| The ultimate World Cup thread 22:40 - Jun 11 with 252954 views | Logman |
Think we need a designated thread for general World Cup 2026 chat. There only seem to be the England and sweepstake ones so far.
Well that opening game got me nodding off nicely. VAR/the laws of the game the talking points as always. Well done FIFA. Not long before the highlights are just a reel of refereeing/VAR decisions.
When does the EFL start ?
[Post edited 11 Jun 22:41]
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 04:15 - Jul 3 with 2768 views | VancouverHoop |
It isn't so much VAR, per se, I object to it's the way it's applied. The appeal should come from the oppo bench, not some faceless dudes sitting in front of screens somewhere. There should also be a limit to the number of appeals, and — most importantly — if they're wrong then there's a penalty, eg: losing a substitution. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 06:29 - Jul 3 with 2617 views | SydneyRs |
The Penaldo w@nkfest continues for another game.
Can't see them beating Spain. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 07:00 - Jul 3 with 2571 views | stevec |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 02:07 - Jul 3 by Wegerles_Stairs |
So that's three teams who are out because of debatable VAR calls - Germany, Senegal and Croatia. The worst thing to happen to football ever. |
I genuinely believe VAR is being used to ease the ‘preferred’ team through.
Something very wrong about this tournament. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 08:20 - Jul 3 with 2484 views | Clive_Anderson |
Can't stand these microscopic decisions chalking off perfectly good goals.
Also thought Ronaldo's offside goal was level by the old standards as well. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 08:24 - Jul 3 with 2488 views | daveB |
Just when you think VAR can't get any worse they bring in snick o meter, what a load of old nonsence |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 08:37 - Jul 3 with 2451 views | Hunterhoop |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 07:00 - Jul 3 by stevec |
I genuinely believe VAR is being used to ease the ‘preferred’ team through.
Something very wrong about this tournament. |
It does have the air of that…
Remarkable how many generous decisions there have been for Portugal in this tournament. Almost as if someone wants Ronaldo to go far.
It feels bent because that snicko thing, as they run it through the flick on, where it shows a spike, has nothing coming down the line for the very obvious wallop the ball gets from the defender’s head a split second after. If they had faith in it they’d have carried it on to show the massive jump in the graph when it bounces firmly off the defender’s head. They could easily have simply used that spike from the defender and played it over when the ball goes past the Croatian player, like what happened in the Ashes. If the timing is out the tech is useless and proves nothing. And when/where is the verification the timing is correct. It was only identified as being wrong in the ashes when spikes showed up when the ball was near nothing. The spin on the ball doesn’t change at all, so I don’t think there was a touch. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 08:50 - Jul 3 with 2409 views | eastside_r |
Just watched the Portugal v Croatia highlights.
Controversies aside, that looked an absolute belter of a second half.
This correspondent went to bed at halftime.  |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 08:53 - Jul 3 with 2384 views | Watford_Ranger |
Are we really trusting a chip in the ball to be 100% accurate? Looked like no touch, the ball doesn’t seem to deviate at all. | | | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 09:26 - Jul 3 with 2348 views | TheChef |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 07:00 - Jul 3 by stevec |
I genuinely believe VAR is being used to ease the ‘preferred’ team through.
Something very wrong about this tournament. |
Hmmm yeah - on the whole it was used pretty well in the group stages, now the chips are down in the knockout rounds it's like the whole VAR operation has been moved to Stockley Park...
Spain should beat Portugal but I'm wondering if VAR will help out Ronaldo and co again. |  |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 09:37 - Jul 3 with 2317 views | francisbowles |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 20:35 - Jul 2 by bosh67 |
Blimey if that Spain goal is ruled then the game's gone! Much as I don't like the Spaniards rolling around at a sneeze that is hard to take for them. They are looking quite ominous as well, although I think France may destroy everyone. Apart from us of course. We've got Harry Kane. |
He jumped into the keeper! | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 09:52 - Jul 3 with 2279 views | bosh67 |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 09:37 - Jul 3 by francisbowles |
He jumped into the keeper! |
Very soft in my humble opinion. If that is how it is the ref should put a foam circle around the keeper and no one is allowed in it apart from him at corners. Or dig a trench perhaps? Otherwise it's nonsense really. |  |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 10:08 - Jul 3 with 2231 views | BrianMcCarthy |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 09:37 - Jul 3 by francisbowles |
He jumped into the keeper! |
I thought it was really soft, actually imaginary on the first few angles, but then they showed one where Cubarsí clearly jumped into the keeper, wasn't trying to get to the ball at all imo.
So, ya, peno the right call. |  |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 10:46 - Jul 3 with 2148 views | Ned_Kennedys |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 07:00 - Jul 3 by stevec |
I genuinely believe VAR is being used to ease the ‘preferred’ team through.
Something very wrong about this tournament. |
It’s also helping the ‘superstars’: Balogun of USA sent off via VAR for his accidental landing foot challenge whereas VAR said nothing to see here when Messi’s studs went down the back of an Algeria player’s leg.
And of course FIFA manipulated their own disciplinary rules by changing Ronaldo’s 3 match ban to only one match so he wouldn’t miss the World Cup’s opening two games. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 11:37 - Jul 3 with 2059 views | TheChef |
Remember that time Scotland qualified for the World Cup?
Nah me neither. | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 14:26 - Jul 3 with 1947 views | CLAREMAN1995 |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 06:29 - Jul 3 by SydneyRs |
The Penaldo w@nkfest continues for another game.
Can't see them beating Spain. |
I am very worried about this game and can actually see Portugal pulling it off .
Before that last second fiasco and after Ronaldo scored that stunning goal ( chalked off ) Portugal put on 4 subs taking off both wan*er Bruno ,Vithina,Cancello and Neto and actually got better it shows their dept.
I realise Croatia had 2 goals chalked off and Kovacic hit the post plus they gave up a stupid needless corner followed by that idiotic rugby tackle/penalty awarded but they did not kill of Portugal ,left it up the refs who made sure Portugal moved on |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 14:35 - Jul 3 with 1937 views | TheChef |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 14:26 - Jul 3 by CLAREMAN1995 |
I am very worried about this game and can actually see Portugal pulling it off .
Before that last second fiasco and after Ronaldo scored that stunning goal ( chalked off ) Portugal put on 4 subs taking off both wan*er Bruno ,Vithina,Cancello and Neto and actually got better it shows their dept.
I realise Croatia had 2 goals chalked off and Kovacic hit the post plus they gave up a stupid needless corner followed by that idiotic rugby tackle/penalty awarded but they did not kill of Portugal ,left it up the refs who made sure Portugal moved on |
VAR becoming a very useful tool.
This is surely Ronaldo's last chance at winning a World Cup, it's easier to fix things for him.
If they do get past Spain I'll be feeling a lot more confident about my Portugal bet to win the whole thing  | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 15:50 - Jul 3 with 1876 views | kensalriser |
Given all the football conspiracies that have happened over the years it's surprising that not one person has ever come forward to (mind the pun) blow the whistle on one. |  |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 18:40 - Jul 3 with 1806 views | Hooparoo |
Come on Aussies!! ⚽️ |  |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 18:45 - Jul 3 with 1800 views | Boston |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 15:50 - Jul 3 by kensalriser |
Given all the football conspiracies that have happened over the years it's surprising that not one person has ever come forward to (mind the pun) blow the whistle on one. |
In my experience, most conspiracy theories are actually incompetence. | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 19:46 - Jul 3 with 1734 views | Paddyhoops |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 18:40 - Jul 3 by Hooparoo |
Come on Aussies!! ⚽️ |
They’re a bit disappointing today . Not the greatest of games. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 20:08 - Jul 3 with 1700 views | flynnbo |
So, the Mexico v England game may now take place at 7pm UK time and I'm at the Paul Weller gig. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 21:17 - Jul 3 with 1600 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Altitude.
Heat.
Humidity.
Possible change to KO time - so they now will have two alternative plans for sleep, nutrition, hydration etc
Possible earlier KO time - so, presumably more heat and humidity.
I remember '86 when the English TV and paper press were really freaked by playing at the Azteca.
The England management and team actually won one game there 3-0, and lost the other only due to genius and cheating.
Either way, this is now a serious challenge for Tuchel and his management team.
I find all of this stuff fascinating.
This is what management is all about. | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 21:29 - Jul 3 with 1543 views | Hunterhoop |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 21:17 - Jul 3 by BrianMcCarthy |
Altitude.
Heat.
Humidity.
Possible change to KO time - so they now will have two alternative plans for sleep, nutrition, hydration etc
Possible earlier KO time - so, presumably more heat and humidity.
I remember '86 when the English TV and paper press were really freaked by playing at the Azteca.
The England management and team actually won one game there 3-0, and lost the other only due to genius and cheating.
Either way, this is now a serious challenge for Tuchel and his management team.
I find all of this stuff fascinating.
This is what management is all about. |
I agree, Bri.
So much psychology for Tuchel and his team to be on top of.
They need honestly from the players on the day, which is so unlikely in the situation. But some people can handle altitude better than others. They need the ones who are really struggling with it to say. I think they only have a token open for media session, so they won’t necessarily be able to tell themselves which players appear to be struggling. The difference in ability across the squad is relatively small, but if someone is really struggling with their legs or their breathing, it would be much worse to play them even if they are a better player.
Requires such an open and trusting environment for players to want to say “I’m struggling, I don’t think I can do 90.”
Separately, I think Tuchel and his team need to be really on top of the narrative. If the England players go out onto the pitch thinking they are up against it, that they’ve not had time to acclimatise, that they’ll struggle, that Mexico won’t, that the crowd are loud, etc, they are in danger of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. He needs to get them into a state of mind where they believe they are better (which they obviously are), that Mexico should fear them, and that each of them has the talent to win the game for England.
The issue is that those two things have some tension between them.
Tricky. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 21:53 - Jul 3 with 1474 views | MrSheen |
Peter V’Landys chuckles and strokes his cat. |  | | |
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