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It's bizarre that all the officials are Argentinan. I'd have thought officials need to come from a country no longer in the tournament.
Morocco v France was the worst game I've seen so far this world cup. So good I ended up playing chess on my phone.
Several times Morocco got in good positions wide, but there was no one in the middle, I know they were playing with false 9, but surely someone should be gambling.
Terrible game, seemed they just wanted to keep it 0-0 as long as possible without the 'game management' of Paraguay. Even when France went ahead they had no response. Shame really.
Once the stakes rise the entertainment goes out the window.
2 match ban for Quansah. Seems harsh in light of Balogun's deferred ban
This is a bit more like it!
Morocco v France was the worst game I've seen so far this world cup. So good I ended up playing chess on my phone.
You must have very small chess pieces !!
VAR giveth, VAR taketh away…
Wasn’t worried…
Right...
Sleep!
They may not have the most talented players, although in Kane and Bellingham there is certainly talent. But they have spirit in abundance.
And Big Dan Burn when it counts
Bugger
Argentina next ...
Yep, I can't believe that Stenhousemuir beat Forfar 2-1.
Anyway Argentina v Switzerland now
Anyway Argentina v Switzerland Kerry v Dublin now, ftfy 😉
Another good outcome of last night is no cautions, so no suspensions (Quansah aside) for the semi - we had a few walking that tightrope including Bellingham and Rice, but with cards reset now the only way to get yourself suspended for the final would be to get sent off. Which is a possibility with the way Argentina play the game, physical and niggly and I hope someone's careful to make sure no-one slightly hot headed and important "Does a Gazza" on Wednesday.
For the game - slightly concerned but also encouraged that 11/12 goals are from Kane and Bellingham this world cup. Because we do have potential elsewhere, not least from set pieces where we have IIRC the sum total of 1 goal plus 2 pens. I'd happily take 3 headers from corners or free kicks, bollocks to all these free flowing moves 😉
Anyway Argentina v Switzerland Kerry v Dublin now, ftfy 😉
Yep I will of course be watching that blockbuster, as a nice change from soccerball.
Better get my ride done now then.
I do think there'll be at least one red card.
Jude has shades of Beckham and Rooney in how important he is. That said he also reminds me of Maradona circa 1986 in the way he's dragging the team along.
Fwiw, I got married an hour after England beat Argentina in 2002.
Do I need to find another wife before Wednesday, or could we get away with just renewing our vows?
Fwiw, I got married an hour after England beat Argentina in 2002.
Do I need to find another wife before Wednesday, or could we get away with just renewing our vows?
I think it'll have to be a new wife to be certain. You wouldn't want to do a half job and engerland to crash out on penalties.
@Caher, that was a nervous watch. Its almost like we've got to the final with only clicking into real top gear the once.
Fwiw, I got married an hour after England beat Argentina in 2002.
Do I need to find another wife before Wednesday, or could we get away with just renewing our vows?
@Caher, that was a nervous watch. Its almost like we've got to the final with only clicking into real top gear the once.
Yea, thought the Dubs couldn't hit a cow's arse with a giant banjo. Mayo are a young side and might give the Kingdom a bit of a runaround.
What do we think of Infantinos plan to increase the WC to 64 teams. They're talking about a 128 match programme for that but it seems like an obvious chance to get rid of pointless group stage matches and make it a knockout tournament from the first round - but obvs less ticket revenue for Infantino to syphon off so it'd never happen.
Not a fan of football, but I do hope England take it all the way.
So many fans of other sports national teams and athletes get to see them succeed on the world stage.
I hope the footy fans get that opportunity this year. 👍🏻🤞🏻
What do we think of Infantinos plan to increase the WC to 64 teams. They're talking about a 128 match programme for that but it seems like an obvious chance to get rid of pointless group stage matches and make it a knockout tournament from the first round - but obvs less ticket revenue for Infantino to syphon off so it'd never happen.
I was skeptical of the 48 team World Cup but like most people thought the extra teams have made a good account of themselves. The best 3rd place finishing malarkey is bobbins however. initial thoughts - a 64 team World Cup would go on a long time and I'd probably pay alot less attention to the group stages. Im already feeling a little saturated right now.
Think there is zero chance of it returning to a pure cup competition. The big teams wont want it because there's too much risk of getting knocked out after a single bad performance. And the smaller teams will want 3 guaranteed games?
I think 64 is a great idea, let the smaller countries in, they get to go to the olympics etc and every so often produce a star. Also solves the silly 3rd place nonsense.
It won't be longer, as the group games are played at the same time.
Even 64 excludes really shit teams that would just be embarrassed.
I'm a bit mixed, and this risks being an essay but I'll try to keep it short.
I was against 48, but I was wrong, even though the sharp end has mainly the usual names remaining there were some great games and performances from the smaller nations, as well as a few stinkers. But, it's the global game, and the world's invited so why not 64 then?
As others have said, it won't make the tournament longer on the calendar, just more group games taking place simultaneously in the first phase, for the R32 to come together without either ridiculously long or short gaps they all have to finish at the same time roughly. Does that limit the places the tournament can be held, needing potentially half a dozen more suitable venues? Or can they sweat the venues or even double header some games - pitches are now good enough that 2 games in a day or or on consecutive days is no real issue.
So then what - 16 groups of 4 teams, with top 2 in each to go through. Here's where it gets complex for me because to add 16 more teams that has to be even handed - it can't be another 16 low ranked nations, at least half of the additional 16 will probably go to UEFA and South America and sides like Italy, Ireland, Wales, Greece, Denmark, etc. would be part of the addition. Sure there would be also some more smaller nations but can't be all 16. Whether 'guaranteeing' the higher ranked UEFA nations a place is a good thing or not, IDK.
And then it'll mean another more selective seeding, less chance of any really big clashes in the group phase and while upsets can always happen, possibly a bit more inevitability to it? Which then leads on to the R32, with no 3rd place teams going through I think there's less chance of surprises and then less glamour and jeopardy in the R32 where a lower ranked side can pull an upset. Might be wrong on that though.
Finally, is guaranteeing the people that are likely to vote for this (and FIFA is one nation, one vote, so Luxembourg and the Solomon Islands have as much say as France and Brazil) three games but less chance of a fourth going to swing it. I suspect it will, which is why for all his ****ing about with our game, Infantino is almost untouchable because he has the support of the expansionists.
I think the 48 team expansion hasn't been great, it overly complicated the group stage with the 3rd best team.
Cape Verde (who for me were the best of the worst) would have been likely to qualify for this world cup anyway due to USA, Mexico & Canada automatically qualifying.
I'm hoping they expand to 128 countries then Ireland will get in - but i doubt it.
Cape Verde (who for me were the best of the worst) would have been likely to qualify for this world cup anyway due to USA, Mexico & Canada automatically qualifying.
Cape Verde is located just off the west coast of Africa so the current host nations would be in a different qualifying group if they weren't the hosts
Whoops, turns out Geography might not be my strong point.
Quite looking forward to tonight's match. Hopefully it'll be full of red cards should England win tomorrow and if England lose y then hopefully the world cup winner will come from this game.
I think you could well be right.
Spain are looking by far the better side in this first half. France haven’t turned up. They can’t string two passes together. Spain look really comfortable.
This is where France come out and put 4 past them in the second half, isn’t it?
I foolishly forgot to put my usual bet on Cucurella to get booked. Curses! The odds are always rubbish but it’s basically free money
France aren't really hair pullers so not likely to antagonise Cucurella. France look tired, maybe too much shrugging.
Their performance so far seems to have been a huge collective shrug, with maybe a bit of a sigh at the end of it
Looks like whoever wins tomorrow night will be playing Spain. They’re taking this French back line apart
Was that a big boooo for Infantino? Interesting if it was but commentators rushed in to say the crowd were booing someone else...
Whenever Ally McCoist is commentating, I always imagine the commentary box looking like this
Maybe the French have got on the vin rouge a bit early today as it’s bastille day
Well, France were shite!
France were suffocated.
Sack re blurgh
Doesn't bode well for England even if they get past the Argies 😔
