Football (Soccer) - General News

[don_fabio]

As it stands right now, Bosnia will face America in the next round, with the winner facing the winner of the potential match between Egypt and Cape Verde..

In that case I have no doubt that Americans will go through. They showed good football so far. They will have a chance should they meet Egypt. It takes ages to reach quarters this WC.

 

[Murat B.]

My Bosnian brothers went through today. They must be delirious over there. They were celebrating participation in a WC like they won a cup and they are now in a knockout stage.

Still unknown who they will play, but my money is on the other team. Bosnian defense is leaking from all sides.

I am glad Bosnia went through (I think there is a small chance they may not though, as the best 3rd place finisher). Same groups as Canada , who got the second spot behind Switzerland. Turkey killed me...My consolation is Canada and Bosnia.

 

[Federberg]

how on earth was that German goal allowed? That was a clear foul with the kick to the head!! If this is what VAR is doing now then let's just get rid of it. I would far rather complain about injustice rather than wonder about corruption

 

[don_fabio]

how on earth was that German goal allowed? That was a clear foul with the kick to the head!! If this is what VAR is doing now then let's just get rid of it. I would far rather complain about injustice rather than wonder about corruption

It is clear that big teams get special treatment against smaller teams and magically referee mistakes just happen. It has historically always been like that. Think of Argentina in 2022, lot of help from referees. Big teams winning makes money.

Equador had a mountain to climb today and they did it. Happy for them, they deserved it. Looks like a battle for 3rd place is real in every group.

 

[don_fabio]

Can someone explain to me how Iranian's last minute goal was overruled as offside?

edit: ok, I looked this in more detail and the last Egypt player in the defense counted as a goalie, beacuse the goalkeeper was further up in the field.

Crazy to go down like this and even the offside was literally by a shoelace. Situations like this make the new offside rule implemented a year or two back a bit ridiculous. There should be some buffer there.

 

[Murat B.]

Can someone explain to me how Iranian's last minute goal was overruled as offside?

edit: ok, I looked this in more detail and the last Egypt player in the defense counted as a goalie, beacuse the goalkeeper was further up in the field.

Crazy to go down like this and even the offside was literally by a shoelace. Situations like this make the new offside rule implemented a year or two back a bit ridiculous. There should be some buffer there.

They are looking to change the rule so that instead of a shoelace or a pinky finger , the whole body should be ahead of the last defender to be in the offside position. I agree with that.

 

[don_fabio]

They are looking to change the rule so that instead of a shoelace or a pinky finger , the whole body should be ahead of the last defender to be in the offside position. I agree with that.

That is how they should have done it in the first place. They went too far with the use of technology. There must be some common sense too when implementing new rules.

 

[mrzz]

They are looking to change the rule so that instead of a shoelace or a pinky finger , the whole body should be ahead of the last defender to be in the offside position. I agree with that.

I have been saying this for years, and this is the bare minimum. They simply forgot the spirit of the rule. The idea is not to have a player completely isolated, miles away from any defender. All those discussions about tiny margins are completely idiotic.

 

[Murat B.]

Another rule change idea from yours truly: When a player goes down like he has been shot, rolls on the pitch, punching the grass in agony , the ref let's him do his thing . But if he starts running like a cheetah after he gets the foul call he desperately needed, the ref stops the game, pulls him aside and says " You know, just a minute ago you were in agony, rolling on the pitch, punching the grass. I believed you, and your health is the most important thing in the world for all of us. So , now go sit on your bench for 15 minutes while your club physician keeps an eye on you. If you are good in 15 minutes, you can come back in. Your team will be a man short for 15 minutes but that is a risk we are all willing to take for your health, which is more important than any silly game"

Fair?

 

[Kieran]

Another rule change idea from yours truly: When a player goes down like he has been shot, rolls on the pitch, punching the grass in agony , the ref let's him do his thing . But if he starts running like a cheetah after he gets the foul call he desperately needed, the ref stops the game, pulls him aside and says " You know, just a minute ago you were in agony, rolling on the pitch, punching the grass. I believed you, and your health is the most important thing in the world for all of us. So , now go sit on your bench for 15 minutes while your club physician keeps an eye on you. If you are good in 15 minutes, you can come back in. Your team will be a man short for 15 minutes but that is a risk we are all willing to take for your health, which is more important than any silly game"

Fair?

Unfair! Give him a red card.

Now that’s fair!

 

[don_fabio]

Just the other day in some match a guy is doing exactly that, rolls in agony and the referee doesn't do a thing. A rolling guy realizes his team could be in trouble, gets up and continues to play.

They need to do something about it. Watching the same thing over and over for decades. I don't know any other sport where men are rolling on a grass like a bunch of pussies. Ever watched handball? Those guys are playing HARD. Not to mention rugby, hockey, etc.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Is is just me, as I have found this years world cup a tad boring, even though my country isnt in it? ( they are a bunch of head cases)
I expect France to win I guess, though another country winning would not surprise me

 

[don_fabio]

Is is just me, as I have found this years world cup a tad boring, even though my country isnt in it? ( they are a bunch of head cases)
I expect France to win I guess, though another country winning would not surprise me

Don't worry, Italy will get there when FIFA expands WC to 64 teams

It is a underwhelming to say the least, but I hope it gets more interesting towards the end. Africa, pardon France is playing really good. Probably top 2-3 favorites to win a cup.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Don't worry, Italy will get there when FIFA expands WC to 64 teams

It is a underwhelming to say the least, but I hope it gets more interesting towards the end. Africa, pardon France is playing really good. Probably top 2-3 favorites to win a cup.

LOL Don even if the FIFA expands WC to 64 teams my team of headcases Italy will still find a way not to get in
Maybe when it does near the end I will take another look

 

[Murat B.]

I have an idea, tell me why it is bad:

Qualifying for the World Cup is a two year ordeal...it takes a lot of energy, especially if you are trying to qualify from Europe. Look at all the good teams that did not make it. What if we expanded the number of teams that qualify to say 64 but make the actual tournament like the tennis format? All the teams already have a seeding in the world at that point, so you put the first and the second seed on the opposite sides and proceed just like tennis? Why?
Because I do not like meaningless games. I hate it when I hear " A draw is enough for so and so team to go through" and that always happens by the 3rd matches of the group stages. Sometimes a draw is enough for both teams that face each other and at that point , what is the incentive to play to win? I like it when something is on the line, like survival...

These teams are already playing two years worth of group stage football....so why not make it one and done at the real event? Overtimes and penalty shootouts from day one? I like the idea.

 

[don_fabio]

I have an idea, tell me why it is bad:

Qualifying for the World Cup is a two year ordeal...it takes a lot of energy, especially if you are trying to qualify from Europe. Look at all the good teams that did not make it. What if we expanded the number of teams that qualify to say 64 but make the actual tournament like the tennis format? All the teams already have a seeding in the world at that point, so you put the first and the second seed on the opposite sides and proceed just like tennis? Why?
Because I do not like meaningless games. I hate it when I hear " A draw is enough for so and so team to go through" and that always happens by the 3rd matches of the group stages. Sometimes a draw is enough for both teams that face each other and at that point , what is the incentive to play to win? I like it when something is on the line, like survival...

These teams are already playing two years worth of group stage football....so why not make it one and done at the real event? Overtimes and penalty shootouts from day one? I like the idea.

I bumped into the similar idea on reddit a few days ago. I fully support it. No bullshit games and every match is a knockout game. It would be better than this.

There is too many calculations involved at present. Just yesterday, Croatia would have done better by ending 3rd in the group with a draw against Ghana. Now we have Portugal and then Spain. If we hadn't score in the last 10 minutes we would get Columbia and then probably Switzerland. Far easier draw, which doesn't make sense.

 

[Murat B.]

Well done Canada, well deserved. Last 16 is better than what they hoped for.

 

[El Dude]

PARAGUAY

 

[Murat B.]

PARAGUAY

Seriously....Those guys will find it hard to get off the plane when they make it back to Germany. Some heads are gonna roll.

 

[Murat B.]

Morocco was the team that played more positive, they wanted it more, they got it. Congrats. Dutch did not play like any of the Dutch teams I have watched in my life time. Dutch teams always play to win. Not this team. They were reactive the whole game.
Morocco should not have much problems with Canada.