The official FIFA World Cup 2018 thread

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

I genuinely feel that the way the referees manage the game has a lot to do with diving (to use our equivalent of “flopping”).

The problem is, over a very long time, referees have tended to not award free kicks for fouls if players stay on their feet, even if the foul causes the player to be impeded or lose possession. You do see fouls given when a player doesn’t go down, but it’s rare.

So over time, like professionals in all sports, the players have learned to game the system to their maximum advantage and in this case, that means exaggerating the effect of contact. There are two types. The first is a player who goes down following no contact or contact that is so minimal as to be insignificant. Everybody considers this to be cheating. The second is players who are impeded illegally, who possibly could stay on their feet but choose to go down in order to “win” the free kick. Some purists in England still consider this cheating. Most others now consider this part of the game.

If refs actually gave fouls regardless of whether or not a player goes down, the latter types of “flop” would be reduced.

As for why some players roll around clutching their faces as if they’ve been sniped from the crowd or are being tased by the referee, I have no clue. Very unmanly.

Yup, anybody that has watched the game for a bit, understands this. It's almost dumb not to exaggerate it when you know you're more than likely not getting the free kick otherwise and have no shot at goal.

Now do some players act like an idiot grabbing their leg, then their stomach, then their face, for getting kicked in the arm? Yes.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by dmash

Now do some players act like an idiot grabbing their leg, then their stomach, then their face, for getting kicked in the arm? Yes.

Thinking about it, even this ridiculous behaviour has a reason - to try to get the opposition player booked or sent off. And the refs sometimes fall for it

Most people who’ve actually been seriously hurt playing football know you tend to reflexively try keep pretty still to protect the injury. I don’t understand why refs don’t instantly book players who look like they’ve been struck by lightning in the face.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I admit to not knowing a lot about soccer, but the biggest turn off to me is watching these babies conducting Homeric-tragedy performances on the field. Embellishing an actual push, Ok, every player in sports does that, but the way these guys act is disgraceful. You’re representing your country in front of an international audience, play the sport with a little respect.

I agree it's hard to watch the theatrics, and the English were penalised for many years as they come from a don't-go-down-easily culture but that has all had to change or it was like starting half a goal down before every game. The importance of going down easily on any contact was shown with two of Ronnies goals.

The flip side was in the 70s and 80s when almost no one was punished and stamping and elbowing were quite common place, and frankly may even have contributed to the whole hooligan culture of that time. So that era was not the greatest either, far too lawless and savage, and in today's world many of those incidents, such as Battiston being nearly decapitated by a proud Schumacher would be criminal offences, with such clear intent.

[cedargrove]

Originally Posted by Wools

Looking forward to the World Cup, within 2 minutes Ronaldo takes a dive...

The most shameless player in history. Detest the guy. I’ll have to avoid watching any matches with him in to stop getting riled up! :)

I'm guessing it's your severe bias that's calling it a dive. Even the video reviewers agrees it was a penalty.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by cedargrove

I'm guessing it's your severe bias that's calling it a dive. Even the video reviewers agrees it was a penalty.

Yup, agree. He may have went down harder than necessary, but it was only to exaggerate what was indeed a penalty, and ensure it got called. That's not 'flopping', that's just playing smart.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by cedargrove

I'm guessing it's your severe bias that's calling it a dive. Even the video reviewers agrees it was a penalty.

I also agree Ronaldo’s was a pen, albeit an “earned” one.

Watching the dodgy French pen decision though and I’m not sure I’d be taking the VAR reviewer’s opinions as Gospel. Never a pen!

[SpeakWithMichael]

I'm a Spaniard, living in Spain. Needless to say, I yelled a LOT during the Spain match yesterday. Our goalie is no Iker Casillas like in 2010, and that will be our achilles heel in 2018.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

I'm a Spaniard, living in Spain. Needless to say, I yelled a LOT during the Spain match yesterday. Our goalie is no Iker Casillas like in 2010, and that will be our achilles heel in 2018.

Confused, are you trying to claim he’s not top class?

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

I'm a Spaniard, living in Spain. Needless to say, I yelled a LOT during the Spain match yesterday. Our goalie is no Iker Casillas like in 2010, and that will be our achilles heel in 2018.

De Gea is the best player in your team!

Genuine question, as you live in Spain have you watched much of him play the past three years? Any Premier League watcher and especially any *ManU fan will tell you the guy has been the best ‘keeper in the league by miles. He’s easily in the top 3 GK’s in the world and is IMO the best.

I’m jealous as you lot have left ‘keepers back home who would walk into our team.



*I feel dirty so I need to point out I’m not a fan of United.

[Shiny1]

We are in for a ride and some great action

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

De Gea is the best player in your team!

Genuine question, as you live in Spain have you watched much of him play the past three years? Any Premier League watcher and especially any *ManU fan will tell you the guy has been the best ‘keeper in the league by miles. He’s easily in the top 3 GK’s in the world and is IMO the best.

I’m jealous as you lot have left ‘keepers back home who would walk into our team.



*I feel dirty so I need to point out I’m not a fan of United.

Exactly why I asked the question I did. How is somebody complaining about having De Gea and claiming he’s an ‘achilles heel’? He had one blunder, stuff happens, every keeper has a mistake now and then.

I think somebody just started watching football for the World Cup

[Oscarpapa]

Originally Posted by Wools

Looking forward to the World Cup, within 2 minutes Ronaldo takes a dive...

The most shameless player in history. Detest the guy. I’ll have to avoid watching any matches with him in to stop getting riled up! :)

Fabulous player but because of his playing acting and simulation(diving) will never be an all time great for me. For that penalty he saw the defender had planted his leg in front of him and decided to run at it and fall over it, he could have avoided it and stayed on his feet but took the easy way out. On the other hand, i don't think I have ever seen Messi simulate or go to the ground too easily, when he has been grounded it's because his legs have been chopped from under him and that is why Messi is the better player and man!

[SpeakWithMichael]

Yes, fellas, I'm saying De Gea will prove to be the achilles heal of Spain's national team. Let's follow up on this after the World Cup.

His friendly versus Switzerland a few weeks ago was horrid. If you didn't see the highlights, it would be worth watching. His game against Ronaldo and Portugal was disappointing. He may be having a bad run, but it's not the moment for a bad run.

Don't be silly and say I'm new to football. We can have different opinions, but I'm an avid La Liga fan, though I admit I haven't seen him play in the Premier League almost at all. All I've seen from him on the national team is disappointing thus far.

Edited to add: the best GK in the world is Barcelona's ter Stegen.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

Yes, fellas, I'm saying De Gea will prove to be the achilles heal of Spain's national team. Let's follow up on this after the World Cup.

His friendly versus Switzerland a few weeks ago was horrid. If you didn't see the highlights, it would be worth watching. His game against Ronaldo and Portugal was disappointing. He may be having a bad run, but it's not the moment for a bad run.

Don't be silly and say I'm new to football. We can have different opinions, but I'm an avid La Liga fan, though I admit I haven't seen him play in the Premier League almost at all. All I've seen from him on the national team is disappointing thus far.

Edited to add: the best GK in the world is Barcelona's ter Stegen.

Disappointing because he made one mistake? Ok, got it

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by dmash

Disappointing because he made one mistake? Ok, got it

Human beings are mysterious creatures.

[SpeakWithMichael]

Originally Posted by dmash

Disappointing because he made one mistake? Ok, got it

Two game-drawing mistakes in two national games so far. Let's see what happens next game. I'm the first one that would like to say he's great, since he's my team's GK. But he's not playing great. He didn't even dive for Ronaldo's 3rd goal. He watched it.

[SpeakWithMichael]

Originally Posted by FTX I

Human beings are mysterious creatures.

I'm going off what I've seen with him on the national team and that makes me mysterious and stupid, apparently. Perhaps you have an issue respecting other people's opinions in a gentlemanly way? I find that mysterious, too.

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

I'm going off what I've seen with him on the national team and that makes me mysterious and stupid, apparently. Perhaps you have an issue respecting other people's opinions in a gentlemanly way? I find that mysterious, too.

Didn't quote you and didn't mean to offend you, but your reaction is a mystery.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

Two game-drawing mistakes in two national games so far. Let's see what happens next game. I'm the first one that would like to say he's great, since he's my team's GK. But he's not playing great. He didn't even dive for Ronaldo's 3rd goal. He watched it.

That second goal looked like a mistake, but the goalkeeper says it was a "difficult ball" and he knows better than we do. Maybe that shot was designed to spin off his hand.

As for the 3rd goal, is it really the goalkeeper's fault that Ronaldo got yet another on-target shot off? Or is it the whole team's fault?

Similar to hockey, the goalie gets the brunt of the blame

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

Two game-drawing mistakes in two national games so far. Let's see what happens next game. I'm the first one that would like to say he's great, since he's my team's GK. But he's not playing great. He didn't even dive for Ronaldo's 3rd goal. He watched it.

You are of course entitled to your opinion, though I’d suggest it’s a mistake to base an opinion of a player on 2 games, especially a GK but as you say, we’ll see how he goes. I will say that he is miles better than Reina, who I’ve seen a lot of. I’m not very familiar with your third ‘keeper.

However as a GK myself (admittedly not at anything other than pub-level) there is absolutely no way you can blame him for Ronaldo’s third. At that distance the GK cannot cover both sides of the goal so he relies on the wall to cover one side and he covers the other. Ronaldo put it over the wall, so if you want to blame anyone, blame the players in the wall. But in reality, nobody was to blame as it was just an absolutely perfect free kick. De Gea only saw the ball as it passed over the wall by which point there was absolutely no point in diving, except for show, because even Inspector Gadget wouldn’t have reached that ball.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

De Gea only saw the ball as it passed over the wall by which point there was absolutely no point in diving, except for show, because even Inspector Gadget wouldn’t have reached that ball.

This is great, please post more often

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

Two game-drawing mistakes in two national games so far. Let's see what happens next game. I'm the first one that would like to say he's great, since he's my team's GK. But he's not playing great. He didn't even dive for Ronaldo's 3rd goal. He watched it.

Yeah, he was like frozen watching the shot go in. It was strange but wow that was a heck of a goal. I had to watch it like 5x, Neymar and Company better step it up, cause that was a briilant shot.

Updated Today: groups

Group A
Uruguay -110
Russia +160
Egypt +500
Saudi Arabia +4000

Group B
Spain -220
Portugal +220
Morocco +1600
Iran +4000

Group C
France -425
Denmark +550
Peru +1000
Australia +2000

Group D
Argentina -200
Croatia +250
Nigeria +1200
Iceland +1200

Group E
Brazil -450
Switzerland +700
Serbia +800
Costa Rica +2000

Group F
Germany -325
Mexico +500
Sweden +700
South Korea +2000

Group G
Belgium -140
England +120
Tunisia +2200
Panama +4000

Group H
Colombia +120
Poland +180
Senegal +500
Japan +700

Brasil is favored as of now to win World Cup

The Germans have been overtaken in the odds by Brazil as favorites to win the World Cup with odds of 4/1 attached to the South American giants. I’m gettimg my new shirts made with 6 World Cup Stars. Add arecent Olympics Championship win too

[AK797]

Good result for France, another team I have in the sweepstake, and very good that Griezmann and Pogba scored, both of these will need to be in top form for France to pull this off, which is possible.

Not so good for Argentina, but then those Vikings are damn tough these days, as we have known in the UK since 792!

[Bruin Watch]

Originally Posted by AK797

Good result for France, another team I have in the sweepstake, and very good that Griezmann and Pogba scored, both of these will need to be in top form for France to pull this off, which is possible.

Not so good for Argentina, but then those Vikings are damn tough these days, as we have known in the UK since 792!

Iceland played well once again on a big stage.

Nice to see the game end in a tie (though can't believe Messi missed that penalty kick!).

[kearez]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

Edited to add: the best GK in the world is Barcelona's ter Stegen.

Best GK I is Neuer then DDG. They make mistakes, who would you have have in goal then?

[RobearH]

Originally Posted by cedargrove

I'm guessing it's your severe bias that's calling it a dive. Even the video reviewers agrees it was a penalty.

A reach in after a cross over in the box is a penalty...EOS!!!

P.S...most entertaining game so far by far!

[tudorbaja27]

Impressed by Peru..

[tudorbaja27]

Croatia didn't impress but got the job done. Time for a pilsner? I think so

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by kearez

Best GK I is Neuer then DDG. They make mistakes, who would you have have in goal then?

Navas. All day, every day

[SpeakWithMichael]

Originally Posted by tudorbaja27

Navas. All day, every day

He's not a Spaniard. He's Costa Rican.