2014 World Cup

[Charlie Darwin]

Change "they" to "he"! I think it's been Alexis Sanchez each time.

He just had a shout there and not too dissimilar to the Dejagah case. Sanchez running through, pursuing the ball as it bounces wide, Cillesen comes to challenge for it, may get a nick on it, but mainly cleans out Sanchez. In this case, I'd say no penalty as the ball was already beyond Sanchez and bouncing out, but again the keeper/tackler got next to nothing on it.

[ArdeeBhoy]

You'd wonder would Van Gaal and his team-mates privately encourage such guff.

Well, he'll undoubtedly see a good deal of it upon arrival in the Greater Manchester area next season...

[pineapple stu]

In this case, I'd say no penalty as the ball was already beyond Sanchez and bouncing out, but again the keeper/tackler got next to nothing on it.

I think that's still a foul. That the player wasn't going to the ball just means it can't be a definite goal scoring opportunity (and so no red card).

I think.

[pineapple stu]

2-0 Spain. Torres.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Switched over to the Spain game, the other one's a bit too sterile...two teams able to cancel each other out?

[DannyInvincible]

Holland ahead. Fer play!

[pineapple stu]

Down with that sort of thing!!

Not the best of marking. In fact, hardly any sort of marking at all.

[pineapple stu]

Hmm. Interesting penalty call. No way should the arm have been around the player's chest. So if the ball hits the arm grappled around the player...?

[pineapple stu]

3-0 Spain. Mata.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think that's still a foul. That the player wasn't going to the ball just means it can't be a definite goal scoring opportunity (and so no red card).

I think.

I'd say the minimal touch on the ball is enough in that case. The later contact didn't affect the outcome.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, I didn't think it was a penalty; the keeper got there. But had the keeper missed the ball, I think you can give a penalty even if the player wasn't going to get the ball. Just it can't be a professional foul.

And again, it was surely a corner?

[pineapple stu]

Good enough for Chile there. A nice counter goal while a Chilean player dives to the ground for a free in vain.

[DannyInvincible]

I'd say the minimal touch on the ball is enough in that case. The later contact didn't affect the outcome.

I don't suppose you saw the discussion I was having with osarusan on the tackler making contact with the ball a few pages back? Are there instances where you think contact to the ball wouldn't be enough to justify the awarding of a penalty? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts as, if I recall correctly, you were critical of the "expert opinion" and thought the Zabaleta tackle in the Iran game constituted a foul even though he had made contact with the ball? If I was reading him correctly, for osarusan it was a simple case of: penalty if no contact made with ball; no penalty if contact made with ball.

[DannyInvincible]

I'm sure you love this story, TOWK!: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27969231

England captain Steven Gerrard has called on Harry Redknapp to name names after he claimed players tried to avoid international duty when he was in charge at Tottenham.

QPR boss Redknapp told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "They'd come to me 10 days before the game and say 'gaffer get me out of the game. I don't want to play in it'."

Gerrard, speaking as England prepare to play their final World Cup game against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte, said: "I'll tell you what - I'd be interested to find out who those players are.

"If Harry is making a comment like that he should name them and embarrass them. No-one in this group wants to go home - no-one."

Redknapp was giving his thoughts on the national team following England's elimination from the 2014 Fifa World Cup after just two group games.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't suppose you saw the discussion I was having with osarusan on the tackler making contact with the ball a few pages back? Are there instances where you think contact to the ball wouldn't be enough to justify the awarding of a penalty? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts as, if I recall correctly, you were critical of the "expert opinion" and thought the Zabaleta tackle in the Iran game constituted a foul even though he had made contact with the ball? If I was reading him correctly, for osarusan it was a simple case of: penalty if no contact made with ball; no penalty if contact made with ball.

I saw a bit of it but was cycling through the thread quickly so didn't get to read it all. Yeah, I am of the opinion that making contact with the ball isn't enough - you need to make enough contact to affect the ball, otherwise it's a foul. Kenny Cunningham on the highlights show on RTE yesterday morning said exactly what I was thinking. Dejagah flicked the ball and its lightly brushed Zabaleta's foot with no real effect on the ball, then he barrelled through the player. Has to be a penalty.

[bennocelt]

I'm sure you love this story, TOWK!: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27969231

Nothing to do with bad management in England then?

[BonnieShels]

So John Kenny on RTÉ it is.

[pineapple stu]

1-0 Brazil so.

I have a vague hope - and I know I'm being horrible to Cameroon - that Brazil will find this match as easy as or easier than Croatia found Cameroon, and might even use it to get some of their swagger back. They've been one of the disappointments of the tournament so far, even though they're on course to win all three games.

They'd be lost without Neymar though. Having a great tournament,

[tricky_colour]

1-1 Cameroon still 16-1 which is just stupid 2-1 would be about right.

[pineapple stu]

Brazil looking great in attack and chaotic in defence. Great header by Paulinho against his own bar just before Cameroon's goal. This is the Brazil we all want to see!