The NCAP Soccerball Thread

[AndyRM]

I bow to the superior knowledge of the football fans :-)

I feel that "prick" might not be the word that many fans might choose.

You're not wrong... I was censoring myself.

It's unlikely that there'll be much in the way of witty chants in any case. They're not a thing at sporting events in the US, and even less so at tournaments, which although enthusiastic are usually pretty "safe" environments.

 

[AndyRM]

And now Iran have had their ticket allocation taken off them:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9q2vrdx0ewo

At this point I'd be tempted to tell FIFA to do one and totally knacker the whole sorry affair. It'd be harsh on other teams, but the way they're being treated is shocking.

 

[PurplePenguin]

And now Iran have had their ticket allocation taken off them:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9q2vrdx0ewo

At this point I'd be tempted to tell FIFA to do one and totally knacker the whole sorry affair. It'd be harsh on other teams, but the way they're being treated is shocking.

Any other country and the Iran matches would have been moved out of the US.

 

[Pblakeney]

Any other country and the Iran matches event would have been moved out of the US.

FTFY

 

[AndyRM]

FTFY

When I first thought about this, I figured it would have been logistically impossible, and normally it would have been, but both Canada and Mexico have plenty of big stadia, so they could have relocated the games to them.

Would have been a bit (a lot) of a ball ache, and just idle dreaming really, but more realistic than shifting the tournament wholesale to another country. Morocco were the only rivals, so it would have been impossible.

 

[Dorset Boy]

When I first thought about this, I figured it would have been logistically impossible, and normally it would have been, but both Canada and Mexico have plenty of big stadia, so they could have relocated the games to them.

Would have been a bit (a lot) of a ball ache, and just idle dreaming really, but more realistic than shifting the tournament wholesale to another country. Morocco were the only rivals, so it would have been impossible.

Morocco are sole hosts in 4 years time

 

[Pblakeney]

When I first thought about this, I figured it would have been logistically impossible, and normally it would have been, but both Canada and Mexico have plenty of big stadia, so they could have relocated the games to them.

Would have been a bit (a lot) of a ball ache, and just idle dreaming really, but more realistic than shifting the tournament wholesale to another country. Morocco were the only rivals, so it would have been impossible.

We are past the point of no return now but this was not only predictable, but predicted.
The thinking was to bury heads in the sand, hope for the best, and say it will be all right on the night.

 

[Beebo]

Morocco are sole hosts in 4 years time

Along with Spain, Portugal and Argentina Uruguay and Paraguay.

 

[AndyRM]

Morocco are sole hosts in 4 years time

You should tell Spain and Portugal (as well as the Centenary match hosts Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay)...

ETA: Ah, beaten to it by @Beebo.

 

[SteveO69]

Giving no reason is especially poor.

Yes, appalling.

I’m no fan of kickball, but would wholeheartedly support a boycott, (of course it won’t happen), by the international referees association, (I assume there is one), of the matches, until the Somalian referee is allowed to officiate. I wouldn’t expect FIFA to stick their heads above the parapet.

 

[AndyRM]

Yes, appalling.

I’m no fan of kickball, but would wholeheartedly support a boycott, (of course it won’t happen), by the international referees association, (I assume there is one), of the matches, until the Somalian referee is allowed to officiate. I wouldn’t expect FIFA to stick their heads above the parapet.

By way of an update (and a few other things):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/clyr6drdl79o

I think I'm right in saying that the only country which has professional referees at a league level is England, so there's support for them there, but internationally? Nothing.

Not sure there's much more they can f*ck up, but there's still two days to go...

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Along with Spain, Portugal and Argentina Uruguay and Paraguay.

I didn't realise they were playing games in South America too!

 

[AndyRM]

I didn't realise they were playing games in South America too!

It's the centenary of the tournament:

Uruguay hosted (and won), Argentina were runners up and Conmebol (the South American equivalent of UEFA) is based in Paraguay, the only continental football federation around back then.

Quite a neat touch I think.

 

[AndyRM]

According to Infantino, we should just "chill" and "relax" about all the nonsense from the US in the build up to the World Cup...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgj40vymlyo

What an odious pr!ck he is. I didn't think he'd be much better than Blatter, equally I didn't expect him to be so much worse.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

According to Infantino, we should just "chill" and "relax" about all the nonsense from the US in the build up to the World Cup...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgj40vymlyo

What an odious pr!ck he is. I didn't think he'd be much better than Blatter, equally I didn't expect him to be so much worse.

I knew he would come out with something like that, particularly after the ludicrous Qatar speech four years ago “Today I feel Arabic. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel [like] a migrant worker.” He is actually worse than Blatter, and that is saying something.