Riad & Doucoure

[Goalpost1]

Sh1ttest tournament in the world. It is not worth affecting the Premier League for. In a World Cup year exactly what is its point? No one will care who the Champions are except for that particular country. Then it will all be over depending on when they get knocked out of the proper cup.
Needs to be done in the off season and every four years. In different years to the European Cup or World Cup. I know it could be hot but they're African. It's not like we're asking Ireland to play in higher than 12 degrees heat.

Strongly disagree. AFCON is no different to the Euros or Copa America. Important to keep growing the game in Africa, which the PL directly benefits from, and AFCON is central to that in respect of being champions of their respective continent.

 

[aashman12]

it wasn't perfectly fine, it was very hot, but as with Qatar and now the 2026 World Cup in America/Canada/Mexico FIFA has shown it is money and not player welfare that controls football decision making.

Im pretty sure they recorded the lowest ever temperature for a world cup fixture in so i doubt very hot is correct.

 

[Daddyorc]

Not sure about Doucoure.

As for Riad, he's clearly close, as can be seen in the gym in the 2nd photo here (from Dec 10):

Gallery: The best footage & photos as Palace touch down in Dublin - News - Crystal Palace F.C.

www.cpfc.co.uk

 

[NMPalace]

Im pretty sure they recorded the lowest ever temperature for a world cup fixture in so i doubt very hot is correct.

FFS pedantic springs to mind.

I mentioned that S.Africa has its summer in our winter but Morocco is currently cooler as it's their summer now. So if you were to play the AFCON tournament in our summer (June) you would need to limit what countries you could play in if you gave a sh it about player welfare.

Not only is Africa a massive continent but S.Africa itself is a massive country so clearly even in winter temperatures will vary across the country and of course the time of day.

 

[ASCPFC]

FFS pedantic springs to mind.

I mentioned that S.Africa has its summer in our winter but Morocco is currently cooler as it's their summer now. So if you were to play the AFCON tournament in our summer (June) you would need to limit what countries you could play in if you gave a sh it about player welfare.

Not only is Africa a massive continent but S.Africa itself is a massive country so clearly even in winter temperatures will vary across the country and of course the time of day.

It isn't changing the fact that the AFCON is during the season and the Euros isn't. World Cups are consistently in hot countries now. Why, for instance, is the AFCON more important than the Euros? I'll tell you why, it's FIFAs corruption and African association's "mismanagement" of funds. Although you can guarantee the Presidents live on vast estates with swimming pools and airfields. Whilst grassroots play in dirt.
The AFCON can be moved. People massively defending it as virtuous somehow maybe need to watch some matches and then make their minds up. It's crap.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

Sh1ttest tournament in the world . It is not worth affecting the Premier League for. In a World Cup year exactly what is its point? No one will care who the Champions are except for that particular country. Then it will all be over depending on when they get knocked out of the proper cup.
Needs to be done in the off season and every four years. In different years to the European Cup or World Cup. I know it could be hot but they're African. It's not like we're asking Ireland to play in higher than 12 degrees heat.

Just from my limited viewing I’d have to agree. Every time the tournament comes round I’ve tried to watch a few of the games, especially if Wilf was involved, but I must always be unlucky, because they’ve been dreadful games with near empty stadiums. I know it’s a vast continent and people can’t afford to travel, so I get it, but it’s not for me, doubt I’ll be bothering this time

 

[ASCPFC]

Just from my limited viewing I’d have to agree. Every time the tournament comes round I’ve tried to watch a few of the games, especially if Wilf was involved, but I must always be unlucky, because they’ve been dreadful games with near empty stadiums. I know it’s a vast continent and people can’t afford to travel, so I get it, but it’s not for me, doubt I’ll be bothering this time

Honestly, I'll give it a chance again but I'm not expecting much. I had the same experience. The officiating was comedy gold too.

 

[Phil’s Barber]

Could we give the petty arguments about the temperature in Africa a miss and try and keep this thread on the topic of Riad & Doucoure please?