The World Cup

[Smurph]

Has it lost it's magic?

Honestly not arsed it's due to start in a month or so. I'm hoping that will change as we get closer.

 

[bakajack]

For me it lost its sparkle several world cups ago
Even when we made the last one under Page I was apathetic at best

Now its gone from a sparkle to drab to a needlessly expensive turd
There is nothing magical about a tournament where a single ticket to a single game costs more than what most people make in a month

 

[Smurph]

Started to lose interest when it ended up in Russia, Qatar now the orange man has got his hands all over it.

The corruption stinks.

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

I think it's partly down to age and nostalgia in fairness. The saturation of football TV probably plays a part for some people too, as even 20 years ago seeing that number of games in consecutive days was unique and we hadn't seen many of the players before.

1986 & 1990 are the first two I remember and they were 'magical' as a kid. If you watch the games back now most were pretty drab to say the least. Arguably the last World Cup final was the best ever and the entire tournament had pretty much everything in terms of upsets, favourites going out early, surprising semi finalist and loads of goals.

 

[J_B]

Sad thought that we won't be discussing it on here this time around.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

I can’t wait. I love a World Cup or Euros. I think as we get older some of us (including me at times) get all dewy eyed about how it was better when we were kids/growing up/younger. It mostly wasn’t. Italia 90 is held up often as the World Cup peak for our generation and I’ve got fond memories of it myself. But it was a mostly crap tournament played in very often nowhere near full, dilapidated stadiums with a backdrop of hooliganism. The last one in Qatar was much much better.

The problem the upcoming one may have is the expansion to 48 teams and the addition of a last 32 knockout round. Only 16 of the 48 teams will go out after an extensive number of group games. Not sure there’ll be much jeopardy in some group games. We’ll see.

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

I can’t wait. I love a World Cup or Euros. I think as we get older some of us (including me at times) get all dewy eyed about how it was better when we were kids/growing up/younger. It mostly wasn’t. Italia 90 is held up often as the World Cup peak for our generation and I’ve got fond memories of it myself. But it was a mostly crap tournament played in very often nowhere near full, dilapidated stadiums with a backdrop of hooliganism. The last one in Qatar was much much better.

The problem the upcoming one may have is the expansion to 48 teams and the addition of a last 32 knockout round. Only 16 of the 48 teams will go out after an extensive number of group games. Not sure there’ll be much jeopardy in some group games. We’ll see.

Agree with all of that.

The lack of jeopardy in the group stage with 48 teams is a shame (similar to going from 16 to 24 in the Euros in fairness) as I can see there being a lot of dead rubbers/teams being happy with a draw in the 3rd match.

 

[magicdaps10]

I think the internet and numerous options to watch games and easy access to replays just makes things a bit more "meh"

Nothing beat watching the game,you had one chance to watch the games and it was straight out to play football, talk about it whilst trying to recreate a play or goal from the match with your mates.

World cup Italia 90 will always be my favourite, not just from watching it but out playing with my mates during it.

 

[Manselton Jack]

First World Cup I remember was 74, not the best one & Clive Thomas proved to be a complete tw@t!
My favourite would be 82 I think, just such a shame that the fabulously entertaining Brazilian side didn't win it.
The expansion of the tournament has definitely diluted the quality, can't say it has the same appeal to me now.

 

[Neath_Jack]

Love this tournament, can’t wait for it to start but the kick off times are a bit shite. The last World Cup was the best one for me, it was absolutely Sue Perb.

Also looking forward to organising the World Cup sweep in work, and then the sheer disappointment when I draw Iran or another team of that standard

 

[Malaga]

Agree with all of that.

The lack of jeopardy in the group stage with 48 teams is a shame (similar to going from 16 to 24 in the Euros in fairness) as I can see there being a lot of dead rubbers/teams being happy with a draw in the 3rd match.

The main jeopardy will be south american fans wondering if they're going to be deported by ICE as they leave the stadium

 

[Neath_Jack]

Oh and it’s one of the very rare occasions that I have a few bets, so looking forward to my massive 50p stakes

 

[monmouth]

It always gets better when England get punted. The headline in every paper across the world should be ‘Good Facking Riddance’. I can’t imagine there’ll be many ‘fans’ out there trying their antics.

To be honest, just because of the way the US is being run, I hope it falls on its arse, but I’d normally look forward to the football. I preferred it when it was exotic because you never saw the players between world cups and it was real top class. We all know now that a number of club teams would almost certainly beat the champions, and all teams play largely the same way. 1970 (the best WC England team imo) and 1978 are by far my favourites.

 

[stevethejack]

Sky Documentaries currently showing Italia '90: Four Weeks That Changed The World. It's repeated Wednesday 9am & 6pm. Also Thursday 9am & 6pm.

 

[Pegojack]

I love the World Cup, but this one has got the twin evil shadows of Infantino and Trump lurking over it. What a pair of great stinking turds.