FIFA World Cup - Qatar 2022

[RA1N1]

Well done to both teams, an excellent play, honestly I would have liked Switzerland to score because of how awesome they played compared to Brazil.

Nonetheless, top-notch match!

The next match will be another strong game.

 

[Silencio]

Switzerland is today what I would call a mid tier Euro team which means that even without some of the flair of the top teams they are very disciplined, organized and tactically adept.
South american teams in the last few decades have been lacking on those departments and even with the usual Argentine/Brasil player quality they can easily be entangled by teams like Switzerland.
Either Brasil comes up with some of their trademark magic or they can even expose themselves for some late counter attack.

This Brazil team looks very disciplined and hard-working, in addition to having gobs of attacking talent.

So naturally it falls to their exemplary defensive midfielder to score the winner.

 

[Kimmo]

Most die hard fans would disagree with your point of view. VAR has become a very important part of the game, an offside is an offside. Even the picture you posted clearly shows he was offside. Perhaps the most memorable cheating event that occurred before VAR was introduced was Maradona in the Argentina vs England game when he scored a goal with his hand. That would clearly have been disallowed with VAR. Maradona off course called it "The hand of god"

So, I'm not a "die hard fan" and I loved Maradona's "hand of god" goal?

Very tricky, nebo!

In 2020 the BBC did a fans' poll about VAR. The results were interesting.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55160134

30 percent of fans thought it has improved the game, 44 percent of fans actually thought it made football worse.

51 percent of Premier League fans felt that VAR is applied inconsistently.

Also from 2020, was a poll that found that over two-thirds of fans thought VAR made the Premier League less enjoyable to watch.

VAR makes Prem less enjoyable, says fan poll

VAR has made the Premier League less enjoyable to watch, over two-thirds of football fans have said in a YouGov poll.

global.espn.com

74 percent said that the technology should be kept but needed to be modified.

That's where I am; not in favor of eliminating VAR, but I think it still needs some work to strike a better balance so that clear mistakes (the Maradona example) are remedied without sucking the life and emotion out of the game.

From the boss:

"Premier League chief executive Richard Masters understands fans frustrations and admits there are changes needed to make it work better, in particular when it comes to reviewing offside calls."

"I think offsides is one [that can be tweaked] and whether you want offsides that are precise to the armpit or the heel, or whether you want to build in a bit of tolerance," Masters said on Tuesday. "That is sort of a technical challenge. We are in constant dialogue with IFAB [the International Football Association Board that sets the rules] about it and about the way the Premier League does it versus everyone else and what we can learn from other leagues."

"Masters said the league had conducted polling which flagged up concerns from fans about "the time to take decision-making, frustration perhaps with the precision offsides. Whether you like that or don't, the jury is out on that."

 

[RA1N1]

Does anyone have the same feeling as I do tomorrow? England v Walse? blood bath?

 

[timber]

Does anyone have the same feeling as I do tomorrow? England v Walse? blood bath?

I will be surprised if England doesn't win.

 

[RA1N1]

I will be surprised if England doesn't win.

Certainly, but you can't deny the high tension between them already? it's already in the news, and I can already feel it here in London with my employees.

 

[timber]

Certainly, but you can't deny the high tension between them already? it's already in the news, and I can already feel it here in London with my employees.

I'm not British so I can't get the same feeling.
Still I can certainly understand it.

 

[RA1N1]

I'm not British so I can't get the same feeling.
Still I can certainly understand it.

Haha ya, it's in high gear already.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Anyone surprised that CR7 tried to claim credit for Portugal's goal? Ha!

 

[timber]

My heart can calm down a bit.

 

[Kimmo]

Anyone surprised that CR7 tried to claim credit for Portugal's goal? Ha!

Not me.

 

[Silencio]

Anyone surprised that CR7 tried to claim credit for Portugal's goal? Ha!

It skimmed the top of his hair, if that. I didn't notice the ball change trajectory or rotation at all in any of the replay angles, so it was rightly given to Bruno Fernandes, who has had a very strong tournament so far.

Have to say I was impressed with Facundo Pellistri today, who caused Portugal a lot of problems after he came on. Surely he's a better option out wide for United than Anthony Elanga?

Sweating Enner Valencia's fitness for tomorrow's match. If he's good to play, Ecuador should feel confident versus Senegal after their strong performance against the Netherlands. Hopefully they take care of business.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Anyone surprised that CR7 tried to claim credit for Portugal's goal? Ha!

It wasn't him. It was his hair!

 

[Apple fanboy]

As for tomorrow's game I'm not expecting an easy game from Wales. I can see them being well up for it.

 

[RA1N1]

As for tomorrow's game I'm not expecting an easy game from Wales. I can see them being well up for it.

I agree, we will see strong play from the Walsh team.

 

[Kimmo]

Iran threatened families of national soccer team, according to security source | CNN

The families of Iran's World Cup soccer team have been threatened with imprisonment and torture if the players fail to "behave" ahead of the match against the USA on Tuesday, a source involved in the security of the games said.

www.cnn.com

 

[RA1N1]

Iran threatened families of national soccer team, according to security source | CNN

The families of Iran's World Cup soccer team have been threatened with imprisonment and torture if the players fail to "behave" ahead of the match against the USA on Tuesday, a source involved in the security of the games said.

www.cnn.com

That's sad, although I had a feeling those players will have trouble when they get back to their homes.

 

[RA1N1]

I am really disliking the timing of the matches that will be aired from today onwards.

2 matches at the same time, WHY?!

I am going to have to bring out the old TV and have both on! the wife won't approve but you gotta do what you gotta do!

Gonna have to buy her chocolate and flowers to sweeten things up!

 

[OllyW]

2 matches at the same time, WHY?!

It's because the final round of group matches usually determine which teams go through to the next round. If the matches were held at different times, the teams in the second match could gain an advantage knowing the result from the first match.

 

[RA1N1]

It's because the final round of group matches usually determine which teams go through to the next round. If the matches were held at different times, the teams in the second match could gain an advantage knowing the result from the first match.

Haha, sorry I was just being a drama queen and sharing my plan for tonight! 😂

 

[laptech]

I am really disliking the timing of the matches that will be aired from today onwards.

2 matches at the same time, WHY?!

I am going to have to bring out the old TV and have both on! the wife won't approve but you gotta do what you gotta do!

Gonna have to buy her chocolate and flowers to sweeten things up!

Both games on!! So you be watching both games and thus basically ignoring your wife. I think she will want more than chocolates and flowers, maybe an expensive holiday lol

 

[RA1N1]

Both games on!! So you be watching both games and thus basically ignoring your wife. I think she will want more than chocolates and flowers, maybe an expensive holiday lol

You backstabber! we had a long and expensive holiday in the summer in Egypt, and planning a 10days holiday at Christmas and New Year in Turkey! what more can I do? 😭

On a side note, the old TV is out, plugged and ready! too bad no 4k in this tv

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I am really disliking the timing of the matches that will be aired from today onwards.

2 matches at the same time, WHY?!

I am going to have to bring out the old TV and have both on! the wife won't approve but you gotta do what you gotta do!

Gonna have to buy her chocolate and flowers to sweeten things up!

Is she a chocolate and flowers woman?

Some of us aren't, you know.

Now, should a loving spouse make an offer of a few bottles of rather good wine, on the other hand.....

 

[RA1N1]

Is she a chocolate and flaowers woman?

Some of us aren't, you know.

Now, should a loving spouse make an offer of a few bottles of rather good wine, on the other hand.....

Yes, she loves flowers and chocolate, but she also loves legos lol, especially star wars legos, don't tell her this, but I gave her a nice set for Christmas, although she won't get to enjoy it until after our trip.

We don't drink.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I am really disliking the timing of the matches that will be aired from today onwards.

2 matches at the same time, WHY?!

I am going to have to bring out the old TV and have both on! the wife won't approve but you gotta do what you gotta do!

Gonna have to buy her chocolate and flowers to sweeten things up!

It's because the final round of group matches usually determine which teams go through to the next round. If the matches were held at different times, the teams in the second match could gain an advantage knowing the result from the first match.

Actually, this rule was brought in by FIFA as a direct result of - or, to be more precise, as a direct consequence of - the now notorious match between what was then West Germany and Austria during the World Cup in 1982, when, given that they both knew (because the other relevant matches had been played earlier) what they needed to do in order for both teams to advance to the knock out stages at the expense of Algeria, they deliberately chose to play a most cynical game (the stats in the second half were extraordinary, comprising astonishing and inexplicable stuff such as completed pass rates in excess of 98%, - normally, this only happens when outstanding players play, and then, rarely - but no shots on target and hardly any tackles) which achieved the desired result (both teams advanced, and Algeria - who had played attractive football - were brutally and cynically eliminated).