FIFA World Cup - Qatar 2022: Dead Migrant Workers Edition

[Roranora]

what.

Spoiler: show

FIFA awarded and announced World Cups for Russia and Qatar on the same day some 12 years ago. And everyone said ok right, sure; so here we are.

The hosts first said hey we'll play in air-conditioned stadiums, which turned into we'll play in air-conditioned stadiums in the Northern hemisphere winter in the middle of the club league season. Never before has a World Cup began fewer than 16 days after a European/UCL final. This time around, the first match will be less than a week after the last league fixtures before this break. It has already been an injury-laden start to the season with the condensed calendar. Now it's the stage every player dreams of reaching, so one might expect a few more injuries than the typical tournament as well.

There's no Italy, no Chile, and no Peru *sheds tear*.

All travelers do kindly avoid public drunkenness, public affection, and executions by the state.

Who are the favorites?

Brazil, Argentina, Germany. While not a guarantee, it's likely one of those these teams lifts the trophy Dec 18th.

Who else is good?

I like Uruguay, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, and England. I'm sleeping on France and can't trust their midfield without Kante and Pogba.

The next strongest sides might look like Netherlands, Serbia, Mexico, and Switzerland.

What about the US?

We decent. We can aspire to make it out of the group and maybe reach a quarterfinal.

Long term we probably need more yanks and euros hooking up or american babies born abroad, making babies eligible for our team and also more likely to come through better youth development.

Which group games be lookin' good?

Ima watch Argentina-Mexico like i got skin in the game. Others sure to be interesting include Ghana-Uruguay and any Brazil game.

others:

Spoiler: show

Friday 25 November
England-USA (2pm EST)

Saturday 26 November
France-Denmark (11am EST)
Argentina-Mexico (2pm EST)

Sunday 27 November
Spain-Germany (2pm EST)

Monday 28 November
Portugal-Uruguay (2pm EST)

Tuesday 29 November
Wales-England (2pm EST)

Thursday 1 December
Croatia-Belgium (10am EST)

Friday 2 December
Ghana-Uruguay (10am EST)

Yo how do you watch this shit?

I dunno. I just tried to once.




Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands

Group B: England, Iran, United States, Wales

Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland

Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia

Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan

Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia

Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon

Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea

[Roranora]

Predictions for later laughs!


Group winners & runners-up
Netherlands, Senegal
England, US
Argentina, Mexico
Denmark, France
Germany, Spain
Croatia, Morocco
Brazil, Switzerland
Uruguay, Portugal


Round of 16
Netherlands-USA
Argentina-France
England-Senegal
Denmark-Mexico
Germany-Morocco
Brazil-Portugal
Croatia-Spain
Uruguay-Switzerland


Quarterfinals
Netherlands-Argentina
Germany-Brazil
England-Denmark
Spain-Uruguay


Semifinals
Argentina-Brazil
Denmark-Uruguay


Final
Brazil-Uruguay

[Emphasis]

Honest question, not really knowing much about FIFA and football, how come the same teams always seem to be the favorites?

[Roranora]

Honest question, not really knowing much about FIFA and football, how come the same teams always seem to be the favorites?

Hmm.

At this level, it really requires a degree of skill, technique, and fitness that many nations can't reach. Youth development is huge. Creativity is also an area the great teams showcase in abundance and the almost-good teams lack -- that is, they fail to create enough good chances in attack. The best teams have long been the European and South American sides, and that hasn't really changed much over the years and decades. A few more Euro nations are now also pretty good. All of South America fields strong sides, and inevitably a good team or two doesn't qualify out of their region.

In short, the best teams (and players) keep playing each other during the club season and the continental tournaments & qualifying, which keeps their level at or near the highest level. The comparably modest teams (and players) in North America, Africa, Asia, etc. keep playing each other during the club season and continental tournaments, which keeps their level discernibly lower. The more American players we have who make it into club sides in Europe, the more they can raise our level at USMNT camps and in turn help improve the level of play in MLS and Liga MX, etc.

However, do kindly note it is a very low scoring sport, and as such it has a large number of upsets.

[synistar]

air-conditioned stadiums

Except for Stadium 974 - a temporary stadium made of 974 shipping containers and doesn't have A/C. I have a feeling all games played there will have 10pm local start times,

[Roranora]

the opening ceremony just concluded and was rather extravagant, complete with Korean pop stars and Morgan Freeman. is this place filthy rich or what

just Qatar-Ecuador for today until we start getting 3-4 matches a day

[Koyangi]

Sorry for the newb question, but why is the World Cup in November and not the summer?

[chazzyphizzle]

you try playing soccer in qatar in the summer

[Koyangi]

No, thanks.

[Roranora]

England did some good work today. Bellingham is their most important player already, and he's all of 19 years old. And I know he hasn't trained yet at the WC, but I have a hunch Maddison will prove crucial later against tougher competition. Here's to hoping Southgate gives him a chance.

[Roranora]

So many people are sleeping on Ecuador in Group A. I like Senegal and the Netherlands too, but if La Tri make it to the knockout rounds, I reckon they could give England a tough match, despite Qatar being a poor barometer for opposition strength.


USA-Wales today at 2pm ET. If we lose this match, it will be a long way back. A draw wouldn't be a bad result.

[6souls]

I'm doing okay so far in my fantasy league

[Cail]

https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1594757542823198720

[6souls]

https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1594757542823198720

https://twitter.com/GrantWahl/status...21724746338305
https://twitter.com/GrantWahl/status...92367966588928

[Tyche]

So many empty seats. Turns out that holding this in an oppressive 3rd world country probably isn't a good idea.

[Krandor]

Qatar attempting to sportswash with the World Cup and so far failing miserably is an entertaining exercise.

[Tyche]

If there wasn't a risk of spending a quarter century doing slave labor, one could literally walk down to the front row on midfield and watch the game.

[Mertron]

reffing has not been great so far

[Mertron]

reffing has not been great so far

lol nvm

[Mertron]

qatar commercial: come visit qatar! new stadium! Microsoft campus! northwestern and other schools have campuses here! afghan refugee center! visit qatar!

me: wait what was that last place?