***Official 2022 World Cup Thread*** (1 Viewer)

[General Malaise]

I feel like Canada has blown their opportunities in this one. Belgium is going to settle it down and take advantage of the early aggression. Live bet Belgium not a horrible idea.

 

[B Maverick]

I feel like Canada has blown their opportunities in this one. Belgium is going to settle it down and take advantage of the early aggression. Live bet Belgium not a horrible idea.

Not if KDB continues to miss the free runner at the top of the box for a tap in...

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Canadia = sped

 

[PlayaHata]

I love a good heist yet I had never heard of the theft of the World Cup trophy before. Pretty cool video I stumbled across today.

The Unbelievable Theft Of The FIFA World Cup
In 1966, England were due to host the FIFA World Cup tournament for the first time. However, months prior to the start of the competition, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen in an elaborate heist which shook the footballing world.

 

[The Gator]

Wow, props to Canada…look great

 

[JB Breakfast Club]

8 groups of 6 would be fine. Play 5 games in 2.5 weeks. More players get starts. There will be some dead games, but cream should rise with 5 games in group instead of 3...will make a better tournament.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Canada is all over Belgium. They've done enough to be ahead, PK aside. They'll probably regret not actually being ahead, but so far they look fantastic.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

8 groups of 6 would be fine.

Think you'd see so many terrible games with another 16 teams. We're already seeing 7-0, 6-2, etc.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Disappointed the keeper didn’t rock the gray sweatpants. Being in the middle of the desert isn’t an excuse

 

[NewlyRetired]

8 groups of 6 would be fine. Play 5 games in 2.5 weeks. More players get starts. There will be some dead games, but cream should rise with 5 games in group instead of 3...will make a better tournament.

While from a competition focused stand point I agree with you, the clubs would never ever stand for this. It would be total mutiny IMO.

The best we can hope for is 12 groups of 4 and try and hope that FIFA can convince ($) the clubs that only a tiny amount of players will be forced to play an extra game.

 

[NewlyRetired]

8 groups of 6 would be fine.

Think you'd see so many terrible games with another 16 teams. We're already seeing 7-0, 6-2, etc.

we are getting the extra 16 teams no matter what. We are trying to figure out the best format for it that the clubs will support and that leads to still a decent group stage.

For me, 16 groups of 3 is literally the worst format possible.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

we are getting the extra 16 teams no matter what.

Wow, I think I missed that as a done deal. How awful. (sorry @JB Breakfast Club)

 

[facook]

Wow what a pass

 

[General Malaise]

I feel like Canada has blown their opportunities in this one. Belgium is going to settle it down and take advantage of the early aggression. Live bet Belgium not a horrible idea.

First one's the hardest.....

 

[The Gator]

Very nice goal..first time shot off that pass?

 

[NewlyRetired]

cruel sport. In no way does Canada deserve to be losing.....

 

[B Maverick]

Oh Canada.....

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Canada having Eustaqio outplay DeBruyne in midfield only to have Belgium go up with a long ball right between the CBs is peak "funny old game."

 

[QuizGuy66]

8 groups of 6 would be fine.

Think you'd see so many terrible games with another 16 teams. We're already seeing 7-0, 6-2, etc.

we are getting the extra 16 teams no matter what. We are trying to figure out the best format for it that the clubs will support and that leads to still a decent group stage.

For me, 16 groups of 3 is literally the worst format possible.

Well 3 groups of 16 or 48 groups of 1 wouldn't be so great either

-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

8 groups of 6 would be fine.

Think you'd see so many terrible games with another 16 teams. We're already seeing 7-0, 6-2, etc.

we are getting the extra 16 teams no matter what. We are trying to figure out the best format for it that the clubs will support and that leads to still a decent group stage.

For me, 16 groups of 3 is literally the worst format possible.

Well 3 groups of 16 or 48 groups of 1 wouldn't be so great either

-QG

you are right, I forgot FIFA is still in charge of the formats,,,,,anything is possible

 

[NewlyRetired]

Paul Carr

@PaulCarr

39-year-old Atiba Hutchinson starts for Canada today. He's the 2nd-oldest outfield player in a men's World Cup game (Roger Milla, 42) & the oldest starter.

Of the 26 on Canada's roster, he's the only one who was alive when Canada's men last played in the WC (1986).

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Disappointed the keeper didn’t rock the gray sweatpants. Being in the middle of the desert isn’t an excuse

I'm not sure if I'm more demoralized by this or by the lack of cutaways to absurdly hot South American women during this tournament.

 

[The Gator]

Very nice goal..first time shot off that pass?

The gif of this goal should come up when people search “composer”

 

[NewlyRetired]

Canada's xG was 2.21 in the first half....

 

[Zow]

I feel like Canada has blown their opportunities in this one. Belgium is going to settle it down and take advantage of the early aggression. Live bet Belgium not a horrible idea.

Look at Nostradamus here...

Yeah, Canada looked awesome and but for some good saves should be winning. What a twist of emotions for the Canadian fans - they appear to be the superior team in a match against a world class opponent but are still losing.

 

[Zow]

Canada's xG was 2.21 in the first half....

Oof.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I feel like Canada has blown their opportunities in this one. Belgium is going to settle it down and take advantage of the early aggression. Live bet Belgium not a horrible idea.

Look at Nostradamus here...

Yeah, Canada looked awesome and but for some good saves should be winning. What a twist of emotions for the Canadian fans - they appear to be the superior team in a match against a world class opponent but are still losing.

In a low scoring sport like this, the old cliché "learning how to win" is real.


Not that any Canadian fan cares right now but like the US, Canada's best players are young and will come into their prime in 2026, while playing at home. Scraping every inch of experience out of the WC, even if it is painful, should pay dividends down the line.

 

[The Gator]

Canada's xG was 2.21 in the first half....

Dominated the half, Teebou(I’m not spelling either of his names) was great though too

 

[NewlyRetired]

OptaJack

@OptaJack

Canada's 14 shots are the most in the first half of a World Cup match without scoring since England (17) against Trinidad and Tobago in 2006.

 

[Zow]

Canada's xG was 2.21 in the first half....

Dominated the half, Teebou(I’m not spelling either of his names) was great though too

There's about 7 people on this planet that could have scored that goal. The bounce was bouncing fast and up... insane to get that kind of kick on it.

 

[chet]

Canada's xG was 2.21 in the first half....

what means this?

 

[B Maverick]

Did the ref call offside on Canada on a passback from Belgium?

That's what I saw. I also saw the Canadian guy get stepped on in the box as he made his move.

All the analysts are saying Canada should have had a 2nd PK due to this. Intentional back pass by Belgium means no offside, Vertongen fouls the Canadian player. How the 5 officials in the VAR booth missed that is anyone's guess.

 

[Zow]

Canada's xG was 2.21 in the first half....

what means this?

Expected goals. Basically, given Canada's quality of chances, they were "expected" to have scored at least twice. They obviously didn't.

(I only know this because I asked the same question yesterday)

 

[RCon]

Question on the 2026 cup. Have there been host "countries" before, as with some of the rumored bids for 2026? How will they handle the host as automatic qualifier issue?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Good piece on Japan's halftime changes and how the tactics changed the game.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Question on the 2026 cup. Have there been host "countries" before

Japan/South Korea joint hosted in 2002. I think there was a Euro Championship that was shared as well maybe?

Hosts will always play at home IIRC.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Canada's xG was 2.21 in the first half....

Dominated the half, Teebou(I’m not spelling either of his names) was great though too

and that 2.21 was with out the 2nd PK call that I think should have been made.

 

[RCon]

Question on the 2026 cup. Have there been host "countries" before

Japan/South Korea joint hosted in 2002. I think there was a Euro Championship that was shared as well maybe?

Hosts will always play at home IIRC.

Right, but the host also automatically qualifies. Qatar would not have been in this tournament otherwise, right? So if multiple countries combine their bid, who gets the auto qualify slot?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Question on the 2026 cup. Have there been host "countries" before

Japan/South Korea joint hosted in 2002. I think there was a Euro Championship that was shared as well maybe?

Hosts will always play at home IIRC.

Multiple times for the Euros

Poland and Ukraine in 2012
Austria Sweden in 2008
Belgium Holland in 2000.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Question on the 2026 cup. Have there been host "countries" before

Japan/South Korea joint hosted in 2002. I think there was a Euro Championship that was shared as well maybe?

Hosts will always play at home IIRC.

Right, but the host also automatically qualifies. Qatar would not have been in this tournament otherwise, right? So if multiple countries combine their bid, who gets the auto qualify slot?

Qatar was the Asian Champion in 2019 so they may have qualified out of Asia on their own but yes host automatically qualifies.

In 2002, both Japan and SK automatically qualified.

It is expected all 3 countries in 2026 will get the automatic bid, especially with it being 48 teams in 2026.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Harry Kane a possible doubt for Friday. England are deep, but he's legit class and would be missed.

ETA: seems I'm behind on this one. Apparently he was in practice today, at least in some capacity.

 

[B Maverick]

Harry Kane a possible doubt for Friday. England are deep, but he's legit class and would be missed.

ETA: seems I'm behind on this one. Apparently he was in practice today, at least in some capacity.

The more important question will be Harry Maguire's status. His involvement could be huge for the US.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Harry Kane a possible doubt for Friday. England are deep, but he's legit class and would be missed.

ETA: seems I'm behind on this one. Apparently he was in practice today, at least in some capacity.

I think he will play but not being a 100% would be fine too

Kane and Bellingham are the two players where the reserves, while still VERY good, drop a bit in quality.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Canada need to tighten up. As tasty as a 1-1 draw would be, losing only 1-0 to the expected group winners is a perfectly fine start if they hope to advance. You don't want a multiple goal loss here.

 

[The Gator]

Man, not too many teams will want to play Canada after this. They look very solid

 

[gianmarco]

Lots of intentional grabs/fouls by Belgium and none of them getting carded. A couple of these seemed like clear yellows.

 

[Zow]

If my youngest kid were shot out of a cannon and needed to be caught or face impending death, I may ask this Belgium goalie to be the one there to try to catch her.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Man, not too many teams will want to play Canada after this. They look very solid

they look better against the number 2 team in the world than they did through out Concacaf qualifying.

I have to assume Belgium took them way too lightly but the Canadian coach should be extremely pleased. He has gotten every ounce out of this team to get this far and not look like Costa Rica did.

 

[gianmarco]

And Davies gets carded for THAT?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Who had De Bruyne getting outplayed by run of the mill MLS players in their prediction? This is almost shocking to me.