World Cup 2018

[Crazyface]

I watched Portugal play Armenia in the Euro qualifiers and Portugal's only game plan was "give to Ronaldo". It took him 85 minutes (I think it was), but he won it for them at the end. They seem to have moved on a lot from then and also Ronaldo seems to trust in his team mate more, well he has to he's 33 you know. Makes them a much better team. Still tough to beat, and now you don't know who to mark. Could be their year!

 

[Orikoru]

I watched Portugal play Armenia in the Euro qualifiers and Portugal's only game plan was "give to Ronaldo". It took him 85 minutes (I think it was), but he won it for them at the end. They seem to have moved on a lot from then and also Ronaldo seems to trust in his team mate more, well he has to he's 33 you know. Makes them a much better team. Still tough to beat, and now you don't know who to mark. Could be their year!

I think Portugal are a poor side to be honest. Their defence is ageing, I can't believe they're still calling up the likes of Fonte and Bruno Alves. Even Pepe must be on his last legs (hopefully anyway). If Ronaldo retires from internationals they could be in for a few barren years. Other than Bernardo Silva, I don't see too much attacking talent in the side.

 

[Crazyface]

I think Portugal are a poor side to be honest. Their defence is ageing, I can't believe they're still calling up the likes of Fonte and Bruno Alves. Even Pepe must be on his last legs (hopefully anyway). If Ronaldo retires from internationals they could be in for a few barren years. Other than Bernardo Silva, I don't see too much attacking talent in the side.

Thats as maybe, but currently there's not much on show from any team, well not that I've seen. Could be any countries tournament this time. Maybe the one with most desire and togetherness.????

 

[Orikoru]

Thats as maybe, but currently there's not much on show from any team, well not that I've seen. Could be any countries tournament this time. Maybe the one with most desire and togetherness.????

It's true, nobody has really fired on all cylinders yet - but some have only played one game still. It's still anyone's cup at this point. Croatia have looked good but I don't think they have the squad to go all the way. Belgium smashed a very poor Panama side so that doesn't give much indication.

Brazil are about to kick-off, so if they go and knock 3 past Costa Rica they'll probably be everyone's knee-jerk favourites! In fairness I thought they were looking good against the Swiss, and I'm not sure how they managed to only draw the game.

 

[Crazyface]

VAR VAR VAR !!!!!! Anyone want to argue against it now ?????????

Australia love it and Costa Rica are now massive fans!!!!!! Lets hope it works in Englands favour. God knows we're due some decisions in our favour !!!!

 

[Don Barzini]

Glad Neymar didn’t win a penalty there. Hate seeing penalties being given for stuff like that. I’d rather see yellow cards being dished out for the play acting.

 

[larmen]

Glad Neymar didn’t win a penalty there. Hate seeing penalties being given for stuff like that. I’d rather see yellow cards being dished out for the play acting.

I think that if you dive you should get the punishment the other would have had. Be it a card, a free kick or a penalty. That would stop diving very quickly.
you might do it if risking a card, but do you really want to give away a penalty latevin a game?

 

[Orikoru]

Glad Neymar didn’t win a penalty there. Hate seeing penalties being given for stuff like that. I’d rather see yellow cards being dished out for the play acting.

I don't understand why he wasn't booked for it. Having seen on VAR that he dived then booking him should be the easiest decision in the world and he hasn't done it.

In fairness, Costa Rica were wasting a hell of a lot of time feigning injuries in the last ten minutes, so conceding twice in injury time is exactly what they deserved in the end. And I had Coutinho fantasy captain so I'm pretty happy with that.

 

[Slime]

I think that if you dive you should get the punishment the other would have had. Be it a card, a free kick or a penalty. That would stop diving very quickly.
you might do it if risking a card, but do you really want to give away a penalty latevin a game?

What a fabulous idea, I really like that :thup:.

 

[Don Barzini]

I think that if you dive you should get the punishment the other would have had. Be it a card, a free kick or a penalty. That would stop diving very quickly.
you might do it if risking a card, but do you really want to give away a penalty latevin a game?

Fantastic idea! I’d be on board with that but it would never get brought in I’m sure.

Another one I’ve thought of in the past that I’d like to see - awarding a “penalty goal” for serious cheating when a goal would otherwise definitely have been scored. For example, the incident when Suarez hand balled on the goal line to deny Ghana in 2010. He got sent off for it but Ghana missed the penalty. In such a situation I’d like to not only see the offending player sent off, but the goal awarded anyway AND a penalty on top. Could also be applied to blatant professional fouling when someone is through on goal.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The Icelandic thunder clap is still a thing of wonder, I love it.

Cracking goal by Nigeria.

 

[ColchesterFC]

VAR VAR VAR !!!!!! Anyone want to argue against it now ?????????

Australia love it and Costa Rica are now massive fans!!!!!! Lets hope it works in Englands favour. God knows we're due some decisions in our favour !!!!

I think the Serbians might argue it isn't working properly. Mitrovic was being rugby tackled by two Swiss defenders and still didn't get the penalty.

 

[fundy]

oh great, Xhaka has used up his annual decent shot on target in an international

 

[MegaSteve]

oh great, Xhaka has used up his annual decent shot on target in an international

Do you think he might be one of the five the new broom [allegedly] doesn't want to move on?

 

[fundy]

Do you think he might be one of the five the new broom [allegedly] doesn't want to move on?

Wouldnt of thought so but then Im often wrong on these sort of things. If you had to have 5 Id assume it was lacazette, aubameyang, ozil, ramsey and monreal i think (assume we cash in on Bellerin)

 

[MegaSteve]

Wouldnt of thought so but then Im often wrong on these sort of things. If you had to have 5 Id assume it was lacazette, aubameyang, ozil, ramsey and monreal i think (assume we cash in on Bellerin)

I wouldn't be surprised if Lacazette is on the departure list with Bellerin staying...

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Good to see some of these groups going to the final games with lots to play for.

 

[Imurg]

I think the Serbians might argue it isn't working properly. Mitrovic was being rugby tackled by two Swiss defenders and still didn't get the penalty.

3 officials on the pitch, a few watching the video feeds....
And none of them saw it..??
This and the Kane examples make a mockery of VAR

 

[ColchesterFC]

3 officials on the pitch, a few watching the video feeds....
And none of them saw it..??
This and the Kane examples make a mockery of VAR

If the Kane one's were a penalty then the the Mitrovic one should have been two penalties. If it had been given and scored then Serbia would almost certainly have gone on to win and would have qualified for the knockouts. Now they have to beat Brazil to have a realistic chance of going through.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

3 officials on the pitch, a few watching the video feeds....
And none of them saw it..??
This and the Kane examples make a mockery of VAR

Each team should be given 2 VAR appeals per game, that one tonight was shocking.