Quote from: kro55 on October 21, 2022, 07:14:57 PM

Quote from: Daniel91 on October 20, 2022, 11:20:55 AM

Quote from: Juggy777 on October 18, 2022, 01:04:54 PM

Quote from: blue_hurricanger on October 18, 2022, 10:12:26 AM

Quote from: Daniel91 on October 17, 2022, 07:32:19 AM

I wouldn't really compare South Korea and Japan with Qatar, because Korea and Japan have a much longer football tradition, they have invested much more in football, and they have a much larger population and a much larger football base.
Just look at their results in the last world cups, Korea and Japan often make it to the knockout stages of world cups and achieving great results.
Ok, it seems that Qatar is currently achieving good results in friendly matches, but does anyone seriously think that they would have qualified for this World Cup if they did not have the direct right to participate as hosts?

No, of course. No one holding that illusion. Before, Qatar isn't on the same level as some of the MENA teams in the region. If not for the host right, they wouldn't even pass against other strong teams like Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Qatar recently got good only because of the massive preparation for this World Cup. They got a lot of new players under their national team, buying and transferring left and right just for the stake to put up a good face as a host. I'm damn sure after this World Cup is over, Qatar will fall back to its place, behind stronger teams in MENA. Money can only buy them some temporary victories before and a bit after this World Cup.

I will also jump the bandwagon of people saying NO, and if I could swap them for another team then I would have gladly use it to bring back Italy. Furthermore do you’ll think that it’ll be a nice opportunity to make some quick bucks while wagering against them, and even though I’m expecting super low odds I yet feel that we can earn some good bucks on their matches if we get lucky.

I'm also sorry that Italy didn't qualify for the World Cup again. It+s really a tragedy that we will not see such a great team, the current champion of Europe, at the World Cup, and on the other hand, Qatar will play at the World Cup thanks to the fact that they are the hosts of the championship.
On the other hand, Qatar will certainly be a very interesting betting option at this world championship Grin

I'm really interested in what will happen next with the Qatar team, in the next competitions after this world cup and how successful they will be in terms of results.

I really hope that the authorities of Qatar football realize that this is not just a revenue stream through which they will be able to make money. I hope they realize that they have a really good chance of showing the world what they can do in football. There should not only be a focus on getting money from this world cup, but also on having some people looking for really skilled players in Qatar as a result of this world cup. And I expect that the people of Qatar will also be very interested in football after this world cup happens.

It does feel sad that Italy did not qualify for the world cup. But I think that's okay. They are a capable team and they probably deserved to play in the world cup, but nothing can be done now.

I would like to think of football as something noble, but the reality is different.
Romantic football, in which money was not important, and clubs like Steaua or Crvena zvezda could be champions of Europe, lasted until 1991, when the Champions League started and profit became the most important thing.
It is clear that the main reason why Qatar's leaders decided to organize this world championship is solely for profit, and everything else, including sports motives, are irrelevant and that is the reality.
I believe that many neutral football fans are sorry that we will not see Italy again in this World Cup, but that is the reality and nothing can be changed.