11-24-2022, 11:58 AM
(11-24-2022, 06:20 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: Ah, the European bias. It never fails.
I love the World Cups outside of Europe or South America. When they are outside of their comfort zones, many "amazing squads" get upset or challenged by lesser foes because it balances the field.
That's one way to look at it, sure.
I will say this, a loss to an outsider does not mean the outsider is in fact the more advanced team. It happens, sure. But I guess hardly anyone would seriously claim that Saudi Arabia is the better team than Argentina.
(11-24-2022, 06:20 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: Japorea 2002 is easily my favorite that I've watched so far.
Interesting. I consider it the worst world cup I've ever seen by far.
Good tournament for the US, sure. That was actually a talented squad, largely due to a certain Mr. Donovan. It's fair to brag about it, it would be an exaggeration to claim the US objectively was among the 8 best teams of the world at this time. They were not, just as Turkey was not the third best squad in the world.
And one thing is also true, neither was Germany at that time. How this awful team made it to the finals... ok. The US should have beaten them in the quarterfinals. The luckier team won, not the better one. As it happens.
(11-24-2022, 06:20 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: LOTS of huge upsets including the USA and South Korea both advancing while beating Portugal.
True. Though I would say that South Korea was more of a scandal than anything. Especially them advancing to the semis. They played Spain and Italy and were blatantly favored by the referee in both games.
(11-24-2022, 06:20 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: Qatar 2022 Argentina and Germany already feel the sting from two Asian squads. Get these big boys away from their regular stomping grounds and anything can happen.
I never claimed the opposite, yeah anything can happen.
Disclaimer, I do not actually watch the Qatar games, for I feel insulted as a fan by this tournament. Can't swallow everything they serve.