The way the World Cup is now set up you would virtually have to deliberately try not to get out of the group. Group position is what matters due to the 4000 or so permutations of opponents you might meet.
We play most of each game like the PL. sideways, sideways, back, back again then sideways. All the time looking to see if anyone is bothering to go forwards.
IMO we were fortunate Ghana didn't get a penalty, but game over, one to forget for sure.
Yeah, I'm a bit surprised more wasn't made of that incident.
I got a bad feeling about that one, after watching Messi avoid a red card so he could keep appearing and keep scoring I feel this World Cup may be corrupt. Both of these incidents are hard to reconcile. Maybe the plan is for all the big teams to get through if possible and Messi be the superstar once again if at all possible. I think that's the preferred narrative for this World Cup if at all archivable.
The other inconsistency in favour of a big team was the Jude Bellingham mouth covering, why did the Paraguy player get sent off and not Bellingham? I've heard the official explanation but it doesn't hold up. The ref could not have heard or known the content of the exchange, he chose to overlook it.
Match 1: And three iffy Red Cards in my opinion, I hope that this has not set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
After Match 1, I wonder if "a word" was whispered into referees ears about not being "card happy". It seems to me now that things have now gone the other way and referees are letting any amount of quite brutal challenges go unpunished when a yellow card, at the very least would have seemed absolutely appropriate.
The other inconsistency in favour of a big team was the Jude Bellingham mouth covering, why did the Paraguy player get sent off and not Bellingham? I've heard the official explanation but it doesn't hold up. The ref could not have heard or known the content of the exchange, he chose to overlook it.
No inconsistency. The rule is about aggressive speech. Bellingham was deemed not to be aggressive as opposed to Almiron's which was.
But how would they know as he covered his mouth, and if not aggressive why cover his mouth? was he discussing tactics? That seems a rule made for selective application.
If so that's a crazy one... A ref sees a player from 20 yards away covering his mouth to an opposing player. The ref is in that case supposed to apply his judgment to what was said or believe whatever the opposing player claims . I guess it could introduce a new art to the game of delivering abuse with smiley eyes and a warm disposition.
It's so obvious that the rule should be no mouth covering to an opposing player. As there is no reason for it. That would be too easy for the powers that be I guess.
I think the suggestion is that unless you are discussing team tactics with a team mate it's hard to find a reason you need to cover your mouth. Covering your mouth is designed to prevent anyone hearing or reading what you said and nothing more. Team tactics of course, but anything else I am hard pressed to understand why you'd need to.
Considering they've from so many different places, the refs have been fairly consistent at corners, fakery, yellow cards etc. A few are out of their depth, but VAR hasn't been needed (or used) much.
Another unexpectedly exciting game with the USA vs Türkiye - essentially nothing on it yet both teams played their hearts out in a thrilling 3-2 loss to the USA with the last kick of the game.
Oh my, the Iran vs Egypt game, the Iranians can feel robbed, they really felt they had “won” it in the 93rd minute but the goal was disallowed due to the most fractional of offsides.
He was offside by literally half of one boot and for me, it initially looked like there was an outfield player clearly playing them on but in the melee, the keeper had also crept forward beyond consideration soooo striking it off was strictly correct, but it was so so close.
They also hit the post in those final frantic minutes..
I think they will still go through and from what I have seen of them, they deserve to
Not the greatest start for England- not moving the ball anywhere quickly enough through midfield….on at least three occasions in the opening 20mins we had players on the ball in the middle of the park literally standing still.
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Group position is what matters due to the 4000 or so permutations of opponents you might meet.
Not sure if it's me, but Pickford looks so uncomfortable, he looks like he's making his debut rather than a keeper with many caps....
IMO we were fortunate Ghana didn't get a penalty, but game over, one to forget for sure.
It seems to me now that things have now gone the other way and referees are letting any amount of quite brutal challenges go unpunished when a yellow card, at the very least would have seemed absolutely appropriate.
It's so obvious that the rule should be no mouth covering to an opposing player. As there is no reason for it. That would be too easy for the powers that be I guess.
When you think about that..that is absolutely hilarious
Ha’way the lads
Entertaining stuff
If we finish top of the group we get a third placed team on Wednesday 6pm
If we finish 2nd we play the Runner up of Group K in Toronto on Thursday at midnight
That will be Portugal unless they can beat Colombia Saturday night
Let's beat Panama, please, I've got work 7:45am Friday
He was offside by literally half of one boot and for me, it initially looked like there was an outfield player clearly playing them on but in the melee, the keeper had also crept forward beyond consideration soooo striking it off was strictly correct, but it was so so close.
They also hit the post in those final frantic minutes..
I think they will still go through and from what I have seen of them, they deserve to