Does anyone even care about the World Cup this year?

[bob smith]

with all the horrific controversies surrounding the games it seems hardly anyone is up for the world cup this year. i think in hindsight it was a terrible idea to host it in Qatar, with their appalling human rights record and relative size of the country. most of my thai buddies arent really bothered either, strange cos they are usually football mad. same with my buddies back home, they are all really deflated about the whole thing.

 

im personally looking forward to watching 2 games of soccer a day. if anything it is an excuse to have a beer and escape reality for a few hours. I will be watching the opening game tonight at 11pm.

 

how about you lot? do you even care about the world cup this year? do you think it was a good idea to host the games in Qatar?

 

i know this post isnt thai related but as we are able to watch the games free here now i thought it would be a good discussion to have on opening day.

Edited November 20, 2022 by bob smith

[Jerno]

World's biggest sporting event watched by billions?  Yes, a few people are interested. 

[thaibeachlovers]

I doubt if many give a rat's bottom about the problems you reference. I worked in Saudi for years and they are just as bad, but rarely a whisper from the oil consuming nations of the world.

The only reason, IMO, that Qatar is getting it is because of the publicity due to the world cup.

[HappyExpat57]

It's called FOOOOOTball and has been the source of many excited discussions in bars all around the world. ????

 

Not my cup of tea.

[bob smith]

2 minutes ago, Jerno said:

World's biggest sporting event watched by billions?  Yes, a few people are interested. 

im sure many around the world are interested. its my own personal demographic that isnt, which is strange because they are all mad on football.

[EVENKEEL]

What's this cup you speak of? 

[OneMoreFarang]

6 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

What's this cup you speak of? 

Maybe this one?

 

[bob smith]

6 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

What's this cup you speak of? 

the one that will be on tv tonight! ????

[Lucky Bones]

Nope. The country bought the required votes to host and has been on a never ending train wreck ever since.

Think most Thais will be tucked up in bed.????????

[OneMoreFarang]

21 minutes ago, bob smith said:

do you even care about the world cup this year? do you think it was a good idea to host the games in Qatar?

I won't watch it this year. And I never watched it in my life.

Qatar sounds like a great place for such an event. It is far away so all that traffic won't interrupt my daily life.

[EVENKEEL]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Maybe this one?

 

As a kid I went with my mother to a few old lady tea parties. Loved the cookies and pastries.

[Lucky Bones]

1 minute ago, bob smith said:

the one that will be on tv tonight! ????

Enjoy     zzzzz.

Waiting for established leagues to recommence.

Most World Cup games see teams terrified of losing, so boring as.

Enjoy with your gf(s?) Bob????????

[bob smith]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Qatar sounds like a great place for such an event. It is far away so all that traffic won't interrupt my daily life.

according to your profile you are based in bangkok. traffic is pretty bad too there i heard ????

[Fat is a type of crazy]

Soccer never caught my imagination. Having it in Qatar certainly takes away from the image of it being the people's game.

The president said today words to the effect of 'I feel Qatari. I feel Arab. I feel gay. I feel disabled etc' - that was bizarre. Comparing being bullied for having red hair to the treatment of minorities in Qatar. Then basically saying that criticism of Qatar is ripe coming from Europeans, based on their history, which is straight out of the authoritarian playbook i.e. no one is perfect so no one can judge. 

First game is at 3am Australia time so won't be something I have to consider. 

Edited November 20, 2022 by Fat is a type of crazy

[CANSIAM]

Canada vs Belgium  02:00hrs  Nov. 24.............Go frozen Canucks Go !! 

[Denim]

Not much interested. But I would like to see Wales beat England.

[OneMoreFarang]

19 minutes ago, bob smith said:

according to your profile you are based in bangkok. traffic is pretty bad too there i heard ????

Traffic didn't improve with APEC. Imagine that word cup somewhere here. No!

[bob smith]

17 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Soccer never caught my imagination. Having it in Qatar certainly takes away from the image of it being the people's game.

The president said today words to the effect of 'I feel Qatari. I feel Arab. I feel gay. I feel disabled etc' - that was bizarre. Comparing being bullied for having red hair to the treatment of minorities in Qatar. Then basically saying that criticism of Qatar is ripe coming from Europeans, based on their history, which is straight out of the authoritarian playbook i.e. no one is perfect so no one can judge. 

First game is at 3am Australia time so won't be something I have to consider. 

i agree. i watched his speech in full yesterday and he was just making a load of excuses. seems his pockets have been well and truly filled by Qatari backhanders..

Edited November 20, 2022 by bob smith

[Tom H]

When does Lichtenstein plays against East Timor? 

[ezzra]

This world cup is NOT about sport, much more to do about Money, show of power and influence...

[mikeymike100]

33 minutes ago, bob smith said:

i agree. i watched his speech in full yesterday and he was just making a load of excuses. seems his pockets have been well and truly filled by Qatari backhanders..

Correct he has spent a long time in Qatar this year, making friends? And getting rich I suspect.

 

Even the Guardian called his speech a diatribe.????

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/19/fifa-gianni-infantino-world-cup-qatar

[oxo1947]

I have some friends who derive their income come from Gambling, & they all seem amazed that the odds on the England -to beat Iran game are so low -  -290/Fractional odds 10/29 im Odds 74.36%--in simple terms 1-3 on---bet $100 =win $134.

 

Phones are ringing & there are some large sums being placed   (only in countries where its legal, of course----???? )

[mikeymike100]

5 minutes ago, ezzra said:

This world cup is NOT about sport, much more to do about Money, show of power and influence...

You are correct. But soccer/football in the UK is much the same I suspect, certainly in the Premier League? How much do these guys get paid?

[Sparktrader]

3 minutes ago, oxo1947 said:

I have some friends who derive their income come from Gambling, & they all seem amazed that the odds on the England -to beat Iran game are so low -  -290/Fractional odds 10/29 im Odds 74.36%--in simple terms 1-3 on---bet $100 =win $134.

 

Phones are ringing & there are some large sums being placed   (only in countries where its legal, of course----???? )

Maybe they are just dreaming

[GammaGlobulin]

Twitter cares. 

[mikeymike100]

2 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Maybe they are just dreaming

Maybe they know something we don't?????

[Orinoco]

Have the England squad gone home yet 

[Sparktrader]

3 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Maybe they know something we don't?????

Better guessers?

[KhunLA]

Not this year, not any year ... 

[it is what it is]

 

the preamble has been muted and focused on the negative basically because there is no football to report on yet. but, once the games get going positive interest will increase, football, while not my cup of tea, is an massively popular sport.