Qatar Hero - The World Cup 2022 thread

[Sutekh]

Underwhelming, to say the least.

Will be at work tomorrow during the England game, oh dear, how sad, never mind. *partridge shrug*

You really won’t miss anything other than a dreary dull struggle in which England will probably edge by 1 goal and then face the habitual media and fan backlash.

And should England not win the calls for Southgate to naff off will start getting louder.

[Sutekh]

The armband row - this is one of those things where a bit of coordination would make it work, but a lack of which will mean it won't. Understandably the likes of Kane and Van Dijk are individually worried about starting games on a yellow if they wear the rainbow armband - equally FIFA would at least have pause to think if (say) ten European teams committed to doing it anyway. It's one thing to controversially book and suspend Kane, it's a pretty awful look for FIFA to allow the same of the captains of all the European sides for the 'offence' of wearing an armband that supports gay rights.

Ludicrous thing to argue about. Fans don’t give a **** about players wearing armbands and wearing armbands will change naff all about anything. FIFA bang on about how nations should not be politicising things yet have done nothing else but politicise it all. What’s the next threat “wear our armbands or face suspension and being sent home” - as pointed out hardly makes FIFA look great but then this is the organisation that allowed this farce to go ahead in the first place.

Mind you, have to say with all the issues in Qatar why are these players essentially highlighting just one of the issues when they should be highlighting all the injustices or none at all.

[Sanguine]

Mind you, have to say with all the issues in Qatar why are these players essentially highlighting just one of the issues when they should be highlighting all the injustices or none at all.

I'm with you up until this bit - I know it's not what you meant, but it smells a little of 'but ALL lives matter'. Of course there are a lot of issues to discuss, no problem with highlighting one of them on the field, and it is possible to raise the issue of gay rights in the form of an armband. Harder for players (who are there doing a job) to get involved effectively in some of the rest.

[Loafer]

They are a shambles of a team and I'm glad they are getting smashed

Thing is all the pundits and journos I’ve heard have built Qatar up and banged on about how they really are not too bad as they’ve been building towards this moment since they launched an academy back in 2006 or something and have done quite well having been playing as a “ghost” team in the World Cup qualifiers and have had loads of invites to other tournaments. They seem to forget these other games were pretty much mostly just friendlies and in the main against smaller nations.

they lost to oxf*rd Lindfield fc or Ireland 4 months ago

Also why the oxf*rd is Kane and Bale going to get booked for wearing an armband? Ridiculous and absolutely unnecessary

[Franchise FC]

The armband row - this is one of those things where a bit of coordination would make it work, but a lack of which will mean it won't. Understandably the likes of Kane and Van Dijk are individually worried about starting games on a yellow if they wear the rainbow armband - equally FIFA would at least have pause to think if (say) ten European teams committed to doing it anyway. It's one thing to controversially book and suspend Kane, it's a pretty awful look for FIFA to allow the same of the captains of all the European sides for the 'offence' of wearing an armband that supports gay rights.

Ludicrous thing to argue about. Fans don’t give a **** about players wearing armbands and wearing armbands will change naff all about anything. FIFA bang on about how nations should not be politicising things yet have done nothing else but politicise it all. What’s the next threat “wear our armbands or face suspension and being sent home” - as pointed out hardly makes FIFA look great but then this is the organisation that allowed this farce to go ahead in the first place.

Mind you, have to say with all the issues in Qatar why are these players essentially highlighting just one of the issues when they should be highlighting all the injustices or none at all.

I’ll tell you would have made a difference … a handful of major nations refusing to go

But, sadly, that was never going to happen

[Winston Biscuit]

ICH

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Yep, Qatar predictably poor - albeit worse than I thought, but as said above, no worse than the likes of Panama and DPRK, albeit of course the latter teams at least qualified by right.

As poor as Qatar were, Ecuador looked pretty lively and might have enough to get a result or two from their remaining group games - they haven't conceded a goal in seven games. Work to do yet for Netherlands and especially a Mane-less Senegal.

Yeah I have a decent feeling about Ecuador. Tough to judge against Qatar but results leading up to the tournament look promising and they have a nice mix of good youth and experienced players that are playing at decent levels as well. Brighton are having a good season and they've got a couple of players playing for the likes of Sporting and Bayer Leverkusen who competed in the CL this season.

I think they've got a decent chance against Senegal really and if they go win that then they are (most likely) through.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

They are a shambles of a team and I'm glad they are getting smashed

Thing is all the pundits and journos I’ve heard have built Qatar up and banged on about how they really are not too bad as they’ve been building towards this moment since they launched an academy back in 2006 or something and have done quite well having been playing as a “ghost” team in the World Cup qualifiers and have had loads of invites to other tournaments. They seem to forget these other games were pretty much mostly just friendlies and in the main against smaller nations.

I've no shame in admitting that I thought them to be a better side - they have beaten Ghana and Bulgaria this year, and got draws with Morocco and Chile. But obviously severely lacking creatively, I'd now be amazed if they scored at this World Cup.

Also with this as well. I looked at the World rankings and they were in and around Scotland I think and obviously not the worst side based on that, so thought they had a fair enough shout at being competitive, but they aren't going to be really.

If they had some sort of threat, they might cause a problem or two, but they don't really have any sort of creativity in their side which lets them down massively.

[Loafer]

oxf*rd pussyholes all the teams backing down from wearing the one love armband because of fines

really could have made a statement but no, pathetic

what a joke this world cup is

[Mr Angry]

Last night's game was a shocker; I genuinely think Reading would have beaten that Qatar side last night, and why the oxf*rd did Ecuador decide that 2-0 was enough so basically did a Mourinho and shut up shop[ in the 2nd half? Assuming that the Dutch will beat them, Senegal and rack up a cricket score against Qatar, Ecuador have made their game against Senegal a must win. If its a draw, Senegal will know by how many they will need to beat Qatar in the last game to go through..........

As for the armband thing, easy solution.......make Maguire the captain so he picks up the needless yellow before the kick off.

But is is all just virtue signalling isn't it?

Teams. players and Federations had 12 Years to make a stand against this World Cup; simply wearing an armband makes them feel better but does sod all in the grand scheme of things.

I would have liked to have seen players refuse to go, or Federations to pull teams out - sure, the World Cup would have still happened but it would have been clearly devalued.

But that was never going to happen because - as always with football, money talks.

And as for Infantile and his speech...........unbelievable really; I wondered how much he trousered from the Qataris for that?

[Zammo]

Could not agree more with you Mr A. Lineker & Alex Scott giving it the big un' in the studio yesterday afternoon and the Beeb not showing the opening ceremony really riled me. Just don't cover any of it and let another channel pick it up then

[Loafer]

Could not agree more with you Mr A. Lineker & Alex Scott giving it the big un' in the studio yesterday afternoon and the Beeb not showing the opening ceremony really riled me. Just don't cover any of it and let another channel pick it up then

contractually that is not allowed, the BBC have a contract and HAVE to show certain sporting events (I know this from working at England Rugby and the absolute mess when they tried to get certain things onto Sky that was not allowed)

[South Coast Royal]

The armband row - this is one of those things where a bit of coordination would make it work, but a lack of which will mean it won't. Understandably the likes of Kane and Van Dijk are individually worried about starting games on a yellow if they wear the rainbow armband - equally FIFA would at least have pause to think if (say) ten European teams committed to doing it anyway. It's one thing to controversially book and suspend Kane, it's a pretty awful look for FIFA to allow the same of the captains of all the European sides for the 'offence' of wearing an armband that supports gay rights.

Ludicrous thing to argue about. Fans don’t give a **** about players wearing armbands and wearing armbands will change naff all about anything. FIFA bang on about how nations should not be politicising things yet have done nothing else but politicise it all. What’s the next threat “wear our armbands or face suspension and being sent home” - as pointed out hardly makes FIFA look great but then this is the organisation that allowed this farce to go ahead in the first place.

Mind you, have to say with all the issues in Qatar why are these players essentially highlighting just one of the issues when they should be highlighting all the injustices or none at all.

I’ll tell you would have made a difference … a handful of major nations refusing to go

But, sadly, that was never going to happen

If the players really did care about what happens in other parts of the world they wouldn't be going, nor would they have gone to Russia last time.
What an impact Messi and Ronaldo refusing to go would have made where their refusal would have been discussed across the whole world.

Agree with MR A , a miniscule addition to one player's shirt and the kneeling down before starting a game are such minor "statements" as to be pointless.
Starting a game with the keeper playing up front or scoring an own goal from the kick-off or wearing skirts instead of shorts might have some impact although, if only England did it, the rest of the world might just shrug their shoulders and think "Crazy English"

[Franchise FC]

Ludicrous thing to argue about. Fans don’t give a **** about players wearing armbands and wearing armbands will change naff all about anything. FIFA bang on about how nations should not be politicising things yet have done nothing else but politicise it all. What’s the next threat “wear our armbands or face suspension and being sent home” - as pointed out hardly makes FIFA look great but then this is the organisation that allowed this farce to go ahead in the first place.

Mind you, have to say with all the issues in Qatar why are these players essentially highlighting just one of the issues when they should be highlighting all the injustices or none at all.

I’ll tell you would have made a difference … a handful of major nations refusing to go

But, sadly, that was never going to happen

If the players really did care about what happens in other parts of the world they wouldn't be going, nor would they have gone to Russia last time.
What an impact Messi and Ronaldo refusing to go would have made where their refusal would have been discussed across the whole world.

Agree with MR A , a miniscule addition to one player's shirt and the kneeling down before starting a game are such minor "statements" as to be pointless.
Starting a game with the keeper playing up front or scoring an own goal from the kick-off might have some impact although if only England did it the rest of the world might just shrug their shoulders and think "Crazy English"

I quite like the idea of Pickford up front
He would certainly ruffle a few feathers

[Sanguine]

If the players really did care about what happens in other parts of the world they wouldn't be going, nor would they have gone to Russia last time.

That's rubbish. I'm watching this World Cup. I care deeply about the living conditions of others.

[Hendo]

Could not agree more with you Mr A. Lineker & Alex Scott giving it the big un' in the studio yesterday afternoon and the Beeb not showing the opening ceremony really riled me. Just don't cover any of it and let another channel pick it up then

Tbf, it was on iPlayer, red button and website - not that it was super well advertised.

[Zammo]

Could not agree more with you Mr A. Lineker & Alex Scott giving it the big un' in the studio yesterday afternoon and the Beeb not showing the opening ceremony really riled me. Just don't cover any of it and let another channel pick it up then

contractually that is not allowed, the BBC have a contract and HAVE to show certain sporting events (I know this from working at England Rugby and the absolute mess when they tried to get certain things onto Sky that was not allowed)

Shame. I was looking forward to the next World Cup being hosted by Matt Baker and Vanessa Feltz on C5.

[Zammo]

Could not agree more with you Mr A. Lineker & Alex Scott giving it the big un' in the studio yesterday afternoon and the Beeb not showing the opening ceremony really riled me. Just don't cover any of it and let another channel pick it up then

Tbf, it was on iPlayer, red button and website - not that it was super well advertised.

Just not in the pub I was in, so we had the Lineker diatribe instead.

[Zammo]

Also, I'm playing World in Motion and Vindaloo this morning. Its raining, its cold and I'm going to the local on my own.

Other than that....... COME ON ENGLAND !!!!

[South Coast Royal]

If the players really did care about what happens in other parts of the world they wouldn't be going, nor would they have gone to Russia last time.

That's rubbish. I'm watching this World Cup. I care deeply about the living conditions of others.

I know that you have a very high opinion of yourself and the importance of your views but I rather think that you are not in a great position to make an impact on the rest of the world, you struggle to get people on HNA to take notice.

Top sportsmen however do have a far-reaching platform, e.g the Yank and his knee, the black power guys at the Olympics etc.
If our players had refused to go to Qatar imagine what a knock-on effect that could have occurred-their jobs would still have been there at home and who knows, maybe the whole thing would have been moved or scrapped.

If people do care strongly about something they don't just go down on the knee or wear a bright armband.
I would suggest that they don't care much, maybe less than you do, and that is up to them but these token gestures are so small that they are IMHO insignificant apart from here where they are being much talked about but also where those rights are no longer an issue.
It's easy to preach to the converted.