Qatar Hero - The World Cup 2022 thread

[Zip]

Iran showed what they were capable of, they've probably got better players than what Wales do. Everyone bangs on about Bale and Ramsey but they've had their time and they aren't as good as they once were, that's why they are playing at the levels they are.

You can say harsh on Wales after the red card and injury time goals but, Iran had a goal disallowed, hit the post twice and were just in general the far better side really, they deserved the win so fair play.

I don't think it was harsh. We were very poor and rode our luck. Iran were simply the better side. No complaints.

[South Coast Royal]

:lol:

Anyone know why the greatest British player of all time hasn’t played?

At least we qualified for the finals thanks very much to Gareth Bale.
How are Scotloland doing in the finals? Oh......

A shame that Bale now offers so little in general play as he can't carry a moderate team any more.
With Ronaldo it is different as he has some really good players around him so his (comparative) lack of pace doesn't look so bad.

Well done to Wales for getting there and we shouldn't forget that, as with Scotland and compared to England, far more of their squad is made up of so few that are regular Premier League players making any successes all the more praiseworthy.

I hate it when England fans mock the smaller countries whatever the sport-it is never a level playing field.

[genome]

I figured out what's missing from this World Cup. Hot weather and beer gardens

It ain't the same in winter

[From Despair To Where?]

Dan James is shit at international level. All he can do is run fast in a straight line. If the defender stays within 2yds of him, he hasn't got a fcuking clue.

Iran are a decent team who were slightly under par against an England team absolutely bang on the money on the day. If Brazil can get absolutely shoed 7-1 in a World Cup semi final on their own turf, then anyone can have an off day.

Qatar are shit though. Maybe a couple of players who could do something at a decent level and with better players around then but there's no tactical or positional discipline there.

Wales have been carrying 2 players (Bale and Ramsey) who seem past their prime. Also the team looked unfit and had absolutely no energy or aggression. There's not enough depth as the pool is just too small and players who haven't been playing for their clubs full time.

That's a fair comment. That Gunter can still get a pick in League 2 tells you how much depth there is.

[Zip]

Dan James is shit at international level. All he can do is run fast in a straight line. If the defender stays within 2yds of him, he hasn't got a fcuking clue.

Iran are a decent team who were slightly under par against an England team absolutely bang on the money on the day. If Brazil can get absolutely shoed 7-1 in a World Cup semi final on their own turf, then anyone can have an off day.

Qatar are shit though. Maybe a couple of players who could do something at a decent level and with better players around then but there's no tactical or positional discipline there.

Wales have been carrying 2 players (Bale and Ramsey) who seem past their prime. Also the team looked unfit and had absolutely no energy or aggression. There's not enough depth as the pool is just too small and players who haven't been playing for their clubs full time.

That's a fair comment. That Gunter can still get a pick in League 2 tells you how much depth there is.

Indeed. Which is why just reaching the Finals was enough for me. It’s also why Bale’s achievements have been so impressive. He has dragged Wales to the finals of three major competitions. Sadly he is no longer the player he once was. It will be hard for Wales to qualify going forward as there simply isn’t enough quality or depth.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Agree there on Wales, outside the first XI there is very little strength in depth in a lot of areas. Joe Morrell I believe came on against USA the other day and he is currently plying his trade at Portsmouth in League One, with all due respect with players playing at that level in a squad you'd anticipate they would always struggle, not to mention the couple of League Two players in the squad.

I'm not sure who is coming through with any quality. Dan James and Ben Woodburn once upon a time looked like prospects (not to emulate Bale or Ramsey, but to add that quality above what was there) but that doesn't look likely to happen. Wales now seem like a fairly competitive team in the main with their first XI but will tend to struggle if they start relying on players outside of that.

[Conservative_dad]

Neymar pictured crying on the bench after being subbed off.

Wonder if he’s more injured than it first appeared

[Mr Angry]

Neymar confirmed has definitely been ruled out of the last 2 Group games.

But, as Brazil looked sharper and mpre incise after he went off, that might not be a bad thing for them.

[Sutekh]

If England do qualify they ain’t going to get an easy ride with either the Nederlands or Ecuador, have to hope Senegal can get second currently.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Maybe if his boots weren't made of socks and plastic foil they'd give more protection.

[Franchise FC]

If England do qualify they ain’t going to get an easy ride with either the Nederlands or Ecuador, have to hope Senegal can get second currently.

I'd take Netherlands
They don't look that great

I hope that doesn't come back to bite me

[URZZZZ]

Wales have been carrying 2 players (Bale and Ramsey) who seem past their prime. Also the team looked unfit and had absolutely no energy or aggression. There's not enough depth as the pool is just too small and players who haven't been playing for their clubs full time.

That's a fair comment. That Gunter can still get a pick in League 2 tells you how much depth there is.

Indeed. Which is why just reaching the Finals was enough for me. It’s also why Bale’s achievements have been so impressive. He has dragged Wales to the finals of three major competitions. Sadly he is no longer the player he once was. It will be hard for Wales to qualify going forward as there simply isn’t enough quality or depth.

Noted in the last Euros that your midfield was your weak link and it very much still stands. As mentioned earlier, Ramsey doesn’t do it for me and Allen is a shadow of his former self. Your defence is generally OK and with a mixture of different qualities in attack, there’s enough there but there’s nothing in midfield

[tulip]

If England do qualify they ain’t going to get an easy ride with either the Nederlands or Ecuador, have to hope Senegal can get second currently.

I'd take Netherlands
They don't look that great

I hope that doesn't come back to bite me

Very disappointing performance from Holland tonight.

[URZZZZ]

If England do qualify they ain’t going to get an easy ride with either the Nederlands or Ecuador, have to hope Senegal can get second currently.

I'd take Netherlands
They don't look that great

I hope that doesn't come back to bite me

Very reminiscent of our late Stam days without the bonus of having VD in defence. Slow, insipid, and downright dull. Teams need to realise that there’s more than one way of playing the game, it doesn’t have to be pass, pass, pass

Really do miss the game having wingers and players actually trying to attack the opposition, rather than this “patient” style

[Zip]

That's a fair comment. That Gunter can still get a pick in League 2 tells you how much depth there is.

Indeed. Which is why just reaching the Finals was enough for me. It’s also why Bale’s achievements have been so impressive. He has dragged Wales to the finals of three major competitions. Sadly he is no longer the player he once was. It will be hard for Wales to qualify going forward as there simply isn’t enough quality or depth.

Noted in the last Euros that your midfield was your weak link and it very much still stands. As mentioned earlier, Ramsey doesn’t do it for me and Allen is a shadow of his former self. Your defence is generally OK and with a mixture of different qualities in attack, there’s enough there but there’s nothing in midfield

Our midfield has been terrible. You cannot play Ramsey in a "two". His legs have gone. However peak Ramsey was a fine player. He won Arsenal pots in 2014 and 2018 and was in the Euro finals team of the tournament in 2016. He has scored countless crucial goals including two FA Cup final winners and a brace v Hungary in the winner takes all game to qualify for the 2020 Euros

. He has been dire in this tournament and should have been subbed instead of Ampadu.

[Sutekh]

If England do qualify they ain’t going to get an easy ride with either the Nederlands or Ecuador, have to hope Senegal can get second currently.

I'd take Netherlands
They don't look that great

I hope that doesn't come back to bite me

Very reminiscent of our late Stam days without the bonus of having VD in defence. Slow, insipid, and downright dull. Teams need to realise that there’s more than one way of playing the game, it doesn’t have to be pass, pass, pass

Really do miss the game having wingers and players actually trying to attack the opposition, rather than this “patient” style

[Ascotexgunner]

I don't hate Wales at all, but it is funny

64 years to get to a World Cup and they forget to play in it

Personally I’m fully behind Wales’ decision to boycott the tournament, more sides should have had the guts to do the same.

Yeah we didn't go full Italy or Scotland.. but we did find a compromise.
I'd like England to flatten the USA tonight. Might have something to play for Tuesday if the other games a draw but I really can't see anything less than embarrassment.

[Sutekh]

To be honest this is pretty poor so far. Too slow, too much piddling about for the sake of piddling about.

[bcubed]

Ponderous

[bcubed]

US looking far more likely to score than us