World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 1 (14 June)

[Bus-Conductor]

Oh fuck off, ITV have got that **** Clattenberg as their ref pundit.

 

[tiger666]

Oh fuck off, ITV have got that **** Clattenberg as their ref pundit.

What else did you expect from ITV? Dogshit channel.

 

[rez9000]

Oh fuck off, ITV have got that **** Clattenberg as their ref pundit.

Mark Shattenburg as I like to call him

 

[TheChosenOne]

Rte2 'pundits' in the studio today.

Damien Duff, Liam Brady and Eamon frickin Dunphy

 

[Saoirse]

Really don't want more European sides either. The last Euros was fucking awful.

I think that was more the format than anything. I struggle to imagine the WC wouldn't be better with Italy and the Netherlands than with Saudi Arabia and Trinidad & Tobago.

 

[rez9000]

Rte2 'pundits' in the studio today.

Damien Duff, Liam Brady and Eamon frickin Dunphy

Dear God, what a shower of shite!

 

[Hakkz]

I think that was more the format than anything. I struggle to imagine the WC wouldn't be better with Italy and the Netherlands than with Saudi Arabia and Trinidad & Tobago.

I'm glad Italy and Netherlands aren't there.

Enough EU sides for me.

 

[cwy21]

Imagine if the US had been drawn into this match and Trump, Infantino, and Putin were up there talking.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Dear God, what a shower of shite!

Not forgetting Ronnie Whelan co-commentating.

 

[rez9000]

I think that was more the format than anything. I struggle to imagine the WC wouldn't be better with Italy and the Netherlands than with Saudi Arabia and Trinidad & Tobago.

There's certainly some truth to what you say, but at the same time, if smaller nations have no chance of competing in the finals, from their perspective, what would be the point of them participating at all?

 

[rez9000]

Not forgetting Ronnie Whelan co-commentating.

 

[Hakkz]

There's certainly some truth to what you say, but at the same time, if smaller nations have no chance of competing in the finals, from their perspective, what would be the point of them participating at all?

Would turn it into a version of CL. Always the exact same teams participating.

 

[TheChosenOne]

There's a lot of these Saudi guys called 'Al'

 

[Gb160]

I'd forgotten just how crap the group stages of the World Cup can be to watch, god help us if Infantino gets his wish and 500 teams get to enter next time.

 

[Saoirse]

There's certainly some truth to what you say, but at the same time, if smaller nations have no chance of competing in the finals, from their perspective, what would be the point of them participating at all?

I think with the expansion to 48 you could leave them all with a chance, indeed a better chance than now. 24 European teams would mean 24 non-Europeans as opposed to 18 at the moment, while also having much more balance in my opinion.

 

[Saoirse]

Although I personally think 40 teams is the sweet spot for lots of variety without too much rubbish. Not politically viable though as everybody would argue over the extra slots.

 

[Hakkz]

There's a lot of these Saudi guys called 'Al'

Anyone with the surname Bundy?

 

[Danners9]

Anyone with the surname Bundy?

No, but there is someone called Anshearer

 

[jonathanhotspur]

Rte2 'pundits' in the studio today.

Damien Duff, Liam Brady and Eamon frickin Dunphy

I think Duff's punditry is top drawer.

 

[Bobbins]

The first match is always such a crap one. I know often the hosts are crappy teams who didn’t have to qualify (and are seeded) against Group Stage fodder, but it’s still hard to get excited about Russia v Saudi Arabia!

Tomorrow looks a lot better though and Saturday is amazing - 4 matches all one after the other! Luckily I arranged the day out with some mates months ago before the Mrs had any idea what it was for!

My wife said the other day that she wanted to go out on Saturday, to do various things.

I gave her two 1hr windows between the games.

That’s yer lot for the month.