The official FIFA World Cup 2018 thread

[City74]

Who was is that said Ronaldo wasn’t one of the best? Thus game prices why he is. He isn’t even really young anymore (in soccer years) and was still the best player on the field

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Where would the fun be in sitting on the fence?!

I’m not a fan of the man but the guy is a complete machine. Despite the fact he’s a poser he probably works harder than anybody at making himself the best player he can be and he always has done.

Portugal really aren’t very good.

But Bloody Ronaldo is ridiculous.

He better not get hurt again. I hope that continuous hanstring grabbing was his typical bullsh** and not something popping up. That would be a real shame, as this is his last WC.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by dmash

He better not get hurt again. I hope that continuous hanstring grabbing was his typical bullsh** and not something popping up. That would be a real shame, as this is his last WC.

I’ve seen him do that a lot over the years. I don’t know if it’s a tic, just a habitual thing he does.

Honestly though it wouldn’t surprise me to see him at the next World Cup. He’s already an old man in outfield terms but he’s said he wants to play til he’s 40. He might just be both fit and bloody minded enough to do it.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

I’ve seen him do that a lot over the years. I don’t know if it’s a tic, just a habitual thing he does.

Honestly though it wouldn’t surprise me to see him at the next World Cup. He’s already an old man in outfield terms but he’s said he wants to play til he’s 40. He might just be both fit and bloody minded enough to do it.

If King Zlatan didn’t do it, I don’t see Ronaldo doing it

[cedargrove]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

The Morocco-Iran game is pretty good value so far, entertaining game.

I long, ache for Portugal to get absolutely battered tonight. I have nothing against the country (which is lovely - good wine too) the people or even the football team. I just want to see Ronaldo cry.

No crying tonight.

Great game. Nice to see Portugal and Ronaldo off to a good start.

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by cedargrove

No crying tonight.

Great game. Nice to see Portugal and Ronaldo off to a good start.

+1

[Wesley Crusher]

Great game. Ronaldo crushed it!

[cdmorenot]

Originally Posted by FTX I

Shit happens.

In all fairness, if Zuniga hadn't taken Neymar out of the cup, and he was the main brazillian player, you guys would have someone to worry about on the field and that would be tough to have happened. But if grandma had balls she would be grandpa.

If you guys reach the final against Brazil again like 2002 you'll have another shot. I wish Germany good luck. Very disciplined and talented players. I was lucky enough to visit Germany a few times and it was always a great experience so all the best to you guys.

LOL - So Camilo Zúñiga was responsible for Brazil getting absolutely destroyed by Germany ?

Brazil had no chance. Neymar or no Neymar - Brazil was going to get slaughtered.

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[FTX I]

Originally Posted by cdmorenot

LOL - So Camilo Zúñiga was responsible for Brazil getting absolutely destroyed by Germany ?

Brazil had no chance. Neymar or no Neymar - Brazil was going to get slaughtered.

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If you say so.

[Castlesinthesky]

Great game tonight. CR7 is a legend.

[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! :)

[Bruin Watch]

Great game... like him or not, Ronaldo has always been a tremendous talent and his paycheck proves it. He proved it again tonight. Yeah, that was definitely dive-esq early in the game, but Spain got one back on the other end later when scoring after an (arguable) no-call. So in my mind, it kind of evened out.

Hopefully we have more game like this throughout the WC. Looking forward to Argentina vs. Iceland tomorrow.

[77T]

This was a great match despite some curious calls/no calls.

Both teams were there to wow the crowd and do not disappoint.


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[AK797]

What a great game and fantastic goals! I've drawn Spain and France in the family sweepstake so was cheering on Spain and could not believe De Gea let that goal in, best keeper in the world by a mile for me. Spain were magnificent second half, midfield really took the piss out of the Portuguese, esp the superb Isco, but then that bloody ill-disciplined Pique couldn't leave an unthreatening Ronaldo alone - no sex for him, Shakira! and gave him a penalty/free kick I knew he would score, he had that crazed look in his eyes and dragged them to that result. That's just what we need to see from Messi, he better not wilt like De Gea.

[AK797]

Ronaldo earned that penalty, he did a nice step over that fooled the defender, Nacho, and they made contact, so was a penalty. Good skill needs to be rewarded and clumsy defence punished.

[City74]

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 hate diving but that wasn’t a dive. The guy kicked his ankle. Sure he went down fairly easy but it was a penalty. Btw, if you think he is shameless watch Luis Suarez

[GB-man]

What a great game. Hope it’s an omen of things to come.

[Wesley Crusher]

lmaooo this guy is a legend.

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

lmaooo this guy is a legend.

[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.

[GB-man]

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.

Unfortunately much like basketball it’s part of the game. Drawing fouls is rewarded handsomely. Until the rules change I don’t think the players will, as it’s a means to exploit a grey area and win games.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Unfortunately much like basketball it’s part of the game. Drawing fouls is rewarded handsomely. Until the rules change I don’t think the players will, as it’s a means to exploit a grey area and win games.

And a free kick is worth far more than a basketball free throw. If I had to give a Pointless Flopping award it would definitely go to the NBA

[Working4better]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

Since the USA isn’t playing, I’ll be rooting for Mexico and Germany!

Same here, what a shame USA didn't make it!!! so I will be going for Mexico
But to win it all I have Spain, Germany, Brazil in that order. Last 2 cups my brackets have been 85% correct with the 100% final game winner. I need to up the wagers this world cup.

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[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

And a free kick is worth far more than a basketball free throw. If I had to give a Pointless Flopping award it would definitely go to the NBA

I generally agree but many basketball games come down to the wire. A play can certainly make or break the game, particularly in the final moments.

Are you back in the states now steve?

[Runnin' Rebel]

In NCAA and NBA Drawing a foul is not floppping, it’s making a smart play. As a matter of fact the rules have changed dramatically in the NBA. Flopping is flopping, literally. Like football, where they fall down and roll all over the place. It’s also can be unsportsmanlike conduct with an after game review. In the NBA consistently drawing offensive fouls on opponents takes good body control and a great deal of practice. It’s an art. Cause if you mess up, your out of the play and the offense takes more control.

Also the NBA added another rule to cut down on flopping near the basket, adding a 4-foot/ 1.22 meter dotted line area around the center of the basket, like (horseshoe shape on the floor) to prevent obvious flops. If you’re trying to cause a foul in that area, flops are charged as blocking fouls against the player causing action or no-calls inside that area.

The NBA regulated flopping starting in the 2012. Any player who flops during the regular season would first be warned, followed by fines in increments of $5,000 for each successive flop during the season. The fines would increase to $30,000 for a fifth offense, when a suspension would also be considered.

In the NBA playoffs, players are fined $5,000 for their first flopping offense, $10,000 for a second, $15,000 for a third, and $30,000 for a fourth. Any player who flops five or more times could be suspended. The most horrible flopping to me is after shooting a 3 point shot and falling claiming to having been touched and then getting to the foul ine to make it a 4 point shot. Has the rules slowed it down, perhaps. But it’s almost a auto replay look if the shooter falls now in that instance.

Flop away big boys

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Runnin' Rebel

In NCAA and NBA Drawing a foul is not floppping, it’s making a smart play. As a matter of fact the rules have changed dramatically in the NBA. Flopping is flopping, literally. Like football, where they fall down and roll all over the place. It’s also can be unsportsmanlike conduct with an after game review. In the NBA consistently drawing offensive fouls on opponents takes good body control and a great deal of practice. It’s an art. Cause if you mess up, your out of the play and the offense takes more control.

Also the NBA added another rule to cut down on flopping near the basket, adding a 4-foot/ 1.22 meter dotted line area around the center of the basket, like (horseshoe shape on the floor) to prevent obvious flops. If you’re trying to cause a foul in that area, flops are charged as blocking fouls against the player causing action or no-calls inside that area.

The NBA regulated flopping starting in the 2012. Any player who flops during the regular season would first be warned, followed by fines in increments of $5,000 for each successive flop during the season. The fines would increase to $30,000 for a fifth offense, when a suspension would also be considered.

In the NBA playoffs, players are fined $5,000 for their first flopping offense, $10,000 for a second, $15,000 for a third, and $30,000 for a fourth. Any player who flops five or more times could be suspended. The most horrible flopping to me is after shooting a 3 point shot and falling claiming to having been touched and then getting to the foul ine to make it a 4 point shot. Has the rules slowed it down, perhaps. But it’s almost a auto replay look if the shooter falls now in that instance.

Flop away big boys

Does that make you a referee, bookmaker, gambler or just a basketball idiot savant mark?

[Runnin' Rebel]

Good Morning

This is me in my prime years, The Black Hulk



Now I’m a degenerate gambling NCAA referee. It’s hard running with these college kids up and down

[TeddyS]

What a game last night. Ronaldo did the business again. My friend had £5 on a 3-3 at 150-1. He has a sore head today


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[dmash]

Originally Posted by TeddyS

What a game last night. Ronaldo did the business again. My friend had £5 on a 3-3 at 150-1. He has a sore head today


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Hahaha WOWWWWZA. Hey, some money is better than no money, right?


I had it at 2:2 myself, I was expecting a tie, and neither difference was going to be top tier enough to hold a shut out against the other. Definitely didn't expect 3:3 though.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by Runnin' Rebel

In NCAA and NBA Drawing a foul is not floppping, it’s making a smart play. As a matter of fact the rules have changed dramatically in the NBA. Flopping is flopping, literally. Like football, where they fall down and roll all over the place. It’s also can be unsportsmanlike conduct with an after game review. In the NBA consistently drawing offensive fouls on opponents takes good body control and a great deal of practice. It’s an art. Cause if you mess up, your out of the play and the offense takes more control.

Also the NBA added another rule to cut down on flopping near the basket, adding a 4-foot/ 1.22 meter dotted line area around the center of the basket, like (horseshoe shape on the floor) to prevent obvious flops. If you’re trying to cause a foul in that area, flops are charged as blocking fouls against the player causing action or no-calls inside that area.

The NBA regulated flopping starting in the 2012. Any player who flops during the regular season would first be warned, followed by fines in increments of $5,000 for each successive flop during the season. The fines would increase to $30,000 for a fifth offense, when a suspension would also be considered.

In the NBA playoffs, players are fined $5,000 for their first flopping offense, $10,000 for a second, $15,000 for a third, and $30,000 for a fourth. Any player who flops five or more times could be suspended. The most horrible flopping to me is after shooting a 3 point shot and falling claiming to having been touched and then getting to the foul ine to make it a 4 point shot. Has the rules slowed it down, perhaps. But it’s almost a auto replay look if the shooter falls now in that instance.

Flop away big boys

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.