⚽ FIFA World Cup 2022: Tournament Discussion Thread for Qatar 2022

[CLS63]

I was really impressed by Croatia's incredible work there. They did the thing they needed to do. They just played a defensive game from the start to the end of the match. As it was working like clockwork they maintained this game plan until the end of the match. The defense stayed strong most of the time. Brazil still found some spaces from time to time and had critical chances to score but Livakovic had an amazing day today. Brazil still scored later on of course but Croatia just clinged to the match by an answer.

Penalty stage was the last thing Brazil could have wanted. They were really bad at it and it cost them the World Cup. Livakovic was nearly saving even two penalties. I don't know what he could have done more. He was already great. This is good for me as I've bet on England to win the World Cup.    Now one of the biggest contenders is gone.

[JollyGood]

Day One quarter-final results:

Croatia 1-1 Brazil
(Both goals in extra-time: Croatia will 4-2 on penalties)

Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
(No goals in extra-time: Argentina win 4-3 on penalties)










Both games went to extra-time and then penalties. Congratulations to Croatia and Argentina for making it to the semi-finals. Brazil and Netherlands were close to winning their respective games but just missed out. Brazil were winning the game at 1-0 then Croatia equalised to take the game to penalties.

Netherlands were 0-2 down before making it 2-2 to take the game to extra-time. The two teams clashed several times in a very bad tempered game with the two teams players pushing fighting each other on several occasions. There were a staggering 15 yellow cards shown by the referee, the most ever in a world cup game.

First Semi-Final 13th December: Argentina vs Croatia

[blue Snow]

I believe Croatia will play as they did it before, They will try to gamble on a Penalty kick. As we know how hard it when they get a win in 90' because the material player is not enough to create a score and face-to-face with Brazil players. I guess Croatia will play defensively in 90', so if they try to force and change the strategy, they will do the counter-attack strategy in extra time even if only 1 or 2 players are on the front because the rest is guard back to defense.

Penalty kicks are always risky for all teams, not only Croatia. I am sure that if possible, Croatia will try to win this match within 90 minutes (best) or 120 minutes but not want to go to another penalty kick.

Their team are no longer young especially their key players like Luka Modric or Ivan Perisic. We saw in the match with Japan that both Modric and Perisic were replaced in the first extra half because they were no longer able to run well enough to compete with Japanese players. Croatia need them not only for attacking but also for proactive defense.

That makes us very surprised indeed a big team as Brazil lost versus a team who filled up the old player, but everything has happened, Croatia has been able to the next round meets Argentina. We do not doubt Croatia has a solid fortress on the back and 1 more important is they have a high fighting spirit which brazil hasn't. Last night, Croatia is enough confident and able to implement a strategy to dampen the Brazil midfielder which has to be key to their defense.

[JollyGood]

How many neutral fans and commentators actually expected Croatia to win? Most people would have had this game down as a win for Brazil but the Croatia team showed a lot of courage to try to equalise after they went a goal down to a simply stunning piece of football by Neymar. Eventually they got their equaliser and went to win the game on penalties.

If Croatia make it to back to back 2018 and 2022 world cup finals they would have beaten both Brazil and Argentina. That is something special from a country of just 4 million people.

That makes us very surprised indeed a big team as Brazil lost versus a team who filled up the old player, but everything has happened, Croatia has been able to the next round meets Argentina. We do not doubt Croatia has a solid fortress on the back and 1 more important is they have a high fighting spirit which brazil hasn't. Last night, Croatia is enough confident and able to implement a strategy to dampen the Brazil midfielder which has to be key to their defense.

[nullama]

How many neutral fans and commentators actually expected Croatia to win? Most people would have had this game down as a win for Brazil but the Croatia team showed a lot of courage to try to equalise after they went a goal down to a simply stunning piece of football by Neymar. Eventually they got their equaliser and went to win the game on penalties.

If Croatia make it to back to back 2018 and 2022 world cup finals they would have beaten both Brazil and Argentina. That is something special from a country of just 4 million people.

That makes us very surprised indeed a big team as Brazil lost versus a team who filled up the old player, but everything has happened, Croatia has been able to the next round meets Argentina. We do not doubt Croatia has a solid fortress on the back and 1 more important is they have a high fighting spirit which brazil hasn't. Last night, Croatia is enough confident and able to implement a strategy to dampen the Brazil midfielder which has to be key to their defense.

I don't think there's a correlation between the country size and their skill at football.

For example China and India have massive populations, but both are not really competitive in football.

On the other hand, many, many European countries are tiny in population, but are remarkable in football skills.

Actually, it could be that Brazil is the exception being a country with a large population that is also great at football.

[casperBGD]

-snip
For example China and India have massive populations, but both are not really competitive in football.

you have a point here
most western countries are trying to make football popular in China and India, and have them qualified for WC (rising number of participants in the meantime), because there is a large TV population there, and that would increase revenue from TV rights

[Kakmakr]

-snip
For example China and India have massive populations, but both are not really competitive in football.

you have a point here
most western countries are trying to make football popular in China and India, and have them qualified for WC (rising number of participants in the meantime), because there is a large TV population there, and that would increase revenue from TV rights

Now, this is just my observation... but the majority of the Asian people are on average a lot shorter than people in western countries. (There are exceptions to this ....but I think on average this is true)

Height does play a role.... we saw this in this World Cup, when Japan played against other teams.... those teams took the ball to headers and Japan lost most of those matches.

That said..... Japan players made up for that by being a lot more active on the field and playing 100% to the end of every match. (disciplined and very fit)

[JollyGood]

I don't think there's a correlation between the country size and their skill at football.

There is a correlation because the smaller the population size the smaller the technically gifted pool should be therefore a country of 4 million people getting in back to back semi-finals and possible finals of the biggest football tournament in the world is a massive achievement.

you have a point here
most western countries are trying to make football popular in China and India, and have them qualified for WC (rising number of participants in the meantime), because there is a large TV population there, and that would increase revenue from TV rights

Both countries recently launched their own domestic leagues. Football is big in China and getting bigger in India. It can only grow more over time.

[tokeweed]

Brazil is sus.  Not enough pressing when they don't have the ball costed them.  Croatia is all about pressing in packs, isolating whoever had the ball.

Anyway, penalty shout out!!!  I want Croatia to go through the semis!  Rodrygo missed his penalty.    

Edit:  Croatia has yet to miss any of their pens.  LFG Croatiaaa!

CROATIA GOES THROUUUGGGGHHHHHH LOL BRAZIIIILLL LOOOOOLLLL!

Man, another semifinal for Croatia, damn it, no one saw this coming, tbh I was really surprised how they were able to hold the ball more than the Brazilians, the moment Kovasic and Modric took the midfield I knew the brazil would be in trouble to penetrate so they opted out for long ball in the second half which did not help more as the Croatia were so solid and gave Vini a minimum space through the game But I was still confident that the Brazilians would win as they usually do, and when Neymar scored that late goal, I was like YES YES that's what the samba boys do. I had no idea that Croatia had another -plan for them. It was a beautiful game, and the MOTM could have gone to Croatia's goalkeeper. I'm not sure who else they gave it to, but he's the only reason they're in the semi-finals
Time for Messi to shock the world with hattrick or brace tonight.

Against Brazil I'd have to agree.  Prolly some people saw it could happen but not with a lot of conviction.  I kinda started thinking it could happen around the 60th minute seeing how Brazil wasn't pressing enough like their life depended on it.  It was Croatia that pressed and pressed in packs they did nullifying Brazil.

And yeah, Neymar's late goal kinda made me hopeful that my parlay is still live.  I needed another one for the over 1.5 goals combo.  But no...  +.5 for Netherlands hit and if Portugal wins and it's BTTS for France vs England then Brazil is my pie shitter.  Lol.  On to the semis.

[Daniel91]

Brazil is sus.  Not enough pressing when they don't have the ball costed them.  Croatia is all about pressing in packs, isolating whoever had the ball.

Anyway, penalty shout out!!!  I want Croatia to go through the semis!  Rodrygo missed his penalty.    

Edit:  Croatia has yet to miss any of their pens.  LFG Croatiaaa!

CROATIA GOES THROUUUGGGGHHHHHH LOL BRAZIIIILLL LOOOOOLLLL!

Man, another semifinal for Croatia, damn it, no one saw this coming, tbh I was really surprised how they were able to hold the ball more than the Brazilians, the moment Kovasic and Modric took the midfield I knew the brazil would be in trouble to penetrate so they opted out for long ball in the second half which did not help more as the Croatia were so solid and gave Vini a minimum space through the game But I was still confident that the Brazilians would win as they usually do, and when Neymar scored that late goal, I was like YES YES that's what the samba boys do. I had no idea that Croatia had another -plan for them. It was a beautiful game, and the MOTM could have gone to Croatia's goalkeeper. I'm not sure who else they gave it to, but he's the only reason they're in the semi-finals
Time for Messi to shock the world with hattrick or brace tonight.

Against Brazil I'd have to agree.  Prolly some people saw it could happen but not with a lot of conviction.  I kinda started thinking it could happen around the 60th minute seeing how Brazil wasn't pressing enough like their life depended on it.  It was Croatia that pressed and pressed in packs they did nullifying Brazil.

And yeah, Neymar's late goal kinda made me hopeful that my parlay is still live.  I needed another one for the over 1.5 goals combo.  But no...  +.5 for Netherlands hit and if Portugal wins and it's BTTS for France vs England then Brazil is my pie shitter.  Lol.  On to the semis.

I don't think it can be said that Croatia's results are a big surprise anymore and so unexpected.
Croatia is still the current world runner-up from Russia and the winner of the League of Nations group, a competition in which Croatia defeated France and Denmark away from home.
People who carefully follow football competitions were already aware that Croatia will be a very difficult opponent for Brazil, and only casual followers of football competitions was surprised.
Personally, I suggest you to bet on Croatia in the match between Croatia and Argentina, because Argentina does not seem too convincing and mostly depends on Messi, and their team is more of a one man show.
Whoever stops Messi stopped Argentina and Croatia can do it, they have the knowledge and experience.

[ZAINmalik75]

I was really impressed by Croatia's incredible work there. They did the thing they needed to do. They just played a defensive game from the start to the end of the match.

Yeh absolutely Croatia did unexpected things through which they hold one of the strong contender and  favorite team for this world cup, most of the people taught that Brazil will win this world cup because they way recharlison and Neymar destroy opponents is phenomenal & no one can handle this, but in my view Brazil almost win the match and they deserve but due to thier bad luck Croatia win this match, in my view the biggest mistake of brazil was given first penelty to young Rodrigo which was already under pressure because it's his career first world cup & taking first penelty on such a big stage is always a strong challenge for any Young player, so if they avoid it and give first penelty to Neymar then i think the result will be different..........

[JollyGood]

Day Two quarter-final results:

Morocco 1-0 Portugal
England 1-2 France

Morocco are the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Current champions France reach another semi-final.

[goaldigger]

Day Two quarter-final results:

Morocco 1-0 Portugal
England 1-2 France

Morocco are the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Current champions France reach another semi-final.

What a heart breaking loss for Portugal, didn’t expect them to lose like this.
I really wonder their reason to bench out CR7 in the first place. Well, so many shocking result for this world cup and its history in the making for Morocco. After beating Spain now they beat Portugal to go into the semis, they are pretty solid and on fire this world cup, France have to be more prepared this time.

[Johnyz]

Day Two quarter-final results:

Morocco 1-0 Portugal
England 1-2 France

Morocco are the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Current champions France reach another semi-final.

What a heart breaking loss for Portugal, didn’t expect them to lose like this.
I really wonder their reason to bench out CR7 in the first place. Well, so many shocking result for this world cup and its history in the making for Morocco. After beating Spain now they beat Portugal to go into the semis, they are pretty solid and on fire this world cup, France have to be more prepared this time.

France is the defending champion so many expect them to reach another finals and if they will play well here there’s a huge chance for them but of course they should not underestimate Morroco because they’ve already done the unexpected result. Too bad for CR7 not to finis on a good standing this could be his last appearance in world cup. Morocco is the only Arab country to stay in the competition, that’s a history.

[Igebotz]

I suggest you to bet on Croatia in the match between Croatia and Argentina, because Argentina does not seem too convincing and mostly depends on Messi, and their team is more of a one man show.
Whoever stops Messi stopped Argentina and Croatia can do it, they have the knowledge and experience.

I guess you don't realize how fortunate the Croatians have been since the group match, where they have been the second best team in the games thus far, while Argentina has been putting in a 10/10 performance since the game in which they lost to Saudi Arabia. It will not be an easy game for either team, but Argentina has someone who can change the game on his own, whereas Croatia does not have such a player, and that is the only difference between the two sides.

Morocco are the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Current champions France reach another semi-final.

Hopefully, they will be the first team to reach the final, but playing France will be difficult, but that is football and the unexpected always happens, if they were destined to be there, they will be, topping the club of death and knocking out the World Cup favorite is not something they expected to achieve coming into the tournament.

Kane, how did you miss that? If he was under such duress, he could have given it to someone else to play; sometimes you have to sacrifice pride for the sake of the team's sanity. For fucking sake, that's your club teammate who knows you more.

[bitcampaign]

Day Two quarter-final results:

Morocco 1-0 Portugal
England 1-2 France

Morocco are the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Current champions France reach another semi-final.

morocco is a team to be reckoned with after defeating many great teams such as belgium, spain and portugal, the victory against portugal last night at the same time made history for morocco to be able to reach the semifinals of the world cup, besides that france's victory against england will bring the two together in the semifinals, the semifinals will be france vs morocco will be a great match in history for morocco supporters

[JollyGood]

It was very sad to see Portugal knocked out of the tournament in this manner but Morocco deserved the win. Ronaldo was introduced in the second half but Morocco were in their stride with momentum on their side. Ronaldo hardly touched the ball and did have one half chance shit which was directed at the goalkeeper.

Morocco already made history but make more when play France next. On the other hand, the Portugal team are returning home.

What a heart breaking loss for Portugal, didn’t expect them to lose like this.
I really wonder their reason to bench out CR7 in the first place. Well, so many shocking result for this world cup and its history in the making for Morocco. After beating Spain now they beat Portugal to go into the semis, they are pretty solid and on fire this world cup, France have to be more prepared this time.

[jakdanyel]

We have come to the end of another era. Cristiano Ronaldo said goodbye to the World Cup. This was his last world cup match and Portugal lost the match. The superstar couldn't hold back the tears at the end of the match. We would have loved to have watched the Messi vs Ronaldo final. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Messi is now alone in this competition. We will see if Argentina, the team of the world star, can win the cup.

[piebeyb]

We have come to the end of another era. Cristiano Ronaldo said goodbye to the World Cup. This was his last world cup match and Portugal lost the match. The superstar couldn't hold back the tears at the end of the match. We would have loved to have watched the Messi vs Ronaldo final. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Messi is now alone in this competition. We will see if Argentina, the team of the world star, can win the cup.

I also predict and hope that the two will probably meet in the final Messi and Mbappe or Ronaldo, but in the end it seems that my prediction leads to argentina vs france the meeting of PSG players messi and mbappe, if france wins against morocco and argentina wins against croatia, i still stick to My prediction is that Argentina will win the world cup this year  

[JollyGood]

Here are the fixtures for the semi-finals:



Many neutrals would have put down current world champions France to make another semi-final but how many at the beginning of the tournament would have guessed Morocco would be flying the flag for the African continent becoming the first African nation to make it to a world cup semi-final or that Croatia would be here again alongside Argentina?

Not many people would have got all four teams correct