Discussion Football (Soccer) Thread

[lewdogs]

You've got to give the Qatari's some credit though - when the choice was between drinking Budweiser or not drinking beer at all they've made the correct decision.

But then again Budweiser clearly doesn't have that special sort of spiritually aware alcohol that goes into champagne wine and whiskey!!!

"Friday’s statement from FIFA said non-alcoholic beer will still be sold at the eight stadiums, while champagne, wine, whiskey and other alcohol will be served in the luxury hospitality areas of the arenas."

Given the state of the accommodation it's probably a blessing you can't drink.

 

[George]

I'm looking forward to the actual tournament.

I think Brazil win it but probably put some money on the Netherlands and Denmark to go pretty deep, wouldn't be surprised if one of them can win it too.

Australia v France on Tuesday morning, but the first match is Monday morning Qatar v Ecuador.

Half my heritage is English so will be watching the England games too - the predictor I did has us getting knocked out in the quarters v France so hopefully there's a few upsets.

 

[lewdogs]

I'm looking forward to the actual tournament.

I think Brazil win it but probably put some money on the Netherlands and Denmark to go pretty deep, wouldn't be surprised if one of them can win it too.

Australia v France on Tuesday morning, but the first match is Monday morning Qatar v Ecuador.

Half my heritage is English so will be watching the England games too - the predictor I did has us getting knocked out in the quarters v France so hopefully there's a few upsets.

There's actually a way I can see Australia getting out of the group, it's a similar group to 02 when we got out obviously the team lacks the quality of that side but this team does have some guts as we saw in qualifying. The conditions will be terrible and the huge number of qualifiers we've played in the middle east should help.

I reckon we could see a first time winner such as Belgium or even an African side. Edit just had a look and I don't think there are too many good looking African sides, but maybe an Asian side goes deep?

 

[George]

There's actually a way I can see Australia getting out of the group, it's a similar group to 02 when we got out obviously the team lacks the quality of that side but this team does have some guts as we saw in qualifying. The conditions will be terrible and the huge number of qualifiers we've played in the middle east should help.

I reckon we could see a first time winner such as Belgium or even an African side. Edit just had a look and I don't think there are too many good looking African sides, but maybe an Asian side goes deep?

I can't see it. France are the reigning champions and aren't finishing anywhere other than 1st in the group, then it's out of Denmark Tunisia and us for the second spot. Denmark made it to the semi's of the Euro's and have been unbelievable in WC qualifying.

We will need a win against Tunisia and a draw against Denmark to even be a chance. Almost impossible to see us getting a result v France.

 

[lewdogs]

I can't see it. France are the reigning champions and aren't finishing anywhere other than 1st in the group, then it's out of Denmark Tunisia and us for the second spot. Denmark made it to the semi's of the Euro's and have been unbelievable in WC qualifying.

We will need a win against Tunisia and a draw against Denmark to even be a chance. Almost impossible to see us getting a result v France.

Yeah that's how I see it try to limit the damage against France best Tunisia then see what happens against Denmark.

 

[NarklesHelmet]

I can't see it. France are the reigning champions and aren't finishing anywhere other than 1st in the group, then it's out of Denmark Tunisia and us for the second spot. Denmark made it to the semi's of the Euro's and have been unbelievable in WC qualifying.

We will need a win against Tunisia and a draw against Denmark to even be a chance. Almost impossible to see us getting a result v France.

Same here mate.

Will be watching the France game from behind the couch: they won it last time, Mbappe 4 years on after dominating the last World Cup will be even harder to handle. Then there is Benzema who wasn’t there last time and who is unplayable for the best defenses in Europe at the moment.

Denmark are a really good team and one of many in Europe who could go deep: a lot of talent in their team and as you mentioned playing well.

Tunisia, we can of course get a result but even if we did I just can’t see how we’d get a result against Denmark.

It’s the nature of the beast unfortunately for us at the moment. We just don’t have enough players in the big leagues. It is what it is and we just have to stick fat and hope until the next wave come through…..you realise how spoiled we were in the past with our international team.

 

[George]

Same here mate.

Will be watching the France game from behind the couch: they won it last time, Mbappe 4 years on after dominating the last World Cup will be even harder to handle. Then there is Benzema who wasn’t there last time and who is unplayable for the best defenses in Europe at the moment.

Denmark are a really good team and one of many in Europe who go go deep: a lot of talent in their team and as you mentioned playing well.

Tunisia, we can of course get a result but even if we did I just can’t see how we’d get a result against Denmark.

It’s the nature of the beast unfortunately for us at the moment. We just don’t have enough players in the big leagues. It is what it is and we just have to stick fat and hope until the next wave come through…..you realise how spoiled we were in the past with our international team.

Yep agreed, and we kind of fell over our own feet qualifying, took us until the very last knockout qualifier after fumbling it up in the regular qualification rounds. We did all this in probably the easiest route to the WC - in that all the teams we play in our region are poor in comparison to teams trying to qualify for the WC out of Europe.

 

[NarklesHelmet]

I may have stated before but I started supporting City in the 70's / 80's when they were shiiiiite. I was a kid who was playing a lot of soccer and liked the color of their kit......remember the FA Cup in 1981 it finished 1-1 against Tottenham and then Tottenham won the 'replay'. 2010 anyone? One of my best mates is a huuuge Tottenham supporter and always brings up Ossie Ardiles and that final.

My 15 year old son has benefited from being a Man City supporter, no one believes I have always gone for them. He loves the big Norwegian.

Hope the Saints have a similar rise, we may need some investment.

Thanks for the story: it’s been some turnaround for sure! Great timing for your young fella.

Started mid 90s for me. Tough to watch back then (literally) from Australia, especially when we dropped into the lower divisions.

Moved to Europe in 2006 and am a City member since then. Get to a couple of league matches a year and the odd final.

Lowest moment live was at the end of Sven’s time with us. I have an old teammate who I played soccer with in Melbourne who lives in Manchester now (he’s an Oldham fan) and he introduced me to a family friend who was a mad City fan that would go to games with me. We did a road trip from where he lived in Morecambe to Middlesbrough and we lost 8-0!

I also laugh now when I talk football with people and say I support City here where I live in Sweden. 99% support United, Liverpool or Arsenal (they have massive supporter bases in Scandinavia) and like to sneer at City supporters as if they are “glory hunters”, then you find out when they started supporting their clubs and sure enough it was when any of the aforementioned teams were winning! It’s quite funny really.

I’ve enjoyed the City ride in a similar way to the Saints. I don’t support a club for trophies but it’s more the journey for me. Now we have them at City, of course I’m enjoying them. Mostly I just like watching a skilled team week in week out with a manager that generally knows what he’s doing. It’s a lot less stressful! .

 

[TheOsprey]

I'm looking forward to the actual tournament.

I think Brazil win it but probably put some money on the Netherlands and Denmark to go pretty deep, wouldn't be surprised if one of them can win it too.

Australia v France on Tuesday morning, but the first match is Monday morning Qatar v Ecuador.

Half my heritage is English so will be watching the England games too - the predictor I did has us getting knocked out in the quarters v France so hopefully there's a few upsets.

Everyone is writing England off so I reckon they will go far without the pressure of expectation.

Semi finals at least I would say.

The expectation builds obvs the further you go but I see England going deep in the comp.

 

[TheOsprey]

Benzema now out of the World Cup with a thigh injury

Was looking forward to seeing him play up front alongside Mbappe, he has been amazing lately.

 

[gringo2011]

Benzema now out of the World Cup with a thigh injury

Was looking forward to seeing him play up front alongside Mbappe, he has been amazing lately.

They were supposedly feuding. Might be lucky to have him out.

 

[Munga]

I'd say that Boyle is a bigger loss for us than any player the French have lost. Our slim scoring chances have just diminished a little more. Our best chances to score now are an unfit Souttar and bench specialist Kuol.

Need a few miracles to get out of the group.

 

[gringo2011]

I'd say that Boyle is a bigger loss for us than any player the French have lost. Our slim scoring chances have just diminished a little more. Our best chances to score now are an unfit Souttar and bench specialist Kuol.

Need a few miracles to get out of the group.

We look like we'd be lucky to win a match let alone progress. It's a very ordinary side but soccer is a funny game. It's not out that unusual to lock it up and score a single goal to win. Plenty of lower division sides have knocked off bigger sides throughout history. Still super unlikely though, we'd need a super human effort and some toughness to put others on the back foot.

 

[George]

It's Brazil's to lose IMO.

First game on tomorrow at 3am, Qatar v Ecuador. Looking forward to it.

 

[George]

 

[George]

SBS On Demand will be live streaming all 64 matches

FIFA World Cup 2022™

Relive every moment of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ with SBS On Demand. Watch full replays, mini-matches and highlights.

www.sbs.com.au

 

[George]

2 minutes in Ecuador score and VAR overturns it because of an offside...there was no offside on the replay.

Thankfully Ecuador get what they deserve 15 minutes later by winning and scoring a penalty to go 1-0 up.

Let's see by end of game if these allegations ring true and there's more confusing calls.

 

[George]

Enner Valencia on fire. Has a brace 32 minutes in and should have the hat trick if that first one was allowed.

 

[bergholt]

We look like we'd be lucky to win a match let alone progress. It's a very ordinary side but soccer is a funny game. It's not out that unusual to lock it up and score a single goal to win. Plenty of lower division sides have knocked off bigger sides throughout history. Still super unlikely though, we'd need a super human effort and some toughness to put others on the back foot.

Hah we'll be lucky to score, this one isn't a vintage Socceroos side.

Fingers firmly crossed for 2026, the side could be something like this:

Ryan (34 years old)
Atkinson (27) - Souttar (28) - Rowles (28) - King (26)
Devlin (28) - Baccus (28)
Hrustic (30) - Metcalfe (27) - McGree (28)
Kuol (22)

All of those guys have to get a lot better (except Ryan and Hrustic) if we're going to be any good at all but at least they're all the right age.

 

[gringo2011]

Hah we'll be lucky to score, this one isn't a vintage Socceroos side.

Fingers firmly crossed for 2026, the side could be something like this:

Ryan (34 years old)
Atkinson (27) - Souttar (28) - Rowles (28) - King (26)
Devlin (28) - Baccus (28)
Hrustic (30) - Metcalfe (27) - McGree (28)
Kuol (22)

All of those guys have to get a lot better (except Ryan and Hrustic) if we're going to be any good at all but at least they're all the right age.

Soutar is coming back from injury and off **** all. Ryan is going to have to have to go full Mark Schwartzer and stop every thing to even look competitive.

 

[bergholt]

Soutar is coming back from injury and off * all. Ryan is going to have to have to go full Mark Schwartzer and stop every thing to even look competitive.

Yeah that's what I mean, we're ****ed for this one, that's a 2026 side I posted.

 

[Munga]

Those fireworks look fake to me.

 

[George]

Those fireworks look fake to me.

The whole World Cup is a conspiracy I reckon

 

[Munga]

The whole World Cup is a conspiracy I reckon

 

[CaptainRisky]

We look like we'd be lucky to win a match let alone progress. It's a very ordinary side but soccer is a funny game. It's not out that unusual to lock it up and score a single goal to win. Plenty of lower division sides have knocked off bigger sides throughout history. Still super unlikely though, we'd need a super human effort and some toughness to put others on the back foot.

We will be lucky if we even score a goal the way we have been going, Soccer is just not our thing down under , not sure we will ever be any good at it