It's well-remembered as a footballing spectacle as it happened to conclude..... merely yesterday, so it's rather 'fresh' in the memory.
It was mired in controversy and bad vibes from the outset, given how people decided to be appalled at the country's human rights record, despite Qatar having been announced in 2010. And yet everyone opted to 'forget all that' once the tournament served up a couple of decent matches.....
Qatar '22 served up the same brand of football as every other WC, with shocks in the group stages, and a few in the knockout phase, probably more so than in previous tournaments. This is to be expected, as the game's global, with elite coaches and players plying their trade in European leagues etc.
Gone are the days of African defenders kicking the ball away before the ref's whistle, let's just say!
Couple that with an expanded pool of participating teams, and so you'll find the footballing monopoly somewhat ruffled.
Bar the Saudi Arabia result v Argentina, the 'shocks' started to diminish as the tournament progressed, and were almost to be expected. to the point it just wasn't shocking anymore.
But given the awkward host setting, when the football took over it was ultimately just another WC. I'd re-read parts of the WC '18 thread for example, and there was just as much fervour and 'excitement' in there, most of which I'd forgotten. Oh the ravages of age!.....or it was just kind of forgettable really
Qatar' 22 was overall ok in parts, though always under a cloud of 'Don't enjoy yourselves too much', and it showed. Stadiums were half- empty, and a noticeable lack of atmosphere throughout. The only thing resembling a raucous setting seemed to be Mexico v Argentina, and select Ghanaian fans stoking up some passion for their team.
There was also a lack of tension, as even penalty shoot-outs descended into one team running away with it early, as the lack of skilled spot-kicks was all too apparent. Japan's penalties were the worst I'd ever seen, and Brazil's weren't far behind! So not as exciting as one might hope for, if Japanese or Brazilian.
Throw in the terrible officiating throughout, mired somewhere in between on-the-spot decision-making and VAR hell, decisions were still bonkled, and the spectacle sullied. It was also a tournament which seemed to feature too many 'in-play' penalties, and I can't truly recall any standout goals in open play, bar Holland's dramatic last-minute equalizer...
So even if England had triumphed, hell even Iran, I'd not call this WC vintage. When the dust settles it'll be just another WC where England ballsed it up. But still, looking at that poll, it could always be worse. Spare a thought for those who voted for Belguium
- they don't even exist!
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INNNNN-GERRR-LIND!!!!
