The Actual World Cup 2022 Thread

loopdokter

RichM Imagine the WC going from Qatar to US/Canada to Saudi Arabia. What a massive two fingers up to the traditional football nations all over the world that they have to play the biggest football tournament in the world in countries that can’t play football and have very little interest in it

I can’t speak to US numbers, but Canadian TV viewing numbers suggest otherwise. 1 out of every 4 Canadians watched Canada play at the WQ. ‘Soccer’ (CRINGE) is the most heavily participated sport in all of Canada. Hockey is vastly behind and it’s embroiled in a sexual and racial abuse scandal. Parents are abandoning the sport and Hockey Canada is complaining their registration numbers are suffering horribly.

We have a new - albeit pretty shite - professional league that’s in its fourth year and is designed around having young Canadian players develop further and move on to better leagues. Academies are popping up everywhere and there’s now an actual pipeline for players to develop beyond 12-13 years old here. The MLS has also helped improve the culture and awareness surrounding the game.

By 2026 I think you’re going to see a huge shift. My 5 year old son doesn’t give a shit about hockey. For him it’s all footy and basketball. I think that’s the case for a lot of kids under 18.

ScottBailey

Dear Jay. I’m gonna come to Canada next year, we’re gonna go to the HHoF, catch a Leafs vs Pens game, drink some Sam Adams down at the distillery district, get our skates on and get you back into your national sport. You’re starting to sound like a Leafs fan now…😉

loopdokter

ScottBailey Dear Jay. I’m gonna come to Canada next year, we’re gonna go to the HHoF, catch a Leafs vs Pens game, drink some Sam Adams down at the distillery district, get our skates on and get you back into your national sport. You’re starting to sound like a Leafs fan now…😉

I’m all up for sinking a pint but it won’t be Sam Adams. I’ll go for a local brew and I’ll take you to a decent pub with proper ale and not such a touristy area. I can’t fucking stand hockey as noted but will play pick up. The Leafs are shit and will always be shit. You can go to the HHoF on your own as I have no interest.

I’d rather grab a football and a pair of boots and have a kick about throw on some basketball shoes and shoot some hoops. This is a hockey free household. Hockey is for meatheads with mullets and a combined team IQ of 20 who are a bit rapey and racist.

303abuser

loopdokter I’m resisting the urge to go full Hugo here. Please just say this is a homer take, that I can understand.

From your own words: we’re worse than a side of A-League players, lost to a shit Belgium side, didn’t change tactics after getting exposed by Croatia, and the team is young and lacks experience. None of that adds up to winning a game, much less finishing top 2 in any group.

Larin and Davis are quality strikers, but can’t manage a goal between them in 3 games. I’ll add that calling davies the best left back in the world is beyond laughable. If my 35+ beer league keeper made the two mistakes we saw against Morocco, we’d find a new keeper.

The results back up absolutely none of what you’re saying. If you genuinely believe this team is this good, you’re going to in for a massive disappointment in 4 years.

loopdokter

303abuser

303abuser If you genuinely believe this team is this good, you’re going to in for a massive disappointment in 4 years.

Again, I said we have certain pieces and now have the experience to draw upon going forward. I think we could beat Australia and have beaten the other teams I mentioned which in theory could have gotten us out of other groups that weren’t as strong as ours.

I think we’re an improving side and are only going to get better. Four years is a long time to continue to improve. I think you’re misunderstanding my take here… I’m not saying we’re a top 16 in the world side. I feel like we could have been playing in the final 16 if we had been in some of the other groups against teams we’ve already shown we can beat in very recent history. Realistically speaking of our group, I only remained hopeful that we could get out of it and if we did, it would have been just squeaking through. Once the group draw happened, I knew we were in for a tough day at the office.

I feel like as time goes on I’d be happy if we get into the top 25 in the world and feel we can get there in four years when you consider where the US and Mexico are currently ranked. Also, keep in mind that this is the last World Cup to have only 32 teams to qualify…

Mad_Cyril

loopdokter You can go to the HHoF on your own as I have no interest

Ouch!!

SM001

Loopy, please stop ruining the World Cup for everyone.

strummer

Cunt.

303abuser

strummer That picture is the highlight of my day. 😂

303abuser

I get what you’re saying about being on the upswing, that’s perfectly reasonable. But I don’t think our group was as difficult as it initially looked on paper and we fit very soundly with the last place team in each group. At a minimum, we need a keeper, a center back, two midfielders, a striker, and possibly a new coach before this team looks like what you’re describing. That’s an enormous ask.

And yeah, we may qualify because the group stage is basically going to be a participation award, but that doesn’t reflect on the quality of the team on the field. I wish you were right about this, but all I see is a conference of mls level teams that allowed us to qualify this time.

Echo

Loving the fact a pretty much irrelevant Suarez is still rankling people.

Mad_Cyril

Are 5 paragraphs a minimum requirement now.

Looks like we’ve fucked off the weeds and headed right into the undergrowth

303abuser

Mad_Cyril You’ll be going to the HHoF on your own too with that attitude.

Mad_Cyril

303abuser LOL.

Please Noooo

Mad_Cyril

303abuser the HHoF

I’m assuming this is the Canadian branch of the David Hasselhoff Fan Club?

-si-

Can loopy post memes and twitter links? I think I’ve found his long list brother, he’s alive and well and living on the same continent…

Amps

Lols.

Hursty

This game is great so far, USA attacking in numbers, Netherlands pouncing on the break every time they lose it.

The overall quality of the games is getting better each day!

303abuser

Have to say I really enjoyed watching the americans give up another goal after controlling possession for 20 straight minutes.

303abuser

I feel like the US would be better if their defenders actually tried to mark someone in the box.

alistair

303abuser they all play in the MLS

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