The Football.....

[Mike_P]

 

[Beebo]

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VAR have no excuses.
Some of the off the ball fouls should have been referred.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Ruined as a spectacle for the neutrals but what else would you expect Paraguay to do? If they go toe to toe and try to attack, MMMBop would be breaking Fontaine's record.

There was an incident in the first half where Barcola swung at a Paraguay player but pulled back and made no contact. The Paraguay player went down as if he needed life support. The ref appeared to give Barcola a yellow but I assume this was rescinded as Barcola looked like he got another yellow later but wasn't sent off.

This was one of those game where I wanted both teams to be knocked out. Paraguay because they were dirty cheating [illegitimate children] and France because they are french.

Paraguay did as I expected them to, but even more so. They were very lucky not to get several red cards. And if you're relying on the generosity of the referee to be able to finish the match with 11 players then you don't have a strong strategy going into the game.

I don't expect teams to go toe-to-toe with France (though Cabo Verde played their match against Argentina with courage like that and were very close to winning it), but I don't expect constant off the ball and on the ball fouling and provocation.

I like France, I like watching them play, I don't want them out unless they play us.

 

[AndyRM]

Same ref who f*cked us against Morocco.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

 

[No Ta Doctor]

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Ironically, the ref completely missed that particular handball, it only became famous in the papers the day after

 

[katiewlx]

How are FIFA going to stop it? They aren't the local police, and have no police powers.

not the fans partying outside bit, but why would FIFA prevent two teams booking into the same hotel ? for sure its not directly comparable, but in the TdF lots of teams end up sharing hotels just because its logistically easier

 

[Vapin' Joe]

not the fans partying outside bit, but why would FIFA prevent two teams booking into the same hotel ? for sure its not directly comparable, but in the TdF lots of teams end up sharing hotels just because its logistically easier

FIFA wouldn't care how many teams booked into a hotel, but the teams themselves book exclusive use.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

not the fans partying outside bit, but why would FIFA prevent two teams booking into the same hotel ? for sure its not directly comparable, but in the TdF lots of teams end up sharing hotels just because its logistically easier

In the TdF there are 23 teams, often descending on a fairly small town, with a massive entourage of press & media & fans following them. The hotels are actually booked by ASO to try and ensure fairness (they're graded and everyone gets a turn in the better and worse hotels I believe). It's fairly common for a town not to have anything like 23 hotels of the size/quality required. That's a far cry from two teams staying in the same major city.

I know that doesn't answer why FIFA wouldn't allow it (I don't think they'd have any say tbh), but TdF teams share because they have to, not because they want to.

They often stay in the same hotels at altitude camps as well - because top hotels on the top of top mountains are fairly rare.

Anyway, if the team aren't prepared for this (noise cancelling earbuds, white noise etc) then someone isn't doing their job

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Hmmm, I think there may be a word for this, it's on the tip of my tongue....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cewqq5q8v41o