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Saturday, Dec 03, 2022 - 22:59 SGT
Posted By: Gilbert

Three Quarter Review

Forty-eight of the sixty-four matches of World Cup 2022, comprising the group stage, have been played - of which I have not watched nearly as many as I would have liked. The general sentiment appears that it's been one of the most unpredictable and entertaining editions in memory (with the common refrain/grouch of, choice of host nation excepted), and there certainly have been many worthy follow-ups to the Saudi's giant-humbling act against Argentina.


Containment At A Price

No doubt the Qataris are ridiculously rich, but even they're seemingly not exactly wealthy enough to resist fleecing football fans for some US$228 a night, to bunk in some repurposed shipping containers. That said, likely unpopular opinion here, I do quite like the look/idea of their Stadium 974 (for the number of containers used), though there will be only one more match played there for this World Cup; Brazil vs. South Korea should be a cracker, though.


Man Of Infinite Chops

The World Cup has long been synonymous with "outsized betting" here in Singapore, leading to the infamous ad campaign in 2014 by the relevant government organ that had one such addict put everything on eventual victors Germany. Well, the Germans are already out, and local forums have seen the return of a legendary punter, whose claim to fame rests on continually pledging to amputate a particular personal organ were he to get his betting advice wrong - which invariably happens. No less than Germany themselves, Argentina, Spain and Portugal have all fallen prey to his invincible claypot power, which however has also resulted in a windfall for canny forum-goers who understood how to "interpret" his calls, and thus had their fish & meat in their cai png sponsored for the week.


In the end, it didn't even matter
[N.B. Contrast Hwang after South Korea's amazing comeback]
(Source: dailymail.co.uk)



Not Quite An Escape

There's not really been a vacation from the likely-impending New Cold War and long-ongoing (Social Justice) Culture War at the world's biggest sporting event (yea, move over Olympics), with there being a call by Iran to have the Americans booted for removing the Islamic Republic emblem from the Iranian flag on their Twitter etc. Nothing came of that, of course, but there would be a slightly awkward moment before the England-U.S. game, that saw the English take a knee - while the Yanks stood. One supposes the stodgy Brits tend to be behind the curve somewhat, on fashionable causes and such. Poor Maguire got dumped on too in the international arena, as he got cited for "scoring own goals", in a Ghana parliamentary session. I mean, come on, he may not have much pace and turns like a battleship, but where did that own goal thing come from?


United Ups And Downs

Manchester United players have actually had quite the cup thus far, being the top club by goals and assists combined for the first two rounds. It could really have been better for some of their ex-players, though. Beginning with Cristano Ronaldo (because he'd go on strike were he not placed first, from ample past experience), he's only recently left the club by mutual agreement, which was sad because there's probably still a useful player there somewhere - just that he's refusing to admit that even arguably the GOAT simply isn't the same at 37 years old. There's a potential half-billion dollar contract in the offering from the Sauds at least, and he will do anything to pad his stats - even assist for the other team - dang it!

Ronaldo may still be in the running for the biggest prize of them all to cap an incredible career, but it's the end of the road for Lukaku, who can't really blame anyone else after literally failing to hit the broad side of a barn from two yards out. On paper, Lukaku was everything United wanted in a striker - a big, powerful fellow to shove the undoubtedly many chances to be created in - but if fans were hoping for their own Drogba, it didn't turn out that way. It was much the same in 2018 and at the 2020 Euros, so while soccer's a team game, I guess there's one name that won't be on the list as far as clutch goes.


Vengeance Delayed All The Sweeter

Back to Ghana, the Black Stars had a fair chance of progressing before the third and final round of the group stage, being on three points and ahead of both South Korea and Uruguay in Group H. Their last fixture against Uruguay had quite the history however, with Suarez reviled in Ghana for his deliberate handball eliminating Ghana in the 2010 quarters. As fate would have it, Ghana would miss another penalty against Uruguay, en route to conceding two goals... but Uruguay would be out too, after South Korea inexplicably upset Portugal in time added on, in the other game. For my money, Ghana were the happiest side to go out on a 0-2 win. The Uruguayans and Cavani definitely didn't take the refereeing well.


Asia Rising?

With no team managing to win all three of their group games - if partly down to managers taking the opportunity to rest their top stars and carded players after getting two wins - it's looking like there aren't any easy games at the World Cup proper any longer (Qatar excluded). Despite the Sauds eventually falling short after shocking Argentina, Asia have gotten three representatives to the knockout stages for the first time, with Iran and Saudi Arabia frankly not all that far off. Japan even managed to top a group containing both Spain and Germany, and for three implausible minutes, it looked as if both European giants might be sent packing. The Samurais do have technology to thank, for their second against Spain.



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Next: Gone Home, Still Waiting


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