Quote from: Fishy on November 22, 2022, 08:20:30 AMBit confused about why Gareth Bale is rated so highly.. 

Absolutely.  He was lauded as some kind of hero last night for...scoring a penalty; overall, he actually had a shocker.

Quote from: Fishy on November 22, 2022, 08:20:30 AMBit confused about why Gareth Bale is rated so highly.. 

His greatest skill is hiding the fact that he's bald 

Quote from: David L on November 22, 2022, 09:00:18 AM

Quote from: Fishy on November 22, 2022, 08:20:30 AMBit confused about why Gareth Bale is rated so highly.. 

His greatest skill is hiding the fact that he's bald 

Yes he must spend more time getting his hair right  than contributing in any meaningful way to a game of football...

Found out today that, in the opening game, the captain of Qatar wore an armband supporting Palestine 

Quote from: David L on November 22, 2022, 10:43:16 AMFound out today that, in the opening game, the captain of Qatar wore an armband supporting Palestine 

That was well publicised !  I thought the Iranian team were brave in not singing their national anthem in an act of defiance for the acts carried out by their Government.  They and their families will be facing the music for that so it was a protest that actually meant something.

That was a bit tense! But

Well done Saudi Arabia..👍seems to be a lot of added time in a lot of the games

Quote from: dom on November 22, 2022, 11:17:24 AM

Quote from: David L on November 22, 2022, 10:43:16 AMFound out today that, in the opening game, the captain of Qatar wore an armband supporting Palestine 

That was well publicised !  I thought the Iranian team were brave in not singing their national anthem in an act of defiance for the acts carried out by their Government.  They and their families will be facing the music for that so it was a protest that actually meant something.

Captain's armbands to come?:
US - Star of David
Argentina - Las Malvinas
Brazil - pro Rainforest
Serbia - pro vaccine choice
France - pro Foie Gras
Australia - Foster's Lager
Canada - Red Star of the Solar Federation

Quote from: dom on November 22, 2022, 11:17:24 AM

Quote from: David L on November 22, 2022, 10:43:16 AMFound out today that, in the opening game, the captain of Qatar wore an armband supporting Palestine 

That was well publicised !  I thought the Iranian team were brave in not singing their national anthem in an act of defiance for the acts carried out by their Government.  They and their families will be facing the music for that so it was a protest that actually meant something.

A passive on-pitch protest far more impactful than any active ones.  There's a lesson there.

I have good friends in Serbia, unfair to tar them all with the same brush.

Ha ha ha. Argentina unbeaten in 36 games lose 2-1 to Saudi Arabia - and they deserved to win, better side today. I actually agree with that knob Roy Keane too that it wasn't a penalty.

Football's getting complicated isn't it?  In the old days I would be delighted to see the underdog winning.  But in Saudi, we have another pretty despicable regime so I had mixed feelings about that result, unfortunately.

So many pundits predicting Argentina as winners of the whole thing.  Pleased that they got egg on their faces, at least.  They could still win it, of course, but it's not looking likely at the moment.

I worry for France.  The last time they went to defend the World Cup they got booted out at the group stage, losing to Senegal and Denmark.  Virtually all of the Senegalese players were born in France and were trained in France.  Not sure if the same is true of Tunisia but I imagine at least some are.  Denmark are looking like a strong team so it's imperative that France, sans NKante, Pogba and Benzema, beat Australia this evening.

Come on you Ockers 

I hope Poland get binned.. awful performance against Mexico

Ooo err the Aussies have scored first against France. Early days but great to see.