# 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:** 92
**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:** [December 16, 2022, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1822 "2022-12-16T15:00:40Z")
I remember it well, Barça was one of the leading parties in that insurgency and one of the last still publicly attempting to get it done (together with Real Madrid and Juventus, and look where Juventus is now! Coincidence? Soon on a conspiracy theater near you!). A pity that it will be shown on Apple TV, I am not subscribed to that one, that sounds like one of those documentaries that make you angry and you love it. I also remember how surpring it was for me that everybody who had a name or was something in football, and I really mean everbody, not a single dissenting voice apart from the clubs who tried\*, rose unanimously and very vocally against this idea, what do I say idea? Treason! Treason against football, against ideals, meritocracy, traditions and against the FANS!!! I hope your friend explains how FIFA and UEFA pulled that off, as if _they_ represented football, ideals, meritocracy, tradition and the fans. I wish him much success! \* 20 clubs tried, 17 folded immediately when all TV comentators (from the BBC to Sky News, from ARD to Premiere, in Spain and in Italy, everyone that I heard), national governments, ministers, all journalists in print and on the radio, every single excluded club, fan club, the newsanchors, really [everybody spoke against it](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Super_League). Unanimity of North Corean proportions! > [@Frodo](#): > > in other words a failed attempt to kill futbol. See what I mean? It is impossible even to consider there might be an alternative to the present format. And of course the clubs involved, first and foremost Real Madrid, are only in for the money and the political influence. I know that, I am no fool, but the UEFA, FIFA (and the IOC, for good measure) stink too. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1823 "2022-12-16T15:02:21Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > It is impossible even to consider there might be an alternative to the present format There are many alternatives possible, just not this particular one. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2022, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1824 "2022-12-16T15:03:20Z")
This is promising, shall we start a new thread? Or was there already one on the Super League? ---
**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 16, 2022, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1825 "2022-12-16T15:06:11Z")
There was: > [@Football greed proposal - Euro Super League](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-greed-proposal-euro-super-league/940270): > > You might have seen some reports that some of the main money spinning football teams in Europe are trying to breakaway from UEFA and possibly FIFA to create a European Super League - seems like around 12 clubs have entered into serious discussions and made some sort of promises. Problems - 12 teams just isn’t going to cut it, it’ll be incredibly expensive for fans to travel to so many games in other countries, there is no promotion or relegation, you are either in it, or you are not and this … ---
**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:** [December 16, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1826 "2022-12-16T15:13:28Z")
Oh, yes, I remember now, thanks! I even wrote the 7th post there and I see my analysis was not far off the mark, I still could support what I wrote then. I lost sight of it, time to get up to date on that thread. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1827 "2022-12-16T16:12:11Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > but the UEFA, FIFA (and the IOC, for good measure) stink too. Slightly O/T but could you include Formula 1 in Hell’s handbasket too? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1828 "2022-12-16T16:31:03Z")
If you are wondering why @Frodo has been oddly quiet recently it’s been since he is on a special mission in a foreign land, some of whose results are only just now becoming evident. I believe something similar was done in 1998 by the French. > **[France squad hit by illness ahead of World Cup final as five players contract...](https://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/france-squad-illness-world-cup-final-five-players-contract-virus/blt0c93ae6db73a7dab)** > > France have been dealt a potential blow for their World Cup final against Argentina with five players reportedly out with a virus. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2022, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1829 "2022-12-16T16:35:43Z")
Sshhhhh! it’s not me, I’m in Buenos Aires, I swear!, these robes and the camel are just props, yeah, that’s the ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1830 "2022-12-16T17:07:35Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > If you are wondering why @Frodo has been oddly quiet recently it’s been since he is on a special mission in a foreign land Well, that would fit with the username. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1831 "2022-12-16T17:09:19Z")
From the Guardian today: > **Two days out from the [World Cup](https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-football) final**, Qatar finishes hosting its tournament having very recently been declared “a frontrunner in labour rights”. “Today,” the declaration in question continued, “the World Cup in Qatar is proof of how sports diplomacy can achieve a historic transformation of a country.” > > It feels only mildly unfortunate that the member of the European parliament who uttered these words three weeks ago is currently detained by Belgian police, [after the discovery of almost €1m in banknotes](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eva-kaili-greek-mep-husband-qatar-eu-corruption-dbtsfw06f) in her marital home and a hotel room used by her father. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1832 "2022-12-16T17:16:19Z")
The War of the Ring was almost as important as this. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2022, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1833 "2022-12-16T20:06:29Z")
The levels of “manija” (anticipation, anxiety, epicness) are through the roof > ---
**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:** [December 16, 2022, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1834 "2022-12-16T23:15:50Z")
FWIW 538 is giving 53-47% leads to Argentina and Croatia. You don’t need to be Eisenstein to know it is close to 50-50. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2022, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1835 "2022-12-16T23:22:21Z")
I don’t how they get to that, if you ask me is more 60/40 FRA - ARG. (but then again no Argentine is going to say that they are favorites to win anything ever, it’s not just pessimism, it’s superstition) ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1836 "2022-12-16T23:48:54Z")
“One does not simply walk into Qatar…” ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1837 "2022-12-17T15:11:44Z")
The Croatia-Morocco game is exciting! 10 minutes into the first half, and they are already 1-1, with the goals coming within 2 minutes of each other. ---
**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 17, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1838 "2022-12-17T15:15:38Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > 10 minutes into the first half, and they are already 1-1, with the goals coming within 2 minutes of each other. I was kind of pulling for this to be the final and man, what a final this would have been so far. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1839 "2022-12-17T15:16:28Z")
Both teams obviously consider the game important. Makes a nice change from 2018 when England especially seemed to think the game beneath them. Third place at the WC is a historical achievement. ---
**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 17, 2022, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1840 "2022-12-17T15:52:19Z")
IMHO, the third-place game is the only truly fun and relaxed game of the World Cup. It means little, as opposed to group stage and knockout stage games that mean a lot, but both teams are already proud to have gone this far, and might as well throw the kitchen sink at their opponents and bring out all the bicycle kicks and whatnot. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476/1841 "2022-12-17T16:57:33Z")
And it is over! Croatia ended up winning 2-1 after a really energetic game. Very entertaining, and neither team ever stopped pressing and attacking. There was a rather egregious failure on the part of the referee (in my opinion); I think he should have granted a rather obvious penalty to Croatia. But, all in all, a great game! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=91) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2022-discussion-predictions-and-thoughts/974476.md?page=93)