World Cup 2026

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

The BBC should be banned from anything to do with football. You can tell the people running it are the type who call it Footy & think birds should be paid the same as blokes. Fucking 1990 has a lot to answer for. 
 

 

A heart warming tale. A nation with poor diet, violent stereotypes and a thoroughly corrupt tin pot government... got a win against Haiti.

Edited 5 hours ago by Holmes_and_Watson

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

1 hour ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

The BBC should be banned from anything to do with football. You can tell the people running it are the type who call it Footy & think birds should be paid the same as blokes. Fucking 1990 has a lot to answer for. 
 

 

You're odd sometimes.

[ChrisPY]

Don’t mind the Scotland hype. It’s like if Saints got to the Champions League and beat Qarabag in our first game. We’d be euphoric even if we then went on to lose the remaining games.

[Wade Garrett]

Still not feeling it this World Cup.

Just seems even more now, that the whole competition isn’t about a celebration of football but more a grotesque money-maker.

For example, why do teams need hydration breaks when they’re playing at night?  

FIFA has been corrupt for years and will eventually eat itself.

[PerthshireSaint]

As a Englisher living in Scotland I’m very happy to support both this World Cup. Everyone I know that has travelled over are painfully aware of their prospects and just want to go and enjoy any moment that they can. Can’t begrudge them that. It’s all done in good humour. Flower of Scotland sounded epic last night. 
 

Gunns goalkeeping though 🫣

[PerthshireSaint]

Just now, Wade Garrett said:

Still not feeling it this World Cup.

Just seems even more now, that the whole competition isn’t about a celebration of football but more a grotesque money-maker.

For example, why do teams need hydration breaks when they’re playing at night?  

FIFA has been corrupt for years and will eventually eat itself.

The hydration breaks are appalling and totally mess with the momentum of the game. All For adverts and utterly corrupt. 
would love there to be an alternative to FIFA

[hypochondriac]

12 minutes ago, PerthshireSaint said:

The hydration breaks are appalling and totally mess with the momentum of the game. All For adverts and utterly corrupt. 
would love there to be an alternative to FIFA

Any alternative would likely be even worse.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

3 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Any alternative would likely be even worse.

I thought they were mandated by player welfare. I should have been suspicious when I saw Infantino on the touchline charging them for buying Gatorade.

[Patrick Bateman]

Who is the fat greasy oaf presenting on ITV Sport (now) with some "film guy" I have never seen before either? Talking absolute crap.

Edited 4 hours ago by Patrick Bateman

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

This just seems a bit unfair on Curacao. Nice as the story is, match ups like this make a mockery of the World Cup.

[ChrisPY]

Buzzing for Dick’s boys.

[The Kraken]

11 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

This just seems a bit unfair on Curacao. Nice as the story is, match ups like this make a mockery of the World Cup.

Sorry, what now?

[ChrisPY]

Now the second most famous goal scored by a Curacaoan(?).

[benjii]

Rum and coke all round, mon. Easy now.

[benjii]

6 minutes ago, ChrisPY said:

Buzzing for Dick.

Later babez.

[benjii]

In fairness to the Yanks, bloody nice stadium. 

[Osvaldorama]

20 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

This just seems a bit unfair on Curacao. Nice as the story is, match ups like this make a mockery of the World Cup.

They’ve been magic so far 

 

I am guessing they’ll run out of steam, but this has been amazing 

[die Mannyschaft]

Germany defence are not very good. This is what happens v a apparent small or useless team you get caught out. Twice in WC Germany have not won against the weaker teams then can't step up v the 2 better teams. Need to rain in lots of shots. 

[Winnersaint]

2-1 Germany

[die Mannyschaft]

11 minutes ago, ChrisPY said:

Now the second most famous goal scored by a Curacaoan(?).

Terrible defending. Very good strike , but deflection. Watching Germany is like watching Saints you just know they'll let one in. Obviously the spying is better!

[SNSUN]

I've counted 3 times now where the ref has got in the way of attacks. 

[LeBizzier69]

Pathetic penalty. Absolute embarrassment especially against Curaçao.

[whelk]

1 hour ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Who is the fat greasy oaf presenting on ITV Sport (now) with some "film guy" I have never seen before either? Talking absolute crap.

I assume you are not talking about Laura Woods?

[AlexLaw76]

46 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

This just seems a bit unfair on Curacao. Nice as the story is, match ups like this make a mockery of the World Cup.

you are aware they actually qualified?

[die Mannyschaft]

7 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

you are aware they actually qualified?

These teams play a crucial role for like of Germany who have slow defenders and alerts the manager to make a change(if there are any better players). There are always teams in any competitions that get hammered or struggle, look at Spurs!

[whelk]

Who is the co-comms on this game? Absolutely useless

[John Boy Saint]

6 minutes ago, whelk said:

Who is the co-comms on this game? Absolutely useless

Android Townsend I think

(I let applemakeyoulookatitautocorrect have its way on that one)

[Window Cleaner]

42 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

you are aware they actually qualified?

Because there are too many places available. 32 teams maximum. A WC tournament with Curacao etc and not Italy isn't fair représentation of footballing mérité.

Curacao shouldn't be anywhere near the WC finals.

Still they have a few supporters présent,immigrant communities of the US I suppose.

[whelk]

6 minutes ago, John Boy Saint said:

Android Townsend I think

(I let applemakeyoulookatitautocorrect have its way on that one)

Cheers. “When Curacao were on top they didn’t take advantage”. I must’ve missed that

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

45 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

you are aware they actually qualified?

Yes, beating footballing giants like Aruba, Barbados and St Lucia along the way. They almost certainly wouldn't have qualified in the 32 team format, which was broadly my point.

Despite the Curacao goal, this was clearly never more than a training game for Germany. As I say, happy for the Curacao fans etc, but it doesn't exactly make for an exciting game.

[whelk]

3 minutes ago, Window Cleaner said:

Because there are too many places available. 32 teams maximum. A WC tournament with Curacao etc and not Italy isn't fair représentation of footballing mérité.

Curacao shouldn't be anywhere near the WC finals.

Still they have a few supporters présent,immigrant communities of the US I suppose.

Infantino makes sure he gets the votes from the small federations by ensuring they have an ever increasing chance of a pay day

Edited 1 hour ago by whelk

[Convict Colony]

watched the Curacao goal and German 2nd then switched off. Biggest take away I'm hearing from the match is the amount of fans complaining how cold it is in there cos of the ac, entirely convient for a German team v a Caribbean one 🤣

[Convict Colony]

Just now, whelk said:

Infantino makes sure he gets the votes from the small federations by ensuring they had an ever increasing chance of a pay day

This is the preferred playbook from FIA, FIFA and China in the UN

[AlexLaw76]

2 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

Yes, beating footballing giants like Aruba, Barbados and St Lucia along the way. They almost certainly wouldn't have qualified in the 32 team format, which was broadly my point.

Despite the Curacao goal, this was clearly never more than a training game for Germany. As I say, happy for the Curacao fans etc, but it doesn't exactly make for an exciting game.

Certainly has a feel of European football dead rubbers 

 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

Certainly has a feel of European football dead rubbers 

 

Exactly. Lichtenstein or Andorra generally don't qualify.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

9 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

watched the Curacao goal and German 2nd then switched off. Biggest take away I'm hearing from the match is the amount of fans complaining how cold it is in there cos of the ac, entirely convient for a German team v a Caribbean one 🤣

Luckily there was a hydration break to take on a cuppa tea.

[VectisSaint]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

you are aware they actually qualified?

Whether they would have qualified if it has not been for US, Canada and Mexico hosting is another matter. Outside those 3 the CONCACAF is a very weak federation.

[Lord Duckhunter]

4 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Still not feeling it this World Cup.

Just seems even more now, that the whole competition isn’t about a celebration of football but more a grotesque money-maker.

For example, why do teams need hydration breaks when they’re playing at night?  

FIFA has been corrupt for years and will eventually eat itself.

Absolutely terrible so far. Piss poor games, piss poor coverage. The European championship has been ruined with too many poor teams qualifying, and now the WC is going the same way. Elite sport, my arse….
 

[AlexLaw76]

9 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

Whether they would have qualified if it has not been for US, Canada and Mexico hosting is another matter. Outside those 3 the CONCACAF is a very weak federation.

Yeah, fair point.

Echoing what others have said, this is not a showcase of elite level football what so ever. Pretty shit to be fair

[die Mannyschaft]

46 minutes ago, whelk said:

Infantino makes sure he gets the votes from the small federations by ensuring they have an ever increasing chance of a pay day

WC will probably increase further in in 4 years, ever expanding business model 

[die Mannyschaft]

11 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Absolutely terrible so far. Piss poor games, piss poor coverage. The European championship has been ruined with too many poor teams qualifying, and now the WC is going the same way. Elite sport, my arse….
 

Must be 200 pundits in total , pitch side, commentary box side from TV companies. Nice holiday trip if you can get it..

[whelk]

Netherlands v Japan has potential. Only second proper game after Brazil V Morocco. 
 

[RedArmy]

The extra teams really has made the group stage completely pointless bar a few games, as expected. 
 

FIFA going down the Rasmus route of if it ain’t broke, consider breaking it. 

[The Kraken]

5 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

The extra teams really has made the group stage completely pointless bar a few games, as expected. 
 

FIFA going down the Rasmus route of if it ain’t broke, consider breaking it. 

Yeah it’s no surprise at all. I’ve not really watched many games so far, i’ll watch England but not bothered for many others (saying that I’ll probably watch a bit of Netherlands v Japan). Even the 32 game format regularly threw up some crap group games. The time zones also don’t help matters, unless England get through to the latter stages I can’t see me watching any games like the Jocks kicking off at 2am, and the 11pm games are extremely unlikely.

So yeah, so far meh but a lot of world cups are average until you get to the last 16.

[whelk]

Fucking hydration break in an air condition stadium. Yeah we all need the 3 minute pause

[The Kraken]

Just now, whelk said:

Fucking hydration break in an air condition stadium. Yeah we all need the 3 minute pause

It’s really a joke. 3 minutes ffs. 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

6 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

It’s really a joke. 3 minutes ffs. 

According to Google "On US television, the average commercial break lasts about two to three minutes".

That's a nice coincidence.

[sockeye]

Japan really struggling to break down that Dutchie defense.

[AlexLaw76]

yep, another shite game

[Saint Billy]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

yep, another shite game

Well at least it has allowed me time to get my Dremel out and sort out my toenails.