FIFA World Cup 2022

[sussexpob]

He booked multiple players in the shootout too

The Belgian commentator just said "the Argentinians are celebrating, the Dutch are crying, and the ref is still brandishing cards at someone, but no one is in front of him"

Serious question, did the ref have a total meltdown?

[bigfluffylemon]

Argentina win it. Probably fair over 120 minutes, but a great game.

This remains one heck of an unpredictable tournament. Who knows what will happen tomorrow?

[sussexpob]

Argentina win it. Probably fair over 120 minutes, but a great game.

This remains one heck of an unpredictable tournament. Who knows what will happen tomorrow?

If it's the same ref, put your money in 24 yellow cards

[Durhamfootman]

it was just a bonkers game, wasn't it?

The players didn't help. The Arg player who wiped out the dutch guy and then booted the ball as hard as could into the NL subs bench sparking a riot was a prime example. There was bags of needle in the game.... maybe a bit of '98, maybe a bit of Tia Maria and v Gaal.... and it was always bubbling away under the surface, but the ref was a complete plank. First he let loads of stuff go and then as tempers rose, he started firing cards right left and centre..... and there was loads of play acting on both sides, perhaps because both teams realised that they might be able to get a player or two sent off for 2 yellows as the game was allowed to degenerate

Now that Argentina are through they'll have some selection decisions to make for the semi, because there's at least 2 players who can't now play and it may be more, because I think everyone lost count

[sussexpob]

Well I can't believe he didn't send off Paredes for that. The foul was a yellow, the booting the ball at the bench was a straight red. Van Dijk then responded by pushing the guy in the face, but didn't even get booked, neither did the Holland bench who run onto the pitch....he then booked an Argentine for asking why he didn't book the Dutch players.

He booked Timber for nearly having his ankle snapped..he booked Weghorst on the bench for shouting his disapproval after Alvarez clattered someone in a clear booking.

After that I just totally lost track of it. Other highlights I can remember was waiting for Argentina to gain an advantage, watching them achieve it, then blowing the whistle for the foul, which was a booking yet he didn't give one, then he booked an Argentine for complaining about the idiotic stopping of their break

Oh, and the aforementioned booking of a player asking if he could take the free kick quickly

Plank is the word, DFM

[Durhamfootman]

I've just totted them up. There were 15 yellow cards given to onfield players in the 120 mins

He also booked subs and coaches on the bench during normal playing time and he booked more players and staff during and after the penalty shoot out

There was mass brawl after the incident I mentioned earlier. There were brawls after normal time and extra time and at the end

It might take the ref a week to type up his report. He might want to think about scarpering and getting a flight home tonight

Virgil did get a yellow for twatting the Argentina player, but because everything had kicked off, it took about 5 mins for it to be confirmed on screen

[Durhamfootman]

total shambles, but there also so much drama that it was quite entertaining

[Durhamfootman]

I don't know what the Dutch were thinking about for 75 mins. Tippy tappy, no attacking intent, no attempts on goal. Spain went out doing that. It's what England do when they sh1t themselves playing the USA.

van Gaal got a battering from fans, seemingly, for playing boring football. VG responded by saying it was winning football..... well not tonight it wasn't

letting virgil go out to take the first pen was a disaster. It takes so long to take the first pen that if you aren't an experienced penalty taker then it gives you far too much time for the fear to develop. I also noticed Martinez walking out and kicking the ball away from the spot to break the second guy's concentration (who also missed) and he walked up to the third taker and jostled him before walking back to his goal line. All a bit naughty... or as Maradona would say 'clever'

For all that, the standard of penalty taking has definitely declined in this tournament.

[sussexpob]

In other news, the Sun Newspaper has bought all the advertising space in Paris tonight, and has billboards of England players proclaiming they are going to lose, along with other banter. The French news seems a bit bemused, the Belgian news thinks it is absolutely hilarious.

Being the Sun though, they seem to have Google translated all their slogans like "it's coming home', and it makes zero sense in French.

Additionally, on one with Rashford, they use the term "Les gaulois" which is a highly offensive racist term used by black french people as an insult to whites, and is considered in the modern day as a word you would not use at all

[Durhamfootman]

I think it was l'equipe who had the headline (and my french is non existant, btw) 'pret a manger du lion'

I think France will win, in all honesty. While I haven't completely ruled out a win for the 3 lions, this is England... they'll find a way to stuff it up.... they always do, although for once, I don't see England being dragged inexorably toward the ignomony of a penalty shoot out debacle.

I just really hope that we don't score early and then hand the initiative back to France by trying to shut up shop

[Durhamfootman]

I can't remember if I've already mentioned it, but FIFA have charged Uruguay and about 4 of their players for the disgraceful scenes as they crashed out of the competition

[bigfluffylemon]

I can't remember if I've already mentioned it, but FIFA have charged Uruguay and about 4 of their players for the disgraceful scenes as they crashed out of the competition

Damn right too.

[sussexpob]

I think it was l'equipe who had the headline (and my french is non existant, btw) 'pret a manger du lion

Well at least they didn't translate it with some crap phone app, put it on a poster, and confuse half of London by having Mbappé photos put up everywhere with the translation underneath saying "in the state of alertness to chew on some big cat"....

In fairness, it is legitimately sad ...but funny

[Gingerfinch]

Unfortunately missed last night's game. Happy that Argentina went through, for Messi and they are better to watch. Just hoping they now dispatch the drab Croatia.

[Durhamfootman]

BBC were talking to a dog this morning that has seemingly predicted the score and the scorers of tonight's game

A *modded* dog

Sometimes, I despair