The Big Shiny World Cup thread

[Worthy4England]

So ignoring the accumulation of bodies involved in building the stadia and all the other shit we can't solve, alongside "I'm only interested in my team" - for which people should be pistol whipped because the are higher aspirations....

I think after a few years comparative "success" I'll be pretty pleased if the Squad makes it out of the group and past the last 16...

Welcome to the next few weeks of what we should do with Grealish...

[boltonboris]

I have never been less enthused about an international tournament. It just fvckin stinks.

I have England to go through the group with 4-5 points and get beat in the first knock out game thereafter and I probably won't be that arsed either.

Whilst I want us to do well, I would have preferred it if we did not take part in it. I'd be delighted if everyone went to the tournament, turned up to the games, then just didn't actually play

[BWFC_Insane]

Yeah even if you forget the horrible morality of it a World Cup in winter is just not right. I’ve not heard anyone talk about it. At all. Whereas a typical summer tournament you’d be feeling the hype for it well before now.

I can’t get worked up for it. England stand no chance. Bolton are still playing games. Just have zero enthusiasm….then we come to the ethics and morality….

[Bruce Rioja]

I share the ambivalence; it actually feels more like an interruption. It certainly doesn't feel even remotely like the greatest footballing show on earth.

Maybe attitudes will change once it starts, but right now the whole thing just seems dirty and wrong on all fronts.

It does to me anyway.

[Worthy4England]

Yeah, my exciteometer is reading near zero, I'm generally quite "up" for some crushed aspiration every 4 years...

[TANGODANCER]

The Cup is always a thing of great interest. and excitement. It's adding the "World" that demeans it, because the world is a very sad place right now. If only countries put as much effort and enthusiasm into righting wrongs as they do in being the best football team, how soon could the equilibrium be restored.

[Bruce Rioja]

The Cup is always a thing of great interest. and excitement. It's adding the "World" that demeans it, because the world is a very sad place right now. If only countries put as much effort and enthusiasm into righting wrongs as they do in being the best football team, how soon could the equilibrium be restored.

Our opening match is against a country which is currently selling rockets to the Russians in order for them to shell the shit out of Ukraine.

A 2021 investigation by The Guardian revealed that over 6500 migrant workers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka died between 2010 and 2020 during construction of World Cup venues in Qatar.

Football really does come a very, very distant second.

And I appreciate that Worthy opened this thread in order that we concentrate solely on the footy, but I really don't see how that's possible.

[Worthy4England]

I didn't hold "high hopes," mate...

I mean even the corrupt Blatter has said it's not his finest hour. And there's plenty to go at where he's concerned...

Thing is, if we were going to make a statement, it would have been much better 8/10 years back, prior to all the deaths...their statement about the few deaths they're acknowledging was broadly along the lines of "we've paid out." You really couldn't make it up..

[Bruce Rioja]

Isn't there also meant to be a 'legacy' element to hosting the WC?

This is England's 'home' in Cagliari, Italy 90. Nice

[boltonboris]

Aye, all the stadiums bar the National Stadium (which looks like a giant minge) have been built in a way that they can be dismantled and repurposed, because there won't be a need for them in the future.

Which begs the question again, why the fVck have it there?

[BWFC_Insane]

Aye, all the stadiums bar the National Stadium have been built in a way that they can be dismantled and repurposed, because there won't be a need for them in the future.

Which begs the question again, why the fVck have it there?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[TANGODANCER]

A combination of Covid, Putin and our own political misdemenours have made our world a far different place than it was, even ten years ago. Football/sport, hope and prayer (for some) .. are probably some of the very few threads of light we cling to in our dark and disillusioned existence.

But Come on you Whites....

[boltonboris]

Aye, all the stadiums bar the National Stadium have been built in a way that they can be dismantled and repurposed, because there won't be a need for them in the future.

Which begs the question again, why the fVck have it there?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Well, of course. But they'll never admit to that, will they

[BWFC_Insane]

It’s sad in a way as I think back to past tournaments and how they completely defined periods of my life and become tentpoles that you always remember. This one is just a big nothing.

[Gooner Girl]

I struggle to enjoy international football at the best of times, never mind when it’s rudely interrupting some very enjoyable club football (if you’re an arsenal fan) at the moment. As for all the dubious ethics, corruption, death, money surrounding it… Think it’s safe to say the womens euros will live longer in the memory then this World Cup. Not expecting England to do well and don’t really care if they don’t tbh!

[Bruce Rioja]

Aye, all the stadiums bar the National Stadium (which looks like a giant minge) have been built in a way that they can be dismantled and repurposed, because there won't be a need for them in the future.

Which begs the question again, why the fVck have it there?

I wonder what the body count will be during dismantling.

[Harry Genshaw]

Pretty moving and worth 5 minutes of your time

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng ... FfzGYjMorx

[TANGODANCER]

I blame Pickles!.

[Gooner Girl]

Pretty moving and worth 5 minutes of your time

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng ... FfzGYjMorx

Puts our comfy english lives into perspective that does Harry. Leaving your family to earn what to us are such poor wages. Heartbreaking stuff.

[Bruce Rioja]

Drink prices in Qatar World Cup Fan Zone..

Beer 500ml - £11.60
Alcohol free beer 500ml - £7
Water 500ml - £2.30