World Cup

[fat maradona]

Just turned 50 in the spring so I'm old enough to remember 86' and just about 82' (though I reckon that's more due to replays of the big moments down the years).

Italia 90 really was an amazing summer. It felt like the couple of years before that it was just the lads on the playground talking about footy but all of a sudden all the girls and mums wanted to know what was going on. I can remember thinking Gazza was the coolest fucker going (bar Lee Sharpe) and my little brother doing the Barnesy rap on repeat. Great memories.

Should've been more into USA 94' but similar to Joel in 98' I was out galavanting on the piss and tbf with no England it didn't have the same sheen.

France 98' was class though, with you all there. Weather was great from what I remember. TVs and projectors in pubs were much more of a thing. Lots of memorable games, in particular Holland vs. Argentina. Šuker was class, England were actually fairly good... Also, it might not be the same for all of you, but where I grew up, it felt like the world just got that bit brighter post 97'. Lot to be said for that period of 97'-01' in terms of a wider cultural vibe around the UK.

Not purely to do with the World Cup, but I reckon football in general peaked shortly after and has slowly got increasingly shitter year on year.

Kick-off times this year will kill any residual excitement for me anyway. 50 years old now. Can't be staying up all hours to watch Haiti vs. Scotland. Highlights will do.

I was about to say, I'm showing my age by saying Italia 90 will forever live in my memory as the best world cup. New Order with the world cup song, England unlucky not to make the final (probably even win it with that side) and Roger Milla showing you could still play football at the highest level at the age of unknown.

[sheesh]

https://x.com/i/status/2063972603971179001

https://x.com/i/status/2063301624072712361

The Americans apparently denied the manager of Iran a visa as well.

[Fuck the Glazers]

https://x.com/i/status/2063972603971179001

https://x.com/i/status/2063301624072712361

The Americans apparently denied the manager of Iran a visa as well.

It's so fucking stupid. It's what happens when a dictatorial rich racist idiot runs a country.

I'll watch a few games because there's nowt better on in an evening but I really can't be fucked. Watching it feels like endorsing Trump and the American right.

[FuB]

https://x.com/i/status/2063972603971179001

https://x.com/i/status/2063301624072712361

The Americans apparently denied the manager of Iran a visa as well.

It's so fucking stupid. It's what happens when a dictatorial rich racist idiot runs a country.

I'll watch a few games because there's nowt better on in an evening but I really can't be fucked. Watching it feels like endorsing Trump and the American right.

That's exactly what I meant by the spectre of Trump hanging over the whole thing... USA game or not

[Fuck the Glazers]

https://x.com/i/status/2063972603971179001

https://x.com/i/status/2063301624072712361

The Americans apparently denied the manager of Iran a visa as well.

It's so fucking stupid. It's what happens when a dictatorial rich racist idiot runs a country.

I'll watch a few games because there's nowt better on in an evening but I really can't be fucked. Watching it feels like endorsing Trump and the American right.

That's exactly what I meant by the spectre of Trump hanging over the whole thing... USA game or not

You're right. I mean, can we even be sure Trump isn't meddling in the games themselves like Franco used to. Obviously there's meddling behind the scenes with the money. Corruption is the orthodoxy.

But it wouldn't surprise me if his goons went in at half time to the Iranian team for example and shit em up. They've already been filmed being heavy handed with a fan. Caicedo tried to intervene. It'll be interesting to see how far USA go in the comp. Making the quarters / semis would drum up some tubthumping nationalism.

[Fuck the Glazers]

Tickets for Iran fans revoked, says federation

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... q2vrdx0ewo

They're not letting Iran fans in now

[fat maradona]

This World Cup will be remembered for all this political bullshit and not the football.

[sheesh]

Great news. Doesn't make up for missing the World Cup, but it's something at least.

Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup match between PSG and Aston Villa.

Statement: "The decision to appoint Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match has been made in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in many areas, including refereeing."

"UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination."

[JoelfuckingGlazer]

Already looking like it might be a batshit mental tournament in terms of officiating.

[sheesh]

Already looking like it might be a batshit mental tournament in terms of officiating.

How was that a red for the Mexican fella. Even the second south African red was questionable.