This is a bit more interesting isn't it 🙂 some dull games lately but the Croatia Canada game is getting entertaining.
I guess as well Pickford looked to his left, saw Maguire, and to his right, saw Stones – row z it is.
I was just going to ask… did you watch Ten Hag’s extremely brief experiment with trying to get Slabhead to play it own from the back?
It didn’t last long
Croatia are looking a bit tasty here. Fair play to Canada though. They’re giving them a game!
'England should take note.'
It lookslike they have. They've won one, and drawn one against teams who aren't too shabby, with a team that's got a lot of youth. Not sure which miracles the various pundits/critics/moaners want really?
Battle of the giants now, pretty even so far, but of a chess match.
Interesting match, both teams going for it
It amazes me how many players at this level fire corners in that don’t make it past the first man
Well that was a good goal! Game on!
It amazes me how many players at this level fire corners in that don’t make it past the first man
it bemuses me when they try and steal as much as possible when placing the ball then hoofing it over everyone. 🙂
Surprised there's no football after match programs such as Fantasy Football League etc. Could do with a hilarious critique of this world cup.
Could do with a hilarious critique of this world cup.
one might be happy with any critique at all. The Beeb appear to have gone with the “**** it lads, everyone seems to be having fun,” line. There’s oodles of shit going on out there and the meeja are ignoring it.
Playing truent from work: this Cameroon v Serbia game is a humdinger.
well, it was until you said and I started to watch, now goals have totally dried up.
(actually still is, even without goals)
The fleeting glimpse of a sprinting pitch invader with a rainbow flag has livened this game up
Ronaldo’s claimed that goal but I don’t think he touched it…
His massive ego diverted it in (even though it was going in anyway)
No way did he touch it !
I know he has a claim to be mentioned with the GOATs himself, but if I was going to match the record of a true great like Eusebio then I wouldn't be doing it on the basis of stealing a goal off a team mate like that.
Suarez has err grown a bit 😳😂
McCoist should be fired. Thinks he’s Brian Moore and he clearly isn’t.
I really don't like seeing penalties like that awarded.
I really don’t like seeing penalties like that awarded.
Back 30 years ago I was a passionate fan who loved football, went to every match at Anfield for 15+ years.
These days I barely watch it. The game is dead to me, a large part of that is VAR
Awful penalty decision, what's he supposed to land on.
Awful penalty decision, what’s he supposed to land on.
Just watched the highlights. Couldn't work out what the penalty was given for at normal speed. Saw the first slow motion replay, still didn't see what happened. Finally noticed the ball hit the fellow's hand as he fell over.
Ridiculous.
These days I barely watch it. The game is dead to me, a large part of that is VAR
Yeah I long for the days where referees would give the benefit of the doubt to big teams after being pressured by their superstar players, or when matches, and sometimes relegations and championships, would be decided by some part time incompetent linesman who couldn't keep up with play. VAR isn't perfect, but it's better than what came before.
Yeah I long for the days where referees would give the benefit of the doubt to big teams after being pressured by their superstar players, or when matches, and sometimes relegations and championships, would be decided by some part time incompetent linesman who couldn’t keep up with play. VAR isn’t perfect, but it’s better than what came before.
Whilst you're being sarcastic, i'm 100% with that... 😀
The goal that wasn't over the line (Luis Garcia, v Chelsea), or the tackle that missed the ball, the offside that was 3" onside. That's what makes football, the passion, the joy, the anger even... the good, the bad... It's not a binary sport.
That’s what makes football, the passion, the joy, the anger even…
True. Bring back the golden days of the 1970s where teams kicked lumps out of each other on mudbath pitches while the fans rioted in the stands in a tsumani of misplaced masculinity. 😀
To be honest, the whole thing has become so 'meh' that I'm feeling a certain nostalgia for watching footage on the news of a pissed-up, lobster-pink Chelsea fan throwing a chair through the window of a bar 😉
Yep, it's all getting a little bit too sanitised. Used to love a good hard tackle when I played but I'd probably not be in a huge waiting list for a knee replacement if a little gentler.
More seriously VAR is ruining the game but I'm not sure what the best alternative is. It's also leading to the same issues in rugby and cricket.
I’m feeling a certain nostalgia for watching footage on the news of a pissed-up, lobster-pink Chelsea fan throwing a chair through the window of a bar 😉
Glory days! The world cup wasn't the world cup without news stories of topless England fans being deported en masse from foreign countries. Despite my comments above, football has become far too middle class and 'nice'.
More seriously VAR is ruining the game but I’m not sure what the best alternative is. It’s also leading to the same issues in rugby and cricket.
It works well in tennis, although that is a much simpler problem to solve
More seriously VAR is ruining the game but I’m not sure what the best alternative is.
I agree - it used to be the case that a goal was scored, and the fans celebrate. Now I am always left with that nagging doubt that there had been some infringement in the build-up so excitement is always tempered - and I detest the ridiculous decisions when the slightest, tiniest bit of body rules an offside.
Could there be a limit to the number of times a team can request a review (and ONLY by the captain - anyone else approaching the ref gets a yellow card) – a bit like they have in cricket (no idea about the rules in tennis or rugby codes).
I don’t have a solution but now it’s in place it’s not going away! I don’t like the idea of a review limit though. Some absolute clangers will no doubt get missed in the 89th minute….it just needs to be used better and more quickly. In terms of better I don’t think it will be given it’s so subjective. Good (bad) example last night - that was never a penalty and I suspect wouldn’t have been given at the other end. Took ages as well.
Things that would improve VAR IMO
1, Communication between ref and var to be made available, so that fans can understand the thought processes behind decisions.
2, Time limit on VAR decisions, if not sure in time limit refs on field decision stands (which may also force refs to make an on field decision rather than rely on var to correct it later).
3, Make the goal/pen/red card decisions about getting it right, and not finding an excuse to support a refs poor decision (ie end the "clear and obvious error wording)
For example, Ronaldo's pen against Ghana, I saw on the first replay that Ronaldo initiated the contact, so no reason that the ref could not be told quickly(2) to take a look on the screen. Ref is told "looks like the defender had stopped just short, and Ronaldo deliberately flicks his leg into the defender to initiate the contact" comms are made available to match broadcasters (1) and to viewers after filtering for swearing etc. In this case you can see why the ref has made the initial decision on the field of play, VAR should be looking to see if that is the correct decision rather than to justify that decision (3), in this case the movement is slight but absolutely critical in the event it wasn't even just leaving a leg dangling he had to move towards the defender to initiate the contact. "clear and obvious" error is too often being interpreted as an excuse to defend poor decisions.
Could there be a limit to the number of times a team can request a review (and ONLY by the captain
I've been thinking along the same lines. One of the biggest issues with var is that it calls up things that nobody on the pitch had an issue with, so why not go with the refs decision unless one of the captains objects? There should probably be an exception for foul play that nobody spots but even then the fouled player should be able to get their captain to ask for a var review.
Ohh dear, what a shame, never mind...
Qatar make unwanted history as they become the first host nation to exit the tournament losing all of their group games.
TBF, I feel for the team, but. Qatar.
Well I’d have dropped the players Gareth chose to drop. Let’s hope it’s a decent game.
first thing is that the refs and linos get most decisions right, at least within margin for error (offsides for example) - if the intent is to correct clearly obvious errors then live with the real marginal ones for the good of the game.
Then let the teams have 2 challenges (per half, in total, not exactly sure) so if a clear and obvious error is missed they can be reviewed. That's the safety net. If it's wrong, you lose the challenge, if right you keep it.
Controversial bit - anyone can call it, not just the captain. Question the referee over a pointless foul in the middle of the pitch, or a corner that you know wasn't - tough, get it wrong and you lose your challenge. Would remove players questioning every decision in no time.
Kane's fallen over.
Wales have figured out how best to deal with Maguire - let him dribble uncontested into the box and he will forget what he was there for and kick the ball at the corner flag.
This is poor. Aimless from both.
Has Henderson contributed anything so far?
This is poor. Aimless from both.
somewhat of a nothing match though
for a side that needs to win by four clear, I'd have thought Wales would have shown a bit more ambition
Wales are anti football it seems. Bus parkers.
Dear god, this is absolutely shite!
Can’t keep your eyes off it Binners!