General World Cup Thread

Your report on him was glowing, much like he will be after his morning coffee...

 

Dear god, can someone please turn of lawro's mic???

 

Messi 0/1, Ronaldo 1/2, Kane 2/2

 

Portuguese thuggery and play-acting is a real disgrace.

 

I'd like to see us sign the Iran right back. he has moxy.

 

Queresma, one awesome goal and one blatant kick in the bollox.

 

Hilarious if Ronaldo got sent off.

 

Seems to all be going a bit pear-shaped for the first time.

 

Terrible pen decision but what a hoot

 

The good news for the Iranian team if they go out is they won’t have to play in front of women for a while.

 

VAR mess in the Portugal game there. Nonsense penalty. Took way too long for the VAR bods to even ask the referee to go and look at it. Then he clearly felt under pressure to give it because of that. Players are definitely trying to game it too.

 

The only mitigation for VAR is theres always a game that becomes a farce at any world cup. Remember Portugal v Netherlands with around 18 yellow cards?

 

Great ref this afternoon, dreadful one this evening

 

This is truly Putin’s World Cup, brutal violence and dissembling, endless play acting and playing the victim.

However England eventually do, the teams behaviour has been a cut above so far and reflects well on the (Watford born) manager’s good character.

 

Why does no one in the studio think Ronaldo should have been sent off ? The defender runs across him irritating him, he takes one look, swings his elbow and connects with his face. Premeditated .Why does it matter that he only half connected ?

 

Much as I'd like to see Ronaldo sent off, this wasn't the offence to secure it. He brings his elbow over the defender's shoulder to get past him as he was deliberately blocking him. His arm brushed his face, so I think a yellow was the right decision. Unlike the penalty of course! If only Iran had scored a couple of minutes later!

 

Thoughts on the Ronaldo yellow? Surely it was either a red or nothing? What offence could he book him for for an off the ball clash? It's either violent conduct or not.

Also, looked very much like the ref in the Spain game gave the corner on one side, wasn't looking when Spain took a quick one from the other side and then allowed the play to continue for the last minute equaliser.

 

We disagree. Look again. The ball was gone. He clearly wanted to hit him and had a look before the elbow but didn't quite get the clean contact he was looking for.

 

I can see why we disagree - but because it was not 100% certain, the red can't be given. VAR doesn't solve everything and so should be ditched. IMO!

 

Amrabat on VAR....

https://twitter.com/myronnaicker/status/1011338897891254273

 

Problem is the referees making terrible decisions, not the concept of allowing them to look at video replays.

Not sure why people are getting so worked up (largely on twitter, not here)

 

And rule himself out of the rest of the tournament with a violent conduct red? Even Ronaldo isn't that stupid.

The VAR system is fine, the people using it are not. Still baffles me why the ref has to go and view the incident.

 

I'd like to give credit to the Ruskis for having organised a quite superb tournament so far. VAR and its good and bad points isn't for them. Great stadia, mostly full and party time for all on the streets with no violence.

I was sceptical beforehand. So far I stand corrected.

 

Completely agree. Why would you ask someone who is probably quite tired from running around reffing the game to then run over to a TV at the side of the pitch to make a decision whilst a camera is trained on them and everyone is waiting for them? It's completely bizarre. They're obviously under pressure to make the decision quickly so the game isn't delayed and don't seem to be able to control the replays themselves either. If you're going to do it, just let the team of three in the truck come to a decision and take the pressure off the ref.

 

This seemed like the worst night so far for refs:

Pique should have had a red, as should the Moroccan player who went over the ball with his studs on Iniesta.
Ronaldo should have had a red, you can't just try to hit someone off the ball even if you are a superstar.
Spain were allowed to take the corner for the equaliser from the wrong side.
Iran's penalty for handball was nonsense.

 

I hate to say it but I'm starting to agree with this view. I see bad refs getting worse when using it, and good refs getting better. Unfortunately in England the bad far outweigh the good so it's going to be farcical when it comes in. What I saw in both games tonight was a complete farce. Players and managers are now wising up to when to apply pressure and it's working for them.

 

Bat, Layun & Behrami have stormed it this week.

If the trend continues, I predict forum meltdown once the Czech match starts.

 

Daft decision to trial it during the World Cup when, by definition, many officials are inexperienced in big match situations.

I imagine all line calls will soon be done by AI, with a bit of fluffy, judgmental stuff on challenges left to the ref.

Good thing too.

 

Lendl retired yonks ago RD!

 

Yes, England coming over well. But before the tournament everyone was saying that Southgate* was a boring nonentity.

*We'll be calling him Gareth by the end of the tournament

 

Get rid of it. Technology can be changed, but human error will always exist. Controversial decisions will always be made never mind what technology is available. Goal line tech - no problem. Interpreting whether a handball or sending off offence is deliberate - not always clear cut.

Remember also that we can only what the ref sees whilst we are watching matches on TV. We won't be able to when attending a live match - atmosphere killer!

I repeat - get rid of it!

 

If there are no women at their matches, who's going to provide the carrots? That's surely women's work in Iran