What a reminder. I was one of those who had the flags draped out of the front windows, flags on the cars etc. Always had a World Cup party for the family for the first England game with a chilli con carni (yes it was summer). But just can't get to grips with a winter world cup. Furthermore, and sadly but Southgate drains me with his ****ty defensive tactics. Turns me right off and taking the knee meh
Thought I'd watch as much of the match as I fancied, just out of interest to see what a World Cup game in Qatar is actually like. When that goal was disallowed after 3 minutes after VAR I switched it off. Turned it back on after full time just in time for the bbc to highlight the 'fans' walking out just after half time leaving loads of empty seats. Well that just about sums it up I suppose.
Well there was 90+ minutes of football in between. I guess it depends what you are hoping to achieve by switching on and off again...
Alternative view is to refuse to let them take the game away from you. I dont think it is hypocritical. It isnt FIFAs or Qatars game, it is the fans game. Corruption has been rife in world cups for long before this one. Indeed we see the influence across the business side of the game. What they cant do, and today proved it, is change the game on the grass. 11v11, player v player. I would separate the business side of the game, and focus on the actual game. I still love it for what it is, and I suspect this world cup will make me feel fabulous as always.
Watched most of the game in-between making tea and felt like it was men against boys, very poor performance from Qatar, and the guys in the white robes didn't look too impressed. Comments about pitch-side being cool due to the air conditioning makes trying to judge the possible result a lottery. I didn't see any images after the final whistle, to see what affect the heat had had, and hadn't noticed any drink breaks, so wonder if we'll be lucky to hit a tournament with a fit squad?
You're allowed to choose what you care about, how much you care about it and how much you're prepared to sacrifice for the sake of specific principals. This whole narrative of people having their beliefs discredited due to "hypocrisy" is nonsense. I care about human rights and I think it's a disgrace that the world cup is in Qatar. I won't watch as much as I usually do but I'll still watch England and probably about a dozen games over the tournament. No-one else gets to decide what lengths someone must go to in order to make their opinion valid.
All the stadiums have air conditioning build into them. The actual temperature for the players on the pitch could be the same as here. There weren't any drinks breaks today.
For what it’s worth. I don’t know if anything has been mentioned earlier on here. Because of the weather/climate in Qatar I am sure that the winner will be one of the Countries that is used to this weather. Possibly one of the African nations. Brazil have a hot climate so maybe they will win it.
But as mentioned on the bbc the pitch side was air conditioned and cool... what it's like down the centre of the pitch is anyone's guess, but the conditions don't seem to be a factor for us to use the excuse of the heat. Hence Harry Maguire has been elevated to the team
Pitchside conditions aren't an issue for this one. They can make it any temp they want to within stadium, they are all fully air conditioned. There are no drinks breaks. Outside the stadiums for the fans and public is a different kettle of fish in the desert, but the actual games in the grounds are all controlled temperatures. They could probably make it snow if they wanted to tbh.
