2026 World Cup

[Tonyschin]

Incredible game today, most exciting to date
Norway v England next, I love both teams, sadly 1 has to go.

 

[Tonyschin]

PS @No3 is Belgium of those that could play France or Spain

 

[Tonyschin]

PPS, the sending off tackle looked worse as his leg rolled over the ball lifting his leg. Miss-timed yes intentional no.

 

[Mark12]

PPS, the sending off tackle looked worse as his leg rolled over the ball lifting his leg. Miss-timed yes intentional no.

Thankfully these reds are suspended for a year these days. Phew

 

[Twelvefret]

Belgium granted right to appeal against FIFA’s Folarin Balogun ban decision.

 

[Twelvefret]

Something that is most unfortunate is the player who got the red card is now feeling the pressure as well as the officials who were on the field. Both were doing what they are supposed to do, what they wanted to do, and were trained to do. Not wanting to appear to wax eloquently or philosophically, but often those who can't are those who are in charge. Perhaps they could but got old and weak. Some were never anything but no talent spectators who have made a living meddling in affairs for which they have nothing to offer except aggravation toward those who do.

 

[Paper Plane]

Congratulations Belgium. Cheats never prosper.

steve

 

[Paper Plane]

I’m getting a bit fed up with the shots of random people in the crowd during the match. Ok, showing the response when there’s a goal or other incident is fair enough but not when the game is just proceeding normally.

The other irk, is pandering to “celebrities” by focusing on them in the posh seats. That is, I assume they’re celebs ‘cos they’re wearing shades so the won’t be recognised. Not that I can most of them anyway…

steve

 

[Twelvefret]

I’m getting a bit fed up with the shots of random people in the crowd during the match. Ok, showing the response when there’s a goal or other incident is fair enough but not when the game is just proceeding normally.

The other irk, is pandering to “celebrities” by focusing on them in the posh seats. That is, I assume they’re celebs ‘cos they’re wearing shades so the won’t be recognised. Not that I can most of them anyway…

steve

I only watch the highlights which lasts about 15 minutes per match. I've never seen the famous hydration breaks.

 

[Twelvefret]

Congratulations Belgium. Cheats never prosper.

steve

Well, actually they do and have done so well historically.

The people who suffer are the ones who by choice or accident happen to somehow get involved with them. The American player did nothing but play the game. He is an American by birth raised in England, I think. He is an American citizen, one of those whose birthright is being questioned. I am sure he would have not wanted this sort of attention, and it may ruin his career.

I've been making this observation now for 10 years. No one is better off having been associated with the man.

 

[Twelvefret]

For the average American, learning the game and historical significance of the game is too much. I think you have to grow up with it. That does not mean Americans cannot be good at football. In the same sense that Americans remember the great players of baseball, American football, and basketball, the rest of the world recalls what took place in football.

The red card reversal is more than just a match and who can play. What I am reading is that it represents a denigration of something many hold on to when life is bad. When I watch these nations compete and am aware of what is going on in those nations politically and socially, reversing a foul is like grabbing a woman by the ...... Sound familiar?

 

[Mark12]

I try not to grab any woman by the .... especially not in this household where I'd get a right hard slap

As for your first paragraph about average Americans learning the sport I am going to be outrageous and disagree! Anyone can learn it.

You personally are spending loads of time learning the game in order to help your grandson and you'll pick it up just fine. The games of the World Cup have been massively overcomplicated by nonsense like water breaks and VAR, card issues and other garbage which isn't part of the 'real' game.

The 'real' game of football is learned when kids grow up playing on playgrounds and streets all over the country and is very simple. Two goals, two teams and a ball. No yellow or red or offside or any nonsense like that. It's free of the crap which the modern game has adopted which turns so many folks off. It's utterly pure and kids love it.

Watching the games your grandson plays is 'real' football in a purer form. Least that's my opinion anyway

 

[Twelvefret]

Thank you for your post @Mark12

This article taught me about the internals of the game.
"Colombia manager Hernan Dario Gomez had sternly instructed Sanchez to play clean and to avoid a potential red card. If Colombia were reduced to 10 men, the entire plan against Argentina would fall apart.

“I was told to be aggressive but intelligent,” said Sanchez. “I’ve always been very aggressive to the ball but not ill-intentioned. (Gomez) told me to be physical with Messi but nothing that would get me sent off. It was more like: ‘I’m here. And I’m still here’.”

Can Lionel Messi be stopped? Meet one of the very few to have succeeded

In 2011, Colombia's Carlos Sanchez was given the unenviable task of man marking Lionel Messi... and delivered a defensive masterclass

www.nytimes.com