2022 FIFA World Cup Finals

[Webster]

I can just hear @WHO IS SERAFIN mocking me with "Their competition, their rules..."

 

[PGen98]

Disgraceful...absolutely disgraceful!

from L to R: @Webster, @PGen98 and @Nebulous

Miss America?

I can just hear @WHO IS SERAFIN mocking me with "Their competition, their rules..."

Don't "deal with the situation," WEAR IT! Stand up and be counted!

 

[Webster]

Big upset earlier today in the 2022 World Corruption...

The Guardian: Saudi Arabia stun Argentina as Salem al-Dawsari winner crowns comeback

Another shocking World Cup story unfolded in Qatar but this one was about the football. It began with Lionel Messi creating a small slice of history for Argentina and ended with Saudi Arabia players, including the captain on crutches, bouncing around the Lusail Stadium in joyful disbelief after producing one of the greatest upsets the competition has seen.

The script was set. Argentina arrived as one of the World Cup favourites, as Copa América champions, unbeaten in 36 matches and with Messi on one last mission to embellish his historic career with the crowning glory. And they took the lead with 10 minutes gone thanks to a penalty from their 35-year-old superstar.

The script was shredded by a side ranked 51st in the world – one below Qatar, oddly enough – and Argentina’s and Messi’s plans will follow suit without a response against Mexico and Poland. Group C has suddenly become fraught with danger for the two-time winners after a result that will reside in the World Cup annals alongside USA v England in 1950, Northern Ireland v Spain in 1982 and Argentina’s loss to Cameroon in the opening game of the 1990 tournament. Diego Maradona’s team recovered to reach the final that year. Messi considers Qatar his final chance to emulate his late, great predecessor in the No 10 shirt. But not like this.

A stupendous strike from Salem al-Dawsari, five minutes after Saleh al-Shehri cancelled out Argentina’s merited lead, delivered the greatest moment in Saudi Arabia’s football history. Players, coaches, backroom staff and the hobbling captain Salman al-Faraj, whose World Cup was ruined by a first-half injury, poured on to the pitch when the Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic ended their torment after 14 minutes of stoppage time. The World Cup final venue was audibly buzzing with shock long after the final whistle. It had pulsated throughout with the noise of a mass Saudi crowd.

Hervé Renard, the Saudi Arabia head coach who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia and the Ivory Coast and was dismissed after a few matches in charge of Cambridge United, called it a classic example of football’s ability to spring “something completely crazy”. He was correct in many respects. Argentina had three goals disallowed for offside in the space of 13 first-half minutes. They squandered chances and ran into a commanding goalkeeper in the shape of Mohammed al-Owais. His opposite number, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez, had precious little to do other than twice collect the ball out of his net.

Yet there was merit in Saudi Arabia’s stunning upset. They were tireless, dangerous, physical and supremely well-organised in the second half with the central defender Hassan al-Tambakti leading an impassioned resistance. And their goals were exquisite, the winner especially.

 

[Webster]

Miss America?

*points at @PGen98* There they are, Miss America..... *whispers quickly* Couldn't remember your pronouns so I went with they just to be safe....

 

[Webster]

(BBC Sport) Olivier Giroud's chances of becoming France's all-time top scorer during this World Cup has definitely been boosted by the injuries to Karim Benzema and Christopher Nkunku.

 

[Webster]

Shame on you, Big Virg....

(BBC Sport) Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has hit back at criticism accusing European teams at the World Cup of having no "backbone" after they decided against wearing the OneLove armband.

The captains of seven countries, including England and Wales, planned to wear the armband during matches to promote diversity and inclusion. But the plans were dropped because of Fifa's threat of players being booked.

The captains are instead wearing Fifa-approved 'No Discrimination' armbands. "I play in a position where a yellow card is not useful. I became a football player and I want to play these kind of tournaments," Van Dijk told Dutch broadcaster NOS.

'People say we don't have backbone' - Van Dijk on OneLove armband row

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk hits back at criticism of European teams for deciding not to wear the OneLove armband at the World Cup.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Webster]

 

[PGen98]

Well done Olivier Giroud and VERY well done, Saudi Arabia!

*points at @PGen98* There they are, Miss America..... *whispers quickly* Couldn't remember your pronouns so I went with they just to be safe....

She/her

 

[Webster]

Well done Olivier Giroud and VERY well done, Saudi Arabia!


She/her

Thanks; I couldn't remember offhand so whenever that happens I default to they.

 

[PGen98]

Thanks; I couldn't remember offhand so whenever that happens I default to they.

No worries at all, they's perfectly fine, as well

 

[Webster]

No worries at all, they's perfectly fine, as well

 

[Webster]

(The Guardian) The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has come under pressure to apologise after posting a video of himself at a football match wearing a scarf that depicted historical Hungary, including parts of Ukraine and neighbouring countries.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said on Tuesday Kyiv would summon Hungary’s ambassador “who will be informed of the unacceptability of Viktor Orbán’s act”.

“The promotion of revisionism ideas in Hungary does not contribute to the development of Ukrainian-Hungarian relations and does not comply with the principles of European policy,” Nikolenko wrote on Facebook. “We are waiting for an official apology from the Hungarian side and a refutation of the encroachments on the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

Ukrainian media showed images of Orbán meeting a Hungarian footballer wearing a scarf which the outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported depicted a map of “Greater Hungary” including territory that is now part of the neighbouring states of Ukraine, Austria, Slovakia, Romania, Croatia and Serbia.

Romania’s foreign ministry also responded angrily, saying it had submitted to the Hungarian ambassador in Bucharest its “firm disapproval of the gesture.

 

[Webster]

No worries at all, they's perfectly fine, as well

Mine's he/him or when Serafin's around....

"...you're number one!"

 

[Webster]

*looks around* @PGen98, you think they'll introduce these Friday when the Three Lions the Three Chickens face America?

 

[PGen98]

Mine's he/him or when Serafin's around....

"...you're number one!"

Or Dungeon Master

 

[Webster]

Or Dungeon Master

If I took Serafin to my dungeon....

 

[PGen98]

*looks around* @PGen98, you think they'll introduce these Friday when the Three Lions the Three Chickens face America?

Three cocks on a shirt. Jules Rimet's disgusted. 60 years of hurt. No more need for dreaming.

 

[PGen98]

If I took Serafin to my dungeon....

Gotta' keep those eyes hydrated!

 

[Webster]

Three cocks on a shirt. Jules Rimet's disgusted. 60 years of hurt. No more need for dreaming.

Oh, so you do believe the U.S. will win Friday then?

 

[Webster]

Gotta' keep those eyes hydrated!

"...we'll be right back to Mary Had a Big Bone after these commercial messages for Drag Queen Story Hour...."