16 Jun 2026 09:08:33
Is it just me or the quality if football this world cup has just gone down?
Some of it has been so rubbish. Like kindergarten level goals being conceded?
Also this probably is worst broadcast of a WC ever!! Like nt just the football is broken, the quality of broadcast also looks like watching VHS from the early 90's
16 Jun 2026 09:45:43
The only time I'll be watching is when Argentina are playing. Only because I drew them in the sweepstake and I win £500 if they are champions. Other than that, international football is what it has been for years, insipid. Viva Argentina. ??
16 Jun 2026 09:46:39
There are 16 teams playing at this World Cup that would not have been good enough to qualify for previous editions. The standard of these early rounds is likely to suffer as a result. Hopefully, once we get to the later stages, the quality will pick up.
16 Jun 2026 09:47:48
I think it's down to the heat, and they should be looking to introduce more hydration breaks because teams are obviously fatigued. ;)
In all seriousness though, I think most teams are being cautious this first round. No one wants to lose the first match. The tempo might improve as we get further through the stages.
16 Jun 2026 10:25:47
Standard of international football has always been generally rubbish. Every now and then you get a team that properly gels, but it's not often given the extremely limited amount of time they spend training together.
16 Jun 2026 10:36:40
I enjoyed a couple of games already. The Egypt game yesterday was fun. Egypt could have easily beaten Belgium. 2nd half Holland v Japan was great. Morocco v Brazil was also a good watch. Most games this early will suck though!
16 Jun 2026 10:40:12
I agree with Westwood. The limited time that they get is very little. But I feel it has always been like that. International football is not good at all. The only team that I felt had some cohesion was Japan, even if they lack quality.
Also, you have to consider that it's hard to get 11 players or more with quality compared to the big clubs in Europe, so that's also a negative of international competitions.
16 Jun 2026 11:00:13
I think it's been fine? Sure, you could say that some teams don't 'deserve' to be there, but there were only 16 teams for 44 years, then 24 for 12 years after that; the 32 team system is only 24 years old itself. The fans going delirious from Curacao scoring against Germany and penning them in for a spell before the hydration break was quite moving, as was Cape Verde holding Spain to a deadlock.
I watched Iran vs New Zealand this morning, and it was a more than decent game. Maybe the technical quality is not always of the same high level you see in the CL or whatever, but both teams had a distinct style of playing and were fighting tooth and nail for every single loose ball, putting everything into it for 90 minutes.
You have to remember for some of these players this is the only chance they have to play on the world stage, a lot of them are toiling in the lower leagues somewhere, and some of the stories behind some of the players behind the heroics for Cape Verde, for example, are quite moving to read beyond the actual 90 minutes itself. Besides that you get to read about some of the migrant communities of countries like Iran, Cape Verde and Curacao in the US, Canada and Mexico, where they are concentrated, why they left their homes, etc. That's always an advantage of these events.
16 Jun 2026 11:00:15
I have actually enjoyed the football. It looks much more like football than what the horrific product the Premier League has served up in the last 12 months.
There is a dearth of superstars, but that is a general problem in the game at the moment.
16 Jun 2026 11:40:02
Terrible World Cup, worst in a long time, but what do you expect when there's 1,200 teams in the competition and no fans in the stadiums? Every time I check the fixtures, I'm saying who the f*** are these?! Never seen so many countries I've never heard of in one place.
It's like a drop-down menu for a shipping address.
Thristforwirtz, speaking of the broadcasts, there's been some shoddy camera work at times, definitely a few operators there, more at home filming baseball.
16 Jun 2026 11:41:00
All the games have been awful except Germany's, where Wirtz looked world class. Lad is carrying this World Cup.
16 Jun 2026 11:43:03
I'm not saying it isn't entertaining. The lack of team cohesion actually makes for more spaces, and more opportunities for attacking flair type players to show their stuff. I'm just saying, in terms of actual teamwork, it's not.
16 Jun 2026 11:44:14
Hit send by accident.
It's not a good standard. I reckon most club teams would beat many international squads.
16 Jun 2026 11:49:51
I know it's early days, but looking at the standard of goalkeeper on show,
I'd be looking at keeping Becker until he's 50!
16 Jun 2026 12:07:24
Never mind the football, the pundits are truly awful. It's the World Cup, and I still have to listen to Neville and Richards. Jeez, I'd rather pull my teeth out.
16 Jun 2026 12:19:19
The biggest teams in Europe can cherry pick the best players from around the world in one team so international football is no longer the pinnacle.
I mean, seriously, Brazil's starting CF plays for Brentford. Belgium are bringing on a player from Rangers to try to win a game. Sunderland have 12 players at the World Cup.
4 more than Liverpool and 2 more than Real Madrid.
International football is dead and almost meaningless now. It's simply a money making racket. Hydration breaks? They would be so much more relevant if they didn't use the opportunity to make more money.
It's all just a big scam.
16 Jun 2026 12:21:08
I agree, ArneSlotsBarber. Those games are very, very good to watch. But, before we beat up on the WC, these are the opening games where teams are very cautious and don't wanna lose.
Now, when we get to the second round of games, things will get better, cos teams who didn't win their first game are now gonna have to play to win and take more risks, so hoping this will bring better games.
People need to relax.
16 Jun 2026 12:57:41
I'm personally enjoying it, and it's great seeing the smaller teams get their moment. Cape Verde and Curacao had moments that will be talked about for generations.
Yes, the coverage isn't the best, we are getting the American celebs plastered everywhere and even on the ITV coverage having an American in there for reasons I'm not really sure of.
The choice of pundits leaves a lot to be desired, and, obviously, the political element surrounding it isn't great either. That's before the neither commercial breaks, sorry, hydration break!
But the football and the small teams are delivering imo. Everything else can be put to one side.
16 Jun 2026 13:16:42
I was in general talking about football in the sense that there is just no cohesion, and it's every match is so slow. Also, the pitches. And then the broadcast is so pathetic. Like, how can you not shoot the goal in a live telecast and have it from behind, where you don't even understand on TV that the ball went in or not!!
And the commentators don't even hype up attacks.
In the Iran game, the guy wouldn't even call their names properly!
16 Jun 2026 14:21:56
I feel like this is a complaint every international tournament. I agree that the international games are not as good as the club games, but I've really enjoyed the WC so far and expect that will continue.
16 Jun 2026 15:23:27
WYred, I agree with you. It's just great to see teams from small island countries (how many are real professionals?) put up a good fight against professional multimillionaires from the European leagues.
But what I am wondering is whether it's because (as I wrote a few days ago) that World football is catching up to European football (well some of the South Americans were always already there), or is it, as Oli said above, the big teams are just "warming up" and will eventually get better and better?
16 Jun 2026 15:38:52
I've enjoyed plenty of games to be honest. Seeing different styles and spotting new players.
I think when you lower your expectations a bit and try to enjoy without expecting it to be a Champions League finals, then you can enjoy.
I pick what, on paper, might be interesting or countries with players I want to watch. I've watched some full games, others just a half, and others I watch here and there while doing some work.
USA v Paraguay
I was quite impressed by the US midfield. Tillman, Adams and Mackenie were great.
Korea v Czech
I'm a fan of Korea's style. They played very attacking but also organised, quite entertaining. They're a bit of a dark horse imo.
Brazil v Morocco
Entertaining from end to end. Morocco never backed down and took it to Brazil.
Brazil were actually the more boring to watch, very disjointed the first half.
Netherlands v Japan
Boring for periods because the Dutch = Sloth-ball but I always enjoy watching those quick passes and the skill level in tight spaces from Japan.
Australia v Turkey
Not the prettiest but what a win from the Aussies defending with their all and breaking fast on the counter, reminded me of Leicester when they won the PL.
NZ v Iran
Again, not pretty but both teams going at it and that Just boy had the game of his life with the 2 goals.
It should get better as it progresses, especially with teams that dropped points on round 1. They'll need to throw everything at it next 2 rounds. Round 1 is always cagey in the WC as no one wants to drop points.
16 Jun 2026 16:53:53
"It should get better as it progresses, especially with teams that dropped points on round 1."
My sentiments, exactly.