Is this going to earn the crown as the worst World Cup in history or can the football itself save it?

It’s been an exercise in how badly can FIFA and the US treat people and even participants of the tournament so far. Canada and Mexico have barely had a look in. It’s massively bloated with some teams who might be lucky to escape some double digit hammerings. On the other hand, extending the tournament entrants has given some nations a chance to participate that they’d never otherwise have and perhaps they can make good accounts of themselves. Can the football save this World Cup or are the shenanigans already too much for it to be salvageable?

The football can save it. Also, we won't have Vuvuzelas, so that should put us ahead of South Africa.

It doesn’t take place in december. That’s a plus.

The football can save it. Also, we won't have Vuvuzelas, so that should put us ahead of South Africa. The Jabulani was worse than the Vuvuzelas. They completely fecked up the football and at a football World Cup. It was totally insane.

I can't tell if I'm not feeling any buzz for it because I am not going to be watching it or if it really does just feel a bit meh in general this time around because of everything.

It’s been an exercise in how badly can FIFA and the US treat people and even participants of the tournament so far. Canada and Mexico have barely had a look in. It’s massively bloated with some teams who might be lucky to escape some double digit hammerings. On the other hand, extending the tournament entrants has given some nations a chance to participate that they’d never otherwise have and perhaps they can make good accounts of themselves. Can the football save this World Cup or are the shenanigans already too much for it to be salvageable? Suspect much of the negativity will subside once the football starts and the narrative changes towards the actual games.

The Jabulani was worse than the Vuvuzelas. They completely fecked up the football and at a football World Cup. It was totally insane. I remember playing a game with those footballs around that time, some team we played had them as match balls. They were totally insane, could go absolutely anywhere, like those cheap old €1 plastic footballs. Also played a game where some arseholes had the vuvuzelas, they were infinitely more annoying.

It's the quality of the football that a World Cup is usually remembered for, so in that sense we'll have to wait and see. I do believe it's going to be recognized as the least hospitable World Cup in a very long time, with the US government's blatant and widespread discrimination against teams, fans and even officials from certain parts of the world, mind boggling ticket and accommodation prices and god knows what other madness might occur during the course of the tournament. It's already a complete travesty.

Italy '34 and Argentina '78 are a formidable competition as far as the off-field issues are concerned. This one so far goes more into the corruption territory rather than into the purely political/fascistic one even though in the current U.S. government these things are closely intertwined together and we've seen a fair amount of evidence of the latter already (all of the visa issues especially).

I just cant get excited for this world cup like others. I remember France 98, i watched every game. It seemed all teams had at least 1 player you would want to watch. I remember being excited to rush home from school to watch Salas Vs Italy. Mustafa Hadji Vs Norway. Finidi George, or George Finidi for Nigeria.... i could go on. I have just looked at the fixtures for this world cup and just cant seem to get the same sense of excitement games like Iran Vs New Zealand FFS. No disrespect to those nations.... but damn.

There is going to have to be plenty of drama and excitement in the knockout rounds to compensate for the absence of jeopardy in the group stages, where many teams will be happy to play for draws in most games to get the 2-3 points The Jabulani was worse than the Vuvuzelas. They completely fecked up the football and at a football World Cup. It was totally insane. The only player who seemed to master striking the Jabulani was Forlan. He scored at least 3 screamers in that tournament and was a joy to watch in an otherwise underwhelming World Cup.

I just cant get excited for this world cup like others. I remember France 98, i watched every game. It seemed all teams had at least 1 player you would want to watch. I remember being excited to rush home from school to watch Salas Vs Italy. Mustafa Hadji Vs Norway. Finidi George, or George Finidi for Nigeria.... i could go on. I have just looked at the fixtures for this world cup and just cant seem to get the same sense of excitement games like Iran Vs New Zealand FFS. No disrespect to those nations.... but damn. France 98 was the pinnacle for me. That said, Scotland were in it, I was 8, and the Brazil team was full of stars like Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, R9, Cafu. Desailly, Lizarazu, Petit and Henry for France, Owen and Beckham for England, Salas like you say, Crespo… The weather seemed scorching constantly. That was the last time I felt the ‘magic’ of the World Cup. I realise there’s some significant rose tinted glasses going on here given I was 8. I will never forget the biblical diarrhoea I had during Scotland v Morocco when we lost 3-0. Here’s hoping it doesn’t happen this year as a 36yr old.

Heard all this same stuff before the last one.

Feels weird that it's starting tomorrow, yet I really don't care whatsoever.

Heard all this same stuff before the last one. Was the last one good in your opinion?

It’s been an exercise in how badly can FIFA and the US treat people and even participants of the tournament so far. Canada and Mexico have barely had a look in. It’s massively bloated with some teams who might be lucky to escape some double digit hammerings. On the other hand, extending the tournament entrants has given some nations a chance to participate that they’d never otherwise have and perhaps they can make good accounts of themselves. Can the football save this World Cup or are the shenanigans already too much for it to be salvageable? I only care about the football. Unfortunately the expansion to 48 teams, the lack of jeopardy in the group stages, and the likely number of pointless games will kill this.