What I love about a summer world cup is, well, it's in the summer.
Beer gardens, atmosphere, daylight in the evenings and outside screens. This will be freezing, wet, hard to see or get a seat in front of a screen and overall be a bit shite atmosphere wise.
I understand the sentiment if you habitually watch matches in pubs, and I disagree with holding it in Qatar in general.
However I've got used to this idea of pausing the football season and holding the World Cup in winter. In summer I enjoy spending time gardening, going out, going on holiday, doing other daytime activities. In winter I'm happy to spend the time needed to watch the matches on the sofa. January would be perfect as I hate that lull after Christmas.
If it works out, I wouldn't be surprised if it's suggested again for 2026, especially considering the heat in summer in USA and Mexico.
Does no-one else feel like me, or at least understand the advantages?
What I love about a summer world cup is, well, it's in the summer.
Beer gardens, atmosphere, daylight in the evenings and outside screens. This will be freezing, wet, hard to see or get a seat in front of a screen and overall be a bit shite atmosphere wise.
I understand the sentiment if you habitually watch matches in pubs, and I disagree with holding it in Qatar in general.
However I've got used to this idea of pausing the football season and holding the World Cup in winter. In summer I enjoy spending time gardening, going out, going on holiday, doing other daytime activities. In winter I'm happy to spend the time needed to watch the matches on the sofa. January would be perfect as I hate that lull after Christmas.
If it works out, I wouldn't be surprised if it's suggested again for 2026, especially considering the heat in summer in USA and Mexico.
Does no-one else feel like me, or at least understand the advantages?
Think Saudi Arabia are going for the 2030 WC, there's no way that could be held in the summer either.
What I love about a summer world cup is, well, it's in the summer.
Beer gardens, atmosphere, daylight in the evenings and outside screens. This will be freezing, wet, hard to see or get a seat in front of a screen and overall be a bit shite atmosphere wise.
I understand the sentiment if you habitually watch matches in pubs, and I disagree with holding it in Qatar in general.
However I've got used to this idea of pausing the football season and holding the World Cup in winter. In summer I enjoy spending time gardening, going out, going on holiday, doing other daytime activities. In winter I'm happy to spend the time needed to watch the matches on the sofa. January would be perfect as I hate that lull after Christmas.
If it works out, I wouldn't be surprised if it's suggested again for 2026, especially considering the heat in summer in USA and Mexico.
Does no-one else feel like me, or at least understand the advantages?
A January WC would've certainly taken away the boredom of that month!, however for me the WC is 1,000% a summer tournament and should stay that way
What I love about a summer world cup is, well, it's in the summer.
Beer gardens, atmosphere, daylight in the evenings and outside screens. This will be freezing, wet, hard to see or get a seat in front of a screen and overall be a bit shite atmosphere wise.
I understand the sentiment if you habitually watch matches in pubs, and I disagree with holding it in Qatar in general.
However I've got used to this idea of pausing the football season and holding the World Cup in winter. In summer I enjoy spending time gardening, going out, going on holiday, doing other daytime activities. In winter I'm happy to spend the time needed to watch the matches on the sofa. January would be perfect as I hate that lull after Christmas.
If it works out, I wouldn't be surprised if it's suggested again for 2026, especially considering the heat in summer in USA and Mexico.
Does no-one else feel like me, or at least understand the advantages?
Think Saudi Arabia are going for the 2030 WC, there's no way that could be held in the summer either.
I guess the Qatar world Cup is a winter test for the future.
If they do this again then it could at least be more organised. I don't agree with it though. A world Cup should always be prioritised for the summer!
Imagine...QF sudden death penalty shootout. Harry maguire picks up the ball and very slowly walks to the goal....the panic is emerging and we know we are out of the tournament again
But to everyone's shock...he scores and celebrates like Stuart Pearce!
Imagine...QF sudden death penalty shootout. Harry maguire picks up the ball and very slowly walks to the goal....the panic is emerging and we know we are out of the tournament again
But to everyone's shock...he scores and celebrates like Stuart Pearce!
England are through...Christmas has come early!
To be fair to him, Maguire's penalty in last years final v Italy was about a good a pen as you'll ever see
Imagine...QF sudden death penalty shootout. Harry maguire picks up the ball and very slowly walks to the goal....the panic is emerging and we know we are out of the tournament again
But to everyone's shock...he scores and celebrates like Stuart Pearce!
England are through...Christmas has come early!
To be fair to him, Maguire's penalty in last years final v Italy was about a good a pen as you'll ever see
"When I look at Harry, I see a partner. Through all our experiences he's had my back and I've had his," Stones said.
"We've had so many games together, we've made a bond and a partnership together. We know what the other person is going to do and how we work best together. It clicks."
Would have absolutely no problem with Maguire playing alongside Stones and White/Walker.
"When I look at Harry, I see a partner. Through all our experiences he's had my back and I've had his," Stones said.
"We've had so many games together, we've made a bond and a partnership together. We know what the other person is going to do and how we work best together. It clicks."
Would have absolutely no problem with Maguire playing alongside Stones and White/Walker.
Bit harsh on Walker to call it a partnership when it only really works because Walker is there in a back 3.
Would love to see Maguire nick a goal in one of the group games to get his confidence up (and put two fingers up to those who have given him dogs abuse, despite his largely brilliant efforts for England)
good to see the england boys off earlier although not overly impressed with the non aknowledgement of the young fans cheering all bar kane, southgate and henderson ignored them.
Still trying to get excited about this. I didn't even know England were playing on Monday until my brother told me. Hopefully when it starts! I think I have three issues holding my excitement back. 1) I think Southgate is a coward tactically so when we face a decent team we will be too conservative and get knocked out. Put it this way, we would be better off scoring late if we take the lead. 2) It shouldn't be in Qatar and 3) It shouldn't be at this time of year.
Comments
However I've got used to this idea of pausing the football season and holding the World Cup in winter. In summer I enjoy spending time gardening, going out, going on holiday, doing other daytime activities. In winter I'm happy to spend the time needed to watch the matches on the sofa. January would be perfect as I hate that lull after Christmas.
If it works out, I wouldn't be surprised if it's suggested again for 2026, especially considering the heat in summer in USA and Mexico.
Does no-one else feel like me, or at least understand the advantages?
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/06/ivan-toney-fa-assisting-enquiries-brentford-england
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/ghanas-jojo-wollacotts-world-cup-in-doubt-as-black-stars-stopper-suffers-injury-on-eve-of-tournament/
I suppose match fitness isn't a problem
2 England, 5 Wales, 1 Poland and 1 Canada.
this has to be a one off and not to be repeated
I guess the Qatar world Cup is a winter test for the future.
If they do this again then it could at least be more organised. I don't agree with it though. A world Cup should always be prioritised for the summer!
wales - Williams, smith, Lockyer, levitt & Gunter
poland - beleik
canada - Millar
serbia - dmitrovic
Writing this, I’ve thought of another!
Serbia - Milos veljkovic
But to everyone's shock...he scores and celebrates like Stuart Pearce!
England are through...Christmas has come early!
Vaguely remember it
"When I look at Harry, I see a partner. Through all our experiences he's had my back and I've had his," Stones said.
"We've had so many games together, we've made a bond and a partnership together. We know what the other person is going to do and how we work best together. It clicks."
Would have absolutely no problem with Maguire playing alongside Stones and White/Walker.
1 Pickford
2 Walker
3 Shaw
4 Rice
5 Stones
6 Maguire
7 Grealish
8 Henderson
9 Kane
10 Sterling
11 Rashford
12 Trippier
13 Pope
14 Phillips
15 Dier
16 Coady
17 Saka
18 Alexander-Arnold
19 Mount
20 Foden
21 White
22 Bellingham
23 Ramsdale
24 Wilson
25 Maddison
26 Gallagher
callum wilson was more interested in his coffee