Only really starting to take notice of it now, I’ll watch it but it’s definitely not the same as a “proper” World Cup. I have a feeling something will kick off, a world of different cultures all coming together in one of the most restrictive and backwards thinking (in my opinion) places on the planet. Hope I am wrong
I really fear for the health of the players, were going to see games interrupted for drink breaks which doesn't help the flow of the games, and I dread another Erikson issue, hope to god I'm wrong. Can't get excited for this tournament at all.
Great article, he writes: We cannot watch the World Cup in Qatar with that same innocence. We know how it got there. We know what it says about those involved and those exploited to bring it about. But we will watch, hoping that the humanity in the beautiful game outweighs the ugliness of the path it has taken. We love this game. We cannot do otherwise. Mihir Bose is a writer and broadcaster whose latest book is Dreaming The Impossible: The Battle to Create a Non-Racial Sports World
Have to disagree with him there, I'm not watching and unfortunately the ship has sailed for my love of the game, many years ago. Love Sunderland, quite like football. Not enough to watch it no matter what.
I'm really sick of being told I should be ashamed of slavery and the sins of my forefathers. The tiny minority of those involved were nothing to do with me or my class of people. If this was happening now it would be the likes of Boris Johnson and the 'Eton elite' who'd be running the show and raking in the mountains of cash. At the time of the abolition of slavery there were Scottish miners, my ancestors included, who were in slavery, who's families were thrown out of their tied cottages if there was a pit accident and the man died. So please, drop this nonsense once and for all ... ... I'm not ashamed of anything my family have ever done, Is that clear Mr Gold Embezzling hypocrite?
Have to say I feel the same. I refuse to apologise for things long before my time. I will shine a light on things that do occur in my time, and I am happy to study history to understand what went before and learn. I cant see any value in me apologising for the next 3000 years though, and I doubt anyone would be interested anyway.
This speaks for me too, Exactly, saw a bit of that speech on the news last night and wondered if he knew just what he was talking about , what a parasite.
The sad thing, about all this, is that they think they'll actually fool us all because we're blinded by the love of football. Donald and Methven had the same idea. They all take the mickey because we're sitting ducks.
A few predictions, now that my excitement levels are at full tilt. Winners - Brazil. Final - Brazil v England. Top Goalscorer - Neymar. Darkhorse - Iran / Serbia. Flop - France / Ronaldo. Best young player - Bellingham / Mussiala
Really looking forward to this now, hoping for lots of goals and quality football. Im backing Belgium/Portugal to win it this year. England to go out in the last 16.
Winners: Brazil Final: Brazil v Spain Top Goalscorer: Messi Darkhorses: Denmark (semi finals and beating France in groups) Flop: France/Belgium Best young player: Gavi Breakthrough star: Jonathan David
I should be buzzing when a World Cup is starting later today but I just can't get myself up for it. A World Cup in November man, what an absolute joke.
FIFA make me sick. Problem is most national FAs are a microcosm of them, otherwise we might get somewhere. your Journo sums it up quite well… “At every professional level, the game is no longer the pleasant weekend activity of my youth. It is now a sordid marriage between money and football’s power barons, with the fans used as pawns to preserve the myth of the beautiful game.” ……not sure what team he was following if he always had a pleasant weekend, mind you. Obviously not a lads fan no pain, no gain.
Perhaps it would be an idea for those who are excited about the competition to have a separate thread just for the football aspect. I hate everything about it, from the mid-season disruption to the barbaric hosts, but feel guilty if I'm spoiling if for people who are into it. Just a thought ....
