FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

[AustinPowers]

Spain are into Englands half of the draw which should make it tougher for England which is all that counts.

Think England would beat Spain but hopefully France get there first in the QF. It's no handy run like they had in 2018 anyway

I'm hoping Senegal will get there  in the second round

[JPGJOHNNYG]

It's a ridiculous decision if it was called out based on those photos noone would have said a thing. If that was the goal line is that no goal then - almost Lampard territory

[CK_Redhand]

A by product of the strict/excessive added time at this world cup is that Germany had about 3 minutes where they knew the result of the other match. I'd have loved to see them score 3 own goals to put Spain out, just out of spite

[John Martin]

It's a ridiculous decision if it was called out based on those photos noone would have said a thing. If that was the goal line is that no goal then - almost Lampard territory

If it was called out based on the photos, which show it wasn't out, I think some people might have said something.

[Milltown Row2]

It wasn't out and the two best teams are through..

Germany have been dung, Spain lost momentum and couldn't break down a really hard working team.

Has been a great few final round of games

[Eire90]

World Cup organisers are increasingly open to discarding the new three-team group format for the 2026 tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada. It comes after concerns that too many dead rubbers in the last round of matches could dilute the expanded, 48-team event.

Although Fifa's official position remains unaltered, multiple sources say there have been "informal talks" and "corridor chats" in Doha about the benefits of going with 12 groups of four teams rather than 16 groups of three.

That could lead to a 104-game World Cup if the top two in each group, plus the best eight third-placed sides, go through to a 32-team knockout stage – which is 40 more than will be played at Qatar 2022.

[Eire90]

if they go with that format it will be ridiculous  104 games is too much unless they play earlier group games at same time  or extend tournament to like 5 or 6 weeks  a month seems long enough already might aswell  have a 64 team straight knockout if they do this.12 groups of  4 also brings in the best  3rd place teams bs like the euros which will make the group stage even easier for the big teams because of seeding and  more weaker teams in the wc.

[gallsman]

Absolute storm in a teacup stuff. Looks like ref got the (very tight) call right so don't get people drumming up controversy over it.

In rugby union or league any part of the ball even touching the line is ruled out, am Happy Japan are through, they deserved it,

Slightly more convoluted than that as the position of the player in possession matters as well in rugby. American football too. Ball can very clearly be inside the lines but legally in touch/out of bounds if the player has a foot on our outside the line.

Delighted for Japan but their winning goal should never have stood.

The bizarre thing is that there can be grass between the ball and line, but when viewed from above the overhang of the ball is not fully over the line. That's what happened here. So seemingly correct decision, but the rule should be changed!

What's bizarre about it? It's simple geometry. Why should it be changed? The rule is clear and always has been and had never been controversial until ITV and Souness started kicking up a fuss about it there tonight.

If that was the goal line is that no goal then - almost Lampard territory

Of course it would be no goal.

[thewobbler]

Unfortunately this is just capitalism doing what capitalism does. When something is successful, expand, expand, expand. Bleed every last artery, fill every last orifice, then blame anyone, anything else when things get so overwhelming and confused, that the heart can't cope.

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If they're going to go to 48, they should go to 64 straightaway. That's where they're going to end up and it makes more sense. It would allow 4-5 host countries to be granted byes to the finals. It would mean 127 games that have to be organised, but it would also mean only one extra match for the players than in the current system, and as long as people can get onboard with concurrent games being okay to the world, and starting midweek not being the end of the world, it would see a tournament that's only half a week longer to play out.

[Armagh18]

Last couple of days going against the idea of us looking more European representation, 2 of the supposed better teams from Europe in Belgium and Germany embarrassed in the groups, plus last years Euro winners not even qualified. Still fancy France or maybe Portugal to win it though and that other shower to go deep.

[RedHand88]

Unfortunately this is just capitalism doing what capitalism does. When something is successful, expand, expand, expand. Bleed every last artery, fill every last orifice, then blame anyone, anything else when things get so overwhelming and confused, that the heart can't cope.

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If they're going to go to 48, they should go to 64 straightaway. That's where they're going to end up and it makes more sense. It would allow 4-5 host countries to be granted byes to the finals. It would mean 127 games that have to be organised, but it would also mean only one extra match for the players than in the current system, and as long as people can get onboard with concurrent games being okay to the world, and starting midweek not being the end of the world, it would see a tournament that's only half a week longer to play out.

Can't wait for Saudi Arabia-UAE-Bahrain-Qatar-China 2034

[shark]

Last couple of days going against the idea of us looking more European representation, 2 of the supposed better teams from Europe in Belgium and Germany embarrassed in the groups, plus last years Euro winners not even qualified. Still fancy France or maybe Portugal to win it though and that other shower to go deep.

Last years euros winners not qualifying surely shows why there should be more representation from Europe, not less. We are still looking at 6 of the last 8 being from Europe. Possible exception being USA making it 5. 2 of those 6 are in Ireland's next qualifying group. Thankfully in Euros there is a back door. Smaller European nations get screwed in this World Cup qualifying system.

[HiMucker]

Last couple of days going against the idea of us looking more European representation, 2 of the supposed better teams from Europe in Belgium and Germany embarrassed in the groups, plus last years Euro winners not even qualified. Still fancy France or maybe Portugal to win it though and that other shower to go deep.

England and France will meet in the quarters, so that's as deep as they will go if France win it.

[johnnycool]

In rugby union or league any part of the ball even touching the line is ruled out, am Happy Japan are through, they deserved it,

but also in Rugby (both codes) if the ball is airborne and way over the line and as long as the players feet are inside the line, the ball is still in play, wouldn't work in soccer.

The Germans have no one to blame but themselves irrespective of how many mm of the ball was cutting over the line.

[trailer]

Unfortunately this is just capitalism doing what capitalism does. When something is successful, expand, expand, expand. Bleed every last artery, fill every last orifice, then blame anyone, anything else when things get so overwhelming and confused, that the heart can't cope.

—-

If they're going to go to 48, they should go to 64 straightaway. That's where they're going to end up and it makes more sense. It would allow 4-5 host countries to be granted byes to the finals. It would mean 127 games that have to be organised, but it would also mean only one extra match for the players than in the current system, and as long as people can get onboard with concurrent games being okay to the world, and starting midweek not being the end of the world, it would see a tournament that's only half a week longer to play out.

We need a Tailteann Cup. Keep the minnows of Ireland, San Marino and Andorra interested.