Russia World Cup 2018 Thread

Best World Cup I can remember. Croatia put up one hell of a fight, France were pragmatic but when you have the quality they do at the top of the pitch you will score plenty of goals.

One thing is for sure, France are going out of the 2022 World Cup at the group stages. :D
 
Hmmmm, not sure I agree, but congratulations all the same. Deschamps coaching style is certainly similar to his playing style, workmanlike at best and he can't be spoken of in the same way as Der Kaiser who was the playmaker of West Germany at three World Cups and played in midfield and sweeper. And Mario Zagallo who was involved with three glorious Brazil teams in 1958, 1962 and 1974.
 
peterc10 said:
Best World Cup I can remember. Croatia put up one hell of a fight, France were pragmatic but when you have the quality they do at the top of the pitch you will score plenty of goals.

One thing is for sure, France are going out of the 2022 World Cup at the group stages. :D
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Qatar 2022 aka the Desert Deathmatch. :CURSE::CURSE::CURSE:
 
WC 2006 :R1
EURO 2016 :BRICK:
WC 2018 :DANCE:

Croatia play so well in the final, we are very realistic during this competion even more in the final.
Congratulations for the quality and the fair play of the Croatians, I know it's very hard, but you can be very very proud of your team.
 
sticky-fingers said:
It's a game changer but IMO Perisic's gesture seems intentional and not at all natural.
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I think so too. Can understand the frustration though, if it takes the referee 1,000 views (and one extra at the very end) then he can't be completely sure and probably shouldn't give it.

The rules over handball seem so vague and subjective though, don't think I'll ever fully understand what constitutes handball under this system.
 
peterc10 said:
I think so too. Can understand the frustration though, if it takes the referee 1,000 views (and one extra at the very end) then he can't be completely sure and probably shouldn't give it.

The rules over handball seem so vague and subjective though, don't think I'll ever fully understand what constitutes handball under this system.
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He lowers his hand and moves it to the ball.It's a clear penalty.If the hand wasn't moving towards the ball and the ball just hit the hand unintentionally then it wouldn't be.
It was pretty dumb by him also.He could just touch the ball with the knee or something and still give a corner.
The Griezmann foul though wasn't one but they can't use VAR for a single foul.

Overall France diserved it and it shows how important is to have a family vibe in the team and a coach who has so positive vibes and brings calmness to the team without shouting and cursing like a maniac like it was the case with the Russian coach for example which only brings bad vibes and make the players more nervous.

You could see from the way how Deschamps hugged every player and laughing that they trully love him and consider him like a second father.He's just a very likable figure with so positive vibes.This is very important for a team as it seems.
 
peterc10 said:
I think so too. Can understand the frustration though, if it takes the referee 1,000 views (and one extra at the very end) then he can't be completely sure and probably shouldn't give it.

The rules over handball seem so vague and subjective though, don't think I'll ever fully understand what constitutes handball under this system.
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The handball rule does need clearing up..
It seems at the moment that handball is just based on however the ref feels on the day.

A ball will strike a hand and one day the ref gives it, the next game same thing happens and it isn't given.

I still don't think it was an intentional handball by Perisic and it was also headed onto his hand from about a yard.
The main issue with the VAR decision though is there has to be a 100% error with the initial decision, which there is France should of had another corner..
Then the ref has to be 100% sure that it is a penalty or whatever, but to be 100% sure I would only need to see an incident once and I would be sure, not watch the incident about 20 times and then go back to the screen and go am I really sure.. Then the ref clearly isn't 100% sure it is a penalty.
Or maybe I was just gutted it was given as I knew at that point it absolutely killed the contest, and what up to that point was a pretty enjoyable game.
 
intentional or not and i'm sure it's "not" intentional, Perisic hand prevents the ball continues its race in front of the Croatian goal, so it's 100% penalty without doubt.
 
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Congratulations to frenchies!
You've already winned the WC in the semifinal vs Belgium

@ThomasGOAL Félicitations aux français, c'était un mondial vraiment bizarre quand même mais le champion est logique... Il a quand même manqué pour l'émotion quelques cadres plus vieux qui sont là depuis un bail, là c'est des "tout frais" si tu vois ce que j'veux dire, limite une team experimentale

Vous avez gagné la CDM au moment direct ou vous avez éliminé la Belgique pour moi (j'tiens à préciser que seul la squadra je supporte rien à foutre de l'équipe belge lol, mais à un point...)
La rapidité des contres sérieux, c'était juste hyper efficace
 
ThomasGOAL said:
Perisic hand prevents the ball continues its race in front of the Croatian goal
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You're right, but the handball rule doesn't take into account the likelihood of a goal, does it? Only if it's intentional or not.

I've seen lots of people saying "if his hand wasn't there it would have been a goal" - but that's not the point. If he wasn't doing it on purpose, it's not a penalty. That's what the rules say.

There's just no way, in a World Cup final, when you're still in the game, with cameras all around you, with VAR ready, that you'd purposefully stick out your hand and smack a ball to prevent a goal. In some circumstances, it's a red card. Nobody is that stupid.

It was point-blank range, there's no way in this WORLD it was intentional, IMO.

And when VAR got involved, where a decision can only be changed if it's a "clear and obvious" mistake... How could it be, when the referee had to look at the replays, walk away and then GO BACK AGAIN to make up his mind? That's two rules ignored by the referee to give that penalty.

I feel really bad for Croatia - the free kick France scored from wasn't a free kick, and the penalty wasn't a penalty. (This is coming from a guy who wanted Croatia to lose after they beat England convincingly...)

All that being said, France were the better team and deserved to win - I just wish that, for what's been a fantastic World Cup, the final hadn't been so... Dodgy.

...congratulations TG!!! :D

In all seriousness, the rules need to change. I'm in favour of VAR but in its current interpretation, referees are completely ignoring the rules around its usage, and then it gets torn to pieces by the press.

On British TV our pundits are asking if handball should be changed so that, if the ball hits someone's hand, it's always a penalty - then you're not, as a referee, having to guess whether it was on purpose or not (because that's all it is, a guess). That'd be an interesting trial.
 
Can't believe it's over. It doesn't seem that long ago that Russia hammered Saudi Arabia.
 
Chris Davies said:
You're right, but the handball rule doesn't take into account the likelihood of a goal, does it? Only if it's intentional or not.

I've seen lots of people saying "if his hand wasn't there it would have been a goal" - but that's not the point. If he wasn't doing it on purpose, it's not a penalty. That's what the rules say.

There's just no way, in a World Cup final, when you're still in the game, with cameras all around you, with VAR ready, that you'd purposefully stick out your hand and smack a ball to prevent a goal. In some circumstances, it's a red card. Nobody is that stupid.

It was point-blank range, there's no way in this WORLD it was intentional, IMO.

And when VAR got involved, where a decision can only be changed if it's a "clear and obvious" mistake... How could it be, when the referee had to look at the replays, walk away and then GO BACK AGAIN to make up his mind? That's two rules ignored by the referee to give that penalty.

I feel really bad for Croatia - the free kick France scored from wasn't a free kick, and the penalty wasn't a penalty. (This is coming from a guy who wanted Croatia to lose after they beat England convincingly...)

All that being said, France were the better team and deserved to win - I just wish that, for what's been a fantastic World Cup, the final hadn't been so... Dodgy.

...congratulations TG!!! :D

In all seriousness, the rules need to change. I'm in favour of VAR but in its current interpretation, referees are completely ignoring the rules around its usage, and then it gets torn to pieces by the press.

On British TV our pundits are asking if handball should be changed so that, if the ball hits someone's hand, it's always a penalty - then you're not, as a referee, having to guess whether it was on purpose or not (because that's all it is, a guess). That'd be an interesting trial.
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Im with you Chris (even if I myself am Croatian and seem biased), there was too much doubt to 100% call the so called handball an intentional handball. There was doubt in the ref's mind, by how long he took, and it was kinda embarrassing for him to finally call it. You just don't make those calls in a big game like this where there is so much at stake. On the issue of Handball, I don't think the rule should be changed to the idea of 'as long as it hits your hand, intentional or no' - the problem I see, is that players will take purposeful pot shots (kicks) aiming for defenders hands.. too hard for a defender to pull it out of the way, and itll ultimately prevent defenders from being able to jump to max heights (having to use a raised hands to help propel them maximally) to head the ball away etc. Instead, hands to the side, and defenders/attackers not being able to use their full jumping compacity… we'd lose a lot of the physical athleticism just for starters.

On the VAR, im a huge fan. Without a doubt it allows refs to get more right decisions than wrong. One thing its highlighted in this world cup though (replays in general).. particularly during this final, as well as the Australian v France game, - it highlights how much of a flog Griezmann is. I absolutely hate this type of player/personality. His actions of purposely falling down, simulating a foul (which unfortunately lead to goal scoring free kick vs Croatia, and a goal scoring PK vs Australia) is the worst of the worst for me. VAR needs to clamp down on this.. as soon as its spotted by the VAR, ref should be notified.. instant yellow. Griezmann is a Blatant Cheat!!!! And yes.. I hope I spelt his name wrong.
 
It's still going to take some getting used to.

I just can't understand how they decided that it was OK to try it all out like this IN A FREAKING WORLD CUP.
UEFA didn't want to risk it in the past Champions League, because they knew better. So FIFA picked up the leftovers and said "hey, we've got the balls to do it. It's just a WorldCup afterall.... it only happens every 4 years, let's try it and we'll see how it goes from there...". Can't believe it.

On another note, it's been the craziest WorldCup I have had the chance to witness (born in 87, so...). The most unpredictable. And some daring football was played, which I celebrate.
 
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My Eleven of the WC18 (4-2-3-1)

------------------------Courtois-------------------------
Trippier---------Varane--------Mina--------Hernandez
------------------Modric(cap)--Kanté------------------
-------------------------Hazard-------------------------
------Mbappé-------------------------------Perisic-----
--------------------------Kane--------------------------

Coach : D.Deschamps
 
Chris Davies said:
You're right, but the handball rule doesn't take into account the likelihood of a goal, does it? Only if it's intentional or not.

I've seen lots of people saying "if his hand wasn't there it would have been a goal" - but that's not the point. If he wasn't doing it on purpose, it's not a penalty. That's what the rules say.

There's just no way, in a World Cup final, when you're still in the game, with cameras all around you, with VAR ready, that you'd purposefully stick out your hand and smack a ball to prevent a goal. In some circumstances, it's a red card. Nobody is that stupid.

It was point-blank range, there's no way in this WORLD it was intentional, IMO.

And when VAR got involved, where a decision can only be changed if it's a "clear and obvious" mistake... How could it be, when the referee had to look at the replays, walk away and then GO BACK AGAIN to make up his mind? That's two rules ignored by the referee to give that penalty.

I feel really bad for Croatia - the free kick France scored from wasn't a free kick, and the penalty wasn't a penalty. (This is coming from a guy who wanted Croatia to lose after they beat England convincingly...)

All that being said, France were the better team and deserved to win - I just wish that, for what's been a fantastic World Cup, the final hadn't been so... Dodgy.

...congratulations TG!!! :D

In all seriousness, the rules need to change. I'm in favour of VAR but in its current interpretation, referees are completely ignoring the rules around its usage, and then it gets torn to pieces by the press.

On British TV our pundits are asking if handball should be changed so that, if the ball hits someone's hand, it's always a penalty - then you're not, as a referee, having to guess whether it was on purpose or not (because that's all it is, a guess). That'd be an interesting trial.
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I saw the same former footballers comment as you did and have to say, not surprised from that moron. If every slightest brush off a player's hand by the ball in the penalty area gave an automatic penalty, then strikers would stop shooting on goal and aim for hands only and defenders with tiny hands would be the most expensive signings.

This World Cup was pure madness from day one. FIFA mafia well done. :R1:R1:R1
 
ThomasGOAL said:
My Eleven of the WC18 (4-2-3-1)

------------------------Courtois-------------------------
Trippier---------Varane--------Mina--------Hernandez
------------------Modric(cap)--Kanté------------------
-------------------------Hazard-------------------------
------Mbappé-------------------------------Perisic-----
--------------------------Kane--------------------------

Coach : D.Deschamps
Click to expand...

------------------------Courtois-------------------------
Trippier---------Varane--------Louvren--------Hernandez
------------------Modric(cap)--Kanté------------------
-----------------------De Bruyne-----------------------
------Mbappé-------------------------------Hazard----
--------------------------Kane--------------------------
 
Two of the problems with VAR are that

1) There is an awful lot of pressure on the ref to give a decision if he is told by the panel that he needs to go and look at it again. I think only 1 or 2 initial decisions were upheld by the ref after going to look again.

2) The problem with decisions that can't be checked but are just as crucial in resulting in a goal that shouldn't be. The free kick that wasn't a free kick for example with Greizmann, but also a ball that goes out for a corner that should have been a goal kick or a marginal offside that is let go and results in the shot going out for a corner. The team then score from the corner in both cases.

One of the big bonuses with it has been how much pushing and holding it has stopped in the penalty area once the defenders realised they weren't going to get away with it.
 
Players going to/storming at the ref and demanding him to look at the screen should be punished with a yellow card. Same as demanding a yellow card for a foul. That should be in for like years!!!

I watch handball from time to time. German league. Some CL. And this sport is an example of good behavior in sports!! And if they don’t go by the rules, they get dafuq punished! Easy is that!!

So all this time wasting (a game of 90 min has an actual playtime of about 65 min these days!!), complaining, cheating (see that Griezmann situation) and acting, needs to STOP!! At least get it
attenuated (had to google that)!!

how is it done? Is it by rules only? Is ruling the player not a little bit to much of guiding the game over all? How can „we“ get those soccer players we like to watch, playing our beloved sport, to change his mind? To not kick the ball into the ranks, looking for a close opponent leg?

Maybe it’s not the rules. Maybe it’s the refs applying the rules. Maybe it’s just this time, where players are influencer and such. Maybe it’s the more of money somehow manipulating people/the game/I don’t know...

How can we dail back a little... just to see this beautiful game of ours not being suffering from those before mentioned moments? Don’t want to fall back into an „it was all better back then“ situation. ;)

I don’t know the answers but I have a lot of questions and would like, as always, hear your thoughts!!

Sorry for the grammar. I wish... bla bla... explaining. bla.. better... bla..Yall know. ;)
 
Part of the problem these day is that it seems to have become an acceptable practice for players to cheat. They call it gamesmanship, looking to gain an advantage, but dress it up how they like, similar to calling diving, simulation, it's all basically cheating. It's been continually allowed to happen to the point where it is now seen as an acceptable part of the game. But it shouldn't be.

We all moan at referee's but it's a very difficult job to make so many subjective decisions over 90 mins+, particularly at the speed of the modern game and with players looking to con the officials at every opportunity.

They could make the quadrant to put the ball in 20 metres wide and the players would still put the ball just outside of it. Full backs have specialised walking forwards faking throw ins to gain distance up the pitch. A throw in going out by the corner flag is never taken there and neither is a defensive free kick conceded near the goal line. It ends up 5-10 metres up field and the ref and assistant ignore it.

The worst culprits though are the governing bodies. They could get referees to clamp down on all gamesmanship, cheating, arguing with officials, appealing for things they clearly know are not their ball and more if they would actually back them up on it. Look how quickly VAR has stopped the holding and pulling at corners during this world cup, simply because the players know they can no longer get away with it. Don't let them get away with the rest and it will stop.

It's like a child, all the time it knows it can get away with something it will keep pushing and pushing the boundary.

It would be so simple to stop

Automatic yellow card for getting in the ref's face or arguing over any decision.

Steal metres at a throw-in , ref awards it to the other team.

Time wasting, yellow card straight away on first offence. (Particularly keepers taking goal kicks)

Something needs to be done about the time subs take too. I think they should now make them without the game having to be stopped, let the fourth official take control of subs. Just see how quickly they get off then. Plus to stop them taking advantage of it by the replacement running on before the player is off, make that an automatic yellow card offence as well.

Failing that allow 20 seconds to get off once the board goes up. If he's not off he gets booked and if he's already been booked it's a second yellow and sending off and therefore cannot be subbed.
 
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