The official FIFA World Cup 2018 thread

[cdmorenot]

Although the world cup is over for me (I'll continue to watch and secretly root for England) I'm glad I now live in a country where I can have futbol every single weekend as I wouldn't know what life is like without it.

Colombian tournaments are nowhere near as exciting and thrilling as Brazilian, English, German, Argentine and Spanish ones are but I'm damn glad I have the ability to support my team each weekend and one day I hope to be able to see a few European classics in person.

For the record: If anyone goes back and reads all my posts, I always made it clear, Neymar: Talented Futbol player. The showbiz is a whole different story.


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[FTX I]

Originally Posted by dmash

1-I've venture to say that's exactly why you don't get it. You're reading entirely too much into this, it's a joke, relax, it's in no way insulting to Brazil or Brazilian people.

2- Again, you not having Social Media is why you don't understand. Football specific websites/instagram pages/twitter feeds are not the only people making fun of him. It's EVERYbody.......regular websites, etc. I couldn't even open up my Twitter or Instagram after the game without seeing pictures of him. Lol don't be silly and claim somebody is 'obsessed' because the entire internet was making fun of him and it was easy to post about it.






Again, having a beer with everyone here is entirely plausible, this is all in good humor and fun. If you are that serious and can't take a joke about who some are calling the worst diver of modern time.....then it seems you would be entirely too serious to watch a football match with. Every game I've ever seen with an opposing team consists of good banter and making fun of each other's team (jokingly). That's part of the fun.......are you saying you'd get up and leave if you were at a bar with a TRF member and he ever joked about one of Brazil's players? Come on.

Maybe I'm completely biased after getting into football around English people, as I mentioned above. I thought every match would end up in a brawl if an opposing team's fans were there....but it was always just REALLY over the top banter, and never serious....albeit consisting of lots of vulgarity and explicit remarks

No, I'm cool bro. I got that you don't like the guy in your first post about him. Just thought you'd not need the other fifty eight or something like that.

But If you're that interested in the guy by all means keep up the good work. Only you know how important it is to you.

[TeddyS]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Played for my Uni and after matches the tradition was to go to the Student Union, buy a couple hundred pints for the table, watch one of the evening games and play a drinking game. Any goal scored = finish drink. Red card = finish. Yellow card = 4 fingers. Fouls, throw ins and corners = 1 finger. One time we watched, I think it was Aston Villa vs Bolton. Game ended 4-3 with three red cards. There was a bin next to the table for a good reason. Bad times



Just make sure you still pull for Arsenal. There's only one rule for supporting a football team. You never switch allegiance!

There is only one team worth supporting and that is ARSENAL so he’s on the right track haha


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[Rondineli]

Did you watch England vs Colombia?

In yesterday's match between England and Colombia, several English players simulated fouls, attempted to dig penalties that did not exist, threw themselves on the ground, wrung their hands over their face after taking a slight header in the chest, delayed the restart of the match in several minutes to each side or goal shot while they win.

Only this time there will be no indignant headlines, there will be no material suggesting that England is an embarrassment to the sport, there will be no Peter Schmeichel saying that England is a poor example for little children.

For the record I was cheering for England. I am an American and Brazilian, and I was cheering for England because I remember what the Colombian player did to Neymar in the last world cup, which was a knee from behind away from the ball, which led to a fractured vertebra, and thus Neymar out of the game against Germany. And the result of that game, is know to all.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Rondineli

Did you watch England vs Colombia?

In yesterday's match between England and Colombia, several English players simulated fouls, attempted to dig penalties that did not exist, threw themselves on the ground, wrung their hands over their face after taking a slight header in the chest, delayed the restart of the match in several minutes to each side or goal shot while they win.

Only this time there will be no indignant headlines, there will be no material suggesting that England is an embarrassment to the sport, there will be no Peter Schmeichel saying that England is a poor example for little children.

For the record I was cheering for England. I am an American and Brazilian, and I was cheering for England because I remember what the Colombian player did to Neymar in the last world cup, which was a knee from behind away from the ball, which led to a fractured vertebra, and thus Neymar out of the game against Germany. And the result of that game, is know to all.

I noted a lot of flagrant flops in the game. Some were so bad I laughed out loud. Even the missus thought they were excessive.

I think the solution is to allow the opponent to punch the flopper in the nuts for obvious theatrics. There will be fewer flops, or far better acting.

[Rondineli]

Tough games ahead for all squads, good luck to all teams. All I hope for is clean good soccer.

[Rondineli]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

I noted a lot of flagrant flops in the game. Some were so bad I laughed out loud. Even the missus thought they were excessive.

I think the solution is to allow the opponent to punch the flopper in the nuts for obvious theatrics. There will be fewer flops, or far better acting.

well, jokes aside, this game could really use the technology advances to curb the perpetrators of flagrant fouls as well as the silly unwarranted true overreactions - like that of Suarez against Portugal close to the end of the game.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by Rondineli

well, jokes aside, this game could really use the technology advances to curb the perpetrators of flagrant fouls as well as the silly unwarranted true overreactions - like that of Suarez against Portugal close to the end of the game.

This!

I think either's referees, or FIFA, have got no balls to let this stuff continue. The Laws of the game allow referees to stamp this stuff out without the need for any Law changes.

- Serious foul play/violent conduct - red card
- Feign injury = unsporting behaviour - yellow card
- Scream in the refs face to change his decision = dissent - yellow card
- Do that stupid little square mime asking for VAR = dissent - yellow card
- Delaying restart of play - yellow card

The thing is, if they did this, football matches would be hilarious for a few weeks because both teams would end up with 8 men on the pitch.

Then, the players would wise up that they have to act a bit more like grown-ups and the game would instantly be transformed with minimal BS.

I don't get how the powers that be don't see this.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Rondineli

well, jokes aside, this game could really use the technology advances to curb the perpetrators of flagrant fouls as well as the silly unwarranted true overreactions - like that of Suarez against Portugal close to the end of the game.

I think the real cure is to take the flopper out for some period of time. In the NFL, if you have some sort of injury time that interrupts play you have to sit out one play. Do the same in soccer.

If the player is on the ground long enough to stop play, pull him off the field and substitute. Make the substitution count against the team. With limited substitutions, the strategy of flopping will become much more precise. It will take the individual opportunism out of the practice and turn it into a planned team tactical move.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Agreed that American football is unwatchable...lots of standing around with a few short bursts of action sprinkled about.
.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by AK797

That has not happened and is why I had to make these points before this thread descends into the usual trolling and bitching thread that gets shut down. I did not say focus only on Neymar's good points, I have said I don't like his theatrics and I would give him a yellow card for them, but I want to talk about his football more. Most posts are 90% bitching with a 10% reluctant acknowledgement that he is a good player. That should be the reverse. And ofc hardly a mention of the stamper who should be getting 90% of the abuse. As I said the balance is all wrong.

I think I've made my point very clearly now and hopefully people will take it on board and we can keep this very good thread open. Now let's move on.

If the discussion on this thread, specifically about Neymar, was extrapolated into the real world, maybe the stat´s would line up with his Supporters/Detractors both on this forum and off it.

Nonetheless, the braintrust at PSG paid a fortune to buy his rights, so with that alone , there is probably no greater recognition needed that he is talented, but he is also a great actor, video does not lie (unless altered).


Once a player from any sport rubs the public the wrong way, it is hard to get back into their good graces.

They don´t expect perpetual cross-sectional blind praise.

[Rondineli]

to lighten up a bit: Hey, stop running Tite...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CfpgXMvjPU

[cdmorenot]

Originally Posted by Rondineli

to lighten up a bit: Hey, stop running Tite...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CfpgXMvjPU

This is too funny.

I loved Tite at Corinthians !

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[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by cdmorenot

Although the world cup is over for me (I'll continue to watch and secretly root for England) I'm glad I now live in a country where I can have futbol every single weekend as I wouldn't know what life is like without it.

Colombian tournaments are nowhere near as exciting and thrilling as Brazilian, English, German, Argentine and Spanish ones are but I'm damn glad I have the ability to support my team each weekend and one day I hope to be able to see a few European classics in person.

For the record: If anyone goes back and reads all my posts, I always made it clear, Neymar: Talented Futbol player. The showbiz is a whole different story.


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There is an awesome series on NETFLIX called La Selection ..........what a series, I hated to watch the last episode, cause it was great.

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by cdmorenot

Although the world cup is over for me (I'll continue to watch and secretly root for England) I'm glad I now live in a country where I can have futbol every single weekend as I wouldn't know what life is like without it.

Colombian tournaments are nowhere near as exciting and thrilling as Brazilian, English, German, Argentine and Spanish ones are but I'm damn glad I have the ability to support my team each weekend and one day I hope to be able to see a few European classics in person.

For the record: If anyone goes back and reads all my posts, I always made it clear, Neymar: Talented Futbol player. The showbiz is a whole different story.


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Great pics man! Love futbol as well - the atmosphere cannot be compared when done right.

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

There's only one rule for supporting a football team. You never switch allegiance!

This rule wasn't explained to me when I first started supporting Leeds in the early 70's when they were the best club side in the world. They are not quite at that level now but they are my team.

I will leave you with this.

[TheVTCGuy]

Boy, I am really Bajanxed, knackard and gobsmacked!

[SpeakWithMichael]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Boy, I am really Bajanxed, knackard and gobsmacked!

Knackered, mate. Knackered.

And boy do I need some good futbol. Come on, Friday.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Boy, I am really Bajanxed, knackard and gobsmacked!

Nobody has explained to me if a ‘proper melt’ is a sandwich or some other fancy term

[SpeakWithMichael]

Reports are now surfacing that Nigeria's captain, John Obi Mikel, was silently dealing with the kidnapping of his father during the 3rd match of the group stage against Argentina. He got a call 4 hours before the start of the match letting him know his father was being held for ransom, and that if he said anything to anyone, they'd kill his father immediately.

That'll throw your mind when you're playing in one of the most important matches of your life.

Source: http://www.espn.com/soccer/nigeria/s...ring-world-cup

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by dmash

Nobody has explained to me if a ‘proper melt’ is a sandwich or some other fancy term

"melt" means idiot, so a "Proper melt" would be a proper idiot.

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by daveathall

"melt" means idiot, so a "Proper melt" would be a proper idiot.

are there also "improper" idiots? Hmm

[KBM]

[The Joker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4m8ItgcBvM

[CRM114]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

I think the solution is to allow the opponent to punch the flopper in the nuts for obvious theatrics. There will be fewer flops, or far better acting.

This, and replace the grass surface with one made from gravel and crushed glass.

Alternatively, it could be mandated that, for their own safety, players suffering apparent agony be whisked off the field to a room where a medical specialist team will run a full course of X-rays, MRIs, and CAT scan evaluation. However, if no injury warranting the reaction is found the player shall then be removed to a different room where a team of other "specialists" will carefully review the tape and inflict an actual injury in the area to a degree commensurate with the level of pain that was feigned.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by CRM114

This, and replace the grass surface with one made from gravel and crushed glass.

Alternatively, it could be mandated that, for their own safety, players suffering apparent agony be whisked off the field to a room where a medical specialist team will run a full course of X-rays, MRIs, and CAT scan evaluation. However, if no injury warranting the reaction is found the player shall then be removed to a different room where a team of other "specialists" will carefully review the tape and inflict an actual injury in the area to a degree commensurate with the level of pain that was feigned.

This would immediately put a stop to it.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Food for thought. Maybe Soccer/European Football needs more Ref´s on the field (pitch).

That much field for one Ref is too much of a load.

3-4 Refs would clean that up right quick.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

I think the real cure is to take the flopper out for some period of time. In the NFL, if you have some sort of injury time that interrupts play you have to sit out one play. Do the same in soccer.

If the player is on the ground long enough to stop play, pull him off the field and substitute. Make the substitution count against the team. With limited substitutions, the strategy of flopping will become much more precise. It will take the individual opportunism out of the practice and turn it into a planned team tactical move.

I like that idea. Maybe the player must sit for 20 minutes if he lays on the ground more that 20 seconds

[SpeakWithMichael]

Sorry to change the topic once again, but the rumors are very strong and growing that Ronaldo is going to Juventus. Juve would sell Higuain, Rugani, and Sturaro to make room financially for Ronaldo's 30 million euro a year salary through 2022.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

Sorry to change the topic once again, but the rumors are very strong and growing that Ronaldo is going to Juventus. Juve would sell Higuain, Rugani, and Sturaro to make room financially for Ronaldo's 30 million euro a year salary through 2022.

Would you consider that a smart investment? Or is he past his prime?