worst world cup ever?

[Para Handy]

I love the WC too. Agreed that there's been no stand out matches so far. Commercially over hyped expectation these days is part of the problem I reckon.

I keep hearing about the atmosphere being the best ever. For me, the best ever was Argentina 78. Clearly, I was just a babe then but the ticker tape and the atmosphere for Argentina v Peru was incredible. Yeah, yeah, I know it was supposed to be fixed but that match will always stand out in my memory along with Scotland v Holland in 74.

Also agreed that the vuvuzuelas are fukking annoying but I only notice them at the start of the game. After that, they just tune out for me. I only switch on for kick off. Can't be arsed listening to most of the pundits and the latest update from the England camp although if I could understand a word Adebayor said I might be enlightened.

I'm guessing that most of the people complaining about them are the "fanatics". Those kuntz that appear every 2 or 4 years with face paint and turfed front rooms.

[Compo's Hat]

Goals are a third down on this point four years ago and this is still the first round of group matches. I knew it would be cautious but not this cautious!

Maybe they should only host the World Cup where there is a summer during June and July as there might be more mistakes from players in the heat.

[SLAMMED]

Surely we should be used to the weather over there more than any other team? We have shit weather all year round.

[Compo's Hat]

Read that it might snow for England's game on Friday.

[Gus the teenage cow]

Goals are a third down on this point four years ago and this is still the first round of group matches. I knew it would be cautious but not this cautious!

Maybe they should only host the World Cup where there is a summer during June and July as there might be more mistakes from players in the heat.

well that is offset by the fact many games are played at high altitude, to be fair some teams have tired in the second half and games have opened up a bit...but every first half has been an absolute yawnfest with the exception of argentina and germany playing some nice stuff

agree vuvuzueals don't bother me when I'm tuned into the game but you can't hear the crowd cheering, chants etc., in almost every game a mexican wave has started after about twenty minutes, i love the world cup and i'll watch it regardless but the modern obsession with prioritising fitness and athleticism over ball skills and creativity is really creating a generation of effective, functional yet relentlessly boring footballers

and whether it's the ball or altitude or a lack of basic skills from the supposed best footballers in the world, the quality of shooting, long passing and crossing has been horrendous, so many balls bouncing over the heads of players or flying miles over the bar


....as the criminally under-rated d-ream once proclaimed, things can only get better

[Barry the bird boggler]

Read that it might snow for England's game on Friday.

We also have the Uzbekistan ref who took charge of the opening game of the tournment

I keep hearing about the atmosphere being the best ever. For me, the best ever was Argentina 78. Clearly, I was just a babe then but the ticker tape and the atmosphere for Argentina v Peru was incredible. Yeah, yeah, I know it was supposed to be fixed but that match will always stand out in my memory along with Scotland v Holland in 74.

In the 74 WC Finals Scotland didn't play Holland, so it couldn't have been that memorable !

Agreed it's not the most exciting start, all hype and demented wasps from what I can see/hear not helped by the standard over-expectation build of England by the crap press in this country.

As has been suggested previously the first games are usually poor but whether its the worst start or not I'm not sure. Seem to recall 1986 was pretty much a borefest in the group stages.

[Alan Partridge]

I just think the general standard of international football has gotten gradually worse over the last 5-10 years, I am not surprised the tournament thus far has been pretty average. There is only one genuinely decent team in this competition, Spain. They might provide some entertainment later on (hopefully not putting the mockers on it). Everyone else is much of a muchness.

[Row Z Royal]

I just think the general standard of international football has gotten gradually worse over the last 5-10 years, I am not surprised the tournament thus far has been pretty average. There is only one genuinely decent team in this competition, Spain. They might provide some entertainment later on (hopefully not putting the mockers on it). Everyone else is much of a muchness.

Dis'greed m8. I think that the overall standard has risen, with more and more teams batting on the same average. That's why the games have been "boring", because there are so many similarities across the board.

Ain't complaining - I'd rather watch a tight and tetchy 2-1 than game after game of 4-0.

[Alan Partridge]

I just think the general standard of international football has gotten gradually worse over the last 5-10 years, I am not surprised the tournament thus far has been pretty average. There is only one genuinely decent team in this competition, Spain. They might provide some entertainment later on (hopefully not putting the mockers on it). Everyone else is much of a muchness.

Dis'greed m8. I think that the overall standard has risen, with more and more teams batting on the same average. That's why the games have been "boring", because there are so many similarities across the board.

Ain't complaining - I'd rather watch a tight and tetchy 2-1 than game after game of 4-0.

Brazil, France, Italy, Argentina arguably England, much worse than 10 years ago for me. Smaller nations have improved but even the likes of Cameroon and Nigeria aren't as good as they were a few years ago.

[Seal]

So are you saying football as a whole has decreased in quality?

Not quite sure how international football can decline without the same happening to the club game? All the big clubs then to have 11 internationals on the pitch after all....

[soggy biscuit]

England, much worse than 10 years ago for me.

Euro 2000 - Finished 2nd in their qualifying group on goal difference ahead of Poland after winning just 3 games. Lost to Scotland at home in the play offs and went through on away goals. In the tournament they went out in the 1st round.

[General B]

It's the lack of trouble, not the horns or the standard of football that's winding me up.

Never mind the England team letting us down, it's the spastic, face-painted Chartered Surveyors that seem to follow us these days who are heaping shame upon this once great nation.

[Row Z Royal]

I just think the general standard of international football has gotten gradually worse over the last 5-10 years, I am not surprised the tournament thus far has been pretty average. There is only one genuinely decent team in this competition, Spain. They might provide some entertainment later on (hopefully not putting the mockers on it). Everyone else is much of a muchness.

Dis'greed m8. I think that the overall standard has risen, with more and more teams batting on the same average. That's why the games have been "boring", because there are so many similarities across the board.

Ain't complaining - I'd rather watch a tight and tetchy 2-1 than game after game of 4-0.

Brazil, France, Italy, Argentina arguably England, much worse than 10 years ago for me. Smaller nations have improved but even the likes of Cameroon and Nigeria aren't as good as they were a few years ago.

The middling teams always wax and wane - the Nigerias, Chiles, USA. The rest of what you've said just supports my point - the big teams set the standard, but the increase isn't exponential and the lower teams can make bigger gains in a shorter space of time.

I really believe that it's all just evening out and it's more competitive.

[havoc]

soooo.....the world cup is shit because the big teams aren't winning every game at a canter


right

[Alan Partridge]

So are you saying football as a whole has decreased in quality?

Not quite sure how international football can decline without the same happening to the club game? All the big clubs then to have 11 internationals on the pitch after all....

Not saying individual players have decreased in quality, but we don't see the same Wayne Rooney or Frank Lampard for England as we do for Man Utd and Chelsea. Ronaldo hasn't scored for 2 years or something stupid for Portugal yet scores bucketloads at club level weekly.

International football in the main i find slow, ponderous and overly cautious. Doesn't make for a great spectacle. I don't see how certain teams should be playing with as much fear and trepidation as they have so far. I accept certain countries are under extra pressure to do well but in the main the game thus far have all planned out the same with an extra focus on not losing than going for the win.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Lot of overpaid prima donna at the top level who go through the motions and are so tired after a long season

From England's point of view the amount of deadbeat foreigners that clubs keep buying instead of bringing on English players is what is causing big problems now.

[papereyes]

I just think the general standard of international football has gotten gradually worse over the last 5-10 years, I am not surprised the tournament thus far has been pretty average. There is only one genuinely decent team in this competition, Spain. They might provide some entertainment later on (hopefully not putting the mockers on it). Everyone else is much of a muchness.

Dis'greed m8. I think that the overall standard has risen, with more and more teams batting on the same average. That's why the games have been "boring", because there are so many similarities across the board.

Ain't complaining - I'd rather watch a tight and tetchy 2-1 than game after game of 4-0.

Brazil, France, Italy, Argentina arguably England, much worse than 10 years ago for me. Smaller nations have improved but even the likes of Cameroon and Nigeria aren't as good as they were a few years ago.

I think I agree more with Row Z - teams are better in terms of preparation, fitness and organisation. So you don't get as many hammerings. As part of this, you're losing that random element that came from teams of relative unknowns. A larger proportion of the African players now play in Europe, regularly on our TV screens on a Tuesday and Wednesday.

(That said, Roger Milla came from nowhere. In spite of being African Player of the Year earlier in his career and having a long and relatively successful career in Europe ... )

I also think that qualification for everywhere bar UEFA seems to be a longer process so you're playing more games and upsets/shock qualifications are going to be less common.

[Alan Partridge]

it may be down to the opposition but i look at the big teams and look at them individually and are they as good as they were a few years ago? For me no. I accept some of the smaller teams have got better but some are still no great shakes and we've seen one or two of the 'bigger nations' really struggle, albeit early days in this world cup. I don't see the 'next generation' if you want for use of a better term of young players really coming through apart from with Germany, and lets face it half of them aren't German!

[papereyes]

The middling teams always wax and wane - the Nigerias, Chiles, USA. The rest of what you've said just supports my point - the big teams set the standard, but the increase isn't exponential and the lower teams can make bigger gains in a shorter space of time.

I really believe that it's all just evening out and it's more competitive.

Not sure that holds true for USA. Who in 1990 fielded a team comprising of precisely 0 professional players.

But in general - yes.

[Row Z Royal]

The middling teams always wax and wane - the Nigerias, Chiles, USA. The rest of what you've said just supports my point - the big teams set the standard, but the increase isn't exponential and the lower teams can make bigger gains in a shorter space of time.

I really believe that it's all just evening out and it's more competitive.

Not sure that holds true for USA. Who in 1990 fielded a team comprising of precisely 0 professional players.

But in general - yes.

USA are just waxing at the moment.