IanM
Journeyman Pro
- Joined
- May 18, 2009
- Messages
- 14,991
- Location
- Monmouthshire, UK via Guildford!
Surely we aren’t questioning the integrity of top sportsmen?
Football is in the same integrity sphere as unlicensed boxing and WWE.
Football is in the same integrity sphere as unlicensed boxing and WWE.
PaulMdj
Well-known member
How rude, go wash your mouth out.Football is in the same integrity sphere as unlicensed boxing and WWE.
AmandaJR
Money List Winner
It is a tricky one and I'm an old fashioned gal who thinks representing your country is the pinnacle of sporting achievement. It rankles that players don't feel that and would rather rest and prepare for their next club game.
Having said that. Any player watching the Uruguay game would probably think it's not worth risking injury!
Having said that. Any player watching the Uruguay game would probably think it's not worth risking injury!
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
And of course they won’t sell any advertising space during the breaks
Rlburnside
Challenge Tour Pro
My Worry with De Zerbi is the attacking football he likes to play ( never thought I would say that) Ideally would be better at the start of another season.
Is he really the right choice for the rest of the season? I fear not.
What a way to run a club
Tashyboy
Please don’t ask to see my tatts 👍
Sky Sports TV picks: How they work & why they are headache for fans
Premier League games being moved to Friday or Monday are a headache for the fans of some clubs. Is the system fair, and how does it work for Sky?
www.bbc.co.uk
And this was another reason why I was glad to hand the season tickets back
nickjdavis
Head Pro
The Americans finally get their way of dividing a soccer match into 4 quarters.
I deliberately used the s-word to emphasize the Americanisation that will surely happen to the game this coming summer....I'll watch as much of the tournament as I can...but I'm not looking forward to it.
Lucifer MorningStar
Well-known member
Seems like another reason for me to avoid the tournament altogether. I’m already genuinely do the first time ever really uninterested in the World Cup and the closer we get with more crap like this makes even more unlikely to watch it.The Americans finally get their way of dividing a soccer match into 4 quarters.
I deliberately used the s-word to emphasize the Americanisation that will surely happen to the game this coming summer....I'll watch as much of the tournament as I can...but I'm not looking forward to it.
PaulMdj
Well-known member
Saw a video from the Brazil v France match in Massachusetts last week, people reviewing the transport etc, seems it was a bit of a cluster with the road closures and transport links.
Some of the French fans didn’t get in until half time as the 30 minute journey to the ground took over 4 hours.
Unofficial sources said the Yanks had expected fans to arrive at the ground 5-6 hours before kick off like some do for the American Football.
Hopefully they’ll learn from this.
nickjdavis
Head Pro
That just shows how out of touch the Americans are with the soul and essence of the game.Saw a video from the Brazil v France match in Massachusetts last week, people reviewing the transport etc, seems it was a bit of a cluster with the road closures and transport links.
Some of the French fans didn’t get in until half time as the 30 minute journey to the ground took over 4 hours.
Unofficial sources said the Yanks had expected fans to arrive at the ground 5-6 hours before kick off like some do for the American Football.
Hopefully they’ll learn from this.
Football fans expect to be kept in the ground for hours AFTER the game.
irip
Head Pro
We all know the real reasons the World Cup is in the US despite what FIFA might say.Saw a video from the Brazil v France match in Massachusetts last week, people reviewing the transport etc, seems it was a bit of a cluster with the road closures and transport links.
Some of the French fans didn’t get in until half time as the 30 minute journey to the ground took over 4 hours.
Unofficial sources said the Yanks had expected fans to arrive at the ground 5-6 hours before kick off like some do for the American Football.
Hopefully they’ll learn from this.
The biggest being the same reason that Russia and Dubai had the last 2 and the reason the next is where it is.
The reasons for not having it there are numerous but it can’t be changed now.
If you gave me free tickets I wouldn’t want to go but I’ll watch some of it when it suits me.
Previous tournaments I would hardly miss a match and loved all of it but it feels like an anti climax already for me
PaulMdj
Well-known member
Totally agree, lost all interest in it, so much so the match v Uruguay the other night is the first England game I never watched a single minute of in as long as I can remember.
irip
Head Pro
Yeah I didn’t watch any of it.
I think I watched a film instead.
I don’t know any football fans that are talking about the World Cup with any excitement which seems mad seeing this is the last get together before the squad is named
Swango1980
Well-known member
I assume you meant Qatar rather than Dubai.
Money will always play a huge role in the decision. It'll be why FIFA will choose somewhere like Qatar rather than Laos if they decide to have a World Cup in Asia. And why I doubt we'll ever see it in the Democratic Republic of Congo in my lifetime, when it is Africa's turn. I suppose the host nations need to be rich, because they'll need to have the resources to hold the tournament, stadiums, logistics, hotels, etc. Of course, I've no faith in FIFA officials either, so I've no doubt lining their pockets is of great motivation to them.
It has been in the USA before. I was 13, so I don't really remember too much controversy. It was a decent World Cup, despite a boring final. So I would have thought having it there again (along with Canada and Mexico) isn't really that controversial in isolation.
However, the whole political situation with the USA has started to make it much more controversial. FIFA Peace awards, Iran's participation and ease of fans getting into USA, etc. Two or three years ago, I actually thought it would be amazing to have a 3 or 4 week trip to north America. Land in Canada, drive south and leave from Mexico. Watch games and play golf throughout the journey. Whereas in the last year, I feel same as you. If someone gave me a free ticket to do that trip, I would likely refuse.
I hope drinks breaks and adverts during those breaks are not something that creep into the game, because we are told they are necessary. And then shockingly remain when there is definitely no need. A bit like when we were told 5 subs during Covid was advisable, and yet that has just become normalised ever since
Orikoru
Tour Winner
I don't really see any better options out there though. Who were you thinking to get in? And if you say Harry Redknapp or Tim Sherwood I'm disowning you.My Worry with De Zerbi is the attacking football he likes to play ( never thought I would say that) Ideally would be better at the start of another season.
Is he really the right choice for the rest of the season? I fear not.
What a way to run a club
irip
Head Pro
Sorry yes Qatar.
I think having it in a country where football is not the main sport is always a mistake.
Italia 90 was my favourite World Cup and the host nation were into it in a massive way which really helped the atmosphere.
Most people in the US are either not interested or have no idea it’s even on.
The whole thing is a farce and it’s now a competition that is given to whoever throws the most money at it/has biggest brown envelopes.
It used to the be the game of the people but no longer im afraid, your general man on the street would really struggle to afford to go to this World Cup unfortunately
Swango1980
Well-known member
I see the point that it should go to a nation where football is the main sport. However, I guess that would mean it would mainly just have to be rotated between Europe and South America. Especially if most African countries don't have the resources to hold one.
Completely agree on ticket prices though. Ticket prices need to be affordable to most global fans. If it is held in a wealthy nation, fans from weaker economies can struggle to afford going, even if the wealthy nation sets prices average to them. Whereas it seems the ticket prices at this World Cup are at eye watering levels, even for well off people living in the USA
irip
Head Pro
I’m sure the grounds will be full but if the majority are corporate that doesn’t create an atmosphere.
I don’t agree only Europe or South America could hold it.
We have seen world cups in Mexico, Japan & South Korea and South Africa.
I think Australia could hold it and it would go down very well there and be well supported.
Spreading a tournament across countries is a mistake imo. One of the joys of a World Cup is fans crossing a single country, discovering that country, that country embracing a tournament. Having multiple countries host it just loses something.
PaulMdj
Well-known member
Agreed, but the cost of building new stadiums by hosts that really couldn’t afford it is probably the main reason for that, ie on their own neither Mexico or Canada have the stadiums.
