2022 FIFA World Cup Finals

[Webster]

(The Guardian) Socceroos more head than heart over World Cup win
The Socceroos have marked their first World Cup victory in 12 years after Australia beat Tunisia in its World Cup group match.

A header by Mitch Duke secured the 1-0 win on Saturday night at the Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar. The win means the Socceroos have recorded their first clean sheet at the World Cup since 1974 and moves Australia into second place behind France in Group D.

Coach Graham Arnold however was taking a cautious approach following the win. He said “the nation is extremely proud” and “there’ll be a few hangovers in the morning” but has warned his team not to become overconfident. Australia squares off against Denmark on Thursday and needs to win or draw – and for France to beat Tunisia – to make it through to the next round.

 

[Webster]

(BBC Sport) Iran's football federation has complained to Fifa after the Islamic Republic emblem was removed from its flag in social media posts by the United States team.

Before their World Cup meeting on Tuesday, the US removed the Allah symbol in graphics posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The US said they decided not to use Iran's official flag to show "support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights", amid mass anti-government protests in the country.

The protests in Iran, met with a fierce crackdown, have been sparked by the death in custody in September of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly breaking the strict rules around head coverings. "In an unprofessional act, the Instagram page of the US football federation removed the Allah symbol from the Iranian flag," said Iran state news agency IRNA. "The Iran Football Federation sent an email to Fifa [football's world governing body] to demand it issue a serious warning to the US federation."

A US Soccer spokesman later said the posts had been removed and replaced with ones using the correct Iran flag, but added: "We still support the women of Iran."

Iran has accused the US and other foreign adversaries of instigating the protests, with the US government imposing sanctions on Iranian officials over the crackdown. The US and Iran cut diplomatic relations in 1980.

 

[PGen98]

(BBC Sport) Iran's football federation has complained to Fifa after the Islamic Republic emblem was removed from its flag in social media posts by the United States team.

Before their World Cup meeting on Tuesday, the US removed the Allah symbol in graphics posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The US said they decided not to use Iran's official flag to show "support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights", amid mass anti-government protests in the country.

The protests in Iran, met with a fierce crackdown, have been sparked by the death in custody in September of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly breaking the strict rules around head coverings. "In an unprofessional act, the Instagram page of the US football federation removed the Allah symbol from the Iranian flag," said Iran state news agency IRNA. "The Iran Football Federation sent an email to Fifa [football's world governing body] to demand it issue a serious warning to the US federation."

A US Soccer spokesman later said the posts had been removed and replaced with ones using the correct Iran flag, but added: "We still support the women of Iran."

Iran has accused the US and other foreign adversaries of instigating the protests, with the US government imposing sanctions on Iranian officials over the crackdown. The US and Iran cut diplomatic relations in 1980.

Ooph.

Also, such a shame to see Canada crashing out of the WC, they played so well, even got their first ever goal, but Croatia were just too strong.

 

[Webster]

(BBC Sport) 'I draw the line at orgies'
"I don’t mind players having sex the night before matches but I draw the line at orgies."

It's not your standard utterance from a manager ahead of a World Cup game. But then not many managers take to Twitch like Luis Enrique to address fans, something he has promised to keep doing as long as Spain are in the tournament.

When he was asked if players should be told not to have sex before games he said: ‘It’s ridiculous [to ban it[. It's something I consider totally normal.

"If you're at an orgy the night before a match then obviously that’s not ideal, but when I’m a club coach the players are at home the night before a game and it’s not something that worries me at all. If it’s something they do then it’s because they need to and want to. But I repeat with common sense! Each one with their partner. It’s normal. When I was a player if I was at home before a game, with my wife, well we did what we had to do."

 

[PGen98]

I mean, he's not wrong. De-stress, release endorphins, get the mind off of the match for a little bit...yeah, go for it.

 

[Webster]

I mean, he's not wrong. De-stress, release endorphins, get the mind off of the match for a little bit...yeah, go for it.

Yay orgies!

 

[PGen98]

Yay orgies!

Now, now, Webby! He specifically said no orgies! Save that for post-game in the shower!

 

[Webster]

Now, now, Webby! He specifically said no orgies! Save that for post-game in the shower!

 

[PGen98]

lol, of course you would

 

[Webster]

Save that for post-game in the shower!

Yay homoeroticism!

 

[Webster]

lol, of course you would

 

[PGen98]

Yay homoeroticism!

100%!

 

[Webster]

100%!

Now we just have to convince @WHO IS SERAFIN to come join us....

 

[PGen98]

Now we just have to convince @WHO IS SERAFIN to come join us....

lol, highly unlikely!

 

[Webster]

lol, highly unlikely!

*sighs* One can dream....

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Now we just have to convince @WHO IS SERAFIN to come join us....

The only way I would watch one of the world’s most boring games is if it had naked super models running around making a point every 6 hours. Soccer is like some Vietnamese torture device.

 

[PGen98]

The only way I would watch one of the world’s most boring games is if it had naked super models running making a point every 6 hours. Soccer is like some Vietnamese torture device.

I mean, a lot of them do take their shirts off after they score, so...you get close to that wish.

 

[Webster]

The only way I would watch one of the world’s most boring games is if it had naked super models running around making a point every 6 hours. Soccer is like some Vietnamese torture device.

If you'd seen the first 45 minutes of Spain-Germany you would not be saying it was "boring".

 

[Webster]

I mean, a lot of them do take their shirts off after they score, so...you get close to that wish.

And one for @WHO IS SERAFIN 'cause why not?

 

[Webster]

Harry Kane wearing the black & gold? Yes, please...

Jurgen Klinsmann, Former Germany head coach on BBC One: Germany are lacking a forward. We are going to have to give Harry Kane a German passport soon. There is no reference point. They are lacking a goalscorer.