FIFA World Cup

The SWC squads are out and this is the stat the ferners were waiting to have a look at.

The number of players in each squad who play in that countries home leagues.

Couldn't find it anywhere so had to sift it out myself, but it didn't take long for obvious reasons.

Only 27.6% of players play in their own countries domestic leagues.

Even France only have 8 players playing domestically.
And the Dutch only 2!
Contenders Spain have 9 "foreigners."
Senegal have zero, but with 20 players in the "Big 5" west euro leagues, definitely contenders.

@mohikamo is our home league the A-League in this context?

@Kiwiwomble

i had to have the think about that one, as it is a cross confederation league, almost unique in the soccer world
as Auckland FC are not allowed to play in the Asian Champions league, I decided that they are a NZ club

up to that point i'd thought it would be possible for two NZ teams to make the FIFA world club championship finals, but that is not guna happen

but you could look at it the other way

In the longevity stakes, Ronaldo, Messi and Ochoa (Mexican squad keeper) all in line to break a record by appearing in their 6th World Cup finals. Modric heading for his 5th having also appeared in the 2006 world cup as the other 3 did - but Croatia didn't qualify in 2010.

All time top scorers at World Cups
Klose 16, Ronaldo (Br) 15, Gerd Muller 14, Fontaine, Messi 13, Pele, Mbappe 12.

Top scorers who are playing in 2026
Messi 13, Mbappe 12, Kane, Neymar 8, Valencia, James 6, Lukaku 5

As usual, I am doing one of my mega World Cup competitions again (you have to pick the result of every match until you end up with a winner) so private message me with an email address if you want to have a go. Less than a week until it starts .....

This photo almost guarantees an early exit for Norway ....

@KiwiPie said in FIFA World Cup:

This photo almost guarantees an early exit for Norway ....

View image

Anything else? Did they paint a photo of the team on their aeroplane?

From the bits I've seen, South Africa looked like they'd have been happiest if they could keep the ball at their goalie's feet for 90 minutes.

South Africa were shit, Mexico probably should have won by 4.

3 reds was pretty funny though. Can't say any of them were harsh.

Highly entertaining game between South Korea and Czechia

Lots of empty seats which will be a theme of this world cup.....

Football has sold its soul

@canefan said in FIFA World Cup:

Football has sold its soul

It had one?

@Tim said in FIFA World Cup:

@canefan said in FIFA World Cup:

Football has sold its soul

It had one?

Like the Olympics, I guess it did a long time ago

@canefan said in FIFA World Cup:

Football has sold its soul

the hookers and blow isn't cheap you know

Yanks looked impressive

@MiketheSnow said in FIFA World Cup:

Yanks looked impressive

Yeah, the energy and intensity in that first half was impressive. They were on the front foot the whole time and when they lost possession they pressed hard to get it back.

Cracking win for Australia

Okay.

Just saw Iran is ranked 20th.

So they'll be quite a challenge?

Super John McGinn. 󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@booboo said in FIFA World Cup:

Okay.

Just saw Iran is ranked 20th.

So they'll be quite a challenge?

Have they been let into the country? Thy were having visa issues at one stage

@canefan said in FIFA World Cup:

@booboo said in FIFA World Cup:

Okay.

Just saw Iran is ranked 20th.

So they'll be quite a challenge?

Have they been let into the country? Thy were having visa issues at one stage

Travelling from Canada and back

Fans, no dice

@sparky said in FIFA World Cup:

Super John McGinn. 󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Better than Zidane!

@African-Monkey So good to see his iconic celebration at the World Cup.

What a guy!

@sparky said in FIFA World Cup:

Super John McGinn. 󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

First Scotland WC win since 1990 I believe ? also the last time they did a Grand Slam in the 5/6 nations......

God its shite being Scottish.......but by golly they looked thrilled at this result I must say.

Were the lowest ranked country to qualify for the WC (85), behind Hati (83) that we got thrashed by and Curacao (a nation I didn't even know existed until yesterday at 82nd).
Almost embarressing to be there...

abjectly yes i think they have let too many teams in, historically i felt that was a thing fifa did better than RW, fewer true minnows in the world cup, even when the all whites managed to get to the 2010 world cup they were able to battle out draws...this year feels like we're going to see more thrashings

but the all whites shouldn't feel embarrassed, play your heart out and if we lose make them earn it and take it on the shin

@MiketheSnow
I’ve been saying this for years.
I find penalty shoot outs tedious.

It just creates villains when some poor soul misses and then always gets remembered as the guy who missed. He might have been man of the match up to that point, scored or saved goals during the game, but will only get remembered for one thing.

Imagine how much better extra time would be if one team needed to score, no sitting back, they have to go for it.
Also, the team with the advantage, do they sit back or do they also try to score?

@westie_boy said in FIFA World Cup:

@MiketheSnow
I’ve been saying this for years.
I find penalty shoot outs tedious.

It just creates villains when some poor soul misses and then always gets remembered as the guy who missed. He might have been man of the match up to that point, scored or saved goals during the game, but will only get remembered for one thing.

Imagine how much better extra time would be if one team needed to score, no sitting back, they have to go for it.
Also, the team with the advantage, do they sit back or do they also try to score?

What about a touch style drop off? Play 5 or 10 minutes then drop a player until someone scores

2nd half of Netherlands v Japan this morning was brilliant.

What a fantastic effort and thoroughly deserved result for Cape Verde

lol Tunisia have sacked their coach after they got pumped. He's only been in charge for 5 games after they sacked the last bloke. Sick team name though "The Eagles of Carthage".

@mariner4life said in FIFA World Cup:

lol Tunisia have sacked their coach after they got pumped. He's only been in charge for 5 games after they sacked the last bloke. Sick team name though "The Eagles of Carthage".

They have a history of sacking

@canefan i see what you did there

@Kiwiwomble said in FIFA World Cup:

@canefan i see what you did there

When in Rome....