No Irish, No Yanks, No Clogs - FIFA World Cup 2018

That somersault= story of this world cup so far, dude from one of the outsider teams about to try something spectacular, then... nah, loses his bottle at the last half second

2010 was the goalkeeper's WC, 2014 everyone seemed to be playing back 3s with wingbacks and it went nuts again

Lot of whining about the Jabulani in 2010 as well, shots being ballooned over the bar from everywhere.

the jabulani was supposed to be unpredictable in the air and you'd think that'd have caused goalkeepers problems - as well as causing stray shots - but that didn't seem to be the case too much

Vuvuzelas were also suggested as a cause, putting off the players

they knew the risks when they took the job

bunkering = hoof it up to the big lad?

ok looking at the actual stats it's not that interesting but anyway: early world cups were goalfests but from 1962 onwards when ppl worked out how to defend it's been between 2.2 and 3 goals a game, averaging 2.6. the 21st century average is 2.45. right now we are at 2.25 goals per game but this time yesterday we were at 2.47 and group B was always going to be a v defensive group. the amount of set piece goals is definitely strange though, idk if you cld argue that VAR has immediately changed how players are playing but watching colombia-japan I did wonder.

I imagine retreating to the bunker - like Bruno Ganz in that film. (xp)

not sure that hitlers last days are the best model for a positive defensive outcome

Women/families finally entered to Azadi stadium after 37 years of ban, to watch #IRNESP on screen. pic.twitter.com/oSBXHMWI8h

— OpenStadiums (@openStadiums) June 20, 2018

TS bunkering vs parking the bus

It's less to do with VAR and more down to a lot of teams being very well-organised defensively. Even if they're going to lose against the big teams, a lot of the groups are evenly matched enough that even less prominent footballing nations stood a chance of sneaking through if they were capable of preserving their goal difference. Unfortunately a lot of them also lack any kind of goal threat.

― Matt DC, Wednesday, June 20, 2018 9:26 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

otm for me, clive. only mexico have brought the requisite derring do to upset the apple cart so far. leaving three lads up for the counter. peru tried it to, but missed a pen and several good chances. really, really hope they stay alive in the tournament today.

Lasse Schöne might be the most gorgeous name of the tournament

Aye, a beautiful lassie.

Mooy is the most stylish slaphead of the tournament, and beats off Iniesta by being a thoroughbred baldy.

well this is gonna be a load of showboating pretty-pretty shit

Excellent goal.

yes, enjoyed that

Just came home, checked the score. Yay! And yeah, that's a good goal. How are we playing otherwise?

I thought you was bossing it Fred but unfortunately VAR is bullshit

fuck me! I was gunning for the Aussies, but this is BS!

Yusuf Poulsen bullshit.

That is....a penalty but not a yellow card IMO

i dont think that's a pen myself

I'd like to watch it again a few times but it gives the lie to the "VAR only used for clearly wrong decisions" story

Jedinak new candidate for Golden Boot.

oof misses next game too!

if you raise your arm to head level and the ball hits it you can't complain imo

Well, so far he has given away two penalties, so I hope we'll manage.

FFS, I could see us lose this now.

Xp Generally sure but different in the context of jumping for a ball imo - on the couple of looks I had I don't think he was throwing his arm to block

Glad VAR was there to clarify it tho

HI FRED :D

let's not be too chuffed too soon

just seen the eriksen goal, that was v nice

I think he's trying to pull his hand away if anything, that is well dodgy.

And O'Neill is right, the act of referring it to VAR influences the ref's decision every time.

TS: Glad its not another fucking 1-0 vs Getting sick of penaltyball

Heartily sick of penaltyball

Sick of penaltyball and not at all biased

VG joins the team, scores eight goals, Fred despairs.

What ref is going to dare to disagree with a VAR call?

I guess it takes a lot of weight of the referee's and other official's shoulders, if they're not now, even in theory, meant to see and catch everything that goes on on the pitch- if the weight of the decision is shared by the guys in the studio in Moscow, who the players can't surround and intimidate.

We don't really deserve to win, but I'm still really rooting for us, because otherwise I would kinda have to root for France tonight, and I really don't want to do that.

Denmark fortunate that scoring goals is basically impossible now

yeah they've really laboured this half

draw suits them better than Aus tho so

And now for a glorious Peruvian victory. Uh, maybe.

Deep sigh

happy with that! not over the moon, lot of almost-shots that didnt get there. we sorely need a striker to really capitalize.

Thanks for the match, VG, and wishing you all the best against Ned.