World Cup 2026

[Durhamfootman]

Absolutely

not a single yellow card for Paraguay. Beggars belief really. Stats say that Paraguay committed 13 fouls.... Really? Galarza must have committed 13 on his own. I have my new bogey man. I haven't really had one since Bitey man

Ref and his assistants were a shambles

[mikesiva]

Morocco 3-0 Canada

A quarter final between Morocco and France should be interesting.

[Durhamfootman]

In a match characterised by appalling behaviour from Paraguay, with Galarza front and centre of it, I think perhaps the most disgraceful incident happened right at the end of the game. With about a minute of stoppage time remaining and the ball by the Paraguay corner flag the game was over. That didn't stop Galarza who repeated pushed and shoved and nibbled at Mbappe. It looked for all the world as though he was desperately trying to get Mbappe to react physically so he could go down in heap and roll around for 5 mins in an attempt to get Mbappe red carded for violent conduct and miss the rest of the tournament. 'If my tournament is over I'm going to take you with me'

Strauss invective!

[andy]

Staying up or waking up for the game?

I'm staying up haha even booked the day off work

[Durhamfootman]

I'll watch it in the morning when I get up

result depending, that is

[Durhamfootman]

If you ever wanted to know how corrupt FIFA has become, they've decided to suspend Balogun's straight red for 12 months, because Trump and Rubio disagreed with it, and is now free to play for the US.

so that's nice

I couldn't tell you whether the red was harsh in the first place, but I do know that they wouldn't have done that for the key player in any other team just because the host didn't like it. Maybe, at the end of the tournament, FIFA will award Balogun the golden ball, or the golden boot or a FIFA Peace Prize to curry favour with the orange man

[sussexpob]

There isn't even a hint of a debate. Not only was it a clear red card, but the rules are 100% clear - lunged challenges that bring an opponents safety into jeopardy are serious foul play and are sanctioned with a red card. All these idiotic pundits banging on about it being accidental or what not don't know the rules.... intention has nothing to do with the sanction, its a strict liability offence. Lunge and the result is bad, you are gone whatever you are intending.

[sussexpob]

If were the Belgian FA, I'd seriously consider pulling out the match in protest. Its not like with FIFA clearly attempting to fix games that they have a chance anyway, expecting some outrageously bad decisions to come all one way if the game is in doubt.

[Durhamfootman]

the BBC are almost exclusively focused on the bad blood between Haaland and Gabriel

a broadcaster sounding like the kid in the playground shouting "fight, fight, fight"

[sussexpob]

Belgian FA release a statement listing all the rules FIFA have broken with their decision, and seemingly threatening legal action.

[sussexpob]

Meanwhile its been confirmed that Trump called Infantino to ask him to re-consider the suspension.

Infantino should be instantly removed from his role, and the USA should be expelled from the WC.

[sussexpob]

HAALAND!!!!

[sussexpob]

This is going to be the longest 15 minutes of my life upcoming.

[sussexpob]

He's just ridiculous haaland isn't he....start the car boys!!!

[sussexpob]

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Take that in your annoying, b*tchy little face Neymar Jr!!!

Brazil bow out with all the grace of an elephant belly flopping off a diving board, deciding at 2-0 to have a kick at a few of us....

Refereeing is becoming beyond a joke at this tournament. How in the last 10-15 minutes there were no red cards is beyond my comprehension. Neymar grabbed Odegaard by the throat at one point, not long after booting him in both legs, and the subs bench from Brazil came onto the field to have a ruck mid match....

And I am not entirely convinced the Norwegian defender didn't entirely mean to elbow Casemiro in the face as a bit of revenge..... but again, he had to surely be red carded for it? ?