FIFA World Cup 2026

Insomnia meant I got to watch large parts of the Argentina v Egypt game....amazing. A couple of beautiful goals from Egypt, especially the second on the break, and they managed to stop everything Argentina threw at them, including a penalty and then over 11 minutes Argentina did Argentina things...the beautiful game can be cruel.
 
Seano said:
Columbia out on penalties, I hope that doesn't mean some poor bugger gets shot.
Click to expand...
Interesting 3 part podcast about the 1994 Colombia ‘journey’, culminates in what actually happened for Andrés Escobar to get shot. To save everyone time, he got involved in an argument outside a nightclub after someone gave him **** about the own goal and the other guy shot him (as you do).

Part 1 -

Part 2 -

Part 3 -

The ‘It Was What It Was’ podcast series is great listening for anyone interested in knowing more about events from football’s history. Incredibly well researched and well told by Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper, two UK based football journalists.
 
France definitely seem like the best team at the moment. Able to score goals.

Spain and Belgium look a bit lacklustre. Think Spain would eat up a lot of possession and limit France ability to attack, but as we have seen, they only need half a Chance with Mbappe on fire.


On the other side, Norway V England will be a cracker. Argentina look destined to meet the winner.

Norway will play full of heart. Think the memo will be out to shut down Haaland. We’ve seen his capabilities.

If England fire, I can see them doing really well. But usually they bomb out as soon as there’s any expectations.

Argentina have Messi.
 
KPGreatness said:
Crazy how Switzerland are acting like the red is injustice but we all saw it clearly, he was already falling before anything touched, clear simulation which is a yellow and everyone knows a double yellow is a red… shouldn’t have dove
Click to expand...
Yep. 100%.

It’s a little unlucky* but, he clearly dives and can only blame himself.


*It’s unlucky/somewhat controversial because VAR has specific things they can intervene on and yellow cards wasn’t initially one of them:
- the premise on which they have reviewed it is “mistaken identity” which was usually due to thinking it was number 4 that committed a foul, but it was 14 or confusion on who the culprit was.
- they have now said that they can intervene when the wrong player is booked.
- if the referee just gave a free kick - there would have be no VAR review. Play would have restarted.
- the fact he gave Paredes the yellow (I think for accumulation of fouls) meant that it could be reversed due to simulation.
- unfortunately for them, he was already on a yellow.

We saw it USA Vs Paraguay. Ream slid in on Almiron. free kick and yellow to Ream. On review, Almiron took a dive. So Ream card rescinded and Almiron cautioned for simulation - under the premise of “mistaken identity”.

Think most of the controversy is around the process, rather than penalising the simulation. Because as we know, there’s soo many incidents of it and not many end up with a yellow card for their attempted deception.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top