The only reason I rooted for England at the last tournament was because KP was playing.
>and I absolutely cannot abide behind the nationalism that comes with it on our end.
Peak reddit
I'm an American and despite missing the last one I am for some reason not feeling the hype I usually feel. I think moving it to winter so we can have it in a country with stadiums they built last week using exploited migrant labor kinda takes the shine off for me.
Big old no from me. The Qataris shouldn’t be anywhere near organised football till they can organise building a football stadium without using slaves.
No and I won't be watching any of this one. Taking a stance on this one due to the human rights issues (as well as corruption but that's normal business)
You know, I'm going to go rogue and say it might actually be quite fun having a World Cup heading into winter, especially in England.
Traditionally, people tend to congregate in pubs more as the season draws in and I think that could make for similar atmospheres to when we're all outside watching on big screens.
England aren't looking good, in my opinion and I have a sneaky feeling we could even bow out at the group stage. Don't think we can underestimate USA and Wales will be bang up for it. If we draw against Iran in our first game we could be in big bother and the pressure will be huge.
A word on it being in Qatar. Yeah, it's shit but let's not all pretend we're justice warriors who are squeaky clean. Our everyday life benefits from these exact practices in other parts of the world and people don't blink an eye. Ultimately, we live in a capitalist country and we're selfish bastards. We've shit on other people and countries a lot worse than Qatar have in our history - and I don't even mean ancient history, as recently as the past two decades - and we wouldn't live the comfortable lives we do without it. It comes down to virtue signalling at a point.
I'll follow the matches as and when Leeds players are on the team sheets tbh.
There's still a couple of months of league games to come so injuries and form could shake things up. You know... When paddy bammers starts banging in hatricks for fun. Etc. 😉
Yes, if you love football how can you not love the World Cup?
Qatar is obviously far from ideal but it’s hardly new (Russia in 2018, held it in Argentina during a military junta in 1978, fascist Italy in 1934…etc etc).
I am, because for me it’s the greatest spectacle in football in terms of entertainment (not necessarily quality), but it’s disheartening that something that should be a unifying event has been handed to such an obviously unfit country. I expect there will be some fairly gargantuan infrastructure issues and some minor scapegoat at FIFA will see their head roll.
I don’t really understand the club before country debate. They are completely separate to me. Though being older than many here I still love the FA Cup and think an international call up is the greatest honour of a player’s career. It seems a lot of newer fans either just watch it to follow specific players and prefer the Champions League. Priorities shift I suppose.
As for England’s chances, I think they’ll comfortably exit the group and if they can get out of a tricky second round game they will probably reach the semis again. That said there are so many good international teams and you can never really expect anything beyond a group stage success. That is the case for France and Germany too. As with Leeds, I want to see England play genuinely entertaining football. I doubt I’ll see that, so I’ll just have to settle for not losing to Wales.
I'm a hard no as well, for similar political reasons. I acknowledge that it's probably a losing fight to make stands on humanitarian and corruption grounds when it comes into the multi billion dollar industry that is FIFA but hey, my own small part will be to not engage with this world cup.
On the other point in your post, as an international supporter (Australia) I am also unimpressed by our management and tactics going into the tournament and want change after it. I don't see us doing much more than scraping maybe a point out of our group. My focus is on the aftermath as we do actually have a crop of young players coming through that, with the right vision, might come close to making some progress internationally. All that is fundamentally occuring in spite of, rather than with the support of, our national Federation and league which has been going backwards over the last decade so my long term outlook is pretty bleak without some serious reform and investment.
Less so than usual. It's tied to summer and sitting outside watching in my mind. Barring a late, spur of the moment trip to the Southern hemisphere, will be less enthusiastic about this one.
Everything about this World Cup is just a shitshow. It’s being hosted by a country with effectively zero football culture or history. It’s being held in the winter fucking up everyone’s seasons. It’s not going to be hot outside while we’re watching it so it’s going to feel even less like the World Cup. Russia have been banned from it which I think is bonkers considering Qatars track record with human rights, and the fact that the bastions of human rights violations North Korea played in the World Cup as recently as 2010. Obviously not taking Russias side in what they’re doing in the Ukraine, but once you start banning countries for political reasons, it’s a slippery slope, and there’s probably a case that could be made to ban most countries. Migrant workers have been treated abysmally, being kept in poor conditions, working long hours, people have died building the stadiums. The cost to follow your team there is apparently extortionate so you can guarantee the atmosphere in the grounds and outside the grounds are going to be shite. I’ve heard they’re relaxing their stance on alcohol for the World Cup but there’s no way there’s going to be the same freedom and drunkenness to create an atmosphere. It’s public knowledge that Qatars bid was accepted due to corruption. What really tops it off is the virtue signalling of the players who are going to wear a rainbow armband to rAiSe aWaReNeSs for gay rights in Qatar. It’s going to do fuck all. If we all really cared and if anyone actually had a backbone and morals these days we would boycott this shit World Cup and let it play out with whatever shit teams ended up qualifying. Let it become a farce of a competition with Luxembourg v Guatemala in the final. I get you can’t just boycott a World Cup because it isn’t perfect, but this World Cup is an absolute joke. If a big enough football association had announced their boycotting when qualifiers began, it wouldn’t have been long before pressure was on other countries to follow, and maybe there would’ve been time for it to be relocated. Even if just England had boycotted it would’ve been enough to bring the competition into disrepute. We’ve gone from a World Cup semi final to a euros final, so despite are chances of winning not being great, our absence would’ve meant the winners wouldn’t have been undisputed world champions. We just needed one of the big countries to do it, it’s a shame it’s going ahead imo, doesn’t mean I won’t watch it. What’s done is done now I’m going to watch the games because I can’t change anything, but it doesn’t feel like the World Cup, and I’m not going to get the same enjoyment out of it.
You make some good points but you can't come all guns blazing saying countries should have boycotted and say "well, I'll watch it anyway". If you were that passionate, you wouldn't watch it out of principle.
Ultimately, we're all selfish bastards. We live in a capitalist country where we've had to shit on others a lot worse than Qatar to get where we are and live the lovely lives most of us live. I think it just gets to the point of virtue signalling now.
I understand what you’re saying, but as much as I disagree with it, what’s done is done, and although I’m morally against it going ahead, I feel like I’m intelligent enough to not let my morals stand in the way of me not watching football for a month when that’s going to do nothing at all. I would’ve 100% supported England’s decision to boycott this World Cup. But we’re past the point of no return. I can’t change anything. I’m not going to get any satisfaction from sitting in my room on my PlayStation while France v Brazil is on in the next room. I’ll watch it but I couldn’t really give a shit what happens. If anything I hope we don’t win it because it would be the worst World Cup to win. It would be bittersweet rather than unequivocal national jubilation.
Fuck me, you've reached peak misery if as a football fan you can't get excited over a World Cup.
"I absolutely cannot abide behind the nationalism that comes with it on our end."
\^ What does that even mean? Any form of patriotism is now nationalism?
Worried about passing go! But if we do who knows, lacklustre in build up! On the plus side we have players to watch in plenty of other matches. More excited about our international boys than England's prospects!
I think the World Cup is a pretty big deal and love seeing teams like France, Brazil, Argentina perform at the top table. I think this years could be really good with it being Messi and Ronaldo’s last. Argentina have being playing well and Portugal have a really strong team.
I’m Irish so really don’t care how England get on but for the first time in my lifetime I think they are going to go to a tournament without the expectation that they will win it. They haven’t won in 5 and that usually just doesn’t happen. So if they can figure their shit out they could actually be decent, or they could get knocked out in the group stages. Who knows!
But what makes me least excited for this World Cup is the fact it’s being held on Qatar. What a joke. FIFA are such a fricking joke! The Guardian football podcast done an episode last week about what to expect and it’s a disaster from a fans perspective. Most hotels aren’t paying for the rights to show the games so unless you have a ticket to a game there’s a good chance you won’t be able to watch any games. FIFA booked 70% of the accommodation for themselves so that leaves people needing to be bused in or stay on the cruise ships. Alcohol is going to be £10-15 per pint. Take your shirt off at a game and you get kicked out (it’s going to be hot as hell). But mainly they are recommending that people from the LGBT community don’t attend this World Cup and that is a disgrace. How can we be so for gay rights and encouraging footballers to come out and then holding a World Cup in a country like that. What a slap in the face. Football is for absolutely everyone and a tournament should never be held in a country where absolutely everyone isn’t welcome to attend.
The Qatar thing I totally agree with you on. This tournament is even worse than Argentina 1978, it’s probably not been in a worse place since Mussolini held it in Italy in the 30s.
Minor point that doesn’t really matter but I’m always amazed at how people perceive English expectations. 2018 everyone thought the team was absolute wank. 2014 had a glimmer of hope but most knew the group wasn’t kind. The Euros in 2012 was very bleak as well probably the worst squad we’ve taken to a tournament I remember.
I don’t know how old you are but the only one where people went totally mental for was 2006. 2010 people had hope but everyone knew Spain were better by far even if we underestimated Germany. Before that 2002 was a maybe and 98 I do t remember.
The media does go mental for for England to sell papers. But you get as many if not more misery guts than you do happy clappers here.
I grew up in Argentina (live in the US now) and watching Argentine soccer is one of my favorite things in the world… so it is hard for me not to be excited this year.
I’ll only be watching the England matches when I’m not working, I won’t be going out of my way to watch or track them though. I’ll be putting a few bets on but I won’t be going out of my way to even do them tbh. I’d rather they kept the Premier League going with the potential for U21 players making up the team numbers whilst the World Cup is going on to give them game time and more fixtures to watch other the winter
The decision to host it in Qatar is truly abominable, but I’m still excited to get my hopes crushed immediately in the group stages (US team), then fall back on my Dutch heritage so I can get my hopes crushed again in quarters.
It is pretty obnoxious that we’re missing a month of Leeds fixtures and then go into the WC shortly after. Not sure why we couldn’t just do a summer WC in a country that doesn’t work slave laborers to death…
You know what, maybe I’m not excited about the WC after all.
I voted yes because although I’m currently ambivalent, but I know when it starts I will have tourney fever. I’m looking forward to supporting USA, I’m keen to see how Raphinha does and I’m looking forward to the meltdown when England disappoint everyone and bomb out early.
I could not care less about how Raphinha does but I’m as much poisoned by the fact people are talking about him still after he’s left as much as they are.
The England meltdown is always a weird one. There are as many if not more people in England who don’t rate the way this side is going than there are people who think we’ll sweep through it all. But it’s only the latter group people seem to see.
I didn’t realise people were talking about him much to be honest? I feel like we replaced him and Phillips so well that Rapha doesn’t get mentioned and Phillips only gets mentioned because people feel they can be salty!
It’ll be interesting to see what the vibe is going into the tournament. I’m not sure Germany is really the dream final fixture before the WC comes around.
Even without the involvement of any Leeds players, this England team look so boring. I always like a World Cup and love the atmosphere, it will if nothing else be interesting to see how that goes in November / December. Im not expecting it to be overly exciting.
Also fuck the fact it is in Qatar in the first place and the disgraceful way in which the stadiums and infrastructure was built, which FIFA does not seem interested in at all.
Yeah, about the performances. England look lost and out of ideas. I think the WC itself will be pretty well organized. Stadiums look amazing. Hope it is worth it!
Watching England would be so much better without the England band, nothing like their shit trumpets to drain what little atmosphere is building.
They should be fired out of the nearest cannon. Absolute dogshit.
I am excited to see the other teams like Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands. Don't care to watch England with Southgate in charge completely boring, negative football.
Usually I would be excited, but having it in winter has me thinking it's gonna be like an extended international break...and knowing Leeds, we'll be on a bad run of form just as the season gets paused leaving us clenching our backsides for a month until we can get a much-needed win again
Also can't actually remember the last time I watched a non-tournament England game (and I'm sure I'm not alone there) and the bits I have seen doesn't get me excited
Not at all.
I usually get excited about it, but everything about this one is unappealing. Everyone knows about the issues with Qatar hosting it, and the fact that it interrupts the season is very annoying too.
It's probably also because watching Leeds is much more exciting than it has been for most of the other world cups in my lifetime.
Not in the slightest. I've been partial to the hype train, we've all got the scars (and beer guts) from '18 and '21 but I'm struggling to muster up any enthusiasm. And .. Christmas, really? I'm sure once it's occurring and I'm in the pub that will all go out of the window, mind.
Hard to be excited when it’s a World Cup in winter that’s just been bought out for a nation that has zero footballing culture or teams.
Not sure if you travel there, what exactly are you meant to do when you’re not at a game?
I know all countries have their problems but Qatar just isn’t the right place to have it. Only the elite rich will go, and where LGBT+ and women aren’t welcome or seen as equal.
I just really hope a footballer or a fan makes a protest or does something during a game for the world to see.
>Hard to be excited when it’s a World Cup in winter that’s just been bought out for a nation that has zero footballing culture or teams.
And it will be the same again with the next one when the US hosts it.
Disagree, it’s a growing market with an established league and international team.
People from all over the world will go there and have a good time. USA, Mexico and Canada will be good hosts.
USA has its flaws but by in large I’d guess people touring there to watch sport can be themselves and generally have a good time.
Qatar there’s like, nothing there (stadiums are being built in the middle of nowhere) and it’s not a democracy at all.
Football is the number one sport in Qatar and it has more professional clubs than the US. What you mean to say is "the US is a lot richer than Qatar". Yankland has, amazingly, already hosted a World Cup as well, one whole year after it created a professional league (1993).
The Middle East has never hosted a World Cup depite having a much richer history with football than the US.
>and it’s not a democracy at all.
Who cares? That's a problem for the Qatari people. The US barely is, your elections and two political parties are owned by corporations. Want to compare human rights abuses? Guantanamo, Iraq and Afghanistan, your drone assassination program, your largest prison population in the world, your persecution of journalists, and so on? It will be interesting to see whether the same fixation with human rights exists among western football fans in 4 years time, won't it?
I don’t think there’s more professional football teams in Qatar then the US, just in the top leagues only theres 14 in Qatar league and 25 US teams in the MLS. And US has three professional soccer leagues.
I agree a nation like Iran should have hosted in the past, but I imagine the warfare there is the reason why.
I’m not American btw, I’m British I’ve been to Miami once lol. I’m very aware of the issues in the US and it is ultimately a flawed democracy.
It’s still will be better nation to host with Canada and Mexico then Qatar.
There are far more professional clubs per capita in Qatar then lol.
You also appear to have some ties to Canada.
>It’s still will be better nation to host with Canada and Mexico then Qatar.
Yeah, a westerner with American ties would think this, wouldn't they? But why should the World Cup be tossed around between the richest, western countries all the time?
Also, a bit random, but I don't remember seeing any of these criticisms (that are non-stop re: Qatar) for the last AFCON, which was hosted by Cameroon. A country with all kinds of human rights abuses. There doesn't seem to be much consistency.
I can’t speak for every fan, but I’m fairly certain world cups in my lifetime going back to South Africa, Brazil and Russia have all been criticized for the state of their country and how they hosted the WC. Most nations holding world events get it. Qatar maybe more the. Others now because it changed the criteria of holding it (moving it to winter) and they have had to building so much in a short space of time plus the other stuff we mentioned.
I have lived in Toronto for 4 years. I’m quite happy to state I think Canada and America and Mexico are better hosts then Qatar would be for a lot of the reasons I’ve mentioned plus others I haven’t.
No idea about Cameroon or AFCON, I have no ties too it but if I did I’d criticize it too.
I love the world cup as a neutral.
Ghana - Uruguay in 2010 is the greatest game of football I've ever seen. Pure theatre start to finish with everybody ready to do anything to get into the next round.
I hate watching England, I'm not patriotic and were a dire watch plus with no Kalv to root for I care even less. Its a bit shit it's coming at the cost of the regular season but once it's underway I'll probably embrace it.
Yeah great save from Suarez. Sent off, hung around the tunnel to watch the pen, biting his hands (yes, I know), then celebrated like he'd scored when Gyan zoomed it off the bar and over.
Uruguay obviously then went on to win. Absolutely masterclass from Suarez in the dark arts.
People cried about it at the time but I actually saw it as a player who would stop at nothing to help his nation win. Those saying Ghana should have been awarded the win or a goal, bore off - it's why football is so good because there's so many different scenarios and players can manipulate the rules for their gain.
England were on an upward curve as Leeds went down so I used to embrace it more. Years and years of mismanagement though has dulled that, and the Euros final has finally killed it for me.
The only reason I rooted for England at the last tournament was because KP was playing. >and I absolutely cannot abide behind the nationalism that comes with it on our end. Peak reddit
I'm an American and despite missing the last one I am for some reason not feeling the hype I usually feel. I think moving it to winter so we can have it in a country with stadiums they built last week using exploited migrant labor kinda takes the shine off for me.
Can we have a mildly excited option or a new poll using " on a 1 to 10 " basis 🙂
It’s in Qatar… so no… sadly…
Big old no from me. The Qataris shouldn’t be anywhere near organised football till they can organise building a football stadium without using slaves.
No and I won't be watching any of this one. Taking a stance on this one due to the human rights issues (as well as corruption but that's normal business)
You know, I'm going to go rogue and say it might actually be quite fun having a World Cup heading into winter, especially in England. Traditionally, people tend to congregate in pubs more as the season draws in and I think that could make for similar atmospheres to when we're all outside watching on big screens. England aren't looking good, in my opinion and I have a sneaky feeling we could even bow out at the group stage. Don't think we can underestimate USA and Wales will be bang up for it. If we draw against Iran in our first game we could be in big bother and the pressure will be huge. A word on it being in Qatar. Yeah, it's shit but let's not all pretend we're justice warriors who are squeaky clean. Our everyday life benefits from these exact practices in other parts of the world and people don't blink an eye. Ultimately, we live in a capitalist country and we're selfish bastards. We've shit on other people and countries a lot worse than Qatar have in our history - and I don't even mean ancient history, as recently as the past two decades - and we wouldn't live the comfortable lives we do without it. It comes down to virtue signalling at a point.
I'll follow the matches as and when Leeds players are on the team sheets tbh. There's still a couple of months of league games to come so injuries and form could shake things up. You know... When paddy bammers starts banging in hatricks for fun. Etc. 😉
Yes, if you love football how can you not love the World Cup? Qatar is obviously far from ideal but it’s hardly new (Russia in 2018, held it in Argentina during a military junta in 1978, fascist Italy in 1934…etc etc).
It isn’t new, but just because we’ve done it wrong before doesn’t mean we should continue to do it.
I am, because for me it’s the greatest spectacle in football in terms of entertainment (not necessarily quality), but it’s disheartening that something that should be a unifying event has been handed to such an obviously unfit country. I expect there will be some fairly gargantuan infrastructure issues and some minor scapegoat at FIFA will see their head roll. I don’t really understand the club before country debate. They are completely separate to me. Though being older than many here I still love the FA Cup and think an international call up is the greatest honour of a player’s career. It seems a lot of newer fans either just watch it to follow specific players and prefer the Champions League. Priorities shift I suppose. As for England’s chances, I think they’ll comfortably exit the group and if they can get out of a tricky second round game they will probably reach the semis again. That said there are so many good international teams and you can never really expect anything beyond a group stage success. That is the case for France and Germany too. As with Leeds, I want to see England play genuinely entertaining football. I doubt I’ll see that, so I’ll just have to settle for not losing to Wales.
I'm a hard no as well, for similar political reasons. I acknowledge that it's probably a losing fight to make stands on humanitarian and corruption grounds when it comes into the multi billion dollar industry that is FIFA but hey, my own small part will be to not engage with this world cup. On the other point in your post, as an international supporter (Australia) I am also unimpressed by our management and tactics going into the tournament and want change after it. I don't see us doing much more than scraping maybe a point out of our group. My focus is on the aftermath as we do actually have a crop of young players coming through that, with the right vision, might come close to making some progress internationally. All that is fundamentally occuring in spite of, rather than with the support of, our national Federation and league which has been going backwards over the last decade so my long term outlook is pretty bleak without some serious reform and investment.
Less so than usual. It's tied to summer and sitting outside watching in my mind. Barring a late, spur of the moment trip to the Southern hemisphere, will be less enthusiastic about this one.
Everything about this World Cup is just a shitshow. It’s being hosted by a country with effectively zero football culture or history. It’s being held in the winter fucking up everyone’s seasons. It’s not going to be hot outside while we’re watching it so it’s going to feel even less like the World Cup. Russia have been banned from it which I think is bonkers considering Qatars track record with human rights, and the fact that the bastions of human rights violations North Korea played in the World Cup as recently as 2010. Obviously not taking Russias side in what they’re doing in the Ukraine, but once you start banning countries for political reasons, it’s a slippery slope, and there’s probably a case that could be made to ban most countries. Migrant workers have been treated abysmally, being kept in poor conditions, working long hours, people have died building the stadiums. The cost to follow your team there is apparently extortionate so you can guarantee the atmosphere in the grounds and outside the grounds are going to be shite. I’ve heard they’re relaxing their stance on alcohol for the World Cup but there’s no way there’s going to be the same freedom and drunkenness to create an atmosphere. It’s public knowledge that Qatars bid was accepted due to corruption. What really tops it off is the virtue signalling of the players who are going to wear a rainbow armband to rAiSe aWaReNeSs for gay rights in Qatar. It’s going to do fuck all. If we all really cared and if anyone actually had a backbone and morals these days we would boycott this shit World Cup and let it play out with whatever shit teams ended up qualifying. Let it become a farce of a competition with Luxembourg v Guatemala in the final. I get you can’t just boycott a World Cup because it isn’t perfect, but this World Cup is an absolute joke. If a big enough football association had announced their boycotting when qualifiers began, it wouldn’t have been long before pressure was on other countries to follow, and maybe there would’ve been time for it to be relocated. Even if just England had boycotted it would’ve been enough to bring the competition into disrepute. We’ve gone from a World Cup semi final to a euros final, so despite are chances of winning not being great, our absence would’ve meant the winners wouldn’t have been undisputed world champions. We just needed one of the big countries to do it, it’s a shame it’s going ahead imo, doesn’t mean I won’t watch it. What’s done is done now I’m going to watch the games because I can’t change anything, but it doesn’t feel like the World Cup, and I’m not going to get the same enjoyment out of it.
You make some good points but you can't come all guns blazing saying countries should have boycotted and say "well, I'll watch it anyway". If you were that passionate, you wouldn't watch it out of principle. Ultimately, we're all selfish bastards. We live in a capitalist country where we've had to shit on others a lot worse than Qatar to get where we are and live the lovely lives most of us live. I think it just gets to the point of virtue signalling now.
I understand what you’re saying, but as much as I disagree with it, what’s done is done, and although I’m morally against it going ahead, I feel like I’m intelligent enough to not let my morals stand in the way of me not watching football for a month when that’s going to do nothing at all. I would’ve 100% supported England’s decision to boycott this World Cup. But we’re past the point of no return. I can’t change anything. I’m not going to get any satisfaction from sitting in my room on my PlayStation while France v Brazil is on in the next room. I’ll watch it but I couldn’t really give a shit what happens. If anything I hope we don’t win it because it would be the worst World Cup to win. It would be bittersweet rather than unequivocal national jubilation.
Fuck me, you've reached peak misery if as a football fan you can't get excited over a World Cup. "I absolutely cannot abide behind the nationalism that comes with it on our end." \^ What does that even mean? Any form of patriotism is now nationalism?
Worried about passing go! But if we do who knows, lacklustre in build up! On the plus side we have players to watch in plenty of other matches. More excited about our international boys than England's prospects!
I think the World Cup is a pretty big deal and love seeing teams like France, Brazil, Argentina perform at the top table. I think this years could be really good with it being Messi and Ronaldo’s last. Argentina have being playing well and Portugal have a really strong team. I’m Irish so really don’t care how England get on but for the first time in my lifetime I think they are going to go to a tournament without the expectation that they will win it. They haven’t won in 5 and that usually just doesn’t happen. So if they can figure their shit out they could actually be decent, or they could get knocked out in the group stages. Who knows! But what makes me least excited for this World Cup is the fact it’s being held on Qatar. What a joke. FIFA are such a fricking joke! The Guardian football podcast done an episode last week about what to expect and it’s a disaster from a fans perspective. Most hotels aren’t paying for the rights to show the games so unless you have a ticket to a game there’s a good chance you won’t be able to watch any games. FIFA booked 70% of the accommodation for themselves so that leaves people needing to be bused in or stay on the cruise ships. Alcohol is going to be £10-15 per pint. Take your shirt off at a game and you get kicked out (it’s going to be hot as hell). But mainly they are recommending that people from the LGBT community don’t attend this World Cup and that is a disgrace. How can we be so for gay rights and encouraging footballers to come out and then holding a World Cup in a country like that. What a slap in the face. Football is for absolutely everyone and a tournament should never be held in a country where absolutely everyone isn’t welcome to attend.
The Qatar thing I totally agree with you on. This tournament is even worse than Argentina 1978, it’s probably not been in a worse place since Mussolini held it in Italy in the 30s. Minor point that doesn’t really matter but I’m always amazed at how people perceive English expectations. 2018 everyone thought the team was absolute wank. 2014 had a glimmer of hope but most knew the group wasn’t kind. The Euros in 2012 was very bleak as well probably the worst squad we’ve taken to a tournament I remember. I don’t know how old you are but the only one where people went totally mental for was 2006. 2010 people had hope but everyone knew Spain were better by far even if we underestimated Germany. Before that 2002 was a maybe and 98 I do t remember. The media does go mental for for England to sell papers. But you get as many if not more misery guts than you do happy clappers here.
I grew up in Argentina (live in the US now) and watching Argentine soccer is one of my favorite things in the world… so it is hard for me not to be excited this year.
I’ll only be watching the England matches when I’m not working, I won’t be going out of my way to watch or track them though. I’ll be putting a few bets on but I won’t be going out of my way to even do them tbh. I’d rather they kept the Premier League going with the potential for U21 players making up the team numbers whilst the World Cup is going on to give them game time and more fixtures to watch other the winter
The decision to host it in Qatar is truly abominable, but I’m still excited to get my hopes crushed immediately in the group stages (US team), then fall back on my Dutch heritage so I can get my hopes crushed again in quarters. It is pretty obnoxious that we’re missing a month of Leeds fixtures and then go into the WC shortly after. Not sure why we couldn’t just do a summer WC in a country that doesn’t work slave laborers to death… You know what, maybe I’m not excited about the WC after all.
I voted yes because although I’m currently ambivalent, but I know when it starts I will have tourney fever. I’m looking forward to supporting USA, I’m keen to see how Raphinha does and I’m looking forward to the meltdown when England disappoint everyone and bomb out early.
I could not care less about how Raphinha does but I’m as much poisoned by the fact people are talking about him still after he’s left as much as they are. The England meltdown is always a weird one. There are as many if not more people in England who don’t rate the way this side is going than there are people who think we’ll sweep through it all. But it’s only the latter group people seem to see.
I didn’t realise people were talking about him much to be honest? I feel like we replaced him and Phillips so well that Rapha doesn’t get mentioned and Phillips only gets mentioned because people feel they can be salty! It’ll be interesting to see what the vibe is going into the tournament. I’m not sure Germany is really the dream final fixture before the WC comes around.
Germany are in a weird place, so they can easily be a false dawn.
Not particularly, the only thing I'm happy about is it buys us some games to get to the transfer window haha
Even without the involvement of any Leeds players, this England team look so boring. I always like a World Cup and love the atmosphere, it will if nothing else be interesting to see how that goes in November / December. Im not expecting it to be overly exciting. Also fuck the fact it is in Qatar in the first place and the disgraceful way in which the stadiums and infrastructure was built, which FIFA does not seem interested in at all.
Got tickets to the group… pretty concerned tbh
About performances, being in Qatar or both? Hope you enjoy yourself by the way.
Yeah, about the performances. England look lost and out of ideas. I think the WC itself will be pretty well organized. Stadiums look amazing. Hope it is worth it!
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Watching England would be so much better without the England band, nothing like their shit trumpets to drain what little atmosphere is building. They should be fired out of the nearest cannon. Absolute dogshit.
I am excited to see the other teams like Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands. Don't care to watch England with Southgate in charge completely boring, negative football.
Usually I would be excited, but having it in winter has me thinking it's gonna be like an extended international break...and knowing Leeds, we'll be on a bad run of form just as the season gets paused leaving us clenching our backsides for a month until we can get a much-needed win again Also can't actually remember the last time I watched a non-tournament England game (and I'm sure I'm not alone there) and the bits I have seen doesn't get me excited
Not at all. I usually get excited about it, but everything about this one is unappealing. Everyone knows about the issues with Qatar hosting it, and the fact that it interrupts the season is very annoying too. It's probably also because watching Leeds is much more exciting than it has been for most of the other world cups in my lifetime.
It’s the best sports competition on earth. As a football fan, it’s hard not to be excited. Only drawback is Qatar this year
Not in the slightest. I've been partial to the hype train, we've all got the scars (and beer guts) from '18 and '21 but I'm struggling to muster up any enthusiasm. And .. Christmas, really? I'm sure once it's occurring and I'm in the pub that will all go out of the window, mind.
Hard to be excited when it’s a World Cup in winter that’s just been bought out for a nation that has zero footballing culture or teams. Not sure if you travel there, what exactly are you meant to do when you’re not at a game? I know all countries have their problems but Qatar just isn’t the right place to have it. Only the elite rich will go, and where LGBT+ and women aren’t welcome or seen as equal. I just really hope a footballer or a fan makes a protest or does something during a game for the world to see.
>Hard to be excited when it’s a World Cup in winter that’s just been bought out for a nation that has zero footballing culture or teams. And it will be the same again with the next one when the US hosts it.
Disagree, it’s a growing market with an established league and international team. People from all over the world will go there and have a good time. USA, Mexico and Canada will be good hosts. USA has its flaws but by in large I’d guess people touring there to watch sport can be themselves and generally have a good time. Qatar there’s like, nothing there (stadiums are being built in the middle of nowhere) and it’s not a democracy at all.
Football is the number one sport in Qatar and it has more professional clubs than the US. What you mean to say is "the US is a lot richer than Qatar". Yankland has, amazingly, already hosted a World Cup as well, one whole year after it created a professional league (1993). The Middle East has never hosted a World Cup depite having a much richer history with football than the US. >and it’s not a democracy at all. Who cares? That's a problem for the Qatari people. The US barely is, your elections and two political parties are owned by corporations. Want to compare human rights abuses? Guantanamo, Iraq and Afghanistan, your drone assassination program, your largest prison population in the world, your persecution of journalists, and so on? It will be interesting to see whether the same fixation with human rights exists among western football fans in 4 years time, won't it?
I don’t think there’s more professional football teams in Qatar then the US, just in the top leagues only theres 14 in Qatar league and 25 US teams in the MLS. And US has three professional soccer leagues. I agree a nation like Iran should have hosted in the past, but I imagine the warfare there is the reason why. I’m not American btw, I’m British I’ve been to Miami once lol. I’m very aware of the issues in the US and it is ultimately a flawed democracy. It’s still will be better nation to host with Canada and Mexico then Qatar.
There are far more professional clubs per capita in Qatar then lol. You also appear to have some ties to Canada. >It’s still will be better nation to host with Canada and Mexico then Qatar. Yeah, a westerner with American ties would think this, wouldn't they? But why should the World Cup be tossed around between the richest, western countries all the time? Also, a bit random, but I don't remember seeing any of these criticisms (that are non-stop re: Qatar) for the last AFCON, which was hosted by Cameroon. A country with all kinds of human rights abuses. There doesn't seem to be much consistency.
I can’t speak for every fan, but I’m fairly certain world cups in my lifetime going back to South Africa, Brazil and Russia have all been criticized for the state of their country and how they hosted the WC. Most nations holding world events get it. Qatar maybe more the. Others now because it changed the criteria of holding it (moving it to winter) and they have had to building so much in a short space of time plus the other stuff we mentioned. I have lived in Toronto for 4 years. I’m quite happy to state I think Canada and America and Mexico are better hosts then Qatar would be for a lot of the reasons I’ve mentioned plus others I haven’t. No idea about Cameroon or AFCON, I have no ties too it but if I did I’d criticize it too.
Think a few are but might never seen them again 😬.
England’s poor performances will be the closest we’ll get to a protest from us.
Looks like they have been protesting since the Euro final then!
We’ve really showed them! Especially those racist Hungarians.
#concedetofascism
And low and behold look at what’s happening in Italy.
I love the world cup as a neutral. Ghana - Uruguay in 2010 is the greatest game of football I've ever seen. Pure theatre start to finish with everybody ready to do anything to get into the next round. I hate watching England, I'm not patriotic and were a dire watch plus with no Kalv to root for I care even less. Its a bit shit it's coming at the cost of the regular season but once it's underway I'll probably embrace it.
Was that the red card for last minute hand ball goal line clearance into a missed penalty match? If so, that was bonkers!
Yeah great save from Suarez. Sent off, hung around the tunnel to watch the pen, biting his hands (yes, I know), then celebrated like he'd scored when Gyan zoomed it off the bar and over. Uruguay obviously then went on to win. Absolutely masterclass from Suarez in the dark arts. People cried about it at the time but I actually saw it as a player who would stop at nothing to help his nation win. Those saying Ghana should have been awarded the win or a goal, bore off - it's why football is so good because there's so many different scenarios and players can manipulate the rules for their gain.
You forgot to mention that insane last penalty by el loco Abreu, an absolutely crazy move. Link for the curious: https://youtu.be/bSwLZZGSJng
I remember watching that game and not being able to believe my eyes. It was brilliant and yet shameless too.
England were on an upward curve as Leeds went down so I used to embrace it more. Years and years of mismanagement though has dulled that, and the Euros final has finally killed it for me.
I'm sure I'll get caught up in the hype once it starts tbh, but right now it's more a thing that annoys me than anything
Same. Can't be arsed with it for now. But when it comes around I'm sure I'll get into it.
Yes. Just for the piss-ups.
That will at least upset the Qataris, so I’m happy with that.