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World Cup 2022
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 30-03-2022 12:06
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With the Tournament draw due to take place on Friday I figured we could start a new thread for this winter's (  ) World Cup.
We can discuss Friday's draw, the friendlies and summer Nations Leagues games with the final tournament starting on 21 November.
Hoping for a decent draw for England, however I think the worst case Group of Death Scenario is Germany, Senegal and Peru, which isn't that bad.
Based on the last two tournaments I would say anything less than the QF is a failure for England. We had the youngest squad at the Euro's and got to the final so hopefully, with another 18 months of development, we should be up there with the strongest teams at the finals. I think under Southgate we've gone from a team who struggle against weaker teams and get knocked out as soon as we play someone half decent, to a team that beats the teams you expect them to beat and then is at least 50/50 with the top teams we play against.
Can't really look past France as favorites, although the Euro's showed they aren't unbeatable.
So who's everyone else going to be supporting in November and December, and what are you hoping for/expecting?
"Ringo is exactly right", Shonak - 8 September 2016
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 30-03-2022 12:17
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Belgium has had its chances but it's over now. The new generation just isn't good enough. Especialy in the defence the replacements of Kompany and Vermaelen are not up for it. Also Hazard is probably not coming back to a decent level again.
Theoreticaly it has to be France, but as you say, Euro's has shon they're not a team. I kinda like Spain's new generation, so they get my vote.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| roturn |
Posted on 30-03-2022 12:33
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Kind of like the new generation of Germany as well, finally properly replacing players such as Kroos, Özil, Schweinsteiger, Hummels, Boateng etc. with the likes of Musiala, Wirtz, Havertz, Schlotterbeck, Raum etc.
Problem though, they still don`t have a striker able to replace Klose and neither have any decent right back. First really a problem with other Nations having star potential there e.g. Benzema.
Werner is okay but not the typical striker and Wirtz is a questionmark with his injury if he will be there in time.
2-3 years ago the future of Germany didn`t look as bright, but out of a sudden Musiala, Wirtz, Schlotterbeck made huge, huge steps in those years. So while the actual U20/21 isn`t looking very strong neither, I guess, there will be couple of top guys around as well later on. |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 30-03-2022 13:25
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Potentially one of the most open World Cups in a long time.
The classic South American powers of Argentina and Brazil are not their usual selves, making odd errors in qualification. Still more than enough talent to be considered as bets, but i think eventually that reliance on individual talent will run out.
Mexico are forever solidly talented but lacking at elite World Cup level. The USA are coming on very nicely after missing out in 2018. Canada could well be the best North American option, will be fun to watch as both then and USA are more looking to build towards 2026 home cup.
Can Japan or South Korea step up from Asia? Maybe the Koreans but in both cases i'm doubtful of a major impact. Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana - Africa always brings some entertainment to the tournament and it feels about time they made a run into the late rounds.
For me the winner will come from Europe, and it's very open. France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, England, Croatia are all capable of beating anyone and each other. Belgium and Denmark are deadly on their day and can't be overlooked. Assuming Portugal join this over Wales (sorry Gareth) as they are also attackingly excellent.
Qatar - quite simply, can they avoid being the worst hosts in tournament history?
Finally, we must not forget the reigning European Champions of less than a year ago and therefore obvious favourites, Italy!
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wait, what do you mean they lost to Macedonia?
Extra finally, still can't quite believe we're playing a World Cup in Qatar in Winter. Although it's hard to avoid sportswashing these days. Just hoping it does go well and does bring about some sort of change in the nation, even if that's naiive hope.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 30-03-2022 13:26
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Basically clinched our spot on Sunday, just can't lose 6-0 tonight. Expectations? Get out of the group... Dream would be reach the quarterfinals. But mostly just happy to be back in the World's best tournament. 
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 30-03-2022 14:05
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Finally, we must not forget the reigning European Champions of less than a year ago and therefore obvious favourites, Italy!
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wait, what do you mean they lost to Macedonia?
I was going to include them in the poll 
"Ringo is exactly right", Shonak - 8 September 2016
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 30-03-2022 14:49
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Oh yeah, we're actually gonna make it this time.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 03-12-2024 17:40
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 01-04-2022 22:13
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So what does everyone think?
Decent draw for England. Could have done without Wales or Scotland, not because I think they'll beat us but its just an unneeded distraction.
Assuming all results go as planned it'll be Senegal or Equador in the second round before France in the QF. That might be the end of the road, but then again I'm sure there will be a few surprise results which mean it won't go as planned.
Bring on November.
"Ringo is exactly right", Shonak - 8 September 2016
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 02-04-2022 00:07
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Denmark off course
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 02-04-2022 12:37
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Theoretically a favourable group for Portugal, however, quite tricky. Wouldn’t surprise to see us struggling with the likes of Uruguay again and South Korea (even though they are managed by Paulo Bento lol). Ghana has not looked amazing recently but it’s one of those squads that can cause difficulties to an ungracious team like the Portuguese most of the time. Either way, crossing with Brazil/Switzerland/Serbia on the first knockout round is a nearly impossible task if we keep playing as shit as we have lately. Once again, it is time to rely on Lady Luck’s Lucky Charm! |
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| J5Jcole |
Posted on 13-04-2022 11:29
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still cant believe italy didnt make it when they had the best win record of any national team in history on way to the tournament. think argentina take it this time. Martinez, Romero and De Paul are going to be huge for them. |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 13-04-2022 13:52
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Definitely the most open World Cup in some time. France looking to avoid the Winners curse and they should do so but, other than Mbappe and Benz, the rest of their team looking pretty out of form at the moment.
Spain probably the 2nd best European team on form but they've got a tough group with Germany and a real class Japan outfit.
Of the South American teams, don't rate Argentina's chances of going all the way. There will be a lot of pressure on Brazil but they'll need their top players to perform consistently which has been their problem historically.
The heat and the tournament being mid-season will no doubt make for different preparation too.
Let's see how it goes
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 13-04-2022 20:07
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Excited for Canada to be in it for the first time in my lifetime. We got handed a pretty tough group though, so any points are going to be an accomplishment. With an easier group I wouldn't have bet against us making out of the group stage, which still sounds crazy to me.
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| J5Jcole |
Posted on 22-04-2022 11:33
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canada has so much potential still having some sort of league to compete with USL level wiill really help prepare players for vancouver, montreal or toronto. |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 22-04-2022 14:34
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Happy for you guys all knowing whether or not your teams are qualified yet (except the Aussies)  Looking forward to losing the playoff for the third straight time in a month or two most likely. At least when the silly 48-team tournament is introduced we should be qualifying every time.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 02-12-2022 12:18
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Can't believe we're 2 weeks in and no-one has commented about the Word Cup Yet!!!
So what are everyone's predictions now we are (nearly) at the end of the group stage?
Fairly happy with England's performance so far. Gone exactly as I expected so far. Topped the group to play Senegal or Ecuador in the last 16 and France in the QF.
I expect us to beat Senegal to go through. From there on every game will be basically 50/50. Hoping our strength in depth will see us through against a France team who seem to be very reliant on Mbappe.
We're definitely on the tougher side of the draw with France, Spain and possibly Portugal while the other side looks to be between Brazil and Argentina.
Bring on the Knock-Out rounds.
"Ringo is exactly right", Shonak - 8 September 2016
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 02-12-2022 14:01
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Happy we made it out of group, but America will never have a shot of making a real run unless we develop some actual finishers.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 02-12-2022 20:28
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Mresuperstar wrote:
Expectations? Get out of the group... Dream would be reach the quarterfinals. But mostly just happy to be back in the World's best tournament.
My expectations remain the same as they were eight months ago haha
Just hoping we give the Netherlands a good game now.
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| Arberg |
Posted on 15-12-2022 09:33
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Messi is the greatest football player in history.
Edited by Arberg on 15-12-2022 09:39
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
