World Cup 2022

[malvolio]

Dunno about the group stage. It had some entertainment factor, but the actual football played I believe was the worst. But maybe that's because the overall football level played these days is lower.

Apart form that, Qataris did great organising this WC.

 

[JohnN]

Tactically and physically, the football has been far better than previous iterations, probably because players aren't exhausted from a full season and temperatures are tolerable.
The technical level today is not that great in club level too, not only national.

 

[Horatio]

aye. Malvolio way too spoiled. From the same all-white high-end neighbourhood in Transylvania with Serghei as neighbour. Must have forgotten boring ass 2016 Euro Cup.

 

[Temptation]

Did anyone see the LVG quote about kissing Memphis on the mouth?

FFS another iconic LVG quote. One of the funniest characters in the game.

Right up there with "Pulling hair as sex masochism" and "Horny Players".

GOAT.

 

[Horatio]

Did anyone see the LVG quote about kissing Memphis on the mouth?

FFS another iconic LVG quote. One of the funniest characters in the game.

Right up there with "Pulling hair as sex masochism" and "Horny Players".

GOAT.

Man is a legend. Will be missed.

 

[L3v1s]

The fans are shouting Louis Van Gaal's red army! I remember that like it was yesterday

 

[Temptation]

Apparently he once asked Robben if he had balls in a pre match talk and then proceeded to take off his pants and show the players his balls.

Love this mad fucker!

 

[BBZ8800]

Brazil-Croatia tomorrow

I have argued with JamDav in Pedri's thread how Fifa/Uefa and everything is rigged to some extent and how they always gently help to Barca, Real, EPL teams or big/rich footballing nations and big brands/players.
Like soft pens for Messi's and CR7's teams on this WC because FIFA wants them in semis or final to have the final Messi-CR7 epic duel, if possible because that would be a fairytale final and would earn billions and billions of viewers and money.

Anyway, Brazil-Croatia match from 2014'.
Look at the highlights and goals.
But take into the account that Brazil was a host, this was their opening group stage match and if possible, Brazil was supposed to stay in a tournament for a long time.
Losing the opening match and maybe going out in a group stage was not a good scenario for Brazil, FIFA and for the whole World cup.
Croatia scored early on for 1:0, but then a ref/FIFA helped Brazil to stay in a tournament with 2nd and the 3rd goal. Fouls at the 2nd and 3rd goal wouldn't be a pen and a play on if they happened to the Croatia, isn't it?

All goals:

Ref's mistakes:

Something similar happened in every single 50:50 duel in France-Croatia WC final in 2018'.
Ah, good old competitions where a shit ton of money is involved.

 

[L3v1s]

Brazil-Croatia tomorrow

I have argued with JamDav in Pedri's thread how Fifa/Uefa and everything is rigged to some extent and how they always gently help to Barca, Real, EPL teams or big/rich footballing nations and big brands/players.
Like soft pens for Messi's and CR7's teams on this WC because FIFA wants them in semis or final to have the final Messi-CR7 epic duel, if possible because that would be a fairytale final and would earn billions and billions of viewers and money.

Anyway, Brazil-Croatia match from 2014'.
Look at the highlights and goals.
But take into the account that Brazil was a host, this was their opening group stage match and if possible, Brazil was supposed to stay in a tournament for a long time.
Losing the opening match and maybe going out in a group stage was not a good scenario for Brazil, FIFA and for the whole World cup.
Croatia scored early on for 1:0, but then a ref/FIFA helped Brazil to stay in a tournament with 2nd and the 3rd goal. Fouls at the 2nd and 3rd goal wouldn't be a pen and a play on if they happened to the Croatia, isn't it?

All goals:
,
Ref's mistakes:
,

Something similar happened in every single 50:50 duel in France-Croatia WC final in 2018'.
Ah, good old competitions where a shit ton of money is involved.

Interesting that this channel made a video about something related to this. Except that it's not related exclusively to giant teams but more to controversial moments that might also favour host nations. Very great channel for football enthusiasts I might add.

 

[BBZ8800]

Interesting that this channel made a video about something related to this. Except that it's not related exclusively to giant teams but more to controversial moments that might also favour host nations. Very great channel for football enthusiasts I might add.

From watching football for 30+ years, and since I am from a smaller/poorer/irrelevant country = Croatia, I have whitnessed cheating tons of times.

But, there are levels, everywhere.

For example, a champion of Croatia, Dinamo Zagreb = when they play domestic league = all refs help to Dinamo.
So, in a local league, they are absolutely the biggest/richest/most influental team politics and money wise and decisions are often atrocious in their favor.

Also, when Dinamo Zagreb plays CL qualifiers early rounds vs a team from Bosnia, Malta or Cyprus, refs often help to Dinamo.
Again, for Uefa it is better to have Zagreb in a CL than a club from Malta.

But then, if Zagreb meets AC Milan or Liverpool in the 4th qualifying round of a CL, then you will get at least one soft pen over 180 minutes for Liverpool/Arsenal/Milan.
And almost never you will get a soft pen for a small team. There won't be pens for a small team unless if it is painfully obvious and when even a ref can't close his eyes.

But then, when the same Arsenal or Ac Milan meets Barca/Real in CL semis, refs will now slightly push Barca/Real because they are tier no1.

Similar is on World cups. Tier1 are always hosts, Brazil, France, England, Germany. Biggest (Brazil) and the most richest/most influental countries from Western Europe.
If Croatia plays Malta or Bosnia in qualifiers, refs will give a slight push to Croatia and Modric.
I have to be honest, Croatia also got 10s of soft pens against Malta and Estonia when we were in troubles, let's say 0:0 in the 60th minute.
But NEVER EVER have I seen a soft pen for Malta at 0:0 in the 60th minute vs Croatia.
But if Croatia plays Brazil or France in a KO match, we are in troubles.
No soft pens for Croatia, no normal pens for Croatia. Only 100% clear pens can be awarded.
For France/Brazil/hosts on the other hand: lots of soft pens, soft free kicks. While every duel in their box is usually: foul in the attack, lol.

It doesn't mean that EVERY SINGLE match is rigged though.
For example, if Brazil meets Argentina in semis, BOTH teams are tier no1 for FIFA.
Brazil due to their history and population.
Argies due to Messi and people wanting to see Messi's story final chapter, and neutral fans want the last episode of an epic Messi-Cr7 rivalry.
So, in that match, there is no reason for FIFA to push either side. What happens = happens.
The same is with France-England. Both countries are a tier no1 for Uefa/Fifa, so refs won't interfere.

Further, it doesn't mean that tier no1 countries can't lose.
Croatia might win against Brazil, BUT ONLY if they score goals which will be impossible to cancel due to questionable offsides or foul in attacks.
So, if Croatia scores a banger from 20 meters = that's it, it can't be disallowed.
But after 1:0, they have to avoid any contact near their box and inside a box, because soft free kicks and soft pens are incoming.
So, if a smaller team can score 2-3-4 perfectly legal goals and avoid corners and duels in their box = there is a chance.

But in general, a rule of thumb might be: for smaller teams in KO matches, you start a match with 30:70 chances (refereeing) or with 0:1 score. If you can overcome that, you have a chance.
So, a smaller team/less important team usually needs to better by 2-3 goals to KO a combo of a tier 1 team helped by FIFA and refs.

1. if a big team is better = a win for big team
2. if both teams have played equal = a big team wins from a soft pen
3. if a smaller team was better for 1 goal = a big team wins or the match goes to extra time and pens
4. if a smaller team was better for 2 or 3 goals = ONLY THEN they can win a KO match late in the tournament vs tier no1 team

 

[L3v1s]

Yeah, he concluded at the end that not every world cup has been staged, but at the same time not every tournament is going to be without controversy. As for the champions league/other competitions it's always been tougher for underdogs.. Even people that don't watch football often say things like "x team is getting help from referees". It's all a cash grab(especially nowadays)for the sponsors and everyone else involved, in order to have the most perfect draws which would generate as much money as possible.

Gotta say that it's quite remarkable how much depth you put when writting your commentsyour posts are always interesting to read.

 

[Messigician]

Van Gaal: "Di Maria calling me the worst manager he has ever had? He's one of the few players with this opinion. I'm really sorry about this and I find it sad he said this. Memphis had to deal with it too at Manchester, and now we kiss each other on the mouth."

Depay reaction is priceless

 

[Andresito]

Here it is

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Here it is

lol

 

[Horatio]

Van Gaal had/has prostate cancer. Was getting treatment(night sessions)while coaching unbeknown to the team. People that had close brush with death always turn more mellow.