2018 FIFA World Cup

[GFB]

14 hours ago, SabresRule7361 said:

Croatia is basically 1990 Argentina- relying on extra time and penalties.

 

Or, they are two Perisic inside-of-the-post-and-out shots away from winning the past two matches in regulation. 

 

[mattwswfc]

On 7/11/2018 at 11:23 PM, Ferdinand Cesarano said:

 

You know, I was (and am) a big fan of the "Golden Generation" of Lampard, Gerrard, Terry, Beckham, Rooney, Gary Neville (the England games being the only times that I could root for those bums from Man United).  It really bothers me that that group is regarded as a disappointment.  They went into tournaments with huge expectations; the 2006 World Cup was the pinnacle of this phenomenon.  When they didn't win, people took the easy analysis and claimed that they choked, or that they didn't care because they're all so rich, or something stupid like that.  The worst of the England fans would even claim that the players should be ashamed to show their faces, and that they don't have the right to publish memoirs or even to appear in public with smiles on their faces.  And this is a team that missed the semifinals by a couple of penalties! 

By contrast, the current England team went into this tournament with absolutely no expectations.  Even if they had gone out in the quarterfinals against Sweden, they would have been thought of as a success.  Getting to the semifinals is a wonderful acheivement.  So, even though they lack the personalities that made the 2006 team so interesting, this year's England team did something special, and will always be fondly remembered for 

[mattwswfc]

I don't think I'd ever consider that england team a disappointment at all, they played their hearts out in that tournament! 

 

I reckon this team reminds me of an 86 sort of team, ready to go, I'm only sure it will get better.

 

As you can appreciate expectation is always very high at the home of football, the media is horrendous!

[AnPheitseog]

It's simple. Win or be forgotten.

 

Win, and 2016 will be forgotten. 

 

Lose? It'll be the story of the almost there, good enough for the finale but can't finish the job. 

[Seadragon76]

Is there any way the own goal can get the Golden Boot? Because there's 12 of them in this tournament alone (you can add the latest, that being a header off of a Croatian defender) which is double the total of Harry Kane, who has 6 goals.

[MJWalker45]

50 minutes ago, Seadragon76 said:

Is there any way the own goal can get the Golden Boot? Because there's 12 of them in this tournament alone (you can add the latest, that being a header off of a Croatian defender) which is double the total of Harry Kane, who has 6 goals.

He'll probably get a lifetime achievement award at the FIFA awards.

[Wings]

Let the French coronation begin.

 

Well that was a poopy goal France just let in. 

[Berlin Wall]

What the heck is happening?

[FiddySicks]

K. Pretty much what I expected. 

 

 

Bummer we we don’t get World Cup soccer again until 2026. 

[masterchaoss]

Croatia got robbed by the refs. I will refuse to give france credit for that win. 

Also Pulisic is better than that mbappe clown. Now on to 2022 when the US will win the cup over spain. 

[nickp91]

 The World Cup Final trophy presentation has turned into a Year 6 Disco

[AnPheitseog]

Great ending, and a perfect way to wash away 2016

[MJWalker45]

3 hours ago, masterchaoss said:

Croatia got robbed by the refs. I will refuse to give france credit for that win. 

Also Pulisic is better than that mbappe clown. Now on to 2022 when the US will win the cup over spain. 

Handball is always subjective but on corners every defender knows you can't leave your arm out like that. It doesn't have to be intentional, it just has to deny a possible goal scoring opportunity. The call for a free kick for France's first goal was wrong but as the ref was standing to the left of the play it would have appeared that Griezmann was tripped. VAR couldn't change that call and I hope they don't let it. I felt that was the only big call he got wrong and it sucks that it cost Croatia, but if France is winning 2-1, Lloris might not tune out on the play vs Mandzukic. It was a very beautiful final which was way more attractive and exciting than the last 3 combined.

[CreamSoda]

France was hands down the best team all World Cup.  Well deserved and scary to think of how good they can be for a while. 

[AnPheitseog]

1 hour ago, MJWalker45 said:

Handball is always subjective but on corners every defender knows you can't leave your arm out like that. It doesn't have to be intentional, it just has to deny a possible goal scoring opportunity. The call for a free kick for France's first goal was wrong but as the ref was standing to the left of the play it would have appeared that Griezmann was tripped. VAR couldn't change that call and I hope they don't let it. I felt that was the only big call he got wrong and it sucks that it cost Croatia, but if France is winning 2-1, Lloris might not tune out on the play vs Mandzukic. It was a very beautiful final which was way more attractive and exciting than the last 3 combined.

Know what might have changed the call?

 

Having a ref on the goal line, like in champions league finals.

 

No reason at all not to have five refs+ 4th official and VAR for the biggest game

[MJWalker45]

2 minutes ago, DiePerske said:

Know what might have changed the call?

 

Having a ref on the goal line, like in champions league finals.

 

No reason at all not to have five refs+ 4th official and VAR for the biggest game

I've seen the goal line officials blow this too. I've even seen them screw up hand balls. Their actual job was to confirm the ball crosses the goal mouth. Hawkeye takes care of that now.

[Red Wolf]

Despite my initial annoyance with VAR, I gotta say, I loved it overall. I was especially worried about it with how much of a mess it's been in MLS. 

[crashcarson15]

VAR was, on the balance, really good at this World Cup. I think that at some point, it’s going to be worthwhile to have a discussion as to whether or not fouls outside the box, but in the attacking third, should be subject to any sort of video replay — personally, I think that everything should be subject to video replay, in the sense that the referee should be able to talk to the VAR room and discuss what they see in the same way that the referee can talk to his assistant and see what he’s seen. Referees are praised for taking 30 or 45 seconds to walk over and have a chat with the A/R to get a call right, and brining a VAR official into that conversation would (IMO) be beneficial for the game. If it’s a big play, or a key subjective decision, then bring him to the monitor.

 

Certainly bad luck for my guys on the free kick, because it came entirely against the run of play and never should’ve been given. But Croatia were really bad all tournament defending from free kicks and it hurt them again. So it goes.

 

Penalty was the correct decision on France’s second, but it shows what the biggest impact of VAR has been and will be: How will the Laws of the Game change to reflect the VAR world? I’d venture to say that most fans don’t want that to be a pen — it seems particularly harsh, and it’s the type of play that’s let go all the time. VAR will necessitate that a play like that results in a penalty unless the Laws are altered/clarified.

 

On the balance of the tournament, France were the best side IMO, so it’s very fair to see them win the tournament.

 

Really proud of my Croatian guys this whole month. Today was just such a surreal day, watching Croatia in a World Cup final in a packed bar of people (Croat-Americans and neutrals) almost all cheering for Croatia, it was super, super neat. This generation finally delivered on all the promise.

 

Ajmo!

[pepis21]

Just now, DiePerske said:

Know what might have changed the call?

 

Having a ref on the goal line, like in champions league finals.

 

No reason at all not to have five refs+ 4th official and VAR for the biggest game

 

Are you serious? Goal line refs are the worst idea in football since away goal rules was introduced. Look for example at Ukraine-England on Euro 2012 and disalowed goal for Ukraine. They're fear about taking consequences, they are useless.

[-kj]

On 7/15/2018 at 10:13 AM, masterchaoss said:

Croatia got robbed by the refs. I will refuse to give france credit for that win. 

Also Pulisic is better than that mbappe clown. Now on to 2022 when the US will win the cup over spain. 

 

Ok, put down the crack pipe and walk away.