I get some of the controversy about penalties, because at the end of the day its not 100% objective, and humans have to run the thing and decide still. But they better not ever EVER change the way they handle offsides now. It is absolutely perfect the way it has been called so far.

I don't think he's trying to hit him. The Iraqi is blocking him and he did a swim move to get around him.

JJxvi said:

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Any other world cup there would already have been a legit argument that multiple teams got screwed by by bad offsides calls, and the penalty box stuff would have been way more controversial as well. Theres not one single game so far after almost 30 of them where you can seriously say a refs decision clearly changed the result, and there has always been several of those in the past by my recollection.

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And the teams are still scoring at a decent rate. VAR seems to give refs a little latitude to let play continue when there is a marginal call Calls in the box are often controversial. At least with VAR we at home can get a little comfort knowing the calls have been made when a modicum of correctness.

I believe that move is called the 'shock and awe'

if i recall the whole sequence correctly, Ronaldo wasnt likely going to get the ball as it was unplayble for both players. Instead Ronaldo responded to the defenders obstruction by swimming/pushing around the defender while raising his elbow to head height. Unnecessary foul in open space.

I don't disagree, but red?

That it went to VAR means that the refs in the booth thought it should have been red. I think the ref got that one right in issuing a yellow when he saw it. IMO was closer to nothing than to straight red, as it was stupid, but I dont think he did it intending to elbow him the face, nor do i think he really even got him in the face very much.

Iceland broke red's undefeated streak yesterday.

JJxvi said:

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That it went to VAR means that the refs in the booth thought it should have been red. I think the ref got that one right in issuing a yellow when he saw it. IMO was closer to nothing than to straight red, as it was stupid, but I dont think he did it intending to elbow him the face, nor do i think he really even got him in the face very much.

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Agreed, this is the first time I'd watched it and there's a lot less there than I expected after hearing the controversy.

His elbow might have brushed the defender's chin as he swam past him, but that wasn't any sort of elbow to the face like it was made to sound.

My God sitting in a pub watching the matches this afternoon in Killarney. Group of mid-50s Americans come in and take the biggest table in front of the tv that nobody is sitting it because it blocks the tv. Proceed to talk a lot about the game. Its Switzerland against Croatia according to them. The attempts that followed at loudly talking about the match and soccer in general were so incredibly cringeworthy. People were legitimately walking to the pub across the street to watch the rest of the match.

Fair Play rules as a tie-breaker is super dumb. Just have a coin-flip.

Yeah, there has to be a better way of doing that especially with how easy it is to get to the 6th tie-breaker in a 3-match setup.

At least make it fair-play in the game between the two teams or 2nd half goals or open play goals or something more exciting.

Interesting, had never seen this tiebreaker implemented. Is this the first time the first two tiebreakers have not broken a tie?

I think the final tiebreaker should be something fun.

Like a dance off. Maybe a pie eating contest Or a drinking contest

Not only are cards unpredictable, the two teams didn't have the same set of refs in each set of games.

On one board I read someone suggested total number of corners.

If there wasn't travel involved you could put the teams on a field and do KFTPM.

WOW. That's just ridiculous. This deserves disqualification.

disgusting

Poland should have forced them to play by trying to score again. Both teams are trash.

Brian Earl Spilner said:

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WOW. That's just ridiculous. This deserves disqualification.

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Doubt you would have an issue if it was Mexico doing it and it got them into the knockout round.

Brian Earl Spilner said:

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Interesting, had never seen this tiebreaker implemented. Is this the first time the first two tiebreakers have not broken a tie?

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No it has gone to drawing of lots. In 1990 that was required to place Ireland/Holland in 2nd/3rd place. The Irish were drawn 2nd and the Dutch 3rd. The Dutch were rewarded with a second round match with West Germany. This of course was before the fair play rule.

Mexico would never do it.

TXCityAggie said:

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Poland should have forced them to play by trying to score again. Both teams are trash.

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At least Japan had a valid reason to do it.

Polish players were going home regardless and if they score a second they could've knocked Japan out.

Way worse for them to just stand around instead of trying to score.

Is that really egregious?

You dont like it?...get the heck up the field and force them to do something with it.

I mean, it's dumb/boring/crappy, but there is a simple solution. Dont sit back and watch them do it.

Possession soccer. Nothing wrong with it.

just like that, the group stage is over

Group stage stats:



Avoid gray at all cost!

gambochaman said:

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just like that, the group stage is over

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Yeah, but now we're in KO stage! No more pointless games, no more ties. Pure excitement.

dcaggie04 said:

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Brian Earl Spilner said:

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WOW. That's just ridiculous. This deserves disqualification.

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Doubt you would have an issue if it was Mexico doing it and it got them into the knockout round.

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Zing!

Sad if that passes for a zinger around here. But hey it's against a Mexico fan!

Everyone else is laughing but you, that's why it's funny

Or what's the old line, it's funny because it's true?

And I suppose that passes for bullying?

How's USA doing?

Wtf am I supposed to do tomorrow with no games

Work

Ugh. Totally forgot that there's no games tomorrow.

Always sucks after having 2 straight weeks of games.