# 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:** 17
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/321 "2022-11-23T14:36:34Z")
As I have had occasion to say way too many times over the last decade and a bit. _Fuck Neuer_. ETA: Even Fucking Neuer couldn’t stop that. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/322 "2022-11-23T14:37:26Z")
Japan keeper keeping them in the game, and now it’s tied! ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/323 "2022-11-23T14:42:08Z")
Any Germans here can tell me how was the reaction to Gotze’s selection? Nice to see him back. What a talent he was as a young lad. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/324 "2022-11-23T14:50:26Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Japan keeper keeping them in the game, and now it’s tied! Japan is up 2-1! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/325 "2022-11-23T14:53:34Z")
7 minutes of added time and Japan might just pull this off. This is not as big an upset as Saudi Arabia over Argentina, though, right? Japan is closer to Germany in expected performance than S.A. was to Argentina? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/326 "2022-11-23T15:01:25Z")
And now Japan are doing just fine too. ---
**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 23, 2022, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/327 "2022-11-23T15:08:07Z")
My schadenfreude because of this one is bigger than yours, believe me. But I see that this is going to become a running joke. That is good! May change come at last, I hope you see what corner I come from. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/328 "2022-11-23T15:24:01Z")
The Argentines were abysmal versus the Saudis. Strangely the Germans seemed, well not bad. ---
**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 23, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/329 "2022-11-23T15:35:08Z")
I couldn’t watch the game because I was on the road, but from what I’ve read about it, the crux of Germany’s defeat was the fact that we have no dangerous mid-striker, which I mentioned in my first post in this thread. The outcome doesn’t surprise me. Yes, I’m pissed about it, but it just adds to the bad feelings I already had about this tournament. I don’t have much hope that we make it to the knock-outs, I can’t see this team winning against Spain. ---
**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 23, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/330 "2022-11-23T15:39:34Z")
Germany lost in classic fashion, playing a 4-2-3-1 with the backs pressed high up the pitch. That’s basically been their formation for more than a decade with the occasional tweak, and like always it relies on the defensive backs being able to handle a fast counter. Schlotterbeck looked mostly awful (no surprise), so it was also no surprise he was caught out. They had a lot of chances to score, including from players who often finish well, so despite the lack of a clear striker, I don’t know that that’s the biggest cause. But to your other point, Havertz looked useless out there, and pretty much all their chances came from other players. ---
**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 23, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/331 "2022-11-23T15:43:47Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > But to your other point, Havertz looked useless out there, and pretty much all their chances came from other players. Havertz is a fine player with lots of talents, but he is wasted as a center-forward. Flick should rather nominate the young Moukoko for the next match instead. ---
**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 23, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/332 "2022-11-23T15:49:18Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Havertz is a fine player with lots of talents, but he is wasted as a center-forward. Flick should rather nominate the young Moukoko for the next match instead. I agree. He brought him in very late, so it was at least a good chance to at least give him the feel of being on the pitch in the World Cup, but yes I’d like to see him out of the gate. That said, it was clear Flick’s strategy was a fair number of long balls into and around the box to take advantage of Havertz height, among others, it just didn’t even come close to paying off. Also, I know Füllkrug sometimes feels like more of a mascot than a player, but he came on late and created a chance instantly. ---
**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 23, 2022, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/333 "2022-11-23T15:57:56Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Also, I know Füllkrug sometimes feels like more of a mascot than a player, but he came on late and created a chance instantly. It was clear from the beginning that a scenario of a close deficit near the end of a game was the only chance for Füllkrug to be brought in. He’s a good box player and at headers, especially on set pieces, but Moukoko could play rings around him, though he’s still too young of course to be a complete player. But he has massive talents. ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/334 "2022-11-23T16:07:06Z")
Germany might have had better luck using the “Power I” formation. ---
**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 23, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/335 "2022-11-23T16:08:16Z")
Sorry, that doesn’t ring a bell. What’s a “Power I” formation? ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/336 "2022-11-23T16:09:23Z")
3-1-1-1-1-3. No one is prepared for it. ---
**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 23, 2022, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/337 "2022-11-23T16:11:53Z")
Wow, wonderful goal by Olmo! ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/338 "2022-11-23T16:15:08Z")
The Spain Germany match is looming even larger now. ---
**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 23, 2022, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/339 "2022-11-23T16:16:25Z")
Yeah, of course a Costa Rican win would be better for the Germans, but what are the odds? ---
**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 23, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/340 "2022-11-23T16:20:02Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > This is not as big an upset as Saudi Arabia over Argentina, though, right? Japan is closer to Germany in expected performance than S.A. was to Argentina? Indeed. It’s a shock result, but these things do happen in group stage games and Japan have been known to grab the odd major scalp. The Argentina-SA result, however, was an earthquake. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=18)