The World Cup
- Thread starter Beedar
- Start date
NewburyOne
Well-known member
Personally, I can't wait, I totally disagree with the choice of location and it will be odd seeing it played in Nov/Dec but believe we will do well and have as good a chance as any country. I also hope Scotland can make it through, my friends from North of the border have waited long enough and deserve to join the party. 
Last edited:
TotallyTangerine
Well-known member
Why would I want to miss out on the opportunity to be on a total high for a while, revelling in the mass feel good factor and forced bonhomie, the country (mainly supermarkets) decked out in red, white and blue… only to be plunged into utmost despair and total pissed off ness.. You silly billy!
TotallyTangerine
Well-known member
It still hurts.
seasideone
Well-known member
Looking forward to it and started planning our trip already with a few off here.
We have a mad plan of doing the 20/20 World Cup in Oz which finishes a few days before Qatar begins and heading straight there from Oz.
We will see, but we are defo going to Qatar.
As we have not been able to go to much sport abroad over the last few years, we cannot wait.
We have a mad plan of doing the 20/20 World Cup in Oz which finishes a few days before Qatar begins and heading straight there from Oz.
We will see, but we are defo going to Qatar.
As we have not been able to go to much sport abroad over the last few years, we cannot wait.
Lost Seasider
Well-known member
Can't say I'm looking forward to it, it feels to me like the competition is being devalued, first with this, then next with the expansion in the number of teams that turns the group stages into a farce.
hampshire_exile
Well-known member
Selfishly, as a retired person, the timing is excellent. I would far rather sit in on early winter days watching a 4 game football feast than let a beautiful summers day go to waste. Although completely agree on venue and the process by which it was decided.
In terms of the Championship, there are 3 Saturdays with no football ( 19, 26 Nov and 3 Dec) as a result of the World Cup. That’s not that much. Doubtless plans will be made so EFL games don’t clash with England games.
And I really really really couldn’t give a fuck how the Premier League is affected…
In terms of the Championship, there are 3 Saturdays with no football ( 19, 26 Nov and 3 Dec) as a result of the World Cup. That’s not that much. Doubtless plans will be made so EFL games don’t clash with England games.
And I really really really couldn’t give a fuck how the Premier League is affected…
I'm looking forward to it. If Southgate can curb his safety-first approach then we might actually win it.
This will be the first - and possibly only - WC that isn't at the end of a gruelling English season and where no top team has an environmental advantage.
Given our recent record we should be pretty confident.
This will be the first - and possibly only - WC that isn't at the end of a gruelling English season and where no top team has an environmental advantage.
Given our recent record we should be pretty confident.
hampshire_exile
Well-known member
Agreed - whilst the major flaw in this World Cup is the venue, an expansion to 48 teams in 2026 is ridiculous - and if we are talking 16 teams of 3 to start with ( with 2 from each group to go through) the third game in each group will be wide open to manipulation/match fixing.
Plus it will also involve massive travelling (Canada USA and Mexico).
basilrobbie3
Well-known member
1. It is possible to be critical of the timing of the event and still be an England fan.
2. It is possible to be critical of the decision to play the competition in a hot Middle East country and then completely upturn the global League schedule to mitigate the consequences, yet still be an England fan. And a fan of the tournament per se.
3. It is possible to voice concerns about human rights abuses in Qatar and still be an England fan.
As for sentiments like "the tournament is when it is" ; I'm wondering what level of corruption and mismanagement there has to be before you put your flag of St. George down, stop shrugging your shoulders and put morality before personal convenience.
Lost Seasider
Well-known member
The suggestion I saw was 12 groups of 4, with the top two plus the 8 "best" 3rd place teams through to a round of 32, similar to what they do in the Euros (hate that too).
Either way I don't see how the group stages can be made to work in any meaningful way with that number of teams.
straightatthewall
Well-known member
There's a lot not to like about the 2022 world cup. For me, the timing isn't one of them. It will provide a novel change and could be very enjoyable given the time of year.
seasideone
Well-known member
What is interesting about the draw for Qatar is that after it there will be a pause for 24hrs before the fixture list is confirmed.
They plan to move the bigger teams to the bigger stadiums and fix the KO times to work with TV in the playing countries when possible.
So hopefully England will be the late KO and will play in a cool stadium.
It will not be that hot anyway due to the time of year and you will probably need a jacket in the evening. PLUS if it is warm, and it will probably not get over 25c at the peak of the day, then the stadiums are air conditioned.
Interestingly Singapore's Outdoor National Stadium is Air Conditioned and I can confirm it gets a bit parky in there - so this tech does work.
They plan to move the bigger teams to the bigger stadiums and fix the KO times to work with TV in the playing countries when possible.
So hopefully England will be the late KO and will play in a cool stadium.
It will not be that hot anyway due to the time of year and you will probably need a jacket in the evening. PLUS if it is warm, and it will probably not get over 25c at the peak of the day, then the stadiums are air conditioned.
Interestingly Singapore's Outdoor National Stadium is Air Conditioned and I can confirm it gets a bit parky in there - so this tech does work.
NewburyOne
Well-known member
I'm looking into hiring a 4 birth camper, not the tiny things, a mahusive beast, from UAE and driving it across to Qatar. Should work out cheaper and mean we have options between games.
Jefflynnessongsheet
Well-known member
The whole thing is a shambles, why support a country with its constant human rights violations is a disgrace. Footballers should refuse to play in it but knowing what a bunch of dumbass morons they are they’ll be off to support a vile nation. Players are so damn hypocritical, quick to do the pathetic knee thing but won’t make a stand against a nation that treats people like slaves. Total arseholes every one of them.
20togo
Well-known member
What the fuck are you on about? What personal convenience is it to me? It is when it is and changes nothing as to my own personal arrangements for watching it. Neither have I mentioned or commented on any of the matters you raise in your points 1-3. I'm a football man and I enjoy watching the game at all levels. On the other hand and perhaps fr your own personal satisfaction you seem to have become more interested in the politics of it all. Let's face it, you never discuss a game these days. I prefer to put my time into going to watch games with my sons and grandsons whilst still watching my youngest son play football too. To me that's what football is about and what I was brought up to love.
poolseasider
Well-known member
Always look forward to a World Cup and watching England play but this is massively different.
The joy of a summer tournament is put a pair is shorts on and England top and off to pub/beer garden you go this is winter at the start of Christmas period in the middle of our football season FFS.
So I'll watch every game but as to full on enjoyment we'll see.
The joy of a summer tournament is put a pair is shorts on and England top and off to pub/beer garden you go this is winter at the start of Christmas period in the middle of our football season FFS.
So I'll watch every game but as to full on enjoyment we'll see.
seasideone
Well-known member
Sounds like an ideaI'm looking into hiring a 4 birth camper, not the tiny things, a mahusive beast, from UAE and driving it across to Qatar. Should work out cheaper and mean we have options between games.
basilrobbie3
Well-known member
The pity of it for me is that I quite accept that you genuinely don't understand what I'm driving at. Trying to debate with you is a bit like trying to nail jelly to a wall, and just as pointless.
poolseasider
Well-known member
Because he's a total bore, used to feel he was one of us but not now more interested righting letters to the EFL.
20togo
Well-known member
I perfectly understand the point the you are driving at. It's all about the politics isn't it? Go on tell me if I'm wrong. Anyway, congratulations, you've found your niche as secretary of BST. You can campaign away to your hearts content. Meanwhile, I'll continue to enjoy watching the game of football and spending time with my family and friends..
As I said, you brought the politics into it. I hadn't commented on it. A straight forward question. Is there anything inaccurate about what I said in my opening post?
Last edited:
Bend it like Suddick
Well-known member
Must be a big vehicle if its got a Maternity section....good luck with that watching football
S
Scaramanga
Guest
Absolutely spot on. Fuck Qatar and Fuck the bent world cup in the desert.
fcblackpool
Well-known member
It's very difficult for the average man in the street to politically involved with this WC when the politicians/FIFA clearly don't give a XXXX.
Personally I'd want a WC in summer for many reasons and certainly not where it will be at any time, but nowt we can do.
basilrobbie3
Well-known member
I was responding to your post actually, in which you tried to suggest that anyone who was critical of this year's WC was somehow being unpatriotic. Whether that is "political" or not is for others to judge. But I thought it a particularly crass and ignorant comment to make.
I love the way you imply that campaigning for things is somehow wrong and we should all just go to the football.......
20togo
Well-known member
Jeez, you accuse me of missing the point when you totally missed mine. Like I said, i didn't bring the politics into the debate you did. The question was asked about looking forward to the World Cup. My first point was to say I was looking forward to it whenever or whatever time of year it was. My second point was to state that some on here say they have no interest in the national football team so of course they'd have little interest in the world cup and how we do. Do you deny that's not the case? And I haven't implied else anything either.
Last edited:
Macseasider
Well-known member
Just read the whole thread and not one single poster has said they have "no interest in the national football team". You've made that bit up. As usual.
20togo
Well-known member
Don't disagree but as i said it is what ir is and nowt we can do.
basilrobbie3
Well-known member
"plenty will be feeling the same as you as a few on here couldn't give a monkeys about our national team."
Your words. You linked the idea of not enjoying the tournament to not caring about England. Nobody else. You know quite well what you were doing, for God's sake don't lie about it.
I just argued that for a great many people there is no such link and that loving England, yet having real moral misgivings about this tournament and how it has been awarded are two separate things.
If that is "bringing politics into the debate" I plead guilty. You carry on seeing Last Night of the Proms everywhere you look if it makes you feel better.
20togo
Well-known member
don't be a knob Mac, it's been said in the past many times as you well know. Or should we not be allowed to discuss things that have been said in past? My post and point was the second one on the thread so what you on about the rest of the thread for?
20togo
Well-known member
Not lying about anything Robbie. I made my point and no doubt it's one I'll make again. Glad you admit you are guilty, it proved my point. And I want my country to do well. Don't see anything wrong with saying that, but your reference to LNOTP seems to imply to me that you yourself don't really care. Which seems a bit odd considering you raised points 1-3.
basilrobbie3
Well-known member
I think you can, indirectly.
- If people refused to buy tickets or travel there, that would help.
- if people participated in a concerted boycott of sponsors or related businesses, that would help too.
- People could write to their local MP.
- They could also petition UEFA and FIFA.
- They could bring moral pressure to bear on the FA. Qualifying for the tournament doesn't mean we have to go.
I am enough of a realist to know it is very unlikely to happen. But there are things that could be done.
20togo
Well-known member
classic. C'mon lads and lasses get your pen and paper out. It's letter writing time.
basilrobbie3
Well-known member
You might sneer. But all those things (or variations upon them) were techniques employed by BST during our local difficulty, and to very good effect. The fact that we did all that, and raised awareness as well as mobilising our own support, is a large part of why we enjoy the national reputation that we do.
20togo
Well-known member
I wouldn't wish to discredit all the fine work BST do, but what you relate to is of a significantly greater scale. To the extent that your point is really on a world wide basis if it was to have any effect. But again, that's a distraction to my point that I raise in my previous post., .
TSSeasider
Well-known member
We will win it and so I'm looking forward to it.
And when we do, it won't be tarnished by where it was played or what time of year.
It's coming home.
And when we do, it won't be tarnished by where it was played or what time of year.
It's coming home.
Lytham_fy8
Well-known member
Has there ever been a memorable World Cup held outside of the traditional football nations?
SEASIDE2020
Well-known member
Scara
I know it certainly doesn't make it right but football is far from the only sport to turn a blind eye to less to the goings on in the country making the highest bid.
I know there will be more but quickly of the top of my head, horse racing, golf and cricket are definitely among the guilty.
I say guilty but if I was a successful sportsmen, I'm not sure I'd be complaining too much about the human rights in country X, when participating in a sporting event in that country for a few days resulted in me receiving greater rewards.
SEASIDE2020
Well-known member
Probably generally correct but I'd have to give a shout out to 1994 in America.
Wizaard
Well-known member
Followed by it turning into every other year...
Lost Seasider
Well-known member
Fast forward to the day after the quarter finals:
"f***ing corrupt s***hole, they only got the damn thing through bribery, should never have been played there, and in the winter too, total joke"
TSSeasider
Well-known member
Oh ye of little faith.
Mark_GT
Well-known member
Yup.
I've been pondering this one from the moral rather than football aspect. From one very clear perspective it's a corruptly won tournament taking place in a country where some of human life is unforgivably cheap. Then I think, "will they ever change?". My thoughts on this are that:
- they won't change unless they're exposed to a critical audience
- they won't change without the tangible incentives such as this WC offers to showcase some of the better things in their regime
- if someone goes they can form a clear opinion of the reality good and bad and report/reflect on it
- a 10 or 20 percent improvement in a regime such as this would achieve more than the marginal gains that could be made in more "civilised" cultures
- it might even start the flow in the right direction
- Though it's not on the same scale we have some dirty secrets of our own when it comes to sanitising what the world sees during a large event, then going back to business as usual thereafter
- We saw in Russia that the new young global rich will always be at these events from now on. They just sweep from one hedonistic experience to the next.
You could just keep adding to the list above. All a long winded way of saying I'm still thinking this one over and I'm not sure there's a straightforward answer to be had.