First time Messi has ever ruined my predictions by being too sh*t. I had Argentina to win 2-1 and Messi couldn't do better than hit the wall or the keeper's gloves. That's 8 points you've cost me there Lionel.
Peru showing lots of energy on and off the pitch . Ighalo's birthday apparently- will he get a goal to celebrate tonight ?
While I think Messi is better than Ronaldo...just, Ronaldo has won both his domestic leagues that he's played in, top-scored in both and won a major trophy with his nation. Whilst Messi has done some of that, he's yet to cross the line with Argentina and I do think he's comfortable at Barcelona and could end the debate easily by going elsewhere and doing it - why won't he? And fair enough if you say Messi is better. But no disrespect to Eusebio - Ronaldo is easily the best Portuguese footballer ever. The stats easily back that up.
Wow, tuned in at half time and Carrillo legitimately has looked the best player on the pitch. Seems so much more determined for Peru.
I felt sorry for Peru,I thought they deserved a draw but for a couple of good saves. Having said that perhaps they were guilty of trying too hard and panicking slightly. Very unfortunate with the back heel though.
I was slow to take an interest in this World Cup and didn't watch it until Portugal vs Spain (but what a game to tune in for!). Ashamed to say I didn't even know Carrillo was in the Peru squad for this tournament, and finding four matches in one day a bit too much, I chose to miss the Peru vs Denmark one. Funny how that turned out to be the best match of the day by all accounts despite producing the fewest goals (just one in the last minute) and Carrillo was MotM! Disappointed at all the snide comments above regarding him, anyone who'd never seen him play last season would think from reading them he was Jurado MK II. I personally wouldn't mind him back for at least another loan spell, as at his best he can provide decent crosses and assists, get into good goal-scoring positions and certainly has more threat and end product than several of our wide players have managed to offer since our promotion to the Premier League (admittedly not very difficult). Pretty unlikely to happen though... I thought Ighalo did quite well considering the lack of service, but it was a pretty typical Iggy performance - cannot do much outside the 18 yard area in terms of creating his own chances or making/receiving more than the odd pass.
Amrabat - Just like we knew him. One or two flashes of skill, but leading to nothing. Ineffective and gradually faded out of the game. Just like he does every time. Carillo - Just like we knew him. Bit of pace, one or two tricks, but leading to nothing. Ineffective and disappeared from the game for lengthy periods. Just like he does every time. Iggy - Just like we knew him. Keen enough, but unable to get free from markers and lacking in the extraordinary skill and/or pace and/or instinct for goal that marks out a true striker. I wonder why he never tries the Iggy chop anymore. Wouldn't particularly want any of these three back in yellow.
Although in China, Ighalo has been playing weekly and scoring. Iheanacho barely got a kick for Leicester. But Ighalo is better with a partner and was so isolated. They should have played them both. Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have looked much worse than the rest so far.
I really can’t see what difference it would’ve made who Nigeria started with up front? They were crap and any striker would’ve been isolated and struggled. The commentators couldn’t stop talking about how surprised they were by Nigeria’s lack of intensity and generally apathy.
Did you watch the Peru game? Carrillo was excellent. Decent shot and set up plenty of chances inc one superb run and perfect cut back which the striker had to score. Had a great game but that obviously didn't fit well in your post ?
7 European teams have played so far, no defeats yet. Germany and Serbia look good bets to continue the run but probably a step too far for Switzerland against Brazil.
VAR is clearly going to mean far more penalties. Most games have hand penalties, some more than one. Basically any minor contact in the box that the red would’ve missed previously will in most cases now result in a penalty, and that’s going to happen more often than not at least once a game. I’m not sure how I feel about it really, on one hand you can say it’s good because nothing that should be given is missed, but on the other hand it does mean that football has pretty much become a non contact sport in the box.
Looking forward to seeing Brazil today just a shame about their new kit with not as much yellow and lots of stripes down it
Diasagree, there were two incidents in the Argentina Iceland game that looked like penalties but VAR determined not. I'm warming to VAR, if only because I know it's not going away anyway, and so far seems to be working.
Much as I hate to praise FIFA, I do think they’ve implemented VAR as well as possible in this tournament. The directive to linesmen to keep their flags down on close offside calls was crucial and, in theory at least, offsides become a black and white issue due to the imaginary line against which they’re judged. However, on penalty decisions there is no such absolute judgement. All are given on the opinion of the referee; VAR just defers the decision somewhat if he takes a second look. The way it’s evolving they seem to have decided that the only way to make absolute judgements is on contact or no contact, irrespective of others factors like intent, simulation etc., which is wrong to my mind.
The majority of decisions are given 'in the opinion of the referee' aren't they? There's no reason to think referees in front of the VAR screen pitchside are suddenly not considering the wide range of factors they do when reaching a decision in real time.
In the case of a penalty the referee has to go and view it on a screen at the side of the pitch to view replays himself. It happened yesterday in the France v Oz game. All the VAR in the studio is doing is suggesting they should watch it again.
