2018 World Cup Thread

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Hope I'm wrong but don't think we'll get half a good a game tonight, scrappy game tonight imo.

I'm guessing Uruguay 2-1

[ukhotstove]

Very open start which is surprising, cracking opening goal by Uruguay hopefully they don't go in there she'll.

[Ragnar]

As soon as Argentina went up 2 to 1 they should have went into their 1990 shell. Everyone to the box! It was a mistake to continue to openly play France.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

As soon as Argentina went up 2 to 1 they should have went into their 1990 shell. Everyone to the box! It was a mistake to continue to openly play France.

I'm still hopeful of a Croatia v France final, think it could be one for the ages.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

I'm still hopeful of a Croatia v France final, think it could be one for the ages.

I like underdogs, so I can get on board with Croatia. Even Japan although I know they're not going anywhere.

Here is how I see it, and are the most likely teams to meet in the finals. These are in no particular order.

France
Brazil
Belgium

One of them will play...

Spain
Croatia
England

I'm not sure if Uruguay belongs in there. But it wouldn't totally surprise me if they run the gauntlet. Mexico and Colombia are longshots.

If I had to take an unbiased guess, I'd say Belgium VS England.

Who will I root for? Spain of course. I am Spanish, grew up that way, and it was my first language. After that, any south or central American team not called Brazil.

[Westheim]

Ya gotta root for Russia here!

...because as soon as they get booted from the tournament, metal gates will lock all exits to the stadium and Putin will descend in an armored helicopter and snatch the World Cup trophy, which will never be seen again.

[TheMaus2]

Spain is out. press f to pay respects

[Cobra Mgr]

Again, I'm not a soccer fan. On the penalty that set up Russia's goal......There is no room to allow for incidental, accidental touching of the ball with the arm?

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Again, I'm not a soccer fan. On the penalty that set up Russia's goal......There is no room to allow for incidental, accidental touching of the ball with the arm?

There is plenty of room for that. Usually as a result of your arm being in a natural position on certain ricochets. The problem is his arm was out over his head and he stopped a header towards the net.

[Westheim]

The arm has no place up there, which is why this is a justified penalty. You can destroy all types of chances by stretching your arms out like that and can always claim that it was contact from closeby.

[Cobra Mgr]

I'll acquiesce to u guys on this one. I find it a stretch to punish a play like that. No matter how you guys justify it though, I find it hard to say a player purposefully could block a ricochet from behind like that. He'd need more than quick thinking and reflexes. He'd have to be clairvoyant. But if it is the norm to whistle that, than by all means blow the whistle. I prefer the consistency.

[Cobra Mgr]

Best red card ever

[Westheim]

I don't like shootouts...

[Westheim]

If I was the coach, and one of my boys would be wankering around like these guys instead of running - shooting - scoring, and then they shoot it right into the fallen keeper's legs, I would beat them senseless.

Run - shoot - score.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Westheim

I don't like shootouts...

Me neither. IMO, soccer needs to put in a change in the rules to makes it more advantageous to attack instead of the rope-a-doping the game becomes.

In the meantime, the NHL postseason keeps playing until someone scores. I think soccer should as well.

[TGH-Adfabre]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I'll acquiesce to u guys on this one. I find it a stretch to punish a play like that. No matter how you guys justify it though, I find it hard to say a player purposefully could block a ricochet from behind like that. He'd need more than quick thinking and reflexes. He'd have to be clairvoyant. But if it is the norm to whistle that, than by all means blow the whistle. I prefer the consistency.

He is not purposely blocking that ball. Allowing that sets the precedent that leaving your arms up or flailing your arm(s) above your head while jumping is acceptable. That means there will be arms in the air all of the time. That is not allowed, he has no acceptable justification for having his arm in that position. It is probably most similar to High Sticking, it does not matter what you intended, the stick is the responsibility of the player and must be correctly controlled. The arms of a soccer player must be correctly controlled and above the head while marking a defender on a header is not correctly controlled.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

the NHL postseason keeps playing until someone scores. I think soccer should as well.

...until six hours later, seven players lie dying. There is probably no solution to this semi-comatose push-and-shove-ball. Well, maybe double the size of the goal...

[TGH-Adfabre]

Originally Posted by Westheim

...until six hours later, seven players lie dying. There is probably no solution to this semi-comatose push-and-shove-ball. Well, maybe double the size of the goal...

I do not like penalty kicks but the only other real alternative is to allow like 8 substitutions and watch the 3rd string players win it all.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by TGH-Adfabre

He is not purposely blocking that ball. Allowing that sets the precedent that leaving your arms up or flailing your arm(s) above your head while jumping is acceptable. That means there will be arms in the air all of the time. That is not allowed, he has no acceptable justification for having his arm in that position. It is probably most similar to High Sticking, it does not matter what you intended, the stick is the responsibility of the player and must be correctly controlled. The arms of a soccer player must be correctly controlled and above the head while marking a defender on a header is not correctly controlled.

I understand the reasoning. They don't want the ref to have to judge intention. That's what's behind the high sticking & the NFL's drug policy. I just think it's a heavy price to pay. As I said, I'll yield to those who watch the sport religiously. From my very causal observer standpoint, it's a cheap way to score a goal. Deliberate fouls proceeding a goal I can take. An unlucky/fortuitous bounce......? I would equate it to a gust of wind knocking a pitcher off balance during his delivery and he instinctively holds onto the ball w/a man on 3rd. Yeah, it's a balk. Yeah, rule says the runner scores. But it's a cheap way to score a run. I want to see games won. Not solved by a roll of the dice.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Westheim

...until six hours later, seven players lie dying. There is probably no solution to this semi-comatose push-and-shove-ball. Well, maybe double the size of the goal...

Dying, no. Baseball keeps going till someone wins. Hockey keeps going. Football keeps going. Tennis keeps going. Basketball keeps going. If it means a 5hr contest, sobeit. If stamina & fatigue ends up deciding things, sobeit. And if the long game affects the winner in the next round, sobeit. As it stands now, some games you can see teams just trying to wait it out until penalty kicks. I'm not for it. It takes away from my enjoyment of the game.