World Cup 2018

[RailwayRowdy]

Watching the Brazil game. If the players don’t spoil the match, then the commentators most certainly do.

 

ITV’s Scream Team (that’s what they make me do) of Tyldesley & Hoddle are unbearable. As Basil Fawlty would say “T&H, specialist subject, stating the bleedin’ obvious”

 

In these days of technology, surely it’s possible to watch the game with the stadium noise, but without the benal witterings of the commentators.

 

I stopped taking Hoddle seriously many years ago when, as England manager, he at least once played Ince and Batty in the same team. As if one wasn’t bad enough.

[TylerB]

Croatia potential winners of the World Cup? Easily the best team I’ve seen so far last night with Modric being the best player in the tournament so far and I really rate Radikic.

 

They're a good side but Argentina made them look like one of the best teams in the history of football. They don't have enough up top for me and if Rakatic and Modric are kept relatively quiet then they don't have a lot else.going for them.other than being solid.

[geosname]

What has happened to the Brazil I used to love to watch... very ordinary and in blue?

[RailwayRowdy]

They're a good side but Argentina made them look like one of the best teams in the history of football. They don't have enough up top for me and if Rakatic and Modric are kept relatively quiet then they don't have a lot else.going for them.other than being solid.

 

So other than not letting goals in and having two match winners, they don’t have much. Discuss.

[TylerB]

I'd keep Sterling in the side for Sunday's game. He just needs to bundle a goal home and then I think you'll see a different player for England, more like the one we see week in week out for Manchester City. Rashford is always more of a threat coming off the bench against tiring defenders.

 

Loftus-Cheek should come.in for Alli, or even Vardy and play him alongside Kane with Lingard and Sterling supporting. Rose in for Young every day of the week just as long as Danny has got a pulse.

[TylerB]

So other than not letting goals in and having two match winners, they don’t have much. Discuss.

 

Like i said, they dont have a world-class striker and I think that will come back to bite them on the arse. Any top side would have put that Argentina side to the sword last night. They've got a chance, Croatia, but wouldn't suddenly make them favourites myself for beating an Argentina side that were in dissarey.

[Doha]

Horrible diving cheat.

 

And a yellow now for dissent. Brilliant. Learn your place.

[philpvfc]

Thank god for VAR, it’s making the refereeing so much better and will hopefully distinguish such cheeting like we are seeing from Neymar.

[RailwayRowdy]

Thank god for VAR, it’s making the refereeing so much better and will hopefully distinguish. such cheeting like we are seeing from Neymar.

 

If a referee can’t see Neymar’s and many other players cheating live, then they shouldn’t be refereeing in the first place.

 

I agree that VAR has worked today. But mark my words, this will be the exception to the rule.

[philpvfc]

Disagree, 2 most frustrating things in football nowadays is poor officiating and cheating and the VAR is certainly helping to eradicate these. The refereeing in this World Cup has been the best in any World Cup.

[RailwayRowdy]

Disagree, 2 most frustrating things in football nowadays is poor officiating and cheating and the VAR is certainly helping to eradicate these. The refereeing in this World Cup has been the best in any World Cup.

 

I’m afraid that we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

No one can convince me that all incidents are black and white decisions.

 

People say “there’s contact” to confirm a penalty decision, as in the Neymar incident today.

 

Yet earlier in this afternoons game the Costa Rica ‘keeper “cleared out” the Brazilian forward to punch the ball away and the commentators called it great goalkeeping! There was contact so why wasn’t that a penalty then ? Why no VAR in that instance then ?

 

Football is a contact sport. It is not a foul to make “contact” with an opposing player.

 

This is something that people either conveniently forget, or indeed are not even aware of.

[geosname]

Iceland seem a dark horse

[geosname]

They were first half anyway..... but faded

[TylerB]

Shaqiri just showed exactly why I'd like him at Liverpool even if only as a squad player. He's a player that can influence a game with a bit of magic and there's not many players like that around that will cost only 15 million.

[Yukon]

Shaqiri just showed exactly why I'd like him at Liverpool even if only as a squad player. He's a player that can influence a game with a bit of magic and there's not many players like that around that will cost only 15 million.

 

Squad player? He’ll be filling the gap when Real pick Salah off