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

[bitgolden]

Now we are only three matches away from knowing the name.
I think this will be Morrocco this time - they are in great spirit and they don't want to lose this chance. However we have gathered so many amazing memories through out

You are saying that Morocco is going to lift the trophy this time? I would love that, but the chances are too low. Correct me if I am wrong. As far as I know, ever since the world cup started, only UEFA and CONMEBOL teams have won it. Have there been any exceptions to this? Forget about the world cup winners. I don't think that any team outside the UEFA and CONMEBOL even managed to feature in the final. That said, it will be a tough task for Morocco to get past France (perhaps the strongest UEFA team in this tournament).

I do not understand why people want lower level teams to win the cup, like I get that you may like Morocco individually, but this isn't the deal, most people just want a team that is underdogs to win.

What kind of news does that give to kids and people all around, all kinds of wrong thing is said there, you could work hard, train hard, be the best you can be, the greatest paid athlete and all, and you could lose to some guys who just got lucky or whatever. That's not okay, I feel like France is the biggest left, and they should win, because they have done everything right so far until at this moment and I believe that worths something if you ask me.

[JollyGood]

So yeah..  Croatia double chance and BTTS combo at 3.07.  It's prolly less odds now as some money is coming in for Croatia.  I wonder what the likes of igehhh thinks or Trofo and Hhampuz.

I am not betting on both to score in Argentina - Croatia match. Argentina has some of the lowest xG conceded in the tournament and Croatia hasn't really been that good in attack. We were very good in taking our chances but we did not create that much chances. This game could end up 0:0 in regular time easy, I know we believe in our ability to take up anybody on penalties and I think we would take those penalties all the way to the final without complains. That means it is all up to Argentina and I don't see them going all in as well.

This game will not be heading to extra time or penalties. I am backing Croatia to make back-to-back world cup finals (2018 and 2022). If they did it, what an unbelievable achievement it would be considering their population is less than 4 million.

What would be the odds on that?

I do not understand why people want lower level teams to win the cup, like I get that you may like Morocco individually, but this isn't the deal, most people just want a team that is underdogs to win.

What kind of news does that give to kids and people all around, all kinds of wrong thing is said there, you could work hard, train hard, be the best you can be, the greatest paid athlete and all, and you could lose to some guys who just got lucky or whatever. That's not okay, I feel like France is the biggest left, and they should win, because they have done everything right so far until at this moment and I believe that worths something if you ask me.

People expect the stronger or better team to go through to the next stage on paper but in reality even a smaller team can play an outstanding game and shock the bigger nations. Usually neutrals nearly always back the underdogs and that is what makes the sport better.

[Sithara007]

I do not understand why people want lower level teams to win the cup, like I get that you may like Morocco individually, but this isn't the deal, most people just want a team that is underdogs to win.

What kind of news does that give to kids and people all around, all kinds of wrong thing is said there, you could work hard, train hard, be the best you can be, the greatest paid athlete and all, and you could lose to some guys who just got lucky or whatever. That's not okay, I feel like France is the biggest left, and they should win, because they have done everything right so far until at this moment and I believe that worths something if you ask me.

That's extremely unfair.

Do you think that Morocco reached the semi-final stage mainly due to luck? I don't think so. Luck may enable you to win one or two matches. But look at Morocco's performance so far. They haven't lost a single match, out of the six games played so far. Luck alone can't explain this performance. They won 5 matches and drew one (against Croatia in group stage). They defeated some of the strongest teams, including Belgium, Spain and Portugal. It was all hard work and great planning. Let's give them credit for that rather than downplaying their achievements.

[tokeweed]

So yeah..  Croatia double chance and BTTS combo at 3.07.  It's prolly less odds now as some money is coming in for Croatia.  I wonder what the likes of igehhh thinks or Trofo and Hhampuz.

I am not betting on both to score in Argentina - Croatia match. Argentina has some of the lowest xG conceded in the tournament and Croatia hasn't really been that good in attack. We were very good in taking our chances but we did not create that much chances. This game could end up 0:0 in regular time easy, I know we believe in our ability to take up anybody on penalties and I think we would take those penalties all the way to the final without complains. That means it is all up to Argentina and I don't see them going all in as well.

And just as when we were starting to think that Croatia could go to the finals and Argentina is getting more vulnerable, Argentina starts playing decent and wins the match.  :/  Some of the guys who I talk a lot of football with were saying the Croatia line had value.  I did think so too.  But then we got corrected by the books...  How do they always knooow what's gonna happen??

Anyway from a football fan perspective, I'm happy with either club going to the finals.  I just hope at the next semi final, France wins.  Not that I have anything against Morocco.  I really don't.  I just want Argentina vs France more than Argentina vs Morocco.  

[piebeyb]

I do not understand why people want lower level teams to win the cup, like I get that you may like Morocco individually, but this isn't the deal, most people just want a team that is underdogs to win.

What kind of news does that give to kids and people all around, all kinds of wrong thing is said there, you could work hard, train hard, be the best you can be, the greatest paid athlete and all, and you could lose to some guys who just got lucky or whatever. That's not okay, I feel like France is the biggest left, and they should win, because they have done everything right so far until at this moment and I believe that worths something if you ask me.

That's extremely unfair.

Do you think that Morocco reached the semi-final stage mainly due to luck? I don't think so. Luck may enable you to win one or two matches. But look at Morocco's performance so far. They haven't lost a single match, out of the six games played so far. Luck alone can't explain this performance. They won 5 matches and drew one (against Croatia in group stage). They defeated some of the strongest teams, including Belgium, Spain and Portugal. It was all hard work and great planning. Let's give them credit for that rather than downplaying their achievements.

morocco wasn't the underdog before but after seeing him get rid of a great team and into the semi-finals of course it has proven that they are doing hard work and playing well in this world cup, before I might have underestimated them but for now not even though I still not sure that morocco can beat france at least i'm happy to see this big semifinal match, whoever wins they will face argentina in the final and i stick to my prediction that argentina will win this world cup

[emrecemsan]

France aren't having a comfortable match at the moment. The more they keep the score at 1-0 the more the threat of an equalizer will be. Morocco have been trying their best since the first half. They had two huge opportunities like a finesse and a bicycle kick. But France must be really grateful for Lloris as he saved them both. But they can't just rely on their goalkeeper at this point. They need to fight harder for the second goal which would make them relieved a lot. That goal would be devastating for Morocco in this section of the match.

France also wasted some opportunities in the meantime of course. They need to be more effective in finishing. Mbappe could have got injured seriously but thankfully he is still able to play. Morocco have been going hard on him lately.

[nullama]

France aren't having a comfortable match at the moment. The more they keep the score at 1-0 the more the threat of an equalizer will be. Morocco have been trying their best since the first half. They had two huge opportunities like a finesse and a bicycle kick. But France must be really grateful for Lloris as he saved them both. But they can't just rely on their goalkeeper at this point. They need to fight harder for the second goal which would make them relieved a lot. That goal would be devastating for Morocco in this section of the match.

France also wasted some opportunities in the meantime of course. They need to be more effective in finishing. Mbappe could have got injured seriously but thankfully he is still able to play. Morocco have been going hard on him lately.

That bicycle kick from Morocco that got an amazing save from the French goalkeeper would have been one of the best goals in the tournament.

I think Morocco had a chance or two to win the match, but in the end France actually showed how much better technically they are in the sense of actually scoring.

But in any case, Morocco did play a good match and they should go home with their heads high, proud of themselves. Better luck next time, now the world will remember Morocco.

[bitcampaign]

this will be a big and historic match argentina vs france on december 18 later in the 2022 world cup final, i think i will bet on france because seeing how they played against morocco last night makes me sure france as the defending champion can bring the world cup this year

[AndySt]

That bicycle kick from Morocco that got an amazing save from the French goalkeeper would have been one of the best goals in the tournament.
I think Morocco had a chance or two to win the match, but in the end France actually showed how much better technically they are in the sense of actually scoring.
But in any case, Morocco did play a good match and they should go home with their heads high, proud of themselves. Better luck next time, now the world will remember Morocco.

Oh, don't rush to send the Moroccan national team home. They still have a match for third place with the Croatian national team and yet there is some difference to take third place and get bronze medals or lose in this match as well. At least, the head coach of the Moroccan national team, Walid Regragui, said after the match that they would try to win in the bronze medal match, but he would give a chance to prove himself to those players who played little here. I would not say that Morocco had one or two chances to win the match, because they immediately conceded a goal in the 5th minute and therefore tried to at least equalize the score until the 79th minute of the match. But in any case, the Moroccan national team can only be praised for the second half and the French national team had a very difficult time, although France could have decided everything already in the first half if Giroud and Mbappe had scored their goals.

[JollyGood]

The final two games of the tournament:


Saturday 17th December - Play-off
Croatia vs Morocco

Sunday 18th December - Final
Argentina vs France


Morocco put up a brave display with injured players but they kept believing and were close to causing an upset. Eventually France won 2-0 but Morocco can be proud of their achievements in this tournament. Croatia and Morocco play next.

France are looking to create history by becoming back-to-back world cup champions, the first since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. Argentina will try to stop them and win their own world cup since 1986.

[Sithara007]

That bicycle kick from Morocco that got an amazing save from the French goalkeeper would have been one of the best goals in the tournament.
~~~~

That one was Morocco's best chance to score a goal. They had a few other good opportunities as well. But they wasted all of their chances. France looked shaky yesterday and escaped with a win thanks to luck. BTW, I heard that a civil war like situation prevailed in Champs-Élysées, as angry Moroccan supporters fought with French fans. As usual cars and waste bins were set alight. Incidents such as this one tarnishes the reputation of this tournament, which has gone ahead without much controversy until now.

[tokeweed]

The final two games of the tournament:


Saturday 17th December - Play-off
Croatia vs Morocco

Sunday 18th December - Final
Argentina vs France


Morocco put up a brave display with injured players but they kept believing and were close to causing an upset. Eventually France won 2-0 but Morocco can be proud of their achievements in this tournament. Croatia and Morocco play next.

France are looking to create history by becoming back-to-back world cup champions, the first since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. Argentina will try to stop them and win their own world cup since 1986.

France could do it with a bit of luck but then again I think they're evenly matched vs Argentina...  There's a lot to like about either teams winning the World Cup if you're a neutral.  France winning means witnessing something rare, as you said, back to back championships.  Argentina winning is witnessing greatness in Messi and putting the question 'Pele or Messi' to rest.  Lol.  There isn't gonna be another player like Messi for around a couple of decades.

I don't think I have ever been as excited in a World Cup final before.

Anyway, anybody have picks or leans to share itt? 

[CLS63]

In the World Cup history, Brazil and Italy have been the only teams with back-to-back title winnings. Both of them did this a very long time ago indeed. It is harder to do it in today's football I think. Because the competition level is much higher than the past. We have witnessed a great example of it like Morocco's eliminating big teams like Spain and Portugal. They played really good against France as well.

However France have a really big opportunity to win the title two times in a row. Argentina is a really big obstacle for them. Most probably they won't be comfortable in this match at all. Messi have showed impressive performances and Argentina have played a very effective attacking game so far. I think the winner might be decided by extra time or even penalties.

[Sithara007]

In the World Cup history, Brazil and Italy have been the only teams with back-to-back title winnings. Both of them did this a very long time ago indeed. It is harder to do it in today's football I think. Because the competition level is much higher than the past. We have witnessed a great example of it like Morocco's eliminating big teams like Spain and Portugal. They played really good against France as well.

However France have a really big opportunity to win the title two times in a row. Argentina is a really big obstacle for them. Most probably they won't be comfortable in this match at all. Messi have showed impressive performances and Argentina have played a very effective attacking game so far. I think the winner might be decided by extra time or even penalties.

My heart is with Argentina, but France is the same team that defeated them during the pre quarter-finals of the 2018 world cup. At least half of the players from the French squad back then feature this time as well. And Argentina will be baying for revenge. But they should not get too emotional. Despite the absence of players such as Benzema and Pogba, France has performed quite well so far. They were not perfect, but the fact that they managed to defeat some of the stronger teams despite the absence of star players shows their team depth.

[Juggy777]

In the World Cup history, Brazil and Italy have been the only teams with back-to-back title winnings. Both of them did this a very long time ago indeed. It is harder to do it in today's football I think. Because the competition level is much higher than the past. We have witnessed a great example of it like Morocco's eliminating big teams like Spain and Portugal. They played really good against France as well.

However France have a really big opportunity to win the title two times in a row. Argentina is a really big obstacle for them. Most probably they won't be comfortable in this match at all. Messi have showed impressive performances and Argentina have played a very effective attacking game so far. I think the winner might be decided by extra time or even penalties.

My heart is with Argentina, but France is the same team that defeated them during the pre quarter-finals of the 2018 world cup. At least half of the players from the French squad back then feature this time as well. And Argentina will be baying for revenge. But they should not get too emotional. Despite the absence of players such as Benzema and Pogba, France has performed quite well so far. They were not perfect, but the fact that they managed to defeat some of the stronger teams despite the absence of star players shows their team depth.

@Sithara007 France defied the champions curse and has managed to reach the finals, hence they’re now the favourites to win this World Cup. Furthermore France also are planning to recall Benzema which will further boost their chances of winning the World Cup, and therefore we’re set for an epic finale between these two countries.

[blue Snow]

However France have a really big opportunity to win the title two times in a row. Argentina is a really big obstacle for them. Most probably they won't be comfortable in this match at all. Messi have showed impressive performances and Argentina have played a very effective attacking game so far. I think the winner might be decided by extra time or even penalties.

I hope so, maybe we can see the score to be 2-2 or 1-1 by extended time until the Penalty shoot. When happen, this looks dramatically final ever for Messi because this is the last chance for him, he has got all trophies, Champions League, Local League, Copa, and now world cup. this is the last chance for him to get the World cup title, this is also to prove him as the best player in the world, and if happen, this achievement will break all enmity from toughest rival Ronaldo.

If Argentina lost again in the Final, Messi will be the best player who hasn't world cup trophy, he come no different from another best player, Ronaldo,

[Sithara007]

@Sithara007 France defied the champions curse and has managed to reach the finals, hence they’re now the favourites to win this World Cup. Furthermore France also are planning to recall Benzema which will further boost their chances of winning the World Cup, and therefore we’re set for an epic finale between these two countries.

If they are going to include Benzema for the final match, I am not sure how it is going to turn out. Their existing attack combination of Olivier Giroud - Kylian Mbappé - Ousmane Dembélé - Antoine Griezmann has performed really well so far. Randal Kolo Muani was also outstanding during the match against Morocco. If Benzema needs to be included in the team, who he is going to replace? Most probably Dembélé? If that is the plan, then I don't know how the team bonding will get impacted. I would prefer France going without Benzema in the starting XI for the final match.

[tokeweed]

However France have a really big opportunity to win the title two times in a row. Argentina is a really big obstacle for them. Most probably they won't be comfortable in this match at all. Messi have showed impressive performances and Argentina have played a very effective attacking game so far. I think the winner might be decided by extra time or even penalties.

I hope so, maybe we can see the score to be 2-2 or 1-1

BTTS at 1.97 wouldn't be a bad spot here imho, BTTS and over 2.5 combo at 2.75 if you want to gamble.  But of course these spots are just good for regular time plus stoppage time.  Extra time don't count.  So it's def better to opt for the safer bet with just plain vanilla BTTS.

I could see this match go 1 - 1 at regular time with one of them getting a goal in at extra time, holding it and winning the World Cup.  Kinda feel like it's going to be France.

[KTChampions]

In the World Cup history, Brazil and Italy have been the only teams with back-to-back title winnings. Both of them did this a very long time ago indeed. It is harder to do it in today's football I think. Because the competition level is much higher than the past. We have witnessed a great example of it like Morocco's eliminating big teams like Spain and Portugal. They played really good against France as well.

However France have a really big opportunity to win the title two times in a row. Argentina is a really big obstacle for them. Most probably they won't be comfortable in this match at all. Messi have showed impressive performances and Argentina have played a very effective attacking game so far. I think the winner might be decided by extra time or even penalties.

I don't know how deep the past you are talking about, and by the way, I can't assess the strength of the competition of those years, because then other teams shone (Uruguay, Hungary, etc.), which are now considered weak. But the current level of competition at the World Cup looks weaker than at the European Championships (however, as always).
Which of the really strong teams (which were considered favorites in advance) did France beat on the way to the final? Only England. Which team Argentina beat? Only Croatia. And I think, with all due respect, England and Croatia are not top favorites and not as big-name teams as Brazil or Germany.
If you look at the path to the final, it looks more like a lucky lottery and not a fight to the death. Now in the final two lucky ones will determine which of them is the most worthy.

[CLS63]

These are tough games. I think Croatia Will win morroco because they have more experience players,and the have reached this stage before now,they were at the final last time around and they have similar players that were there before, while Morocco has not reached that level, you can't compare like of Luka Modric,Ivan Perisic, brozocic and kovacic to this Morocco players, Morocco only have ziyech who is playing in a big club.

Actually Morocco have more than one player who are playing for a decent or big team right now. I can give examples like this:

- Bono => Sevilla
- Mazraoui => Bayern Munich
- Hakimi => PSG
- En Nesyri  => Sevilla

These are the players coming to my mind first now. Besides Saiss is also a really good defender. But when it comes to comparing the general qualities of Croatia and Morocco squads, of course Croatia are better than them. However it is still difficult to predict the winner of the consolation match. Croatia look like one step ahead for now in my opinion.