Ighalo, fair enough to the lad, has been scoring at a good rate in China. But the quality of that league is far below that of any opponent Nigeria would face in the World Cup, and the last time he played in a difficult league he was abject. Iheanacho has been largely sidelined at Leicester (mostly because he plays the same position as Jamie Vardy) but he has a much more consistent Premier League scoring record through his career, even if the numbers have never been stellar. You'd think that in training the obvious gulf in quality would become apparent. But you're right, they probably should've played them both. Would have been much more likely to get the best out of them.
There was plenty of angst in the Aussie press over that - Optus Sport, who apparently provide the VAR with the replays, are claiming that the ref didn't see one particular view - one from an angle which showed that the defender quite clearly played the ball first. I guess he can only go by what he can see though - and Optus are only showing the clip to those who subscribe to their service.
I assume this is what you're referring to? https://www.news.com.au/sport/footb...a/news-story/88b495d811e0fd07ba3b5481008b51a0 They don't provide the VAR with anything. They're just a broadcaster like the BBC. But yeah, it's a definite downside of VAR that the referee can't spend ages and review every single possible angle.
With the Aussie one though, there were plenty of angles that showed he clipped the ball, just, and then he clipped the player, just. Just because you touch the ball, does that mean it can’t be a foul if you then bring the player down?
That's not the one - am trying unsuccessfully to find the damned link. It was from Optus themselves, claiming that they submitted the clips, including the one that showed the ball being played first - which for some reason wasn't looked at.
Ok no worries. I'm still struggling to see what link Optus have to the VAR that lets it have input into the process? Isn't it just a commercial TV station in Australia with the rights to show the World Cup? The images themselves come from the host broadcaster.
¡Méxicoooooooo! ¡Qué una victoria para El Tri! Estoy orgulloso de los chicos, ganadores en contra de los campeones del mundo. What an excellent defensive display there against such a potent offence. Guillermo Ochoa was massive. Excellent counter-attacking from Mexico as well, if only the finishing was better it could've easily been worse for Germany. Fantastic upset.
Germany won't want to come 2nd in their group - could well face Brazil in the 2nd round but then they have history against them I guess.
We could get brazil or germany in the second round rather than quarterfinals.... Or if we finish 2nd in the group we could totally avoid them if they dont get through
Never had a World Cup like this when so many games feature either a WFC player, an ex-player or someone we have been or are linked with.
No because we would play one of the 4 teams in the last group. Swiss giving another favourite a good game.
Layun and Carrillo looking half decent. Shows the perils of buying on the back of world cup performances
Big teams dropping points all over the shop. Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and Spain all failed to come away with 3 points in their first matches, while France got them but didn't deserve them. Spain had a tough one to be fair against Portugal but you feel as if the others have less excuse.
Feels like the refs have been given the direction to be lenient over niggly fouls. So much blatant shirt pulling is going unpunished. So nanny niggly fouls are not being carded. This so call "dark arts" that seems to be the buzzword of pundits recently are definitely in play, and refs seem to be letting it go. Actually felt sorry for neymar earlier who was being dumped all over the place and yet barely a yellow from the ref. Same in a few other games too. Refs are letting a lot go but it is at the detriment of the genuinely brilliant players who are just getting kicked about with little recompense.
Mexico fans set off seismograph during goal celebrations: https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-earthquake-sensors-celebrating-world-cup-win
Loving the use of VAR - slowly players will realise it's not worth crowding the ref. Thought Behrami looked good, Layun looked **** as did Ighalo.
Yes, we're big-time now. So big that almost all of the ex-'Orns in the World Cup were either rightly bombed out because they were crap or past it, and we rghtly think we can do better than the only current 'Orn who's playing.
Yep I’ve seen a few shirt pulls to stop attacks get a warning. They are yellows all day long in premier league and rightly so.
For the last week or so I have had a growing excitement about England at the world cup. I haven't felt this since 1996. I think there are a number of factors causing this: 1. The absence of the old guard the gerards, the rooneys etc - who I think are over rated and fawned over by the big 6 loving press. 2. We are playing mainly youngsters, who appear to be playing somewhat as a team 3. The press and consequently all my working class friends aren't bigging up our chances 4. Lots of big teams have failed to win their opening matches, proving their fallibility. 5. Unless there is one outstanding team in past years this means Spain, Brazil, Germany, France then the most organised team (not necessarily with the greatest players) wins or does well eg: Italy 6. If we can defend well (and that is a big IF) and we can play as a team and not implode then for once I am hopeful of maybe the quarters.
You see this... This is how they get you. Get you all excited. All happy and expectant. All riled up. All genuinely hopeful. And that's when they smack you right in the damn chops and lose 1-0 to Tunisia.
I agree, particularly point 2. I do think the squad is good enough for the QFs, maybe the absence of the burden of the media bigging up our chances will help as well but I expect that to change after tonight; i.e. win big then it'll be "we're gonna win it", lose or a bore draw I expect the knives to come out. The best result for keeping the media at bay would be a tidy but uninspiring 1-0 win.
Im not excited or expectant, just not hateful of the team, dismissive and completely disinterested. If they put in the effort and don't get through the group Im fine with that. Its the effort I want to see. I feel more like a Wales, Ireland or Scotland fan, just happy we are there.
I am going to ******* hate the press if they knee jerk over the result. A win doesn't mean we will win, a heavy loss isn't the end of the world. But I wont necessarily hate the team, if they keep their heads down and learn from it if we lose
VAR. What a pile of steaming horse s***. What has it done for the game so far? Given us countless penalties and thick footballers constantly making the TV shape with their hands.
Panama are no worse than the other minnows. And Belgium aren't up to much - a lot less than the sum of their parts
Can see our game going the same way tonight. Tight first half but our quality tells in the end - least Kane won't be stuck on corners !
The wisdom of Graham Taylor sadly missing from the former England managers' piece on BBC's England match intro
come on England.....spent weeks trying to deny the building of excitement but sod it its arrived! #istillbelieve
What about signing that Ashley Young bloke? Good crosser of the ball, attacking left back. Anyone know anything about him?
