Football World Cup - Russia 2018

[deptfordmarmoset]

My favourite ''That was never a handball!'' moment so far for me was when Mark Lawrenson went all Monty Python: ''His arm's never in an unnatural position, it's still joined to his body!''

 

[rich p]

Lawrenson is an absolute clueless tit. His idea of punditry is to make an unfunny quip and repeat it. MOTD dumped him so I'm not sure why they hired him for this gig. And that's despite that he was probably still the best footballer ever to have played for Brighton.

I was rooting often for the African or Middle Eastern teams but I can't help thinking that they play too negatively until it's too late. They're better than that. Maybe they need better coaches than the colonials they seem to get.

 

[Grant Fondo]

At least you know what you are going to get with Lawro.... a pile of self opinionated shite.

 

[philk56]

Catching up with the overnight action again and not so many VAR incidents this time. Although it would have been fun if given I was glad to see the referee saw sense in not awarding a penalty against Argentina for handball. There have been comparisons in this thread with the use of technology in cricket but I personally think that will only go so far. Technology in cricket has led to consistency in lbw and edged catches and a conclusive decision can be reached. In football handball is one area where it is still going to be an subjective interpretation by the referee however much the technology may improve. I had to look up the wording of the laws of football for handball and this is an extract:

HANDLING THE BALL

Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with the hand or arm.

The following must be considered:

• 
  
  
  • the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand)
  • the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball)
  • the position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an offence

Until now I've had the feeling that as soon as the ref goes over to the VAR monitor he feels impelled to reverse his earlier decision but he has to feel strong enough to defend his decision if it still looks to be the correct one. Overall I've grown to appreciate VAR and think it will stop many contentious decisions but I can't see much chance of it in the area of handballs without more consistency by referees.

 

[steveindenmark]

Instead of fielding the Belgian and England team tomorrow. It would be far easier just to flip a coin to see who wins second place

Both will field second string teams and you will probably see more yellow cards then you have in any other game they have played.

The referee has already been told to come down hard on anyone trying to get themselves a yellow card As opposed to every other game where they didnt come down hard on players trying to get opposing players a yellow card.

 

[perplexed]

I still think the best use of VAR would be to send off players with a straight red card for diving/cheating/play acting.

Let's end matches with 7 or 8 players left, they might get the message then.

 

[rich p]

VAR will work better eventually but they were asking for bit of trouble bringing it into such a high profile tournament with so little experience for the officials.
I think that this is the first time a lot of the referees have used the system.
It has its faults but I'm broadly supportive.

 

[nickyboy]

I still think the best use of VAR would be to send off players with a straight red card for diving/cheating/play acting.

Let's end matches with 7 or 8 players left, they might get the message then.

We are in a transitional phase where the traditional ways of playing persist but there is VAR to catch them. Pretty quickly the traditional ways will have to change, teams can't afford to give away so many penalties

It's a pity that the transitional phase wasn't concluded before the WC though

 

[Paulus]

Am I the only one who has got really fed up with the diving, playacting and downright cheating that goes on during the matches. The rolling around holding their face/head/leg? Also now because of VAR the players from both sides are chasing the referee around haranguing him to make the decision their way or to go to VAR. Either football is a dangerous game played by thugs, or they are so soft they should maybe take up a non contact sport like badminton, although the shuttlecock could do some damage.

 

[Crackle]

Gamesmanship exists in all sports that I've ever followed. I think I first became aware of it when I read, The Art of Course...whatever, as a kid. Witness Mascherano yesterday running around with a big cut over his eye, they're not quite as soft as they seem, it is just gamesmanship, not particularly edifying at times but it's the biggest stage in world football, there's a lot at stake. Just recently Ramos's cynical tackle on Salah in the Champions league final arguably finished off Liverpool's chances. It was clever too, there'll be those still arguing it wasn't deliberate.

 

[Stephenite]

 

[AndyRM]

Maybe we should start a "Gamesmanship is ruining fitba for me" thread?

 

[AndyRM]

Actually, Paul Gascoigne is a paragon of virtue when compared to Diego Maradona.

Not sure if serious...

 

[Archie_tect]

France V Croatia in the final would earn me £20 for 1st and £5 for second in the office sweepstake... don't know if it's feasible in the draw set-up but can't be bothered to sit down and work it out!

 

[Tin Pot]

France V Croatia in the final would earn me £20 for 1st and £5 for second in the office sweepstake... don't know if it's feasible in the draw set-up but can't be bothered to sit down and work it out!

France v croatia final?!

Hahahaha...actually...