# FIFA World Cup 2026 - discussion etc **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-soccer-fifa\ **Created:** [October 14, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962 "2025-10-14T15:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 191
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3801 "2026-07-10T19:59:37Z")
Ketchup is only good on fries (mayo is fine, so is bbq sauce); it’s a sin on eggs. What, you run out of hot sauce? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3802 "2026-07-10T20:00:58Z")
I think the worst celebration ever was the player pretending to snort the goal line as if it was cocaine. But the pregnant ball with the thumb sucking comes close. The Belgians have me worried. If they manage that well without Lukaku, what is going to happen when he is substituted in? ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3803 "2026-07-10T20:03:15Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > What, you run out of hot sauce? It’s a habit formed of many years being served powdered eggs on submarines. And yes, sometimes we ran out of hot sauce and ketchup was the only way to get them down. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3804 "2026-07-10T20:06:01Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I think the worst celebration ever was the player pretending to snort the goal line as if it was cocaine. But the pregnant ball with the thumb sucking comes close. Who was the player snorting the goal line? I surely don’t remember that! And the pregnant thing is such an old meme, I’ve long stopped complaining about that. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3805 "2026-07-10T20:06:18Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I think the worst celebration ever was the player pretending to snort the goal line as if it was cocaine. Eh, he was mocking people for claiming he was on drugs, I thought it was kinda funny. Reminder that Yamine Lamal turns 19 in 3 days… ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3806 "2026-07-10T20:07:29Z")
It was Lamal? Now that’s funny from an 18 year old. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3807 "2026-07-10T20:09:43Z")
It was Robbie Fowler in the 90s. I was just struck by Lamal’s age watching him fly around the pitch. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3808 "2026-07-10T20:10:10Z")
Ah, I see. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3809 "2026-07-10T20:23:16Z")
Now Lukaku is on the pitch. Statistically it doesn’t take long until he scores. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3810 "2026-07-10T20:23:42Z")
Lukaku coming on might give the Spanish defence something to think about but surprised with Trossard leaving the pitch. Spain are looking better but Belgium are giving a really good showing here. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3811 "2026-07-10T20:25:27Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Pommes Schranke I’m sort of fascinated by this term. I can see how “pommes” fits in (even if it’s technically “apples” without the -de-terre), but why “Schranke”? There’s a wall of condiments between you and potatoey goodness? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3812 "2026-07-10T20:28:16Z")
For me a Schrank is a type of cabinet, I had to look this one up. I’ll let EH fill you in, just noting I was also confused. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3813 "2026-07-10T20:29:37Z")
Thrilling stuff with Yamal really on fire. Spain looks the better team but Doku/Lukaku could absolutely steal it for Belgium. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3814 "2026-07-10T20:29:37Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > I’m sort of fascinated by this term. I can see how “pommes” fits in (even if it’s technically “apples” without the -de-terre), but why “Schranke”? There’s a wall of condiments between you and potatoey goodness? Well, Pommes comes from the French pommes frites, and Schranke, well…A barrier at a railroad crossing in Germany is called “Schranke” and is normally painted red and white, like mayo and ketchup on fries. That’s all there is to it. [![](https://imgsrv1.shotshop.com/preview_new/ext1/2008_34/00000559_00001407-Bahn%C3%BCbergang-Bahnschranke.jpg) ](https://imgsrv1.shotshop.com/preview_new/ext1/2008_34/00000559_00001407-Bahn%C3%BCbergang-Bahnschranke.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3815 "2026-07-10T20:31:10Z")
A Schranke looks like this: [![](https://www.acotec.de/galerie/g_schranken/Schranke-mit-Aufschlagssicherung.jpg) ](https://www.acotec.de/galerie/g_schranken/Schranke-mit-Aufschlagssicherung.jpg) In Berlin they are called Pommes Rot-Weiss (red & white). A Schrank is indeed a cabinet, but a Schranke (noun, f) and a Schrank (noun, m) are completely different things. ETA: Ninja’d, of course. And correctly so. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3816 "2026-07-10T20:33:49Z")
Courtois off injured. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3817 "2026-07-10T20:34:05Z")
Now with all that “Schranke” business, I have missed why Courtois had to be subbed. Was it a muscular injury? ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3818 "2026-07-10T20:35:02Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I think the worst celebration ever was the player pretending to snort the goal line as if it was cocaine. If I may make a slight correction: substitute the word ‘best’ for the word ‘worst’ 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3819 "2026-07-10T20:35:52Z")
Belgium are now without their two first choice holding midfielders and the world’s best goalkeeper (although I think that title should belong to the goalkeeper on the Spanish bench). ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/3820 "2026-07-10T20:46:37Z")
I knew “Schranke” was a barrier, I just couldn’t quite make the connection. Anyway, I will endeavor to save my linguistic meanderings for the match interregnums. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=190) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=192)