World Cup

[Pagoda]

33 minutes ago, LamarCheeks said:

FIFA's pretty corrupt, so it might not make much of a difference, but I didn't realize that during the World Cup, there is no appeal process. (Probably should've known that -- but I didn't).

So the U.S. cannot appeal the horrible red card call on Balogun. 

That means it all comes down to one guy's decision. One guy -- and he made a bad call. 

Officials make poor calls all the time, and though the U.S. won, it really hamstrung us having to go with 10 against Bosnia. But now that the match is over and the dust has settled, why not create the ability to go back, have more than ONE person look at it and say, "Hey, this wasn't the right call. Balogun can play the next match." Or, conversely: "Hey, this was the right call. Red card stands. Balogun is out against Belgium." 

To go into a Round of 16 match without one of our best players -- well, it sucks. 

1,000%.

Sports books give us about 50/50 for the Belgium match.  It’s much tougher without Flo but we can beat them.

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, Pagoda said:

1,000%.

Sports books give us about 50/50 for the Belgium match.  It’s much tougher without Flo but we can beat them.

It especially sucks because of how dynamic Flo has been and the level of dropoff between Flo and Ricardo Pepi, his replacement. Pepi kinda sucks, especially in the box (and as a striker that's not what you want to see). Caveat: Pepi was very good (mainly in midfield and defensive territory) in his 10 minutes replacing Pulisic last night.

This isn't like replacing Dest or Robinson with Bernhalter or Reyna; that would be a negligible dropoff with some new skills that the replacment would bring. This is an undeniable dropoff in our ability to creat scoring opportunites. We're going to have to grind out a 1-0 or 2-1 game without Flo.

[Golfman25]

3 hours ago, LamarCheeks said:

FIFA's pretty corrupt, so it might not make much of a difference, but I didn't realize that during the World Cup, there is no appeal process. (Probably should've known that -- but I didn't).

So the U.S. cannot appeal the horrible red card call on Flo. 

That means it all comes down to one guy's decision. One guy -- and he made a bad call. 

Officials make poor calls all the time, and though the U.S. won, it really hamstrung us having to go with 10 against Bosnia. But now that the match is over and the dust has settled, why not create the ability to go back, have more than ONE person look at it and say, "Hey, this wasn't the right call. Balogun can play the next match." Or, conversely: "Hey, this was the right call. Red card stands. Balogun is out against Belgium." 

To go into a Round of 16 match without one of our best players on a very questionable call -- with no review of that call ... well, it sucks. 

Yeah, no legitimate sport works that way.  To lose a man for the current game, have to play one short, and then he's out the next game as well.  The punishment doesn't fit the crime.  It's horse crap and why Soccer won't take off in the USA. 

That and the stupid clock.  WTF is that? 

 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

To make matters worse. This has been the only red card in the entire tournament so far.  Also, to bring about matters of conspiracy.  This particular ref was under investigation in Brazil for irregular red cardings and many clubs requesting he not do their games.  Because why not have a FIFA conspiracy this World Cup.  
 

If we clutch up and beat Belgium as I kinda expect us to, this all mostly goes away.  Pepi is not impressive. Weah was awful vs Türkiye. 
It seems Pepi will be the guy but we will have to manufacture scoring from other sources (set pieces) probably with Balo out.

[Brass Cannon]

21 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

To make matters worse. This has been the only red card in the entire tournament so far.  Also, to bring about matters of conspiracy.  This particular ref was under investigation in Brazil for irregular red cardings and many clubs requesting he not do their games.  Because why not have a FIFA conspiracy this World Cup.  
 

If we clutch up and beat Belgium as I kinda expect us to, this all mostly goes away.  Pepi is not impressive. Weah was awful vs Türkiye. 
It seems Pepi will be the guy but we will have to manufacture scoring from other sources (set pieces) probably with Balo out.

I feel like every WC there is some ref that’s currently under investigation for cheating.  Terrible look for the sport 

[Stuhoo]

34 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

To make matters worse. This has been the only red card in the entire tournament so far.  Also, to bring about matters of conspiracy.  This particular ref was under investigation in Brazil for irregular red cardings and many clubs requesting he not do their games.  Because why not have a FIFA conspiracy this World Cup.  
 

If we clutch up and beat Belgium as I kinda expect us to, this all mostly goes away.  Pepi is not impressive. Weah was awful vs Türkiye. 
It seems Pepi will be the guy but we will have to manufacture scoring from other sources (set pieces) probably with Balo out.

There have been 12 red cards in the entire tournament to date.

[skhoosier2]

50 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

To make matters worse. This has been the only red card in the entire tournament so far.  Also, to bring about matters of conspiracy.  This particular ref was under investigation in Brazil for irregular red cardings and many clubs requesting he not do their games.  Because why not have a FIFA conspiracy this World Cup.  
 

If we clutch up and beat Belgium as I kinda expect us to, this all mostly goes away.  Pepi is not impressive. Weah was awful vs Türkiye. 
It seems Pepi will be the guy but we will have to manufacture scoring from other sources (set pieces) probably with Balo out.

US is the underdog in the next one.  Belgium beat them 5-2 in I think March.  I am just a bandwagon soccer fan for the US during this world cup. But as far as I've heard, nobody expects them to beat Belgium. Maybe I'm listening to the wrong experts though lol

[LIHoosier]

56 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

To make matters worse. This has been the only red card in the entire tournament so far.  Also, to bring about matters of conspiracy.  This particular ref was under investigation in Brazil for irregular red cardings and many clubs requesting he not do their games.  Because why not have a FIFA conspiracy this World Cup.  
 

If we clutch up and beat Belgium as I kinda expect us to, this all mostly goes away.  Pepi is not impressive. Weah was awful vs Türkiye. 
It seems Pepi will be the guy but we will have to manufacture scoring from other sources (set pieces) probably with Balo out.

The first match in the World Cup had 3 red cards alone.

[Stuhoo]

Truisms:

1. Water is wet
2. Fans complain about referees in every sport
3. Beer is tasty

Items #2 and 3 are especially applicable to the World Cup.

[Brass Cannon]

24 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Truisms:

1. Water is wet
2. Fans complain about referees in every sport
3. Beer is tasty

Items #2 and 3 are especially applicable to the World Cup.

While true.  Ref has bad reputation and ref is actively being investigated for corruption are different spots on the spectrum. 

[Stuhoo]

Can we all agree that the best announcing is this:

 

[Hovadipo]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

Can we all agree that the best announcing is this:

 

“¡Arriba Tillman!” goes insanely hard. I’ve been thinking about it constantly all day. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

3 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

There have been 12 red cards in the entire tournament to date.

Good to know.  lol. Thought that was a crazy stat and indeed it would have been.  Thanks. Can’t always trust the webs.  Especially Twitter. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

5 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Good to know.  lol. Thought that was a crazy stat and indeed it would have been.  Thanks. Can’t always trust the webs.  Especially Twitter. 

I believe it was the only Red initiated by VAR.  I believe that was the stat.  And if accurate, it’s at least notable.  

[WayneFleekHoosier]

1 minute ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

I believe it was the only Red initiated by VAR.  I believe that was the stat.  And if accurate, it’s at least notable.  

But according to Grok, it’s not this either. 3 or so others apparently initiated by VAR too.  So….  Thus
 

1. I hate the call

2.  I Hate it can’t be appealed.

3. Don’t trust FiFA

4. Don’t trust this ref. 

5. Besides that, I’ll just stay in my conspiracy bubble  lol  

 

[LIHoosier]

Damn if that forward had a buzzcut, that last second Croatian goal would've stood

[Stuhoo]

13 minutes ago, LIHoosier said:

Damn if that forward had a buzzcut, that last second Croatian goal would've stood

Fantastic finish, fantastic match 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

5 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Fantastic finish, fantastic match 

Thoughts on call?

Chip reader says he makes contact. But the Portugal players also makes contact after without equation with intention.  The second contact didn’t register???

Also, like a basketball review, the soccer ball didn’t change any rotation whatsoever on the Croatia header.  Based on basketball standards it’s a no contact.  
 

Then if you believe the chip reader, doesn’t the clear play by the Portuguese defender reset the offsides anyway?  
 

Crazy match but Croatian fans are pissed and seem to have good reason.

What controversies present themselves tomorrow? I’ve got my eye on the Argentinian Darlings.

[Stuhoo]

3 hours ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Thoughts on call?

Chip reader says he makes contact. But the Portugal players also makes contact after without equation with intention.  The second contact didn’t register???

Also, like a basketball review, the soccer ball didn’t change any rotation whatsoever on the Croatia header.  Based on basketball standards it’s a no contact.  
 

Then if you believe the chip reader, doesn’t the clear play by the Portuguese defender reset the offsides anyway?  
 

Crazy match but Croatian fans are pissed and seem to have good reason.

What controversies present themselves tomorrow? I’ve got my eye on the Argentinian Darlings.

To me it’s a spot-on call.

For offsides to “reset” there has to be deliberate contact of any kind. The touch by Croatia #20 was slight but was a deliberate attempt to steer the ball with the header. Then it barely glances off of the Portugese player, but incidentally, so that should not reset the offsides.

I was rooting for the underdog Croatia, but IMO they got it right.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

4 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

To me it’s a spot-on call.

For offsides to “reset” there has to be deliberate contact of any kind. The touch by Croatia #20 was slight but was a deliberate attempt to steer the ball with the header. Then it barely glances off of the Portugese player, but incidentally, so that should not reset the offsides.

I was rooting for the underdog Croatia, but IMO they got it right.

You believe it grazed off the Croatian player?  Zero change on ball rotation.  Watched slow mo zooms from 2 different angles and the rotation didn’t change at all. 
 

just a crappy way to go out.  
 

either team is probably food for Spain and this matchup is great just hard not to feel shorted from the Croatian side.