The World Cup Thread (2 Viewers)

Otis said:

Non games?

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Sorry, I mean the easy games. Well, should be easy.

Ha! Famous last words.

Saudi Arabia's 17/2 to beat Russia on the opening day, might have a little bit on that. They reckon it's the worst Russian side ever which is lovely timing for them and no host has lost the opener yet, so it'll either be a quick exit or a mad run to the latter stages carried on home support.

Drawn Tunisia in the sweepstake at work. Shambles!

They are voting today where to hold the 2022 tournament. USA-Canada-Mexico or Morocco, neither inspires really.

Apparently 'neither' is actually one of the options, if enough people select it they then ditch the continental rotation and allow bids from Europe and Asia. I'd be surprised if the big North American bid doesn't win it though

American bid is bound to win. All the delegates will love an all expenses trip out there.

I think we should go back in for the 2030 ones as part of a UK & Ireland joint bid, particularly if there are going to be loads more teams in the competition.

Otis said:

Ha! Famous last words.

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Shall we have a £10 charity bet. England win I'm happy to pay. England knocked out in quarters you pay. Semi knockout. No man's land. I'm so confident because to win you need World Class players, Yes? How many England players would get into a World 11 ? Maybe Harry Kane on the subs bench. That's it and that's why we can't win it. Simple.

Earlsdon_Skyblue1 said:

The last time England won the World Cup was 1966 right? That was also the last time CCFC finished in the top six. Until this season....

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Well, my thinking too.

Cov - Promoted? YES
City - Promoted? YES
City of Culture - Won? YES
England World Cup - Won? Hmmmm.......

Otis said:

Well, my thinking too.

Cov - Promoted? YES
City - Promoted? YES
City of Culture - Won? YES
England World Cup - Won? Hmmmm.......

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No frickin chance

CovBurty said:

Shall we have a £10 charity bet. England win I'm happy to pay. England knocked out in quarters you pay. Semi knockout. No man's land. I'm so confident because to win you need World Class players, Yes? How many England players would get into a World 11 ? Maybe Harry Kane on the subs bench. That's it and that's why we can't win it. Simple.

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I'm also thinking they will get knocked out in the QF's unfortunately.

It's the England way.

When's the last time we got past the QF's?

Otis said:

I'm also thinking they will get knocked out in the QF's unfortunately.

It's the England way.

When's the last time we got past the QF's?

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1990. Gazza and country in tears. So close.

CovBurty said:

No frickin chance

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Yeah, well, you say that, but two years ago would you have said Donald Trump would be president? That North Korea would come and negotiate? That Wales would get as far as they did in the Euros?

All things are possible. You only have to look back to Greece winning the European Championships with a poor side. Solid defensively, but nowhere near the best team in the tournament.

Sometimes with a bit of luck you can go a long way.

All things are possible. Doesn't mean it's likely at all, but there is always a possibility, however small that may be.

We've only got past the quarters of any tournament outside of England once in our history at Italia 90.

We finished third at Euro '68 too, but that was made up of four teams to begin with so probably shouldn't count as a great success.

ajsccfc said:

We've only got past the quarters of any tournament outside of England once in our history at Italia 90.

We finished third at Euro '68 too, but that was made up of four teams to begin with so probably shouldn't count as a great success.

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Really? Didn't know that. Surprised we didn't finish 5th to be honest.

We've only won 5 knockout games at the WC since '66

Liquid Gold said:

We've only won 5 knockout games at the WC since '66

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Okay, but that's fine if we can do that in the one single tournament.

Otis said:

Really? Didn't know that. Surprised we didn't finish 5th to be honest.

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The qualifying stage looked a bit tasty, group stage with Scotland, Wales and N.I and then a playoff against Spain.

Weirdly we we're knocked out of Spain '82 without losing a game.

Liquid Gold said:

Weirdly we we're knocked out of Spain '82 without losing a game.

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Yeah. Don bloody Howe!!! Grrrr!!!!

Portugal two years ago are the inspiration I'm looking towards, didn't win a single group game and their only 90 min win in the entire tournament was in the semi. Proper grind.

Well Spain might as well not bother getting the flight out there if that press conference is to announce what I think it'll announce. What a circus! Terrific stuff!

CJ_covblaze said:

Well Spain might as well not bother getting the flight out there if that press conference is to announce what I think it'll announce. What a circus! Terrific stuff!

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Is this their manager agreeing to jump ship?

The Spanish FA were going to ditch Lopetegui immediately for taking the Real Madrid job, but the players have stepped in to keep the manager in place for the tournament by the sounds of it. I love a good meltdown

CJ_covblaze said:

Well Spain might as well not bother getting the flight out there if that press conference is to announce what I think it'll announce. What a circus! Terrific stuff!

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Which is?

Otis said:

Which is?

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Lopetegui getting sacked. A few days before their first game.

ajsccfc said:

Portugal two years ago are the inspiration I'm looking towards, didn't win a single group game and their only 90 min win in the entire tournament was in the semi. Proper grind.

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Hopefully the Euros sort the tournament out next time round. I was excited to see all the extra teams/games but the football was so poor in the group stage because the 3rd place teams went through and that just carried on through the tournament with a team winning that should have gone out in the group.

So because he agreed to take the Madrid job after the tournament they were going to sack him? Madness.

Although the players rallying round to keep him could go either way.

Liquid Gold said:

Hopefully the Euros sort the tournament out next time round. I was excited to see all the extra teams/games but the football was so poor in the group stage because the 3rd place teams went through and that just carried on through the tournament with a team winning that should have gone out in the group.

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Agreed, that's why I'm not looking forward to the 48-team tournament they're planning for 2026. 16 and 32-team formats work so to be honest if they really must expaned further I'd skip straight to 64 so it's still bloated, but at least the group stage has a 50% survival rate and retains a bit of intrigue.

Liquid Gold said:

So because he agreed to take the Madrid job after the tournament they were going to sack him? Madness.

Although the players rallying round to keep him could go either way.

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Confirmed. Sacked.

CJ_covblaze said:

Confirmed. Sacked.

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Absolute madness

Liquid Gold said:

So because he agreed to take the Madrid job after the tournament they were going to sack him? Madness.

Although the players rallying round to keep him could go either way.

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Consequence of living in a hot Climate?

This is going to be one of those siege mentality things that win the tournament now.