# 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:** 13
**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, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/241 "2022-11-22T14:22:21Z")
To me, the question is one of advantage in a constantly moving situation where multiple variables have to be seen simultaneously. And I just don’t see how ticky tack calls made by stopping the game and going to replay actually solves that. It’s really not just soccer where that annoys me; I said it already about baseball, it’s true for a lot of calls in football, and so on. At some point you have to let humans make judgement calls and let them stand without technology enforcing every single thing on the slimmest of margins. Anyway, I’ll stop. ---
**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, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/242 "2022-11-22T14:27:47Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > 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. That would certainly up Mbappé’s goal count! After decades of watching shitty game-deciding calls by referees, I’ll take VAR any day. But I understand it comes with its own issues. ---
**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, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/243 "2022-11-22T15:03:19Z")
But off side is an objective call, You must be even with the last defender. It’s not subjective, like some fouls are. Off side is off side. ---
**Author:** ![FurloeRoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@FurloeRoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FurloeRoth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/244 "2022-11-22T15:13:02Z")
Yeah, I don’t really have a problem with VAR micro-analysing offside. Wherever you define the offside line to be, it is possible for a player to be a millimetre over it and, well, a millimetre or a yard, it’s still offside. What I do have a problem with is them calling the ref over for every dubious contact between a ball and an arm. Slow motion makes those things look worse. VAR is supposed to correct indisuptable errors. Handball is too subjective. Thankfully the ref in the Tunisia game actually had some balls and rejected VAR for once. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/245 "2022-11-22T15:14:24Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > A dangerous sliding tackle. Does not sound as colourfull as blood tackle, but should be a red card in both languages. Flagrant foul or rough tackling also come to mind. Also, perhaps, an “agricultural tackle”. Not sure of the origin of that one, but I’ve definitely heard it before. ---
**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, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/246 "2022-11-22T15:32:43Z")
Reading the NYT, I want to know what an “expletive enhanced chorus of ‘They’ll be no drinking in Qatar’ to the tune of 'She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain’” sounds like. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/247 "2022-11-22T15:43:31Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > era is a terrible announcer. Completely flat statements of things and repeating himself over and over. I hate most of the American soccer announcers, but he’s driving me crazy this m Blasphemy! JP is American soccer announcing royalty, for the men and women game (and has been the beloved voice of the Philadelphia Union the last decade). I love JP’s voice. Hopefully Apple hires him for the new MLS Season Pass. He can have a bit of a flat voice, but he isn’t as dull as most British announcers at least! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/248 "2022-11-22T15:47:34Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > 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. I doubt it would increase the average score, tbh. Instead of playing high lines, teams would just bunker more often. ---
**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, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/249 "2022-11-22T15:53:55Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > I doubt it would increase the average score, tbh. Instead of playing high lines, teams would just bunker more often. Yeah, that’s possible, and wouldn’t do the game no good. It’s definitely what would happen if offside was totally abandoned (which some people who don’t know much about football often propose). ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/250 "2022-11-22T15:58:53Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I want to know what an “expletive enhanced chorus of ‘They’ll be no drinking in Qatar’ to the tune of 'She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain’” sounds like. I imagine it’s “There’ll be no fucking drinking in Qatar, in Qatar…”, with Qatar sounding sort of like guitar. ---
**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, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/251 "2022-11-22T16:08:43Z")
The solution to the ridiculous amounts of time added on is to have the watch stopped for certain incidents. Like VAR checks, injury stoppage (when physio come on). Plus the referee should have the power to stop the watch if one team is time wasting. An indirect free kick a yellow and the watch stopped. Teams might cut it out. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/252 "2022-11-22T16:09:31Z")
Celebrations on the streets of Riyadh today… and tomorrow. > **[Saudi Arabia declares public holiday after historic Fifa World Cup win](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/gulf/saudi-arabia-declares-public-holiday-after-historic-fifa-world-cup-win)** > > Saudi Arabia has declared November 23 (Wednesday) as a public holiday in the kingdom to celebrate its historic win against Argentina in the Fifa World Cup .. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/253 "2022-11-22T16:12:20Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The solution to the ridiculous amounts of time added on is to have the watch stopped for certain incidents It’s surely only a matter of time before they display a clock during the match which the referee or another official controls and use that for official timekeeping. ---
**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, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/254 "2022-11-22T16:17:52Z")
The US did that years ago and was bashed. It’d be hilarious if soccer finally joins the rest of the world of sports when it comes to timekeeping. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/255 "2022-11-22T16:26:49Z")
If they are going to add loads of time for little stoppages there needs to be more transparency. Thing is, it’s best for the referee to control it from the middle which complicates it a bit. ---
**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, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/256 "2022-11-22T16:29:21Z")
Here’s the thing … I like things the way they are re: timekeeping. It’s a tradition of the sport. I’m also really starting to hate VAR. It takes tradition away. The referee is running the game. He calls the fouls. He keeps the time. He runs the goddamned game. It should all be on him, good or bad. People make mistakes, that’s part of the game. Just like in baseball - if the ump thinks he’s out, he’s out, fuck VAR. Anyway, I’m still pissed that US tied Wales. ---
**Author:** ![FurloeRoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@FurloeRoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FurloeRoth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/257 "2022-11-22T16:32:18Z")
One of the objections to a stoppable clock is that it opens the door to commercial breaks during play, as desired by many broadcasters. It did occur to me that a conspiracy theorist could imagine that FIFA are being clever in engineering a demand for it with this directive for more stoppage time. ---
**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, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/258 "2022-11-22T16:59:07Z")
I might be in the minority, but I’ve loved having stoppage time actually be extended to where it should be. Yes it could be more transparent, but I can’t even guess how many times I’ve watched an opposing team roll around in stoppage time and run out the clock. What, my team? Never! ---
**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, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/259 "2022-11-22T17:16:38Z")
And Lewy misses a penalty. That never happens! ---
**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, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/260 "2022-11-22T17:20:03Z")
I have to note that this is the first game I watched with genuine football atmosphere, mainly due to the Mexican fans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=14)