c4countdown

Anybody interested?
I will watch as I think England have a chance.
England last won the World Cup in a country where homosexuality was illegal, so that's a good omen.
I think Portugal and Brazil have the best chance.
So if I predict a Portuguese speaking country will win it then I've got a good chance of being right

I'm going to be in Lanzarote for the first week. Four games a day, good weather and cheap pints. Can't wait. Would love to see Argentina win.

Mark James wrote: ↑Mon Nov 14, 2022 5:23 pm I'm going to be in Lanzarote for the first week. Four games a day, good weather and cheap pints. Can't wait. Would love to see Argentina win.

Argentina v Portugal final is a mouth watering prospect

Also hoping for an Argentina win.

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Mon Nov 14, 2022 4:46 pm Anybody interested?

No, not really.

No-one's even interested enough to point out you've got the year wrong.

Ffs Ive only just noticed

David Williams wrote: ↑Tue Nov 15, 2022 10:50 am No-one's even interested enough to point out you've got the year wrong.

Aww, I had Gevin in the sweepstake of who'd point that out first.

Meh. My football interest has been so sapped by hype that I can only think of one player for Argentina who would be interesting to watch. I'm also quite surprised that they and Portugal seem to be of more interest here than anyone else, based on a very small sample of course.

Ian Volante wrote: ↑Tue Nov 15, 2022 1:07 pm Meh. My football interest has been so sapped by hype that I can only think of one player for Argentina who would be interesting to watch. I'm also quite surprised that they and Portugal seem to be of more interest here than anyone else, based on a very small sample of course.

Obviously I want the home nations to do well my partner is Welsh.
I, don't want to jinx it, I think it is the most open tournament in years, though I feel I have said that a few times over the decades.
I would love an African team to make the final and Senegal are my dark horses

Interested yes on both a sporting and political level.
Let’s hope Qatar succumbs to pressure on a few issues.
Football wise, it’s hard to see past Brazil or Argentina. England have been far too conservative (in football too ) to give much expectation they’ll do well. Their greatest weapon, TAA mightn’t even get a game

Paul Anderson wrote: ↑Wed Nov 16, 2022 3:00 pm Interested yes on both a sporting and political level.
Let’s hope Qatar succumbs to pressure on a few issues.
Football wise, it’s hard to see past Brazil or Argentina. England have been far too conservative (in football too ) to give much expectation they’ll do well. Their greatest weapon, TAA mightn’t even get a game

Their greatest weapon may also be their biggest weakness TAA can't defend.
Liverpool and England should play him in midfield

Ben Wilson wrote: ↑Tue Nov 15, 2022 1:03 pm

David Williams wrote: ↑Tue Nov 15, 2022 10:50 am No-one's even interested enough to point out you've got the year wrong.

Aww, I had Gevin in the sweepstake of who'd point that out first.

I can only assume he didn't know.

He can defend, he’s just not really asked to in Liverpool’s system. He practically plays in midfield, certainly further forward than Robertson is on the left.

Paul Anderson wrote: ↑Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:46 pm He can defend, he’s just not really asked to in Liverpool’s system. He practically plays in midfield, certainly further forward than Robertson is on the left.

TAA and Robertson are Better than Tsimikas and Van Dijk!

Been having a look at the draw. I'd say all groups except the Spain/Germany one have a clear favourite to win. Based on that, we're looking at Netherlands, Argentina, Spain/Germany and Brazil in one half of the draw, and England, France, Belgium, Germany/Spain and Portugal on the other.

I think the former is slightly stronger than the latter, meaning the runners-up of the Spain group might have an easier path than the winners.

Brazil should win their group with relative ease but their likely knockout opponents would be Uruguay in the last 16, Spain or Germany in the quarters and Argentina in the semis - interesting the bookies have them a clear margin ahead of Argentina as favourites in spite of this.

Matt Morrison wrote: ↑Tue Nov 15, 2022 10:23 am Also hoping for an Argentina win.

Maybe next week.

Ian Volante wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:59 pm

Matt Morrison wrote: ↑Tue Nov 15, 2022 10:23 am Also hoping for an Argentina win.

Maybe next week.

They could win this.
Though if they meet England in the final, imagine the tabloids

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Thu Dec 01, 2022 9:20 am

Ian Volante wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:59 pm

Matt Morrison wrote: ↑Tue Nov 15, 2022 10:23 am Also hoping for an Argentina win.

Maybe next week.

They could win this.
Though if they meet England in the final, imagine the tabloids

I try not to.

I'll just leave this here.

https://twitter.com/nocontextfooty/stat ... F326313805

Rainbow warriors to have exited so far = Denmark, Germany, Wales.
Who's next?

L'oisleatch McGraw wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 1:17 pm Rainbow warriors to have exited so far = Denmark, Germany, Wales.
Who's next?

Breaking: After a rainstorm, Qatar has now declared war on the sky.

A day late but what's the German for Schadenfreude?
Or even the Uraguayan word

Gary Lineker suggesting Kyle Walker should be rested so that he can face Mbappe fresh. No doubt about it. Senegal are going to knock England out.

Mark James wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 7:32 pm Gary Lineker suggesting Kyle Walker should be rested so that he can face Mbappe fresh. No doubt about it. Senegal are going to knock England out.

With ITVs appalling record, probably

OK we have beaten Asia, and Africa's Champions, just the World Champions next and then I can get excited

I have to say for excitement rather than skill this is proving to be one of the best World Cups in a long time

Knockout football is a crapshoot anyway. It's not a serious competition.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 7:20 am Knockout football is a crapshoot anyway. It's not a serious competition.

Presumably you mean penalty shoot outs.
Otherwise you are talking bollocks

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 9:46 am

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 7:20 am Knockout football is a crapshoot anyway. It's not a serious competition.

Presumably you mean penalty shoot outs.
Otherwise you are talking bollocks

No. When you have fairly evenly matched teams (which inevitably happens in the later stages of the world cup), it's not much better than a coin toss. Obviously it's not all just luck and what the teams do does make a difference, but when you have shots hitting the post, borderline off-side / free kick / penalty decisions etc. it's just statistical fact that a game that is separated by 1 goal or so is a crapshoot.

Crapshoot implies that there is no skill involved, and there clearly is.

One way of deciding if something is a "game of chance" is to ask if it is possible to lose deliberately. In games like craps you could put all your money on rolling two sixes, but you can't guarantee that you don't. The same goes for roulette or buying a lottery ticket.

I understand what you're saying with regards to teams getting lucky on the day, but I don't think "crapshoot" applies to a football match, much less to a football tournament.

I dunno - I'd say it can be more metaphorical than that. But in any case it's still a lot more chancy than a game that might end up 56-18 or something.

A couple of beaters in the first half in England v France. I'm 2-0 up against England and 2-1 versus France.

I hope Morocco win the thing as they are the least cheaty team left

What a shame for England. Class play.

Philip A wrote: ↑Sun Dec 11, 2022 12:01 am What a shame for England. Class play.

You can't win a major tournament with the likes of Henderson and Slabhead.
Here's to the future

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:29 am You can't win a major tournament with the likes of Henderson and Slabhead.
Here's to the future

Yes, you can.
For all intents and purposes, Euro 2020 was won by Italy and England... as it was a tie after 120 minutes of play.
Penalty shootout is a lottery.
So, that England team showed that they were capable of winning a major tournament in spite of their flaws.

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:29 am You can't win a major tournament with the likes of Henderson and Slabhead.

Historically, you can win tournaments with Marco Materazzi, Christophe Dugarry, Kleberson, Joan Capdevila, the entire Greece team in 2004...

I wouldn't even call Henderson a weak link.

Phil H wrote: ↑Mon Dec 12, 2022 12:51 pm

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:29 am You can't win a major tournament with the likes of Henderson and Slabhead.

Historically, you can win tournaments with Marco Materazzi, Christophe Dugarry, Kleberson, Joan Capdevila, the entire Greece team in 2004...

I wouldn't even call Henderson a weak link.

I think the Greece win was a one off almost anti football but it worked.
Morocco and Croatia are doing similar though they at least counter attack effectively.

I think England need another foreign manager to do well with this generation of talent, maybe Enrique or Tuchel

Matt Morrison wrote: ↑Tue Nov 15, 2022 10:23 am Also hoping for an Argentina win.

You may get that wish
Also added bonus of an Irishman to get a winners medal Eoin

I thought they got rid of the third place playoffs on the basis that no-one gives a shit about them.

It was good to see Sebastien Buemi scoring for Argentina and his dad doing punditry for the BBC.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:00 pm It was good to see Sebastien Buemi scoring for Argentina and his dad doing punditry for the BBC.

Definitely had to Google him

I'll put up a pic when I'm at home.

Actually I'll do it now. You can guess which is which.

Nosferatu ( De Maria) at the top

It shouldn't have been in Qatar, it shouldn't have been in the winter but in fairness, that was a great World Cup. Brilliant final, and probably the right result. Great entertainment overall.

I don't watch much football but when I do the kits heavily influence who I support. Blue is generally frowned upon. Blue and white stripes even more so. Not a good world cup. Brazil v Netherlands would have been good.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 7:21 pm I don't watch much football but when I do the kits heavily influence who I support. Blue is generally frowned upon. Blue and white stripes even more so. Not a good world cup. Brazil v Netherlands would have been good.

Why comment on this thread at all? It's like a tortoise commenting on the Parkrun recaps thread about the different types of foliage they've been enjoying lately.

Adam Gillard wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 10:00 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 7:21 pm I don't watch much football but when I do the kits heavily influence who I support. Blue is generally frowned upon. Blue and white stripes even more so. Not a good world cup. Brazil v Netherlands would have been good.

Why comment on this thread at all? It's like a tortoise commenting on the Parkrun recaps thread about the different types of foliage they've been enjoying lately.

It's more like a tortoise supporting runners that are wearing colours they like! Quite reasonable! The tortoise also beat the hare.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 10:13 pm

Adam Gillard wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 10:00 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 7:21 pm I don't watch much football but when I do the kits heavily influence who I support. Blue is generally frowned upon. Blue and white stripes even more so. Not a good world cup. Brazil v Netherlands would have been good.

Why comment on this thread at all? It's like a tortoise commenting on the Parkrun recaps thread about the different types of foliage they've been enjoying lately.

It's more like a tortoise supporting runners that are wearing colours they like! Quite reasonable! The tortoise also beat the hare.

So do colours influence your choices when watching other sports?

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Mon Dec 19, 2022 10:02 am

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 10:13 pm

Adam Gillard wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 10:00 pm

Why comment on this thread at all? It's like a tortoise commenting on the Parkrun recaps thread about the different types of foliage they've been enjoying lately.

It's more like a tortoise supporting runners that are wearing colours they like! Quite reasonable! The tortoise also beat the hare.

So do colours influence your choices when watching other sports?

It can do. In any case most people's reasons for supporting teams / individuals are pretty arbitrary.

yellow

Fair play. Which is all England won, coincidentally.

Adam Gillard wrote: ↑Mon Dec 19, 2022 8:43 pm Fair play. Which is all England won, coincidentally.

Probably sums up why we didn't win it