World Cup - who are you pulling for?

That goal from the line was great. Although there might be some controversy over it. The ball was just over the line even though a fraction of it was on the line. One for the history books. Exciting game!


ridski said:

Massive upset today with Japan beating Spain 2-1, knocking Germany out of the tournament even though they beat Costa Rica 4-2. Thrilling stuff!

Those were great matches. I sort of got the sense that Spain didn't seem too concerned about losing as it meant they got Morocco instead of Croatia. 


Am so sick I might have to sleep thru our next match. Are we embroiled in a scandal, Ridski? Or did I not read the reports right?

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/02/socceroos-show-smarts-by-appearing-to-obtain-secret-danish-note-mid-game


Ball looks clearly out of bounds. 


Jaytee said:

Ball looks clearly out of bounds. 

I saw some discussions of the rule and the fact that the camera angle is important. A pic from directly above the ball does show that the edge of the ball is still just over the line. Unlike other sports, it isn’t where the ball is touching the ground but more like considering the airspace over the line itself as inbounds. 

Okay, so how the hell do they get such a view without a row of cameras directly above all 4 sides of the boundaries, the goal line and the penalty boxes? I suppose it must be that the VAR can make the proper calculations from images like that. 

The videos of how a ball looks out of bounds or not are interesting. Such a tiny sliver of overlap is impossible for the human eye to see in the moment of action. 


Whatever. They deserved to be in. Germany seemed to only want to play for 20 or 30 minutes per match. Same with Belgium. 


joanne said:

Am so sick I might have to sleep thru our next match. Are we embroiled in a scandal, Ridski? Or did I not read the reports right?

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/02/socceroos-show-smarts-by-appearing-to-obtain-secret-danish-note-mid-game

Doesn't sound like a scandal. The Danish player threw the note away where someone else could pick it up. And even without the note, the addition of two big strikers should warrant a change in formation anyway.


This Serbia-Switzerland game is really fun to watch. Both teams are playing top notch right now. 


ridski said:

This Serbia-Switzerland game is really fun to watch. Both teams are playing top notch right now. 

Agree, great match so far.


Got a bit dicey/dirty there at the end, but that first half was the best half I have seen so far. 


Ok fellow fans, I’ve taken my antivirals and my strong painkillers, and I’m snuggling down. See you in a few hours for ‘roos vs Argentina  cheese


Oh! What an exhausting and disappointing few minutes for you!! How are you all feeling? 


Disappointing result, but reason for optimism. They need a striker and a centerback and Reyna has to be in for the entire match. Take care of all that and should be good for 2026. 


Sooo close on that final strike. They sure made a game of it, joanne.


I’ve literally lost my voice!! Can barely manage a whisper - just as well I’m typing with youse cheesecheese

Messi’s misses: d’ja reckon he was tryin’ to give us extra chances (which we then wrecked)? We all just accept he’s a god and can do no wrong but two sloppy kicks in a critical match?? C’mon, man. Sigh. 
Anyhoo, we’re out and won’t move on.  I’m in love with Craig Goodwin though, what a kick question


Who says defense is boring? Watching the Moroccan lines move in unison is like watching rows of foosball players with a master at the handles. Marvelous.

Looking forward to the afternoon heavyweights.


joanne said:

Oh Ridski! 
tongue laugh
gulp

Heartbreaking match. So many fouls that should have been called, and the weight of a whole country on the shoulders of Harry Kane. All in behind Morocco now.


Pele once said an African team was eventually going to win the World Cup. 


ridski said:

Heartbreaking match. So many fouls that should have been called, and the weight of a whole country on the shoulders of Harry Kane. All in behind Morocco now.

this entire tournament was rife with fouls that were ignored by referees. From the first day. 


Pulling for a Morocco versus Croatia final, which means it will be Argentina versus France. I thought Messi and whoever it was that kicked the ball into the dugout should have both gotten red cards. That was clearly an intentional hand ball by Messi. 

I was watching the England match on an iPad at a Boy Scouts campout (don't tell the scoutmaster) with a friend from Birmingham. He was hoping to be able to go home for the holidays and celebrate. That was a tough way to lose. Bit shocked he waited so long to get Grealish and Rashford in.


That was possibly the worst match I have watched. Very sloppy D by Croatia. I don't know if they were worn out, but it looked like it. I do love watching Messi take penalty shots, even if I wasn't rooting for his team.


So, France. 
And Morocco’s adventure has ended.  tongue laugh  


Didn't get to watch the semis, and I find myself with no one to root for in the finals, but it'll either be amazing, or the most boring showdown in history.


Ridski, you might enjoy Jimmy Rees:



Looking forward to seeing Messi and Mbappé make defenders look silly again in the box, as each did to set up a teammate’s goal in the semis.


One of the key match ups Sunday is going to be the French left side of Hernandez and M'bappé vs the Argentine right of Molina and DePaul. Both teams attack down that side and both tend to be exposed underneath. M'bappé is a generational talent, but he doesn't defend and I think if the Argentines are going to win it, it might be there. Should be a fun match with goals on both sides.


I would have been rooting for Argentina before the blatant handball by Messi and the kicking of the ball into the Netherlands dugout. Now it's sort of the same feeling as the World Series. Hopefully it's a better match than the semis.


That's fair. I haven't been able to root for the Dutch since Nigel de Jong put his studs in Xabi Alonso's chest and didn't get sent off

It is unfortunate that if Argentina wins it will be tainted by the fact that Messi got away with murder simply because he is Messi.


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