Football

[Darandio]

That's not VAR's fault though. The referee was given the opportunity to review his decision, and decided to award the penalty. If you have an issue, it's surely with him.

Both really. Looking at the penalty incident in particular, the only VAR involvement is supposed to be when there has been a clear and obvious error but this was not the case at all, they should never have been in his ear suggesting it should be looked at.

 

[The_Train]

I wonder what others on this thread might feel about the situation in this World Cup where a number of players deliberately approaching the referee en masse in an intimidatiary manner being given immediate yellow cards by the referee, followed by a second yellow card leading to dismissal should players be persistant in carrying on regardless such a described manner.

I've been shouting for this to happen for years, not just in major international tournaments but week in week out in the domestic game as well

 

[EM2]

...they should never have been in his ear suggesting it should be looked at.

Assuming that they did, and not that he asked for the check, of course.

 

[greyman42]

Does anyone know who the best supported team are at the tournament, apart from Russia.

 

[DarloRich]

really enjoyed the Argentina v Nigeria game.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Is it not the case that Denmark have a midfield player with the surname of Delaney?

Even better is their no. 11, a Martin Braithwaite. With a name like that he should be from round my way!

 

[DarloRich]

Is it not the case that Denmark have a midfield player with the surname of Delaney?

Even better is their no. 11, a Martin Braithwaite. With a name like that he should be from round my way!

They are examples of the fluid nature of nations and identity in the 21st century. England, after-all, have a player called Ali. Eric Dier has lived a lot of his life in Portugal. It means nothing.

 

[DarloRich]

GERMANY OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This. Does. Not. Happen.

 

[Darandio]

But are Brazil going to follow them later?

 

[Cowley]

I really am quite enjoying this World Cup...

 

[BlueFox]

Schadenfreude

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Deutschland, Deutschland unter alles...

 

[Cowley]

One of the top three biggest World Cup shock results ever maybe?
I bet Frank Lampard was watching that VAR decision with a wry smile on his face...

 

[Macwomble]

That's spared England from being beaten, by Germany, on penalties.

 

[Butts]

GERMANY OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This. Does. Not. Happen.

Not since 1938.....and look what happened the following year

 

[Butts]

That's spared England from being beaten, by Germany, on penalties.

At least they are in the tournament unlike our (Scottish) emabarrassing qualification campaign that once again ended in failure.

 

[Kite159]

Was it Euro 2000 where Germany failed to get out of the group stage (along with England)?

 

[richw]

Was it Euro 2000 where Germany failed to get out of the group stage (along with England)?

I think it was 2000, 2004 we lost on penalties to Portugal. 2008 we didn’t bother!

 

[tony_mac]

I think we could see a scenario tomorrow where neither England or Belgium really want to win the game...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I think we could see a scenario tomorrow where neither England or Belgium really want to win the game...

Tongue-in-cheek prediction: a high-scoring draw with both teams trying to pick up as many disciplinary points as possible!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Rather unbelievable that Germany actually finished bottom of their group of four.

 

[Antman]

I think we could see a scenario tomorrow where neither England or Belgium really want to win the game...

I wonder if we'll see Harry Kane in goal, Vardy and Wellbeck as full backs, oh and Raheem Sterling still in attack?

But seriously, surely we've got to go out to win? Anything else would be farcical.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder if we'll see Harry Kane in goal.....

Wasn't he quite a promising goalkeeper in his early days of junior-level football?

 

[Tetchytyke]

But seriously, surely we've got to go out to win? Anything else would be farcical.

I'd agree, but if we lose/concede more penalty points then we avoid Brazil in the QF (all being well)

 

[DarloRich]

I'd agree, but if we lose/concede more penalty points then we avoid Brazil in the QF (all being well)

Without getting ahead of ourselves ( and we all know England will always find new and embarrassing ways to cock things up!) Brazil don't look great especially at the back. The keeper looks dodgy and punch happy and the defenders look shaky. The obsession with letting Neymar score is also a weakness that can be exploited. After all Serbia fashioned several good chances using pretty basic tactics.

Anyway if you want to be the best you have to beat the best.................................

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'd agree, but if we lose/concede more penalty points then we avoid Brazil in the QF (all being well)

But if the England team want to actually win the World Cup 2018, does it really matter which team they meet and at which stage?

Of course, if it is just a matter of seeing how far a newly-assembled team in the stages of development just want to see how far they can progress, then this is a different kettle of fish.

I think that much earlier in the thread discussions on World Cup 2018, someone made the quite valid point that another team then under discussion had only played the two less-fancied teams in which they had beaten easily but still had to face a higher-rated team in the third and final match of "the group of four" and that same comparison also seems to be mirrored in the case of the England team in their group.

 

[WelshBluebird]

But if the England team want to actually win the World Cup 2018, does it really matter which team they meet and at which stage?

Of course it does! If you have an easier route to the final, then it's easier to win the tournament.

 

[Tetchytyke]

But if the England team want to actually win the World Cup 2018, does it really matter which team they meet and at which stage?

Of course it does! An easier route to the final makes it easier to win it.

Look at 2002. England had a hard route to the final and lost to Brazil in the QF. The worst German team in memory- even worse than this one- got to the final because they got to play against a load of dross in the knockouts.

I'd much rather play Japan and Sweden to get to the semis than Senegal and Brazil...

(That doesn't take into account England's ability to screw up basic tasks to a very high standard!)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'd much rather play Japan and Sweden to get to the semis than Senegal and Brazil...

(That doesn't take into account England's ability to screw up basic tasks to a very high standard!)

Interesting that you mention Sweden as one of your preferred teams to play, if the last match that Sweden played in this World Cup is anything to go by.

I am not sure, but I think the last time that Sweden played England, it was an International friendly match in 2012, when Sweden won 4-2.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Interesting that you mention Sweden as one of your preferred teams to play, if the last match that Sweden played in this World Cup is anything to go by.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they'd rather play England than Brazil too.