# 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:** 20
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/381 "2022-11-24T09:29:29Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Boy oh boy do I hate the “pass it straight into the net, on the ground, 5 feet to the left or right” style of penalty taking. Sure if they guess wrong, it will go in. But if they guess right, they will save it. Give me a “bang it as hard as you can at waist height fairly close to one of the uprights” any day of the week, and force the keeper to guess right AND make the stop. I think the reason for this is because, under the pressure of the moment, there are many shooters who’ve actually hit the post, or missed the goal altogether. For that reason, they probably are very gun-shy about the idea of shooting the ball anywhere _near_ the posts, even if, as you point out, it would make it even harder for the keeper to stop the shot. They don’t want to clang the posts or miss the goal. ---
**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 24, 2022, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/382 "2022-11-24T09:54:43Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > (1) whatever happened to flip throw? Ie, throw-ins where the player would do a forward flip, balancing on the ball, and then throw the ball a huge long way? Are they still legal, but just not very useful? Professional players can throw the ball a hell of a long way already. The flip throw is really a show-boating thing which lacks accuracy. > [@MaxTheVool](#): > > (3) Speaking of “what ever happened to”, I saw a video maybe a decade ago of a kid who could run down the field just bouncing the ball on his own head, which counted as “dribbling”. What happened to him? Was that made illegal? I have no doubt that pretty much any professional player can ‘dribble’ the ball on his head all the way down the pitch. But you try doing that with 11 professionals bearing down on you. It’s not illegal, it’s just pointless. ---
**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 24, 2022, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/383 "2022-11-24T10:07:30Z")
Players born outside the country they represent at this tournament. France is truly the hotbed of football: [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FiUcMdxWYAAB1cJ?format=jpg&name=large) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FiUcMdxWYAAB1cJ?format=jpg&name=large) ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/384 "2022-11-24T13:15:11Z")
Expected better from the Switzerland-Cameroon match. Neither team seemed terribly energetic. Teams seemed more evenly balanced than #15 vs #43 would have indicated. South Korea are supposed to be very much underdogs against Uruguay, not looking like it fifteen minutes in. ---
**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 24, 2022, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/385 "2022-11-24T13:48:16Z")
Well, colonialism can do that for you. ---
**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 24, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/386 "2022-11-24T13:52:13Z")
Next time someone criticises colonialism I will make sure to point out railways in India _and_ foreign born footballers in north African national teams. ---
**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 24, 2022, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/387 "2022-11-24T14:21:02Z")
Wouldn’t mind a replay on those SK guys who keep going down in the box…. ---
**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 24, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/388 "2022-11-24T16:32:23Z")
I loathe Ronaldo, but on the one replay that seemed a reasonable challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/389 "2022-11-24T16:49:38Z")
I think he used his arm and extended a bit, which I think most refs favor the defender on, especially when in the box. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/390 "2022-11-24T16:55:33Z")
I’m late to this thread, but I put most of my betting budget on my favorite non-US team, Brasil. Payback isn’t great as they are also the betting favorite. I also put a small amount on England as a long shot, and the US as a lottery ticket. I like the look of this England team and they may be under-rated, and thus under-valued for once. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/391 "2022-11-24T17:05:05Z")
Portugal was rather lifeless in the first half. Ghana played solid defense. If the Black Stars come out with one point I think they’ll be pleased. ---
**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 24, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/392 "2022-11-24T17:22:25Z")
That was a joke penalty. The defender clearly played the ball. ---
**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 24, 2022, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/393 "2022-11-24T17:28:01Z")
Ronaldo’s going to Ronaldo. ---
**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 24, 2022, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/394 "2022-11-24T17:35:14Z")
I don’t understand why the VAR doesn’t have the guts to call in in such a situation. The rule is that VAR intervenes if the ref made a clear misjudgment, and he did in this case. Yeah, I see, they don’t want to make the ref on the pitch look bad, but still. ---
**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 24, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/395 "2022-11-24T17:38:38Z")
Ghana collapsing in defense now, 3-1. Well, I guess collapsing in transition. Neither is really on the defense. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/396 "2022-11-24T17:46:58Z")
I haven’t read anything since Argentina’s loss, what a mess, I hope we classify but things don’t look good ☹ ---
**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 24, 2022, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/397 "2022-11-24T17:48:29Z")
Well, wild game in the second half. ---
**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 24, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/398 "2022-11-24T17:49:30Z")
Oh, I dunno. I still think Argentina winning their group is probably the modal result. ---
**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 24, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/399 "2022-11-24T17:49:55Z")
Portugal are one of the worst teams for diving and play acting but that probably was a penalty. A soft one sure but Ronaldo got to the ball first. ---
**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 24, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/400 "2022-11-24T17:51:09Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I haven’t read anything since Argentina’s loss, what a mess, I hope we classify but things don’t look good ☹ Soothe yourself, at least Argentina’s group rivals tied, while Spain won 7-0 which means that we are condemned to defeat Spain in the next game, or we’re out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=21)