World Cup 2014

hoping this ends up an 8-0 desecration of diving's worst offenders

I'll rescind bcz lazy. But moving your head that way, to someone else's head, even if not bashing it, shows headbutt intent imho. And is unbelievably moronic.

Pepe is obviously an idiot but Muller didn't exactly cover himself in glory

that red makes sunday's usa chances brighter, potentially

not sure about that, portugal more likely to have 11 men all game

spose one of them not being pepe could hurt or help

Ref must have thought it looked worse than it actually was, cos he was a long way away and I'd be really surprised if he would have sent him off if he could clearly see how innocuous it all was. (Tho it does look like he shouted something really offensive in his ear but c'mon)

moving yr head 'that way' isnt enough to wipe sweat onto a towel. no way Muller even thought it was enough for even a panto play dive else he'd have done it. ref can't give a red for violent conduct without any actual violence nor intent. no case.

muller is the first-rate player I find it hardest to like. something about him gives the impression of a man whose sleep is dreamless

Beautiful description

nominative determinism wrt 'he's mullered him'

This needs to be an epic whipping now, and it probably will be even if Germany decide to rest their three best players for the second half.

none of the portugal players were surprised he was sent off

Seeing the replays now. It is a headbutt, can't make anything else of it. That is not 'whispering' into someone's ear. Wasn't hard, didn't harm, but it was a headbutt: red card. But that's just me iirc.

that's two yellow cards all day long ffs, lucky he wasnae sent off for the pen

It was violent conduct. He made contact. He hit him. He had to lean down to do it to, as the other guy was on the ground. The standard isn't well-executed violent conduct. You don't have to knock them out, you just have to hit them.

split second where Müller considers escalating the facade after the headbutt but is then like "OH COME OOON" was compelling television

dunno whether to be annoyed or grateful that the noise of the reactions to the red woke me up

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqRD9UqCEAAKrQZ.jpg

lol

Just got back from work, missed much?

It wasn't Pepe who gave away the pen

surprised portugal didn't just decide to peace out at halftime

xp told you i'd been asleep

anyway, even feeb headbutts are gonna get you sent off, it's one of the immutable laws. guess it's easier than waiting for a doctor's report to see how much damage there is

no point arguing it. its there in hd .

poor finish from ozil

Portugal's world cup over already?

I haven't seen either Ghana or US play since 2010 so I wouldn't know, but Coentrao is one of their better players as is Pepe tbf

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqRKP-ICIAAkL3C.png

Almeida is the best of their strikers, too.

Red Card questions:

Pepe out for next game? If so is Port. allowed to field 11 for the next game?

yes and yes

this just popped up:

Theo Sakyi @TKSakyi · 40m

Ghana team to play USA: Kwarasey, Opare Asamoah, Mensah, Boye; Sulley, Rabiu Atsu, A Ayew ;J Ayew, Gyan

Love the Ayew bros.

that was a pen but ref embarrassed cos he was the one who launched the counter in the first place!

Who was that player again chasing the ref endlessly, like Ronaldo, just did, that was made into a billion gifs? From a previous WC or EC iirc

I remember ballack from CL vs Barca??

Muller hat trick

It wasn't Joe Cole Bees, was it?

Pleased that Jordan is starting for Ghana.

Kinda funny that people incl me go on about no German CF and yet Muller has one golden boot and is halfway to another

Joe Cole bees!! I remember now.

not the best week to be Iberian

Oh yes Ballack, thanks!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/q80/s720x720/10302300_256668841198932_8228515577610068468_n.jpg

@KuperSimon Simon Kuper. Am looking forward to Portugal coach blaming referee for 4-0 defeat

This.

Whoa Meireles giving the finger could've been another red card if someone had noticed. Is that pic real?

they're not his middle fingers so unless that's a rude gesture in portugal he's probably reorganising the defence?

Germans be loving to make it all boring and crushingly one sided! Kaymer and now this!

More seriously the crappy defending - esp from set plays - has been a downer. No wonder Alan Hansen hasn't come along.

ITV were awful (we boringly repeat) in devoting all of their time talking about Pepe and Muller at the end of the 1st half.

How many goals is that now? 40+ in the first round of fixtures? Fuck a defender imo

The World Cup's only Charlton player coming up now :)