2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar - UEFA Qualifiers

[Sithara007]

Yeah, and that is where it bugs me off. I don't know, maybe I've become jaded after seeing so many things past few years. From the covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, the world economy in recession,... When I look at the World Cup in Qatar, I can not see it as a normal soccer game anymore. Or free from political stuff that we used to say sports remove the barrier and bring people all around the world together. All the 'noise' behind it, the ugly at how it has become.

Some posts earlier talked about: What are we going to do about it? There is nothing we could do. Cause no amount of boycott worth jack shit as Qatar doesn't care about profit. So what? Might just come to the acceptance phase and just enjoy it? Hell no.

With a few weeks remaining for the start of the world cup, now it is too late for any sort of protests or boycotting. Action should have been taken in 2011, when it was revealed that Qatar won the bidding process by bribing some of the voters. In any other sports association, they would have been asked to forfeit the hosting rights. But FIFA took a very lenient stance on Qatar. Even the former FIFA president Sepp Blatter claimed that Qatar won hosting rights through unfair means. There were protest back then as well, but the mainstream media had a policy of censoring those events.

[tam31]

Can't put it any better than this. LNG is the main export from Qatar and the prices have go up by 10x to 20x compared to 2021 levels. Qatar will be earning hundreds of billions of USD in profit this year. And that is the reason why they don't give a fuck to all those complaints about human rights abuses, restrictions on tourists and discrimination against LGBTs. They will treat visitors and fans the same way as some rich man treats beggars on street. And the vast majority of the visitors won't be having a problem with that.

Yeah, and that is where it bugs me off. I don't know, maybe I've become jaded after seeing so many things past few years. From the covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, the world economy in recession,... When I look at the World Cup in Qatar, I can not see it as a normal soccer game anymore. Or free from political stuff that we used to say sports remove the barrier and bring people all around the world together. All the 'noise' behind it, the ugly at how it has become.

Some posts earlier talked about: What are we going to do about it? There is nothing we could do. Cause no amount of boycott worth jack shit as Qatar doesn't care about profit. So what? Might just come to the acceptance phase and just enjoy it? Hell no.

As long as we do not become self sufficient at everything as a nation, we will be depending others, and occasionally they others we talk about will be people who have human rights violations. Just last year during Saudi Arabia grand prix of formula 1, there were bombs going off very near the race track, you could literally see the bomb cloud in cars pictures during practice session, but they kept going. Because they want the money, and same goes here.

Qatar has LNG and everyone will be silent about whatever they do, because they need LNG, they can kill anyone they want, and west will not do anything about it. Hell owners of Newcastle literally murdered and chopped a journalist against them, and they still managed to buy Newcastle with no problem.

[Sithara007]

As long as we do not become self sufficient at everything as a nation, we will be depending others, and occasionally they others we talk about will be people who have human rights violations. Just last year during Saudi Arabia grand prix of formula 1, there were bombs going off very near the race track, you could literally see the bomb cloud in cars pictures during practice session, but they kept going. Because they want the money, and same goes here.

Qatar has LNG and everyone will be silent about whatever they do, because they need LNG, they can kill anyone they want, and west will not do anything about it. Hell owners of Newcastle literally murdered and chopped a journalist against them, and they still managed to buy Newcastle with no problem.

Agreed 100%. The world has become more money minded now, and there is no space for any sort of morals and ethics. And this is applicable to sports as well. My question is where do we draw the line? If tomorrow Saudi Arabia uses nuclear weapon on Yemen, still they will enjoy the same relationship with FIFA and IOC? Qatar is in a very advantageous position right now, as the EU badly needs their LNG. Saudi Arabia is one of the top oil producers. There is a sense of impunity and it is getting worse with every passing year.

[Polkeins]

As long as we do not become self sufficient at everything as a nation, we will be depending others, and occasionally they others we talk about will be people who have human rights violations. Just last year during Saudi Arabia grand prix of formula 1, there were bombs going off very near the race track, you could literally see the bomb cloud in cars pictures during practice session, but they kept going. Because they want the money, and same goes here.

Qatar has LNG and everyone will be silent about whatever they do, because they need LNG, they can kill anyone they want, and west will not do anything about it. Hell owners of Newcastle literally murdered and chopped a journalist against them, and they still managed to buy Newcastle with no problem.

Agreed 100%. The world has become more money minded now, and there is no space for any sort of morals and ethics. And this is applicable to sports as well. My question is where do we draw the line? If tomorrow Saudi Arabia uses nuclear weapon on Yemen, still they will enjoy the same relationship with FIFA and IOC? Qatar is in a very advantageous position right now, as the EU badly needs their LNG. Saudi Arabia is one of the top oil producers. There is a sense of impunity and it is getting worse with every passing year.

This has been always about money and money has always decided everything, but only if it is someone's "good" money, or to put it even more simply, if in Washington someone approves or at least does not disapprove your moves, then you can do whatever you want. Double standards are a disgusting topic, but Qatar is just a student, nothing more. he didn't come up with these rules, but Qatar just learned how to use them competently.

[LUCKMCFLY]

I think we can already see the pressure of World Cup approaching on internal clubs but also on national teams are tonight we have Nations League and big teams like England or Germany are really having a slow pace game in order to avoid injuries or anything similar. Also , with this Nations League games , South American teams are having an advantage because players are extra rested than some others.

This nations league is apsolute stupid stuff and just a waste of player strengths. Europeans best teams are really bad lately and i dont think they will reach their top levels once the world cup begins. Most disappointing are Germany and England. France played really good so we can see them going far but others i dont think they can do much

What happens is that it can be passed off as one of the ways to know the different strengths of many teams, yes, it is very likely that many players will get injured, but it is the only way that coaches have to realize who they are with and with who doesn't, this is something that can happen at any time, there are cases that players who go to the tournament and get injured in full training, with their own team friends, so this is something that can happen, of course there are some directors technicians who do not expose their top stars much, because they are the ones who can give their teams victory, but that is already their decision.

As long as we do not become self sufficient at everything as a nation, we will be depending others, and occasionally they others we talk about will be people who have human rights violations. Just last year during Saudi Arabia grand prix of formula 1, there were bombs going off very near the race track, you could literally see the bomb cloud in cars pictures during practice session, but they kept going. Because they want the money, and same goes here.

Qatar has LNG and everyone will be silent about whatever they do, because they need LNG, they can kill anyone they want, and west will not do anything about it. Hell owners of Newcastle literally murdered and chopped a journalist against them, and they still managed to buy Newcastle with no problem.

Agreed 100%. The world has become more money minded now, and there is no space for any sort of morals and ethics. And this is applicable to sports as well. My question is where do we draw the line? If tomorrow Saudi Arabia uses nuclear weapon on Yemen, still they will enjoy the same relationship with FIFA and IOC? Qatar is in a very advantageous position right now, as the EU badly needs their LNG. Saudi Arabia is one of the top oil producers. There is a sense of impunity and it is getting worse with every passing year.

Well, we all know that the current situation in the world is very diverse, only those that can offer certain services are the ones that can provide well-being and be free from wars and prohibitions, although this World Cup in Qatar is going to be very full of many fundamentals, there are nations that still have problems, nothing more than the problem that exists in Europe with Gas, with everything that they have in RUSSIA from the problem with oil, the different prohibitions that exist, that all these political problems have reached the world, more have been announced things with probable drums to war, all this has somehow affected.

This has been always about money and money has always decided everything, but only if it is someone's "good" money, or to put it even more simply, if in Washington someone approves or at least does not disapprove your moves, then you can do whatever you want. Double standards are a disgusting topic, but Qatar is just a student, nothing more. he didn't come up with these rules, but Qatar just learned how to use them competently.

Yes, everything is money, if it weren't for so much of the business model that will be generated, we wouldn't have so many problems in the world, in fact when we mention everything you have to live to generate money, the great nations just by making war They open many business centers, both for weapons, for all war material, for the permits that have to be given in NATO, everything represents money, and obviously FIFA are not holy angels, they also do their part, everything is managed as if they were puppets, for me everything is connected, and I think that when the World Cup starts it is the month that everything will be more neutralized.

[Sithara007]

~~~~
Well, we all know that the current situation in the world is very diverse, only those that can offer certain services are the ones that can provide well-being and be free from wars and prohibitions, although this World Cup in Qatar is going to be very full of many fundamentals, there are nations that still have problems, nothing more than the problem that exists in Europe with Gas, with everything that they have in RUSSIA from the problem with oil, the different prohibitions that exist, that all these political problems have reached the world, more have been announced things with probable drums to war, all this has somehow affected.
~~~~

All I want is to separate sports from politics and equal treatment for all. I understand why Russia was suspended from FIFA and IOC. What I don't understand is their failure to do the same to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

This has been always about money and money has always decided everything, but only if it is someone's "good" money, or to put it even more simply, if in Washington someone approves or at least does not disapprove your moves, then you can do whatever you want. Double standards are a disgusting topic, but Qatar is just a student, nothing more. he didn't come up with these rules, but Qatar just learned how to use them competently.

If the US president had some balls, this would never happen in the first place. Just a few hours back, the OPEC announced another massive reduction in the daily oil production quota, as they want to push the prices to $120-130 per barrel. This is despite Biden going to Saudi Arabia to beg in front of Prince Salman. The Americans are queueing in front of Saudi Arabia and Qatar with a begging bowl. Criticizing these countries for their human rights record is out of question.

[dezoel]

All I want is to separate sports from politics and equal treatment for all. I understand why Russia was suspended from FIFA and IOC. What I don't understand is their failure to do the same to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

This has been always about money and money has always decided everything, but only if it is someone's "good" money, or to put it even more simply, if in Washington someone approves or at least does not disapprove your moves, then you can do whatever you want. Double standards are a disgusting topic, but Qatar is just a student, nothing more. he didn't come up with these rules, but Qatar just learned how to use them competently.

If the US president had some balls, this would never happen in the first place. Just a few hours back, the OPEC announced another massive reduction in the daily oil production quota, as they want to push the prices to $120-130 per barrel. This is despite Biden going to Saudi Arabia to beg in front of Prince Salman. The Americans are queueing in front of Saudi Arabia and Qatar with a begging bowl. Criticizing these countries for their human rights record is out of question.

I am feeling like you are completely biased again here as you want to separate sports from politics, and then you are giving example of Russia and why are you not giving example Israel for what are they doing in Palestine and why are you not giving example of India and China but why just Qatar and Saudi Arabia; I read recently a column where they clearly stated that India, USA and UK are three countries which are working against Islamophobia consistently and there the record about human rights is amazing high but due to having control on media and few things which are working for them, these countries are facing no serious sanctions but crying on other poor countries which is completely baseless.

USA president is going to beg Prince Salman because here they need, and it's just for their own cause here they are not looking for human rights or anything even they are the biggest buyer of USA arms even they don't need these to buy hype from the USA and western countries are at his highs level against Iran and few other countries for just selling their weapons so better stop this all and just go ahead with sports and soccer if you want to talk about this all then please go ahead and start other thread for this subject.

[koang]

so better stop this all and just go ahead with sports and soccer if you want to talk about this all then please go ahead and start other thread for this subject.

Yeah. This conversation is a bit off-topic, but all this controversy will make the world cup more interesting.

First Winter World Cup,  All stadiums are nearby, and the first country in the Middle East to host the world cup.

I hope the countries of Asia and Africa will make a surprise in World Cup 2022.
And there will be a new world champion beyond those who have won the world cup.
Netherlands and Belgium are my best guess

[Sithara007]

I hope the countries of Asia and Africa will make a surprise in World Cup 2022.
And there will be a new world champion beyond those who have won the world cup.
Netherlands and Belgium are my best guess

A big LOL to this. Netherlands and Belgium winning the world cup. 

Belgium is essentially a one man army, and without Lukaku they don't have any existence on their own. And Netherlands players are more interested in showcasing their karate and kung-fu tactics on opposition players, rather than trying to score goals. This time both of these teams may struggle to get in to the quarter-final stage. Netherlands is placed along with Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal in Group A. I won't be surprised if they finish at the 4th position. And Belgium is placed along with Canada, Morocco and Croatia. They may finish at 2nd or 3rd position.

[koang]

A big LOL to this. Netherlands and Belgium winning the world cup. 

Belgium is essentially a one man army, and without Lukaku they don't have any existence on their own. And Netherlands players are more interested in showcasing their karate and kung-fu tactics on opposition players, rather than trying to score goals. This time both of these teams may struggle to get in to the quarter-final stage. Netherlands is placed along with Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal in Group A. I won't be surprised if they finish at the 4th position. And Belgium is placed along with Canada, Morocco and Croatia. They may finish at 2nd or 3rd position.

World cup finals three times, European Cup Champion in 1988,  coached by Louis van Gaal (one of the world's best coaches),
and the Netherlands qualified for the world cup at the top standings.
Belgium is not only Lukaku. Vertonghen, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, and Dries Mertens are other quality players that Belgium have

Belgium is No.2, and the Netherlands is No.8 in the FIFA rankings.
Underestimating the chances of the Netherlands and Belgium in the world Cup 2022 is like not acknowledging all the achievements they have

[babygun]

I hope the countries of Asia and Africa will make a surprise in World Cup 2022.
And there will be a new world champion beyond those who have won the world cup.
Netherlands and Belgium are my best guess

A big LOL to this. Netherlands and Belgium winning the world cup. 

Belgium is essentially a one man army, and without Lukaku they don't have any existence on their own. And Netherlands players are more interested in showcasing their karate and kung-fu tactics on opposition players, rather than trying to score goals. This time both of these teams may struggle to get in to the quarter-final stage. Netherlands is placed along with Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal in Group A. I won't be surprised if they finish at the 4th position. And Belgium is placed along with Canada, Morocco and Croatia. They may finish at 2nd or 3rd position.

I would do some more research before saying stuff like this as Belgium has a lot of talented players on their team (Lukaku, Courtouis, Hazard, De Bruyne, Mertens, ...). So calling them a one man army is far from the reality. I don't think they will win the world cup but chances are pretty high that they will finish first in their group.

[Zackgeno96]

Something I heard somewhere on TV this week, but I haven't thought about it yet, is that many players are of course doing everything they can to make it to the World Cup. That also means not trying to get injured and therefore possibly taking it easy in the competition. You sometimes see players consciously putting in less effort and yet not going all the way. Understandable in a way, but you're duping your team that way. The last thing you want is to get injured. just look at Wijnaldum at AS Roma, who was injured in the first training and can forget the World Cup. Is there any real possibility that Paul Pogba has recovered in time to compete in the World Cup with France?

[Sithara007]

~~~~
Belgium is No.2, and the Netherlands is No.8 in the FIFA rankings.
Underestimating the chances of the Netherlands and Belgium in the world Cup 2022 is like not acknowledging all the achievements they have

Well... the FIFA rankings doesn't make much sense for me. Belgium at no.2 means that they are better than teams such as Argentina and Spain, which is definitely not true. I think FIFA takes in to account matches that were played long time back and that is the reason why Belgium is in second position. At this point, I don't think that they will be included in the top-5. And regarding Netherlands, I agree that they may find a spot in the top-10. The current ranking more or less reflects their recent performances.

[swogerino]

~~~~
Belgium is No.2, and the Netherlands is No.8 in the FIFA rankings.
Underestimating the chances of the Netherlands and Belgium in the world Cup 2022 is like not acknowledging all the achievements they have

Well... the FIFA rankings doesn't make much sense for me. Belgium at no.2 means that they are better than teams such as Argentina and Spain, which is definitely not true. I think FIFA takes in to account matches that were played long time back and that is the reason why Belgium is in second position. At this point, I don't think that they will be included in the top-5. And regarding Netherlands, I agree that they may find a spot in the top-10. The current ranking more or less reflects their recent performances.

Exactly,the ranking reflect their recent performance and how they rank regarding the FIFA based on such data,when Argentina for example does not play games but Belgium plays some games like they did in the Nations League and win those game then those are ranked with points from FIFA while FIFA cannot rank Argentina because they have not played.This points based system creates some confusion but I believe every body that has been following football for many years they know how these rankings works,and surely these do not mean that they will be top contenders at the World Cup,that is misleading to take this ranking and judge by it for the upcoming World Cup.

[Daniel91]

I hope the countries of Asia and Africa will make a surprise in World Cup 2022.
And there will be a new world champion beyond those who have won the world cup.
Netherlands and Belgium are my best guess

A big LOL to this. Netherlands and Belgium winning the world cup. 

Belgium is essentially a one man army, and without Lukaku they don't have any existence on their own. And Netherlands players are more interested in showcasing their karate and kung-fu tactics on opposition players, rather than trying to score goals. This time both of these teams may struggle to get in to the quarter-final stage. Netherlands is placed along with Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal in Group A. I won't be surprised if they finish at the 4th position. And Belgium is placed along with Canada, Morocco and Croatia. They may finish at 2nd or 3rd position.

I would do some more research before saying stuff like this as Belgium has a lot of talented players on their team (Lukaku, Courtouis, Hazard, De Bruyne, Mertens, ...). So calling them a one man army is far from the reality. I don't think they will win the world cup but chances are pretty high that they will finish first in their group.

Belgium is a very good and experienced team, and I agree that they are favorites for one of the top two places in the group.
However, it will be very difficult for them to win the first place in the group against Croatia, who are currently playing very well and recently beat away France and Denmark in the Nations League.
At the last World Cup, Belgium was third in the world and Croatia was second, but while Croatia rejuvenated the team, older players are playing for Belgium, whose peak was at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
I give Croatia a better chance of success at this world championship than Belgium.

[cryptofrka]

Belgium is a very good and experienced team, and I agree that they are favorites for one of the top two places in the group.
However, it will be very difficult for them to win the first place in the group against Croatia, who are currently playing very well and recently beat away France and Denmark in the Nations League.
At the last World Cup, Belgium was third in the world and Croatia was second, but while Croatia rejuvenated the team, older players are playing for Belgium, whose peak was at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
I give Croatia a better chance of success at this world championship than Belgium.

To be fair to Belgium, they have some quality young players emerging as well. There are De Keteleare and Saelemeakers from Milan and Onana from Everton - all young and highly rated. Faez from Leicester as well.

Belgium still has a core of elite players playing on top of their game - they are near the top of my list of favorites to win. Croatia is good - I fancy our chances - but we'll be more of a dark horse than a serious contender.

[nullama]

~snip~
To be fair to Belgium, they have some quality young players emerging as well. There are De Keteleare and Saelemeakers from Milan and Onana from Everton - all young and highly rated. Faez from Leicester as well.

Belgium still has a core of elite players playing on top of their game - they are near the top of my list of favorites to win. Croatia is good - I fancy our chances - but we'll be more of a dark horse than a serious contender.

Yeah, Belgium does have a pretty decent squad, and I'm sure they'll end up going to the next stage. But actually winning the world cup?, I don't think so. There are way too many better teams. Belgium would have to be extremely lucky a couple of times to actually win the tournament. But hey, you never know with football...

[Daniel91]

~snip~
To be fair to Belgium, they have some quality young players emerging as well. There are De Keteleare and Saelemeakers from Milan and Onana from Everton - all young and highly rated. Faez from Leicester as well.

Belgium still has a core of elite players playing on top of their game - they are near the top of my list of favorites to win. Croatia is good - I fancy our chances - but we'll be more of a dark horse than a serious contender.

Yeah, Belgium does have a pretty decent squad, and I'm sure they'll end up going to the next stage. But actually winning the world cup?, I don't think so. There are way too many better teams. Belgium would have to be extremely lucky a couple of times to actually win the tournament. But hey, you never know with football...

I think similarly to you.
Belgium is a good and experienced national team and I am almost certain that they will qualify for the knockout phase of the World Championship.
What happens after that and how far Belgium can go in the competition will also depend on the draw, opponents and luck.
However, I don't see them as one of the favorites for the World Cup and I don't think they will repeat the success of Russia, when they were third in the world.

[D ltr]

~snip~
To be fair to Belgium, they have some quality young players emerging as well. There are De Keteleare and Saelemeakers from Milan and Onana from Everton - all young and highly rated. Faez from Leicester as well.

Belgium still has a core of elite players playing on top of their game - they are near the top of my list of favorites to win. Croatia is good - I fancy our chances - but we'll be more of a dark horse than a serious contender.

Yeah, Belgium does have a pretty decent squad, and I'm sure they'll end up going to the next stage. But actually winning the world cup?, I don't think so. There are way too many better teams. Belgium would have to be extremely lucky a couple of times to actually win the tournament. But hey, you never know with football...

Yes, you are right . we don't know the end of the cycle of football matches, sometimes the team that is relied on to be the champion is eliminated at the beginning, and vice versa, but I slightly support belgium to get into the world cup final this year,

[savetheFORUM]

Belgium is a very good and experienced team, and I agree that they are favorites for one of the top two places in the group.
However, it will be very difficult for them to win the first place in the group against Croatia, who are currently playing very well and recently beat away France and Denmark in the Nations League.
At the last World Cup, Belgium was third in the world and Croatia was second, but while Croatia rejuvenated the team, older players are playing for Belgium, whose peak was at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
I give Croatia a better chance of success at this world championship than Belgium.

No doubt Belgium was excellent team in last world cup but now in this coming event I am feeling they have no fair chance for having place into last four because even FIFA ranking giving them good advantage, but these rankings never go 100% correct here I can give Croatia better chance instead of Belgium which is surely a better team and can go through into last four.

For big events we have to be good combinations and mentality as well which is surely not going good for the Belgium, and they could be gone through until last eight which is fairly a good chance for them even in Europe we have many good teams but still most chances we will have teams like Spain, Germany and France and Croatia which are capable of having good results and can go through until last four with others are still missing something which is needed for the win.