"He isn’t a bad ref. He wouldn’t be reffing the top games in the Spanish League"
Therein lies the answer, the job af a Spanish League referee is to make sure Real and Barca get the rub of the green, ergo Messi doing his own tribute to Maradona's hand of god and getting away with it.
The supporters don’t give a shit about fair play, and by extension neither should the players. Winning is literally all that counts.
No... This isn't a Totalen Krieg.
I would rather watch teams respecting each other and the decisions made on the game. That's one of the reasons I like to watch rugby and it's something that just about every German I've watched a rugby game with have commented on.
Argentina #5 deserved to be sat on his arse by VDV when he decided to retreat from his actions.
The supporters don’t give a shit about fair play, and by extension neither should the players. Winning is literally all that counts.
Quick poll, who loves to see a player stay on his feet when he could so easily take a tumble. It’s rare but has so much appeal.
Oh christ! I thought we were doing well to avoid the rugby comparisons, but there we go, it’s arrived with wearisome predictability…
Let’s leave it there shall we? Isn’t there a rugby thread going? This one’s about the footy
That guy who attacked the bench with a ball - surely that was a straight red anyway? But even if it was a yellow, was t the original tackle enough for a yellow as well? I couldn't believe he stayed 9n the pitch.
I'd be fuming if I were Dutch.
That guy who attacked the bench with a ball – surely that was a straight red anyway?
If you pulled a stunt like that in a premier league match on a Saturday afternoon, you’d be walking before the ball even hit it’s intended target. Absolutely no question that’s a straight red!
But the referee had totally lost control of the match by that point and it had descended into an absolute free-for-all
Quick poll, who loves to see a player stay on his feet when he could so easily take a tumble. It’s rare but has so much appeal.
I don't blame the players for tumbling, they're much more likely to get a free kick or penalty if they do so.
Oh christ! I thought we were doing well to avoid the rugby comparisons, but there we go, it’s arrived with wearisome predictability…
Sorry, fella...
Can I respectfully agree and disagree.
Of course!!
To me, his biggest failure was thinking that marching around like an ikea car park attendant, dishing out parking tickets , meant he was being strong and in control. If you allow players in your face with no penalty, you will get it constantly.
If teams want to continue to behave that way and end up with 9 players, that’s on them.
I would rather watch teams respecting each other and the decisions made on the game. That’s one of the reasons I like to watch rugby
Take the tribal element out of football and you take away much of it's appeal. Whether we like it or not the tribal side of it is displayed on the pitch. I don't think players don't respect each other, or the referees, but they'll use every tactic to get an advantage. Winding up the other side and getting into their heads is as much a part of the game as as the skill and physicality. There's a reason rugby is as boring as it is, and IMO that's largely because it doesn't have the same tribal competitiveness and passion as football.
Winding up the other side and getting into their heads is as much a part of the game as as the skill and physicality.
It's a part of rugby too, and anyone who thinks it's not full of cheating needs to take more water with it. Plenty of notable players have made it an art form.
I see Keane's gone home for few days as the other pundits were getting on his nerves. Least the dog will get a few walks.
Anyway… all this pales into insignificance when compared with the real problem with this tournament…
WTF IS A DEFENSIVE LINE BREAK?!!! 😡
And why do they feel the need to give me the ‘stats’ on how many have occurred? It sounds like something from American Football. I don’t know why this has started - though I presume it’s to cater to the American audience - but it needs to stop, sharpish!
well drilled unit ol' Morocco
They’re looking good again. I’ve been impressed by their repeated Scholes-esque long, cross-field balls to switch the play
Another potential upset on the cards?
WTF IS A DEFENSIVE LINE BREAK?
Its when the leash tethering Maquire to his defensive position snaps, and he runs into the opposition box, trips over his own feet and tries to claim he deserves to be awarded a penalty.
Blimey!
Who does he think he is?
Ronaldo? 😂
Very nearly goal of the tournament there from Bruno
Portugal are now trying exactly the same antics as Argentina, constantly diving and haranguing the ref, though thankfully this ref is having absolutely none of it
WTF IS A DEFENSIVE LINE BREAK?!!!
Mark Chapman had a habit of throwing in some NFL terms as he's a big fan of that borefest.
Portugal are throwing themselves at the turf 👎👎👎
Pathetic
Loving Morocco's play.
Great interview on 5Live this morning with a Brazilian journalist, the presenter was trying to describe what you can expect when aging Argentina, she just said "oh yes, they're bastards"
This diving is getting even more embarrassing than yesterdays
Refs need to yellow card it 🤷♂️
Much better referee in this game.
Bruno Fernandes in acres of space on the edge of the box, fails to even hit the target.
I reckon the ref should spend the next 5 minutes ignoring the game and just follow him around the pitch yelling at him for failing to do his job properly. Meanwhile the fourth official and VAR team can surround the Portuguese bench and tell them as well.
Come on morroco!
how'd he miss that
(actually double that for Pepe as well)
Wow!!! What a performance!
Deserved!
What a dick Ronaldo is. If you want to be considered a great, as his talent and skill deserves you need to behave like one as well. Still all about him and what he feels.....
Yep - team player & senior pro. Not!
If you want to be considered a great, as his talent and skill deserves you need to behave like one as well. Still all about him and what he feels…..
It's pathetic. He could be applauding the fans, taking the plaudits at the end of his long, relatively successful international career, commiserating with his team-mates, even applauding the Moroccans, but no, poor little hard-done-by Ronaldo heads straight for the tunnel full of self-pity.
In Marrakech on my balcony and the whole city has erupted. What a time to be here!
Dominic from Nottingham
🙂
sticking it to the Iberians!
Good job Morocco 👍
He ended his club career with a petulant stomp off down the tunnel
He’s just ended his international career the same way
Dick!
I wish Souness had gone home instead of Keano
Well done to Morocco!
Never give up attitude! Good fighting spirits!
Father Jack is back!
Come on Gareth and the boys.
Oooh la la...
just seen replay, that's a brilliant save by Lloris
Saka's been caught half a yard slow on the press a couple of times now, after which we're then outnumbered.
Referee’s a w******!
Good use of the apostrophe. 👍