Football World Cup - Russia 2018

[Tin Pot]

It was never in any doubt.

 

[Tenacious Sloth]

I have always been a supporter of technology in other sports but VAR just don’t work in football in the way it is being used.
It just shouldn’t be this difficult.

I don’t think it’s the way it’s being used, it’s more the fault of the childlike, cheating players and weak referees who let them get away with this kind of behaviour.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

I don’t think it’s the way it’s being used, it’s more the fault of the childlike, cheating players and weak referees who let them get away with this kind of behaviour.

Add in some of the media who don't have a clue how it works. One of them at a match the other day seemed to think the referee was referring incidents to VAR.

 

[nickyboy]

VAR, like ball tracking in cricket, results in more correct decisions.

That's all I care about, so I'm all for it.

 

[philk56]

Being in Oz at present I've only just caught up with the overnight action and finished watching the Portugal-Iran game. Another very contentious handball decision, very similar to that given for Australia the other day. Portugal doing what they did at the Euros and just doing enough in each game to get through but hopefully they'll be fond out. The Ronaldo yellow card was probably correct but I think there was intent there and he was possibly fortunate to get away with it.

 

[steveindenmark]

I think Portugal gave the game away in the hope that Spain would get knocked out . At the time Portugal were 1-0 up and then the Spain score meant that if Portugal drew, Spain would be on the bus home.

I said to Jannie. The Portugal match will end up a 1-1 draw. Lo and behold Iran got a penalty. They were never going to score in open play.

Jiggery pokery going on in Russia.

 

[Mo1959]

I've watched a fair few of the games but the diving and play acting are really spoiling it for me.

 

[AndyRM]

Football does itself no favours by endlessly replaying incidents in slow motion from multiple angles.

Attempting to con the ref, leaving a leg in, diving, etc has been part of the game forever.

See also, any other pro sport.

 

[AndyRM]

This comment made me laugh in the BBC's HYS on the Portugal game:

Dear BBC,

Can we get a red button option to mute mark lawrenson. It’s like listening to a drunk grandparent going on about the good old days of rationing.

 

[Bollo]

 

[The Crofted Crest]

David Squires' take on the WC so far.

 

[Crackle]

That's not Neymar, he took to long to go down. I call fake.

 

[Bollo]

David Squires' take on the WC so far.

Squires is awesome! I think it’s almost impossible to spot all the references in his cartoons but I did pretty well on that one. The ikea Germany panel is top.

 

[AndyRM]

Brazil, England and Serbia have all complained about it too. Don't really understand why myself as the correct decisions seem to be getting made.

 

[Reynard]

There have been a few incidents that haven't been picked up on.

But the system is still in its infancy. Once all the teething problems have been ironed out and players actually get it into their heads that they *won't* get away with stuff, there should be far less cause for complaint. The main sticking point is determining intent when it comes to fouls and handball - that is so much more subjective than whether a player is offside, for instance.

IMHO Cristiano Ronaldo was a very lucky boy last night, only getting a yellow.