# 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:** 33
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/641 "2026-06-13T18:15:47Z")
That is what I was thinking of, it is not the most beautiful way to win, but it was very effective for quite a long time. Now they did not even qualify, but someone will try to win by defending, there is always one. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/642 "2026-06-13T18:17:17Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Now they did not even qualify, but someone will try to win by defending, there is always one. Greece in the 2004 Euro… ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/643 "2026-06-13T18:18:33Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Maybe Italy should revive catenaccio? Where have all the sweepers gone? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/644 "2026-06-13T18:20:42Z")
Yeah, even Germany, the country of Katsche Schwarzenbeck, Karl-Heinz Förster, Jürgen Kohler et al doesn’t really have them anymore. ETA: to be honest, I loved these guys. It wasn’t pretty, but real football, like we played it in the streets. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/645 "2026-06-13T18:55:06Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Not in football it isn’t. It is if your defence is shit. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/646 "2026-06-13T18:57:29Z")
Or if your line is so high that your CB’s are making occasional runs into the box. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/647 "2026-06-13T18:58:07Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > It is if your defence is shit. If your defense is shit, you can’t win a World Cup, even if you have Mbappé, Kane and Ronaldo in your line-up. Or heck, more realistically, Mbappé, Dembelé and Olise. Let’s see how the French defense performs, but most of them are no slouches, either. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/648 "2026-06-13T18:58:22Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I don’t think the draw is impacted. That’s what I assumed as well. But since the payout is a little bit less than on a normal draw bet, why on earth would anyone place that bet? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/649 "2026-06-13T19:05:06Z")
I am rooting for Qatar to score a goal. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/650 "2026-06-13T19:07:40Z")
I’m not. I’m still burned by the last WC, and remember the Schadenfreude I felt when their manufactured team failed hard. Go Switzerland! Hopp Schwiiz! ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/651 "2026-06-13T19:21:54Z")
Quite clear penalty IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/652 "2026-06-13T19:23:59Z")
There’s no reason to as a savvy punter, it is strictly worse. The reason it’s different is that as it’s a more niche bet FD just took a larger cut across the board. You’ll often see things like “team A to score over 0.5 goals” and “team B to keep a clean sheet” be different prices at the same bookmaker even though they are functionally identical. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/653 "2026-06-13T19:31:09Z")
A lot of empty seats, but attendance seemed pretty reasonable for a non-marquee, wildly-overpriced match. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/654 "2026-06-13T19:36:22Z")
Yeah, Switzerland-Qatar isn’t exactly a football classic. I wouldn’t pay more than $50 for it, but those days are gone. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/655 "2026-06-13T19:40:49Z")
I hope scalpers are taking a beating on this. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/656 "2026-06-13T19:41:32Z")
It must be a very stupid scalper to bet on this game to make a profit… ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/657 "2026-06-13T19:41:59Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > You’ll often see things like “team A to score over 0.5 goals” and “team B to keep a clean sheet” be different prices at the same bookmaker even though they are functionally identical. Team B could score an own goal, losing their clean sheet without giving Team A a scored goal ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/658 "2026-06-13T19:48:01Z")
There are some empty seats but I wouldn’t call it “a lot”, especially considering the size of the stadium and the fact that Qatar isn’t exactly a first rate team (I say as they nearly score) ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/659 "2026-06-13T19:48:35Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Team B could score an own goal, losing their clean sheet without giving Team A a scored goal In this scenario, Team A would not be credited statistically as having scored? I didn’t know that! ---
**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:** [June 13, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/660 "2026-06-13T19:50:18Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > In this scenario, Team A would not be credited statistically as having scored? I didn’t know that! I have no experience and no interest in sports betting, but in official statistics, own goals are surely credited to the profiting team. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=34)