IF England’s thumping 6-2 win against Iran hasn’t got you in the World Cup mood just yet, we’ve compiled 32 reasons why Oxford United supporters can get excited for the feast of football over the next few weeks.
There’s a link (some very tenuous admittedly) to every nation competing in Qatar.
United’s season continues during the World Cup, but that doesn’t mean fans can’t get distracted by the hopes of football coming home.
A huge shout-out to BBC Radio Oxford’s Jerome Sale and Nathan Cooper for their help with this, on the way to Woking last week.
If there’s any links you think are missing, let us know in the comments.
“It’s the greatest competition in the worst place on the planet, to have a World Cup.”
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) November 22, 2022
Karl Robinson discusses the reasons why #oufc won’t get involved in the euphoria of the World Cuphttps://t.co/6VFSu7vfqQ pic.twitter.com/8pBOXtCzWt
Group A
Qatar – United have never gotten past the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Okay, we didn’t say this was going to be easy, but bear with us.
Netherlands – Current fans’ favourite Djavan Anderson played for the Netherlands up until Under-18 level, so that gives U’s fans a reason to get behind Louis van Gaal’s side.
Ecuador – Former Swansea City winger Jefferson Montero didn’t make the Ecuador squad, but he did open the scoring when the Swans were beaten 3-2 at the Kassam Stadium in an Emirates FA Cup third round tie in January 2016.
Senegal – On-loan defender Abdou Sall ‘walked out’ on United in 2003 during a spell from Kidderminster Harriers, allegedly over not having his expenses paid. Prior to joining the U’s, he scored a late ‘golden goal’ for the Harriers against Swindon Town during a LDV Vans Trophy tie.
Group B
England – If the Three Lions are going to do well in Qatar, Phil Foden will probably play a big part. He bagged his first senior goal at the Kassam during a 3-0 win for Man City in a Carabao Cup third round tie in September 2018.
Iran – National team manager Carlos Queiroz was in the away dugout when Man United visited the Kassam for a friendly in 2006. The Portuguese coach was Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant between 2004 and 2008.
Wales – Not only has Billy Bodin picked up an international cap for Wales, but dad Paul played for the country too and managed the Under-21s up until earlier this year.
USA – Stuart Findlay arrived from MLS side Philadelphia Union in the summer transfer window, although no Philadelphia players made the US squad.
Group C
Argentina – Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez is in as good a position as anyone to win the World Cup this winter, a far cry from making his debut in English football with United back in 2012, while on loan from Arsenal. He conceded three as the U’s lost 3-0 at Port Vale on the final day of the season.
Mexico – Hosts of the World Cup in 1986, the same year the U’s picked up the Milk Cup at Wembley.
Saudi Arabia – Former U’s boss Ramon Diaz is currently manager of Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia’s most decorated club.
Poland – Lukasz Fabianski was on the bench when West Ham United visited the Kassam in the third round of the Carabao Cup in September 2019. It’s just as well because the Hammers lost 4-0.
Group D
France – Derick Osei Yaw didn’t make much impact during his spell at the U’s but he was a former France Under-20 international.
Australia – Ryan Williams may have only spent two seasons at United, over two spells with the club, but he was very much a popular member of the squad before returning to Australia with Perth Glory in the summer.
Denmark – Ryan Ledson, nicknamed Lego, scooped three trophies at United’s end of season awards in 2018, before moving to Preston North End. The link you ask? Lego was founded in Denmark.
Tunisia – The national flower of Tunisia is jasmine. United’s club nutritionist is Jasmine Campbell.
Group E
Spain – There’s lots of talented midfield players in the Spain squad, so much so that Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara didn’t make the plane to Qatar. Neither did U’s midfielder Alex Gorrin, born in Tenerife.
Costa Rica – The capital city of Costa Rica is San Jose, with Jose the Spanish form of Joseph. Prior to a recent injury, Kyle Joseph had taken the mantle as United’s loan star this season.
Germany – The country’s coat of arms features a black eagle. United were of course managed by the ‘Bald Eagle’ Jim Smith. He was at the helm as the U’s won back-to-back league titles, transforming them from a Division Three side to the top tier. He never got to manage United in the First Division as he resigned over a contract dispute with owner Robert Maxwell.
Japan – One of United’s biggest ‘superfans’ is Kotaro Sumita, who has supported the club since he first went to the Manor Ground while visiting Oxford in 1999. He memorably tripped while attempting the crossbar challenge at the Kassam in 2018.
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Group F
Belgium – While at Leicester City, Elliott Moore enjoyed two loan spells at Belgium’s OH Leuven, a club he captained during his time with the Belgian second division side.
Canada – Mark Watson is the country’s sixth most capped player in their history, and spent two years with United between 1998 and 2000.
Morocco – Winger Oussama Zamouri had a pretty unmemorable spell with the U’s after a successful trial. After a short-term deal, he joined Croatian side NK Inter Zapresic. Which leads us nicely onto…
Croatia – Split is Croatia’s second city. Back in the day, United ran out to TV’s The Banana Splits.
Group G
Brazil – Cult figure Ricardinho was a hugely popular during his time with the U’s. He won the players’ player of the year award at the end of the 2017/18 season.
Serbia – Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic played the full 90 minutes of Newcastle United’s 3-0 defeat in an FA Cup fourth round clash at the Kassam in 2017.
Switzerland – The capital city is Bern, and former striker John Byrne enjoyed a spell with United in the 1980s, bagging 19 goals in 66 appearances.
Cameroon – Right back Olivier Mbaizo is a former teammate of Stuart Findlay at Philadelphia Union.
Group H
Uruguay – Mateo Corbo spent time with the U’s during the mid-noughties, before a move to Newcastle Jets in Australia.
Portugal – At 37, it very much feels like Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance to win the World Cup. Back in 2006, his first game in English football after the tournament in Germany was at the Kassam. The friendly followed Ronaldo’s wink after Red Devils teammate Wayne Rooney saw red for a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho during England’s World Cup defeat.
Ghana – The U’s came up against Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew earlier this season when the sides met in the Carabao Cup at the Kassam.
South Korea – Former academy manager Dan Harris, who left the club in the summer, joined United after a spell with Seoul E-Land.
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