2022 FIFA World Cup

**NeverFeltBetter** · 21/11/2022, 12:52 PM

I can't be the only one who thought the Iranian keeper had broken his nose, right?

England cruising along. The AFC is having a shocker in 2022.

**pineapple stu** · 21/11/2022, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Not sure the first choice keeper would have made any difference!

True in fairness; three very nice finishes

**NeverFeltBetter** · 21/11/2022, 1:51 PM

Just the 23'000 empty seats for this one, according to FIFA.

**pineapple stu** · 21/11/2022, 1:52 PM

And Iran's fairly close by; you'd imagine they'd have a bit of a travelling support. Going to see some bigger gaps in coming games I reckon.

**seanfhear** · 21/11/2022, 2:13 PM

What a place to have a world cup ~ ~ ~ Fifa sold their soul and the soul of football ~ ~ Multiple times.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 21/11/2022, 2:25 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

And Iran's fairly close by; you'd imagine they'd have a bit of a travelling support. Going to see some bigger gaps in coming games I reckon.

Maybe travel isn't safe for Iranians at the moment. Any dealings with any kind of border control going in and going out, must be a headache.

The Guardian is reporting that Iranian state TV cut the feed when the players were shown not singing the anthem, while jeers rang out from the stands from Iranians in attendance (a lot of them might be ex-pats maybe?).

Facile game for England in the end, with nearly half an hour of injury time.

**nigel-harps1954** · 21/11/2022, 2:26 PM

One of the longest 90 minute games of football ever? 118 minutes in the end in total.

**pineapple stu** · 21/11/2022, 2:30 PM

What happened in the second half for all the extra time? I saw England made four subs at the same time, so it obviously wasn't lots of breaks for subs.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 21/11/2022, 3:35 PM

A few injury breaks too. Kane was down for a few minutes before continuing.

**SkStu** · 21/11/2022, 7:03 PM

Watching Wales almost as bad as watching us recently.

**pineapple stu** · 21/11/2022, 7:26 PM

Couple of halftime subs and Wales much better now second half.

So that's not at all like watching us recently

**SkStu** · 21/11/2022, 7:30 PM

They were dire in the first half! A bit better now alright.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 22/11/2022, 9:41 AM

Good game last night, had that kind of frantic feeling where both sides were desperate to win but also scared of making a mistake so it was just nerves all over the field. The timekeeping issue is interesting: it seems like refs have been instructed to start their injury time clock the moment someone goes down and to add it all on. Which, if it is the case, I fully agree with, because that timewasting tactic is so irritating.

Surprisingly decent game unfolding right now, with the Saudis actually trying to give Argentina a game, but only in it because Argentina need to time their runs a fraction of a second better.

**joey B** · 22/11/2022, 11:07 AM

Some egg laid by Argentina here….

**pineapple stu** · 22/11/2022, 11:13 AM

How do Argentina do that so regularly?

All over the Saudis for the bits I saw, but the Saudis had two shots and scored both of them, and now it's panic stations for the Argies just to get out of the group. Mexico and Poland next - both winnable, but now both must-wins too, which isn't ideal.

**seanfhear** · 22/11/2022, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

How do Argentina do that so regularly?

All over the Saudis for the bits I saw, but the Saudis had two shots and scored both of them, and now it's panic stations for the Argies just to get out of the group. Mexico and Poland next - both winnable, but now both must-wins too, which isn't ideal.

For some reason Argentina does not produce many tall athletic players ~ ~ OK Messi is tiny but he is the exception that proves the rule. Argentina need to become a lot more athletic and of course that generally means taller as well ~ ~ I suggest a breeding programme.