decapitated

USA have started better but they are showing poor tackling skills.

Any idea why Depay isn't starting?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11450841/Qatar-FIFA-World-Cup-Jewish-organisations-allege-Qatari-authorities-banned-sale-kosher-food.html An unsurprising if bad development.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fa-fears-harry-kane-may-be-stripped-of-one-love-armband-in-dressing-room-before-opener-b8zlwft2w

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11450127/England-captain-Harry-Kane-banned-wearing-One-Love-armband-World-Cup-FIFA.html The Daily Mail is reporting Kane is insistent on wearing it even if it means he is suspended for the match against Wales.

I remember World Cup 1994 and Euro 1996 being shown, but I don't recall any of the others getting the same treatment as an Olympic opening ceremony and for good reason.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20487394/england-world-cup-walker-maddison-miss-iran-opener/ uh oh!

The Sun, however, is reporting Kane is preparing to wear the armband even if he gets booked. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20487476/harry-kane-armband-one-love-fifa/

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/20/england-harry-kane-may-abandon-onelove-armband-booking-fear-world-cup-qatar-take-knee I would imagine if Kane got booked instantly after kick-off it would be amazingly bad PR for Fifa and Qatar. Edit: Telegraph is reporting its officially banned by FIFA. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/2022/11/20/fifa-ban-harry-kane-england-wearing-onelove-armband-world-cup/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11449663/Catering-workers-left-outside-stadiums-SIX-HOURS-no-food-water-World-Cup.html

Valencia injured.

https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/deschamps-why-did-not-replace-karim-benzema-france-world-cup-squad/blt8137887f1c2d1c5f That was what he said when he was asked about it. It still doesn't make much sense.

Ecuador fans arriving.

Benzema not being replaced so France will be going with 25 players.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/christian-pulisic-world-cup-usa-28528959 I'm not sure what sports scientists would make of this but it bodes well for England if America isn't taking this seriously enough.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11446715/Fans-flying-tournament-expect-Qatar-fan-village-185-night-unfinished-shambles.html

I think I'll watch more than I thought I was going to a couple of weeks ago. My concentration is shot at the moment, so just sitting in front of the world cup in my free time seems like a good idea.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11447123/Supporters-World-Cup-Fan-Park-Doha-left-waiting-ONE-HOUR-scorching-temperatures.html

https://www.firstpost.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-moments-kuwaits-prince-fahad-gets-frances-goal-chalked-off-in-the-1982-controversial-clash-4477265.html This is the first time I've heard about this. I would imagine they will be more subtle than that if there is match fixing, but I can imagine anything obviously dodgy in group A going viral in the age of the internet and social media. I mean imagine what Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp would have made of Bryon Moreno's referring performance in 2002 if they were around then? Any tomfoolery will damage FIFA and Qatar more than what ever happened in 2002 and 1982 due to the technological changes since then.

I don't know this story. What is it? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_AFC_Asian_Cup#Controversies Two of their star players were accused of not actually being Qatari but the AFC dismissed the complaint. Ironically a Qatar fan ended up beaten by the police allegedly for supporting that team.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11446811/England-captain-Harry-Kane-wear-One-Love-armband-World-Cup-opener-against-Iran.html

That is a straight up racist microaggression, isn't it?

I'm only on part 1 of the FIFA documentary on Netflix (watching the rest this afternoon), but given how much they rely on Sponsors for funding its certainly possible if unlikely. The beer ban, and generally rubbish delivery of promised facilities in Qatar has already been a public relations disaster. If they outdo Atlanta 1996 in terms of botching a sporting event then some sponsors might concur that their money is better spent elsewhere and the money taps are turned off. https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-africa-rwanda-c89066f388ee489eaa391eb5f8234023