One of the best recent World cups??

[Mr Pouya]

It's not even finished and we've already had so many great games. The last decent world cup I can remember was 2006 and that wasn't even as good this one.


Take it all in lads because this can potentially be the last great World Cup as the increase in teams and the next one also being in Qatar will surly ensure a shitfest.

[Under Lahaf]

For sure it's something extraordinary to see underdogs winning and the back and forth clashes. But I got to admit, i don't enjoying teams like Russia or Denmark, Croatia advancing. Would have rather seen African teams, Latin america shining. And you are right; the group stage won't be as fun, however the elimination stage will remain as exciting

[DRCha]

WOW!

[elnino99]

Even more incredible as this was by far the least hyped WC (pre-tournament) and full of negative press about it before it began (threats of boycott, fears of fans being beaten up by hooligans, etc etc).
Well done to everyone involved....Everyone has been a winner so far (except certain political groups and lobbies, and certain newspapers)


Really hope we get to see 2-3 more classics in the remaining matches. I'd love something to match intensity of 2006 semi between Italy-Germany

[Rooyintan]

Even more incredible as this was by far the least hyped WC (pre-tournament) and full of negative press about it before it began (threats of boycott, fears of fans being beaten up by hooligans, etc etc).
Well done to everyone involved....Everyone has been a winner so far (except certain political groups and lobbies, and certain newspapers)
Really hope we get to see 2-3 more classics in the remaining matches. I'd love something to match intensity of 2006 semi between Italy-Germany

It can be very certain that the Skinheads and Facists who murder, harass, assault Transcaucasians, Central Asians, LGBT, Immigrants(Asian, Muslim, African and Latin American) in Moscow and St Petersburg are all on the paycheck of the Russian government. "Big Russia" wants to show the World that they are mighty and capable of hosting international events, so all they did was to tell their Skinhead employees to either stay at home or if they come to the stadiums or streets be "not their usual self". What did they do to their Banana throwing and Ape Soundmaking fans? gave them a lucrative paycheck as well or lock them up in Jail or sent them to Gulag in Siberia?

Anyone who has been to Russia before this World Cup would know that how it is a xenophobic nation.

I just wonder how the Russians controlled the World Cup, as we have not heard any news from the usual Skinheads, Facists and Hooligans from Poland, Germany, England and Serbia causing trouble with violence?

[elnino99]

It can be very certain that the Skinheads and Facists who murder, harass, assault Transcaucasians, Central Asians, LGBT, Immigrants(Asian, Muslim, African and Latin American) in Moscow and St Petersburg are all on the paycheck of the Russian government. "Big Russia" wants to show the World that they are mighty and capable of hosting international events, so all they did was to tell their Skinhead employees to either stay at home or if they come to the stadiums or streets be "not their usual self". What did they do to their Banana throwing and Ape Soundmaking fans? gave them a lucrative paycheck as well or lock them up in Jail or sent them to Gulag in Siberia?
Anyone who has been to Russia before this World Cup would know that how it is a xenophobic nation.
I just wonder how the Russians controlled the World Cup, as we have not heard any news from the usual Skinheads, Facists and Hooligans from Poland, Germany, England and Serbia causing trouble with violence?

Your first sentence is soooo misguided and just mind-blowing...that's a HUGE accusation (and presented with zero backings and examples. Absolutely zero proof)...if Russia gov't was intended to murder Central Asians and Immigrants, Russia wouldn't be the 3rd country in the world in terms of accepting immigrants (only US and Germany do more), it would reverse the visa free regime with Central Asian countries (something most Putin opposition proposes, so people from Central Asia can't come to Russia easily, whereas just recently Duma and Kremlin signed a bill that allow easier integration and path to citizenship for Central Asian migrants)....10 million Muslims wouldn't live in Russia and the gov't wouldn't build the biggest mosque in EUROPE in Moscow, if it was intend to "kill" muslims (central asians mostly) and migrants through paid skinheads as you imply. Plus, I've been to Russia before WC and said it was the ONLY country in my life I've been to that I felt safer to say I'm Iranian than Canadian...and I initially entered the country with the same mindset as you..SCARED as fuck because of everything I had read...and the real life experience opened my eyes to all the bs. Plus, I have Latin American friends who visit Russia EVERY SUMMER (visa-free agreement) because they always have a whale of a time. I'm sure if they were being chased by skinheads as you imply , they wouldn't be so keen to go back every year.
Maybe, just maybe...behavior of a few dickheads doesn't make for what to define a country and people.
Maybe, a banner of a dozen of Dynamoc Moscow fans regarding a half black players 10 years ago shouldn't define Russia, the same way Firouz Karimi calling a Black player in IPL (Adamkhor) shouldn't define all Iranians. This thing to allow actions of a very small minority to completely form our opinion of a larger group is very wrong. The same way a Jihadi blowing himself up shouldn't mean every person born in a Muslim country is a terrorist.
Also, Russian gov't banned loads of hooligans from all across Europe (From England to South Slavic countries) from entering the country and has put a huge penalty for disorder for up to 15 years in prison. Thugs and outlaws like Hooligans and skinheads only understand the languageo of force. That's why they sensed weakness in French police and chased them down 2 years ago, but wouldn't dare to do it in front of Russian police because they know they'll get fucked and will be severely punished.

[Rooyintan]

Your first sentence is soooo misguided and just mind-blowing...that's a HUGE accusation (and presented with zero backings and examples. Absolutely zero proof)...if Russia gov't was intended to murder Central Asians and Immigrants, Russia wouldn't be the 3rd country in the world in terms of accepting immigrants (only US and Germany do more), it would reverse the visa free regime with Central Asian countries (something most Putin opposition proposes, so people from Central Asia can't come to Russia easily, whereas just recently Duma and Kremlin signed a bill that allow easier integration and path to citizenship for Central Asian migrants)....10 million Muslims wouldn't live in Russia and the gov't wouldn't build the biggest mosque in EUROPE in Moscow, if it was intend to "kill" muslims (central asians mostly) and migrants through paid skinheads as you imply. Plus, I've been to Russia before WC and said it was the ONLY country in my life I've been to that I felt safer to say I'm Iranian than Canadian...and I initially entered the country with the same mindset as you..SCARED as fuck because of everything I had read...and the real life experience opened my eyes to all the bs. Plus, I have Latin American friends who visit Russia EVERY SUMMER (visa-free agreement) because they always have a whale of a time. I'm sure if they were being chased by skinheads as you imply , they wouldn't be so keen to go back every year.
Maybe, just maybe...behavior of a few dickheads doesn't make for what to define a country and people.
Maybe, a banner of a dozen of Dynamoc Moscow fans regarding a half black players 10 years ago shouldn't define Russia, the same way Firouz Karimi calling a Black player in IPL (Adamkhor) shouldn't define all Iranians. This thing to allow actions of a very small minority to completely form our opinion of a larger group is very wrong. The same way a Jihadi blowing himself up shouldn't mean every person born in a Muslim country is a terrorist.
Also, Russian gov't banned loads of hooligans from all across Europe (From England to South Slavic countries) from entering the country and has put a huge penalty for disorder for up to 15 years in prison. Thugs and outlaws like Hooligans and skinheads only understand the languageo of force. That's why they sensed weakness in French police and chased them down 2 years ago, but wouldn't dare to do it in front of Russian police because they know they'll get fucked and will be severely punished.

Yes the Big Fat Russian police are skinheads themselves. The most disgusting view still remain in my head is when I saw the Moscow Police dragging captured Central Asians maybe total of 8 chained like animals.
Big Mamas "Babushkas" in museums are not your welcoming friendly hosts. Apart from the airport workers I saw no friendly behaviour from people. Stingy, Grumpty, Greedy leeches Xenophobic nation sums it up in all for my observations 10 years ago.

Hey outside Kremlin I was singled out by the Police and asked to take my jacket off, isn't that xenophobic enough? [i look very much Transcaucasian or Kavkaz].

University accomodation for African students in St Petersburg looked like a trashed wrecked building.

In Iran they give the best facilities to foreigners. Khak tooye sar Iran ke ba ajnabi behtar raftar mikonan avaze mardome Iran. Dar Iran-e lajan ba mane Irani-ye Kharej az keshvar mesle Jasoos/Criminal raftar mikonan, albate Khareji-haye ablah ham mano manande Criminal/terrorist/jasoos. Irani-haye ablah ham bayad az in Rus-ha, Angal-ha, Arab-ha o gheyre yad begiran chetor mardome khodeshoon ro be ajnabi tarjih bedan.

[elnino99]

Yes the Big Fat Russian police are skinheads themselves. The most disgusting view still remain in my head is when I saw the Moscow Police dragging captured Central Asians maybe total of 8 chained like animals.
Big Mamas "Babushkas" in museums are not your welcoming friendly hosts. Apart from the airport workers I saw no friendly behaviour from people. Stingy, Grumpty, Greedy leeches Xenophobic nation sums it up in all for my observations 10 years ago.

Hey outside Kremlin I was singled out by the Police and asked to take my jacket off, isn't that xenophobic enough? [i look very much Transcaucasian or Kavkaz].

University accomodation for African students in St Petersburg looked like a trashed wrecked building.

In Iran they give the best facilities to foreigners. Khak tooye sar Iran ke ba ajnabi behtar raftar mikonan avaze mardome Iran. Dar Iran-e lajan ba mane Irani-ye Kharej az keshvar mesle Jasoos/Criminal raftar mikonan, albate Khareji-haye ablah ham mano manande Criminal/terrorist/jasoos. Irani-haye ablah ham bayad az in Rus-ha, Angal-ha, Arab-ha o gheyre yad begiran chetor mardome khodeshoon ro be ajnabi tarjih bedan.

So rooyintan jan....Do you believe in Iran we should be a bit more xenophobic (less khareji-parast) and as the presidnet of US would say: "Iran First" and putting Iranian interest and comfort first ahead of ajnabi, correct? Whole other can of worms if that'd qualify as form of "discrimination" and hence fall under xenophobia.

And let's agree to disagree re: our experience in Russia. Neither of us know what those 8 Central Asian had done for example. You are free to never again visit Russia...I, on the other hand, am looking for opportunities to go live there for a year at least for a work project, because I find the place so much more interesting than Canada, let's say. Beauty of the world...different people, different opinions, different experiences, different decisions

What's important, and the spirit of this thread is that the World Cup has been brilliant on and off the pitch. Long may it continue!

[Rooyintan]

So rooyintan jan....Do you believe in Iran we should be a bit more xenophobic (less khareji-parast) and as the presidnet of US would say: "Iran First" and putting Iranian interest and comfort first ahead of ajnabi, correct? Whole other can of worms if that'd qualify as form of "discrimination" and hence fall under xenophobia.

And let's agree to disagree re: our experience in Russia. Neither of us know what those 8 Central Asian had done for example. You are free to never again visit Russia...I, on the other hand, am looking for opportunities to go live there for a year at least for a work project, because I find the place so much more interesting than Canada, let's say. Beauty of the world...different people, different opinions, different experiences, different decisions

What's important, and the spirit of this thread is that the World Cup has been brilliant on and off the pitch. Long may it continue!

I am not saying converting Iran to xenophobic but I say they need to treat our own people kind and don't give freebies/luxuries to Arabs, Rus, African etc and prevent our own Iranians from having those.

Yes, I can go to Russia as I am connected to that country but I personally do not wish to put my foot there.

I have never been to any World Cup and the only one if I ever go will be 2026 since Canada is one of the hosts I might arrange to go there, see relos and watch some games too

Good for you, enjoy that country

[Azeem98]

This World Cup isn’t actually good in terms of quality. Entertainment wise, yes by far but quality has been thin on the ground.

Infact the one of the reason why World Cup is hyped so much every time is because of past nostalgia.

[irani8perspolis]

Last world cup was the best I have ever seen. Games were extremely entertaining.

[Leicester City]

I beg to differ and disagree, this is by far one of the worst World Cups ever. All it is just penalties and VAR. Not to mention that chaos with the major teams, but that's for a different time.

[EKBATAN]

This is a good world cup in terms of Tactics. Games might not have had many goals but its been great if you admire and understand football. People think everything has to be fast and entertaining but if you actually play you understand the stamina and focus needed to stay in the game. I enjoyed this one more than 2014 and 2010....i liked 2006 98 94 and 90 with really all 3 of the 90s ones were great

[GoIran]

This is the last WC for me. 2022 will be in Qatar. 2026 will be competed by 48 teams.

[forzatm]

This is hands-down the best tournament since France 98 for me. The amazing performance of the so-called smaller teams over the bigger teams, the number of goals, some of the types of goals, the crazy controversy despite/because of VAR and the shining of brilliant young players like Mbappe.