# World Cup 2022 - discussion, predictions, and thoughts **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-soccer-fifa\ **Created:** [November 6, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476 "2022-11-06T20:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/221 "2022-11-22T11:52:55Z")
This was not expected, but that’s the beauty and the bane of tournament football! There are always unexpected results and shocks. 2 minutes of the 90 to go. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/222 "2022-11-22T11:55:12Z")
The referee is handing out cards way too easily. The keeper got mugged that last play and got a yellow for his trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/223 "2022-11-22T11:55:57Z")
ooof! 8 minutes of added time. The refs are certainly racking them up aren’t they? I wonder if, as the tournament continues, we’ll see that reduce as the teams learn not to waste time. OK, only joking. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/224 "2022-11-22T12:00:27Z")
…and after the GK gets mugged on the previous attack, he now does a Schumacher/Battison on his own teammate. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/225 "2022-11-22T12:00:48Z")
That looked totally nasty. That guy was out before he hit the ground. It should have probably been whistled regardless of play. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/226 "2022-11-22T12:03:33Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > …and after the GK gets mugged on the previous attack, he now does a Schumacher/Battison on his own teammate. I think he had to go for that, just unfortunate to collide. Looked like a knee right in the face and he was spark-out I think. That’ll be sore in the morning. Sounds like he is conscious now and moving so hopefully no major damage. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/227 "2022-11-22T12:03:43Z")
They’ve said the phrase “biggest upset in world cup history” probably 175 times this half. So, is Argentina Spain 2010 or Germany 2018? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/228 "2022-11-22T12:11:12Z")
As someone once said, “Football, bloody hell!” The Saudi’s did really well all game but particularly so in keeping their cool after the injury and the extended injury time. They deserved it, Argentina were not on form at all and Saudi were. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/229 "2022-11-22T12:11:43Z")
538 has Argentina down to 52% of making it out of the group. Wonderfully executed game plan by Saudi Arabia. Bunker, get two half chances all game, and bury both. Congrats to them. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/230 "2022-11-22T12:13:57Z")
He should have kept some awareness though. I understand he was unhappy about the referee letting the Argentines basically going kung fu on him. The Saudi off side trap was one of the best I have ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/231 "2022-11-22T12:16:29Z")
I think understandably the blood was up and he was completely committed to making contact with the ball come what may. I think his clobbered team-mate will be in forgiving state of mind (assuming he remembers who he is and what is going on) ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/232 "2022-11-22T12:16:39Z")
The Saudis seems to be doing fine. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/233 "2022-11-22T12:34:19Z")
Yes, I did not expect this. Someone will have won a nice sum at the bets. Not me. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/234 "2022-11-22T12:48:29Z")
I’m having flashbacks to Germany/South Korea. About the same level of upset, as KOR’s FIFA ranking back then was about the same as the Saudi ranking now. Poor Frodo! ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/235 "2022-11-22T13:27:30Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > My understanding is that it’s huge and that England’s fans will want to crush Wales. Not so much actually. I can guarantee there were as many England fans as Welsh rooting for Wales yesterday. The classic rivalry is rugby, not football (mainly because Wales haven’t been anywhere to be seen in football for decades). Wales. on the other hand, would love to crush England, their big bully brother. They just won’t. Now, England v Scotland on the other hand… (the oldest international sporting contest in the world, for those at the back) ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/236 "2022-11-22T13:38:55Z")
VAR is changing the game like DRS and Third umpire did for cricket The three disallowed goals would have all stood 6 years ago. More and more teams are going to rely on the offside trap. The “marginal calls” which were “part of the game”, will start to be a big deal. Denmark Tunisia is a snooze fest ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/237 "2022-11-22T14:00:18Z")
I never liked the offsides rule, but VAR has made it unbearable. It’s the same reason I can’t stand instant replay in baseball looking at whether or not the runner just barely came off the bag at the end of a play. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/238 "2022-11-22T14:02:33Z")
Players will most have do learn to keep themselves onsides. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/239 "2022-11-22T14:07:30Z")
I know nobody will ever agree with me, but it really should require the whole body to be past the defender and not just some sliver of an arm or something. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/240 "2022-11-22T14:13:29Z")
That’s an interesting thought, but it wouldn’t make offside calls easier, it just would put the (imaginary) offside line a bit back. It would increase the average score though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=13)