Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

I was promised a recession.

In my day, never was longer.

Not all heroes wear capes.

People are complicated. Love is not.

A lot of Dems talk about what the media tells them to talk about. Not helpful.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they donā€™t ask for more? Great plan.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

Iā€™d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Thatā€™s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

Reality always lies in wait for ā€¦ Democrats.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

The revolution will be supervised.

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

You are here: Home / Sports / Thursday World Cup Open Thread: Uruguay vs. South Korea / Portugal vs. Ghana / Brazil vs. Serbia

Thursday World Cup Open Thread: Uruguay vs. South Korea / Portugal vs. Ghana / Brazil vs. Serbia

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SportsMole, “Uruguay vs. South Korea”

Two-time winners Uruguay open their 2022 World Cup campaign against South Korea at the Education City Stadium on Thursday.

La Celeste have been in excellent form since Diego Alonso took over from Oscar Tabarez at the end of last year.

The sacking of Tabarez as Uruguay boss following 15 years in the job has thrown their preparation into disarray, despite the positive results they are getting on the pitch.

South Korea, meanwhile, come into the tournament with an under-fire manager and a squad which has underwhelmed in the build up to Qatar…

With their attacking star a doubt, that will put more pressure on their solid defence, but after conceding just three goals in their 10 AFC final stage qualifiers, they have proved they can be relied upon.

Despite their famous win over Germany in Russia, they were left massively disappointed following losses to Mexico and Sweden which saw them eliminated at the group stage.

They find themselves in a very competitive group once again in which they will need to cause at least one upset if they are to progress.

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SportsMole, “Switzerland vs. Cameroon”:

Switzerland and Cameroon meet for the first time ever on Thursday, as the two nations kick off what could be a very competitive World Cup 2022 Group G.

The Swiss come into the World Cup off the back of a quarter-final run at Euro 2020, while Cameroon finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations…

Despite a 2-0 defeat to Ghana in their final warm-up game, the Swiss will be confident ahead of a fourth consecutive World Cup, with the likes of Breel Embolo and captain Granit Xhaka heading to Qatar in great form.

Cameroon, on the other hand, have struggled for form since their Africa Cup of Nations run, winning just one of their last five, with that victory coming against 141st-ranked Burundi…

The Indomitable Lions are actually the fourth-lowest ranked side in the entire tournament, finding themselves 28 places behind their Swiss opponents, and 22 adrift of anyone else in Group G.

Nonetheless, with attacking talent such as Toko Ekambi and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who has 11 goals and three assists in his last 10 games, and having seen Saudi Arabia’s shock victory over Argentina on Tuesday, the five-time African champions will head into this crucial World Cup opener with real belief.

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SportsMole, “Brazil vs. Serbia”:

Regarded by many as the favourites to go all the way at the 2022 World Cup, five-time world champions Brazil kick off their Group G campaign against Serbia at the Lusail Stadium on Thursday.

The two nations will renew acquaintances with one another after locking horns in the group stage four years ago, when the Selecao came out on top with a 2-0 victory.

Brazil have arrived in Qatar as the only nation in World Cup history to have qualified for every tournament since the first edition back in 1930 following a record-breaking CONMEBOL qualification campaign, collecting more points (45) than ever before after winning 14 and drawing three of their 17 matches…

After crashing out in the group stage at their previous three World Cup finals since gaining independence in 1990, there is a sense of optimism that Serbia can finally reach the knockout rounds for the first time in Qatar.

The Eagles, ranked 25th in the world by FIFA, impressed in UEFA qualifying and topped their group after winning six and drawing two of their eight matches, including a last-gasp 2-1 triumph over Portugal in their final fixture.

Dragan Stojkovic’s side then secured promotion to League A of the UEFA Nations League earlier this year, courtesy of four wins and a draw from six matches. Indeed, the slender 1-0 defeat against Norway in June is one of only two losses suffered in their last 16 internationals across all competitions.

Form on European soil has been impressive, but transferring that onto the global stage is the task that Stojkovic and co are now faced with, and they could not begin their World Cup campaign against a more daunting prospect than five-time world champions Brazil.

Serbia have lost seven of their nine World Cup matches in total, the most defeats by any European nation and just one less than Australia’s unwanted record of eight, and a resilient performance is required if they wish to claim at least a draw on Thursday.

Reader Interactions

48Comments

  1. 1.

    ThresherK

    Uruguay have four stars on their jersey.

     

    As a soccer fan since before the Cosmos signed Pele, I know what that means, but I missed how they get to award themselves extras.

  2. 2.

    cope

    From the Wiki:

    The four stars above Uruguay’s football crest represent the four senior FIFA recognized world titles won by the Uruguayan national football team in 1924, 1928, 1930 and 1950.[1] The Olympic football tournaments of Paris 1924 and Amsterdam 1928 have been recognized by global football associations from the outset as professionalworld championships, and subsequently equivalents to the FIFA World Cup.[2] As of May 30, 2022, the Uruguayan Football Association has announced that Uruguay have been permitted to continue wearing four stars on their football crest for the fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup tournament.[3]

  3. 3.

    West of the Cascades

    In that first tweet, I’m surprised to see a soccer ball rather than an ear on Suarez’s plate.

  4. 4.

    phdesmond

    FULL-TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

    the Guardian blogger grumbles,

    In the last world Cup, we had one goalless draw in 63 games; so far here, weā€™ve had four.Ā I donā€™t think any of them have been stinkers, but I canā€™t argue that thereā€™s not been too little attacking zest and basic competence.

  8. 8.

    cope

    @oatler: As a fan and former player and coach of the game, that is one of my favorite episodes. Ā For me the highlight is the contrast between the TV announcers for the US network and the announcers for the Spanish network.

  13. 13.

    eclare

    Just tuned in.Ā  Pulling for the underdog.

    Friend of mine who watches on Telemundo has said the mood is like a funeral, as South American teams have not done well.Ā  Except Ecuador, which was a farce.

  18. 18.

    Alison Rose

    Okay, look……I’d love to see Ghana get an upset, but that’s a pretty cool moment to witness. Keeper even went the right way but the height Ronaldo put on it was perfect.

  31. 31.

    Alison Rose

    @eclare: There were a couple of long injury moments and the ref has had to give some lengthy chitchats to a few players, plus the PK took forever. Honestly, based on how it’s been going thus far in other matches, I expected it to be more

  40. 40.

    cope

    @oatler: I don’t think I did, I’ll search it out. Ā Mostly I coached high school boys soccer but when my son was young, I “volunteered” to coach a few club teams he played on. Ā Total different kettle of fish for sure.

  42. 42.

    Alison Rose

    Gotta say…it’s throwing me off every time they say the Brazilian keeper’s name. Don’t think I’ve ever heard of a dude with my name before.

    Also too–very impressed with Serbia being able to keep Brazil off the score sheet in the first half. But take it from a USMNT fan who had her heart obliterated in the 2009 Confederations Cup finalā€”if any team can come out in the second half and absolutely destroy you, itā€™s Brazil. 13 years later, any time I think of it, Iā€™m just like WE WERE UP 2-0 AT THE HALF WTFFFFFFF

  43. 43.

    phdesmond

    politics affects fans in Brazil, according to the Guardian blog:

    Ā ā€œComing from a bar in BrasĆ­lia,ā€ writes Jack. ā€œThe crowd are really booing Neymar! Seems even jogo bonito doesnā€™t trump support for Bolsonaro!ā€

  45. 45.

    Kent

    I’m watching on a slight tape delay.Ā  But that second Brazilian goal was definitely the goal of the tournament so far.Ā  Impressive.

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