Today's World Cup Games

[RicoS321]

27 minutes ago, wee toon red said:

It's all about opinions but it wasn't a tackle situation, neither player had the ball. I don't see what the South Africa player was trying to achieve by sticking his arm across the defender and there are a couple of replays where you could make an argument that he did swing his hand at his face.

Exactly, you're making my point for me. You can make an argument for almost all contact if you choose to. It just shouldn't be anywhere near the threshold for VAR to get involved and it certainly wasn't the type of challenge that those idiots that insisted we need video replays were talking about when VAR was introduced. There was another challenge earlier in the game where there was a clash of knees and the South African player also hit the opponent in the face. You could make an argument for a red for that one too. Because you can make an argument for anything really.

In response to your other point, the player was trying to get to the ball and the Mexican was deliberately obstructing him. In order to get beyond the player, his hand had to be involved in some manner. He was clearly looking at the ball, and it wasn't some frustrated swipe. That, of course, is my opinion, but there is a fact here, and that's that VAR cannot confirm whether you or I am right in this instance, and it is exactly those type of subjective instances where it has no right being involved. We should never be saying the phrase "you could make an argument" when talking about VAR decisions. That was its point. 

[wee toon red]

I'd get VAR just as far into the sea than you would, believe me. But modern fitba is modern fitba and if you put your hand in someone's face, you're potentially in bother. Of course it's a load of pish, but it's the load of pish that fitba currently presents us with so under those circumstances, it's liable to be a red. Just because you and I don't like it doesn't meant it isn't.

[RicoS321]

12 minutes ago, wee toon red said:

I'd get VAR just as far into the sea than you would, believe me. But modern fitba is modern fitba and if you put your hand in someone's face, you're potentially in bother. Of course it's a load of pish, but it's the load of pish that fitba currently presents us with so under those circumstances, it's liable to be a red. Just because you and I don't like it doesn't meant it isn't.

Yes, we could say that about every decision ever! The frustrating thing here is that it sounds like you (not necessarily you, actually, but I've heard plenty suggesting it) are blaming the player. His arm was in a perfectly legitimate position for what he was trying to do. It wasn't stupid, naive, or any of the other accusations that get thrown in situations like these (similar to a hand being in a natural position that is deemed unnatural), it was just unlucky that VAR folk chose to interpret this particular incident in the way that they did. He's missing out on a world cup because of the toss of a coin. 

[wee toon red]

I am actually blaming the player - to an extent. Much like a defender who dangles his leg in the direction of an attacker in the box is at risk of the attacker running into that leg and going down, sticking your arm in the direction of a players face exposes you to the risk of action being taken. It's shite, and is ruining the game as *we* know it, but that's how it is. He didn't have to try and wrestle his way past the defender, he should've run into him and went down himself to try and get a free kick. Shite, but that's "fitba" in 2026. I repeat, shite.

[swaddon]

Tonight's World Cup games are Canada v Bosnia & Herzegovina (8 pm) and USA v Paraguay (2 am).

I don't know much about Canada and Bosnia, so I reckon that's a draw. Donald will have had a word in his mate Gianni's shell-like, and so USA will win. Expect dodgy VAR calls, random red cards and all round swicking.

[STFU_Donny]

Nothing against Canada but seeing that muppet looking c*nt Johnston lining up for them makes me hope they get scudded. Hopefully he misses a penalty…

[BigAl]

12 minutes ago, STFU_Donny said:

Nothing against Canada but seeing that muppet looking c*nt Johnston lining up for them makes me hope they get scudded. Hopefully he misses a penalty…

Tim cunt booked inside the first eleven minutes 

[STFU_Donny]

7 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Tim cunt booked inside the first eleven minutes 

If he gets sent off then I can cheer on the reds!

[BigAl]

Bosnia a goal ahead 

Looked like exactly the sort of goal we would have conceded from a set piece last season

[BigAl]

4 minutes ago, STFU_Donny said:

If he gets sent off then I can cheer on the reds!

Mind that the reds also have a Hun playing for them 

[STFU_Donny]

14 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Mind that the reds also have a Hun playing for them 

Missed that one! 

[2stars]

1 hour ago, BigAl said:

Tim cunt booked inside the first eleven minutes 

He would have 3 of those fouls in SPL before getting booked

[tlg1903]

3 hours ago, BigAl said:

Bosnia a goal ahead 

Looked like exactly the sort of goal we would have conceded from a set piece last season

It was a lovely wee flick on at the near post 2bf.  

[OrlandoDon]

8 hours ago, swaddon said:

Tonight's World Cup games are Canada v Bosnia & Herzegovina (8 pm) and USA v Paraguay (2 am).

I don't know much about Canada and Bosnia, so I reckon that's a draw. Donald will have had a word in his mate Gianni's shell-like, and so USA will win. Expect dodgy VAR calls, random red cards and all round swicking.

To be fair, UsA are ranked 17 and a decent team, Paraguay at 40, one place above Scotland. US also beat them in November. US are expected to win, and should, especially at home.

[manc_don]

59 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

To be fair, UsA are ranked 17 and a decent team, Paraguay at 40, one place above Scotland. US also beat them in November. US are expected to win, and should, especially at home.

Yeah you’d expect the yanks to win this one, they’re definitely looking the better side. Oh great. Another ad break. Hope to fuck this doesn’t become the norm.

[OrlandoDon]

1 hour ago, manc_don said:

Yeah you’d expect the yanks to win this one, they’re definitely looking the better side. Oh great. Another ad break. Hope to fuck this doesn’t become the norm.

First half was very good from US, not unlike us against Bolivia last week. Smashed them. They have a lot of good young talent. Pulisic is a super player. Second half not so great, waiting for it to get physical/chippy, or is that chipper??

[OrlandoDon]

Finished 4-1, bit of a blah second half but nice 4th goal at the very end. What I wouldn’t do for a 4-1 tomorrow!

[OrlandoDon]

Not sure about everyone else but I’m like a kid at Christmas. Just want it to be 9pm my time!! Can’t wait!! At a loss for what to do today before the game!

[RicoS321]

1 hour ago, OrlandoDon said:

Not sure about everyone else but I’m like a kid at Christmas. Just want it to be 9pm my time!! Can’t wait!! At a loss for what to do today before the game!

Aye, it's not quite the same here. A lot of excitement about the game, but everyone I have spoken to (us middle agers, basically) is mainly talking about the exceedingly awkward logistics of it all, and whether or not they'll bother watching it. It really is a bugger of a time. I'm still undecided whether to go to sleep and set the alarm, or just wait up. Can't really watch with the kids either (although they'd probably ruin it anyway). I've ruled out boozing entirely, as it's just too much hassle, and I won't be watching with mates either for the same reason. It's a weird paradox of having a massive desire to watch it, but can't be arsed with the actual action required. Normally I'd be very excited, because I'd have already watched the entire tournament, but I've only managed one match live, which was ruined by VAR. I'm not sure I'll even bother watching the other game from our group, which is not something I'd ever have said before. 

[swaddon]

A feast of football to enjoy tonight.

8:00 pm - Qatar v Switzerland

11:00 pm - Brazil v Morocco

2:00 am - Haiti v Scotland

5:00 am - Australia v Türkiye

Draw, Brazil, Scotland and Australia are my predictions.

[BigAl]

The first half of the Switzerland v Qatar game seems to have lasted for ever and not really what you would describe as a classic 

[RicoS321]

Just now, BigAl said:

The first half of the Switzerland v Qatar game seems to have lasted for ever and not really what you would describe as a classic 

Aye, Qatar are dogshite. Very stop start too.

[BigAl]

Some amount of empty seats at this game 

Bet any neutrals that have paid for one are already regretting it 

[Kowalski]

Looked an odd decision for VAR not to overturn the penalty decision as it looked offside. 

[BigAl]

4 minutes ago, Kowalski said:

Looked an odd decision for VAR not to overturn the penalty decision as it looked offside. 

Aye Beaton, McLean & co would have taken eight minutes and then released their swiggly lined graphic to justify the decision