Goooooooooooooooooooooooooool

[Brad]

Why? If technology can help get decisions correct, why not use it. Aspa's goal was clearly not offside and they got it right. C'mon, Dmitry join the modern age

Marca ran a fan poll today (in which I voted) and some of the results are interesting: a different starting lineup is needed, the goalie needs to be replaced, only 56% think they will beat Russia, Isco received the best rating and the others (for the most part received a C (aprobado or passing), while de Gea received a D.  This is not a team that is going to beat you with a lot of goals; it was that way in 2010 and it seems that way now. However, the defense really needs to improve for that to work. 

[soulpope]

19 minutes ago, Dmitry said:

I'm sorry, but as a player, if you don't see from which corner the ball is coming... you got a problem. 

Goal line tech is all the technological help the game needs. Leave the rest to the referee and assistants.  Imho. 

The referee's arm was directed to left - easily to be witnessed via slomo - and in the meantime the Spanish gave it a very quick try and execute from right where not a single Morocco defender can be found .... so in this case the only problem was .... the referee ....

[Dmitry]

IF the VAR worked, Otamendi would've gotten a red for kicking the ball at Rakitic's head, and one of Pique's yesterday's two handballs would've been a penalty.

Also, intentional elbowing is a red, not a yellow. The ref used the VAR on Ronaldo, but didn't have the balls to redcard him. Although imho there was nothing there, not even a foul on his part. 

If they decide to keep the VAR, only the referee should decide to consult it if they want to, not a person in a booth making decisions for the ref. And limit the VAR to,say, 2 occasions per game. AND the communication between the ref and the booth people should be broadcast to all. 

Edited June 26, 2018 by Dmitry

[Brad]

I could be wrong but I think the ref has the ultimate decision, with the refs in the booth helping him. It seems closer to the NFL system than baseball. I agree about limiting it but that assumes, the coaches are the ones requesting it, not the booth.  I'm not completely clear on this point but I think it's the ref that initiates review. 

[mjazzg]

My understanding is that the review can be initiated by both the on-field ref and the VAR ref. The VAR ref can advise the on-field ref that they have missed something (hence the uproar here about the rugby tackles on Kane in the Tunisia game) or the on-field ref can request assistance/confirmation or a viewing from VAR.

Whichever way it's going to take some getting used to and won't remove controversies just move them down the decision line a bit. Most UK ex-player pundits are generally positive about the development. I'm undecided as yet

 

[Dmitry]

There must be a rule about the use of VAR somewhere in the bottomless FIFA bureaucratic codec. 

Brad, yesterday’s reversal call on the late Spanish corner kick goal came from the booth, not the ref, iirc.

[Brad]

Dnitry, I was unsure about who made the call and to be honest, I didn’t care who made the call. I’m just happy it was made. 

Any new system takes a bit getting used to and perhaps adjustments will be made in the future. Does anyone know if VAR will be used in the leagues come this fall?

[Big Beat Steve]

39 minutes ago, Brad said:

Any new system takes a bit getting used to and perhaps adjustments will be made in the future. Does anyone know if VAR will be used in the leagues come this fall?

It's already been introduced in the German Bundesliga - with mixed results, reactions and satisfaction.

[Brad]

Thanks Steve. I should have looked online. La Liga will be using it this fall.  The Premier League has deferred use. 

Here’s an article from the BBC:

How VAR Works

Another one on the German and Italian experience. 

Lessons Learned in Germany and Italy

[mjazzg]

VAR was used in the FA Cup last season. Very mixed results

[Brad]

A good result for Peru so far. 

[mandrill]

France-Denmark- what a disgrace! Hope both will be eliminated in the round of 16.

[Big Beat Steve]

19 minutes ago, mandrill said:

France-Denmark- what a disgrace! Hope both will be eliminated in the round of 16.

Just listened to a discussion panel of experts on this match on French radio (my radio in the garage is always tuned to Europe 1 for background entertainment and distraction - and keeping up with the language too - when I work on one of my collectible cars - my other collecting hobby ). Though I only listened with maybe half or two thirds of an ear , the key points in the experts' views (incuding Guy Roux, a legend among French coaches) were that apart from the fact that the Danish team appeared to be very "solid" (meaning, from the way they stressed it, that they were very ... eh ... broad-shouldered compared to the Latin-type team of French players ), the French team lacked a real team effort, as if the motivation of the individual players, many of whom earn top star salaries in their league teams, wasn't quite what it ought to have been in the national team. Dembelé, for example, was singled out, and one commented that given the huge millions he earned from his transfer to Barcelona one would have been entitled to see a bit more action from him in this, the national team. Another one commented that the match may have been all about tactics, with France specifically playing for a draw so as not to risk losing the match and ending up in a group they do not quite want to be in.

So that's a bit of what they think in their home country ...

Edited June 26, 2018 by Big Beat Steve

[Dmitry]

 

The real Rudy...the real football, not the Hollywood movie. I still like the movie though.

Edited June 26, 2018 by Dmitry

[Big Beat Steve]

Despite his mishap, Rudy's had his share of leg pulling (again ... ) in the media here:

 

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/rudy-wm-maske-1.4030305

 

For those who don't understand German:

(subtitle:) "Sebstian Rudy is looking forward to his protective face armor. Not just because of his broken nose .... "

Pic 1: Mail for little Rudy: "Hey Rudy, your face mask has arrived!" (Rudy: "At last ...")

Pic 2: "Cool! Such a gleaming, black nose armor sure will make me look much more martial and intimidating ...!"

Pic 3: (No words needed ... )

 

Edited June 26, 2018 by Big Beat Steve

[Dmitry]

Is it me, or is  Maradona all fucked-up on drugs?

[mikeweil]

Of course he is.

 

[brownie]

2 hours ago, mandrill said:

France-Denmark- what a disgrace! Hope both will be eliminated in the round of 16.

2 hours ago, mandrill said:

France-Denmark- what a disgrace! Hope both will be eliminated in the round of 16.

That's when Les Bleus are reallyy supposed to start the competition.

Hopefully we will see more of. Griezmann who so far has appeared more on TV ads than on the field!

[Dmitry]

Higuain can’t score direct kicks in front of the net...again. Some things never change.

Poor Messi, Argentina’s second half is crap so far.

 

[mjazzg]

But...good enough in the end

Inexperienced Nigerian team not so much outplayed but simply missing more of their chances than Argentina did theirs

[Brad]

A shame. I was rooting for Nigeria. Not enough ball possession to forestall Argentina. I can’t see them moving past France. 

[Dmitry]

25 minutes ago, Brad said:

A shame. I was rooting for Nigeria. Not enough ball possession to forestall Argentina. I can’t see them moving past France. 

Care to make it interesting?

[Brad]

With reference to Steve's comments, with Peru beating Australia, they probably decided to take it easy.  Shades of 82.

Dmitry, I'd like to but my dislike is too pronounced to see the matter objectively.  Even if they beat France, they won't make past it the quarters.

With reference to Steve's comments, with Peru beating Australia, they probably decided to take it easy.  Shades of 82.

Dmitry, I'd like to but my dislike is too pronounced to see the matter objectively.  Even if they beat France, they won't make past it the quarters.

[Dmitry]

2 hours ago, Brad said:

Dmitry, I'd like to but my dislike is too pronounced to see the matter objectively.  Even if they beat France, they won't make past it the quarters.

Now you're stoking my impulsivity...I was ready to offer a modest jazz-related bet.

[Brad]

Ok, you’re on. A cd of your choice if you win and vice versa?