World Cup 2022

[Arneb]

Cross, no header, no goal. Qatar aren't in great shape here.

0 - 2 at the half, erveything's fine.

[Lianachan]

And so it ended.

Qatar 0 - 2 Ecuador

[Richard A]

Which was all the more satisfying to see, since in addition to the fact that I have friends (and even family) from Ecuador, there were reports circulating that several Ecuadorean players had been bribed to throw the match. Happily, Valencia seems not to have got the memo. Or possibly the reports were never accurate in the first place. Or possibly (and even better), they were accurate, Gustavo Alfaro found out and rather than make a public spectacle, quietly kept the players concerned on the bench.

But either way, if reports circulate that one side has been bunged to throw the match, when that side then proceeds to win 2-0, it is good to see!

And yes, Arneb, that was indeed a really tough VAR decision. 3-0 would have made the point even more.

[Lianachan]

I'd only been expecting a draw because no host nation had ever lost their opening game..... ah well.

Brexitistan currently leading Iran 1-0.

[Lianachan]

and it got much worse

England 6 - 2 Iran

[Lianachan]

While I remember.

Nov 22nd

Argentina v Saudi Arabia

Denmark v Tunisia

Mexico v Poland

France v Australia

[Мастер]

Watching Wales and Pindostan in a place that I now know, from this board, is called “Norn”.

[Мастер]

Welshies just scored, it’s 1-1 now.

[Мастер]

If I understood correctly, a yellow card awarded 99 minutes in?

In any event, looks like a draw, after what I thought was an unusually large a amount of stoppage time.

[Lianachan]

Results:

Senegal 0 - 2 Netherlands

USA 1 - 1 Wales (a draw)

So, along with the England result that’s 3 correct result predictions. I should tell bookies my predictions, not you guys.

[Lianachan]

Watching Wales and Pindostan in a place that I now know, from this board, is called “Norn”.

Belfast? I stayed in the most bombed hotel in the world, which is there, a few years ago.

If I understood correctly, a yellow card awarded 99 minutes in?

In any event, looks like a draw, after what I thought was an unusually large a amount of stoppage time.

We were just talking about that. There’s been a lot of stoppage time in the matches so far (England game had 26 minutes!).

[Lianachan]

More accurate time keeping, apparently.

[Lianachan]

[Heid the Ba]

Ha!

[Lianachan]

Nov 23rd

Morocco v Croatia

Germany v Japan

Spain v Costa Rica

Belgium v Canada

[Richard A]

I haven't had a chance to review how today has gone so far. But as for tomorrow, although Lianachan's normally been pretty accurate, I would differ with him on the final one. My version is: Belgium v Canada.

But let's see.

As for today, I see that Denmark v Tunisia is still 0-0 at extra time. I would have predicted a Danish win, but frankly - to mix sporting metaphors - have no dog in this race.

[Richard A]

Saudi Arabia beat Argentina???

Either this is a serious upset or we have a new up-and-coming side. (I didn't see the game so don't know.) It reminds of commiserating with Arneb some years ago over Germany losing to Portugal. Portugal would soon be seen as a side it was respectable to lose to. But still, Saudi Arabia?? What nationality was the referee?

[Мастер]

Belfast? I stayed in the most bombed hotel in the world, which is there, a few years ago.

Derry. Or Londonderry. Or Derrylondon. Or whatever it’s called.

I stay in the world’s most bombed hotel tomorrow night.

[Lianachan]

I haven't had a chance to review how today has gone so far. But as for tomorrow, although Lianachan's normally been pretty accurate, I would differ with him on the final one. My version is: Belgium v Canada.

Actually, we do agree (about the likely winner, at least)! I misplaced my italics and will edit.

[Lianachan]

Saudi Arabia beat Argentina???

Either this is a serious upset or we have a new up-and-coming side. (I didn't see the game so don't know.) It reminds of commiserating with Arneb some years ago over Germany losing to Portugal. Portugal would soon be seen as a side it was respectable to lose to. But still, Saudi Arabia?? What nationality was the referee?

I had that match on another monitor while working, and vaguely semi-watched a decent portion of it. Argentina had THREE disallowed goals, at least one of which seemed harsh. If any of those had counted and they'd gone 2-0 up, I suspect the Saudis would have found it very hard to get back into the game. Having said that, they defended very well and they seemingly have spider-man in goals.

[Lianachan]

Belfast? I stayed in the most bombed hotel in the world, which is there, a few years ago.

Derry. Or Londonderry. Or Derrylondon. Or whatever it’s called.

I stay in the world’s most bombed hotel tomorrow night.

Good luck! It wasn't bombed while I was there. Think it's been a while.

[Мастер]

Good luck! It wasn't bombed while I was there. Think it's been a while.

Belfast wasn’t supposed to be part of this trip. But a return flight from Dublin on the day I wanted was a substantial fraction of Irish annual GDP. So I am really just staying there overnight, taking a morning flight out.

[g-one]

Nov 23rd

Belgium v Canada

One goal and we have our most successful World Cup evah!

[Lianachan]

Pressing thumbs, buddy!

[Heid the Ba]

Good luck! It wasn't bombed while I was there. Think it's been a while.

Belfast wasn’t supposed to be part of this trip. But a return flight from Dublin on the day I wanted was a substantial fraction of Irish annual GDP. So I am really just staying there overnight, taking a morning flight out.

The last time I was in Belfast we were taken drinking by RUC officers, who looked after us since we were the only people who would go over there and play them at rugby.