Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Phewwwwwwwwwwww!!!:)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Typical England performance, deserved to win but appalling finishing and poor refereeing nearly cost them.

Making some of our refs look half decent.:rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

While the Japanese players cleaned up on the pitch, the fans cleaned up their aera in the stadium, they bought their own bin bags and left their area cleaner than when they arrived.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44492611

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Perhaps they should come over here and teach a bit of etiquette to our litter louts..

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Tidying up after yourself, something we were taught as kids.

Nowadays you'd need to write an app for it :D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Portugal very poor today, the epitome of a one man team.:rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Well we have heard of nine lives but they seem to have double of that sadly.:(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Judging by the radio commentary they're still experts at going to ground in a highly theatrical manner. :o:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

9.9 for artistic impression l would say.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I've ran out of plaudits to be fair. At the start of the season people said Cristiano finally dropped off. Only for him to run absolutely rampant and score 44 goals. Once again running riot in Europe.

4 goals already. Just silly.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

the Portugese player who went down like he was hit by a truck after getting a pat on the back should have been sent off.

Along with that diver ronaldo

---------- Post added at 20:01 ---------- Previous post was at 18:07 ----------

Gareth Southgate dislocates shoulder

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44555599

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

How on earth do you dislocate your shoulder whilst running, no mention of a 'fall' whilst running?

Perhaps he did fall?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cu...nager-suffers/

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Arm warm ups, any swinging motions have the potential to cause dislocation. Quite often see that happen live at MMA events.

I have no doubt though that he slipped on a biscuit.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Now that was a shocking VAR decision, if that wasn’t accidental handball I don’t know what is, penalty or not it wasn’t a yellow card offence. :(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Utterly shocking decision.:td::(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

You could even see that he had started to move his hand and arm away just before the ball arrived. It may not have been intentional, but it did impede the ball. Who knows, they might have scored without that handball stopping it.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

We will end up with a penalty being given for every handball no matter how unintentional it is.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

It's still going to have human error at the end of the day. Hardly the worst decision ever. Just another set of officials confused by the ruleset, VAR was never a fix, it was an aid. The standard of refereeing still needs to get better with or without visual aids.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

What a howler from Caballero as Messi is no existent tonight thus so far.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

The argies are currently 1-0 down after a goal keeper howler :D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

The Argentinians will be getting it in the neck tonight from their fans if they lose here.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Can you hear the argies sing,

No oh

:D :D

---------- Post added at 20:43 ---------- Previous post was at 20:41 ----------

WTF, that should have been a striaght red for Otamendi the cheating argie ****

---------- Post added at 20:49 ---------- Previous post was at 20:43 ----------

Don't cry for me Argentina :D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Its all coming home to roast tonight for Messi and co.:D:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

To quote Bart Simpson, Argentin are in Deep Deep Trouble :D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

The best part of it all is watching that fat, bloated cheating drug addict squirming in his seat.:D

Cricket on the iPad is good as well. :cool:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Unless Brazil curb the egoistic primadona Neymar they won't be winning the World Cup IMO.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Neymar should have been shown red for that blaten dive.

I have Brazil in my works sweepstake

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

The World Cup in which the star studded line ups of Argentina and Brazil with their Prime players Messi and Neymar are being shown up by the 'Past it' Ronaldo and his bang average team. Love it. Will love it even more if he does indeed ditch Madrid and come back to the Premier League.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Yep if l was comparing players l would have to put Ronaldo ahead of the other two.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

No he shouldn't ... but, he should have been booked for it, and then sent off for his second booking - for the tantrum not long after.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

FA's own ruleset is superior in this scenario, except with the use of VAR and correct decisions now more likely, it may become redundant

Example: If Neymar had won the penalty and the referee didn't overturn the decision, the FA can hand him a two match ban.

VAR can still be wrong though down to human error and refereeing consistency. I'd hope if the referee had still got it wrong after VAR and the penalty was awarded, Neymar would face a potential two game ban. Worth noting to my understanding, FIFA do not have a rule in place. Thus, a yellow card and no penalty would be the best outcome in this scenario.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

That was an incredible tackle on Mitrovic. I'm not sure how it's possible to get away with that, with or without VAR.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Belgium getting over confident now, bringing on Fellaini.:D

Interesting that one of the Tunisian team, Bronn is the only player in both squads to actually play for a Belgian team, also that England and Saudi Arabia are the only countries with entirely home based squads.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Belgium will be strong favourites against us so lets see what they have got..

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

A well taken goal by Little Pea but a blatant foul to rob the Korean forward in the lead up to the goal.:rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Indeed it was very obvious Jim..

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Getting ridiculous now, how was that not a penalty to Sweden?:rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Clear and obvious penalty after seeing it several times.:td::(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Never Den, my office sweepstake team are innocent ;)

Bummer Sweden have scored. Stuff the sweepstake, come on Sweden ! :)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I know what you mean, I have Brazil, and think Neymar should have been shown red for that clear and blaten dive to get a penalty. This would sent a clear message to others like Ronaldo and Messi.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Developing story, local sources too, suggest that Jorge Sampaoli is about to be sacked as Argentina manager. A repeat of France 2010 on the cards.

Update: Story is changing into the AFA have asked him to step aside.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Bugger Germany win the the last minute :(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

They will win the World cup now....

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Xhaka and Shaqiri facing two match ban for goal celebrations. Good.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Just what the doctor ordered :D but l cannot believe the referee did nothing about the persistent grappling by the Panama defenders just before that.:(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Christ, what a horrible team. From the Coach all the way through the players. Out you go Panama, won't miss you.

---------- Post added at 13:45 ---------- Previous post was at 13:25 ----------

Well that penalty was coming. What a shambles of a team.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Lol 5-0 and still not HT!

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

l have never seen such endemic grapping and brutality such as what Panama have done in this first half..:td::td::(:(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I don't get it, because they're not that great at football they thought they could turn up and just play rugby instead?

Belgium when they thought they had the advantage in goal difference though.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

5-0 and thats only after 45 minutes :O


Another 2 goals and we top our group, on goal difference.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Why were the Panamanian players going onto or staying on the pitch at HT?

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Just seen a replay of Torres. He should be off. He's either whinging at the ref or sticking his head into the players. I honestly think the ref is saving him because of the scoreline.

---------- Post added at 14:05 ---------- Previous post was at 13:52 ----------

1. We're level with Belgium. They win 3-0 and 5-2 giving them 6. England's 5-0 and 2-1 leaves us with 6.

---------- Post added at 14:06 ---------- Previous post was at 14:05 ----------

More factual cack for everyone.

If Kane scores another penalty he'll become the first player in world cup history to score a hattrick from the spot.

---------- Post added at 14:38 ---------- Previous post was at 14:06 ----------

Really? How does nobody track that? Absolute laziness.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Sloppiness will cost us dearly at some point...

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Just leaving Old Trafford to avoid the rush, saw the first goal then every time England scored Australia got a wicket.☹

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

So far, Belgium & England have looked the best two teams.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Doh....ah well, at least I got home in time to see the last five overs, now to watch the England game.😎

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Given what the Serbs did to ethnic Albanians in Kosovo I think the actions of both players are hardly OTT.::rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Amazing Gerald Pique comes in with a two footed challenge and the officials do nothing..:td::(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Ronaldo misses a penalty:cleader::cleader::cleader::cleader:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

A penalty that never was one..:td::td::td:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

The lost control of the Portugal match.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

This referee has been one absolute incompetent..:td::td:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I think the Spanish match was just as musch fun.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Players are abusing VAR IMO as well as they are diving and play acting even more then before..

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

The reason why they did it isn't really the point being made. There's shady crap happening every hour of the day. Football is a place where every team should be able to just play the other and forget about everything else for 90 minutes. The only so called political statements I agree with are those that are agreed upon by the entire team and not just a few players. It's possibly one of the rare things FIFA actually get right.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Well they haven’t been banned, the whole team isn’t of Albanian descent like these three players are so why should the whole team protest. One of them had a father imprisoned as a political prisoner for a few years so had good reason to make his point.

You could even argue it was a just response to all the Serbian fans parading round with pictures of convicted war criminals emblazoned on their shirts, waving provocative flags and chanting vile insults. :rolleyes:

Personally I would not class ethnic cleansing as just ‘shady crap’ .:(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

But it doesn't belong on a pitch.

Every major FA in Europe alongside Uefa and FIFA seem to think it doesn't and again I'm inclined to agree. I'm not referring to this specific event as shady crap. I'm pointing out that there's things happening every single day that someone could take issue with and make such gestures about. We can't let it come to that. Regardless of our own or their moral stance on it, you have to punish it to deter it. As for the team side of it. I didn't really mean a team protest, I was referring to things like the home nation poppy kits. FIFA aren't just cherry picking though. We've seen this with Celtic fans a while back.

Serbia also received punishment for the same thing. So in haste earlier a fine for the players was fair. It would be inappropriate to issue bans when it's harder to identify supporters and punish them thus the Serbian FA deals with the fine.

I'd like to move on though because there's naturally a few gripes I have about that Portugal game. Unsure how you can give the Iran spot kick with VAR. I thought the standard of Premier League refereeing was horrid. Pointless calling into question that Ronaldo penalty then? Can't be the only one that noticed the goalkeeper starts behind the line, gets a run at it and is well off the line when the kick is taken, he's almost charged it down. It really should've been a retake and a yellow card offence.

The flailing arm, nothing in it to be fair. I've seen them given as red plenty of times but I'd be miffed if an England player was sent off for that.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Several English players have been sent off in tournaments for which were yellow cards at the very most adzii.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Kyle Walker escaped one against Tunisia. Don't believe that was a red either though. It'd be hard to justify red cards for Walker or Ronaldo. In the case of Ronaldo though, I struggle to even find an argument for a yellow. The lad for Iran for whatever reason found it acceptable to consistently block off the ball runs, Ronaldo tried to get round him and he again does everything he can to impede him, Ronaldo puts the arm over to push himself round and barely touches him to be fair. So really should be a yellow the other way. Same ugly tactics we had used against ourselves with Panama.

Problem being is the anti-Ronaldo agenda is just too much to let go.

This world cup is damaging VAR with its remarkably awful referees. Then again its the operators you have to call into question. Think there needs to be an open mic feed for VAR calls, some level of transparency is required.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Guess we will have to agree to disagree.;)
FIFA are hardly the bastions of virtue TBH, well up the scale on Shady Crappiness, re World Cups in Russia and Quatar for starters.

You will always get political protests and what better place than a major sporting event, especially when you are being goaded by the object of your protests at the time.

Emily Davidson (suffragette), Jesse Owens (Munich Olympics), Tommie Smith & John Carlos (68 Olympics) , anti apartheid protests by several different sports people all had a great deal of justification IMHO.


On a scale from 1 to 10 on my Crapometer, normal, everyday crap would rank as 1. Shady crap a 2, FIFA would be a 5 or 6. Serbian ethnic cleansing and genocide would rank as a 9, just behind Adolfs Final Solution, Stalins Pograms or Pol Pots Year Zero.

Not sure why they even got fined because they didn't incite the Serbian fans, they were spouting bile and hatred at the three players right from the off.


PS. One protest that was not political and really peed me off at the time was the 1975 pitch destruction at the Headingly test match as part of the Free George Davis campaign. :(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

What was Jesse Owens protest?

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

He refused to salute Adolf.

http://lalitkumar.in/blog/jesse-owen...us-photograph/

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Yep l remember the picture of it.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

On a similar note, I can't be the only one impressed by the host nation this world cup. I truly expected it to be riddled with Russian mobs as per previous posts but to my surprise they've either weeded them out or they've just become a respectful set of fans for this event.

I mean you'll actually find a few England fans have been caught up in Russia performing Nazi salutes...

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Well tonight's games look to be more far interesting then this afternoons snore fest.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

One thing a police state can do well ‘if it wants to’ is totally control the people.

When I went to St Petersburg a few years back everyone except the surly customs officials where very friendly.

Any predictions for Argentina v Nigeria?

Aguerro dropped.:shocked:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I'd like Argentina to go out. Its one of the most open world cups I've been alive to see, I feel like a few teams have very decent shouts at this tournament including England. Is there going to be a better chance in a while?

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I fell into a coma listening to France v Denmark this afternoon.:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Sadly we are a bit further away from that..

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Come on Iceland.:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Aye, sadly Argentina finally turned up.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Nigeria lack nous and knowhow sadly as they don't seem to have a clue how to get at this average pedestrian Argentinian defence.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

For the love of God man stop grabbing people in the box.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

A clear penalty for me.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I feel a Rattin moment coming for Argentina.;)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

It's a rare thing to give credit for referee's at this world cup. It's become next to ridiculous in leagues around the world. However Argentina have been here the same amount time as everyone else. They've seen it punished so Mascherano has made a right arse of it.

---------- Post added at 20:31 ---------- Previous post was at 20:16 ----------

I feel like Shola Ameobi would've buried Argentina by now. :shocked:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

But did say Smith and Carlos were wrong to make their protest, I never knew about the salute thing, I have seen pictures of the British team doing though iirc

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Shola would definitely have scored that. But absolute proof that the official's in the VAR seats haven't a clue. A good VAR call by the ref to balance it out.

---------- Post added at 20:52 ---------- Previous post was at 20:38 ----------

Good to see Diego Maradona is still a bellend.

I have no idea what I'm watching. It's 2018 and Argentina are scraping through into the knockout stages of a world cup with their coaches nearly encroaching onto the field screaming at the referee to blow a whistle followed by players celebrating like they've won the entire thing.

I'd be beyond embarrassed if England went on that ridiculous. I couldn't stand losing to an Argentina side like this, hopefully France give them a decent hammering.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I’ll bet France are already making plans for the quarterfinals.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I hope they bring a bag of white narcotics and a quarter pounder to keep Diego's arse on his seat.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

To echo it, that's Germany out. A shock yes but hardly as massive as its made to be, the same thing literally happened to Spain, except Spain won the Euros and were actually a better bet than Germany here. Again its an open tournament this. I'm not entirely sure why Germany were favourites. A lot changes in four years and they didn't win the Euros either. I commonly have no hope for England but christ dare I dream. If we put a good showing in against Belgium...

Wonder if South Korea are match fixing again.

More Jargon though, you'd have to head back to 1962 to find the last back to back world cup winners which were Brazil. The other team to complete the feat being Italy. That's the FIFA World Cup. The 'Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy' is often considered the first world cup and was won on both occasions by a team of miners from Country Durham. Sadly the original trophy was stolen some years ago and was never recovered. An exact copy was commissioned but it's still not the same when you regard it as a piece of history. As time went on however and the introduction of the FIFA World Cup we know today it's now being given the fair assessment that the Sir Thomas Lipton tournament was more comparable to the inter City fairs Cup.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I heard cheers at work when the 1st South Korean goal went in, and when Son scored his :D

So at 5pm like Germany I was going home :D

Now lets see Brazil follow them, even though I have them in the works sweepstake.

---------- Post added at 19:27 ---------- Previous post was at 19:26 ----------

Oh yeah.

DON'T MENTION THE VAR :D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

We were just making our way back to the car when l checked the latest score on the mobile and all l can say a lovely day out just got that little bit better.:D:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Question is, how many of you know what Thomas Lipton was famous for without resorting to Google? :)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Is it tea :confused:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Spot on.:)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Well as long as England don't win I really don't care too much. My tendency is to support whoever around me isn't just to be different. I was quite happy cheering on Germany against England in a pub in London during one world cup.

My main reason for not wanting England to win is the silliness that would go with it. The way the media still harp on about 1966. Imagine what it would be like now! It's only a game, enjoy the matches, support your team by all means.

Personally I like to see the minnows do well.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Hope that England go all out for the win tonight. Purely for selfish reasons though. I have tickets for the England v India T20 game at Old Trafford cricket ground on the evening of the 3rd July. :cool:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Watch your yellow cards as you might be eliminated from the World Cup by them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/43976003

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

That's naff. Necessary unfortunately but naff.

At the expense of having to travel around a bit more we should really look to implement re-drawing from a pot after the groups to prevent the scenario we've got in front of us. Neither England or Belgium have much of an incentive to finish top when finishing second provides an easier route on paper. I'm hoping of course we play to signal our intent but this isn't an issue that just affects us. It's happened over a few tournaments now.