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2022 FIFA World Cup

The Chronicler

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The first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be tomorrow, so I decided to get this topic started.

I'm sure many of us are already well aware of the numerous controversies around the host nation for this tournament being the tiny Arabic nation of Qatar, so I won't bother getting into any of that political mess, as I would prefer to spend my limited time here sharing the results of each match.

To start off, I won't be watching all of the group stage matches (I got too many other things going on to dedicate that much time), but I will watch the ones played by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Believe it or not, this is only the second time ever that Canada had qualified for the World Cup (previously doing so back in 1986), and the first time doing so along with the US, so that's what's really got me excited for this year's World Cup (even though I doubt Canada will advance beyond the group stage).

Previous times, I would put in an effort to look up summaries of each match and then share the scores and some notable moments. This time, however, I'm hoping to try something a little different, but we'll have to wait until after the first few matches to see how it'll work out.

Anyway, for those of you who are interested in watching, which teams do you think are mostly likely to win?

"I have a right to collect anything I want. It's just junk anyway."
- Berix

My first fanfiction: Quest for the Energy Stones
My unfinished and canceled second fanfiction: Quest for the Mask of Life
My currently ongoing fanfiction series: LEGO Equestria Girls



aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato)

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I’m boycotting the World Cup just like I did the Summer & Winter Olympics. Irresponsible to be having one in the middle of a pandemic, and a massive human right’s violation by the hosting country to boot.


Sneak

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I always watch only late play-off stage, not counting matches with my team and couple chosen matches. But I always follow results of each match.

Will see who wins this year. ;)


Nick22

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Ecaudor beats Qatar 2-0.
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The Chronicler

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To save myself from making several posts in a row, I'll be updating this post every day until after the first eight matches have been completed, then make a new post and repeat the process until the end of the group stage. Also, since the source I used to use in previous World Cups is apparently not active this time around, looks like I'll be going for my new plan anyway, and fortunately, I think I've found the perfect new source: highlight videos on YouTube, provided by the (American) network that's broadcasting the full matches. I won't bother wasting my time trying to summarize events and will instead let the videos do that for me.

Edit: Looks like my former source is still active after all. I guess they were just a little slow with getting started yesterday. Anyway, I'll link to those pages, but I still won't bother with trying to explain things and let the sources speak for themselves.

Qatar vs Ecuador 0 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KokKw1esPL8

Senegal vs Netherlands 0 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S79XCmeTUPM

England vs Iran 6 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpFEwMVKdsU

USA vs Wales 1 - 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VH-rrPw6BY

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia 1 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6zHbVQjeaw

Mexico vs Poland 0 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO2iHpGuPbg

Denmark vs Tunisia 0 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppaZH3uURqk

France vs Australia 4 - 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0kVR0s7p7g
« Last Edit: November 22, 2022, 07:07:08 PM by The Chronicler »

"I have a right to collect anything I want. It's just junk anyway."
- Berix

My first fanfiction: Quest for the Energy Stones
My unfinished and canceled second fanfiction: Quest for the Mask of Life
My currently ongoing fanfiction series: LEGO Equestria Girls



Mumbling

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Quote from: aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) on November 20, 2022, 08:12:34 AM
Quote from: aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) on November 20, 2022, 08:12:34 AM
I’m boycotting the World Cup just like I did the Summer & Winter Olympics. Irresponsible to be having one in the middle of a pandemic, and a massive human right’s violation by the hosting country to boot.
This ^^^

Not that I would normally care, but this one doesn't sit right with me. Actively boycotting any service that's sponsoring it as well.


Nick22

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Us and Wales tie 1-1. US scored first, but Wales tied it late.
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The Chronicler

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So far, we've seen home team Qatar lose their first match (first time a host nation has ever lost their opening match in a World cup), England crushed Iran, USA did okay against Wales despite ending in a tie, France did excellent against Australia, and by far the biggest shocker thus far was Saudi Arabia winning against Argentina. And that's just the first matches for only half of the groups, so let's see what will happen in the opening matches of the other groups...

Germany vs Japan 1 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvZoSogBCzs

Spain vs Costa Rica 7 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hSVDLPWeKA

Morocco vs Croatia 0 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAQRRU79vEE

Belguim vs Canada 1 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdlcBO6tTZM

Switzerland vs Cameroon 1 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32RyT05OpVE

Brazil vs Serbia 2 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0s8GFVTwGc

Uruguay vs South Korea 0 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z305OHe03k

Portugal vs Ghana 3 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRH-4Sq4dOQ
« Last Edit: November 24, 2022, 08:15:26 PM by The Chronicler »

"I have a right to collect anything I want. It's just junk anyway."
- Berix

My first fanfiction: Quest for the Energy Stones
My unfinished and canceled second fanfiction: Quest for the Mask of Life
My currently ongoing fanfiction series: LEGO Equestria Girls



Nick22

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Japan upsets Germany 2-1. not the biggest upset (Saudi Arabia over Argentina was bigger), but it removes any margin for error for Germany,  another loss would eliminate them.
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The Chronicler

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So, from these most recent matches, Japan gets an upset win over Germany, Spain absolutely crushes Costa Rica, Canada is still yet to score any goals in all of their World Cup appearances, Brazil gets a win over Serbia (though I've heard Brazil's best player Neymar my have an ankle injury after that game), and Portugal wins over Ghana (with Portugal's Ronaldo becoming the first player in the men's World Cup to score goals in five different World Cup tournaments). And now for the next few matches...

Qatar vs Senegal 1 - 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzd1uv1dVLQ

Netherlands vs Ecuador 1 - 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysBE1mLjyJY

Wales vs Iran 0 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wG42eh8bKc

England vs USA 0 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H99a2DYyRAo

Poland vs Saudi Arabia 2 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yagon1YbhN8

Argentina vs Mexico 2 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqyIbvPpyb4

Tunisia vs Australia 0 - 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aF_H0ERWpM

France vs Denmark 2 - 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fDLqJOpItI
« Last Edit: November 26, 2022, 08:00:04 PM by The Chronicler »

"I have a right to collect anything I want. It's just junk anyway."
- Berix

My first fanfiction: Quest for the Energy Stones
My unfinished and canceled second fanfiction: Quest for the Mask of Life
My currently ongoing fanfiction series: LEGO Equestria Girls



Nick22

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qatar eliminated after ;losing 3-1. Us holds the UK to a scoreless tie, the first time in US WC history that they ended in a scoreless draw. with  Iran upsetting Wales 2-0, the US-Iran match is a 'winner is in' match.
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The Chronicler

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« Last Edit: November 28, 2022, 09:40:30 PM by The Chronicler »

"I have a right to collect anything I want. It's just junk anyway."
- Berix

My first fanfiction: Quest for the Energy Stones
My unfinished and canceled second fanfiction: Quest for the Mask of Life
My currently ongoing fanfiction series: LEGO Equestria Girls



The Chronicler

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Second round of group stage matches are over. In addition to France, Brazil and Portugal have also already advanced to the knockout stage, while Canada has been eliminated despite finally scoring their first ever goal in a World Cup match. In other news, I've heard there were riots in Belgium after their team's upset loss to Morocco, and the match between Portugal and Uruguay was interrupted by a protester running onto the field and waving a rainbow flag around (with how controversial the host nation of this particular World Cup has been, I figured it was really a matter of when it would happen rather than if).

Three teams have already advanced and two teams have already been eliminated, and now we move on to the final round of matches in the group stage...

Ecuador vs Senegal 1 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCs5drZaO_g

Netherlands vs Qatar 2 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hykVIIB7fF8

Wales vs England 0 - 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufIbJCJUoJU

Iran vs USA 0 - 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNl7ZcnDB0Q

Poland vs Argentina 0 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mCren8Dhjw

Saudi Arabia vs Mexico 1 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GKEHoKN7Yc

Australia vs Denmark 1 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooFCoiOrLqs

Tunisia vs France 1 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UquOBrpCKhE
« Last Edit: November 30, 2022, 08:06:06 PM by The Chronicler »

"I have a right to collect anything I want. It's just junk anyway."
- Berix

My first fanfiction: Quest for the Energy Stones
My unfinished and canceled second fanfiction: Quest for the Mask of Life
My currently ongoing fanfiction series: LEGO Equestria Girls



Nick22

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US leads 1-0 at half. if that score holds, they will advance to the knockout stage. if wales beats England and the Us wins, the US will win the group 5 points to 4. England would be second on goal differential over Wales.
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Nick22

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US holds on 1-0 to advance. England wins the group after a 3-0 win over Wales. Iran and Wales are eliminated.
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Nick22

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Us will play the Netherlands in the Round of 16 on Saturday. the US last got out of the Round of 16 in the WC in 2002 when they made it to the quarterfinals. the furthest the US has ever gotten? The Semifinals , in the first World Cup in 1930. the US ended up getting 3rd in that tournament, based on a  better goal differential than Yugoslavia. the 3rd place game was added in 1934.
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Nick22

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mexico gives up a stoppage time goal to saudi arabia that eliminates them fromthe World Cup. Mexico won 2-1, but only picked up 3 goals on Poland who lost 2-0 to Argentina.  Argentina wuins the group with 6 points, while Poland advanes in second. mexico and Saudi arabia are out.  Austraia, France Argentina and Poland advance out of their respective groups. 10 of the 16 playoff spots have been clinched. of the 4  teams from North America, the Us has clinched a playoff spot, Canada and Mexico are eliminated and Costa rica must either  beat Germany or tie and have Japan lose to advance.
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The Chronicler

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From Group A, Netherlands lead with Senegal runner up, so Ecuador has been eliminated with Qatar. From Group B, England lead with United States runner up, so Iran and Wales have been eliminated. From Group C, Argentina lead with Poland runner up, so Mexico and Saudi Arabia have been eliminated. From Group D, France lead and Australia runner up, so Tunisia and Denmark have been eliminated.

With these results, Senegal, Poland, and Australia make it to the knockout round for the first time in quite a while for each of them, while Mexico's running streak of reaching the knockout round comes to an end after seven World Cups. I'll wait until after the remaining group stage matches are complete before I start making my predictions for the knockout stage.

Japan vs Spain 2 - 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPWrVyyd3U4

Costa Rica vs Germany 2 - 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtsKkNBz-R0

Croatia vs Belgium 0 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQg5KE8Ui0E

Canada vs Morocco 1 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO-_MsCBMcU

Serbia vs Switzerland 2 - 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj62aNAcxck

Cameroon vs Brazil 1 - 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcU7Jr-7oZM

Ghana vs Uruguay 0 - 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIusaKCuTn4

South Korea vs Portugal 2 - 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js-bcssOQyo
« Last Edit: December 02, 2022, 07:48:02 PM by The Chronicler »

"I have a right to collect anything I want. It's just junk anyway."
- Berix

My first fanfiction: Quest for the Energy Stones
My unfinished and canceled second fanfiction: Quest for the Mask of Life
My currently ongoing fanfiction series: LEGO Equestria Girls



Nick22

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Japan upsets Spain 2-1, eliminating Germany who beat Costa Rica 4-2. Spain finished second in group thanks to an overwhelming goal differential of +6.  Morooco and Croatia advance out their group, Belgium and Canada are going home.
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The Chronicler

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Unlikely winners of these recent matches include Japan, Morocco, and South Korea, while unexpected teams being eliminated include Germany, Belgium, and Uruguay. And with that, the group stage matches are all complete. Now it's on to the knockout stage, with these matches for the Round of 16:

Netherlands vs United States


Argentina vs Australia


France vs Poland


England vs Senegal


Japan vs Croatia


Brazil vs South Korea


Morocco vs Spain


Portugal vs Switzerland


And now that the bracket is set up, here are my current predictions for the remainder of the tournament:
Spoiler: ShowHide
The winners of the Round of 16 matches would result in these Quarterfinal matches...
Netherlands vs Argentina
Croatia vs Brazil
England vs France
Spain vs Portugal

The winners of those matches would result in these Semifinal matches...
Argentina vs Brazil
France vs Portugal

The losers would result in a third place match of Brazil vs Portugal, with the winner being Brazil.
And the winners for the final match would be Argentina vs France, and I think France will ultimately win their third World Cup and second in back-to-back tournaments.


Anyone else interested in sharing their predictions?

EDIT (still prior to the first match): After thinking about how many supposedly good teams have already been eliminated and how many lesser teams got some upset wins, I'd like to make a second set of predictions for the knockout stage. Let's call the previous set my conservative predictions, while this second set are my slightly chaotic expectations:
Spoiler: ShowHide
Quarterfinal matches...
United States vs Australia
Japan vs Brazil
England vs France
Morocco vs Portugal

Semifinal matches...
United States vs Brazil
France vs Morocco

Third place match would be United States vs Morocco, with United States winning.
And the final match would be Brazil vs France, and just for the sake of having something different for this set of predictions, I'll give this one to Brazil.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2022, 01:48:04 AM by The Chronicler »

"I have a right to collect anything I want. It's just junk anyway."
- Berix

My first fanfiction: Quest for the Energy Stones
My unfinished and canceled second fanfiction: Quest for the Mask of Life
My currently ongoing fanfiction series: LEGO Equestria Girls