World Cup 2018 - Russia

Kinda hoping for a Ronaldo/Messi final now, just to watch the world burn, although that'll require one of Portugal/Argentina to win their group and the other to finish 2nd (assuming they both qualify) or else we'll get a Quarter-Final showdown.

EDIT: Also, as Football Weekly just reminded me, I think Ronaldo made some history today, as the first person to be fined and given a suspended jail sentence on the same day he scores a hat-trick in the World Cup against the nation that gave him the aforementioned fine and jail sentence.

Also, did everyone hear that the VAR officials are actually in full referee's uniforms while working? I am genuinely not making that up.

davet010 wrote:
Clusks wrote:

Morocco are an interesting side, they certainly have a lot of quality in their team, if they win here they certainly have a chance to overcome Portugal, depending on how Ronaldo plays.

Listening to game on radio of them against Iran and it sounds like an end-to-end cracker so far, both of them must win. Sounds like Morccan quality is showing a bit more though.

An end to end cracker? More like a steaming turd, played out between two teams lacking elementary football skills such as being able to trap a slow moving football, control it or shoot for goal and not hit the corner flag. They did show amazing abilities across both teams to roll around after a slight challenge as if they'd been shot (almost Serie A 1990s standard). The own goal was the sort of thing you'd see scored in Sunday Leagues up and down the country every week.

And is it me, or have the refs been told to cut down on yellow cards ? There were a fair few challenges that in most leagues would have had the ref reaching for the pocket, but there seemed be little inclination here. There was also no confirmation on screen of the award of one, so I'm not sure whether that was ITV's garbage coverage or the Russian feed.

Truly dreadful. I can't wait until the brown envelope merchants at FIFA expand the tournament to 48 teams (more votes and more opportunities for backha...err, more opportunities for deserving nations), so that there can be more sh*tty group games.

We watched two different matches. I watched the actual match which, while not played by the highest paid players in the world, was an end to end cracker. You watched a match you had already predetermined to be a steaming turd in your head long before it was ever played.

Quick before the VAR haters weigh in, I thought that was a tough call for the France penalty but ultimately they made the right call and conceded the penalty.

It is fairly crazy if France cant beat Australia.
Probably would be best for Denmark if France won, so there is less competition for that second spot.

bigred wrote:

Quick before the VAR haters weigh in, I thought that was a tough call for the France penalty but ultimately they made the right call and conceded the penalty.

It looked like the defender just got a toe to the ball before making contact with Griezmann, even on the VAR. In which case giving a penalty was a little harsh.

Australia were a little unlucky, what with the VAR penalty and a deflection for the second goal. And does anyone know what Umtiti was doing waving his arm about to give away the penalty to Australia?

bigred wrote:

Quick before the VAR haters weigh in, I thought that was a tough call for the France penalty but ultimately they made the right call and conceded the penalty.

They got the call right but how it all played out was pretty clunky. There wasn't much play after but not sure how they just didn't review immediately.

bigred wrote:
davet010 wrote:
Clusks wrote:

Morocco are an interesting side, they certainly have a lot of quality in their team, if they win here they certainly have a chance to overcome Portugal, depending on how Ronaldo plays.

Listening to game on radio of them against Iran and it sounds like an end-to-end cracker so far, both of them must win. Sounds like Morccan quality is showing a bit more though.

An end to end cracker? More like a steaming turd, played out between two teams lacking elementary football skills such as being able to trap a slow moving football, control it or shoot for goal and not hit the corner flag. They did show amazing abilities across both teams to roll around after a slight challenge as if they'd been shot (almost Serie A 1990s standard). The own goal was the sort of thing you'd see scored in Sunday Leagues up and down the country every week.

And is it me, or have the refs been told to cut down on yellow cards ? There were a fair few challenges that in most leagues would have had the ref reaching for the pocket, but there seemed be little inclination here. There was also no confirmation on screen of the award of one, so I'm not sure whether that was ITV's garbage coverage or the Russian feed.

Truly dreadful. I can't wait until the brown envelope merchants at FIFA expand the tournament to 48 teams (more votes and more opportunities for backha...err, more opportunities for deserving nations), so that there can be more sh*tty group games.

We watched two different matches. I watched the actual match which, while not played by the highest paid players in the world, was an end to end cracker. You watched a match you had already predetermined to be a steaming turd in your head long before it was ever played.

It's not like I take enjoyment from agreeing with Dave, but... I agree with Dave.
Throughout that game, I mostly just saw players going down. Theatrically or not, entertaining it is not.

France should count all their stars. They were weak. Australia made a good effort.

I deeply regret waking up at 5am to watch that. I fell asleep and missed the winning goal!

Literally a goal you would miss if you blinked.

Hoping Iceland plays well and makes this a good game.

Also, the Iceland team looks close to Preds fantasy dream team. Lots of sigurdsons

Go Iceland!

bigred wrote:

Hoping Iceland plays well and makes this a good game.

This game is delivering already!

This has been fun so far. Why doesn’t Dybala start? From my understanding, he and Messi don’t play well together.

bigred wrote:

This has been fun so far. Why doesn’t Dybala start? From my understanding, he and Messi don’t play well together.

I think you answered your own question then.

Iceland qualifying is one thing. Them actually being pretty good is just dumb founding.

Just saw the France winning goal highlight. Wow. Barely.

Iceland could have easily got another before half.

Good game so far. Iceland saved my team in the Euro 2016, so... Go Iceland!

Omg. Missi!

What a save!

Soooo...struggling up front, but we'll leave Dybala and Higuain on the bench ?

bigred wrote:

This has been fun so far. Why doesn’t Dybala start? From my understanding, he and Messi don’t play well together.

I think Dybala is fantastic. They could have used him today.

Dyballer's so nice I posted it twice!

Why not play Dybala in the wing instead of Meza or di Maria? I’d take him over either of them any day.

This sure is awful to watch. But dear lord that penalty kick.

I dunno about this replay stuff.

This is going to be the WC of minimal contact PKs given after review.

jowner wrote:

I dunno about this replay stuff.

This is going to be the WC of minimal contact PKs given after review.

As long as the card every dive in the box I'll be ok with it.

Man, group D is wide open and gonna be an absolute terror to get out of easily. It wouldn’t shock me to see Argentina not make it out of the group or to just squeak by.

BlackSheep wrote:

Man, group D is wide open and gonna be an absolute terror to get out of easily. It wouldn’t shock me to see Argentina not make it out of the group or to just squeak by.

I'm very concerned about this, as one of the legion of Messi well-wishers. I think I picked Argentina to top the group and Croatia to advance in my bracket.

It does make for great watching!

I forgot to do a bracket

Brackets this year are really hard. A lot of old teams and young teams in this cup. Spain looks slow and a shadow of themselves, heck Croatia right now looks absolutely uninspiring while I’m surprised at how well Nigeria, aside from their right back issues look solid with their 19 year old keeper in the net.