General World Cup Chat

[purpleronnie]

France would have to have a really bad day if they don't win the whole thing.

 

As for us, if we get past congo, mexico at altitude with one of the best records at home in world football...good luck.

[ClaphamFox]

47 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

It's nuts that they've held it twice since we last did. 

We'll probably never win it via the normal voting process unless FIFA is completely reformed.. The only way it will be held here again is if a future tournament has to be hastily rearranged because the original host becomes embroiled in war or is just too corrupt to get its act together in time. 

[Lionator]

7 minutes ago, purpleronnie said:

France would have to have a really bad day if they don't win the whole thing.

 

As for us, if we get past congo, mexico at altitude with one of the best records at home in world football...good luck.

All it needs is one team to successfully park the bus. Obviously Paraguay won’t be good enough to do that, but Morocco easily could. Then a Spain/Portugal in the semi definitely could take them all the way, then it’s a true lottery. They look by far the most convincing team but it’s such a long tournament that you really can’t call it yet.

[Lionator]

People (including myself) are going very all or nothing with the Mexico thing. It’s either: they’re unbeatable at the Azteca we might as well give up now, or they’ve got no world class players and their record is only good because they play St. Lucia there. Truth is probably in the middle though gotta say they look like a motivated country. Wish the whole tournament was there. 

[ClaphamFox]

1 minute ago, Lionator said:

People (including myself) are going very all or nothing with the Mexico thing. It’s either: they’re unbeatable at the Azteca we might as well give up now, or they’ve got no world class players and their record is only good because they play St. Lucia there. Truth is probably in the middle though gotta say they look like a motivated country. Wish the whole tournament was there. 

Everything has gone their way so far: four wins out of four, scored eight, conceded none. It will be interesting to see how their players and crowd react if/when they go behind and have to chase a game. 

 

Their record at the Azteca is clearly impressive, but less so when you consider that only around 4% of their wins there have come against the leading countries (Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Spain, England, France, the Netherlands or Portugal). This is mainly because they very rarely play against top sides at the Azteca. 

 

Either way, IF we get through tonight it will be fascinating game on Monday morning. Such a shame I'll probably be watching it alone on my sofa with a mug of cocoa.

[Foxdiamond]

45 minutes ago, Jonezy said:

Thats an opinion.

A flawed person for sure, but his football was unbelievable in an age where he was hardly protected like they are today. He spured Argentina to a World Cup and then he spured Napoli to win the Scudetto, when Seria A was the ultimate league in the world. He was magic. 

I totally understand the frustration and annoyance of that hand ball goal, but for the rest of us unbiased it just adds to the myth.

Obviously a great player but also a cheat. 

[Foxdiamond]

13 hours ago, bovril said:

The emergence of France as the European powerhouse is interesting. Feel like even when I started watching in the 90s it was more of a rugby than a soccer country and behind Germany, Italy, Holland and maybe even Spain and England in terms of football success. Immigration has obviously played a part in that change. 

I can remember back to 1966 and France were very ordinary. Even 1982 it was no surprise when England beat them. 

[purpleronnie]

The Centres de Formation certainly made a big difference.

[1972 Fox]

14 hours ago, bovril said:

The emergence of France as the European powerhouse is interesting. Feel like even when I started watching in the 90s it was more of a rugby than a soccer country and behind Germany, Italy, Holland and maybe even Spain and England in terms of football success. Immigration has obviously played a part in that change. 

 

34 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

I can remember back to 1966 and France were very ordinary. Even 1982 it was no surprise when England beat them. 

They were emerging and upcoming by the 82 WC where they got to the SF's. Then went on to win Euro 84 and have been a force ever since then really.

[Foxdiamond]

1 hour ago, ClaphamFox said:

We'll probably never win it via the normal voting process unless FIFA is completely reformed.. The only way it will be held here again is if a future tournament has to be hastily rearranged because the original host becomes embroiled in war or is just too corrupt to get its act together in time. 

Even getting it back in Northern Europe look too far off

[davieG]

Ok,