World Cup 2022 Thread

Wtf with this opening ceremony?

As a homosexual, I'm boycotting this one. Having said that, I'm rooting for the Americans and the Canadians.

Mixed feelings and least excited about the world cup ever. I haven't followed the build up like I usually did for previous world cups. I selected Brazil but honestly, I don't really know the teams well enough to make a good guess.

I thought about boycotting, but is that really going to make a difference? The tournament is happening in Qatar no matter what happens.

I'm hoping for some great games and every country and the players will make very overt their support of human rights.

I always root for the host country to do well. It's great to see the host fans happy. But for the 2nd tournament in a row, I won't be rooting for the hosts at all.

[bold]BOYCOTT QATAR MUDIAL 2022!![/bold]

^^^^[bold]MUNDIAL[/bold]

Come on Ecuador!

Kick off!

Qatar should have not gotten World Cup but I am watching anyway. Illogical maybe but my boycott wouldn’t make a difference.

Italy didn't make the tournament but the opening game referee is Italian and he is an attractive man.

What are the odds Fifa will make sure Qatar isn't humiliated in their games?

And Ecuador has already scored!

go Ecuador!

The Qatari keeper, what was he doing.

Oh course, VAR has taken the goal away. Offside.

Almost already

I hope Canada and the US make it out of the group stages. My guess for winner is Brazil but I'm rooting for France or England

Qatar can't even make it out of their half. This is going to get ugly. They are going to need a lot of help from VAR. Their keeper looks very amateurish.

R10/R13 VAR is the true secret Bond villain of this tournament, just watch

Yep, the keeper gives away a penalty to Ecuador.

GOOOOOOOAAL!

the rules while we watch:

France's best players are injured unfortunately (Benzema, best player in the world, Kante, Pogba...) just awful. It's the curse of the Champions, previous winner of the World Cup never passes the group stage. We shall see.

Bullet header, Ecuador up by 2 within 31 minutes. This game could be 4 or 5 nil at the end. Qatar is going to lose for sure but I wonder if some calls will go their way so it's not super ugly.

[quote]I thought about boycotting, but is that really going to make a difference?

Yes, it does except when weasely shits find an excuse not to.

You could have dropped Qatar and USA and included Netherlands and Denmark in your poll. They're both coming in strong.

R20 Netherlands are lethal in big tournaments. They are proud and organised and never want to concede. Wouldn't overlook or count them out.

I'm a France supporter but I can't say I'm upset about Benzema not being able to play--haven't liked him ever since his troubles with the law/his teammate.

The Netherlands are always the bridesmaid, never the bride, no matter their football pedigree.

I included the USA and Qatar for the laughs.

The Belgium team often act needy and affectionate with each other so I rate them highly

My dark horse favorite is Uruguay.

I would love to be a soccer team whore giving pleasure to those guys.

R26=Jack Grealish

Go for it, R26, 30+ lusty nights in Qatar.

Can I have your stuff?

LOL. The Ecuadorian fans inside the stadium are chanting "we want beer" in Spanish

R29 lmao see this is why I love football. In what other realm of life can you be reasonably expected to and forgiven for demanding permission for a piss-up? True culture.

Had no idea this is the first team hosting the World Cup to ever lose their first match. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch.

I guess Qatar didn't send in their "super-player" weird mascot La'eeb as substitute, huh?

R31: I am reminded of how Uday Hussein punished his losing players, and pray those horrific times are behind us.

Yanks up against Wales tomorrow, Reddit is going to be insufferable. And I mean that mainly from the other side, i.e. non-Americans bashing US fans simply for being what they naturally and inescapably are -- overly confident and opinionated and above all LOUD as fuck. Saw some of that today already. I wish people gave others space to be as obnoxious as they want to be, it's all just a bit of fun at the end of the day.

R33 yeah, U.S. fans do tend to get caned every time they come to a big football tournament. Overly hostile and hypocritical I agree, but honestly, half the time I don't think it's that personal or meant grievously to offend.

It's more the way you banter off someone who isn't really in the 'inner circle' group, which N. America just aren't because their football culture isn't intense and entrenched and life-ruining like that of Europe or Britain or S. America. It's like having a dorky over-earnest noisy kid brother who wants to be included and get in the spirit.

And anyway, every single team gets like that with each other as the competition progresses. Bit catty, bit vicious. It's the game. Last Euros, some people were absolutely howling angry and emotionally ready to send their nearest pizza parlour up in the flames. But we move, and it's all fine. Just trading barbs, at the end of the day, and nothing to take deeply to heart.

I for one would be sorry to see N. America stop attending or playing because of abuse. The world honestly do appreciate their presence in the sport. But at the same time I think if they learned to embrace the back-and-forth for what it is, they'd get on better as a team and a fanbase.

just a little hilarious fyi: the ecuador goalscorer once faked an injury during a game because the police came into the stadium to arrest him for not paying child support

r34 Agreed, and I love seeing them taking part in World Cups and hope the sport gets way more popular over there. Obviously won't happen with this shitty WC, but the 2026 one might genuinely move the needle in this regard. Just hoping it's not fucking Trump declaring the games open, which is the same fear I have for the 2028 Olympics.

The Wales/U.S. fixture is going to be a cracking game, I have a feeling.

All respect to the U.S. and I have no wish to see them fail, but Wales deserve this opportunity and want it more than any other team. They need to progress.

US will win because they have the Lebron James of soccer.

Reports coming in that James Maddison & Kyle Walker won't play for England against Iran tomorrow, due to niggles in training.

Hard to guess the exact team lineup for tomorrow. Most expect Mason Mount & Kalvin Philips respectively as the likely candidates to start in their place.

am getting dizzy like a schoolbitch crushing over Hendo. like just listening to him talk boring shop about the Iran game tomorrow is making me sweaty and lightheaded.

this man is xtian and married with kids ffs. plus i am not a 19-21 y.o. slimthicc influencer/instaho. so there is no shot for me, and i wish my traitorous body could accept the sad reality that i will never get an opportunity to taste that fruit or even look into those beautiful eyes fr. sigh

Ladies and gents, feel free to show public affection for each other in Qatar. You're sick in the head, but you may not get beheaded for it. Don't you feel better already?

^ Oh, I forgot: When you do show affection, don't do it with a beer in your hand though.

Qatari fans and supporters left the stadium midgame lmao!!!!

R43 Definitely no "you will never walk alone" bunch.

[quote] US will win because they have the Lebron James of soccer.

R38 who lol? TAA? He doesn't play for you and never will, though he was eligible for a U.S. callup if he wanted (his mother is a New Yorker).

Lol, someone(s) chose Qatar in the poll.

Just learned that the Iran manager was just three months ago the manager for Egypt. Wtf? The previous manager for Iran was sacked really unfairly imo.

England has surprisingly good looking team. Some of those Persian men look good, too.

I don’t think I can despise Fifa more than I do now.

I’m supporting Germany, Australia, Senegal, Brazil

It’s nice that FIFA cleared England to take the knee after the armbands were banned.

[quote] The captains of England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark will not wear "OneLove" armbands after FIFA made it clear they would be booked, the associations said in a joint statement on Monday. "You don't want the captain to start the match with a yellow card.

Only yellow card? I thought FIFA would have threatened them with putting the entire team on a plane and sending them home.

That Iranian goal keeper’s nose is quite a big one to break 😬

If you still don’t know why a Wirld Cup in Qatar is fucked up John Oliver lays it out

Link here sorry:

R52 It is a big deal. Two yellow cards bring red card and ban from the next game. I agee, fuck Fifa!

R53 it's ok his nosey was tenderly kissed by his teammate

FFS KANE WILL YOU FINISH ONE TIME

the two Harrys between them are trying to ruin my whole week and it's only lunchtime on a monday

Jude starboy Jude GOAT Jude the only girl in the world xxxxxxx

make him Captain if not Hendo honestly. and also bring him to LFC

R54 Thanx for the John Oliver link. What I don't understand is that what Oliver correctly pointed out was known from the get-go, especially kafala, which is the continuation of over a millennium of Muslim slavery. Why wait until it's too late to have an effect to highlight the horrors of Qatar and FIFA's woefully empty-headed decision.

^^that was Bellingham's first international goal btw!!!!! Amazing for a lad who's only just turned 19 and only arrived at SGP a year and half ago. That's my son!!!!!!

Iran trying to blame Maguire for that conceded goal is it

try playing with him in your team lads then you'll know what true liability is lol

England is crushing Iran

Raz Sterling is the secret sauce that makes Kane so good. I said what I said

Mans on TalkSport commentary just said "Three Lions scoreline" hahaha. Here in England we're honestly such oblivious shitbags when it comes to these competitions but we don't care!

C'mon guys, take your cue from the ladies... I want to see 8 goals today

^^love how this comment was #66. Very auspicious uno ;)

Not watching, but I heard that the Iranian players refused to sing their national anthem. That's courage.

Stones/Pickford in their own little lovebubble. Boys we know you have the hots for each other but can we have a bit less flirty backpassing and a bit more switched on defense? Ta loves

R68 True. Total silence.

Is Iran throwing the game as an F-U to their government? I mean England is a good team but not AMAZING.

[quote] his nosey was tenderly kissed by his teammate

So, this is how things unfold now? The only male on male affection in the Qatar world cup comes from two Muslims? The world is a complicated place.

My takeaway from Qatar 2022 so far... Muslims aren't very at the footy are they?

Kidding aside, I have read the Iranian players have spoken out in support of Iranians against their government. As much as Iran to lose big because of their shit government, I feel for the players. Maybe maguire will pull off one of his patented donkey moves and Iran will score a consolation goal.

Wow, maybe it really coming home this year.

NO!!!! PICKERS!!!!!

Haha, called it. Maguire loses his man, Iran have scored.

also the Iranians were fucking with their subs on purpose to distract us the cunts

That’s any hope of a clean sheet run in tatters ToT

Um excuse me we only have 10 men???

Not a fan of Dier (by name and by nature) but...he has done bits for England before. So he'll probably save the situation, embarrassing as it is.

Finals…Brazil and Germany with Brazil winning.

England, as usual, goes nowhere.

How does Rashy do that? He was a non-entity a year ago. Missed that crucial Euros penalty. Wasn't playing for England anymore until two weeks ago. Out of nowhere he's back??? Comeback King

hello Jack my babygirl <3

can't wait for her to fall over and try to seduce an Iranian

comms: Jordan Pickford is absolutely furious

ah familiar territory...

[quote] US will win because they have the Lebron James of soccer.

For the humor-impaired posters, this was a joke.

So relieved to be getting past Game 1. Sounds stupid because England usually do and it's expected, but you still feel anxious until it actually happens, don't you...

JACK! ANGEL!

That tap-in was for the rights of dumb bi sluts everywhere xxxxxx

Freed from desire, mind and senses purified

Na-na-na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na

Na-na-na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na

Na-na-na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na

Na-na-na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na

right then who's chanting jingle bells in the stadium I just wanna chat babes

peno????? for a cheeky gay shirt tug???? yew fackin WOT

There we go, 6-2.

R88 = FEWMIN’

^^^^

bleeeeggh dont play H a rry St yles songs thats fully ruining the vibe

bukayo saka=youngest player for england ever to score a brace at the opening match of a wc😭💕😭

[quote]Freed from desire, mind and senses purified

I would like to request Boom Boom Boom

I know you all think he’s just a dumb slut but Jack’s actually a good guy.

R95 why can't Jack be both? Being a stupid whore doesn't have to be a negative!!!

Jacky is the sweetest sexiest prettiest loveliest one on Earth, and soooo special and precious and beloved to England fans actually xx

I want a Central or South American team to win, but not Brazil.

The World Cup DJ must have been hired from an over-45s nightclub in Ibiza

I would love Mexico to win. Failing that, I want Argentina just so we can see Emi Martinez hump the World Cup trophy.

R99 would be a such a massive laugh to see Argentina take it just to watch R0naldo lose what's left of his mind

I want to see Emi Martinez trash talking Neymar or Ronaldo before saving a crucial penalty.

Grant Wahl was detained just a little bit ago when trying to enter the stadium for the USA game.

Good old Grant, it’s always all about him!

[quote] I know you all think he’s just a dumb slut but Jack’s actually a good guy.

The dumb sluts are always the most fun.

For the record and fwiw, most England fans disagree with the decision to eschew the One Love armband.

[quote] The dumb sluts are always the most fun.

R104 fun and endearing and iconic

On serious side all my respects to Hajsafi for supporting protestors in Iran and the entire team following his lead.

I'm excited to watch the first US match in the World Cup in a very long time. I'm also prepared to be disappointed.

Okay, let’s see what Team USA is able to bring to the party. Wales has several excellent players. I wish soccer would become more popular in US.

Wales supporters must feel the need to drink beer beer beer! Wow what a way to sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau!

Ref to the captains right before the match: right lads be respectful and keep it clean. also remember theres VAR and cameras everywhere so tell your players don't foul

Joe Rodon at his first opportunity: *fouls someone right in front of the camera lmao*

Impeach the Ref!

USA! USA!

Ramsey needs to create us some space in midfield, these lads are trying to bully us off the field..

Fantastic goal to US!

Cymru has done SO MUCH to get here so why are we looking so meek out there now? Didn't get here just to get *here* did we....

We're trying to cover touchline to touchline here :/

We're baaaaack!

USA! USA!

CER I GRAFFU PULISIC

Chelsea cunt >:(

Fuck yeah!!!! Brilliant run by Pulisic! Good finish by Weah

never a yellow come on now. ych a fi

right get top shagger Kieffer on NOW

sorry how do the US have all this energy and drive? have you all been chaining Monster energy drinks or sth?

Wales is playing a little dirty, no?

Up the Welsh.

Yr wyf yn trallodus ToT

50 minutes in yet we haven't won a second ball. Tournament football is built on that, not pretty footwork.

We can't get up the pitch, can't get out our final 3rd. U.S. have dominated possession so far, and when we have been in possession we've just given the ball away. Pam fod hyn yn digwydd i ni?

Anyone know the approximate number of Americans in attendance? (Drinking on their behalf and asking for my bladder.)

am highly conscious that USA are the only reason Putin and his mates haven’t smashed our (Britain's) back doors in yet so I’m going to keep a lot of my more venomous lagered up thoughts to myself but. let's be honest it's a 90 minute open season whenever USA meet England. the Lions just pick you off. so perhaps don't get too used to this yeah?

This is the first US men’s team I’ve seen that isn’t a chore to watch. We don’t play at the level of the top European or South American teams, of course we don’t, but we finally have some speed and skill. I’m surprised.

R127 yes full credit where it's due, mate. By your usual yardstick, this is the performance of a lifetime. If you keep this up for every game, you are a serious threat. Whatever the US coaching team has been doing for the last three years, it's bloody working wonders.

it's just hit me i've worked it out

d'you know what's ruining this welsh team? the Tottenham effect. half the current starters play for that clowncar club. this is literally a Spursy showing

farewell Dan my short king. hope this isn't your last game boyo

Um.. so... who's gay?

R131 how can you be thinking about sex at a time like this????

Tim Ream is very much not Reem...

so many trash tats

usa GK just saved a goal! yeah!

grrrrr this half feels like torturous edging, like there's a Wales goal potentially coming with just a little...bit...more....

mor rhwystredig

Funny that neither Ronaldo nor Messi have ever won a World Cup.

has someone told Christian he's getting deported out the Prem if he doesn't win this? it's demonic this showing. he isn't half this good for Chelsky

Pulisic is a cutie!

Yeah, I'd eat his ass!

Just let Ben Davies score. It’s an immutable rule of the game like a) you have to wear shorts b) don’t foul in the penalty box c) if Daddy Davies fancies a goal you get out the fucking way

dumb cunt, penalty for wales

well, at least I prepared myself to be disappointed

GARETHHHHHHHHHHH SHAG ME RYDYCH CHI'N FRENIN SYDD MOR RHYW

[quote]Cymru has done SO MUCH to get here so why are we looking so meek out there now? Didn't get here just to get *here* did we.... We're trying to cover touchline to touchline here :/

It's quite amusing that ITV have the very handsome Hal Robson Kanu to represent Wales as a pundit, when he has a former England youth international and only qualifies for Wales because his great grandmother gave birth to a daughter in Caerphilly.

And BBC have Ashley Williams, another English player with a Welsh grandparent.

At least Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are proper Welsh lads.

This ref is handing out cards like parking tickets. Can we all just calm down

Nine minutes of added time is dicey. Wales have a horrible habit of last minute concessions. Biting my nails down here...

RyRen's hush bf Rob McElhenney is a neutral then is he?

Ethan Ampadu is another former England player who wasn't good enough for England so switched to Wales.

The Welsh goalkeeper is a fluent Welsh speaker but his life's experiences don't say much about the Welsh education system.

R149 if you want to go down that road, at least several of the England seniors are eligible for Ireland. Two of them (Jack & Declan) literally put on the green shirts and played for Ireland U21s.

A player doesn't have to declare fixed loyalty until they're in their twenties. They just want to play, can't blame them for going where they think their chances of success are best.

ohhhhhh a halfway line screamer would have been orgasmic. that's a shame

I think England will top the group with ease and Wales will squeak through in second place. The USA are no pushovers, though.

Mae breuddwyd y dreigiau yn dal yn fyw...

Fuck, a win would have been a cushion. Now the US has to win against Iran and all the pressure will be unbearable. Especially if US loses to England on Friday and Iran is a must win as the final game.

Imagine if Iran wins. Their shitty government will no doubt crow and cackle.

[quote][R149] if you want to go down that road, at least several of the England seniors are eligible for Ireland. Two of them (Jack & Declan) literally put on the green shirts and played for Ireland U21s. A player doesn't have to declare fixed loyalty until they're in their twenties. They just want to play, can't blame them for going where they think their chances of success are best.

Yep, many players have dual heritage. Bukayo Saka could play for Nigeria if he wanted to. Michael Owen grew up in Wales but felt English, Ryan Giggs grew up in England but felt Welsh

I don't blame a player for making a career decision, but I find it grating when players who have no emotional or cultural links to a country makes a change based on the flimsiest of circumstances, especially when Wales prides itself on positioning itself as different to England.

And it was penalty, so obvious. Idiotic tackle.

A lot of the Ireland players, especially in the 80 and 90s were English with Irish parents or grandparents.

This made me laugh

[quote]Moore was born in England and represented England C on a single occasion in 2016, however later chose to commit to Wales at senior international level.

[quote]Moore is eligible for the Wales national team through his paternal grandfather, who hailed from Llanrug. The Chinese Football Association, however, had tried to get contact with the hope to get Moore into the Chinese team, using the Chinese ancestry of his maternal great-grandfather, who hailed from Guangdong before migrating to Liverpool in the 1940s (although great-grandparent Is not a valid international qualification); Moore later arrived at Beijing to discuss the matter in 2019 but the move failed to materialise.

So will going through to the next round come down to goal differences?

LOL. Why did us United States fans expect anything different than what just happened?

So the most likely results will be that both Wales and United States lose to England by a couple goals and win against Iran by a couple goals.

Matt Turner is hot

Sad news you may have missed: this morning, former Swiss international footballer Karim Gazzetta killed himself, at age 27.

I just read that. That is indeed sad.

RIP

so sad

Messi Messi Messi

Ooof Argentina WTF? You are losing complete control in the second half. Embarrassing

Every scorer from yesterday’s three matches had their first World Cup goal, which is unprecedented.

Weird but cool stat. And goes to show how difficult it usually is to get on the scoreboard for the World Cup as compared with other competitions.

I have a nasty feeling that the media and broadcasters are doing a good job getting their virtue signalling out of the way but once the tournament gets going people will quickly forget that literally thousands of poor people have died in order to hold this World Cup..

Ooft just caught up with Group C. The first time Argentina have conceded once in 3 years and 36 games. Such an epic powerful win streak ended in a group stage match vs. a nothing country. That has to sting the pride and dent the enthusiasm a bit.

Who knew there was so much black representation in the gulf nations

Qataris launch authoritarian crackdown on pro-LGBT fans in rainbow hats: Officials tell supporters they are enforcing anti-gay laws 'for their own safety'. Fans wearing rainbow bucket hats or T-shirts are being turned away.

Checked the score and initially thought I'd read it wrong! 2-1 to Saudi Arabia. Who'd have guessed?

The Qataris regularly buy top athletes from other countries and their money is from oil, not from innovation or similar development.

Both goals were Rodrigo de Paul’s fault (opinion I just made up)

Alvarez saves them all day btw😔

Not watching the games live, but it looks from what I'm reading as if Scaloni was completely outplayed tactically, plus Saudi Arabia are a lot better than expected. I'll be really disappointed if Argentina goes out early.

The Saudi coach is daddy male model hot.

Argentina manager once lost West Ham a trophy? Always liked him yenno

International football is just like here’s a man you’ve never heard of in your life and can’t even verify if he’s real. Tagliafico? Okay slay

[quote]The Saudi coach is daddy male model hot

He's a former player from France. Big nose, big hose!

Why tf is Lisandro Martinez on the bench? Argentina need him or someone like him out there to create, strike fear, bring star quality.

He was brought on, I think.

The Saudi goalkeeper is the dog’s nuts

Dang they just can’t score. Sad

Tbf to Argentina all is not lost. During Italia ‘90 they lost their opening game to Cameroon yet still made it to the final.

What a match! Both Saudi goals were stunning. This is why I watch the World Cup

Bit torn emotionally on this result. On the one hand, ugh Golf State homophobe fundies. On the other, at least a few of the Argentinian squad play for Man City. So both are wretched and idc who wins.

The Saudi goalkeeper was playing out of his mind

Just woke up to see Saudi Arabia has beaten mighty Argentina. Shocker! Incredible.

Guess Argentina isn't going to win the world cup.

Fuck me. One single game away from an all-time win streak record, and they get done by a team ranked 53rd with 20/1 odds. That’s the World Cup for you🤯

So this means France/Argentina Ro16 then?

Probably not gonna bother following the other games live today (busy/tired/cba) so in advance come on you Mexicans come on you Danes cum(dog) on you Roos!!

Do England fans still hate Argentina? Just a yank wondering

[quote]Do England fans still hate Argentina? Just a yank wondering

Yes.

DIRTY CHEATING BASTARDS.

R192 to this day my Dad in his sixties refers pejoratively to them only as ‘Argy Bargies’.

You can't say they didn't deserve it. Played a really good match, so many instinctual flicks of the ball in the second half to defend their two goals from being tied. Messi looked like he was running out of ideas.

A fun fact for those who are boycotting the matches.

A measure of just how SERIOUSLY countries take their football:

La guerra del fútbol; colloquial: Football War), also known as the Hundred Hours' War or 100 Hour War, was a brief military conflict fought between El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. Existing tensions between the two countries coincided with rioting during a 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The war began on 14 July 1969 when the Salvadoran military launched an attack against Honduras. The Organization of American States (OAS) negotiated a cease-fire on the night of 18 July (hence "100 Hour War"), which took full effect on 20 July. Salvadoran troops were withdrawn in early August.

R195 Saudi defense was outstanding

No fan of Saudi Arabia the country but these games will be much more interesting with surprises like this. Saudi Arabia played well.

Is it just me, or is this public statement pretty brave? Being that outspoken against the Iranian government sounds pretty risky. The team will go home probably rather sooner than later, and I'm sure a lot of 'questioning' will be conducted. This and not singing the anthem... I'm in awe, really. Or am I overestimating the Iranian government's reach.

And others cannot even wear a fake armband.

[quote]I have a nasty feeling that the media and broadcasters are doing a good job getting their virtue signalling out of the way but once the tournament gets going people will quickly forget that literally thousands of poor people have died in order to hold this World Cup..

Well people here don’t care, why should the media?

[quote]Or am I overestimating the Iranian government's reach.

Not at all. It puts them and their families in real danger.

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia:

Fox sports has replays on demand. But my fs app on roku keeps stopping every 5 minutes. Happy to discover Tubi also has free replays on demand.

Rigged.

Brazil is winning this WC!

pele looked weak and has cancer...sad last days

manifesting the ugliest portugal loss in history!!!! i want 7-0 to ghana and a red card + broken leg for you know whom

Blond Danes vs. dark Tunisians. Hot game.

R206 It’s one thing not like someone but wishing him something bad is wrong.

Messi just will not win a WC.... ever. Snake bitten but also annoying.

And now, Go El Tri!!! Meh - hee - co! Meh - hee - co!

R208 am pretty sure the banter rule for world cups has been explained before but in case you missed it--no one actually means most of the rude cruel things they sling at players or teams during a tournament!!! its normal and acceptable in this window to slag each other off!!!!!!!! so you can calm your tits and stop moralistically whiteknighting for rich narcissistic men who could buy your life!!!!!!

That's what everyone says about Messi, he never does well when he plays for mexico. doesn't deserve the "greatest" title.

Pele is da best!

R211, I meant his own country Argentina.

The Saudi coach is hot! That's why they won.

One fan said: 'Messi choked yet again. he is not winning this world cup.

A second quickly posted: 'Messi the greatest choke artist of all time for Argentina and big moments.

A third tweeted: 'Messi remains the biggest choke artist in international play. What a loser!

More fans chimed in by agreeing that the 35-year-old continues to choke when it comes to the international stage, having failed to win a World Cup in his illustrious career.

oh my days i panicked seeing Eriksen trending 😭 glad to see it’s just people tweeting they’re happy he’s back at an international tournament

Ah, Penaldo fans are out of hiding, I see. ;)

BREAKING NEWS! Ronaldo to leave ManU with immediate effect!

Wtf Argentina?

Unsurprising.

R217 He needs to realize he's too old. Dude is nearly 40 yet complains on national tv that he's getting benched. Dude, fuck off. You're delusional. Just retire already.

Adios, motherfucker!

Any hots in the US team?

Poland drew against Mexico so that makes things a bit easier for Argentina. Lewandowski had a penalty saved.

Memo is truly Mexico's #1!

Ditto Pickford for England.

Love me some goalees.

Seems like Memo has been there for El Tri for about 40 years. Saved Mexico's ass.... again.

he did that interview just to get out of Man Utd. He hated the coach and the aging facilities. He's in fab shape and i think he can still play, maybe in a slow league like the Serie A. He turned down big money to play in the middle east.

Whatever happened to the cute twink James Rodrigues of colombia? He was the fucking star a couple of world cups ago.

R227 Twink is now over 30 and pretty much a has been... Greek club, after disappointing career in Spain, Germany and EPL.

Colombia did not make the WC this time. James (ha-mezz), will be seen lip synching in a gay bar in Medellin within a few years.

France should be further ahead. The Australian defence isn't great. France will have to up their game if they want to defend their title.

^ Okay, I take it back. France have well and truly woken up.

[quote] Memo is truly Mexico's #1!

I love him so much. Guy stands on his head for 90-plus minutes and never has a hair out of place.

And there’s always room for pics of Giroud.

Is this a 'handball offense' ?

Beautiful France, unbeatable still. What a team

R232 yes! He looks hot and handsome year after year World Cup after WC. I have wanted him inside of me for years. And I think he looks hotter than before.

Giroud isn't ugly but I don't like his tats. trash

Adrien Rabot your pussy juice is ow you sey....le toxic waste

Leckie vs Vlaar square up....little bit of shithousing....bumping chests and heavy breathing....hmmmm yes points made i'm taking notes....

Nah, R233, Frenkie's just into that kind of thing.

[quote] Whatever happened to the cute twink James Rodrigues of Colombia? He was the fucking star a couple of World Cups ago.

Oh, that fella, yeah. Got eaten by lions, didn't he mate.

Looks as though France are going to break the curse of defending champions going out in the first round.

slightly OT but big sexy Tyrone Mings living his best bicon life out on the golf course while his teammates all get heatstroke and blueballs locked in their guarded D0ha hotel rooms is sending me

Stevie G & Lampsy both interviewed about their thoughts on the World Cup first week, and ofc they think the same. MFEO.

tomorrow do we think ruben dias takes that weird overly competitive grunting alpha male status in the portugal national side or does that role still go to the currently unemployed senior citizen

Crusty dusty sour old codgers Souness & Keane grit-teeth arguing about the venue while trying not to say anything too racialist or un-PC is the most uncomfy bit of TV you'll see this year.

Keano genuinely looks like he's been manning a ghostly pirate galleon for the last fifty years. Or like he's been hiding in a WWII spider-hole.

Ref checking Neuer's armband for signs of gayness. Get a fucking life FIFA

this may be the only time in history I'm rooting for the Germans in the football too so well fucking done on that

Not a vintage Japanese team. I'm hoping they can snatch a goal but the Germans are outplaying them.

World Cup facilities: state of the art gym and arcade and hotel with all modcons

England nt: for fun let's put a fork on a table and see if we can roll a coin into the prongs

2nd half of Germany and Japan heated up! Japan leveled at 1-1. They have the momentum but Germany have had their shots too. Great game.

Oh my word. Asano brings down a long pass just outside the box with the first touch of the gods. And smashes it from an acute angle on the right to make it Japan 2-1! What a goal.

Japan beats Germany 2-1!!!!

Fuck, 7 added minutes. Come on Japan! Another shocker!

Germany are potentially in trouble if this is a result, Spain are in the same group. Unlike Germany, they are in good form right now.

I hate the politics around this tournament but the games have been sensational

Incredible comeback from Japan.

France and England have been the best looking teams so far

WTF has happened to German football in the last few years?

65 min: Asano knocks the ball past Rudiger down the right and takes the big defender on in a footrace. Rudiger wins it, and showboats to boot, performing a couple of comic high-kicks while ushering the ball out for a goal kick in full flight.

The squad is fucking old. do you know how old Muller is?!

Rooting hysterically for Japan but respect to Germany for actually taking a stand.

Yeah, couldn't believe muller started. Is this his 8th world cup?

^^mte like Japan are cute lil guys who try so hard and care so much plus I (Wenglish) don’t want to face the Krauts later on so ganbatte!!!!!

R260 great moment, fuck Fifa

You know what maybe we should have seen this coming when Germany couldn’t even beat flop era England who were losing 4-0 to Hungary in the nations league

Müller isn't THAT old. At 33, he's younger than Ronaldo and Messi. This is his 4th World Cup.

The mind is pretty tricky... my memory is that Muller has been around since the 80s... older than grandpa Memo.

Spain is the prettiest team - some of those boys are lovely. Also, France or Spain will win the WC... they look on a different level from other teams, watch England return to disappointing form on Friday and get only one point with US on Friday.

is gerald pique in the team from Spain?

R67 He retired completely from football this month. The current Spanish team are two generations younger than he.

getting vexed with pedri and gavi solely because they look extremely annoying

sorry to laporte’s son but i don’t care for him or his weird little mate. back the playground lads off you pop

Oh Canada 🙄

A chance for Canada to take the lead and set up another shocker, but Davies serves up a terrible penalty kick.

no because that was going to be canada’s first ever world cup goal…that was soooooooo mean i'm genuinely gutted for my syrupy commonwealth mandem😭

Spain looked superhuman though I suspect Costa Rica was abject more than anything. Embarrassing for them and concaaf.

He took so long to take the penalty, you could sense the pressure. Not surprising that the penalty was so meek. The super cool penalty takers lash it into lower or upper corners and it doesn't matter if the keeper guesses correctly.

R273, but you could tell that it wasn’t simply due to Costa Rica playing poorly. This Spain plays classic Spanish-style football, with all of those rapid short passes; they have a strong team identity.

I know they all hate laporte at Spain but they have to put up with him bc who the fuck else are they meant to play at centre back

no way did this commentator just say that ‘vertonghen is extraordinarily not the oldest man on the pitch’

fr though jan is so hot these Canada players are all jealous of the size of his massive cock

I can't stand Vertongten. Is talent at the cb position that bad for Belgium. Can't believe Martinez is still starting the traffic cone.

R272 Canada isn't playing bad at all. I'm sad for them. Typical that they would miss the penalty. It's even worse considering they were cheated out of a world cup attandance last time. They only needed to win against fucking Honduras, they were the favorites then fucked it all up. Ugh. I'm still pissed about it. Their first world cup showing in like 50 years and it's in fucking Qatar. Shame.

btw Happy 26th birthday to England's James 'Madders' Maddison!

Good time to have a birthday, surrounded by mates in a hot country with a whole two days off before the next game.

R275, yes and that is why teams would play the Spanish teams from 2008 and on very tight. It was boring to watch but then at worst you lose 1 or 2 nil. Playing Spain that wide open when you're a minnow is suicidal.

This is this Belgian generation's last real chance at winning a major tournament, but it won't happen if they carry on playing like this.

My one wish is for Canada to score this world cup. Just one goal. Pretty please. I don't want them to go home goalless. They are better than that. I'm not saying they are anywhere near good enough to win the world cup, or to even advance from the group stages, but they're definitely good enough to score one fucking goal during the cup. There are worse teams competing... *cough* Costa Rica *cough*. For fucks sakes Canada showed a lot of promise against Belgium today, one of the stronger teams! A goal should be possible before flying home.

Belgium in general fuck off but I must say that Dries Mertens is a very hilarious fella on the socials

We all want Canada to score but for fuck sakes, they can't get the ball into the box from a corner.

That short pass was a little too short, Davies.

And now a delivery far too long from a corner. What a waste.

this world cup so far is like “penalties, yellow cards, offsides”…where are my babygirls red card and own goal?

Belgium might be taking Ls left and right but they got that Flavortown-lookin ass uniform

Canada surprise me today with how well they played against a very good European team.

de bruyne embarrassing himself on the international stage oh ho ho how i have prayed for times like these

hope pep saw a clip of that checking his phone out on the golf course with dictat0rs and whomever

Canadian men are hot, yet gentle. I volunteer to console them.

Japan left the locker room spotless after their win against Germany. Japanese fans even picked up trash in the stadium...

Feel so proud about the US. It feels like we're finally in an upward trajectory in the sport, When we get more youth interested in the next 8 years, we will be contenders to win it all.

Vivian Vance, silly!

Canada - always the disappointment. Seriously, why can they NEVER perform on the big stage? They fail time and time again. They should have scored on that penalty and made it a draw against Belgium. Instead they failed and lost. Shame.

The Spanish team has to be the hottest in this world cup. There are at least 4 or 5 guys on that team who are gorgeous.

R288, you made my day.

Gavi on team Spain is so cute🥰

[quote]Japan left the locker room spotless after their win against Germany. Japanese fans even picked up trash in the stadium...

It's a cultural thing. When I attended a baseball game in Japan, the ushers passed trash bags down each aisle and the fans put their trash in the bag, cleaning the venue before they left.

Japanese supporters displaying respect for self and for others by example. Pay attention to their invaluable message, World, and pass it on.

Giving thanks today (a/k/a Happy Thanksgiving).

Peace.

Hot handsome very emotional Ronaldo crying during national anthem

^ That rapist?

can’t get over the Sonny/Benty video. Holding hands and an arm around the waist and even a little butt pat, in the MIDDLE OF THE GAME, though you are on OPPOSING TEAMS, you are playing a game of football AGAINST each other, in the WORLD CUP, you are ENEMIES right now… have some couth

Entire South America flops. NID. The south american teams aren't that good anymore, with the exception of Brazil.

R304 Keep your eye on Ecuador.

Uruguay barely qualified. Suarez is slow, he shouldn't be starting.

sorry to my other lfc girlies but it's cute you thought darwin would do bits in this tournament. YES his hair is glorious and i love him for us at prem level but. come on now

R302, he's a homo. Homos don't rape women.

Whoa. Ronaldo scores a penalty--and then Ghana equalizes. SCENES!

And Portugal scores two more. It was a plodding game until about ten minutes ago.

I miss big dick Jack Wilshere

yeah, I love it when they have white shorts. lots to see.

brazil up next! How many times Neymar gonna dive?

stadium is fucking empty!

R313 minutes in and he's already on the floor ffs

This will be the most traffic lighty game because the Brazilians just want everyone to bow down to them and let them cheat while Serbians are hard as nails

Alisson’s moustache is a jump scare, a trigger warning, and a hate crime all in one :/

R311 yeah tbf looking back Wheelchair was quite fit and could be a right laugh.

That said he didn't have much going for him except cakes. Anyway, we've upgraded our team Jack a couple of times since him.

R316 maybe I’m a weirdo, but I like it. I like a fat mustache.

The world needs to follow suit:

The Japanese fans also picked up Ecuadorian and Qatari flags that had been left on the ground and stated that the country's symbols "command respect."

Of course, there are always the critics:

This being the age of social media, there is always criticism to be found and one user was quick to point out that the Japanese fans appeared to be using plastic bags to collect the rubbish. “It’s great but look at the amount of plastic waste there is!” chrispeel28 tweeted. “Their efforts are almost immediately undone by the damage the single use plastics they are clearing all of the other single use plastics into! Lovely sentiment but execution missed, perhaps not their fault.”

serbian goalkeeper on demon time 💀

what is it with goalies these past couple of internationals? all caught fire lately

R313 yo Ney...sunny innit?

Serbia nt: beaten kicked pulled over etc

Ref: I miss the part where that is my problem

Interesting trivia: many Brazil fans, particularly the young l iberal-leaning contingent, are politically eschewing the classic & iconic yellow national team shirt for the newer blue.

R323 Yellow representative of support for that creep Bolsonaro... Neymar supported him (and loose with homophobic prattle..). I hate Neymar anyway.

Mason Mount looking very cute and sparkly and pocket-sized on TalkSPORT. Seems cool, collected.

The liquid replacement regime the England boys are on to cope with the sweat & the heat sounds fucking horrendous, though.

It's Richarlison's solo show. Neymar is screaming inside.

Richarlison's second goal was the best of the tournament so far.

Is Ronaldo gay? Straight? Bi? I've lost track.

^A huge a gay pain in the arse!

[quote] It's Richarlison's solo show. Neymar is screaming inside.

Neymar is Bolsonaro fascist and Richarlison, while not openly supporting Luka, hates Bolsonaro and supports social justice causes. And he’s not a God botherer like so many of them. I thought he was a twat at Everton but converted now. A good human off the pitch.

usa vs england tomorrow is everyone ready to be irritating insufferable unpalatable and generally unpleasant to be around

USA fans are just hoping this Wales/Iran match ends in a draw

If Iran plays like this in their next match then the USA will struggle to get a point out of it. USA has to be kicking themselves for giving up that equalizer in Match 1

So the USA has to win against Iran early next week and has to keep the goal difference in the England game to less than four and they'll finish second in the group (barring any epic collapse from England).

Serbia deserved to lose. Pro-Russian assholes.

Was lazing about and lying in this morning (early start on the weekend/emotionally prepping for England and a hangover later) and so completely missed and forgot about streaming my Wales boys playing early, let alone commenting along.

Probably for the best it passed me by, I’d be feeling very kmsy right now if I’d actually seen that defeat. Aeth y sefyllfa o ddrwg i waeth—a grievous error from the keeper, and two late goals from Iran (one of which looked offside, to me anyway, looking at the highlights) is no way to exit a tournament opportunity we’ve wanted and needed for half a century. It’s wrong and it’s cruel is what it is.

Roedd hi wedi canu ar Cymru. Teg edrych tuag adref...

Two gay hating countries where homosexuality is illegal are playing now. It's impossible to choose which one to root for. I guess Senegal is the lesser of the two evils.

All I wanted was an England-Wales 1-2 and instead I got mi capten Bale crying on my tv :(((

no point to this now just give Brazil the cup tonight and end it early so everyone can forget about this mess of a year and go back to Xmas drudgery and the regular Prem aye

R337 yeah at least Senegal haven’t bribed FIFA (yet) and their people are mostly impoverished and trying their best rather than abusive greedy slav ers

Also the Senegalese speak french which is a beautiful language

Poor Wales. Looks as though Euro 2016 really was a fluke.

Neymar will miss two games due to an ankle injury.

Qatar is out of the World Cup after losing to Senegal. I think Qatar may be the first host nation to ever be knocked out in the first round, actually.

As an Australian who never wants to hear Three Lions again, let me say the following…

USA! USA!

just saw the starting line up on camera, one of the guys pings to me from USA. the blonde (dyed) hair guy. gonna catch his number later.

[quote]As an Australian who never wants to hear Three Lions again, let me say the following…

How about this one?

Wait! England, facing the U.S., takes a knee, but the gesture is not mutual? Fuck that shit!

God bless the king. Go England!

^God save the king.

US needs to get it’s act together if they want to stay in the game.

Knee taking has been part of a whole effort of anti-racism and pro-equality activism by the English Football Association, which has naturally been very unpopular with certain sections of the population.

As of earlier this year they have ceased to do it prior to all matches and only on special occasions.

number 8 has clown hair for the USA. dumb cunt wasted chance

[quote]As of earlier this year they have ceased to do it prior to all matches and only on special occasions.

R349: I've seen PL teams taking a knee consistently this season.

As you were. Enjoy the match. Peace.

God save the king.

selfish cunt from the USA should have passed the ball.

The captains decided to reserve taking the knee for special occasions in August

I am enjoying America’s scrappiness.

the guy who pings to me wears number 2 jersey for USA

Sergino Dest

USA wins 0-0!!!

Group B all comes down to next Tuesday. Anyone could still drop out. If the USA wins against Iran they are through to the next round.

Wales are, to all intents and purposes, out. England will almost certainly make the last sixteen, although they will not necessarily top the group.

Looking forward to Mexico v Argentina tomorrow! Argentina have something to prove.

Argentina ain't gonna do shit. Mexico will win!

I want to see Mexico win but it would be a sad and embarrassing loss for Messi.

R361 Agreed, pulling for El Tri, and/but if Argentina lose it will an epic fail, AGAIN, for the man who once was the world's greatest player. Astonishing.

Canada may have one of the hottest teams of the tournament

Not impressed by them, R363.

Most western European countries (England, Wales, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany) have teams that show the impact of immigration - great diversity of players, or even the majority players of color - then there are countries that show the old "national characteristics" - Denmark, Poland, Serbia, Croatia... watching France play and defeat Denmark demonstrated this.

I know Denmark has immigrants and the children of immigrants. Is there something essentially racist about some countries?

France really does look like they can win again. Perhaps only Brazil looks as good so far. England was exposed by being tied by a fairly mediocre US.

Poland, Croatia, and Serbia are almost all white. Now Poland has even more white people (Ukrainians).

R366 Explain Denmark. I've worked in Copenhagen - there are a lot of immigrants. The team is completely white.

I kinda feel like USAvsIran will end in a draw with England and Iran advancing out of the group

Messi, finally.

Some of the referees are very handsome. Fit daddies in their forties.

I wouldn't count Denmark out just yet. I think they have a decent chance of beating Australia, in which case they'll progress to the next round (unless by some miracle Tunisia beat France).

Go Canada!

Glad Canada finally got their World Cup goal.

I see USSoccer has started an international incident by altering Irans flag on one of their posts ahead of Tuesdays match. Iran's government is asking FIFA to punish the USA team by banning them for at least 10 matches

The Biden administration has been forced to come out and make a statement that they had no part in creating or approving the post. That is probably harder to understand in the many countries where the national teams are supported by the government. Here in the US the government has nothing to do with funding or running any sports

R372 Go home Canada

Go to top Croatia!

Bye bye Canada. Croatia are not suffering from Belgium's fatigue.

Belgium fatigue? Then they are not the winning material. Canada is not a big team, while Croatia was 2nd in the world in last world championship, they were 3rd in world too and they are a small football force.

Tom Brady roots for Croatia.

The most handsome team.

Spanish team is way hotter than the Croatians.

What's a round robin?

No way, Spanish footballers are ugly ever since that pretty Torres has retired.

Italians would be cute, but they stayed at home

veratti has amazing eyes. I've looked right in them in person. too bad he's kinda short. but Many hot past Italian players are super hot!

Marcos Asencio from Spain is very hot!

Are the Italians still smoking? Gigi is a smoker, he's retired by now right?

His taking credit for this purloined goal is why we hate ronaldo.

predictions for tomorrow? I see a scoreless draw between USA and Iran.

FUCK IRAN! EYE-RAN!

i'm hoping Senegal holds on

Senegal cikanam!

The Qatarites seem upset that their blood money can’t buy goals.

[quote]I see a scoreless draw between USA and Iran.

Yep, this seems almost inevitable, doesn't it?

Too bad about Ecuador, I thought they were a genuine dark horse that could do a deep run in the tournament.

Congratulations to Sénegal, first African nation to the round of 16

So Tom Brady is a traitor like his Orange Anus?

Here we go. USA v Iran

Weah is the best player for the US right now

CCV is thicc!!

It is all USA in the first half but they just can't put it in the net

When Pulisic did put it into the net, he got kicked in the balls

Pulisic scores!!!!!

Weah is good but his decision making is just slightly off over the last 15 minutes

USA's looking good, but they've got to work on their finishing. So many chances, just one goal.

Which one of the American boys is DL approved?

To me, the US men's team all look like boys or Phish concert-goers.

Do we know if any of them are horny or slutty?

Pulisic has been subbed out for the second half 😬

The US looking a little bit out of sync in the first few minutes of the first half and Iran is getting more chances.

Iran desperately trying to get a penalty kick

So sorry, Eye-Ran! So very sorry, Eye-Ran. Very very sorry, Eye-Ran.

I'm NOT sorry, you whiney little bitch!

WTF made Iran think they could get a penalty kick at the end? Nothing happened. Sheer desperation.

R412 Kind of standard for that position - losing, seconds left.

What an exciting game. Pulisic, such promise a few years ago and disappointing so consistently with Chelsea and the USMNT, came through. It was a perfect touch. Epic hero time (especially if the US can win one or two more games). Apparently abdomen injury, was taken to the hospital.

The US has players with talent who make poor decisions, wilt under pressure. Not today. Adams, the captain, is so solid.

And for the "DL approved" pretty boy, I nominate goalie Matt Turner.

R413 Matt Turner's eyes are lovely and he used to be a drama kid. Perfect DL cat nip.

It's just a 'penalty', dear Americans; you don't need the 'kick'. It's implied in the correct name of the sport.

Rashy got two goals for England! England beats Wales 3-0! Go England!

[quote] It's just a 'penalty', dear Americans; you don't need the 'kick'. It's implied in the correct name of the sport.

There’s more to the world than just jolly ole England, you inbred.

^^ Wrong country, septic.

R415 Soccer!! Soccer! IT'S SOCCER!

wait, so puslisic is injured?

as he was scoring, he took the goalkeepers knee and boot right in his abdomen. He struggled on for another few minutes and was subbed at half time and transported to the hospital.

Good news! He just sent out a message from his hospital bed.

Pulisic was holding his balls and dick while he was on the ground for an extended period of time. It looked like a groin hit that they're just referring to as "abdominal injury"

i cannot stand Alexi Lalas

Yikes! Hope the dude didn’t lose his future kids in the win 😲

Who here has had him?

[quote]i cannot stand Alexi Lalas

He is truly the asshole of these World Cup presentations. Who hired the has-been Lalas, the humorless Black woman former footballer, and the bottle-brassy blonde skank who hosts the evening program? Sheesh!

I also hate this woman commentator. She is horrible. She is a former player, don't know her name but I wish she would just shut the fuck up and let the English guy do the commentating.

Where is Italy?

R429 they didn't qualify for the tournament

I watch in Spanish because I love the drama and catty commentary.

[quote] WTF made Iran think they could get a penalty kick at the end? Nothing happened. Sheer desperation.

The desperation probably has something to do with the outlook that they all get tortured, then shot, once they enter Iranian soil again. Kinda makes them want to stay in the World Cup as long as possible.

yeah, plus the whole team didn't sing the national anthem in the previous match. they probably gonna die now...

R433 Hypervigilance... I mean 2/3 of the US players didn't sing the SSB today. And 1/2 of the Iranian players did sing today.

I loved the clip they showed of the Iranian reporter correcting US captain Tyler Adams' pronunciation of Iran and then baiting him about US racism. Shrewd, kind, classy answer. Adams should run for office some day... that cool-under-fire grace can't be taught.

Football legend Pele, 82, is hospitalised over 'swelling all over and heart failure issues, with chemotherapy for cancer not working' as he 'struggles to eat' with his wife by his side for tests in Sao Paulo

The ginger commentator is annoying but I would probably still service him. I have a thing for tall gingers.

Good job, Australia!

I'll be rooting for Saudi Arabia today

Denmark had no business being there

R439 Unclear in what sense you mean this. FIFA #10 team (above Germany, Croatia, Mexico, Switzerland), and almost won the last European Championship. They just couldn't finish with goals while playing well.

Similarly Mexico... always so talented EXCEPT they just don't finish with goals. I predict they will dominate the game today and lose 1-0.

World Cunt Championship

I wonder if any of Team Iran took the opportunity to defect?

I would gladly take them in, R442.

that was not a penalty

R442 I think Iran and Qatar have a pretty close relationship. I don't think they could defect there.

They can't defect, their families in Iran would be slaughtered.

That possibility exists regardless, R446.

I'm uncertain as to protocol for defection, but it may not be limited to the "host" nation. Let's leave it to another thread.

Mexico comes alive!!!!

México! México!

Come let’s go !!

Mexico won't make it. Poland and Mexico has the same number of points but Poland has less yellow cards so they will move through to the last 16

Does the player in the hospital need his groin and pelvis massaged?

Yes Saudi!

Argentina played beautifully today

Poland were so weak tonight. I would rather have seen Mexico go through, they were giving it their all.

R453 Yep, Mexico finally played to their capacity. Today they looked in the knockout stages they could stay with any time left... Spain, Brazil... too bad they showed up too late.

^^ autocorrect is getting pushier and pushier. "could stay with any team left"

France file complaint to FIFA as they claim Antoine Griezmann's last-gasp equalizer against Tunisia was 'wrongly disallowed' by VAR for offside

USA please. The only other team I would root for first is Ukraine but that's not gonna happen.

Wow, Japan is thru!

Germany is out! too fucking old!

Some of the Netherlands players are battling the flu.

Gives us an advantage but also exposes our team to the flu.

Bye bye USA! Sorry, Pusilic, but it really IS called football!

There's a soccer tournament in North America in 2026. Pulisic and the boys will be ready. Not sure who Pusilic is.

Wow Australia is getting their asses handed to them by Argentina! I’m embarrassed for their keeper.

It looks like Pele will die before the 18th.

Messi was phenomenal! Such sad news about Pele, though.

Is the player that got hit in the nuts able to get his aggression out with a good fuck tonight or does he need abstain for a bit longer?

Mbappe > Messi

Are you guys getting the ad for pet insurance with the psychotic-looking pitchwoman? She’s really angry about something.

Anyone watching England vs Senegal?

Senegal Rek!

Here.

Poor Senegal are waaay out of their depth.

France 2 0 England

Tears before bedtime in the New Jerusalem...

I legit thought Henderson & Bellingham were going to kiss

Raheem Sterling flew home to be with his family after an armed robbery at his house in London worth his family inside

Do you think Japan will beat Croatia?

no. The time for big upsets was in the group stages. At this point the elite teams are firing on all cylinders and are disciplined and cautious.

Croatia team is old as fuck. I think Japan will beat them.

R477 those old legs lasted through extra time and were strong enough to kick in those penalties. It does seem that Modric has been around 30 years...

i'm very sad Japan lost. was rooting for them. Now all of them will be practicing penalty kicks for the rest of their lives.

Only Europe and South America are left in the competition.

Me too R479. I liked their spunk. I thank Brazil will win at all.

[quote] Only Europe and South America are left in the competition.

Morocco is still in. Unfortunately.

R747, it's now being reported his family were not in the house during the burglary.

I don't care who wins, as long as it's not Argentina.

I hope Brazil wins it!

I forgot about Morocco, R482! I think Spain will beat them. The round of sixteen has been quite predictable so far, unlike the group stage.

Morocco!

hopefully Switzerland have another upset today.

Well, that showed me!

wow. this is interesting.

Ronaldo is not in the starting lineup for Portugal. He is not injured, but will start on the bench.

Major upset as Morocco ousted Spain! Their joy was palpable.

What an ugly kind of defensive football Morocco plays, but how well they play it! How stupid was Spain just to assume they could continue to pass the ball around at midfield and something would happen. Stupid Spain.

Well, the WC needs an underdog to progress to keep all interesting. So go Atlas Lions! (all of you sitting on the bus parked in front of the goal)

I wonder why Ronaldo's spent most of the game on the bench.

lalas is really annoying. I don't know anyone who likes him

FIFA is probably hoping for a Portugal vs Argentina final. Ronaldo vs Messi.

R494 they probably waned to save him for the quarterfinals and hopefully the finals. Switzerland was not a challenge for this team at all.

R494 He had a hissy fit when he was taken off for a sub in the last game... and talked smack about the manager afterwards. So the manager sat him down until 17min left. The young player who replaced Ronaldo scored THREE goals, and the whole team looked better than it did with Ronaldo. CR is 37. we are seeing the end of his career.

tbat man who scored 3 goals for spain is listed at only age 21. he looked so much older.

R499 Funny, that's what I was thinking too. I like my young football players to be sweet twinks, I guess. He's only been with the national team over a month or so. It's quite a story.

nobody posting in this thread?

Brazil gonna lose!

BRAZIL IS OUT!!!!! OMG!

Fuck sakes. I HATE Croatians. Never met one I liked. An entire country of assholes, I swear.

What the fuck is wrong with you, r503? Croatia won deservedly. Should they have deliberately lost because you irrationally hate Croatians?

No, R504, I was simply rooting for Brazil.

[quote]BRAZIL IS OUT!!!!! OMG!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!

R503 Well, fuck you too.

Wasn't there a thread about the Brazilian team tossing a cat in a press conference? And how that would cause them bad luck?

If so, that's fucking hysterical. They were the heavy favorites.

Brazil was way too "confident" after Neymar scored. In a sense it makes no sense (the game is the game), but it seemed like Brazil were entitled, thinking "well, of course we are going to win"...

I love underdogs winning, but I'll miss the skilled Brazilians with their occasional moments of unmatched brilliance.

Go Argentina!

Brazil was getting the run around from Croatia from the beginning and that’s when I knew Brasil was not going to win. The Croatian goalie is a brick wall and ensured his team’s victory.

The 🐈‍⬛ has extracted his revenge.

Argentina looking strong so far.

Argentina!! OMG!!

Ten extra minutes, lots of mayhem now.

FUCK. NO.

Lol. I went back to work at 2-0. What in the hell happened?

Messi is cursed.

The fucking Dutch scored at the last minute, R515. FFS.

Wow, I so want to console that absolutely gorgeous Argentinean boy (he appears around 1:35 in the Fox broadcast) if his team loses.

If it goes to penalty kicks, you KNOW the Dutch take this.

It's clearly fate.

did you see Messi? He was given a pill by a trainer! DRUGS!!!

Messi. OMG.

every country is gonna be practicing a million PK kicks now.

FUCK.

this game is not good for anyone for heart problems

damn, netherlands out!

Wow!! Argentina!!!!!!

today has been an incredible day of matches. hopefully tomorrow will be just as fun

Can't wait to see Argentina vs Croatia.

England v France has the potential to be phenomenal

Argentina v Netherlands was crazy! WTF was up with that referee?

R529, he’s a regular ref in La Liga and a major drama queen. Always to make the match about him.

I'm rooting for England now! C'mon!!!!

OMG What?!?

Here, R533

Petkovic is a stud.

ronaldo is on the bench again for the morocco match

Portugal lost! Ha ha.

Ronaldo was crying his eyes out. What a pussy.

Morocco has not given up a single goal from an opponent. Unreal

Hakimi is so hot

Gotta love the Dailymail's take on pussy Ronaldo: "...Ronaldo storms out down the tunnel in tears."

Gotta admit: I was actually hoping for a Messi/Ronaldo final. The drama would have been great.

But Morocco is hard to root against.

Amazing achievement for Morocco!

I love the exciting Morocco games. Too bad England is gonna whip their asses!

I do not want France to win!

I think it's likelier to be France, R543

R543 They have a disciplined and smothering defense. Never out of shape. Not my favorite style of soccer... but they legit won the game against Portugal.

England has a penalty. harry is taking it!

England equalized!!!

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fuck the french CUNTS

^ This post aged badly.

Morocco will beat the frogs!

R550, it would be sweet to have France defeated by its former colony.

It will be just desserts, R551.

No one who actually knows any Moroccans would agree with that sentiment.

The Moroccan coach is a handsome daddy. Here he is celebrating with the team.

Lots of cut, Muslim cock.

Why are Americans obsessed with colonialism?

Well, this tweet aged well

Indeed r556. It’s that sort of rabid triumphalism from the English Press that many find objectionable. The English pundits are hardly any better. Bad losers and worse winners. Feel sorry for Kane as he’ll come in for some poisonous comments.

I suspect Southgate will be scapegoated more than Kane will.

I’d love a Morocco/Argentina final.

Olivier Giroud has the best facial bone structure of all the players.

Today I was admiring the gorgeous goalkeeper for Morocco - and his beautiful Semitic nose.

I hope Argentina (and Messi) take it.

....

not a fan of Messi. he called someone an idiot and to fuck off or shut up. saw it on twitter. gonna try to find it and link it

He called him "bobo", which is about as anodyne an insult as you can get, as far as I know. Weghorst was provoking and fouling Messi during the game so he didn't want to talk to him or shake his hand.

The Dutch still playing the sad, blond victims is a bit rich, really, because they were trying to be provocative and get under the Argentinians' skin - which is fine, to a degree. During the penalty shootout they were harassing the penalty takers, but the Dutch media caused an uproar because some of the Argentinians made mocking gestures when they won.

R565, "bobo" just means "fool," and was, in that case, deserved. The Dutch are, unfortunately, famous for their dirty play.

Testing testing 1, 2, 3

Let’s go Croatia and France!!

Or Morocco 🤔

Much as I think France vs Croatia in the final is the likely outcome, I'm not sure why anyone would want that. It'll be as dull as ditchwater or France will win easily, as in 2018.

i'm excited for the France and morocco game. But this Argentina Croatia game I'll skip

Zlatan posted that it's rigged for Messi to win the WC.

I really hope it's not rigged. Messi doesn't strike me as the sort of player who want to win by cheating. It would be such a hollow victory.

As an aside. he Qatar intro has been one of ITV's best. Much better than that annoying BBC one.

No he didn't, r571.

I loathe that entitled asshole. Fuck Messi.

Pay your taxes, FUCKER.

Tell that to Modric too, R574.

R5232, yes he did. that's what he meant. you gotta read between the lines.

I’m rooting for Modric, actually.

He doesn’t pay his taxes either?

🙁

^ Sadly, he was found guilty og tax evasion as well, yes.

R576, I don't think it's what he meant. He said before that he hoped Argentina would win because of Messi.

No, R578, he said it's "written" for messi to win this world cup.

The men at Fox all got fat. None of their suits fit. too small!!!

R577, the problem with a lot of footballers was that their financial advisors used British/American tax dodge devices, like trusts, which, it turned out, were not recognized under Spanish law. The players themselves didn’t have the intent to violate the law, they were relying on incorrect legal advice.

what do you mean the players themselves didn't intent to violate the law? Not paying your taxes is illegal and they tried to get around it, so it's not like they are innocent little lambs who are too dumb to know anything and are being led astray by agents. They did not wan to pay taxes. They knew what they fuck they were doing. Their agents were too stupid to do it correctly.

^^ sorry lots of typos. will proof read next time

R579, this was a few days ago.

R569, you do know the expression is “dull as dishwater,” right?

Yes, I do, R585. I also know that my version of the expression is correct.

No it's not what he meant, r576.

"Written" means "written in the stars", i.e. it's fate or destiny. Do you think Zlatan means some fraudsters got together and wrote down Messi's name as the one they are going to rig it for him to win?

either way. we will see how the refs act in this match. they were so biased the last game

messi going down so easily.

messi is injured, grabbing his leg

omg croatia gk is so fucking stupid!!!!

I'm never using the term 'Penaldo' again with all the penalties Messi has scored this tournament. ;)

Looks like Argentina is moving thru. I thought Croatia was better than this.

Argentina are pure chaos in this tournament.

Respect to Croatia and to Modric. I don't think anyone can seriously quibble with his Ballon D'Or any more.

That first penalty was bullshit and a terrible call by the referee.

R597, that is what UK commentators are saying, but it looked like a penalty to me—the Croatian gk took down Alvarez to stop him from getting a play on the ball.

Ref removed from World Cup after controversial Argentina-Netherlands clash

Following his controversial performance officiating Argentina’s quarterfinal win over the Netherlands on Friday, Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz was reportedly removed from the 2022 World Cup and will not work any of the tournament’s remaining four games. The Spanish referee, who works in Spain’s La Liga, has already left Qatar, according to Spanish outlet COPE.

The VAR (video assistant replay) referees were not punished, however, and will be given the options to work in the remaining matches.

Both teams were enraged with Lahoz throughout the match, which saw Argentina blow a late 2-0 lead before rallying to win in penalties. Lahoz handed out 18 yellow cards and one red card in the match, including a World Cup record of 15 players on the field to receive a card. Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries was sent off during penalties. The match also had 10 minutes of added time in regulation, during which the Netherlands scored to tie the game and send it to extra time.

“I don’t want to talk about the referee because you can’t be honest,” Lionel Messi told reporters after the match. “If you talk they sanction you; FIFA must think about it, they can’t put a referee who isn’t up to the task for these instances.”

With Argentina leading 2-1, tensions boiled over in the 88th minute, when Argentina’s Leandro Paredes fired the ball straight into the Dutch bench after fouling Nathan Ake. The Netherlands bench subsequently stormed the field and Virgil Van Dijk proceeded to level Paredes, resulting in a melee.

In the first half, Lahoz opted not to give Messi a yellow card for a deliberate hand ball. But despite that, it was Messi and the Argentinians who were more vocal against Lahoz.

“The referee was giving everything to them,” Argentinian goalie Emiliano Martinez, who made two saves in penalties, said. “He gave 10 minutes for no reason. … He just wanted them to score. He is useless.”

Cristiano Ronaldo 'has no intention of retiring from international football following Portugal's World Cup exit... and is determined to reclaim his place to lead his country at Euro 2024'