FIFA 2022 World Cup Group stage: Sponsored by Bud

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Poland need to wake the fuck up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

As it stands it's down to fair play points.

[Shindig]

How many bookings do they have in hand?

[Pepe]

Chucky you idiot.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mexico 6 yellows Poland 4... nobody get booked now.

[Pepe]

Rather go out to a coin toss than bloody yellow cards.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mexico 6 yellows Poland 4... nobody get booked now.

So close to drawing of lots.

[Pepe]

Poland to concede 3 more here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Poland to concede 3 more here.

More likely than us scoring 1.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What happens if Michael Oliver does a Graham Poll and gives 3 yellows before a red?

[Pepe]

That lad Chavez can shoot. Love to see it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The best hope for Poland here is that Saudi Arabia get a consolation. No way the tide will hold in both games.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

6-5 in yellows now.

[Pepe]

Mon the ref. :drool:

[CJay]

Are Argentina now on course to meet Netherlands in the quarters?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Drawing lots :drool:

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/mcs/media/images/80661000/jpg/_80661596_afcon.jpg

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Loltauro Martinez.

[Pepe]

Useless Argentine cunt.

[CJay]

What is he actually good at? Terrorising crap Serie A defences?

[Pepe]

Running a lot I guess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I hope Mexico get a goal. I don't want to watch more of this shit passive side.

Manager will have them set up trying to win knockout games on pens.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Surely Mexico are going to get one here. I can't believe they aren't. Saudi are still playing a mental high line.

[Pepe]

They've had the chances and fucked them up.

[Giggles]

Is this actually being decided on yellows? That's a disgrace.

[Pepe]

There is still a goal in all of this somewhere.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is this actually being decided on yellows? That's a disgrace.

Unless there's another goal in one of the games, yes.

[Queenslander]

The good old days, when Australians called this 'wogball'. Now they pretend it's great.

https://i.ibb.co/t4k4FQF/9781742746975.jpg (https://ibb.co/1LhLj7j)

[Giggles]

Unless there's another goal in one of the games, yes.

Some load of shit when refs are so bad.

[Adramelch]

Senegal lost out to Japan in the same way in 2018.

[Jimmy Floyd]

An Argentina goal because of lack of Polish challenges would be the funniest conclusion.

[-james-]

When are you Greek again KikoJr?

I have always felt more English than anything. I am also proud to be Greek and have a deep love for Scotland having lived here longer than anywhere else. Does that cover me?

[Yevrah]

You know your book is in trouble if Martin Tyler has the cover endorsement.

[Giggles]

I have always felt more English than anything. I am also proud to be Greek and have a deep love for Scotland having lived here longer than anywhere else. Does that cover me?

It says you're English because you said that first. Only one.

[Shindig]

Well, that was something. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mexico still only need 1 right. Goals scored.

[Pepe]

Oh well. At least it was exciting.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mexican goal still does it.

[-james-]

It says you're English because you said that first. Only one.

I'll take that. Forever a stranger in a strange land.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh well. At least it was exciting.

Nothings changed. Still need 1.

[Waffdon]

Fucking Mexico

[Pepe]

Oh well. At least it was exciting.

:(

[Pepe]

Out for the first time since 1978 lol.

[Jimmy Floyd]

France v Poland will be a horrible watch. Hopefully France can self-destruct.

[Shindig]

Match of the tournament so far?

[Giggles]

I'll take that. Forever a stranger in a strange land.

Or English because you're English.

[CJay]

That Poland performance is one of the all-time worst. Eye-bleeding.

[Waffdon]

Wait until Canelo Alvarez finds out about Messi missing that penalty to stop them going through

[Waffdon]

France v Poland will be a horrible watch. Hopefully France can self-destruct.

France will stick 3 or 4 past them

[Giggles]

At least this way it's real

[Lewis]

How much do you suppose the various legends are paid for turning up at random games and sitting bored in their armchairs?

[Pepe]

Worth every penny.

[Waffdon]

Why do Senegal and England get an extra days rest over Argentina/Australia?

[Giggles]

Why do Senegal and England get an extra days rest over Argentina/Australia?

Hasn't that happened in every World Cup? It just happens.

[CJay]

Why do Senegal and England get an extra days rest over Argentina/Australia?

You really get screwed over if you play in the later groups. I guess you get extra time to prepare for the tournament, which maybe would be a blessing in this situation, but they have quite a bit less time between knockout games I think.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They should play all the last 16 games simultaneously at 11.30am on Tuesday. Then it will be fair to everyone.

[Giggles]

Also, if you go in with the type of mentality that another team had an extra day off then you've probably already lost.

[Luke Emia]

Also, if you go in with the type of mentality that another team had an extra day off then you've probably already lost.

I think the semi and final make a big difference an extra day recovery for the final is massive after having crammed in 6 games on 3 and a bit weeks.

[Waffdon]

I don’t think it makes a difference either way for last 16 match I just never understood the logic

[Adramelch]

I don’t think it makes a difference either way for last 16 match I just never understood the logic

I don't know how you can avoid it. If Argentina/Australia played on the 4th instead, then the winner would get one day less than the other quarter-finalist.

[-james-]

Or English because you're English.

Yes, but I will identify as Scottish or Greek whenever it suits me and there's nothing you can do about it. :jayjay:

[Lewis]

You can say British if you want to cover it, but you can't claim Scottish.

[ItalAussie]

I had fun today. I'm actually in the UK at the moment, so the timezone is a little more human than it would otherwise had been.

I had absolutely no confidence in this team before the tournament, so it was nice to be wrong.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's one of those teams where you look at the lineup and don't see a single name to inspire any kind of hope, but when you actually watch them play, they're pretty well-drilled, and I think Duke and Leckie have undersold themselves in their club careers.

[Foe]

Yeah, I was actually thinking yesterday is Duke a better striker than Denmark have? I think so.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And yet he scored 3 in 89 for Shimizu S-Pulse. Some people just suit the international game, I guess.

[Queenslander]

Including qualifying the Socceroos have 4 wins 1 draw and 1 loss in Qatar in 2022.

[John Arne]

Didn't know that ENGLAND's Marcus Rashford's contract expires in 6 months time. Old Arsenal would have snapped him up, but my guess is that Man Ut will wave $400k-a-week in his face and he'll stick around.

[niko_cee]

He'll have one of those Woodward special contracts with 'options to extend'.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If I were Man U I would certainly keep the trash man around. Whether Ten Hag will want to splurge that much on him is another question. Newcastle could come in with a high offer.

[John Arne]

Chelsea need a number 9...

[Lofty]

Arsenal were linked with him not long ago.

[Ben]

The Mirror are reporting he indeed has an option for another 12 months, so you can expect that to be taken advantage of.

[Don]

Still only 25 and perfectly in that sweet spot of being undroppable whilst incredibly damaging to the club's ambitions :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Really hoping for a Belgian exit here and Moroccan progress.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yes please.

[Don]

I didn't think Belgium stood a chance but Don Bobby has dropped the utterly pointless Eden so this could be good.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Think the Canadian keeper might be on the take.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The Canadian keeper :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Carrasco :harold:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why is the ref checking this if it's offside?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What happened to the semi-automatic bollocks?

[Manc]

VAR finding new ways to kill the spectacle. Burn it.

[CJay]

Jermaine Jenas is a simp. And mahow.

They’re checking if the offside player was intervening.

It was never a penalty anyway so justice done.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why is the ref checking this if it's offside?

His decision (not the VAR's) as to whether a player is active.

VAR once again exists to find reasons to stop goal chances and attacking play.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have it on silent in the office, but the Jenas quote appearing on the beeb feed makes him sound almost Pearce levels of thick as pig shit.

[Don]

Mertens is a hollow shell of the player he was, drag him off for one of the BLM boys you clueless fuck.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No he wasn't, he was just checking the line to see if he was offside. You could see from the pictures.

If they were checking if he was intervening they would have been checking when the ball was actually in the box.

Nope. VAR was saying the guy is offside. They summoned him over to decide whether the offside player was active.

[wullie]

My Morocco shirt is going to arrive while they're still in, Christmas is saved!

[CJay]

I have it on silent in the office, but the Jenas quote appearing on the beeb feed makes him sound almost Pearce levels of thick as pig shit.

Not quite the same level as that famous monologue, but still a pretty stupid take for someone who I assume has more access to info re: VAR checks in the commentary box than we do.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon Morocco could cause quite a few problems for Germany if they end up playing them. Spain, less sure but you never know.

[Don]

Belgium well on top here but got Jenas too busy fucking spouting from the media narrative script to recognise it. What a disgraceful cunt.

[Don]

Now got Gary trying to argue against cold evidence and Micah and Shearer chatting shit about Belgium. English football heritage.

[Gray Fox]

https://i.gyazo.com/73ede081aa175a05185179d8cf190ed0.jpg

Incredible.

[CJay]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/01/world-cup-organisers-consider-ditching-three-team-group-format-for-2026

Hopefully sense is being seen. Makes it sound like they’ve only just considered the possibility of dead rubbers, though. :cab:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is that line actually anywhere near the Croatian shoulder? Looks like the same point on the arm as on the Belgian player. Either way, lol at cancelling the play for that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

A 32 team knockout stage, fuck me.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

BBC have a real hard-on for Wales.

[Lofty]

What the fuck is this Wales VT love in? I'd rather see back to back cillit bang adverts ffs.

[igor_balis]

AHHH but WHAT a second half :violin:

Fucking melts

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Needed more Michael Sheen tbh.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/01/world-cup-organisers-consider-ditching-three-team-group-format-for-2026

Hopefully sense is being seen. Makes it sound like they’ve only just considered the possibility of dead rubbers, though. :cab:

All you have to do is play through one on FM to see the lols that 16x3 would produce. I did one the other day and saw a team go through to the knockouts after losing their opening game 11-1.

12x4 is also a terrible idea, but much less terrible.

[CJay]

A totally unfit Lukaku should produce some lols this half at least.

[wullie]

If they can jam a 32 team setup into one city in the desert in the middle of the season, they can easily do 104 games across a continent in the summer holidays.

[-james-]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/01/world-cup-organisers-consider-ditching-three-team-group-format-for-2026

Hopefully sense is being seen. Makes it sound like they’ve only just considered the possibility of dead rubbers, though. :cab:


Both the three team group and the four team group with best third places qualifying are shit. They should fast forward the schedule and expand it to 64, I'm sure they've already got it pencilled in for the late 2030s.

[Jimmy Floyd]

64 makes more sense, but the ECA people would seethe themselves into not releasing the players or something. They seethed at 48 team expansion without even realising that the number of games per player would be less on average.

[wullie]

128 team setup for Dubai 2038, monster monster

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've seen Infantino in the crowd at both games here. Are there several of him prowling Qatar?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lolkaku :lol:

Absolute horseshit.

[Don]

A totally unfit Lukaku should produce some lols this half at least.

He weren't wrong.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It wouldn't have counted but fucking hell.

[Dave.]

Belgium not playing like a team that needs to win here. Where's the pressing and the urgency? A Croatian centre back has just advanced 50 yards without a tackle.

[igor_balis]

Lolkaku

[Lewis]

Absolutely peak Lukaku this.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This has been an incredible second half performance from him.

[Lewis]

'He's not expecting it'. Yeah, because he's brainless.

[Dave.]

:roflol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That challenge by Gvardiol was incredible.

[Lofty]

Romelolu

[Don]

Doku having to sit out so Martinez can play another useless white lad. Unjust world.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:harold:

Binman Bobby on the dole in the morning.

[Yevrah]

Roberto Martinez really needs a Lib Dem style “winning here” logo.

[Jimmy Floyd]

One goal in three games against those teams is miserable stuff from the waffle-eating side.

[Giggles]

Belgium are some shambles. Yev has been right all along - you don’t entrust that generation of players to someone like Martinez.

[Yevrah]

All that chancer ever had was the ability to produce some half decent attacking stuff. Absolute lols that he can’t even manage that now.

[Lewis]

lol at that cretinous interview.

[Yevrah]

lol at that cretinous interview.

Missed it, what happened?

[Giggles]

Missed it, what happened?

He’s just said they can leave with their heads held high just there now, not sure if it’s the same interview.

[Yevrah]

He’s just said they can leave with their heads held high just there now, not sure if it’s the same interview.

Oh dear.

[Giggles]

Didn’t see it all but they’re just showing a compilation now of Lukaku chances. Fucking hell.

[Waffdon]

That challenge by Gvardiol was incredible.

Proper plur

[Shindig]

Sofyan Amrabat's a defensive powerhouse.

[Foe]

Wasn’t so sure why there was so much raving about gvardiol before this match but he was absolutely outstanding, very impressive given his age.

[Don]

Mitoma benched again ffs. Mon Japs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Japan and Korea might have the best anthems. The sort of thing you realise with maturity, as the exciting ones lose their lustre.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has Iñaki Williams switched countries mid tournament or is Clive mistaking his brother for him?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gnabry :cool:

[Shindig]

Morata's getting the golden boot.

[Waffdon]

Has Iñaki Williams switched countries mid tournament or is Clive mistaking his brother for him?

Yeah, it’s his brother.

[CJay]

What is the tune the Japanese fans are singing? I know it as ‘everywhere we go’ but I wouldn’t have expected that to be part of Japanese fan culture.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, it’s his brother.

Obvs. Clive called him Iñaki 3 times and then corrected himseld mid flow on the 4th. Let's hope Ngozi Fulani isn't watching.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What is the tune the Japanese fans are singing? I know it as ‘everywhere we go’ but I wouldn’t have expected that to be part of Japanese fan culture.

It's ooohh vamos Nippon I think. Must have picked it up from Spain/a Spanish speaking country.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Germany have been wasteful and were almost punished for it there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Also, Muller offers absolutely nothing to this side. He's a million miles away from 2010 & 2014.

[Don]

Get this guy as De Gea's replacement :D

[Ben]

This Spain keeper is scrap.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon they might give this, even though it was definitely out.

[Giggles]

What are they fucking waiting for here?

[Giggles]

Oh fuck they’ve given it and it was out :D

What exactly is VAR for?

[CJay]

This is amazing. Germany need to rack up about 5 goals now right?

How have they given that?

[Jimmy Floyd]

The guys operating the VAR are not having a great tournament. Still, if it kicks out the sausage munchers I'm all for it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What the fuck?

[Shindig]

I reckon they might give this, even though it was definitely out.

They sure did. I'm surprised by that.

[Waffdon]

:lol:

Spain on England’s side of the draw as it stands :drool:

[Lewis]

The Chinese getting dodgy line calls against Spain like 2002 again.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jesus Christ, it's like Pearl Harbour out there. The first half was like a bullfight.

[Boydy]

Germany :lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Costa Rica have an equaliser.

Neuer with a shitter.

[Magic]

:cool:

[niko_cee]

Funny how that one angle showing the ball clearly being out has mysteriously disappeared.

VAR in not chalking a goal off for once!


:lol:

Spain on England’s side of the draw as it stands :drool:

Does this get them out of the Argentina/Brazil side of the draw? At this point, given some of these decisions questions probably need to be asked about what is going on here.

[Waffdon]

Neuer is absolutely dreadful.

If Costa Rica score another and Japan win :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fucking hell that was like Papa Bouba Diop vs France.

'Yeltsin Tejeda'. Is this what it's come to, Fritz?

[Boydy]

Would be hilarious if Costa Rica get a winner and Germany and Spain both go out.

[Waffdon]

Funny how that one angle showing the ball clearly being out has mysteriously disappeared.

VAR in not chalking a goal off for once!



Does this get them out of the Argentina/Brazil side of the draw? At this point, given some of these decisions questions probably need to be asked about what is going on here.

Yeah it would. Gives them Morocco over Croatia as well

[Giggles]

Funny how that one angle showing the ball clearly being out has mysteriously disappeared.

VAR in not chalking a goal off for once!



Does this get them out of the Argentina/Brazil side of the draw? At this point, given some of these decisions questions probably need to be asked about what is going on here.

I was wondering the same, we never seen that angle again.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The clever people are saying overhanging the line. I dunno.

Does Infantino have a clause in his contract saying there has to be a TV close-up of him in every game?

[Waffdon]

Just the 3 times Germany have hit that post in 20 mins

[SvN]

The angles that aren't directly level with the ball are always misleading, and can make the ball look miles out when it's not. We haven't really seen a proper angle of this one, though.

[Lewis]

Remember when 'Tobias' didn't know that all of the ball had to be over the line and Harold brought it up every day for months?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh my God. Neuer must be some kind of plant.

Oh my God.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Costa Rica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:cool:

[Boydy]

Ahahahahahahahahaha

[Waffdon]

Oh my

[Ben]

This is outstanding stuff.

[Boydy]

VAR better not rule this out.

[Lofty]

24/1 :cool:

[Giggles]

It’s happening :drool:

(Though I still reckon Japan will shit the bed).

[Jimmy Floyd]

If it stays like this CR go through with goal difference minus 5, Spain out with +6.

But it hasn't stayed like this.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Havertz has equalised :(

[Boydy]

24/1 :cool:

You jinxed it, dickhead.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Navas with a brilliant save.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What do Germany need to win by if Japan draw 2-2? Two or three?

[Waffdon]

4-2

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think 3-2 is fine on goals scored isn't it? If it's 2-2 in the Spain game.

[Waffdon]

Shit, aye. Forgot Japan didn’t score against Costa Rica. Wonder if Spain hold their nerve and hope Costa Rica don’t win or go try and get a 2nd

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think 3-2 is fine on goals scored isn't it? If it's 2-2 in the Spain game.

3-2 wouldn't overturn GD.

Edit: It would if it was 2-2, yeah.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Havertz is a proper cunt.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you're Spain do you even bother here? 1-2 gives you Morocco in the next round and knocks out our beer-guzzling friends.

But I guess you're vulnerable to a Costa Rican sucker punch. lol

[Baz]

Japan. :cool:

[Waffdon]

Germany really should be winning by about 6 here

[CJay]

Jewison Bennette sounds like a Magic-ism.

[Manc]

Japan living dangerously.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Stop trying ffs Spain. Fuck them for 1982.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

4-2 Germany, a Spain goal and the Germans are through.

[Giggles]

I’d missed this little nugget earlier. What the fuck are FIFA at?

1598415625545719809

[Ben]

That one is going to need explaining to me.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

How on earth was that goal given? What bollocks technicality could be used to explain it?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's possible this is an acting masterclass by Spain. If so, chapeau to them.

Also reckon the Japan manager is a low-key genius.

[Giggles]

That one is going to need explaining to me.

They’re apparently talking about doing pre game penalty shootouts in 2026 to stop final group game collusion. It’s that ridiculous I didn’t get as far as to how that would work.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Germany would still go through if they score 5 more, I think.

[Lewis]

Very impressed with the Japanese. Disciplined, hard-working. An industrious display.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Germans deserve misery on line decisions. Fuck 'em.

[Giggles]

Very impressed with the Japanese. Disciplined, hard-working. An industrious display.

Really impressive in the second half.

[Ben]

I work with plenty of Germans. Excited for a bit of needle in the morning.

[thommo]

Looking at the still on the BBC live text, it looks like the ball is still overhanging the line and still in play. Souness griping about it on ITV can fuck right off, dozy old cunt.

[Giggles]

There’s no way that ball wasn’t out. Too much grass shown between the base and the end line for the edge of the ball to be over the line. Maybe if it was a rugby ball.

Probably be the last tournament without technology for it now anyway.

[Shindig]

Looking at the slow motion video on the BBC text, and freezing at the point of the cutback, it looks out. And you can't tell on the overhead angle.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Did Souness have a grand on Germany?

[thommo]

Souness really is a thicko. Don't think he understands that a ball is round and just because there is grass visible, it's not out of play.

[igor_balis]

Give it five minutes and Souness will be claiming Paul Pogba is in the VAR office, doing voodoo and shit.

[Manc]

Souness needs wheeling out of the studio.

[Don]

I fucking live to see these gammons argue with facts :D

[Giggles]

Souness really is a thicko. Don't think he understands that a ball is round and just because there is grass visible, it's not out of play.

It’s very clearly out. It’s not that there’s grass, it’s how much of it there is.

[Giggles]

I fucking live to see these gammons argue with facts :D

Somethingsomethingfavelablmgammon.

Back in your cave there.

[Shindig]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2022/12/1/e95f58ef-a0f4-4a52-b080-896a778ca41a.jpg

Gentlemen, there may be a spy among us.

[thommo]

It’s very clearly out. It’s not that there’s grass, it’s how much of it there is.

You'd be surprised at how far it goes till it's fully out of play. The sideline camera (the one directly down the line) they had from afar quite clearly showed it was in to me.

[Waffdon]

‘XG’ proving itself again. Germany bounce out having the most by a mile in the tournament and Morocco topping their group having lost every game on ‘XG’.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I haven't seen anything from the angle straight overhead that shows it over the line. Only from the on-pitch angle. #foreshortening

[Shindig]

Alright, that's actually in. :D The sideline camera does confirm it. Good job, VAR.

[igor_balis]

It’s very clearly out. It’s not that there’s grass, it’s how much of it there is.

what the fuck does this even mean :D

[Lewis]

How come Spain vs Gibraltar is on the banned fixture list but they can play Morocco? Do those prohibited fixtures exist in tournaments, or would they just go ahead on neutral ground?

[Manc]

https://youtu.be/gcAH4Qm5M84

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think the prohibited fixtures is more of a UEFA thing. If USA/Iran can happen I don't see why most things couldn't.

[Giggles]

How come Spain vs Gibraltar is on the banned fixture list but they can play Morocco? Do those prohibited fixtures exist in tournaments, or would they just go ahead on neutral ground?

Morocco isn’t stolen Spanish land is it?

[Waffdon]

How come Spain vs Gibraltar is on the banned fixture list but they can play Morocco? Do those prohibited fixtures exist in tournaments, or would they just go ahead on neutral ground?

Spain don’t recognise Gibraltar as a country and if agreeing to play them it would recognise their independence.

And if they don’t recognise Morocco as a country either then Fack knows son

[Giggles]

https://youtu.be/gcAH4Qm5M84

That’s the worst one of those I’ve ever seen. That said, you could have had a 2 goal start on them that day and they’d still have walloped you.

[Don]

For our king gammon:

1598409824638738438

[Jimmy Floyd]

Morocco isn’t stolen Spanish land is it?

Spain have two Gibraltar-esque enclaves in Morocco, though I've no idea how the Moroccans feel about it.

[Giggles]

Spain have two Gibraltar-esque enclaves in Morocco, though I've no idea how the Moroccans feel about it.

That could be a reason they shouldn’t then.

[Lewis]

The Moroccans seethe about them as the Spanish do Gibraltar, but I suppose it is more like Spain playing us in that sense. Spain does recognise Gibraltar as what it is, so they don't claim that as the reason for not playing them. They're just fannies about it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fi7KLCmX0A4ycTY?format=jpg&name=900x900


Better luck next time, eh, Hans.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Here's a fact which I haven't seen anyone pick up on. Every single country with a forrin coach - Ecuador, Qatar, Iran, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Belgium, Canada - has gone out in the group stage. If South Korea go tomorrow it will complete the full set.

Very much the vibes/emotions World Cup. Thought as such while watching Japan and Australia in particular, but also applies to the African sides and presumably some of the others.

[Lofty]

1598428386593865730?t=Mtdg4rC65lQhacrMO-XpBw&s=19

[Waffdon]

Here's a fact which I haven't seen anyone pick up on. Every single country with a forrin coach - Ecuador, Qatar, Iran, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Belgium, Canada - has gone out in the group stage. If South Korea go tomorrow it will complete the full set.

Very much the vibes/emotions World Cup. Thought as such while watching Japan and Australia in particular, but also applies to the African sides and presumably some of the others.

Every one of them teams minus Belgium - who even folk doubted at going through - were favourites to either finish last or not qualify so I’m not sure you can look into it too much

[Jimmy Floyd]

Trust me, it's no coincidence that for the first time possibly ever all five African sides have domestic coaches and for the first time possibly ever all five of them have played decent stuff.

Now we're into a highly professionalised era (no chancers at this tournament even in the weaker squads), the coach telling an emotional story is so much more important than, say, Guus Hiddink offering whatever he offered to Korea 20 years ago. What is Paulo Bento doing for them that a Korean manager couldn't?

I guess the only exceptions are probably Qatar / Saudi who have isolated leagues and none of the players ever experience top level football.

[Don]

Quieroz just didn't have enough time. He's more Iranian than my hairy anus.

[-james-]

‘XG’ proving itself again. Germany bounce out having the most by a mile in the tournament and Morocco topping their group having lost every game on ‘XG’.

Do you think the point of it is to exactly mirror the result of the game?

[Waffdon]

I think the point of it is pointless. Like assists.

[randomlegend]

https://i.redd.it/1250f7wfxc3a1.jpg

This is using the sensors in the ball apparently.

[Pepe]

Here's a fact which I haven't seen anyone pick up on. Every single country with a forrin coach - Ecuador, Qatar, Iran, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Belgium, Canada - has gone out in the group stage. If South Korea go tomorrow it will complete the full set.

Very much the vibes/emotions World Cup. Thought as such while watching Japan and Australia in particular, but also applies to the African sides and presumably some of the others.


I've figured it out: the issue is foreign managers. Mexico under Sven was a lolfest if I ever saw one. Then we all remember the fiasco that Lavolpe was. Now this chancer 'Tata Martino'. Bring back Manuel Lapuente.

Out with the forriners.

[Pepe]

I missed everything today, but lol at the Germans and the Spaniards. Japan. :cool:

[Pepe]

What is all that shit with the ball out / not out?

[Giggles]

Quieroz just didn't have enough time. He's more Iranian than my hairy anus.

:harold:

[ScousePig]

I think the point of it is pointless. Like assists.

Indeed. I used to like the idea of xG until I realised how it worked with regard to multiple chances in one move.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's only a measure. It won't send you to an internment camp.

[Foe]

It seems me elite football is starting to diverge entirely from other football.

VAR is analysing things in detail that is just unachievable at human level. It’s almost a different game.

I think if you asked 100 linesmen or referees to analyse that chance in real time they’d call the ball out of play 99 times, with that 1 being a mistake from the ref not seeing it rather than knowing that the very extreme of the ball shadow was still within the very edge of the white line.

Football is a game often won by margins, the thickness of a post etc. Those margins are now “being corrected” by technology way more advanced than human beings.

Must be pretty demoralising being a ref or linesman having your work corrected like that.

I’m not bothered the germans are out, the Japanese were great and Spain in the same bucket as England and France makes it interesting.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As much as I hate VAR, I reckon they have no choice but to have it or else there would be lawsuits. I don't think in the current/future climate, with tens of millions of US dollars at stake, executives would accept human error from referees as being part of the game.

[Don]

One's arguing against clear camera footage and Iranian football he has no knowledge of whilst nother is arguing against a powerful statistical metric. Oink oink.

[Shindig]

Was it one of South Korea's goals from 2002 that was under similar circumstances? I can't remember if it was against Spain or Italy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Italy game in 2002 was a load of leather jacket creeps bawling with a sense of entitlement about marginal decisions. The real fix was in the Spain QF.

[Giggles]

Just got Senegal in the knockout sweep in work. I’ll probably have to shout for them in the next game now.