***Official 2022 World Cup Thread*** (2 Viewers)

[QuizGuy66]

Fox announcers acting like the guy wasn't down for 5 minutes talking about this clock - acting like it is the final seconds. Meanwhile more time wasted - should go to 105:30 now

-QG

 

[QuizGuy66]

Short by at least 2 minutes - regardless of all the fans jeering for the whistle to blow.

-QG

 

[encaitar]

Saudi GK looked like prime Yashin out there. Good lord was he good today.

 

[El Floppo]

So, uh......whoa.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Not that I think the extra minutes that were shorted would have changed the outcome tbh.

Played very similar to the Morocco/Saudi Arabia World Cup game I went to in 1994.

-QG

 

[encaitar]

That result is gonna make that group really interesting.

 

[RCon]

That result is gonna make that group really interesting.

No kidding. It's not often you see a team take an opening loss and think "they could definitely still wind up with six points". That potential outcome leaves so many possibilities open (although the later game today may likely clear some things up).

 

[NewlyRetired]

well that is a fine way to wake up. my eyes are still blurry but that second goal by SA was amazing right?

 

[NewlyRetired]

only one country in history has lost the first game and gone on to win it all. Messi has to feel cursed.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Argentina have not lost in 36 games....holy hell. What were the betting odds on this game for a SA win?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Oh this sport is so cruel.

xG was 2.45 to .21

 

[NewlyRetired]

Argentina now involved in arguably 2 of the 3 biggest upsets in WC history (the other being the opener in 1990 when they lost to Cameroon.)

 

[prefontaine]

only one country in history has lost the first game and gone on to win it all. Messi has to feel cursed.

Argentina now involved in arguably 2 of the 3 biggest upsets in WC history (the other being the opener in 1990 when they lost to Cameroon.)

1990 Argentina made the final. .Of course that was back when the group stage didn't really matter (Argentina finished 3rd and advanced anyway)

 

[Zigg]

Tons of Tunisian fans here. They’re a loud and fun group. Kind of hope they get a good result.

 

[NewlyRetired]

so has any one seen a clear explanation of what the refs are counting for extra time that is finally at least a little closer to reality than before?

I always thought they were suppose to count goals, subs and injuries.

Assuming they were doing that before, are they also accounting for goal kicks and throw ins as well? Or is it just more accurate measurements of the ones mentioned in the line above?

 

[the moops]

Why don't they just stop the clock on whatever the things they are counting for extra time. It's dumb to do it how it is

 

[chet]

I feel for the people of Argentina. They've gone through so much and this tournament was supposed to help them forget their troubles. Maybe they can still advance.

 

[encaitar]

so has any one seen a clear explanation of what the refs are counting for extra time that is finally at least a little closer to reality than before?

I always thought they were suppose to count goals, subs and injuries.

Assuming they were doing that before, are they also accounting for goal kicks and throw ins as well? Or is it just more accurate measurements of the ones mentioned in the line above?

No. Just a hyper focus on keeping more accurate time. The 4th official has more say in it now too, since he can pay better attention to how much time has been wasted.

This has a bit of a summary.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Why don't they just stop the clock on whatever the things they are counting for extra time. It's dumb to do it how it is

a small group of fans (of which I include myself) would very much prefer stopping the clock compared to what we used to have, which was abysmal imo and led to lots of time wasting being effective.

A significantly larger group of fans absolutely hate the idea of clock stoppages because they rightly think the minute the clock can legally stop is the the minute the game will allow for commercial interruptions, which IMO is a very fair point.

Even though it is far from perfect, I am much happier with this new system they are using.

 

[NewlyRetired]

It is taking me a little while to get used to (since the numbers always initially look off based on what I expect) but I kind of like the new way they are presenting possession numbers.

 

[bagger]

Greg’s 3 big lineup decision: Weah, Ream and Sargent - I think all 3 worked out. Ream was great. Weah probably MOTM (or Adams). Sargent was involved in the goal and played decent. His header could have won it for us most likely but overall I thought he was decent.

I agree, his starting lineup was solid.

I did not agree with the substitution timing. We all saw both Dest and Weston struggling. Weston in particular. I also still scratch my head about Morris instead of Gio.

Feels like GGG always subs 7 minutes later than he should.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Greg’s 3 big lineup decision: Weah, Ream and Sargent - I think all 3 worked out. Ream was great. Weah probably MOTM (or Adams). Sargent was involved in the goal and played decent. His header could have won it for us most likely but overall I thought he was decent.

I agree, his starting lineup was solid.

I did not agree with the substitution timing. We all saw both Dest and Weston struggling. Weston in particular. I also still scratch my head about Morris instead of Gio.

Feels like GGG always subs 7 minutes later than he should.

I agree. I was getting so itchy in my chair as it looked clear Weston was not going at full speed any more and that the US was starting to get over run in the midfield. It was no coincidence that once Aaronson came in, the game flipped a bit as Wales were dominating at that point.

 

[encaitar]

Why don't they just stop the clock on whatever the things they are counting for extra time. It's dumb to do it how it is

a small group of fans (of which I include myself) would very much prefer stopping the clock compared to what we used to have, which was abysmal imo and led to lots of time wasting being effective.

A significantly larger group of fans absolutely hate the idea of clock stoppages because they rightly think the minute the clock can legally stop is the the minute the game will allow for commercial interruptions, which IMO is a very fair point.

Even though it is far from perfect, I am much happier with this new system they are using.

It's this, but it's also tradition. Before scoreboards, the game went until the ref stopped it. He was the only one that knew the time(although everyone had a subtle idea). Moving away from that would take a part of football tradition away and that's tough to do on its own.

For the record, I like this compromise. It's still on the ref, but we're way closer to 90 actual minutes of gameplay.

 

[encaitar]

Saudi Arabia's win today was tied for the 5th largest upset in history according to ELO ratings based on points exchanged. It's also 5th alone based on points difference between the two teams.

SA gains 57 points in ELO.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Sounds about right

=================================

Paul Carr
@PaulCarr


#USMNTnow has a 45% chance to advance, per ⁦@FiveThirtyEight⁩ projections. It was 53% pre-tournament. In six previous World Cups under this format, 52% of teams with exactly four points advanced.

Yet the market still says they are more likely to advance than not

I think these two things do not conflict.

The US has a 45% chance of advancing but that number is HIGHER than either Wales or Iran's chance at advancing (after the first game is complete for all 3 teams).

 

[QuizGuy66]

Any sensibilities about the regime aside - a stupendous achievement for the Saudi team - and with all domestic and native born players to boot! Defending was heroic at the end.

-QG

 

[Major]

These announcers are a tough listen today. Might as well get Booger McFarland in the booth.

 

[Zow]

Tons of Tunisian fans here. They’re a loud and fun group. Kind of hope they get a good result.

They're playing well. Great save by their keeper (and kisses all around).

 

[Major]

I feel for the people of Argentina. They've gone through so much and this tournament was supposed to help them forget their troubles. Maybe they can still advance.

Especially after that first half. They dominated and could've easily been up 4-0 if not for some really close offsides calls. Messi's national teams are cursed.

 

[Zow]

Why don't they just stop the clock on whatever the things they are counting for extra time. It's dumb to do it how it is

a small group of fans (of which I include myself) would very much prefer stopping the clock compared to what we used to have, which was abysmal imo and led to lots of time wasting being effective.

A significantly larger group of fans absolutely hate the idea of clock stoppages because they rightly think the minute the clock can legally stop is the the minute the game will allow for commercial interruptions, which IMO is a very fair point.

Even though it is far from perfect, I am much happier with this new system they are using.

Agreed. I think I argued hard the last World Cup that the mystery of the clock was asinine (and I was met with significant challenge from our soccer purists).

I'm appreciated the current compromise. It satisfies by desire to know close to the true time and allow for 90 minutes of play while still keeping it somewhat secretive to appease the masochists amongst us.

 

[chet]

What did Lexi mean when he referred to Saudi Arabia's "high line"?

 

[Dickies]

HFS. What a surprise to wake up to. I forgot to record the early games today so will need to find a replay of the Argentina game. Curious how that went down.

 

[Desert_Power]

HFS. What a surprise to wake up to. I forgot to record the early games today so will need to find a replay of the Argentina game. Curious how that went down.

SA basically had a 10 minute flurry where they were all over Argentina who could not hold possession. The rest of it was the SA goalie having a game of a life and a very high line catching Argentina offside (Di Maria especially).

 

[Capella]

Oh this sport is so cruel.

xG was 2.45 to .21

Lmao wow

 

[CletiusMaximus]

What did Lexi mean when he referred to Saudi Arabia's "high line"?

He's referring to their back line of defenders, pushing forward together and repeatedly trapping the Argentinian runners offside.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

He's referring to their back line of defenders, pushing forward together and repeatedly trapping the Argentinian runners offside.

"High" meaning far from the goal they're defending. They aren't sitting back and bunkering, they're pushed way up and trying to catch Argentina offside. Very risky for a bad team to play this way against a top team, but sounds like they pulled it off.

(At least kind of -- Argentina outplayed them by a country mile and just got very unlucky.)

 

[FreeBaGeL]

It is taking me a little while to get used to (since the numbers always initially look off based on what I expect) but I kind of like the new way they are presenting possession numbers.

Yes I don't have a problem with stoppage time as long as they give it accurately, which they never have before. If they keep it like this, problem solved.

I always thought it was crazy how overlooked it was before. A guy would be down for 10 minutes and then all the other stoppages on top of that and they'd randomly decide to add 5 minutes and everyone would be like "wow that seems like a lot of time".

 

[QuizGuy66]

These announcers are a tough listen today. Might as well get Booger McFarland in the booth.

The Booger Mobile at the games would be awesome

-QG

 

[QuizGuy66]

It is taking me a little while to get used to (since the numbers always initially look off based on what I expect) but I kind of like the new way they are presenting possession numbers.

Yes I don't have a problem with stoppage time as long as they give it accurately, which they never have before. If they keep it like this, problem solved.

I always thought it was crazy how overlooked it was before. A guy would be down for 10 minutes and then all the other stoppages on top of that and they'd randomly decide to add 5 minutes and everyone would be like "wow that seems like a lot of time".

The Saudi fans immediately whistling their disapproval when the extra time went past 8 minutes after their guy was getting medical attention for 5 minutes was quite annoying.


-QG

 

[Zow]

Oh this sport is so cruel.

xG was 2.45 to .21

What does this mean?

ETA: Expected goals?

 

[Desert_Power]

Oh this sport is so cruel.

xG was 2.45 to .21

Feels like Messi has been on the wrong side of a lot of these type of games.

 

[Zow]

This Poland teams looks and feels a lot like the Wales team. I assume they press more on offense in the second half?

I agree with Donovan - after the Saudi result you gotta try to win this game.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Oh this sport is so cruel.

xG was 2.45 to .21

What does this mean?

ETA: Expected goals?

Correct, expected goals. Basically meaning based on the chances created Argentina should have scored more but didn't quite finish, while the Saudi's didn't create many good chances but just happened to hit the ball perfectly when they got an okay one. Especially that 2nd goal which that guy probably hits like that 3 times out of 100, but he did it at the right time.

 

[Major]

These announcers are a tough listen today. Might as well get Booger McFarland in the booth.

The Booger Mobile at the games would be awesome

-QG

Haha, forgot about Booger Mobile. I should note, huge Ian Darke fan here. Was more speaking to the earlier matches.

 

[Desert_Power]

That has to be a PK

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Sounds about right

=================================

Paul Carr
@PaulCarr


#USMNTnow has a 45% chance to advance, per ⁦@FiveThirtyEight⁩ projections. It was 53% pre-tournament. In six previous World Cups under this format, 52% of teams with exactly four points advanced.

Yet the market still says they are more likely to advance than not

I think these two things do not conflict.

The US has a 45% chance of advancing but that number is HIGHER than either Wales or Iran's chance at advancing (after the first game is complete for all 3 teams).

Right, and further confusing, this scenario everyone is planning for where the US and Wales both end up on 4 points may be the most likely scenario, but it's still not a likely scenario. That is, the odds of something OTHER than USA/Wales being tied at 4 points are a good bit higher than that being the result, even if no other specific result is more likely than that.

Wales is basically a toss-up to get 3 points against Iran in gambling odds, much less the USA matching that and England finishing with 9 points.

 

[Dickies]

Wow

 

[B Maverick]

Did Lewandowski just miss a PK?

 

[Desert_Power]

Did Lewandowski just miss a PK?

It was saved.

 

[QuizGuy66]

This Poland teams looks and feels a lot like the Wales team. I assume they press more on offense in the second half?

I agree with Donovan - after the Saudi result you gotta try to win this game.

The last time in 1994 when the Saudis advanced in a group with Belgium, Holland and Morocco there was a 3-way today among the first 3 - all had 6 points (but that was the 24-team format so they all advanced). Could very well happen again.

-QG