As I understand it, the center and both ARs will be women. Brava for the hard work and climbing what must have seemed an impossible ladder for these gals. FIFA not the complete luddites some make it out to be? LOL
for Spain, was not completely happy with the performance against Germany, but understood the overall strategy although it almost cost them the game.
It’s a shame Fati has not completely recovered his pace and performance with his injuries. His finishing was lethal when he healthy for Barca and exactly what Spain is missing. Ferran is so damn frustrating with his finishing for club and country.
for Spain, was not completely happy with the performance against Germany, but understood the overall strategy although it almost cost them the game.
It’s a shame Fati has not completely recovered his pace and performance with his injuries. His finishing was lethal when he healthy for Barca and exactly what Spain is missing. Ferran is so damn frustrating with his finishing for club and country.
I'd start Marotta albeit he didn't perform well in the Euros.
... what Lukaku couldn't do. If he came off his feet on at least two of those chances they were in. Being rusty is one thing but he can't have been close to game fit.
Belgium just aged out of their opportunity to get far in this tourney, though they might have been able to get one more game; just was not in the cards. That's the last time I include reputation/history in my evaluation of teams for pools!
Morocco is just the opposite (from my pool perspective): I saw a documentary recently about the team and the fans and I elevated them above what I'd otherwise have done. I think they will be fun to watch.
But back to Belgium, the overall result today and how it happened was somehow reminiscent of watching many a USMNT game ... PAST USMNT, I mean!
Looking forward to this afternoon's matches. Looks like a with a Germany win and a Spain win, Germany is in with 4 points.
Germany is not in with 4 points if Japan beats Spain. Japan will win the group and Spain already has 4 points plus goal differential Germany is very unlikely to match.
They are automatically in because they are the host right? Do they still play the usual Concacaf games or are they excluded and just have to play friendlies to stay tuned up? If CA, Mex and USA all get in automatically, does the rest of Concacaf all just play for 1 remaining bid?
RE: How does qualifying work for the US next cycle?
They are automatically in because they are the host right? Do they still play the usual Concacaf games or are they excluded and just have to play friendlies to stay tuned up? If CA, Mex and USA all get in automatically, does the rest of Concacaf all just play for 1 remaining bid?
WC expands to 48 teams in ‘26. USA, Mexico, and Canada all get automatic spots. CONCACAF will receive anywhere from 3-5 additional spots.
We will go through the CONCACAF qualifying process. I believe the highest three non-automatic teams will get the spots and the next two will go to the intercontinental playoffs.
Looking forward to this afternoon's matches. Looks like a with a Germany win and a Spain win, Germany is in with 4 points.
Germany is not in with 4 points if Japan beats Spain. Japan will win the group and Spain already has 4 points plus goal differential Germany is very unlikely to match.
Sorry - misread your post. Yes, if Germany and Spain both win, Germany is in.
WC expands to 48 teams in ‘26. USA, Mexico, and Canada all get automatic spots.
I don’t think FIFA has officially announced that. Host countries have always gotten the automatic spot in the past, but they’ve never had more than one host before. Between that and the expansion to 48, some have speculated they may end automatic spots.
...I believe it is the former. The edge in the air over the line means it is in.
Correct; whether the ball is on the ground or in the air, the edge of its circumference must be entirely outside the end line to be ruled oob.
I have to say, on the TV replay showed immediately following the goal, it looked to me the entirety of the ball was clear/outside of the end line.
What Group craziness that was.
Yeah, I agree when I see the video. I don't see the point in showing the stills, unless you can guarantee that the still was taken at the exact time the ball was farthest away
RE: RE: When you look at it form above, the ball was not completely out.
Yeah, I agree when I see the video. I don't see the point in showing the stills, unless you can guarantee that the still was taken at the exact time the ball was farthest away
I am not sure, but I think part of the issue may be whether VAR the area of the end line where this occurred; we know it covers the goal line (inside the goal posts) and offsides lines in the body of the pitch. What we as viewers see is whatever the official TV feed is from Qatar; I don't know if that comes in the ambit of VAR. Where that occurs on the field from the officials' perspectives is one of if not the most difficult to get accurate reads:
- the Center is out somewhere at the 18 primarily looking for fouls in the area, but he has poor perspective from 18 - 20 yards out to see such a fine measure.
- the AR at that endline is completely blocked by the goal posts and horizontal goal anchors, as well as players' bodies;
- the AR on that far side is probably anchored at the half way line and has less vantage point than the center.
Yeah, I agree when I see the video. I don't see the point in showing the stills, unless you can guarantee that the still was taken at the exact time the ball was farthest away
I would say the point is that this is the most videoed and photographed event on the planet, and there is huge incentive to deliver the still or photo that is definitive evidence that the ball was out and the call was wrong.
Difficult call to make, but it didn't appear to be definitively out.
I never focused on the FIFA rule that specifically before today. The part of the ball touching the ground was out, so in real time I thought it was out, but now learning about the rule on this thread, I think it was a correct non-overruling - can't say the ball was definitively out. CHP also makes a good point above - none of the three officials was positioned where they could possibly have a good look at it - not through any fault, just how it went down.
Morocco advancing would be great for AFCON.
It’s a shame Fati has not completely recovered his pace and performance with his injuries. His finishing was lethal when he healthy for Barca and exactly what Spain is missing. Ferran is so damn frustrating with his finishing for club and country.
Their Keeper is having a terrible half.
Croatia looking good so far, passing really well and limiting BEL chances
Blocking the vision of the keeper they said.
He was warming up, probably super-subbing along with Hazard
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for Spain, was not completely happy with the performance against Germany, but understood the overall strategy although it almost cost them the game.
It’s a shame Fati has not completely recovered his pace and performance with his injuries. His finishing was lethal when he healthy for Barca and exactly what Spain is missing. Ferran is so damn frustrating with his finishing for club and country.
I'd start Marotta albeit he didn't perform well in the Euros.
And Lukaku with all the space and a lot of from the 6 hits the post.
Love the Ian Darke
now 5!! What’s happening?!
This is bizarre.
This is bizarre.
He’s hardly played at all this season due to injury and isn’t sharp.
wow
Celebration for MOR, great first set of matches
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is allergic to the back of the net.
This is bizarre.
He’s hardly played at all this season due to injury and isn’t sharp.
That's one way to look at it. But he missed two sitters that world class strikers should bury - time off or not.
That miss off the right post was cruel.
He was damned good. Player to watch.
Belgium just aged out of their opportunity to get far in this tourney, though they might have been able to get one more game; just was not in the cards. That's the last time I include reputation/history in my evaluation of teams for pools!
Morocco is just the opposite (from my pool perspective): I saw a documentary recently about the team and the fans and I elevated them above what I'd otherwise have done. I think they will be fun to watch.
But back to Belgium, the overall result today and how it happened was somehow reminiscent of watching many a USMNT game ... PAST USMNT, I mean!
Germany is not in with 4 points if Japan beats Spain. Japan will win the group and Spain already has 4 points plus goal differential Germany is very unlikely to match.
WC expands to 48 teams in ‘26. USA, Mexico, and Canada all get automatic spots. CONCACAF will receive anywhere from 3-5 additional spots.
We will go through the CONCACAF qualifying process. I believe the highest three non-automatic teams will get the spots and the next two will go to the intercontinental playoffs.
Quote:
Looking forward to this afternoon's matches. Looks like a with a Germany win and a Spain win, Germany is in with 4 points.
Germany is not in with 4 points if Japan beats Spain. Japan will win the group and Spain already has 4 points plus goal differential Germany is very unlikely to match.
Sorry - misread your post. Yes, if Germany and Spain both win, Germany is in.
WC expands to 48 teams in ‘26. USA, Mexico, and Canada all get automatic spots.
I don’t think FIFA has officially announced that. Host countries have always gotten the automatic spot in the past, but they’ve never had more than one host before. Between that and the expansion to 48, some have speculated they may end automatic spots.
Yeah, that was a pretty bad call.
That's the "live table" at around 70 minutes.
Oh well, Havertz scores just as I typed that.
WORLD CUP!
no need to bring WWII into this.
I watch it on Telemundo, mainly for non sporting reasons.
Understandable, but don't sleep on Morocco.
Germany going home...yeesh
Germany going home...yeesh
Helps Japan got that awful non-call on the out of bounds goal. Germany would be moving on if not for that goal.
Don't sleep on Senegal vs ENG
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sit on a lead. That was a really disciplined tight defense.
Germany going home...yeesh
Helps Japan got that awful non-call on the out of bounds goal. Germany would be moving on if not for that goal.
Have not seen an angle that shows it out, last view it was still barely on the line. But, WTF knows.
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Understandable, but don't sleep on Morocco.
Don't sleep on Senegal vs ENG
+1
I predict that England will get tossed from the rung by the Senegalese. Can't stand them (England) already as it is.
Quote:
In comment 15928246 section125 said:
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sit on a lead. That was a really disciplined tight defense.
Germany going home...yeesh
Helps Japan got that awful non-call on the out of bounds goal. Germany would be moving on if not for that goal.
Have not seen an angle that shows it out, last view it was still barely on the line. But, WTF knows.
There was an angle where it clearly looked out.
Roberto Rojas @RobertoRojas97 - That right side of the bracket is looking PRETTY TASTY #FIFAWorldCup - ( New Window )
Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen - It really does look like all of the ball crossed all of the line for Japan’s second goal.😬 - ( New Window )
Angle from up top - ( New Window )
Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen - It really does look like all of the ball crossed all of the line for Japan’s second goal.😬 - ( New Window )
How could the miss that? Still photo from ground level photog?
Tom @tommaine11 - Replying to @JacobsBen - ( New Window )
That is the way I read the FIFA rule.
In golf, if ball is not in contact with OB line it is OB even if looking straight down it appears to cover part of the line...
That is the way I read the FIFA rule.
Ok thanks - that is what I thought and that is what makes it a tough call.
In golf, if ball is not in contact with OB line it is OB even if looking straight down it appears to cover part of the line...
This is the issue. Having read the rule, I believe it is the former. The edge in the air over the line means it is in.
So like in the NFL, if there is doubt, the call on the field stands.
Correct; whether the ball is on the ground or in the air, the edge of its circumference must be entirely outside the end line to be ruled oob.
I have to say, on the TV replay showed immediately following the goal, it looked to me the entirety of the ball was clear/outside of the end line.
What Group craziness that was.
Quote:
...I believe it is the former. The edge in the air over the line means it is in.
Correct; whether the ball is on the ground or in the air, the edge of its circumference must be entirely outside the end line to be ruled oob.
I have to say, on the TV replay showed immediately following the goal, it looked to me the entirety of the ball was clear/outside of the end line.
What Group craziness that was.
Yeah, I agree when I see the video. I don't see the point in showing the stills, unless you can guarantee that the still was taken at the exact time the ball was farthest away
Quote:
Difficult call to make, but it didn't appear to be definitively out.
So like in the NFL, if there is doubt, the call on the field stands.
I'm not sure, but I would assume so.
Quote:
In comment 15928295 Optimus-NY said:
Quote:
Difficult call to make, but it didn't appear to be definitively out.
So like in the NFL, if there is doubt, the call on the field stands.
I'm not sure, but I would assume so.
Great pics - thanks for posting!
I am not sure, but I think part of the issue may be whether VAR the area of the end line where this occurred; we know it covers the goal line (inside the goal posts) and offsides lines in the body of the pitch. What we as viewers see is whatever the official TV feed is from Qatar; I don't know if that comes in the ambit of VAR. Where that occurs on the field from the officials' perspectives is one of if not the most difficult to get accurate reads:
- the Center is out somewhere at the 18 primarily looking for fouls in the area, but he has poor perspective from 18 - 20 yards out to see such a fine measure.
- the AR at that endline is completely blocked by the goal posts and horizontal goal anchors, as well as players' bodies;
- the AR on that far side is probably anchored at the half way line and has less vantage point than the center.
Quote:
Understandable, but don't sleep on Morocco.
Don't sleep on Senegal vs ENG
+1
Yeah, I agree when I see the video. I don't see the point in showing the stills, unless you can guarantee that the still was taken at the exact time the ball was farthest away
I would say the point is that this is the most videoed and photographed event on the planet, and there is huge incentive to deliver the still or photo that is definitive evidence that the ball was out and the call was wrong.
And none such has surfaced.
Quote:
In comment 15928244 Optimus-NY said:
Quote:
Understandable, but don't sleep on Morocco.
Don't sleep on Senegal vs ENG
+1
these guys agree
I never focused on the FIFA rule that specifically before today. The part of the ball touching the ground was out, so in real time I thought it was out, but now learning about the rule on this thread, I think it was a correct non-overruling - can't say the ball was definitively out. CHP also makes a good point above - none of the three officials was positioned where they could possibly have a good look at it - not through any fault, just how it went down.