# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/101 "2022-11-20T16:22:18Z")
If I was a suspicious person, that offside call that rubbed out the early goal would be…suspicious. ---
**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 20, 2022, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/102 "2022-11-20T16:33:43Z")
Two-nil Ecuador! Maybe I should wait for the VAR. ---
**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 20, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/103 "2022-11-20T16:34:53Z")
2-0. I want Ecuador to run this up which they have every incentive to do. ---
**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 20, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/104 "2022-11-20T16:59:25Z")
I thought that offside call was utterly implausible, but after watching a couple of VAR walkthroughs I can see the possibility. In any case, Ecuador is rolling now. ---
**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 20, 2022, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/105 "2022-11-20T17:01:54Z")
If I were on their shoes, I’d try no to score morre than 3, or 4 at the most, no telling what humilliating Qatar would mean for their chances going forward (in terms of VAR for example) ---
**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 20, 2022, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/106 "2022-11-20T17:13:14Z")
Yeah, something nobody said on my broadcast (or else I missed it) is that it was offside not on the initial ball in, but the keeper missed, Ecuador headed, and that’s when the player that crossed it was offside. ---
**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 20, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/107 "2022-11-20T17:18:06Z")
I would think that would hurt Senegal more. Bad calls against Ecuador doesn’t help you if you go 0-3, but they can salvage some pride if they win a game, even if it’s due to some home cooking. ---
**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 20, 2022, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/108 "2022-11-20T17:48:34Z")
That’s true too. ---
**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 20, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/109 "2022-11-20T18:06:54Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Yeah, something nobody said on my broadcast (or else I missed it) is that it was offside I was watching on Telemundo, and during medio tiempo they showed the offside animation which then transitioned directly to the live shot, which I quite liked. Meanwhile, that’s the first time _ever_ the host country lost the opening match? I know Qatar is a mediocre side, I’m just surprised it didn’t happen before as a fluke. ---
**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 20, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/110 "2022-11-20T18:10:01Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Meanwhile, that’s the first time _ever_ the host country lost the opening match? I know Qatar is a mediocre side, I’m just surprised it didn’t happen before as a fluke. I’m as surprised as you, but it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/111 "2022-11-20T18:37:07Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > It’s their country. Their rules. You are correct, they have every right to do this. They did make all kinds of agreements that they won’t do this in order to secure the World Cup bid, though. Like you said, their country their rules, so they are free to break their promises. However… One would hope that the rest of the world is watching, and will remember what the Qatari government’s word is worth when dealing with them in the future. In practice, that probably just means that Qatar will have to sweeten the pot even further in future deals. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/112 "2022-11-20T18:37:58Z")
As for the game itself, well, I watched it in Spanish (I heard that Peacock would have it, but not that it will be spanish only until after the match started). So I will need to find a better solution going forward. ---
**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 20, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/113 "2022-11-20T18:44:18Z")
A lot will be available on regular Fox, if you get that…they’re just not going to pre-empt NFL Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/114 "2022-11-20T18:45:56Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > We could try, but I think it’d be pointless. You can’t separate the circumstances from the sport. I agree that the circumstances that led to Qatar hosting the cup belong here just as much as talk about the mascot, the commentary, the refereeing, or the games themselves. But if we DO decide that the surrounding issues should go in their own thread, I’d like to nominate this one which I posted a decade ago when Qatar announced that they were breaking their first promise - no more AC’d stadiums. > [@Qatar should withdraw their World Cup bid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574): > > According to [this article](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2059031/World-Cup-2022-Qatar-air-conditioned-stadium.html), Qatar is backing down on their promise to build air conditioned stadiums, because such stadiums are too expansive. In other news, bears shit in the woods. The only reason Qatar got the bid in the first place is because they promised pristine 26 degree playing fields. Well, that and oil money bribes. And now they’re backing down and promising “shading seats and using traditional Arabic methods for ventilation”. I’m sure shade and traditional Arabic methods for ventilat… ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/115 "2022-11-20T18:46:22Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > A lot will be available on regular Fox, if you get that…they’re just not going to pre-empt NFL Sunday. We don’t have cable, or any of the live TV or sports streaming options. ---
**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 20, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/116 "2022-11-20T18:59:34Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > I agree that the circumstances that led to Qatar hosting the cup belong here just as much as talk about the mascot, the commentary, the refereeing, or the games themselves. As an example of the circumstances influencing the sport itself: today at the opening match, at least half of the spectators left their seats at half-time (which is normal), but never to come back for the second half. WTF was that? ---
**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 20, 2022, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/117 "2022-11-20T19:19:42Z")
Really? Fake fans? But they promised that this wasn’t so, and that to claim that was [“pure racism”](https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/world-cup/fifa-boss-says-furore-over-fake-fans-at-qatar-world-cup-is-pure-racism/news-story/7df3ec8af13462897e4ea7f73c9a1caf). And how was the opening ceremony? Much [Leni Riefenstahl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leni_Riefenstahl)? Was there any ritual beheading of the unfaithful, or stoning of the adulterous, any local colour? ---
**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 20, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/118 "2022-11-20T19:32:56Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Really? Fake fans? But they promised that this wasn’t so, and that to claim that was [“pure racism”](https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/world-cup/fifa-boss-says-furore-over-fake-fans-at-qatar-world-cup-is-pure-racism/news-story/7df3ec8af13462897e4ea7f73c9a1caf). Of course officially, the game was sold out with 67k spectators, but at the final whistle only a fraction of them were still present. I can imagine how that mentally went with the paid “fans” at half-time: “Man, this is boring. This “football” thing sucks. If I understood it correctly, we’ll lose. That’s enough, I quit.” ---
**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 20, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/119 "2022-11-20T19:33:05Z")
So is this computer aided offsides thing going to be popular? I am re-watching the opening game in English(free on tubi!) and that first offsides call was insane. Obviously impossible for a human to call it, but it was apparently correct. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/120 "2022-11-20T19:36:12Z")
What to make of Infantino’s rant? Not much. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=7)