I was always a Lahm fan. As my posts when he was playing illustrate. For instance.
(Man I was wrong on Rakatic. 
)
That does not change the fact that he wasn’t a big marketable name, like the others ones I mentioned.
(A bit like Pep actually, in his playing days.)
The kind of players people want for publicity reasons is the big names and again he wasn’t one. And him deciding to skip it makes no difference to them.
Probably because he isn’t a loudmouth and asshole like guys like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and consorts. But trust me, his reputation and his word still stand in Germany. Modesty can still be a virtue.
And Qatar is not even in its own World Cup? Has this happened before? In the Olympics, they allow the host country enter a contestant in each event. China had a baseball team in their 2008 Olympics and it…was really bad.
Not a Germany or Bayern fan, but Lahm’s an all-time great. The only other players on either of those teams that are in the same tier are Neuer and Lewandowski. Now, you might argue that winger is more important than RB and so Robben was more important to Bayern, but to claim Khedira, Gotze, Klose, Boateng or Hummels is more important or better regarded is laughable.
Qatar is in Group A and plays Ecuador tomorrow
You’re wrong in nearly everything in your post about Germany vs Barcelona. The only clear advantages they have are Neuer > Ter Stegen and Kroos > Rakatic. Every other position is arguable or Barcelona with a significant advantage.
Nope. The front three obviously, but the midfield was at best a toss up and the backline was clearly advantage Germany. The Barca backline in the 2015 UCL final was Pique, Alves, Mascherano and Alba.
The German backline in the 2014WC final was Boetang, Hummels, Howdes and Lahm.
Who gives a shit about a PC term? What would be an accurate term for direct cash payments given to secure a supposedly merit-based award?
I don’t think the thousands of dead migrant workers, death sentences for homosexuality or repressive misogynistic regime can be described as “propoganda”.
what examples can you give of that pray tell?
I recall the absolute outrage when the world cup was given to South America, South Africa, Japan…
Oh, wait, no I don’t, because they were all generally seen as valid bids and valid places to host the World Cup. No-one thinks Qatar is other than Qatar and those paid by Qatar to think that way as well.
I’m aware of the lineups. Busquets is a million times the player Kramer and Iniesta is significantly better than Schweinsteiger. Alves and Lahm is a wash, maybe slight edge to Lahm. CBs aren’t super clear either. Pique and Mascherano were both excellent at the time. And Alba was much better a LB than Howedes.
A combined best 11 is probably:
--------Neuer
-Lahm–Pique–Boateng–Alba
----------Busquest
-----Iniesta----Kroos
–Messi–Suarez–Neymar
And Lahm over Alves is only preference. Alves is a top 5 all time RB. Actually thinking about how this team would play, he’s probably the better choice too.
The only position where Germany is way better than Barcelona is:
While for Barcelona:
An a more relevant note, Benzema was just injured and might miss the cup.
Left off last time when France won due to… personal issues. Missing out in his Ballon d’Or year would be rough.
So France might miss two of the best current strikers in the world, Benzema and Nkunku, which really blows. But wait, they still have Griezmann, Mbappé, Dembélé, Coman, Giroud and Marcus Thuram. What do we (Germany) have? A weathered journeyman who played second Bundesliga just six months ago (“Lücke” Füllkrug), and a 17 year old rookie with one national game (last Wednesday) under his belt (Moukoko).
Yeah, their attacking talent is insane. Their CBs also: Konate, Varane, Kounde, Upamecano, Hernandez.
Throw Pogba and Kante in the injured list and their team that isn’t going due to injuries could probably qualify.
Wondering if tomorrow, we should have two threads. One to discuss the controversy over Qatar having the World Cup and one to just discuss the World Cup competition, etc.
We could try, but I think it’d be pointless. You can’t separate the circumstances from the sport.
It’s probably best to keep this thread to football and have the political stuff in a different thread. I apologize for starting the hijack and I consider my question answered.
Or Budweiser needs to have a labeling malfunction.
So here’s a photo of Burning Man…
No… Bonneville salt flats…
No… it’s actually the 2022 World Cup FIFA Fan Zone.
The FIFA Fan Zone is the before-during-after-match fan party area that holds up to 40,000 people. It looks like they have the fans comfort in mind because they’ve thoughtfully prepared for the unmerciful heat by… by apparently covering the entire area with black asphalt. Acres of blistering blacktop.
I gotta admit that wouldn’t have occurred to me.
Check this out. Qatar has purchased 250 robot attack dogs from Elon Musk**. But don’t worry! They’re only there to pick up and dispose of the dead and dying heat-stroke victims. They won’t attack unless provoked. Or if you’re gay.
As already mentioned in this thread, two days ago Qatar reneged on it’s contract and banned the sale of beer in and around the stadiums.
Big, poopy yuk-face, right?
Well, turn that frown upside down! Because you can still wet your whistle in the crowded hellscape that is the FIFA Fan Zone* which will be the only place beer is available (and far away from any stadium).
To provide for thirsty football fans there will be just one (1) stand (pictured above) selling beer. Just one. Seriously. For 40,000 people
$14 per each. Comes in a special commemorative cup. I foresee no problems.
.
.
.
*Sorry, no fans or any other form of cooling provided.
Except for these nifty tents!
Pitched directly on top of blacktop, the special reflective tent fabric at the top trap in the heat, and seals in the juices with even roasting all around.
NOTE: the measured surface temperature is different at each picnic table depending on relative position of table and sun. So don’t forget the Fan Fun Auction where you and your family can outbid the others for slightly less deadly seats.
.
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.** With special thanks to: Black Mirror
Alright, LFG. Rooting against Qatar every match, unless they somehow end up playing Portugal or England.
90 seconds in and if this isn’t just built up adrenaline, someone is going to get sent off.
1-0 Ecuador, nice!
eta called back for offside. Um… want to see another replay on that. By my eye the only person even close to being offside wasn’t involved in the play until he got reset.
No such luck the second time.