FIFA World Cup 2018 chat thread

[Durhamfootman]

can't see Saudi Arabia shocking Uruguay

[Durhamfootman]

*modded* me!

Russia are going to score 5 again

[sussexpob]

Russia going ballistic again... maybe time for a urine tester to visit

[Durhamfootman]

I'd have put a lot of money on VAR being a 'homer'

just as well I didn't

so it really is only England where VAR can't be @rsed to have a look

[The Professor]

The World Cup should really consider abandoning the toss to remove this home advantage #TenousCricketLink

[sussexpob]

I'd have put a lot of money on VAR being a 'homer'

just as well I didn't

so it really is only England where VAR can't be @rsed to have a look

In fairness to the Russian guy, surely he thought that foul was legal after yesterday?

[mikesiva]

I'd have put a lot of money on VAR being a 'homer'

just as well I didn't

so it really is only England where VAR can't be @rsed to have a look

Yeah aside from the England game VAR has worked well in the first round.

Russia have a lot to be happy about.

Two convincing victories.

No incidents of hooliganism in the first round.

No incidents of racial violence yet.

Lots of reports of how friendly the Russian people are.

Russia are the first team through to the knockout stage. Well done Russia!

[sussexpob]

I have seen one complaint about a LGBT centre, think it was in Saint P, being forcibly closed..... not verified it, was posted on Twitter and only half read it.

[Durhamfootman]

seemingly VAR wasn't interested in the HK pen appeal (the first one) because Stones was pushing his defender around right next to them as Kane was being wrestled to the ground

sounds like bollox to me

[bigfluffylemon]

Well well. A round of upsets. Maybe there's something in the water - the so-called big guns have struggled, while unfancied teams have raised their games. Is this indicative that the world game is getting more competitive? Or just a bit of a slow start, and business as usual. Makes the second round seem all the more exciting.

That said, I can't believe the Russia results. After Uruguay limped passed Egypt, Russia get through with no issue? Now, home field advantage is pretty important, and Saudi and Egypt are poor teams (Salah aside), but pre-tournament, Russia were also considered one of the weakest teams in the comp. I was listening to a podcast this morning that talked about the amount of potential corruption, both in terms of Russia getting the tournament in the first place, and how games could be fixed/referees bought to favour the home side. It does make you wonder. Will be interesting to see what happens when they line up against Uruguay, and presumably either Spain or Portugal in round 2.

I watched the England game in full last night (I only had the benefit of highlights when I commented yesterday), and I have to agree that it was pretty well played, apart from 20 minutes or so in the second half. Tunisia played dirty and deserved to lose - and for once I agree about VAR and crap refereeing. That was a rugby tackle for crying outloud. Still, England had lots of chances (and a couple of free kicks given on the edge of the area) - very well done to them for keeping up the pressure and finding a way to win.

Rashford to start next game? He definitely looked more of a threat than Sterling. Will Sterling ever replicate his form for Liverpool in an England shirt?

[GGAS]

In terms of refs favouring the home side, I seem to remember South Korea getting a hell of a lot of dodgy calls in 2002. Can't say I've thought the same about any of the Russia games so far.

[sussexpob]

In terms of refs favouring the home side, I seem to remember South Korea getting a hell of a lot of dodgy calls in 2002. Can't say I've thought the same about any of the Russia games so far.

It was the Italy game where the home team got a series of ultra questionable calls, then in the following game against Spain they were knocked out, but Spain were taken to penalties in a game with another set of very questionable calls.

[sussexpob]

Well well. A round of upsets. Maybe there's something in the water - the so-called big guns have struggled, while unfancied teams have raised their games. Is this indicative that the world game is getting more competitive? Or just a bit of a slow start, and business as usual. Makes the second round seem all the more exciting

I think fitness plays a big part, a lot of teams now have professional setups or with players playing in professional leagues, so they are as fit as their top level counterparts. These teams then just get coached to stay disciplined, and sit back and let the other team try and break them down. I couldnt see Iceland dominating the ball and taking the game to Argentina for instance, the only way they can get results is to counter at pace and defend with the two banks behind the ball.

I mean, if this was a sport based on points like boxing, you'd see far less results go the other way. Fact is, a lot of these teams would leave a world cup having drawn a couple of times and be happy, so they are content to sit in their boxes. Its so difficult to break down any side with a bit of discipline that sit.

[bigfluffylemon]

That South Korea game was a shocker.

There's some academic evidence that refs do favour the home side, both in terms of red and yellows awarded, and the number of minutes of added time (more added when the home team is behind):
https://www.jstor.org/stable/40666253?s ... b_contents
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24444213

[bigfluffylemon]

Well well. A round of upsets. Maybe there's something in the water - the so-called big guns have struggled, while unfancied teams have raised their games. Is this indicative that the world game is getting more competitive? Or just a bit of a slow start, and business as usual. Makes the second round seem all the more exciting

I think fitness plays a big part, a lot of teams now have professional setups or with players playing in professional leagues, so they are as fit as their top level counterparts. These teams then just get coached to stay disciplined, and sit back and let the other team try and break them down. I couldnt see Iceland dominating the ball and taking the game to Argentina for instance, the only way they can get results is to counter at pace and defend with the two banks behind the ball.

I mean, if this was a sport based on points like boxing, you'd see far less results go the other way. Fact is, a lot of these teams would leave a world cup having drawn a couple of times and be happy, so they are content to sit in their boxes. Its so difficult to break down any side with a bit of discipline that sit.

Good point.

England were clearly fitter than Tunisia though, and had higher impact from the bench. That helped them keep the pressure up in the closing stages that led to the second goal.