# 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:** 3
**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 18, 2022, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/41 "2022-11-18T02:28:46Z")
Note: I have just learned that Peacock’s service is only offering Spanish commentary. I’m still likely to buy it for one month, but I was kind of stunned. I’m…also not sure they will have games on replay. Perhaps only live? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/42 "2022-11-18T03:01:36Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > > [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > > > I’m not sure I’ll do any betting but if I do—I’ll bet many dollars that the USA will not make it to the knock-out rounds. As always, the US has some fast players and has some strong players but that’s about it. As usual, the Americans are—almost without exception—unable to trap any ball unless it’s the slowest, most basic pass creeping along the ground. Their passing is similarly bad and uninspired (as always). > > How did you wind up in 1994? I know! It’s amazing isn’t it? That’s how it feels. I mean, their crappy trapping and poor passing are BETTER than in 1994, but still way behind your average WC side. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Note: I have just learned that Peacock’s service is only offering Spanish commentary. > > I’m still likely to buy it for one month, but I was kind of stunned. > > I’m…also not sure they will have games on replay. Perhaps only live That’s because it’s via Univision (or Telemundo). If you want English language (Fox) you could order 1 month of Sling Blue for maybe $40ish? ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/43 "2022-11-18T13:56:36Z")
Tubi, a Fox subsidiary, will have replays available: [Tubi Launching World Cup FAST Channel, Will Feature Every 2022 FIFA World Cup Match – The Streamable](https://thestreamable.com/news/tubi-launching-world-cup-fast-channel-will-feature-every-2022-fifa-world-cup-match#:~:text=Tubi%20has%20announced%20that%20it%20is%20launching%20a,linear%20free%2C%20ad-supported%20TV%20%28FAST%29%20channel%20as%20well.) ---
**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 18, 2022, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/44 "2022-11-18T14:51:55Z")
I will be watching as little as possible, perhaps no game at all. I am weaning myself off football, had enough from FIFA and UEFA. It worked with olympia several years ago, and Qatar right after Russia are a big help in this endeavor. And that Barça is no longer interesting. Now I only read the news about the World Cup for the schadenfreude. Today: [Beer banned](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/18/qatar-bans-beer-from-world-cup-stadiums-fifa-u-turn) from the perimeter of the stadiums. I believe the perimeter stretches for a 45 minute drive, when you are technically already abroad, but does not include the VIP lounges, where you will be served single malt, champagne and beer at exorbitant rates. Many bars in Berlin are not showing the matches. Unthinkable not so long ago, the right decision today. My favourite bar will be offering happy hour during Germany’s matches while **not** showing them. Will see how that works out and whether they keep it up, but I am all for it. Rooting for the sand storm. And if some team has to win this tournament, which is technically unavoidable, I guess, I would like that team to be Messi’s, for all the good moments he gave me the last fifteen years. ---
**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 18, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/45 "2022-11-18T15:11:05Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I would like that team to be Messi’s, for all the good moments he gave me the last fifteen years. If only the football gods cared about “deserving”… ---
**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 18, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/46 "2022-11-18T15:11:14Z")
And my prediction is that there will be match fixing in favour of Qatar. Like in Korea, but more blatant even. ---
**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 18, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/47 "2022-11-18T15:11:34Z")
That said, may be it will happen, it would be GLORIOUS. ---
**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 18, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/48 "2022-11-18T15:13:37Z")
Wasn’t the god of football Ballzebub? He is not known for being fair. ---
**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 18, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/49 "2022-11-18T15:14:29Z")
Probably one of them, the only good aligned god in that pantheon is probably. _may be_, Diego, the newest one to ascend. ---
**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 18, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/50 "2022-11-18T15:17:43Z")
( **Ball** zebub hehehhee) ---
**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 18, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/51 "2022-11-18T17:12:13Z")
Man, cancelling all alcohol the day before the first game… I dunno man. I would not be happy if I traveled there or I was a big sponsor like Budweiser. Also seen some journalists abused. What a cluster fuck. Yeah, wouldn’t surprise me if Qatar gets some favorable treatment. Hard to repeat what happened with SK vs Italy, given VAR, but we’ll see. ---
**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 18, 2022, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/52 "2022-11-18T17:45:44Z")
On the contrary, VAR makes it easier, you just have to use it for any play that goes against your favored team and ignore it for those against the other team. ---
**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 18, 2022, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/53 "2022-11-18T18:03:56Z")
I mean, maybe it makes the mechanics of it easier, but it also makes it more obvious because you get rid of the excuse of the ref having a bad angle or having to make a quick decision. Also means you need extra people in on it. ---
**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 18, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/54 "2022-11-18T18:27:41Z")
I don’t think Qatar or FIFA worry overmuch about how obvious their corruption is, otherwise the World Cup would’ve been played in June. ---
**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 18, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/55 "2022-11-18T18:32:50Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Tubi, a Fox subsidiary, will have replays available: Wow, I wonder if this has a channel on Roku? Edit: I have Tubi, i mean their “fast channel” temporary channel. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/56 "2022-11-19T03:15:49Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Man, cancelling all alcohol the day before the first game… I dunno man. I would not be happy if I traveled there or I was a big sponsor like Budweiser. Ya know, I really wonder what was going through the minds of anyone at AB that thought they were actually going to be able to serve beer. If they take a huge loss, well, they deserve it for being stupid. Fuck it! I’ll buy Pacifico if they try to pass along the Butt-Fucking to me. EDIT: Butt-Fucking is probably not allowed over there, either! ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/57 "2022-11-19T04:35:02Z")
Nobody ever gave a flying fuck for Lahm when he was active, why would they care now that he is retired. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/58 "2022-11-19T04:37:08Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Man, cancelling all alcohol the day before the first game… I dunno man. I would not be happy if I traveled there or I was a big sponsor like Budweiser. Also seen some journalists abused. What a cluster fuck. Boss move. What’s Budweiser gonna do? Withdraw from Qatar. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/59 "2022-11-19T05:09:46Z")
Good goddesses, this is shaping up to be the most miserable sports spectacle _ever._ This could make the Sochi Olympics look like Battlebots. If either Qatar or the way they’ve handled the runup to the World Cup has a single thing about it that can conceivably be viewed as positive, it’s a mystery to me. It looks like [there’s already been pushback](https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/4806193/germany-fa-boss-slams-fifa-focus-on-football-world-cup-letter) on the “keep politics out” nonsense, which is heartening. Other than that, I don’t really know if there even are any interesting stories right now. I’d be glad to hear them, of course. (Wow, this board’s finally acknowledged that Italy got royally screwed by that “home field advantage” bullcrap. And it only took 20 years. 🤷‍♂️) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/60 "2022-11-19T05:19:15Z")
Long ago, while in Los Angeles, I went to a Dodger’s game with friends. We got tickets from a scalper in the parking lot. They were in the ‘Family Section’. No Beer Sales. And the way it was set up, you couldn’t get to the Beer Sales! Game went on for like 30 hours, ended in a 1-0 victory for someone (fuck if I cared) and not a drop of booze! I was going out of my mind! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=4)