Official Football Thread

About the Article 27 shenanigans. I read the BBC article on it. According to that, FIFA have cited this article only once before and that was when they let C. Ronaldo off the hook after his sending off in the qualifiers - he served one match of the suspension, in the final qualification match vs Armenia, and then they gave him a year's probation on the remaining two games. Surely had nothing to do with his visit to Dr. Evil's Infantino's friend in DC ...?

Now the second time is when the host nation has their most important player sent off in the knockout stage of the tournament ... with no explanation offered and no way to know if anyone receiving a red card in any remaining game can expect the same leniency.

I love a good underdog story as much as anyone else but now I hope Belgium thrash USA 5-0. And I hope Trump will be sitting alongside Infantino to witness it. Because this is about corruption and I hope it blows up in their face.
 
Didn't notice it live but Neymar actually shoved Ødegaard in the back with his shoulder when walking back after scoring the penalty. And this while on a yellow card and after taunting Nyland.

The funniest part is that both our goals came after they brought him on. I think it is a good thing for Brazil that he retires, because having a player who is more important than the team even when he no longer contributes positively on the pitch, is the biggest burden a team can have.
 
Dr. Eddies Wingman said:
Didn't notice it live but Neymar actually shoved Ødegaard in the back with his shoulder when walking back after scoring the penalty. And this while on a yellow card and after taunting Nyland.

The funniest part is that both our goals came after they brought him on. I think it is a good thing for Brazil that he retires, because having a player who is more important than the team even when he no longer contributes positively on the pitch, is the biggest burden a team can have.
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I seen Neymar tangle with Odegaard twice, before the penalty I think. I had the impression that there was previous between them. Although it is totally possible to fall out with Neymar within 10secs of meeting him, I'm sure.
 
Question for the neutrals. What do you make of Brazil's 2nd penalty?

I thought personally that it was completely nonsensical. Østigård and Casemiro went into the duel exactly the same way, leading with the arm/elbow. The only difference was that Østigård jumped higher. Had Casemiro won the duel, it is likely that it would be his arm that struck Østigård instead.

If Casemiro had been jumping into the duel without lifting his arm, you could see it differently, but in my opinion they were equal.

Not that it matters, we are in the quarters and Brazil are packing their bags, but as a football nerd I am always interesting in hearing people's opinion :cheers:
 
Dr. Eddies Wingman said:
Question for the neutrals. What do you make of Brazil's 2nd penalty?

I thought personally that it was completely nonsensical. Østigård and Casemiro went into the duel exactly the same way, leading with the arm/elbow. The only difference was that Østigård jumped higher. Had Casemiro won the duel, it is likely that it would be his arm that struck Østigård instead.
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As a brazilian I don't think it was a penalty.

Congrats to you and all norwegians out there, great team and great fans. My girlfriend who doesn't follow football at all but has watched the whole World Cup (it's broadcasted for free on YT here in Brazil and like everyone watches) was loving to follow Norway, Haaland and their matches. Actually it felt like the Brazil as a whole loved Haaland and was sad that we had to face so early. Will be cheering on you from here on out.

As for Brazil, we need a true revamp of our footballing structure, from clubs to media to everything in between. It's weird because our media still treats as every World Cup is "ours to lose" even though we haven't won it since 2002 and haven't won a single KO game against an European since the 2002 final. We have talent, lots of it, we just need better structure. I thought Carlo was it and I still think we should keep him for 2030, but he was just the same as our "outdated" brazilian coaches the WCs before. He shouldn't have called Neymar up and did so because the whole country made a fuss and a circus out of needing basically a retired player because he's gifted. And as a 26 year old brazilian it baffles me how many people around my age love the guy even though he basically never won anything for the Seleção and is a total diva, while generations before had Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Romario, etc. At least his chapter seems to be over (and hopefully for most of this generation too, this WC had the most players who lost WCs before ever in Brazil's history). He always puts himself first over the team, no reason at all to pick a fight with Nyland or going after Odegaard after the penalty when all we needed was time.

To finish my rant, I understood the strategy Carlo went for to not give space to Haaland but to have 34% ball possession as Brazil in a WC should never be acceptable, even more against Norway (and I don't want to be disrespectful saying this). Even though we had our chances, you guys were feeling comfortable all the time during the match and we never threw you out of your comfort zone, it felt like we were just hoping for mistakes when in theory we have more talent and should be able to at least make you feel threatened, as Ivory Coast did for more time than us for example.

Rant over now, just giving my 2 cents as a brazilian football nerd, I'd love to watch Colombia win but if not them, Morocco or Norway would be super cool.
 
Smither said:
and should be able to at least make you feel threatened, as Ivory Coast did for more time than us for example.
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Fair point, I felt Ivory Coast gave us more trouble. 3-4 dangerous situations against Brazil was very surprising to me. We do have a team with more flair than in 1998 but in the qualifiers we conceded in the majority of games, against much lesser opposition than we face at the World Cup.

I guess Neymar has a special status with many current Brazil fans because he was the star of a generation that didn't really have many others. The other guys you mention give me goosebumps )Ronaldo, Rivaldo etc., and Romario was the top scorer of the first World Cup I watched). When all those had retired, Neymar was the next one, but as you say, it becomes too much about him (with the semifinal in 2014 as the peak - the team's approach to the game looked as if the guy had been killed).

Now looking forward to what will probably be a tense game against England. They were strong against Croatia, less impressive vs Ghana, did the job against Panama who weren't much of a challenge for anyone, and were again unimpressive against DR Congo. Better again vs Mexico, so they seem to be able to raise to the level they need to go through.

In the meantime, we have some more round of 16 matches to enjoy. Spain vs Portugal should be interesting.
 
Fozzie4 said:
I have no words for the stupidity of this FIFA decision to postpone the ban for Balogun. Trump getting involved is a joke and the game which is already corrupt anyway at the top has now been reduced to a joke.
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This is one of the rare occasions when I agree with you! This decision following the intervention of a wannabe autocratic despot is an absolute joke.
 
I was hoping that the jerking offs and cocksucking between Infantino and Trump would have ended when the World Cup began, but they really outdid themselves. Stupid whoresons
 
Dr. Eddies Wingman said:
Question for the neutrals. What do you make of Brazil's 2nd penalty?

I thought personally that it was completely nonsensical. Østigård and Casemiro went into the duel exactly the same way, leading with the arm/elbow. The only difference was that Østigård jumped higher. Had Casemiro won the duel, it is likely that it would be his arm that struck Østigård instead.

If Casemiro had been jumping into the duel without lifting his arm, you could see it differently, but in my opinion they were equal.

Not that it matters, we are in the quarters and Brazil are packing their bags, but as a football nerd I am always interesting in hearing people's opinion :cheers:
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Totally not a pen, that shit happens all the time. It's one of those that maybe gets given as a free kick out the pitch but never a penalty, no ma'am!
 
So Mexico England was one of the most engaging World Cup matches I've ever watched. Crazy game, delayed kick off, mental atmosphere, full of incident, high drama and fair play to England for holding on in a way that I didn't think they would/could.

Jordan Henderson, great man to have around the place, terrible at jumping hoardings. Terrible injury but a comical scenario. I wish him well, the silly fucker.

I think Norway will beat England next time out, Big Bertie will rip them a new one. Possibly. It could be 5-4 to either team.

Spain Portugal was dull, Ronaldo exits with a whimper.

Hopefully Belgium America will be more entertaining. Not sure I care who wins apart from wanting to annoy Trump/Infantino.
 
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