The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[Jolemai]

Brilliant:

https://twitter.com/tom_usher_/status/1014169507311575042

 

[Tony Towner]

Might surprise some of you now but I'm genuinely happy for you all (and Fred) that you've advanced. Colombia certainly weren't afraid of employing some, er, underhanded tactics.

England v. Sweden will be one I watch with great interest.

Thank you Alan

 

[darlowolf64]

Might surprise some of you now but I'm genuinely happy for you all (and Fred) that you've advanced. Colombia certainly weren't afraid of employing some, er, underhanded tactics.

England v. Sweden will be one I watch with great interest.

You're just saying that because of the shame you feel after the inept American refereeing performance, Alan :icon_lol: :icon_lol: :icon_lol:

 

[Alan]

You're just saying that because of the shame you feel after the inept American refereeing performance, Alan :icon_lol: :icon_lol: :icon_lol:

Geiger is a good enough referee to know that he's had a mare today. He'll be alright.

 

[darlowolf64]

Geiger is a good enough referee to know that he's had a mare today. He'll be alright.

Well I bet you're counting on that... Sorry, I'll get my coat

 

[Keef]

Puntastic!

 

[Alan]

Well I bet you're counting on that... Sorry, I'll get my coat

Credit, that was fairly clever.

 

[VanWolfie]

Geiger is a good enough referee to know that he's had a mare today. He'll be alright.

As someone who is closely connected to referees in North America, I was dismayed when I found out yesterday that Geiger had been allocated the England v Colombia game. I was hoping he would disappoint me and prove me wrong. Alas, he didn't disappoint. For the record, there are better referees in CONCACAF (see the ref who did Uruguay v Portugal) but Geiger has positioned himself well. But a referee has to have some quality to perform well at the highest level. Today's performance was not unexpected for those who know quality.

 

[Alan]

As someone who is closely connected to referees in North America, I was dismayed when I found out yesterday that Geiger had been allocated the England v Colombia game. I was hoping he would disappoint me and prove me wrong. Alas, he didn't disappoint. For the record, there are better referees in CONCACAF (see the ref who did Uruguay v Portugal) but Geiger has positioned himself well. But a referee has to have some quality to perform well at the highest level. Today's performance was not unexpected for those who know quality.

We've seen Geiger have good games at the highest level before. I think he's generally quite a good referee. It's obvious that he was not prepared for today, though.

 

[White Wolf]

We've seen Geiger have good games at the highest level before. I think he's generally quite a good referee. It's obvious that he was not prepared for today, though.

You would think VAR would have helped him out. He didn't see the heatbutt on Henderson so I don't get why they did not call him over so he could have a look at it, and the same for the two penalty incidents on Maguire and Lingard.

The reffing at this tournament has been really good to be fair, it's hard to list many incidents that they got horribly wrong. There's the fouls on Kane by the Tunisians, Falcao's dive against Japan for Colombia to score from the FK, Iran's penalty against Portugal which was complete bollocks, Spain's penalty not given in ET v Russia, and then the missed red card and 2 penalties for England against Colombia. Seems to me Colombia have been pretty lucky with the refereeing, and (I am obviously biased) England unlucky, despite VAR and a higher standard of officiating.

 

[Alan]

You would think VAR would have helped him out. He didn't see the heatbutt on Henderson so I don't get why they did not call him over so he could have a look at it, and the same for the two penalty incidents on Maguire and Lingard.

The reffing at this tournament has been really good to be fair, it's hard to list many incidents that they got horribly wrong. There's the fouls on Kane by the Tunisians, Falcao's dive against Japan for Colombia to score from the FK, Iran's penalty against Portugal which was complete bollocks, Spain's penalty not given in ET v Russia, and then the missed red card and 2 penalties for England against Colombia. Seems to me Colombia have been pretty lucky with the refereeing, and (I am obviously biased) England unlucky, despite VAR and a higher standard of officiating.

Media here implied that Geiger was told by VAR to issue a yellow for the Henderson headbutt incident. I've listened to Geiger in some interviews here before he left for Russia and he said he tends to take VAR's word for things unless he has serious doubts. So I wasn't surprised that he trusted VAR to just give a yellow, although if he saw it back I think he'd agree it should have been a red.

After the penalty on Sanchez is when he lost control of the game, although as I implied at the time, I think it would have taken one hell of a refereeing performance to maintain control at that point (Frank spoke along similar lines; Colombia had no intention of being controlled).

 

[White Wolf]

Media here implied that Geiger was told by VAR to issue a yellow for the Henderson headbutt incident. I've listened to Geiger in some interviews here before he left for Russia and he said he tends to take VAR's word for things unless he has serious doubts. So I wasn't surprised that he trusted VAR to just give a yellow, although if he saw it back I think he'd agree it should have been a red.

After the penalty on Sanchez is when he lost control of the game, although as I implied at the time, I think it would have taken one hell of a refereeing performance to maintain control at that point (Frank spoke along similar lines; Colombia had no intention of being controlled).

Same was implied here, that he just went with what VAR said. If it is the case that the VAR guy saw nothing wrong with it then what the hell is he, the VAR guy, thinking?

 

[PuntsWolf]

Watched the game in the pub and was half cut. So my general analysis maybe poor however the the sentiment is still there.

We never looked under threat all game until we invited them on to us
(Albeit conceding from a set piece). However I can’t remember us really making anything happen. Rose flashed one across the face, but that’s literally never going in. When did we create a good chance? We scored from a pen (after a foul from another set piece...).

We’ve not really looked threatening against Tunisia after the first 20 mins, Panama are shit, Belgium we played the reserves (and were shit), Colombia we offered nothing other than the first 20 mins. We could possibly bumble our way to the semis.

The bandwagons well and truly rolling but the margin between us going out in the group stage and making the quarters is a fine one.

 

[Alan]

Can only imagine that the VAR was of a like mind with Fred and Slink.

 

[Sniffer]

We've got Maguire
Harry Maguire
I just don't think you understand
He's Gareth Southgate's man
He's better than Varane
We've got Harry Maguire

 

[Freddeno]

Thats Japanese people for you

https://twitter.com/raztweets/status/1014107749926559744?s=19

 

[darlowolf64]

Deluded Colombian manager angry at England's "diving and cheating" :ursofunny: :ursofunny: :ursofunny:

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...gry-at-england-players-after-world-cup-defeat

Just fuck off home you cunt

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I thought we were excellent for for the first 75/80 minutes. I would have liked us to have created more but we controlled the game, didn't panic, and passed it around excellently without resorting to aimless hoofs from the back like we have tended to do in the past.

Understandably we looked broken in the first half of extra time but started playing well again for the last 10 mins. Dier should have won the game. Delighted to see us actually win a shootout but hopefully we won't have to go through that again!

Some of Colombia's antics were a disgrace and I don't think I've ever seen a team be able to surround the ref for so long before the penalty was finally taken. That's Tunisa, Panama and Colombia now who have tried to use shitty tactics on us. At least Sweden will actually try and beat us with the ball.

I am very happy this morning

 

[rather sceptical wolf]

The best team deservedly won, though it wss a lot closer than it should have been. Letting Colombia into the game at the end was criminal as you had them on toast for most of the game until then. It made for an exciting game though!

I think England looked a lot better than many of you give them credit for. True, there weren't all that many clear cut chances, but you had a few half chances, decent crosses and good moves almost coming off, and you only need one goal to win it. Colombia on the other hand created absolutely nothing for 80 mins. Their playmaker (...soon to be our?) was left operating in front of your midfield and their one forward was completely isolated. As scummy as they were last night, and despite clearly missing James, you are forgetting that they are in fact a very good team that no one can really be too confident of beating.

I thought Kane and Trippier played very well, as did the defenders. Young is clearly not what you need, Alli was poor and Lingard at best anonymous. Sterling didn't create chances but his pace was a constant worry for their defence, if the opposition are diverting attention to cope with him that probably leaves more room for others. I think he plays a role for you and I'm not sure you'd be a better team with someone like Rashford instead.

After watching Croatia last time I expect you to be in the final against probably Brazil or Uruguay (though I don't think I'd want to bet against any of them... ). Good luck!

Sent fra min G8441 via Tapatalk

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Well I watched all of that with no alcohol and I didn't swear once as I was watching with Mini Langers.

I'm quite proud of me.

You just let Mini Langers hurl all the abuse I know!