Today's starting lineups. Iniesta on the bench and Asensio starting for him. Still can't figure out why David Silva is playing. He's been really bad. Also Nacho getting the start over Carvajal who doesn't seem fully fit. He's been bad also.
Quote:
Espana XI - De Gea, Nacho, Piqué, Ramos, Alba, Busquets, Koke, Asensio, Isco, Silva, Diego Costa
Russia XI - Akinfeev, Fernandes, Kudryashov, Kutepov, Ignasevich, Zhirkov, Samedov, Kuzyaev, Golovin, Zobnin, Dzyuba
Sampaoli might have performed the worst managing job ever at the World Cup in my lifetime. Just brutal from first game to the last. Messi can't do anything when he's got to pick up the ball from the center circle. Despite Messi, really glad to see that Argentina team out - just a deplorable cast of characters.
Also there is a good chance that 2 of the final 4 teams in the WC Â
Sampaoli might have performed the worst managing job ever at the World Cup in my lifetime. Just brutal from first game to the last. Messi can't do anything when he's got to pick up the ball from the center circle. Despite Messi, really glad to see that Argentina team out - just a deplorable cast of characters.
Sampaoli might have performed the worst managing job ever at the World Cup in my lifetime. Just brutal from first game to the last. Messi can't do anything when he's got to pick up the ball from the center circle. Despite Messi, really glad to see that Argentina team out - just a deplorable cast of characters.
Isco is such a joy to watch. Maybe I am bias towards him, but if you told me he was a top 10 player in the World I wouldn't disagree....
Funny you should mention Isco: Until the penalty I've been baffled by how Hiero was deploying him as even though nominally on the left wing in Spain formation, and with Spain in possession he was playing so low and central he appeared to be acting as more of a holding MF. Once the Russian penalty, he adjusted, higher, wider and much more effective and involved.
Isco is such a joy to watch. Maybe I am bias towards him, but if you told me he was a top 10 player in the World I wouldn't disagree....
Funny you should mention Isco: Until the penalty I've been baffled by how Hiero was deploying him as even though nominally on the left wing in Spain formation, and with Spain in possession he was playing so low and central he appeared to be acting as more of a holding MF. Once the Russian penalty, he adjusted, higher, wider and much more effective and involved.
It always happens with Isco when given too much freedom. For club & country. He needs a coach who won't give him total freedom. Needs more structure.
Not a very good manager. Why start Asensio and then play him out of position? If you watch Madrid you can clearly see he's a far better player on the left. So Hierro decides to play him strictly on the right.
Bad play by Isco. Should have shot it first time instead of taking the extra touch.
If for no other reason than it throws the whole side of the bracket into chaos. Though I have not been impressed by Spain, I think Croatia would live their chances if it comes to that.
No clue why they are taking Asensio off. Yeah he's been invisible (Coaches fault) but he's one guy on the team that can provide individual brilliance.
Or could work well for the team if the fucking coach put him in the right position.
wins. Tremendous kick save by the Russian goalie on the last Spanish penalty kick. Wow.
Kick save and a beauty! I also liked the head fake/ stutter step one way before diving the other. That split second enabled him to still have his foot in position for the kick save.
I don't know if I've seen a better penalty save than that one.
Maybe its bc the US didn't even make it. Maybe its bc all of the political flow of the world or maybe I just am tired of athletes in general.
I used to wake up at all hrs of the day/night to watch all the games. I haven't watched one yet this year. Listen on radio/streaming but that's been it.
Rooting for England of all teams now. And maybe Uruguay
Maybe its bc the US didn't even make it. Maybe its bc all of the political flow of the world or maybe I just am tired of athletes in general.
I used to wake up at all hrs of the day/night to watch all the games. I haven't watched one yet this year. Listen on radio/streaming but that's been it.
Rooting for England of all teams now. And maybe Uruguay
I think you're the opposite of just about every other person. We've had great moments, great games and upsets. Definitely the most exciting World Cup I've ever seen.
Looks really bad right now. Should have never fired Lopetegui.
Ridiculous hot take.
Hot take? The Spanish RFEF put out a statement congratulating Lopetegui. Rubiales flat out lied about when he found out. Fired the coach two days before the World Cup started. Team looked bad in every game under Hierro after going two years undefeated with Lopetegui. The players wanted Lopetegui to stay. Rubiales was mad that Lopetegui didn't vote for him in the elections.
I thought Spain deserved a penalty in extra time, though it would have taken some real guts on the part of the ref. And I can’t say Sergio Ramos really ever deserves the benefit of the doubt
a tremendously exciting World Cup.
I thought Spain deserved a penalty in extra time, though it would have taken some real guts on the part of the ref. And I can’t say Sergio Ramos really ever deserves the benefit of the doubt
- agree on both counts, Kyle
- thing on the non-call of a penalty (as I said, echoes the non-call on Berg inexplicably not reversed) was that Piqué was dragged down just as he was attempting to elevate to make contact on a ball very well w/i his range; yes, Ramos was mugging too, but that's not a reason to have zero call on either
- when was last time Spain was shut out over 120 minutes?
- watching it play out it seems to me Spain came into this match overconfident, there seemed no urgency until very late
- from the keeper's perspective kicks from the mark are pretty much a no win scenario; that said, Afinkeev did, salvaging the center of the net with amazing flic of a kick save, while DeGea dove clear away from two strikes right down the middle, just not to be for the Iberians in this WC
Lopetegui is a scumbag, which makes him perfect for that scumbag club.
The only scumbag here is Rubiales. Lied about when he found out and then fired the coach because of a personal grudge.
Coaches have announced they were leaving after a tournament before. Both van Gaal & Conte did the same thing. There teams outperformed expectations in the respective tournament. Now it's a big deal? Lol what a joke.
Just admit you're wrong. Rubiales fucked up. It was obvious then and even more obvious now. Russia wasn't knocking Spain out if Lopetegui was the manager.
Saying you're going to leave after a tournament has no effect on a team. The players didn't care. That's why both Madrid & Barca players fought for him to stay. Firing a coach has a huge effect on a team.
Money talks. Russian defenders tackling Spanish players all day on free kicks.
Like in boxing, Spain knew it couldn't leave it to chance, and they did.
BHE no clue why it doesn't happen more often. Pulling players down on free kicks rarely gets called. I don't remember if it was this past season or the season before, but Ronaldo got pulled down so hard that his jersey ripped. The ref waived it off like nothing happened.
Lopetegui is a scumbag, which makes him perfect for that scumbag club.
The only scumbag here is Rubiales. Lied about when he found out and then fired the coach because of a personal grudge.
Coaches have announced they were leaving after a tournament before. Both van Gaal & Conte did the same thing. There teams outperformed expectations in the respective tournament. Now it's a big deal? Lol what a joke.
Just admit you're wrong. Rubiales fucked up. It was obvious then and even more obvious now. Russia wasn't knocking Spain out if Lopetegui was the manager.
Saying you're going to leave after a tournament has no effect on a team. The players didn't care. That's why both Madrid & Barca players fought for him to stay. Firing a coach has a huge effect on a team.
I'm not wrong, and it's been reported that way from several sources. You might want to admit you just randomly chose to support soccer's version of the Cowboys on steroids. Scumbag club with fascist roots.
And the loss today had nothing to do with the manager. One team tried to play, and the other parked the bus knowing that as the home team they'd get breaks. Seen this movie before.
Did you see now that Milan is suspended from Europa League for FFP, that Bonucci might be available for around 35M EUR? This has Mourinho or Sarri written all over it.
but I’ve loved every minute of it so far. Most of the games have been competitive, lots of drama already, how can any soccer fan be bored or unhappy with this (outside of a loss to whoever you root for)?
but I’ve loved every minute of it so far. Most of the games have been competitive, lots of drama already, how can any soccer fan be bored or unhappy with this (outside of a loss to whoever you root for)?
I think it's great without the US there. I can just watch the games. No stressing about winners or losers.
Can't believe Denmark scored inside a minute. Crazy.
1-1, I guess that recochet is fair after the wierd Dane goal Â
Makes no sense. They cleaned up the issue of the counterattacks, and Pique's dumb penalty was literally Russia's only real opportunity in 120 minutes. This wasn't a tactical failure.
RE: Spain is getting destroyed everywhere for their tactics Â
Makes no sense. They cleaned up the issue of the counterattacks, and Pique's dumb penalty was literally Russia's only real opportunity in 120 minutes. This wasn't a tactical failure.
Pique has been horrendous this entire WC... FATAL !!!!
RE: Spain is getting destroyed everywhere for their tactics Â
Makes no sense. They cleaned up the issue of the counterattacks, and Pique's dumb penalty was literally Russia's only real opportunity in 120 minutes. This wasn't a tactical failure.
Death by a thousand passes... LOL... No teeth to that Spain Offense...
RE: Spain is getting destroyed everywhere for their tactics Â
Makes no sense. They cleaned up the issue of the counterattacks, and Pique's dumb penalty was literally Russia's only real opportunity in 120 minutes. This wasn't a tactical failure.
Their tactics made no sense. I could count the number of times Diego Costa touched the ball with one hand. With a guy like that you could be more direct at least once in a while (in fact he was lethal at Chelsea when they were the opposite of tiki-taka)
find myself agreeing with Kyle again, the defender did make contact with the ball but it was still at the feet of Rebic and the defender brought him down...couldn't be a more naked example of a DOGSO, straight red and PK
And all of us armchair pundits skewering Rebic and Modric for not "just taking the kick" or what a horrible penalty kick (it wasn't good, he telegraphed it even after Schmeichel began his lean to his left), Mercy, Mercy, they've been on a brutally hot pitch for ~120 minutes
40 minutes of playing time back as Modric was preparing to take a corner, half the players of both teams were bent over at the waist, hands on knees
This is the crucible, enjoy it for what it is, triumphs, failures, uncertainty. but don't glory in players' failures
Really? I thought he just guessed right, made a nice save and didn't give up a rebound. I thought it was more of a shitty PK than great save. Madrid kept it low where he could save it. Put it high and it's a goal IMO.
Only way that PK could've been worse was if it wasn't on goal.
Now the Russian keeper earlier today, that was a great save to me.
find myself agreeing with Kyle again, the defender did make contact with the ball but it was still at the feet of Rebic and the defender brought him down...couldn't be a more naked example of a DOGSO, straight red and PK
And all of us armchair pundits skewering Rebic and Modric for not "just taking the kick" or what a horrible penalty kick (it wasn't good, he telegraphed it even after Schmeichel began his lean to his left), Mercy, Mercy, they've been on a brutally hot pitch for ~120 minutes
40 minutes of playing time back as Modric was preparing to take a corner, half the players of both teams were bent over at the waist, hands on knees
This is the crucible, enjoy it for what it is, triumphs, failures, uncertainty. but don't glory in players' failures
Yeah with only a few minutes left maybe it doesn’t make a difference. But if that’s not a straight red for denying a clear opportunity, I don’t know what is
In comment 14003683 ColHowPepper said:
Quote:
find myself agreeing with Kyle again, the defender did make contact with the ball but it was still at the feet of Rebic and the defender brought him down...couldn't be a more naked example of a DOGSO, straight red and PK////
Yeah with only a few minutes left maybe it doesn’t make a difference. But if that’s not a straight red for denying a clear opportunity, I don’t know what is
I think we're saying exactly the same thing.
To flesh it out a bit more, I guess the justification of the yellow was that the defender made contact with the ball. Had that contact then put the ball beyond the reach of Rebic, e.g., over the goal line, it would be a different discussion. But, AFTER that contact, the ball was clearly still playable by Rebic, and the defender's legs tangled Rebic's and brought him down.
it reminded me of the Suarez handball in 2010 against Ghana. Almost feel like the goal should be awarded. And in that case Uruguay ended up winning. Didn’t feel right
The irony that it was Modrić's perfectly weighted and placed ball to Rebic that resulted in the penalty that Modrić could not convert--how not right would it have felt had Denmark won?
that would have resulted in a red card and penalty. An instance like what Suarez did would still result in a red, however, if you're making a legitimate play on the ball, and they call a penalty, they won't award a red card as well.
The irony that it was Modrić's perfectly weighted and placed ball to Rebic that resulted in the penalty that Modrić could not convert--how not right would it have felt had Denmark won?
I love good passing. Both in soccer and basketball. That Modric pass was ridiculous. Good lord.
giantBCP is entirely correct. The revisions of 2016 still permit a send-off (Red Card) for a DOGSO on a handball, wherever in the field it takes place, and for pulldowns, pushes etc., but not in a situation where a DOGSO occurs in the course of making a play on the ball.
Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring
opportunity by a deliberate handball offence the player is sent off wherever the
offence occurs.
Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own
penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence
was an attempt to play the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling,
pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.) the offending player must be sent off.
Seems like Russian players have ran the farthest during tournament than any other team by far..
could be adrenaline from being host country or could be something else hmmmmmm
of course the ENTIRE Russian Team was accused of doping in 2014 Brazil games but mysteriously after 2 year investigation that ended right before this World Cup -- FIFA found "insufficient evidence".
Brazil is vulnerable and Mexico took down Germany, but as we saw the group stage move along, that win looks less impressive now.
I think Coutinho will be the X factor once again and perhaps look to Roberto Firmino coming on to make a critical play later in the game.
Brazil should consider giving Firmino the start. Gabriel Jesus has struggled and that Liverpool connection between the two might be just what they need. Coutinho has been phenomenal.
collapse v Sweden. As noted the 1-0 over Germany is now a bit suspect, but I attributed the win to Mexico's pace on the ball and individual quickness overall, which I thought would also translate against Sweden. Against another smaller, quicker side ROK Mexico held its own. I think Brasil can certainly play that game yet also with more physicality. Lozano is struggling with fitness and I think Chicharito has lost something. I think Brasil is superior in goal and look to Brasil to continue playing.
they have video. Why not give a card for the theatrics. I really don't know how with the quality of footage today that people obviously exaggerate contact and why they can't be disciplined for such crap.
I've often believed that soccer should have a rule that if you stay down on the ground, you have to leave the pitch for a certain amount of time.
If you fake an injury(or have a legitimate one) in almost any other sport, you have to exit the field. Make these guys sit out 2 minutes or something like that if cards aren't going to be issued.
It is really easy to tell that a guy getting hit in the shoulder who grabs his head is faking it.
fan club. I thought he should've started all along. Whether its next to Salah or Neymar the guy just goes about his biz being a silent assassin who gets almost no headlines.
be hesitant labelling them the team to beat. They've had a pretty easy road and haven't been all that convincing. Even today it's not like they had a ton of chances.
went down in the box flailing his arms like an idiot without even being touched in the group stage, it should've been a yellow.
Luckily, the penalty the ref called was reversed on review, but how the fuck do officials fall for that crap in the first place? If I see Suarez writhe on the ground and there's no blood, I'm carding his ass. Same with Neymar.
I just hate that it isn't just accepted in the game, but that challenges where players are faking it often are rewarded with disciplinary action on the defender.
so many of the top teams are all on the top half of the bracket. I like what Croatia is doing and hope they keep winning to see more of Modric's game, but some of these top-half matches could be intense.
be hesitant labelling them the team to beat. They've had a pretty easy road and haven't been all that convincing. Even today it's not like they had a ton of chances.
I'd put my money on France.
We must have been watching a different game today. They've given up four shots on target all tournament.
I've certainly been bullish on the French. Maybe they're on a collision course. But Brazil has Casemiro go out and now Fernandinho will step in. They have an unreal roster and a manager with a good plan
As for who looks to go far, I like Belgium. France did not look dominating the other day - fast but vulnerable. Uruguay does look to be the real deal. I didn't think Croatia looked so hot, either.
I just do not trust England. That leaves Brazil who I do not think beats Belgium.
I would not have given Russia two thoughts, but their defense looked solid against Spain.
So one side of the bracket is loaded and the other is meh.
I really think they just tried to maintain possession and figured they'd get some easy goals, but they never did a lot of give and go's or tried to push for chances until Iniesta entered the game. They essentially let Russia "hang around".
Russia did defend well, but they were content to sit back and play for penalties. Akineev actually came out and said this in his postmatch interview saying he was exhausted.
I really think they just tried to maintain possession and figured they'd get some easy goals, but they never did a lot of give and go's or tried to push for chances until Iniesta entered the game. They essentially let Russia "hang around".
Russia did defend well, but they were content to sit back and play for penalties. Akineev actually came out and said this in his postmatch interview saying he was exhausted.
Spain moved side to side, nothing forward - like Man United's team under Van Gaal. Nothing penetrating to try and beat the parked bus.
usually problem re-loading their roster but much of this generation of very familiar names just played their last World Cup match. One or two might still be around in four year but guys like Chicharito, Guardado, Vela, Ochoa, Peralta, the dos Santos brothers, and a few others are in their late 20's and early 30's. Rafa is pushing 40 but he's obviously the exception.
completing 90% of them was marveled at by a couple of announcers yesterday, but that was a sign of not pushing forward and instead passing back in forth in front of the defense.
I didn't get Spain's strategy and I thought they failed to get the ball into Diego Costa on numerous occasions. It can be argued that the offense picked up when Aspas came on, but Costa was basically creating his own opportunities by going out on the wing to get the ball at times because there was no service to him in the center. It reminded me a bit of Brazil's play in the previous Would Cup where I think they thought they would win matches just by having flair and because they were Brazil. Spain looked like they figured if they did the tiki-taka passing the goals would magically appear.
1. Spain came into yesterday's match showing terrible vulnerability to counterattacks in the group stage and in the previous two friendlies (under Lopetegui, not Hierro). It was something that Hierro fixed for yesterday despite Russia having a dangerous weapon with the monstrous striker Dzyuba, who had shown himself to be impossible to handle in the group stage.
Well Spain handled him. He was ineffectual in the Spain penalty area...even Pique's ridiculously dumb handball couldn't be attributed to Dzyuba causing a huge amount of problems. Outside of Pique's blunder Russia never came close to troubling De Gea, and you got the feeling that would have been the case if they played for 500 minutes. So it has to be said - Hierro successfully applied a tourniquet to Spain's biggest problem: extreme vulnerability on the counter.
Winning in elimination rounds is about keeping clean sheets and save for one individual error unrelated to tactics Spain did that over 120 minutes against the most creative team they'd faced in the tournament to this point. I'll paraphrase a quote from Pep Guardiola (whose influence in the game today is so massive, even in this tournament where he is not a participant): "My job is to get my players to the final third - in that area it's up to them and their talent to create the goals." That's what happened yesterday. I don't know that Spain underestimated Russia as much as they simply lacked the ideas to break them down. But when you render a team completely impotent like Spain did to Russia yesterday, I think you've done something right. It's about keeping clean sheets (just like it was in '10 and '12 when people complained about boring Spain), and the one reason they did not yesterday is something for which Pique has to answer.
And the players are the reason they didn't score more. Which leads me to...
2. For all his quality, Isco was a problem for Spain in this tournament and especially yesterday. I think I heard that of his 150+ passes yesterday only 11 or 12 went forward. By comparison Iniesta had 13 in his limited time. Isco has immense talent, but he lacked the tactical and positional understanding needed for Spain to function in the final third.
Someone with Isco's ability figures to be important in Spain's immediate future (though he'll already be 30 in Qatar), but if that is so it will require some changes in approach for whomever the new manager is.
3. I've said it many times since 2014, but yesterday only reinforces the excellence and influence of Xavi - IMO the greatest midfielder in history and perhaps the most overall influential single player ever. Already today I've heard both Graham Hunter and Maradona mention the impact Xavi had, and the vacuum left in his wake.
be hesitant labelling them the team to beat. They've had a pretty easy road and haven't been all that convincing. Even today it's not like they had a ton of chances.
I'd put my money on France.
We must have been watching a different game today. They've given up four shots on target all tournament.
I've certainly been bullish on the French. Maybe they're on a collision course. But Brazil has Casemiro go out and now Fernandinho will step in. They have an unreal roster and a manager with a good plan
They had a really solid 2-0 win today, but Mexico actually had more possession over the whole 90 and gave up 13 shots. This was also the best they've looked. The group stage was a struggle for them.
fair point about keeping clean sheets, but this was Spain vs. Russia. Not Spain vs. a top power.
It would be like a powerful offensive college team taking on Harvard and taking the air out of the ball.
When you're the superior team, you should attack and not let the inferior team hang around. We've bemoaned when the giants have done that.
In my eyes, Spain did exactly that. Sure, they neutralized any counterattacks, but they also failed to attack and create chances. Ironically, it looked like both teams played not to lose, with different strategies. Russia was probably correct in doing so. Spain? Should have just rode superior talent.
Brazil or France, assuming Brazil do not get tripped up by Belgium? Â
completing 90% of them was marveled at by a couple of announcers yesterday, but that was a sign of not pushing forward and instead passing back in forth in front of the defense.
I didn't get Spain's strategy and I thought they failed to get the ball into Diego Costa on numerous occasions. It can be argued that the offense picked up when Aspas came on, but Costa was basically creating his own opportunities by going out on the wing to get the ball at times because there was no service to him in the center. It reminded me a bit of Brazil's play in the previous Would Cup where I think they thought they would win matches just by having flair and because they were Brazil. Spain looked like they figured if they did the tiki-taka passing the goals would magically appear.
=+1
In addition I was dumbfounded--and I'm repeating myself from my comment on Sunday's thread--that Isco was playing more of a holding MF role, low and to the center of the pitch even if nominally he was listed as wing on the left. He was content to possess and dump off on passes in the run of play that were entirely non-threatening. That began to change when Dyubov (?) notched the Piqué penalty.
Belgium, Brasil/France (toss-up) have to be considered the strongest heading into the quarers, then you have quasi dark horses in Uruguay, England...but don't sleep on the Swiss: granted it was the opening game in Group, but they have the only goal conceded by Brasil. If they can get by Sweden without Lichteiner and Schar, both under suspension, they will be a tough out.
sorry I will say this a million times
it is so obvious that Russian team is doping their players .. during the Spain match Russian team were flying all over the field with unlimited energy
there is photo of Dzyuba during Spain game where you can clearly see a hole in his arm like he just recently got a shot.
Russia cheated getting Sochi Olympics -- cheated in those Olympics
why would it be any different in World Cup ?
I also went with the Swiss over Sweden, England over Colombia, Â
didn't win that game because they doped. They won because they defended well enough to force penalties.
They are the lowest ranked team in the tournament and one of the top ranked teams kept playing keep away instead of driving to create scoring chances.
Russia was out possessed almost 80-20 - they weren't particularly fresh at the end of the game and Spain ended up getting a few late chances. If they did that the full 90 minutes, I imagine Russia would've lost 3-1 or worse.
They matchup very well with them and I think the speed on the wings serving the ball to Falcao will get them through. I'm looking forward to that match though. I think it will end up being one of the more exciting ones.
fair point about keeping clean sheets, but this was Spain vs. Russia. Not Spain vs. a top power.
It would be like a powerful offensive college team taking on Harvard and taking the air out of the ball.
When you're the superior team, you should attack and not let the inferior team hang around. We've bemoaned when the giants have done that.
In my eyes, Spain did exactly that. Sure, they neutralized any counterattacks, but they also failed to attack and create chances. Ironically, it looked like both teams played not to lose, with different strategies. Russia was probably correct in doing so. Spain? Should have just rode superior talent.
I agree that Spain needed to be more incisive going forward, no question. It's just that tactically I'm not as critical of them as many are being. Yesterday reminded me quite a bit of 2010, when Del Bosque was criticized for using Busquets instead of the more attacking Silva.
In truth the match should have been over when Spain went up 1-0. Pique's error was enormous, and I think is an under-discussed aspect of what happened.
Here is an excerpt from Michael Cox's preview of the Euro 2012 final:
Quote:
Spain will do their usual – relentless ball retention, moving it quickly between players, but rarely moving it forward with any speed. They’ll attempt to tire Italy in the first half, before attempting the breakthrough with greater penetration after half-time. It always feels like del Bosque would be happy with a 0-0 at the break (even against much weaker sides), safe in the knowledge Spain will have conserved energy, and have more options from the bench.
be hesitant labelling them the team to beat. They've had a pretty easy road and haven't been all that convincing. Even today it's not like they had a ton of chances.
I'd put my money on France.
We must have been watching a different game today. They've given up four shots on target all tournament.
I've certainly been bullish on the French. Maybe they're on a collision course. But Brazil has Casemiro go out and now Fernandinho will step in. They have an unreal roster and a manager with a good plan
They had a really solid 2-0 win today, but Mexico actually had more possession over the whole 90 and gave up 13 shots. This was also the best they've looked. The group stage was a struggle for them.
Yep, there was no intention to sell Colombia short. If James can get back on the pitch, he, Quadrado (who has been excellent this WC) and Falcao (same) are dangerous on the attack and legit defending in midfield.
When you look at England's play in group, it got by an offensively toothless Tunisia, routed USA-beater Panama (to oohs and ahhs) and played a meaningless scrub match between two knockout round qualifiers. England has yet to play a dangerous attacking team so its back line in this WC has to be considered unproven.
Brazil is doing what you want to do...getting better each match Â
They match-up very well with them and I think the speed on the wings serving the ball to Falcao will get them through. I'm looking forward to that match though. I think it will end up being one of the more exciting ones.
As I mentioned, not an overwhelming favorite on the match-up, felt like England had more team speed and scoring ability,but a good friend at work is a scouser born in Liverpool, so partially an emotional pick on my part.
Before the tournament I picked them to disappoint but I think I may have been wrong there.
This is a really good point. One of the things both Brazil and France has in common, is that neither of their teams are primarily from their domestic league. So it is certainly promising for both to see that they are playing better the more they are playing with each other.
Japan doesn't seem to have gotten the memo that they're to roll over Â
That's the one thing I'd love for Spain to have...a Plan B target man. They did briefly in 2010 with Llorente, but they've never seemed interested in having that type of option on the bench.
That as a goalie or a defender you don't want to see him come in in the second half. Presents so many problems, particularly as you tire. Courtois even said, he's not a star or even an weekly starter, but he's a great piece to have.
awesome saves by keepers, and awesome counters. Heartbreaking for Japan.
Japan looked so sharp with possession for the first 70 minutes of the game. In terms of how we should have played them, could we have done that?
Others know better than I do, but it always seems to me like the US is afraid to possess the ball against top teams, or that they are just not as sharp and in control passing around.
Others know better than I do, but it always seems to me like the US is afraid to possess the ball against top teams, or that they are just not as sharp and in control passing around.
It hasn't always been that way. The 2002 USMNT really grew into the tournament and played its best against Mexico and Germany in the elimination rounds. Really good team.
I watched that tourney but don't remember it (other than the handball). I just always had the impression of the US team that they were as athletic if not more so than any team in the tournament, and had size for set pieces, and relied upon that and Tim Howard to stay in games and hope for the ability to capitalize on fewer opportunities.
I don't remember ever having a sense that they were a great at possessing the ball or making crisp passes to move the ball where they wanted it to go.
I watched that tourney but don't remember it (other than the handball). I just always had the impression of the US team that they were as athletic if not more so than any team in the tournament, and had size for set pieces, and relied upon that and Tim Howard to stay in games and hope for the ability to capitalize on fewer opportunities.
I don't remember ever having a sense that they were a great at possessing the ball or making crisp passes to move the ball where they wanted it to go.
Check out this goal against Colombia in 1994. Phenomenal. Link - ( New Window )
You know exactly what that means. The Russia/Spain and Croatia/Demark games were "play not lose" games. Boring as hell. If you want to draw in more US fans and grow the game in the US, this is the type game that US (non-soccer) fans would really enjoy. I've been watching WC since 1994 and still learning the game technically.
This game was played hard with scoring chances all over
"Game played hard" does not necessarily have to equal "lots of scoring chances". You think the teams yesterday didn't play hard? This game was fun to watch, no doubt...but if Belgium repeats this performance against Brazil they'll be going home with a spanking. At this point I'd say Russia has a better chance of beating Croatia than Belgium does Brazil.
Besides, soccer is already drawing in the US. It doesn't need every game to be a wild up and down affair to draw people. And if it did, I'd rather those people stayed home.
Here were the average attendances per match in some leagues in 2017/2018, according to worldfootball.net:
Germany Bundesliga: 44,646
England EPL: 38,297
Spain La Liga: 26,939
Mexico Liga MX: 25,183
Italy Serie A: 24,767
France Ligue 1: 22,524
US MLS: 20,815
Netherlands Eredivisie: 19,001
Argentina Primera Division: 16,723
Brazil Serie A: 16,418
It's not like everyone else is getting 65,000 per game and MLS is getting 15,000.
"Game played hard" does not necessarily have to equal "lots of scoring chances". You think the teams yesterday didn't play hard? This game was fun to watch, no doubt...but if Belgium repeats this performance against Brazil they'll be going home with a spanking. At this point I'd say Russia has a better chance of beating Croatia than Belgium does Brazil.
Besides, soccer is already drawing in the US. It doesn't need every game to be a wild up and down affair to draw people. And if it did, I'd rather those people stayed home.
Great, narrow minded view. If you want the US to get to the WC Finals, the game needs to grow and attract better athletes. Kids play what the parents watch on TV. I think we both agree that if the top US athletes start playing soccer as their primary sport USMNT could be a juggernaut.
If you want to mince words over my use of "hard" vs vigorous (maybe a better word) that is fine. Point is simply - Russia sat back and made few counters against Spain, while Spain was happy to pass around the perimeter and not even probe. I was rooting hard for Spain and was bored out of my skull as well as frustrated.
I think the Russia Croatia game will be good. I'd bet Croatia attacks more than Spain. I'm not selling Belgium short against any team including Brazil. Japan may have been a good wake up call.
I think we are looking at this from different viewpoints. You are an established fan, I am learning. You are saying the game is the game enjoy for what it is; I guess I am almost at that point. What I am looking at is the casual fan (and you have seen a few on the various WC threads) who sees a slow tactical game and decides not to watch again(boring), yet if he (or she) sees a game like Belgium/Japan says, hey I want to see more.
The athletes we already have playing soccer are good enough to compete on the world stage. Any issues we have are related to mismanagement at the federation level; not the available talent pool. The talent pool from which we are drawing is larger than most of the countries still competing in this World Cup.
Proper management at the federation level, quality coaches, and strong scouting networks are what's needed. MLS is already on its way to providing two of the three. Issues at the federation level can kill you no matter how good your players are. Look at Argentina for an example of that.
But of all our issues the available talent pool is the least of our worries. There are countries doing great things with a small fraction of what we have...Uruguay has a smaller population than the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Iceland has the total population of Spartanburg, SC.
What happened is the USSF president (Gulati) got starry eyed over a German guy (Klinsmann) that has made his home in California. Klinsmann is a good talker full of big ideas, and Gulati thought he'd be the perfect blend of German experience with American mentality for the USMNT. Gulati ignored numerous warnings from Europe about Klinsmann's incompetence and gave him enormous power over the team. Klinsmann then proceeded to poison the team, and it's still recovering from that trauma.
That's the short version. For the full story I strongly suggest reading the article linked below. It's the best summary I can find of the debacle of the last several years. Link - ( New Window )
The athletes we already have playing soccer are good enough to compete on the world stage. Any issues we have are related to mismanagement at the federation level; not the available talent pool. The talent pool from which we are drawing is larger than most of the countries still competing in this World Cup.
Proper management at the federation level, quality coaches, and strong scouting networks are what's needed. MLS is already on its way to providing two of the three. Issues at the federation level can kill you no matter how good your players are. Look at Argentina for an example of that.
But of all our issues the available talent pool is the least of our worries. There are countries doing great things with a small fraction of what we have...Uruguay has a smaller population than the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Iceland has the total population of Spartanburg, SC.
Yes, good points and I did overlook those at this time. JK and the old farts at the top killed us for 8 years. So I totally agree with what you say on management. We could and should be able to get to the knockout stage everytime(virtually) with the talent we have available.
Check out this goal against Colombia in 1994. Phenomenal. Link - ( New Window )
Heh, nice look, pass and finish for sure.
But if I'm remembering correctly that game will forever be remembered in Cali, Bogota, Barranquilla, etc. and especially Medellin for the Colombian defender's own goal early on. I was on a deal in Bogota at the time and of course meetings were suspended. The disbelief and anguish were palpable and extended well beyond our meeting room. Escobar was found shot just weeks later, died, and has become lore.
Thanks for that, but my "what happened" was less about the dysfunction in US Soccer's governance and direction, and more about what seems like the inability of a US soccer team to be able to pass the ball cleanly and crisply. Whenever I watch the US team, there's an inkling of watching kids play soccer where they just kick the ball as soon as someone comes near them.
is just as talented as any of the top nations and the only thing holding us back is poor coaching and management is ludicrous. We have exactly one player who is a key component of one of the top clubs in Europe....while other nations have entire teams playing and in many cases starring on top European clubs.
We can argue all day about WHY the US doesn't produce more quality players, but the idea that our players are as good as any of the top nations is not supported by any facts whatsoever.
Thanks for that, but my "what happened" was less about the dysfunction in US Soccer's governance and direction, and more about what seems like the inability of a US soccer team to be able to pass the ball cleanly and crisply. Whenever I watch the US team, there's an inkling of watching kids play soccer where they just kick the ball as soon as someone comes near them.
In the last 6 years or so I think the team has lacked confidence as a result of poor coaching, inconsistent tactics, unclear or undefined roles, poor player selection, etc.
So many quality players to have such a lackluster start to today's game. The talent level on the field on Friday with Brazil will be incredible. Brazil will bring much more quality than Japan did today.
is just as talented as any of the top nations and the only thing holding us back is poor coaching and management is ludicrous. We have exactly one player who is a key component of one of the top clubs in Europe....while other nations have entire teams playing and in many cases starring on top European clubs.
We can argue all day about WHY the US doesn't produce more quality players, but the idea that our players are as good as any of the top nations is not supported by any facts whatsoever.
That isn’t what was said. We have the talent to compete, I think that’s clear as day. No one is claiming we’d be Germany or Spain overnight.
The Belgium winning goal and the stunning turn of events Â
Reminded me of my favorite EPL game of all time - Tottenham 4 West Ham 3 when berbatov was at spurs and Tevez was single-handledly trying to keep the Hammers from relegation. Underdog going from a near-winning chance to crushing defeat via counter. Amazing. Link - ( New Window )
I watched that tourney but don't remember it (other than the handball). I just always had the impression of the US team that they were as athletic if not more so than any team in the tournament, and had size for set pieces, and relied upon that and Tim Howard to stay in games and hope for the ability to capitalize on fewer opportunities.
I don't remember ever having a sense that they were a great at possessing the ball or making crisp passes to move the ball where they wanted it to go.
Check out this goal against Colombia in 1994. Phenomenal. Link - ( New Window )
For the little it's worth, I was there. Quite a day in LA.
It is like a candy store for those who love soccer jerseys. Obscenely overpriced but if you are telling me I can buy a throwback Cantona kit or a 2004 Stelios Greece shirt, you likely will take my money. Link - ( New Window )
like Ronaldo is on the verge of 100M move to Juve.
Idols for sale, at a high price. Great for his family and the Madeira Is. (where he gives to the community), but our world--where this kind of money is funneled...smh. Jon, is this enough for Juve to vault a class?
like Ronaldo is on the verge of 100M move to Juve.
Idols for sale, at a high price. Great for his family and the Madeira Is. (where he gives to the community), but our world--where this kind of money is funneled...smh. Jon, is this enough for Juve to vault a class?
Good question, tough to say.
They've won the league like 6 straight years, so really the only next step for them is the champions league, where they've come close but haven't won it in recent history.
Last year they were dominated by Madrid in the first leg, came all the way back, and then gave up a penalty to lose in the final minutes.
So one would think that Ronaldo would tip them over the edge, but this certainly isn't prime Ronaldo.
on the face of it, taken in isolation, was proper (of course, imo) to issue a caution, but much depends on how this ref has been calling the match. If that kind of late, but deliberate clip of the foot he has been letting go, then no, but I've not been watching 'til just now
Two interesting names have been thrown out today by two different sources.
Graham Hunter, who is close with the team and traveled with them around Russia, suggests that they should reach out to Zidane. He gave it as an opinion and not as a scoop, though.
However, AS has picked up a story that Xavi is being considered amongst the other possible candidates that have already been mentioned (Luis Enrique, Michel, Quique Sanchez Flores). That would surprise me, but if ever the ethos of what Spain wants to be were captured in a player, it's him.
had been thinking of asking how Xavi's China sojourn and tour of play has gone. Is he still under contract (not that it would likely make a difference)? Would be great to see him on the touch line even if it likely takes some time to grow into the role. Then again, Zidane himself did not require much seasoning.
Ugh. I’m not a fan either. Seems like the type of referee that gets caught up in the moment/tries to insert himself into the game. Too bad for Colombia that James isn’t available. Needless to say, that’s a huge blow.
Do you guys really think there’s any truth to this Juve/Ronaldo rumor? That doesn’t seem like a Juve type of move, and is a ridiculous amount of money for a player on the downside of his career.
trying to figure out earlier in the tourney if Geiger was an American. He was terrible twice. Once as a head ref and once as a replay ref. Seemed like he botched one video review and let the one match I saw get out of hand.
I'd be (pleasantly) shocked if Spain hired either guy.
Zidane isn't Spanish, though I believe his wife is and he's basically raised his family in Spain. I think he'd make a ton of sense, as being national team manager is as more about man management and reading the game as its happening than club football. Zidane excels in this...he's a better tournament manager than he is over the long slog of the domestic season.
Xavi (he's actually been in Qatar) just got his coaching license and was recently named manager of his team there. He's a genius and has a sense of what it means to play football well (to him playing poorly and winning is meaningless - that comes straight from Cruyff through Guardiola), but would the FA give the job to someone with zero experience?
James seemed to be fighting calf or hamstring problem when he was pulled off the pitch last week, he walked off the field w/o a pronounced limp but the decision was grew clearer as the match went on, one knew he was hurt.
Qatar, I knew it was one of those off-the-beaten-pitch waystations. (:
Yes, Zidane, I think he's of Algerian descent, hence playing for the Tricolor. Maybe this non-result in '18 will prompt extreme measures from the Association.
Ronaldo to Juve does seem like a really strange and out of character move for them. I don't think the money is a factor, they could easily fund it with many of their players linked to premier league moves. It just seems odd though
Is it me or is the Fox studio coverage horrendous? They have 0 chemistry together
Not just you, it's brutal. I like Rob Stone well enough but the analysts they brought are not good. It's just a poor product overall
ESPN is a mixed bag these days. But with the resources they have, when they really throw their weight behind a project, the quality can't be matched. Their World Cup coverage was top notch.
Stone is a Buck-like suit; the guy to his left, not much of a presence or worthy commentary; the gal?--better off with their Premier League gal in Stamford; and I have never liked the officious, arrogant Lalas.
I'm glad Warren Barton is getting a chance to do run-of-play commentary, because I always find his perspective worthwhile and ear-to-the rail; the downside is we only hear from him once every three or four days.
ESPN used to have these two guys doing La Liga matches Â
It was around '99-'01 or so...their names were Mike Hill (play-by-play) and Eddie Mighten (analyst). To date they're the only guys I've heard in any sport that rival Pat Summerall and John Madden for sheer excellence. And then one day like Kaizer Soze they just disappeared.
I remember during a Betis-Real Madrid game with a shitty ref, the usually understated Hill sarcastically saying that it "seems like they are giving away referee badges and whistles in boxes of Christmas crackers." I'd love to know what those guys are up to now.
Imagine Japan's mood after what had to be the most devastating loss of the tournament for anyone so far. This is how they left their changing room, complete with a thank you note in Russian:
to the Men in Blazers live show last night in Brooklyn, and they basically made the same points about Japan. They went after it, were aggressive despite being the underdogs, and gracious in defeat. Basically everything the US wasn't in the last World Cup.
I'm not a soccer player because when I get hit in the chin, I grab my chin, not my forehead. I also don't crumple to the ground in pain unless my legs are what get whacked.
I don't go back like GT does but Ian Darke has been the best I've heard for being succinct, poetic, and scathing in an English gentleman's way
Not often that BBI scouts out the ref in a futbol match, just like for the Giants vs. rivals. I decided to pay att'n, esp. as Geiger led a post-DC United briefing for those of us who attended.
didn't catch the 1st 12 minutes
- 26th - after setting the spot for a FK, Geiger turned and ran to the side where ball likely to go: ref should never turn his back to potential hot spot
- 27th - CKK situation, sorting out the wall scrum, he remained w/i ~ 2 yards or so of the mob, no way to get a broader view of the bodies/potential fouls
- 32nd - handled the Quadrado-Young shoving well, low key
- 39th - after the dangerous tackle on Kane just outside the PA, he did not do a good job in breaking up the convocation, it lingered, and led to the head butt that drew a caution but not the red. Colombia in part to blame of course, but he was not emphatic enough in separating
He has not yet had a big moment in a big match. We'll see how he handles it.
I'm not a soccer player because when I get hit in the chin, I grab my chin, not my forehead. I also don't crumple to the ground in pain unless my legs are what get whacked.
That was a bit over the top by Henderson - true - but not nearly the acting chops Nemar has demonstrated throughout this WC.
Yesterday, a Mexican player loved tapped his foot. Neymar had a reaction liked he just stepped on a landmine. Than in the group stage, he got hit on the sideline, sort of hard, and proceeded to go into 10 full body rolls on the ground as if he were being dragged around tied to a horse. Guy is a disgrace to watch at times.
I'm not a soccer player because when I get hit in the chin, I grab my chin, not my forehead. I also don't crumple to the ground in pain unless my legs are what get whacked.
And yet he hit his chin with his head, deliberately.
I'm not a soccer player because when I get hit in the chin, I grab my chin, not my forehead. I also don't crumple to the ground in pain unless my legs are what get whacked.
That was a bit over the top by Henderson - true - but not nearly the acting chops Nemar has demonstrated throughout this WC.
Yesterday, a Mexican player loved tapped his foot. Neymar had a reaction liked he just stepped on a landmine. Than in the group stage, he got hit on the sideline, sort of hard, and proceeded to go into 10 full body rolls on the ground as if he were being dragged around tied to a horse. Guy is a disgrace to watch at times.
He's making Suarez's act look innocent...
Go back and check MontanaGiant's post at 8:48 this morning. It's been covered on this thread.
BTW, given what happened at the end of the first half I guess if you get kicked in the balls you DO collapse.
it is the right call, but you see that kind of stuff on every set piece. Hell, Spain had two guys ripped down in the box on a set piece and no call. Also, Kane lost his footing more than being taken down. The Colombian player then rode him down though.
it is the right call, but you see that kind of stuff on every set piece. Hell, Spain had two guys ripped down in the box on a set piece and no call. Also, Kane lost his footing more than being taken down. The Colombian player then rode him down though.
Colombia's been gooning it up all game. They deserved that penalty
Ronaldo to Juve does seem like a really strange and out of character move for them. I don't think the money is a factor, they could easily fund it with many of their players linked to premier league moves. It just seems odd though
If true, then I think the Neymar speculation become a lot more real...
Going to Italy seems the strange part.I would have banked on CR7 setting his sights on MU.
it is the right call, but you see that kind of stuff on every set piece. Hell, Spain had two guys ripped down in the box on a set piece and no call. Also, Kane lost his footing more than being taken down. The Colombian player then rode him down though.
Well that’s something else though. I thought Spain deserved the penalty the other day.
Beautiful, free-flowing soccer. When they're on form they're one of the best sides in the world to watch. But they decided to play with no conscience today without James and are making this look ugly
of the fouls have masked a pretty commanding performance by England, which I did not expect. They've had the better chances, and more surprisingly, Colombia has barely threatened.
Don't discount the possibility of a make up penalty for Colombia Â
Has not made a serious push for Kane. I sort of believe he doesn’t want to leave, but nobody has even tried. Of course Spurs wouldn’t let him for for under £200m.
Service has been generally pretty poor, and there has been no link between defense and attack. The opportunities were there today against an England defense that I still wouldn't fully trust.
Cup before (Brazil, Uruguay, England, France) and four that have not (Belgium, Croatia, Sweden and Russia).
Of course, the bracket's not organized that way. One side of the bracket (Brazil, Belgium, Uruguay, France) seems a lot tougher - amazing that Croatia seems to have as good a shot as anyone at getting to the final.
my heart is broken right now. Tip of the hat to England, they made the plays needed to move on. The momen proved to be too big for Uribe and Bacca. I won’t make a single excuse for the loss. However, the ref was atrocious and should not be allowed to ref another WC game this summer.
my heart is broken right now. Tip of the hat to England, they made the plays needed to move on. The moment proved to be too big for Uribe and Bacca. I won’t make a single excuse for the loss. However, the ref was atrocious and should not be allowed to ref another WC game this summer.
Ahhhh, no. From the continent of floppers, divers and writher's of pain - blame the ref. Please.
Not having James available is the biggest reason for the loss..
my heart is broken right now. Tip of the hat to England, they made the plays needed to move on. The moment proved to be too big for Uribe and Bacca. I won’t make a single excuse for the loss. However, the ref was atrocious and should not be allowed to ref another WC game this summer.
Ahhhh, no. From the continent of floppers, divers and writher's of pain - blame the ref. Please.
Not having James available is the biggest reason for the loss..
Thank you! I thought I was watching a different game for a minute.
my heart is broken right now. Tip of the hat to England, they made the plays needed to move on. The moment proved to be too big for Uribe and Bacca. I won’t make a single excuse for the loss. However, the ref was atrocious and should not be allowed to ref another WC game this summer.
Ahhhh, no. From the continent of floppers, divers and writher's of pain - blame the ref. Please.
Not having James available is the biggest reason for the loss..
I was complimentary to England and never blamed the ref for the loss. I pointed out he did a shitty job. England deserved to win and they did. Go fuck yourself though.
The Uribe shot just before the equalizer was a 40 yard rocket headed into the top corner and Pickford somehow got a hand on it.
I still want to see another angle of that shot. I can't recall seeing a replay, and I fear that it might get lost because of the goal that happened shortly after.
The Uribe shot just before the equalizer was a 40 yard rocket headed into the top corner and Pickford somehow got a hand on it.
I still want to see another angle of that shot. I can't recall seeing a replay, and I fear that it might get lost because of the goal that happened shortly after.
Here you go with an angle from behind the net. I think it's going in the top corner
I was complimentary to England and never blamed the ref for the loss. I pointed out he did a shitty job. England deserved to win and they did. Go fuck yourself though.
No, as usual with the losing side in a close match, you whined that you lost because of the ref.
shit goes off the rails, usually Portugal is involved! I think the occasion was too big for Colombia at first, and they were lucky not to be down to 10 between the headbutts, Cuadrado grabbing Lingard around the neck and getting in Geiger's face, and general Falcao dickishness.
One they actually decided to play, they were much better.
And now Falcao accusing Geiger of favoring England Â
I don't know what happens to some of these South American guys when they play for country. They act completely counter to what they do all year in the club season - see Antonio Valencia getting red against the US in the Copa. Link - ( New Window )
FIFA refs are reviewing the England Colombia match Â
To make sure teams cant play like Colombia did again. They believe the ref was too lenient and let Colombia get away with way too much. The England press now expects other teams to emulate the mugging tactics in future matches. So obviously it's only a biased few, like that moron Maradona, who feel Colombia was screwed.
As a neutral putting aside the bias of the english media (which chooses what is shown and replayed) England was just as culpable for the sloppy game as Colombia. Maguire with the phantom dive in the box, lingard diving, stones cleating falcao in the back of the head while he was down, and ashley young with a studs up challenge in the colombians ankle that miraculously resulted not only in no yelloew card, but a foul for England..are you kidding? Neither team olayed well nor deserved the win. The penalty on Kane was questionable as well as he initially should have been caled for the foul prior to Sanchez ending up on top of him.
Thats fine hy me, as neitherteam deserved to win. But blame the shitshow on the colombians without acknowledging that the ref and the english were just as culpable is ridiculous. To be honest things look bleak for England. Theyve beaten panama, tunisia, and basically tied Colombia who was mising their star player
Well the point is that FIFA thought Colombia's play was Â
egregious enough to be analyzed by all the refs. That is the result. So obviously the soccer community disagrees with you. Personally, I thought the mugging and yelling at the ref Colombia did was disgraceful. Then the whole trying to ruin the spot where Kane had to shoot the PK from for 4 minutes was really unsportsmanlike. Finally yes England did some flopping, like every other team, but I am more concerned with the outright physical intimidation that Colombia tried to get away with. They should have had numerous red cards, and the soccer community agrees. Teams cant be allowed to mug their opponents as a strategy to win.
RE: Well the point is that FIFA thought Colombia's play was Â
egregious enough to be analyzed by all the refs. That is the result. So obviously the soccer community disagrees with you. Personally, I thought the mugging and yelling at the ref Colombia did was disgraceful. Then the whole trying to ruin the spot where Kane had to shoot the PK from for 4 minutes was really unsportsmanlike. Finally yes England did some flopping, like every other team, but I am more concerned with the outright physical intimidation that Colombia tried to get away with. They should have had numerous red cards, and the soccer community agrees. Teams cant be allowed to mug their opponents as a strategy to win.
Thanks for that. Sort of typical South American style of soccer.
RE: Well the point is that FIFA thought Colombia's play was Â
egregious enough to be analyzed by all the refs. That is the result. So obviously the soccer community disagrees with you. Personally, I thought the mugging and yelling at the ref Colombia did was disgraceful. Then the whole trying to ruin the spot where Kane had to shoot the PK from for 4 minutes was really unsportsmanlike. Finally yes England did some flopping, like every other team, but I am more concerned with the outright physical intimidation that Colombia tried to get away with. They should have had numerous red cards, and the soccer community agrees. Teams cant be allowed to mug their opponents as a strategy to win.
Do you have a link because I have not heard that anywhere. Numerous reds for what? Dissent? Typically you get a yellow for dissent, and nothing in this game deserved a red in my opinion. The “headbutt” was overexaggerated by henderson and he “headbutted” someone else just moments later. To me the most egregious foul was committed by ashley young where in any other game could easily have been sent off for a studs up challenge. The game was poorly officiated for both teams and I blame that more than anything
By Colombia then a specific play (although most of them were bull too). Colombia had a strategy of basically tackling and mugging England throughout the match to slow them down. This was the actual public strategy. This led to something like 28 penalties and 8 yellows. I don't consider that soccer.
As for the ref review session, I heard this being discussed on SiriusXm channel 157, the soccer channel. I'd have to look for a link to something when I get a chance.
I was complimentary to England and never blamed the ref for the loss. I pointed out he did a shitty job. England deserved to win and they did. Go fuck yourself though.
No, as usual with the losing side in a close match, you whined that you lost because of the ref.
But thank you for your kind thoughts.
Show me where I said "we lost because of the ref" You're dumb as a rock buddy.
I was complimentary to England and never blamed the ref for the loss. I pointed out he did a shitty job. England deserved to win and they did. Go fuck yourself though.
No, as usual with the losing side in a close match, you whined that you lost because of the ref.
But thank you for your kind thoughts.
Show me where I said "we lost because of the ref" You're dumb as a rock buddy.
Your insults mimic you concept of football. You claimed the ref was unfair to Colombia, implying England won because of uneven refereeing. Anyone reading your post(s) knows what you meant, so like your heroes on the pitch, stop feigning injury and ignorance.
But hey, have at it.
It seems like every 4 years, I feel there is an easy fix to this issue - strictly refereeing the games so it doesn't escalate. I know that's easier said than done, but if you start carding people for flopping a lot of this goes away. Here's a pretty damning excerpt from that article:
Quote:
“Maybe we are getting a bit smarter,” England head coach Gareth Southgate said after his side outlasted the Colombians on penalty kicks. “Maybe we are now playing by the same rules the rest of the world are playing by. But we kept our dignity and our sportsmanship, and if we went down, it's because we were fouled.”
What he meant by the “same rules,” is that England has learned how to game the system. How to milk fouls to maximize its chances of winning a free-kick. How to exert physical pressure (and sometimes pain) on an opponent without getting spotted by the referee, or his assistants, or the omnipresent cameras ready to beam footage to the video referee. How to simulate injury.
Southgate saying they kept their dignity and sportsmanship is a bunch of horseshit. If an opponent grazes a body part after the whistle, rolling around in sheer agony isn't the way to go about bringing attention to it - but it sometimes works! And that type of simulation turns everyone off. My nephew and I had a running joke on vacation - he'd brush by me and I'd go down like a heap on the beach, and if he touched my shoulder I'd flop on the ground clutching my leg.
It is an embarrassment that simulation isn't just allowed, but that it often results in punishment for the opponent. There are no doubt matches that are rough. The answer isn't going to the turf in a heap to react to it - it is the ref's job to punish the fouls. Geiger failed miserably in that aspect. And frankly most refs will because against some teams, it would be an endless string of cards - but that's exactly what is needed so Suarez and Neymar aren't undermining their talent by looking like absolute fools.
So much of the sport is acting. I can't stand that in the NFL when player's call for flags. Can't stand it in baseball when player's plead for video review. Can't stand it anywhere. And I'm not alone. This farce, while it seems harmless is actually stunting growth of the game in the US. Youths like my nephew shun it as being played by a bunch of fakers. When the same issue is brought up every 4 years, there has to be action taken. None ever is.
I have always felt that carding the floppers is the answer. If Neymar collects a yellow card 20 minutes into the game it may well keep him on his feet the next 70 minutes. Suarez is the next most egregious flopper as well as one of the worst dirty players and a yellow delivered early in a match may deter his tactics. South American teams are the worst, but obviously not the only offenders. They foul hard and then flop like fish when grazed. I did notice that England seemed to play through many of the grabs and blatant bad tackles.
Is it me, or have the refs allowed a lot more spikes up contact and dangerous kicks without calling penalties this tournament?
are always tough. I've seen straight reds given in EPL play, even if the defender gets the ball and not a piece of the opponent, and I often think that's too harsh, but in this World Cup, I've not seen many cards for it.
Heck, in the England game, the english player went studs up, actually caught the Colombian player and England was somehow awarded the foul.
I have to say, I had no idea who Mark Geiger was before this Cup and man he really sucks.
contained to the South American countries, but they do it serially. Arjun Robben flops everytime he gets in the box and loses possession. You still see it happen quite a bot in certain countries in Europe.
I don't know if the stats bear it out, but I wonder if team like Japan, Korea, Australia or the US usually draw less fouls in their matches than the opponents, and if they do, is it because they don't flop or because they have less talent?
are always tough. I've seen straight reds given in EPL play, even if the defender gets the ball and not a piece of the opponent, and I often think that's too harsh, but in this World Cup, I've not seen many cards for it.
Heck, in the England game, the english player went studs up, actually caught the Colombian player and England was somehow awarded the foul.
I have to say, I had no idea who Mark Geiger was before this Cup and man he really sucks.
Yep, I remember that play - clipped the Colombian right on the achilles..I think the foul called was before the spikes up tackle. It was a continuing play where the English non call was the end of the play. I think there was either a grab or a bad challenge immediately before that non call. Not defending the non call...
that threatens the game. Officials are trained to "punish" (i.e., call fouls and/or issue cautions) for actions that bring disrespect to the game, and there is no question that the failure to card simulation is hurting it. At the HS and college level it is easy to spot not only the emulation of play on the pitch (the skill and the attempts at through balls, multiple runs on near/far post, juggling to shake free from a defender)--i.e., the good stuff--but also the bad stuff, but it is not promiscuous because officials at amateur levels DO call it.
It is not only the lack of enforcement of simulation that the credo from above is hurting this WC: the reported "official" instructions to ARs NOT to raise their flags on attackers in an offside position who are involved in active play is ludicrous--it directly affects behavior on the pitch. If VAR overrules an incorrect flag that is raised, so be it.
But an instruction that officials should NOT call what they see in enforcing the laws of the game sends the same promiscuous message that everything can be manipulated. And this is separate and apart from the grossly inconsistent application of takedowns in the PA--it is unfair to defenders and attackers alike because the line between what will result in a penalty or not is so blurred as to be unknowable.
I was complimentary to England and never blamed the ref for the loss. I pointed out he did a shitty job. England deserved to win and they did. Go fuck yourself though.
No, as usual with the losing side in a close match, you whined that you lost because of the ref.
But thank you for your kind thoughts.
Show me where I said "we lost because of the ref" You're dumb as a rock buddy.
Your insults mimic you concept of football. You claimed the ref was unfair to Colombia, implying England won because of uneven refereeing. Anyone reading your post(s) knows what you meant, so like your heroes on the pitch, stop feigning injury and ignorance.
But hey, have at it.
Your lack of comprehension mimics your lack of intelligence. All I said was the ref did a horrible job which he did, right before that I stated that England made more plays and deservedly won. Why is it so hard for you to grasp that concept? Whatever, have a great weekend.
RE: RE: 'stones cleating falcao in the back of the head while he was down' Â
As I type that we got a Real Madrid connection for a goal. Asensio with a beautiful cross and Ramos with an even prettier goal.
Spain probably going to the Final. Very easy path on that side of the bracket.
Surprised England is still a 30/1 shot to win. Surely English bettors had to start pouring money into their team after their group stage
Does that mean they voted for Trump!
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Sampaoli might have performed the worst managing job ever at the World Cup in my lifetime. Just brutal from first game to the last. Messi can't do anything when he's got to pick up the ball from the center circle. Despite Messi, really glad to see that Argentina team out - just a deplorable cast of characters.
Does that mean they voted for Trump!
WTF are you talking about?
That's a rough call. Yeah his hand was up, but he wasn't even looking that way. Not sure of the rule on that though.
Spain needs to change the way they are playing. Isco is receiving the ball way too deep. Spain getting no penetration at all.
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Handball in the Spanish box on a corner. Headed off Pique's outstretched hand. Will VAR look at it
That's a rough call. Yeah his hand was up, but he wasn't even looking that way. Not sure of the rule on that though.
Spain needs to change the way they are playing. Isco is receiving the ball way too deep. Spain getting no penetration at all.
Aside from the own goal, Spain has had only two touches in Russia's box the entire match
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Isco is such a joy to watch. Maybe I am bias towards him, but if you told me he was a top 10 player in the World I wouldn't disagree....
Funny you should mention Isco: Until the penalty I've been baffled by how Hiero was deploying him as even though nominally on the left wing in Spain formation, and with Spain in possession he was playing so low and central he appeared to be acting as more of a holding MF. Once the Russian penalty, he adjusted, higher, wider and much more effective and involved.
It always happens with Isco when given too much freedom. For club & country. He needs a coach who won't give him total freedom. Needs more structure.
Bad play by Isco. Should have shot it first time instead of taking the extra touch.
I'm digging how much the crowd is into it and what having the host nation alive adds to this spectacle.
No clue why they are taking Asensio off. Yeah he's been invisible (Coaches fault) but he's one guy on the team that can provide individual brilliance.
Or could work well for the team if the fucking coach put him in the right position.
Didn't miss the goal at all, amazing save.
Give Russia credit they played great defense... Sucks
They played great defense and lucked out on GK
Kick save and a beauty! I also liked the head fake/ stutter step one way before diving the other. That split second enabled him to still have his foot in position for the kick save.
I don't know if I've seen a better penalty save than that one.
Ridiculous hot take.
I used to wake up at all hrs of the day/night to watch all the games. I haven't watched one yet this year. Listen on radio/streaming but that's been it.
Rooting for England of all teams now. And maybe Uruguay
I used to wake up at all hrs of the day/night to watch all the games. I haven't watched one yet this year. Listen on radio/streaming but that's been it.
Rooting for England of all teams now. And maybe Uruguay
I think you're the opposite of just about every other person. We've had great moments, great games and upsets. Definitely the most exciting World Cup I've ever seen.
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Looks really bad right now. Should have never fired Lopetegui.
Ridiculous hot take.
Hot take? The Spanish RFEF put out a statement congratulating Lopetegui. Rubiales flat out lied about when he found out. Fired the coach two days before the World Cup started. Team looked bad in every game under Hierro after going two years undefeated with Lopetegui. The players wanted Lopetegui to stay. Rubiales was mad that Lopetegui didn't vote for him in the elections.
Russia is doing what Korea did 8 years ago or maybe what France did 20 years ago.
I know some people can't get past the politics, but if you do, this is an exciting tournament.
I thought Spain deserved a penalty in extra time, though it would have taken some real guts on the part of the ref. And I can’t say Sergio Ramos really ever deserves the benefit of the doubt
Say goodbye to the nail biters in a stage where you'll see Brazil take on North Korea and Germany play Ethiopia
Say goodbye to the nail biters in a stage where you'll see Brazil take on North Korea and Germany play Ethiopia
That's atrocious. Keep the 4 teams in a group. You still would get some pretty bad matchups though with 16 extra teams that really don't belong there
I thought Spain deserved a penalty in extra time, though it would have taken some real guts on the part of the ref. And I can’t say Sergio Ramos really ever deserves the benefit of the doubt
- thing on the non-call of a penalty (as I said, echoes the non-call on Berg inexplicably not reversed) was that Piqué was dragged down just as he was attempting to elevate to make contact on a ball very well w/i his range; yes, Ramos was mugging too, but that's not a reason to have zero call on either
- when was last time Spain was shut out over 120 minutes?
- watching it play out it seems to me Spain came into this match overconfident, there seemed no urgency until very late
- from the keeper's perspective kicks from the mark are pretty much a no win scenario; that said, Afinkeev did, salvaging the center of the net with amazing flic of a kick save, while DeGea dove clear away from two strikes right down the middle, just not to be for the Iberians in this WC
The only scumbag here is Rubiales. Lied about when he found out and then fired the coach because of a personal grudge.
Coaches have announced they were leaving after a tournament before. Both van Gaal & Conte did the same thing. There teams outperformed expectations in the respective tournament. Now it's a big deal? Lol what a joke.
Just admit you're wrong. Rubiales fucked up. It was obvious then and even more obvious now. Russia wasn't knocking Spain out if Lopetegui was the manager.
Saying you're going to leave after a tournament has no effect on a team. The players didn't care. That's why both Madrid & Barca players fought for him to stay. Firing a coach has a huge effect on a team.
Like in boxing, Spain knew it couldn't leave it to chance, and they did.
Belgium's path is Japan, Brazil/Mexico, Uruguay & France
England's path is Colombia, Sweden/Switzerland, Russia & Croatia/Denmark.
I know which path I'm choosing.
Like in boxing, Spain knew it couldn't leave it to chance, and they did.
BHE no clue why it doesn't happen more often. Pulling players down on free kicks rarely gets called. I don't remember if it was this past season or the season before, but Ronaldo got pulled down so hard that his jersey ripped. The ref waived it off like nothing happened.
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Lopetegui is a scumbag, which makes him perfect for that scumbag club.
The only scumbag here is Rubiales. Lied about when he found out and then fired the coach because of a personal grudge.
Coaches have announced they were leaving after a tournament before. Both van Gaal & Conte did the same thing. There teams outperformed expectations in the respective tournament. Now it's a big deal? Lol what a joke.
Just admit you're wrong. Rubiales fucked up. It was obvious then and even more obvious now. Russia wasn't knocking Spain out if Lopetegui was the manager.
Saying you're going to leave after a tournament has no effect on a team. The players didn't care. That's why both Madrid & Barca players fought for him to stay. Firing a coach has a huge effect on a team.
I'm not wrong, and it's been reported that way from several sources. You might want to admit you just randomly chose to support soccer's version of the Cowboys on steroids. Scumbag club with fascist roots.
And the loss today had nothing to do with the manager. One team tried to play, and the other parked the bus knowing that as the home team they'd get breaks. Seen this movie before.
Nope. He's letting them get out of the country alive.
I think it's great without the US there. I can just watch the games. No stressing about winners or losers.
Can't believe Denmark scored inside a minute. Crazy.
Pique has been horrendous this entire WC... FATAL !!!!
Death by a thousand passes... LOL... No teeth to that Spain Offense...
Their tactics made no sense. I could count the number of times Diego Costa touched the ball with one hand. With a guy like that you could be more direct at least once in a while (in fact he was lethal at Chelsea when they were the opposite of tiki-taka)
Don't discount Sweden in that bracket.
No clue what he was doing. Should have just shot the ball.
And all of us armchair pundits skewering Rebic and Modric for not "just taking the kick" or what a horrible penalty kick (it wasn't good, he telegraphed it even after Schmeichel began his lean to his left), Mercy, Mercy, they've been on a brutally hot pitch for ~120 minutes
40 minutes of playing time back as Modric was preparing to take a corner, half the players of both teams were bent over at the waist, hands on knees
This is the crucible, enjoy it for what it is, triumphs, failures, uncertainty. but don't glory in players' failures
Really? I thought he just guessed right, made a nice save and didn't give up a rebound. I thought it was more of a shitty PK than great save. Madrid kept it low where he could save it. Put it high and it's a goal IMO.
Only way that PK could've been worse was if it wasn't on goal.
Now the Russian keeper earlier today, that was a great save to me.
Wow both Denmark & Croatia missed their 1st PK.
And all of us armchair pundits skewering Rebic and Modric for not "just taking the kick" or what a horrible penalty kick (it wasn't good, he telegraphed it even after Schmeichel began his lean to his left), Mercy, Mercy, they've been on a brutally hot pitch for ~120 minutes
40 minutes of playing time back as Modric was preparing to take a corner, half the players of both teams were bent over at the waist, hands on knees
This is the crucible, enjoy it for what it is, triumphs, failures, uncertainty. but don't glory in players' failures
Yeah with only a few minutes left maybe it doesn’t make a difference. But if that’s not a straight red for denying a clear opportunity, I don’t know what is
What a shootout. Some horrible shots. Some great saves. What a great World Cup day.
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find myself agreeing with Kyle again, the defender did make contact with the ball but it was still at the feet of Rebic and the defender brought him down...couldn't be a more naked example of a DOGSO, straight red and PK////
Yeah with only a few minutes left maybe it doesn’t make a difference. But if that’s not a straight red for denying a clear opportunity, I don’t know what is
To flesh it out a bit more, I guess the justification of the yellow was that the defender made contact with the ball. Had that contact then put the ball beyond the reach of Rebic, e.g., over the goal line, it would be a different discussion. But, AFTER that contact, the ball was clearly still playable by Rebic, and the defender's legs tangled Rebic's and brought him down.
I love good passing. Both in soccer and basketball. That Modric pass was ridiculous. Good lord.
Zzzz me too
In comment 14003723 giantBCP said:
Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring
opportunity by a deliberate handball offence the player is sent off wherever the
offence occurs.
Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own
penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence
was an attempt to play the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling,
pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.) the offending player must be sent off.
Link - ( New Window )
Seems like Russian players have ran the farthest during tournament than any other team by far..
could be adrenaline from being host country or could be something else hmmmmmm
of course the ENTIRE Russian Team was accused of doping in 2014 Brazil games but mysteriously after 2 year investigation that ended right before this World Cup -- FIFA found "insufficient evidence".
Somewhere, hopefully, David Diehl wasn't driving today.
Kick save and a beauty!
I don't know if I've seen a better penalty save than that one.
Just watching the highlights now. "Kick save and a beauty!" is right for sure. That was a helluva penalty save.
I learn new things on these threads everyday.
If we could just morph this over to the football threads!!
I learn new things on these threads everyday.
If we could just morph this over to the football threads!!
Without a doubt, the soccer threads here are fantastic. Even if there is a bit too much Real Madrid talk :)
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clarification on the red card rule.
I learn new things on these threads everyday.
If we could just morph this over to the football threads!!
Without a doubt, the soccer threads here are fantastic. Even if there is a bit too much Real Madrid talk :)
Big Rick has turned into the ZGiants98 of soccer threads!
Brazil is vulnerable and Mexico took down Germany, but as we saw the group stage move along, that win looks less impressive now.
I think Coutinho will be the X factor once again and perhaps look to Roberto Firmino coming on to make a critical play later in the game.
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In comment 14003983 FatMan in Charlotte said:
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clarification on the red card rule.
I learn new things on these threads everyday.
If we could just morph this over to the football threads!!
Without a doubt, the soccer threads here are fantastic. Even if there is a bit too much Real Madrid talk :)
Big Rick has turned into the ZGiants98 of soccer threads!
Lukita!!!
Brazil is vulnerable and Mexico took down Germany, but as we saw the group stage move along, that win looks less impressive now.
I think Coutinho will be the X factor once again and perhaps look to Roberto Firmino coming on to make a critical play later in the game.
Brazil should consider giving Firmino the start. Gabriel Jesus has struggled and that Liverpool connection between the two might be just what they need. Coutinho has been phenomenal.
Quote:
clarification on the red card rule.
I learn new things on these threads everyday.
If we could just morph this over to the football threads!!
Without a doubt, the soccer threads here are fantastic. Even if there is a bit too much Real Madrid talk :)
BBI soccer threads are great. I feel like it really weeds out the doofuses.
I agree.
I've often believed that soccer should have a rule that if you stay down on the ground, you have to leave the pitch for a certain amount of time.
If you fake an injury(or have a legitimate one) in almost any other sport, you have to exit the field. Make these guys sit out 2 minutes or something like that if cards aren't going to be issued.
It is really easy to tell that a guy getting hit in the shoulder who grabs his head is faking it.
Agreed. Firmino >>> Gabriel Jesus
Neymar should win an Oscar for this theatrics but on the other hand he
is is constantly getting mug especially right after he passes the ball.
I'd put my money on France.
Luckily, the penalty the ref called was reversed on review, but how the fuck do officials fall for that crap in the first place? If I see Suarez writhe on the ground and there's no blood, I'm carding his ass. Same with Neymar.
I just hate that it isn't just accepted in the game, but that challenges where players are faking it often are rewarded with disciplinary action on the defender.
I'd bet on Uruguay. Then again, I thought Germany would win it all despite the red flags.
I'd put my money on France.
We must have been watching a different game today. They've given up four shots on target all tournament.
I've certainly been bullish on the French. Maybe they're on a collision course. But Brazil has Casemiro go out and now Fernandinho will step in. They have an unreal roster and a manager with a good plan
As for who looks to go far, I like Belgium. France did not look dominating the other day - fast but vulnerable. Uruguay does look to be the real deal. I didn't think Croatia looked so hot, either.
I just do not trust England. That leaves Brazil who I do not think beats Belgium.
I would not have given Russia two thoughts, but their defense looked solid against Spain.
So one side of the bracket is loaded and the other is meh.
I really think they just tried to maintain possession and figured they'd get some easy goals, but they never did a lot of give and go's or tried to push for chances until Iniesta entered the game. They essentially let Russia "hang around".
Russia did defend well, but they were content to sit back and play for penalties. Akineev actually came out and said this in his postmatch interview saying he was exhausted.
I really think they just tried to maintain possession and figured they'd get some easy goals, but they never did a lot of give and go's or tried to push for chances until Iniesta entered the game. They essentially let Russia "hang around".
Russia did defend well, but they were content to sit back and play for penalties. Akineev actually came out and said this in his postmatch interview saying he was exhausted.
Spain moved side to side, nothing forward - like Man United's team under Van Gaal. Nothing penetrating to try and beat the parked bus.
I didn't get Spain's strategy and I thought they failed to get the ball into Diego Costa on numerous occasions. It can be argued that the offense picked up when Aspas came on, but Costa was basically creating his own opportunities by going out on the wing to get the ball at times because there was no service to him in the center. It reminded me a bit of Brazil's play in the previous Would Cup where I think they thought they would win matches just by having flair and because they were Brazil. Spain looked like they figured if they did the tiki-taka passing the goals would magically appear.
Well Spain handled him. He was ineffectual in the Spain penalty area...even Pique's ridiculously dumb handball couldn't be attributed to Dzyuba causing a huge amount of problems. Outside of Pique's blunder Russia never came close to troubling De Gea, and you got the feeling that would have been the case if they played for 500 minutes. So it has to be said - Hierro successfully applied a tourniquet to Spain's biggest problem: extreme vulnerability on the counter.
Winning in elimination rounds is about keeping clean sheets and save for one individual error unrelated to tactics Spain did that over 120 minutes against the most creative team they'd faced in the tournament to this point. I'll paraphrase a quote from Pep Guardiola (whose influence in the game today is so massive, even in this tournament where he is not a participant): "My job is to get my players to the final third - in that area it's up to them and their talent to create the goals." That's what happened yesterday. I don't know that Spain underestimated Russia as much as they simply lacked the ideas to break them down. But when you render a team completely impotent like Spain did to Russia yesterday, I think you've done something right. It's about keeping clean sheets (just like it was in '10 and '12 when people complained about boring Spain), and the one reason they did not yesterday is something for which Pique has to answer.
And the players are the reason they didn't score more. Which leads me to...
2. For all his quality, Isco was a problem for Spain in this tournament and especially yesterday. I think I heard that of his 150+ passes yesterday only 11 or 12 went forward. By comparison Iniesta had 13 in his limited time. Isco has immense talent, but he lacked the tactical and positional understanding needed for Spain to function in the final third.
Someone with Isco's ability figures to be important in Spain's immediate future (though he'll already be 30 in Qatar), but if that is so it will require some changes in approach for whomever the new manager is.
3. I've said it many times since 2014, but yesterday only reinforces the excellence and influence of Xavi - IMO the greatest midfielder in history and perhaps the most overall influential single player ever. Already today I've heard both Graham Hunter and Maradona mention the impact Xavi had, and the vacuum left in his wake.
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be hesitant labelling them the team to beat. They've had a pretty easy road and haven't been all that convincing. Even today it's not like they had a ton of chances.
I'd put my money on France.
We must have been watching a different game today. They've given up four shots on target all tournament.
I've certainly been bullish on the French. Maybe they're on a collision course. But Brazil has Casemiro go out and now Fernandinho will step in. They have an unreal roster and a manager with a good plan
They had a really solid 2-0 win today, but Mexico actually had more possession over the whole 90 and gave up 13 shots. This was also the best they've looked. The group stage was a struggle for them.
It would be like a powerful offensive college team taking on Harvard and taking the air out of the ball.
When you're the superior team, you should attack and not let the inferior team hang around. We've bemoaned when the giants have done that.
In my eyes, Spain did exactly that. Sure, they neutralized any counterattacks, but they also failed to attack and create chances. Ironically, it looked like both teams played not to lose, with different strategies. Russia was probably correct in doing so. Spain? Should have just rode superior talent.
I didn't get Spain's strategy and I thought they failed to get the ball into Diego Costa on numerous occasions. It can be argued that the offense picked up when Aspas came on, but Costa was basically creating his own opportunities by going out on the wing to get the ball at times because there was no service to him in the center. It reminded me a bit of Brazil's play in the previous Would Cup where I think they thought they would win matches just by having flair and because they were Brazil. Spain looked like they figured if they did the tiki-taka passing the goals would magically appear.
In addition I was dumbfounded--and I'm repeating myself from my comment on Sunday's thread--that Isco was playing more of a holding MF role, low and to the center of the pitch even if nominally he was listed as wing on the left. He was content to possess and dump off on passes in the run of play that were entirely non-threatening. That began to change when Dyubov (?) notched the Piqué penalty.
Belgium, Brasil/France (toss-up) have to be considered the strongest heading into the quarers, then you have quasi dark horses in Uruguay, England...but don't sleep on the Swiss: granted it was the opening game in Group, but they have the only goal conceded by Brasil. If they can get by Sweden without Lichteiner and Schar, both under suspension, they will be a tough out.
it is so obvious that Russian team is doping their players .. during the Spain match Russian team were flying all over the field with unlimited energy
there is photo of Dzyuba during Spain game where you can clearly see a hole in his arm like he just recently got a shot.
Russia cheated getting Sochi Olympics -- cheated in those Olympics
why would it be any different in World Cup ?
They are the lowest ranked team in the tournament and one of the top ranked teams kept playing keep away instead of driving to create scoring chances.
Russia was out possessed almost 80-20 - they weren't particularly fresh at the end of the game and Spain ended up getting a few late chances. If they did that the full 90 minutes, I imagine Russia would've lost 3-1 or worse.
They matchup very well with them and I think the speed on the wings serving the ball to Falcao will get them through. I'm looking forward to that match though. I think it will end up being one of the more exciting ones.
It would be like a powerful offensive college team taking on Harvard and taking the air out of the ball.
When you're the superior team, you should attack and not let the inferior team hang around. We've bemoaned when the giants have done that.
In my eyes, Spain did exactly that. Sure, they neutralized any counterattacks, but they also failed to attack and create chances. Ironically, it looked like both teams played not to lose, with different strategies. Russia was probably correct in doing so. Spain? Should have just rode superior talent.
I agree that Spain needed to be more incisive going forward, no question. It's just that tactically I'm not as critical of them as many are being. Yesterday reminded me quite a bit of 2010, when Del Bosque was criticized for using Busquets instead of the more attacking Silva.
In truth the match should have been over when Spain went up 1-0. Pique's error was enormous, and I think is an under-discussed aspect of what happened.
Here is an excerpt from Michael Cox's preview of the Euro 2012 final:
He could have been writing that about yesterday.
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In comment 14004470 Jon in NYC said:
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be hesitant labelling them the team to beat. They've had a pretty easy road and haven't been all that convincing. Even today it's not like they had a ton of chances.
I'd put my money on France.
We must have been watching a different game today. They've given up four shots on target all tournament.
I've certainly been bullish on the French. Maybe they're on a collision course. But Brazil has Casemiro go out and now Fernandinho will step in. They have an unreal roster and a manager with a good plan
They had a really solid 2-0 win today, but Mexico actually had more possession over the whole 90 and gave up 13 shots. This was also the best they've looked. The group stage was a struggle for them.
One shot on target. Brazil put 10 on net
When you look at England's play in group, it got by an offensively toothless Tunisia, routed USA-beater Panama (to oohs and ahhs) and played a meaningless scrub match between two knockout round qualifiers. England has yet to play a dangerous attacking team so its back line in this WC has to be considered unproven.
They match-up very well with them and I think the speed on the wings serving the ball to Falcao will get them through. I'm looking forward to that match though. I think it will end up being one of the more exciting ones.
As I mentioned, not an overwhelming favorite on the match-up, felt like England had more team speed and scoring ability,but a good friend at work is a scouser born in Liverpool, so partially an emotional pick on my part.
who do you like on the Swiss vs Swedes?
much prefer to watch some take on their man, beat them and get past by dribbling, instead of endless sideways passing.
Maybe Belgium, France and Brazil are a better watch because they have dribblers who case a defence get all unbalanced.
They have a stout defense, Sommer is solid and though unspectacular by name recognition, their attack is very competent.
I wouldn't call them favorites, but they'll get by Sweden and have a chance against anyone else they face.
This is a really good point. One of the things both Brazil and France has in common, is that neither of their teams are primarily from their domestic league. So it is certainly promising for both to see that they are playing better the more they are playing with each other.
Belgium looks disjointed, which was the big concern with Martinez. Good at man management, not great with tactics.
Mertins and DeBruyne can score from outside the box at any moment.
Mexico also looked good until they gave up a goal.
good to see Kompany back and playing
It's never surprising to be disappointed by Belgium, but wow.
Strategically attack them.
From minute 1 Roberto Martinez must have felt like Apollo Creed's trainer - they don't think this is a damn exhibition, they think it's a damn fight.
I don't like the substitution of Fellani here.
Mertens was doing OK getting some crosses in. Fellani is way too one-dimensional
I don't like the substitution of Fellani here.
Mertens was doing OK getting some crosses in. Fellani is way too one-dimensional
If I saw Klinsmann on the street today in front of me I'd step on the fucking gas. Gutless piece of shit.
Game of the tournament so far
Game of the WC!
Courtois showing what a goalkeeper can do beyond just stop shots (I'm thinking of you, De Gea).
Credit Japan, they played wonderfully
What a sequence...
Japan looked so sharp with possession for the first 70 minutes of the game. In terms of how we should have played them, could we have done that?
Others know better than I do, but it always seems to me like the US is afraid to possess the ball against top teams, or that they are just not as sharp and in control passing around.
It hasn't always been that way. The 2002 USMNT really grew into the tournament and played its best against Mexico and Germany in the elimination rounds. Really good team.
What does that even mean?
I don't remember ever having a sense that they were a great at possessing the ball or making crisp passes to move the ball where they wanted it to go.
I don't remember ever having a sense that they were a great at possessing the ball or making crisp passes to move the ball where they wanted it to go.
Check out this goal against Colombia in 1994. Phenomenal.
Link - ( New Window )
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would draw well in the US.
What does that even mean?
You know exactly what that means. The Russia/Spain and Croatia/Demark games were "play not lose" games. Boring as hell. If you want to draw in more US fans and grow the game in the US, this is the type game that US (non-soccer) fans would really enjoy. I've been watching WC since 1994 and still learning the game technically.
This game was played hard with scoring chances all over
Besides, soccer is already drawing in the US. It doesn't need every game to be a wild up and down affair to draw people. And if it did, I'd rather those people stayed home.
Germany Bundesliga: 44,646
England EPL: 38,297
Spain La Liga: 26,939
Mexico Liga MX: 25,183
Italy Serie A: 24,767
France Ligue 1: 22,524
US MLS: 20,815
Netherlands Eredivisie: 19,001
Argentina Primera Division: 16,723
Brazil Serie A: 16,418
It's not like everyone else is getting 65,000 per game and MLS is getting 15,000.
Real Madrid may be replacing one asshole in Cristiano with another.
Besides, soccer is already drawing in the US. It doesn't need every game to be a wild up and down affair to draw people. And if it did, I'd rather those people stayed home.
Great, narrow minded view. If you want the US to get to the WC Finals, the game needs to grow and attract better athletes. Kids play what the parents watch on TV. I think we both agree that if the top US athletes start playing soccer as their primary sport USMNT could be a juggernaut.
If you want to mince words over my use of "hard" vs vigorous (maybe a better word) that is fine. Point is simply - Russia sat back and made few counters against Spain, while Spain was happy to pass around the perimeter and not even probe. I was rooting hard for Spain and was bored out of my skull as well as frustrated.
I think the Russia Croatia game will be good. I'd bet Croatia attacks more than Spain. I'm not selling Belgium short against any team including Brazil. Japan may have been a good wake up call.
I think we are looking at this from different viewpoints. You are an established fan, I am learning. You are saying the game is the game enjoy for what it is; I guess I am almost at that point. What I am looking at is the casual fan (and you have seen a few on the various WC threads) who sees a slow tactical game and decides not to watch again(boring), yet if he (or she) sees a game like Belgium/Japan says, hey I want to see more.
Hope that makes some sense....
Proper management at the federation level, quality coaches, and strong scouting networks are what's needed. MLS is already on its way to providing two of the three. Issues at the federation level can kill you no matter how good your players are. Look at Argentina for an example of that.
But of all our issues the available talent pool is the least of our worries. There are countries doing great things with a small fraction of what we have...Uruguay has a smaller population than the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Iceland has the total population of Spartanburg, SC.
What happened is the USSF president (Gulati) got starry eyed over a German guy (Klinsmann) that has made his home in California. Klinsmann is a good talker full of big ideas, and Gulati thought he'd be the perfect blend of German experience with American mentality for the USMNT. Gulati ignored numerous warnings from Europe about Klinsmann's incompetence and gave him enormous power over the team. Klinsmann then proceeded to poison the team, and it's still recovering from that trauma.
That's the short version. For the full story I strongly suggest reading the article linked below. It's the best summary I can find of the debacle of the last several years.
Link - ( New Window )
Proper management at the federation level, quality coaches, and strong scouting networks are what's needed. MLS is already on its way to providing two of the three. Issues at the federation level can kill you no matter how good your players are. Look at Argentina for an example of that.
But of all our issues the available talent pool is the least of our worries. There are countries doing great things with a small fraction of what we have...Uruguay has a smaller population than the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Iceland has the total population of Spartanburg, SC.
Yes, good points and I did overlook those at this time. JK and the old farts at the top killed us for 8 years. So I totally agree with what you say on management. We could and should be able to get to the knockout stage everytime(virtually) with the talent we have available.
Check out this goal against Colombia in 1994. Phenomenal. Link - ( New Window )
But if I'm remembering correctly that game will forever be remembered in Cali, Bogota, Barranquilla, etc. and especially Medellin for the Colombian defender's own goal early on. I was on a deal in Bogota at the time and of course meetings were suspended. The disbelief and anguish were palpable and extended well beyond our meeting room. Escobar was found shot just weeks later, died, and has become lore.
Aloss to brazil
Afros are great for headers! Everyone should grow their hair out
We can argue all day about WHY the US doesn't produce more quality players, but the idea that our players are as good as any of the top nations is not supported by any facts whatsoever.
In the last 6 years or so I think the team has lacked confidence as a result of poor coaching, inconsistent tactics, unclear or undefined roles, poor player selection, etc.
We can argue all day about WHY the US doesn't produce more quality players, but the idea that our players are as good as any of the top nations is not supported by any facts whatsoever.
That isn’t what was said. We have the talent to compete, I think that’s clear as day. No one is claiming we’d be Germany or Spain overnight.
Link - ( New Window )
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I watched that tourney but don't remember it (other than the handball). I just always had the impression of the US team that they were as athletic if not more so than any team in the tournament, and had size for set pieces, and relied upon that and Tim Howard to stay in games and hope for the ability to capitalize on fewer opportunities.
I don't remember ever having a sense that they were a great at possessing the ball or making crisp passes to move the ball where they wanted it to go.
Check out this goal against Colombia in 1994. Phenomenal. Link - ( New Window )
For the little it's worth, I was there. Quite a day in LA.
A lot of people calling for FIFA to do something. But as we've seen before, especially from the South American countries, the flopping goes unpunished.
Neymar a great player and an embarrassment - ( New Window )
Link - ( New Window )
Reminded me also of the Liverpool-Arsenal match from a few years ago.
Reminded me also of the Liverpool-Arsenal match from a few years ago.
The game actually had a different set of announcers where you can hear their despair for West Ham. It's somewhere on youtube.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1014013211358752768
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like Ronaldo is on the verge of 100M move to Juve.
Idols for sale, at a high price. Great for his family and the Madeira Is. (where he gives to the community), but our world--where this kind of money is funneled...smh. Jon, is this enough for Juve to vault a class?
Good question, tough to say.
They've won the league like 6 straight years, so really the only next step for them is the champions league, where they've come close but haven't won it in recent history.
Last year they were dominated by Madrid in the first leg, came all the way back, and then gave up a penalty to lose in the final minutes.
So one would think that Ronaldo would tip them over the edge, but this certainly isn't prime Ronaldo.
Really absurd, and I have no interest whatsoever in who’s the victor of this game.
Now he's out of the next match.
Terrible card shown.
Graham Hunter, who is close with the team and traveled with them around Russia, suggests that they should reach out to Zidane. He gave it as an opinion and not as a scoop, though.
However, AS has picked up a story that Xavi is being considered amongst the other possible candidates that have already been mentioned (Luis Enrique, Michel, Quique Sanchez Flores). That would surprise me, but if ever the ethos of what Spain wants to be were captured in a player, it's him.
Colombia: Ospina; Arias, D Sanchez, Mina, Mojica; Barrios, C Sanchez, Quintero, Lerma, Cuadrado; Falcao
Subs: Zapata, Murillo, Rodriguez, Bacca, Vargas, Muriel, Uribe, Diaz, Borja. Izquierdo, Aguilar, JF Cuadrado
England: Pickford; Walker Stones Maguire; Trippier, Lingard, Henderson, Alli, Young; Sterling, Kane,
Subs: Butland, Pople, Rose, Dier, Delph, Cahill, Alexander-Arnold, Rashford, Welbeck, Loftus-Cheek, Vardy
Interestingly, the referee today: NJ's own Mark Geiger. I am not a huge fan of his work.
Do you guys really think there’s any truth to this Juve/Ronaldo rumor? That doesn’t seem like a Juve type of move, and is a ridiculous amount of money for a player on the downside of his career.
Zidane isn't Spanish, though I believe his wife is and he's basically raised his family in Spain. I think he'd make a ton of sense, as being national team manager is as more about man management and reading the game as its happening than club football. Zidane excels in this...he's a better tournament manager than he is over the long slog of the domestic season.
Xavi (he's actually been in Qatar) just got his coaching license and was recently named manager of his team there. He's a genius and has a sense of what it means to play football well (to him playing poorly and winning is meaningless - that comes straight from Cruyff through Guardiola), but would the FA give the job to someone with zero experience?
Yes. He's out today. Walked out of training the day after the last group stage match. Think it is lower leg.
Calf injury.
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hurt?
Calf injury.
Damn. Everything seems to be breaking England's way, although I agree, Sweden is anything but a pushover.
Qatar, I knew it was one of those off-the-beaten-pitch waystations. (:
Yes, Zidane, I think he's of Algerian descent, hence playing for the Tricolor. Maybe this non-result in '18 will prompt extreme measures from the Association.
Not just you, it's brutal. I like Rob Stone well enough but the analysts they brought are not good. It's just a poor product overall
ESPN is a mixed bag these days. But with the resources they have, when they really throw their weight behind a project, the quality can't be matched. Their World Cup coverage was top notch.
I'm glad Warren Barton is getting a chance to do run-of-play commentary, because I always find his perspective worthwhile and ear-to-the rail; the downside is we only hear from him once every three or four days.
I remember during a Betis-Real Madrid game with a shitty ref, the usually understated Hill sarcastically saying that it "seems like they are giving away referee badges and whistles in boxes of Christmas crackers." I'd love to know what those guys are up to now.
Not often that BBI scouts out the ref in a futbol match, just like for the Giants vs. rivals. I decided to pay att'n, esp. as Geiger led a post-DC United briefing for those of us who attended.
didn't catch the 1st 12 minutes
- 26th - after setting the spot for a FK, Geiger turned and ran to the side where ball likely to go: ref should never turn his back to potential hot spot
- 27th - CKK situation, sorting out the wall scrum, he remained w/i ~ 2 yards or so of the mob, no way to get a broader view of the bodies/potential fouls
- 32nd - handled the Quadrado-Young shoving well, low key
- 39th - after the dangerous tackle on Kane just outside the PA, he did not do a good job in breaking up the convocation, it lingered, and led to the head butt that drew a caution but not the red. Colombia in part to blame of course, but he was not emphatic enough in separating
He has not yet had a big moment in a big match. We'll see how he handles it.
Back to WC
That was a bit over the top by Henderson - true - but not nearly the acting chops Nemar has demonstrated throughout this WC.
Yesterday, a Mexican player loved tapped his foot. Neymar had a reaction liked he just stepped on a landmine. Than in the group stage, he got hit on the sideline, sort of hard, and proceeded to go into 10 full body rolls on the ground as if he were being dragged around tied to a horse. Guy is a disgrace to watch at times.
He's making Suarez's act look innocent...
And yet he hit his chin with his head, deliberately.
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I'm not a soccer player because when I get hit in the chin, I grab my chin, not my forehead. I also don't crumple to the ground in pain unless my legs are what get whacked.
That was a bit over the top by Henderson - true - but not nearly the acting chops Nemar has demonstrated throughout this WC.
Yesterday, a Mexican player loved tapped his foot. Neymar had a reaction liked he just stepped on a landmine. Than in the group stage, he got hit on the sideline, sort of hard, and proceeded to go into 10 full body rolls on the ground as if he were being dragged around tied to a horse. Guy is a disgrace to watch at times.
He's making Suarez's act look innocent...
Go back and check MontanaGiant's post at 8:48 this morning. It's been covered on this thread.
BTW, given what happened at the end of the first half I guess if you get kicked in the balls you DO collapse.
It was a penalty though, he got the call right
Colombia's been gooning it up all game. They deserved that penalty
That said, I'd have bet my salary on Kane converting. That guy is a great goal scorer.
If true, then I think the Neymar speculation become a lot more real...
Going to Italy seems the strange part.I would have banked on CR7 setting his sights on MU.
Well that’s something else though. I thought Spain deserved the penalty the other day.
In one respect: he should have sent a Colombian player off to stop the madness they have turned this match into
John Madden would have called him a player with good hardware, bad software.
Pickford made a remarkable save. That was going in
I use the word "plays" loosely.
I use the word "plays" loosely.
He got in for a couple matches and the consensus was that he is not ready for that level of play. Amazing.
I use the word "plays" loosely.
I fear for England fans...
conditioning in this heat may favor those who live and sometimes play along equatorial SA
Yeah, Colombia must be feeling pretty confident. At least England made an effort in the 2nd ET period.
I'd have:
Kane
Vardy
Rashford
Trippier
Pickford (I'm not joking...I don't trust the other guys)
that would be magic....
That surprised me too. I was sure he'd be the fifth.
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I thought for sure he was on the list because he's a striker. He always takes them for Leicester
That surprised me too. I was sure he'd be the fifth.
It was almost fatal for England because you'd never pick Henderson over Vardy to take a penalty (and I'm a Liverpool fan admitting that)
Agreed. Was a bit surprised Dier was in the lineup at all...
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I thought for sure he was on the list because he's a striker. He always takes them for Leicester
Agreed. Was a bit surprised Dier was in the lineup at all...
I think Kyle Walker was going to take one but he got hurt
Of course, the bracket's not organized that way. One side of the bracket (Brazil, Belgium, Uruguay, France) seems a lot tougher - amazing that Croatia seems to have as good a shot as anyone at getting to the final.
Even English MPs go crazy - ( New Window )
Ahhhh, no. From the continent of floppers, divers and writher's of pain - blame the ref. Please.
Not having James available is the biggest reason for the loss..
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my heart is broken right now. Tip of the hat to England, they made the plays needed to move on. The moment proved to be too big for Uribe and Bacca. I won’t make a single excuse for the loss. However, the ref was atrocious and should not be allowed to ref another WC game this summer.
Ahhhh, no. From the continent of floppers, divers and writher's of pain - blame the ref. Please.
Not having James available is the biggest reason for the loss..
Thank you! I thought I was watching a different game for a minute.
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my heart is broken right now. Tip of the hat to England, they made the plays needed to move on. The moment proved to be too big for Uribe and Bacca. I won’t make a single excuse for the loss. However, the ref was atrocious and should not be allowed to ref another WC game this summer.
Ahhhh, no. From the continent of floppers, divers and writher's of pain - blame the ref. Please.
Not having James available is the biggest reason for the loss..
I was complimentary to England and never blamed the ref for the loss. I pointed out he did a shitty job. England deserved to win and they did. Go fuck yourself though.
Geiger blows.
Geiger blows.
This.
The Uribe shot just before the equalizer was a 40 yard rocket headed into the top corner and Pickford somehow got a hand on it.
Then the penalty save from Bacca on a rising shot that would have gone just under the crossbar
I still want to see another angle of that shot. I can't recall seeing a replay, and I fear that it might get lost because of the goal that happened shortly after.
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The Uribe shot just before the equalizer was a 40 yard rocket headed into the top corner and Pickford somehow got a hand on it.
I still want to see another angle of that shot. I can't recall seeing a replay, and I fear that it might get lost because of the goal that happened shortly after.
Here you go with an angle from behind the net. I think it's going in the top corner
Pickford wonder save - ( New Window )
Don't look like they got a gym there, does it mate???
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https://twitter.com/i/status/1014013211358752768
That is great
I was complimentary to England and never blamed the ref for the loss. I pointed out he did a shitty job. England deserved to win and they did. Go fuck yourself though.
No, as usual with the losing side in a close match, you whined that you lost because of the ref.
But thank you for your kind thoughts.
One they actually decided to play, they were much better.
Link - ( New Window )
Thanks for that. Sort of typical South American style of soccer.
Do you have a link because I have not heard that anywhere. Numerous reds for what? Dissent? Typically you get a yellow for dissent, and nothing in this game deserved a red in my opinion. The “headbutt” was overexaggerated by henderson and he “headbutted” someone else just moments later. To me the most egregious foul was committed by ashley young where in any other game could easily have been sent off for a studs up challenge. The game was poorly officiated for both teams and I blame that more than anything
Same as the “headbutt” if youre being fair
As for the ref review session, I heard this being discussed on SiriusXm channel 157, the soccer channel. I'd have to look for a link to something when I get a chance.
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I was complimentary to England and never blamed the ref for the loss. I pointed out he did a shitty job. England deserved to win and they did. Go fuck yourself though.
No, as usual with the losing side in a close match, you whined that you lost because of the ref.
But thank you for your kind thoughts.
Show me where I said "we lost because of the ref" You're dumb as a rock buddy.
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In comment 14005965 Ceez2.0 said:
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I was complimentary to England and never blamed the ref for the loss. I pointed out he did a shitty job. England deserved to win and they did. Go fuck yourself though.
No, as usual with the losing side in a close match, you whined that you lost because of the ref.
But thank you for your kind thoughts.
Show me where I said "we lost because of the ref" You're dumb as a rock buddy.
Your insults mimic you concept of football. You claimed the ref was unfair to Colombia, implying England won because of uneven refereeing. Anyone reading your post(s) knows what you meant, so like your heroes on the pitch, stop feigning injury and ignorance.
But hey, have at it.
I don't know the writer, but the article seems to confirm what many have been saying about the tactics being used be some teams in competition.
2018 World Cup is getting seriously dirty now - ( New Window )
It seems like every 4 years, I feel there is an easy fix to this issue - strictly refereeing the games so it doesn't escalate. I know that's easier said than done, but if you start carding people for flopping a lot of this goes away. Here's a pretty damning excerpt from that article:
What he meant by the “same rules,” is that England has learned how to game the system. How to milk fouls to maximize its chances of winning a free-kick. How to exert physical pressure (and sometimes pain) on an opponent without getting spotted by the referee, or his assistants, or the omnipresent cameras ready to beam footage to the video referee. How to simulate injury.
Southgate saying they kept their dignity and sportsmanship is a bunch of horseshit. If an opponent grazes a body part after the whistle, rolling around in sheer agony isn't the way to go about bringing attention to it - but it sometimes works! And that type of simulation turns everyone off. My nephew and I had a running joke on vacation - he'd brush by me and I'd go down like a heap on the beach, and if he touched my shoulder I'd flop on the ground clutching my leg.
It is an embarrassment that simulation isn't just allowed, but that it often results in punishment for the opponent. There are no doubt matches that are rough. The answer isn't going to the turf in a heap to react to it - it is the ref's job to punish the fouls. Geiger failed miserably in that aspect. And frankly most refs will because against some teams, it would be an endless string of cards - but that's exactly what is needed so Suarez and Neymar aren't undermining their talent by looking like absolute fools.
So much of the sport is acting. I can't stand that in the NFL when player's call for flags. Can't stand it in baseball when player's plead for video review. Can't stand it anywhere. And I'm not alone. This farce, while it seems harmless is actually stunting growth of the game in the US. Youths like my nephew shun it as being played by a bunch of fakers. When the same issue is brought up every 4 years, there has to be action taken. None ever is.
Is it me, or have the refs allowed a lot more spikes up contact and dangerous kicks without calling penalties this tournament?
Heck, in the England game, the english player went studs up, actually caught the Colombian player and England was somehow awarded the foul.
I have to say, I had no idea who Mark Geiger was before this Cup and man he really sucks.
I don't know if the stats bear it out, but I wonder if team like Japan, Korea, Australia or the US usually draw less fouls in their matches than the opponents, and if they do, is it because they don't flop or because they have less talent?
Heck, in the England game, the english player went studs up, actually caught the Colombian player and England was somehow awarded the foul.
I have to say, I had no idea who Mark Geiger was before this Cup and man he really sucks.
Yep, I remember that play - clipped the Colombian right on the achilles..I think the foul called was before the spikes up tackle. It was a continuing play where the English non call was the end of the play. I think there was either a grab or a bad challenge immediately before that non call. Not defending the non call...
It is not only the lack of enforcement of simulation that the credo from above is hurting this WC: the reported "official" instructions to ARs NOT to raise their flags on attackers in an offside position who are involved in active play is ludicrous--it directly affects behavior on the pitch. If VAR overrules an incorrect flag that is raised, so be it.
But an instruction that officials should NOT call what they see in enforcing the laws of the game sends the same promiscuous message that everything can be manipulated. And this is separate and apart from the grossly inconsistent application of takedowns in the PA--it is unfair to defenders and attackers alike because the line between what will result in a penalty or not is so blurred as to be unknowable.
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In comment 14006274 section125 said:
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In comment 14005965 Ceez2.0 said:
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I was complimentary to England and never blamed the ref for the loss. I pointed out he did a shitty job. England deserved to win and they did. Go fuck yourself though.
No, as usual with the losing side in a close match, you whined that you lost because of the ref.
But thank you for your kind thoughts.
Show me where I said "we lost because of the ref" You're dumb as a rock buddy.
Your insults mimic you concept of football. You claimed the ref was unfair to Colombia, implying England won because of uneven refereeing. Anyone reading your post(s) knows what you meant, so like your heroes on the pitch, stop feigning injury and ignorance.
But hey, have at it.
Your lack of comprehension mimics your lack of intelligence. All I said was the ref did a horrible job which he did, right before that I stated that England made more plays and deservedly won. Why is it so hard for you to grasp that concept? Whatever, have a great weekend.
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Tell me you're talking about this and I'll never stop laughing.
Same as the “headbutt” if youre being fair
So you were calling this a cleating. Amazing.