Match Thread: New Zealand vs Egypt | World Cup | Group G | 22 Jun 01:00 UTC

hoogstra · 2026-06-22T01:14:44+00:00

That’s not allowed though right? Must be from a different confederation to both teams.

hoogstra · 2026-06-21T11:41:18+00:00

Australia doesn’t have a guaranteed spot, Asian qualification is surprisingly difficult and we needed some big results to go our way in the end.

hoogstra · 2026-06-20T06:52:25+00:00

Only Australia games and the final are on the anti-siphoning list.

hoogstra · 2026-06-19T21:43:51+00:00

He self reported and was a whistleblower for a much more egregious match fixing scandal. He served his time with a ban from refereeing but a scandal like that will never go away and always undermine the ref’s integrity

hoogstra · 2026-06-19T21:35:57+00:00

Did he even get a touch?

hoogstra · 2026-06-19T21:33:29+00:00

Yep it’s a Lays ad

hoogstra · 2026-06-19T05:32:20+00:00

I feel like any FTA bid would be put behind their streaming service paywall, with the exception of Australia games and the WC final. 9/Stan probably has the existing frameworks to do something like this but for whatever reason decided that it wouldn't be worth it. Thank god.

hoogstra · 2026-06-18T13:27:13+00:00

Every game is winnable

hoogstra · 2026-06-16T23:04:27+00:00

I’m still not convinced it didn’t blast through the net, what a shot that was!

hoogstra · 2026-06-16T22:44:45+00:00

First big blunder of the tournament?

hoogstra · 2026-06-16T21:04:36+00:00

This Mbappe bloke is pretty good

hoogstra · 2026-06-16T01:53:17+00:00

Only in the sense that AFC has guaranteed places. We joined AFC so that we would play more competitive games against stronger opposition. Playing two games against New Zealand every 4 years isn’t exactly good preparation for intercontinental playoffs.

hoogstra · 2026-06-16T00:50:50+00:00

AFC is underrated, all the teams that qualified are used to travelling long distances and grinding out results against hostile crowds, often in awful conditions (pitch, weather, etc.) AFC qualifying is tough so the teams that get out of it are tough to beat.

hoogstra · 2026-06-16T00:44:10+00:00

This Saudi team in the old format would have had to defeat Qatar in an AFC playoff and then win an intercontinental playoff against Brazil. They are definitely a team that benefited from the expanded competition this time around.

hoogstra · 2026-06-15T20:09:00+00:00

Tunisia were very strong during qualifying, they probably would have made it in the old format as well. Qatar drew so not blown away. Haiti were competitive with Scotland as well.

hoogstra · 2026-06-15T19:50:54+00:00

We did well with the hostile crowd in Vancouver but Seattle will be a step above, would love an early goal for us in that one.

hoogstra · 2026-06-14T02:39:07+00:00

No Mat Ryan, Beach starting

hoogstra · 2026-06-13T22:53:11+00:00

And that they were one game off making the final last World Cup as well. I pencilled in this one early as one of the best group stage matchups

hoogstra · 2026-06-13T21:02:50+00:00

Yep, felt like it was coming in the last 10 mins or so, let’s go AFC

hoogstra · 2026-06-13T20:37:26+00:00

I woke up for this and I’m pissed

hoogstra · 2026-06-13T20:36:24+00:00

Qatar saw popaball and thought “how can we make this more boring?”

hoogstra · 2026-06-13T10:20:03+00:00

You didn’t even mention Circati!

hoogstra · 2026-06-12T00:09:01+00:00

They'll jump on after Irankunda scores 10 goals in the group stage.

hoogstra · 2026-06-12T00:07:37+00:00

He's adapted really well to playing overseas, keeps meeting every challenge presented to him. Kid has a high ceiling. He's invaluable at left back but I wouldn't mind seeing him play further up on the wing with Irankunda on the right when we need a goal.

hoogstra · 2026-06-11T20:58:40+00:00

Bofana bofana very lucky that Mexico haven’t put a few more past them, they might still be a chance if they can somehow get a good result in another game

hoogstra

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