# 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:** 58
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1141 "2022-12-04T04:01:43Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > I saw that game this morning. Other than giving up that first goal so soon, no real surprise. I haven’t been able to find the stats, but isn’t the second round pretty much the end of the road? I think there was one trip to quarters in '02 or something. Correct, 2002 was the last time the US has been to the quarterfinals. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1142 "2022-12-04T04:12:09Z")
And might well have made it to the semis if VAR had existed then. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1143 "2022-12-04T04:40:39Z")
Could have gone to the final, in fact. Had VAR existed, the United States gotten awarded a penalty for a handball and then beaten Germany in a shootout, they would have gone on to face a very beat-able South Korea in the semifinals. They would get thrashed by Brazil no matter what, but it would have been the deepest-ever USA run. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1144 "2022-12-04T06:15:28Z")
Am I right that there is nothing comparable in worldwide soccer comparable to the World Championships held 2 years after the Olympics in some sports? I really get into the World Cup every 4 years, and not just to watch the US. OTOH, I would not be that interested in a tournament that did not have the US in it at all. I would like to follow this young team, what would the next big tournament be? ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1145 "2022-12-04T06:49:09Z")
The next competition matches for the USMNT are for the [CONCACAF Nations League](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_CONCACAF_Nations_League) in March. The first four match days were completed last summer, but there are two more match days and the finals to play in 2023. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1146 "2022-12-04T15:09:45Z")
France and Poland both coming hot out the gate ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1147 "2022-12-04T15:30:32Z")
French are looking much, much stronger. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1148 "2022-12-04T15:34:37Z")
Poland having a better spell now and they always have a puncher’s chance with Lewandowski up front. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1149 "2022-12-04T15:52:07Z")
Poland are awful but at least have shown some fight. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1150 "2022-12-04T16:05:23Z")
Every team will look awful when they’re playing against France. So many strong, fast, technically capable players. I do not like to watch it but their tactics are undeniably effective. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1151 "2022-12-04T16:22:33Z")
I am very much in the ‘casual watcher’ camp, it seems to me both sides came out the beginning with a lot of energy. To the librarians point, yeah France seems to be able to keep their peddle to the metal for sure. Regardless of Polands technical ability , they seem to be fighting all the way (insert usual disclaimer of lack of knowledge here ) ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1152 "2022-12-04T16:32:08Z")
Though France dominates, Poland looks much better than in the Argentina game in which they almost had no offensive scenes. And at this moment, Mbappé scores! ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1153 "2022-12-04T16:33:51Z")
Rule one, you don’t give Mbappe that amount of space and time. Great finish though. Bosh! as all the kids say. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1154 "2022-12-04T16:34:11Z")
Damnit, watching on peacock and it must be a couple of minutes behind this thread , had a WtF is he on about moment there ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1155 "2022-12-04T16:36:06Z")
Inviting Poland to “attack”. Allowing them to run themselves ragged, result: Mbappe in possession on the edge of the box without a Polish player in sight. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1156 "2022-12-04T16:37:07Z")
> [@Precambrianmollusc](#): > > Damnit, watching on peacock and it must be a couple of minutes behind this thread , had a WtF is he on about moment there My peacock stream was more or less in sync with posts here. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1157 "2022-12-04T16:37:30Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Mbappe in possession on the edge of the box without a Polish player in sight. Well, there were two defenders, but they didn’t attack him so with his skills it was an easy shot. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1158 "2022-12-04T16:37:48Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Inviting Poland to “attack”. Allowing them to run themselves ragged, result: Mbappe in possession on the edge of the box without a Polish player in sight. On the replay you see one of the Polish defenders look over his shoulder and notice Mbappe, then proceeds to drift even further away from him, not sure why, the other French attacking options were already marked. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1159 "2022-12-04T16:39:40Z")
Same happened yesterday in the Argentina game , FiL was texting wife “GOOOOOOLL” a couple of minutes before we saw it . Not a big deal , just a moment of confusion for me , again. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1160 "2022-12-04T16:40:45Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > My peacock stream was more or less in sync with posts here. I’ve had games on the same “platform” but distributed via internet, digital radio and aerial signal and had substantial differences between them (not Peacock though). It is a pain when you hear exclamations from other parts of the house before you see the action. Even worse when England are playing and other houses in our quiet little street erupt with cheers before you know what is going on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=57) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=59)