go with a mask

 

[Trips]

Plus the sheer amount of games they've played. The group stages of the CL is done already by November 2nd, a full month earlier than normal.

With internationals included, I don't think the players from CL clubs have had a free midweek since August.

 

[jd1981]

It’s been relentless since since early August, fully expecting some very surprising outcomes in the WC. Especially from sides whose players are made up from sides from middle to bottom clubs around Europe etc.
Most England players will get 9 days rest max, huge mentality shift too. This isn’t like an international break where you can beat lesser opponents at ease.
Not just England but other countries are losing players to injuries.
Hindsight this weekend should’ve been the final round of games. League cup should’ve been binned for 1 season also.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Or alternatively leave domestic and European football as is and don’t hold the World Cup in a human rights hell hole in the desert.

 

[jd1981]

Or alternatively leave domestic and European football as is and don’t hold the World Cup in a human rights hell hole in the desert.

Yep but that should’ve been considered 12 years ago but we’re here now.
Put it this way I don’t expect this to be the last winter World Cup in my lifetime.
Real common sense decision holding it Qatar,
Only 1-2 stadiums World Cup ready
Country so small that infrastructure and accommodation is totally inadequate.
Inhospitable in the summer so move it to a point to disrupt the most major leagues in the world.
That’s before we get into human rights, policy on homosexuality etc
Or have it Australia
Fantastic track record of hosting world events
Multiple stadiums World Cup ready across the country.
Excellent infrastructure, it’s winter when it’s due to be played so perfect for a World Cup.

 

[1986]

It’s been relentless since since early August, fully expecting some very surprising outcomes in the WC. Especially from sides whose players are made up from sides from middle to bottom clubs around Europe etc.
Most England players will get 9 days rest max, huge mentality shift too. This isn’t like an international break where you can beat lesser opponents at ease.
Not just England but other countries are losing players to injuries.
Hindsight this weekend should’ve been the final round of games. League cup should’ve been binned for 1 season a

Iran , USA and Wales - England playing those 3 nations in the Group stages is similar to playing lessor opponents during an International break . There should be nothing to fear there - Wales will fight hard , but England should win that .
Remember Franco Baresi - USA 1994 - Got injured in the opening group match , flew back home , got treatment ( maybe even an operation of sorts ) , flew back afterwards and appeared in the final .
If a player has an injury from a country that would expect to go far , they might still get a game later on in the knock out stages , unless it's a long term injury .