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The ref is being constantly fooled by ̶V̶e̶r̶a̶t̶t̶i̶ Italy's play-acting.
FTFY.
Belgian defending like a Martinez team of old.
I like the way the Italian lying prone on the deck miraculously recovered to join in the celebrations once they scored.
Should have brought it back for simulation. Or offside for interfering with the defender who nearly fell over him
Why isn't the Italian keeper on life support?
Coached by Neymar.
#prayforbothofthem
Fastest player in the tournament so far, measured at 34km/h: Spinazzola. No word if that was measured as he was running or if that was how fast he hit the ground from a non-existent challenge.
How Italians can watch these snide clowns week in week out is beyond me.
Is it possible for both teams in the same semi final match to get knocked out? Cos I'd really like to not have to watch Spain or Italy again.
How Italians can watch these snide clowns week in week out is beyond me.
Cheating is endemic in football, always has been, get over it.
Fantastic game, best team won, what a tournament.
Used to love Italy; the team of Maldini,Cannavaro and Rossi but this shower just really irk me.
Cheating is endemic in football, always has been,
Certainly has become more prevalent. Different kinds. This garbage is particularly unwatchable for me.
Always? Bollards. Watch some old stuff.
Always? Bollards. Watch some old stuff.
I've watched and played for 40 years, there's always been cheating, it was dominated years ago by the good old boys that would kick your head off, many a fine player had career ended by these 'legends'.
I'd rather watch someone being a primadonna than a two footed over the ball 'Keano' special.
The play acting could be easily stopped btw, add time on at the end for every time, easy.
Shearer loved a dive himself, hes got a cheek. 🤣
The play acting could be easily stopped btw, add time on at the end for every time, easy.
can't see why they don't have a ball in play clock.
Yea Frannie Lee was at it in 1968 but was soundly booed. I played on South London pitched fending off guys the size and build of Anthony Joshua and falling to floor was pretty rare.
The Italians behaviour in last 10 min reminded me why I barely watch football any more having grown up loving it
It was embarrassing..
Have they stopped rolling around yet?
Italy definitely the better team, but my god that last 10 mins was a difficult watch. Was also narked much earlier in the game - Veratti got a yellow for an admittedly minor foul on Tielemans, but was clearly deliberate in order to prevent a counter attack. 20 seconds later he collapsed like a dying swan after Tielemans walked past him, and somehow managed to buy a yellow for Tielemans too
https://twitter.com/donmoyn/status/1411047313976483842
What is this 'football' you refer to?
it was dominated years ago by the good old boys that would kick your head off, many a fine player had career ended by these ‘legends’.
Yes and it was done quite openly. There were no attempts to con the ref. It's just what was tolerated then. That's not cheating. Nobbling someone with a 2 footer is no longer part of the game, thank goodness but then it was. Sorta. They got pulled up occasionally.
I'm talking 1960s. I watched the FA Cup stuff from the 64-68. Great stuff and non of the crap you see these days.
What is this ‘football’ you refer to?
Maybe stick to Motorsport if you don't understand real sport.
The play acting could be easily stopped btw, add time on at the end for every time, easy.
They had two minutes of EXTRA extra time. Great game marred by the last ten minutes. Italy were the better team.
I’d rather watch someone being a primadonna than a two footed over the ball ‘Keano’ special.
Thing is though, the authorities have largely dealt with the 'reducers' etc and they are far less of a feature of the game than they used to be - diving and playacting though....
I think the game is better for the loss of the reducer, despite growing up at a time when it was common and 'hard men' are still somewhat revered through rose tinted specs. Skilful players can thrive nowadays in a way they couldn't, although the very best could find space and time even back then.
The diving and simulation is a blight; play acting and pretending a locating hand on the chest was a haymaker to the jaw must be dealt with, retrospectively if needed.
I'm less worried actually about the tendency to 'go down' under contact; it's too easy for sure but as previously, I think the fault is with the application of the advantage law. As it stands if a player is fouled and tries to keep their feet and play on, the ref will call advantage which may or may not happen depending on the skill and success of the player. So there's a benefit to going down to ensure you get the decision that the laws actually create.
I think we need to consider the rugby style double jeopardy - play on, see if an advantage ensues and if not then bring it back. eg: forward clean through on goal, heels clipped, stays on feet and GK makes a save, the advantage is lost. Currently the laws 'force' the player to go down to ensure they get the easier penalty. In rugby the ref would say that you are no better off so we'll come back and play the penalty anyway.
It's a change, but the game is constantly evolving and will continue to.
"The diving and simulation is a blight; play acting and pretending a locating hand on the chest was a haymaker to the jaw must be dealt with, retrospectively if needed."
Yes, feigning a head injury should be met with a yellow card at least. Or an actual haymaker to the jaw.
Yes and it was done quite openly. There were no attempts to con the ref.
You never had a centre half grab the skin under your armpit at a corner? No way you were getting up for a header, never mind scoring, ah the piggy grip, those halcyon days. There was a shit load of stuff going that you never knew about if you're a spectator.
I agree it's not ideal, but the first 80 mins if that game was pure class.
Italy are the team to beat and last nights game perhaps should've been the final but, as has been said, the last 10 mins were pathetic
Immobile's miraculous recovery was embarrassing. It reminded me of Rivaldo against turkey in the world cup, when the ball was gently kicked at his feet and he collapsed clutching his face
I hope they can tone it down cos I generally like to see the best team win the tournament, and Italy look amazing. The final third snappy passing and speed is *chefs kiss*
I think someone should go through the match afterwards and retro-book or ban players judged to have been blatantly play acting.
However, you can 'win' a foul by deliberately tripping over an outstretched leg even if you weren't really going that way or you could have hopped over it and carried on.
No.
Controversy is one of the things that makes football, let's keep Rugby for those obsessed with rules, fitba for the rest of us.
There was a shit load of stuff going that you never knew about if you’re a spectator.
True but the refs knew. Just like today, they still don't call half the stuff that happens on set pieces.
Plus if you developed some muscle, there wasnt any skin to grab.
I agree it’s not ideal, but the first 80 mins if that game was pure class.
Except for every attempt to make the ref think they'd been coshed in the face. Kicked in the groin, etc. They are at it from minute one. Constantly. Which is why I can't watch serie A, and ant believe anyone else would, outside as punishment.
Controversy is fine. Playacting is for kids. You are seriously telling me you want 90 minutes of Ederson trying to get people sent off every week?
play on, see if an advantage ensues and if not then bring it back. eg: forward clean through on goal, heels clipped, stays on feet and GK makes a save, the advantage is lost. Currently the laws ‘force’ the player to go down to ensure they get the easier penalty. In
The ref can wait to see if an advantage developed, if not bring it back.
But you can't con a ref into giving you a free kick when there was no foul unless you make it look like one.
Plus players want free kicks. There is a belief that a set piece had a higher likelyhood of success than open play. Dead ball specialists, balls that move more, the chance to try a rehearsed move designed to target an opponents weakness.
It's certainly true that some teams largely live off the set play. Otherwise the numbers don't really support it. Players believe it though and play for them.
However, you can ‘win’ a foul by deliberately tripping over an outstretched leg even if you weren’t really going that way or you could have hopped over it and carried on.
Indeed, and I'm not sure if that's an evolution of the game or cheating. We hear the ex-players talking about 'felt the contact' and 'defender gave them a chance to go down'; will they evolve to get even smarter in their tackling (or not tackling) choices. You do already see it, a defender goes to tackle, the attacker dives while waving a leg feeling for contact, the defender pulls out and the attacker ends up looking stupid.
It's not exactly the same because there are so many more 'goals' that each scoring chance is comparatively less valuable. But another of my sports, basketball, it's well recognised to manufacture contact - not particularly for the scoring chance that 2 free throws win you but that at 5 fouls an opponent can be fouled out, and consequently defenders don't challenge in certain circumstances and take the chance the opportunity will be missed.
What's with international players that can't kick with their weaker foot about?
It was a pretty good kick with his good foot from the wrong side
It was a superb ball into the box
Could have been a more interesting game, this, if the Czech’s had bothered to turn up for the first half
will they evolve to get even smarter in their tackling (or not tackling) choices. Y
I don't think you can be an effective defender if you try to tackle that way.
Your comparison to basketball is interesting. The officiating is so bad, they don't even call double dribbles and traveling anymore. The players have resorted to wearing protective padding. Soccer, in the other hand, has discovered the laws of unintended consequences. Every time they have tightened the rules around defending (dogso, automatic yellows for professional fouls, broadened the interpretation of dangerous etc) they have not introduced a matching action for attackers. There is zero downside to faking to try and get a centre half on a yellow early, or get someone a red for dogso, or violent conduct, or win a pen. They announced that simulation would be punished but never did. So they have created a situation which encourages, even rewards diving.
Kicking the leg of a defender and falling over is epidemic and agaisnt the rules. It's a fouls to kick someone. The refs aren't players, they just don't understand what they are seeing.
What’s with international players that can’t kick with their weaker foot about?
There are a lot that can't but that one wasn't that. If you use the outside of the foot, you can get the curl and direction without changing your body shape. Trying to catch the defenders on the wrong foot to turn. Worked too.
Czechs got their shape all wrong first half. Lines disconnected, fullbacks and centre half's playing different games. Too bad.
There are a lot that can’t but that one wasn’t that.
That was intended to be tongue in cheek. Hell of a ball.
That was intended to be tongue in cheek.
Gotcha. Unfortunately, it's all too true. Way too many players in the top flight are one footed.
I mean, even when Jesus kicked that guy in the face yesterday at the Copa, he went with his left.
Keys to the match: Do not show Yarmalenko onto his left foot. That's all you have to do.
Nervous 85 minutes left 🙂
Right, Kane,Sterling, Sancho off, Henderson, James and Mings on. Hold what you have. No problem defending for 85 minutes, right? I mean, it's England.
Jaysus. Are they on a rotation for who is going to put an opponent through on Pickford?
I fear this is going to turn into a repeat of the Iceland fiasco.
Ukraine switched to 4 at the back, England haven't adjusted, they can't cope with the 5 in the midfield.
Good shout chromolyolly!
And I've got Stones and Macguire to both score headers at 125-1
Tense 44 mins to follow in more ways than one
(maybe not)
Ukranian keeper is having a shocker, that's the second ball that's been fired right at him and he's let it through.
Wonder if Jose rates Luke Shaw yet?!
oh bollocks, I thought it was Stones!!
Hendooo!
That's nice to see.