2022 FIFA World Cup

[joey B]

Everyone of the players that made it on the field for Croatia today apart from Ante Budimir have come through or play for 2 clubs ,Dinamo Zagreb and Hadjuk Split,amazing…….

[pineapple stu]

Looking at the game tonight - the Dutch keeper is making his 50th career appearance between senior league and international games.

That's not this season - that's in his career. He's 28.

34 of those games have been this calendar year. He made his international debut in the opening group game and has kept his place. Before this year, 13 of his 16 senior games were in the Dutch or Italian second divisions.

That's amazing stuff. Gives Kelleher hope!

[Crosby87]

Absolutely Stu, never stop keepering hope.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Fairly dull affair in the next quarter. Amusing myself by keeping an eye on Messi and seeing how he measures his movements to avoid burning out. Neat moment just now where he started making a matching run with the ball on the flank, then you could see him check himself and go back to a walking pace. The guy could play for a while yet.

Anyway, that's all I got.

[Crosby87]

What a Messi for Holland a loss would be.

[pineapple stu]

Argentina look a more solid side than in previous tournaments. And the defeat to the Saudis may have been that best way to start.

Wouldn't rule them out. Modric v Messi in the semis?

(Says I just as Holland pull one back with their first shot on target I think)

[NeverFeltBetter]

This ref has lost control of this one big time. Paredes should have got a yellow for that challenge, then another for kicking the ball at the Dutch bench, and van Djik could have got a red for body blocking him after if the rules were applied strictly.

[pineapple stu]

He also booked Moreno for deliberate handball in the first half but chickened out of booking Messi for the exact same thing in the second

But he booked three guys on the bench, one for leaving the technical area I think

[pineapple stu]

It's also interesting to see how well Holland have done since sticking the big centre-half up front and going route 1.

Certainly created more than Spain with their tiki taka.

You wonder if it's due a comeback as a legitimate 90-minute strategy?

[NeverFeltBetter]

I'm not sure what it is exactly the Argentinians are mobbing the ref for? If anything he's been incompetently lenient with them.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Timber, already booked, gets a final warning, or so it looks like, for fouling Messi. A few minutes later he's deemed to have fouled someone else, and gets a super duper serial final warning.

[pineapple stu]

Paredes was on a yellow too when he clattered into the back of a Dutch player. Free kick, but no booking

Just the 12 bookings so far, though it should be more. And some were soft too

Edit - 13 yellows now. Isn't 14 the record? Portugal v Holland?

Edit edit - we have 14 yellows, but 16 is the record from that Portugal v Holland game. Time yet though!

[NeverFeltBetter]

Is Tim Krul available for a late call-up?

[pineapple stu]

A 15th yellow during the shootout

A 140-minute marathon - the first 70 weren't great, but then second 70 was super entertainment. Cracking game. Delighted for Messi, but the Dutch really made a great battle out of it

Two unexpected results arguably. More upsets tomorrow?

[NeverFeltBetter]

The amount of yellows Argentina have amassed will be a big problem for them in the semi. Croatia will be looking forward to running at them, and provoking them as much as possible.

[pineapple stu]

Two yellows in the shoot-out actually, so it does equal the record

Isn't there something about yellows getting scrubbed after the quarters? Or before it?

Edit - wiki reporting Acuna and Montiel suspended for the semi but everyone else now has the slate rubbed clean

[joey B]

Incredible drama,Argentina fortunate to get out after thinking they had it won,still wouldn’t trust them to win it,France or Portugal I would trust more….

[NeverFeltBetter]

I thought the amnesty was at the quarter final stage, but maybe I'm wrong?

A denied bit of trivia, if the Dutch had won they would have beaten four continental champions at this tournament.

[pineapple stu]

Seems Dumfries - booked in the shoot-out - was booked again after the final whistle. So that's 17 yellows and a new record.

[pineapple stu]

I thought the amnesty was at the quarter final stage, but maybe I'm wrong?

A denied bit of trivia, if the Dutch had won they would have beaten four continental champions at this tournament.

Great stat - and the European champions didn't qualify of course, so they couldn't have beaten them

[ifk101]

It's also interesting to see how well Holland have done since sticking the big centre-half up front and going route 1.

Certainly created more than Spain with their tiki taka.

You wonder if it's due a comeback as a legitimate 90-minute strategy?

I don't know. Does a sample of two knock out competition games merit going route 1 (comeback for who? us?), with Greece? the only team to win anything doing this at international level?

[SkStu]

Watching replay of the Croatia/Brazil game. Modric is just a majestic player. Even at this age he just orchestrated everything whether in his own half or in the attacking third. Has to be one of the great mids of all time?? Top 10 like.

Netherlands v Argentina next. :)

[joey B]

Grant Wahl probably the most famous soccer corespondent in the States died after the Argentina/Holland game this evening….
Very prominent in trying to protest LGBT rights towards the start of the tournament and has covered the deaths of migrant workers extensively,his brother has released a video saying he’s been killed,absolutely tragic and very concerning if his death is found to be nefarious…..

1601399736560680960

[NeverFeltBetter]

Wahl also said himself he was feeling very unwell on Monday and highly stressed after a cold he's had for weeks had become bronchitis. Without intending distress to anyone its curious timing, but I don't automatically see a murderous conspiracy.

Edit: I note he was also complaining of chest pains on Monday. Get yourselves checked up on the regular lads, this stuff comes out of nowhere.

[tetsujin1979]

Been following him on Twitter for ages, probably since he put himself forward for president of FIFA. Really enjoyed his podcast series on Freddy Adu, American Prodigy. Highly recommend you give that a listen.
Very strange to be this upset about the death of someone you've never met

[seanfhear]

Great stat - and the European champions didn't qualify of course, so they couldn't have beaten them
They didn’t beat us either ( wink )

[joey B]

Wahl also said himself he was feeling very unwell on Monday and highly stressed after a cold he's had for weeks had become bronchitis. Without intending distress to anyone its curious timing, but I don't automatically see a murderous conspiracy.

Edit: I note he was also complaining of chest pains on Monday. Get yourselves checked up on the regular lads, this stuff comes out of nowhere.


Yeah I don’t buy the murder theory either,but honestly who knows anymore,nothing would surprise me…….

[pineapple stu]

Morocco about to repeat their trick against Spain and progress despite 25% possession. Feels like watching Greece in 2004

[NeverFeltBetter]

Croatia/Morocco is going to be an interesting World Cup Final.

[pineapple stu]

Red card Morocco makes it interesting!

[NeverFeltBetter]

Ronaldo got one chance after coming on and didn't trouble Bono too much with it, so Santos is redeemed for that much anyway.

[SkStu]

Wow!! Delighted for Morocco and the continent. Poor match but it makes the next round so interesting… come on France!!!

[pineapple stu]

They surely can't do the same thing to France/England can they?

[NeverFeltBetter]

Well they've lost a few defenders I suppose, but they're so well set defensively regardless. England/France would be the best attack they'll face though, whoever it is. And a game against France would have enormous non-football related motivation too.

[Stuttgart88]

They surely can't do the same thing to France/England can they?I'll cheer them to the rafters against either. Hopefully France but I'm hopeful rather than confident.

[Stuttgart88]

I thought the amnesty was at the quarter final stage, but maybe I'm wrong?

A denied bit of trivia, if the Dutch had won they would have beaten four continental champions at this tournament.I read somewhere that the amnesty is now, to avoid players in the QFs getting a yellow missing a semi or the final through suspension, other than red of course.

[Stuttgart88]

That was a huge chance for Pepe. Good save by Bono earlier and Bruno Fernandes was very close. That was about it I think.

I'd have been very nervous of Portugal defending crosses or set pieces against England. Maybe not the worst result for the ABEs out there?

[pineapple stu]

I read somewhere that the amnesty is now, to avoid players in the QFs getting a yellow missing a semi or the final through suspension, other than red of course.
It's on wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup#Discipline) -


A player or team official is automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:[233]

Receiving a red card (red card suspensions may be extended for serious offences)
Receiving two yellow cards in two matches; yellow cards expire after the completion of the quarter-finals (yellow card suspensions are not carried forward to any other future international matches)

[SkStu]

Some strike that - definite foul on Saka. Great to see..

[pineapple stu]

England responding to the goal better than I thought they would in fairness

[SkStu]

Agent Kane: return to base camp.

[SkStu]

Thank f that’s over. Can enjoy the rest of it now! :)

[NeverFeltBetter]

Kane doing well in giving the tabloids their designated villain

[pineapple stu]

Absolutely!

I think it's easy to say now, but England were unfortunate. Better side in general, but against that they didn't manage to score from play. They've a great squad and I'm not sure Southgate gets the most from them. He's done a good job when you look at who knocked them out in 2016/2014, but apart from Germany in the last Euros, he's beaten no-one of note in a major finals.

[seanfhear]

Southgate out-coached again at the highest level.

The commentator said that that France were missing five players that would probably be in the Team except for injuries ( Not even at the world cup due to injuries )

England need a coach that can compete against the top coaches in the big games.

Rice is slow for that level and for all the talk about Bellingham he too seems to lack a bit of pace ( well in that game today anyway )

[pineapple stu]

The commentator said that that France were missing five players that would probably be in the Team except for injuries
Good point actually. Kante, Benzema. Kimpembe? Who else?

[seanfhear]

Good point actually. Kante, Benzema. Kimpembe? Who else?
Pogba ( Maybe )

~ England really crumbled after the penalty miss ~ ~ There was going to be at least 7 or 8 minutes injury time so that had probably 17 or 18 minutes to go after the penalty miss ~ ~ Plenty of time.

Southgate should not have taken off Saka ~ ~ Saka was destroying his marker.

[SkStu]

Agree with the sentiments here. England were better - very good all round. Saka the pick of their players I think and not sure why Grealish came on so late. Would have caused trouble and brought something different.

[seanfhear]

England did a pretty good job on Mbappé.

I wonder if Southgate goes and, who would the possible replacements for him might be ?

[NeverFeltBetter]

In the English managerial merry go round, it's now time to bring in Johnny Foreigner again, so Bielsa or Martinez maybe.