Just take a look at the “Refereeing” Bigsoccer forum and you will see that people agree it wasn’t a penalty. And yes, you are right on the Cristiano Ronaldo part. Only Messi and Cristiano’s teams would get those penalties.
I do not need to go to a Refereeing forum to know that you cannot hit an opposing player in the face. If the Keeper would have touched the ball and his momentum made him hit him in the face then maybe he gets away with it but it looks like he did not get the ball.
This doesnt' make much sense IMHO. My Great Grand father is a Doctor My Grand Father is a Doctor My father is a Doctor I am__________________NOT a Doctor
From comments on the USA matches (I havenot watched any matches but the Orange Squad 2 matches vs Senegal and Qatar) I read they have problems scoring and they ran out of gas after about 60-65 minutes. Louis van Gaal from what I watched has had the Orange Squad play in the first gear in defensive mode and tries to slow down the opponent's play. From reports about the Ecuador match it didnot work out that way too well, but the managed to put the draw over the end line. As I wrote before the WC started we would be boring to watch, but also it's hard to beat us. The USA has one thing to be careful for and that's not to let Gakpo slip away from the defenders as he seems to have a conversion rate of 50%. If he scores early the Orange Squad will pull up the defensive curtain and then try to penetrate that wall is going to be hard.
Was Alireza suspended for the USA match? Boy, that sucked as he can score from outside the box with a Robben like move.
Yes, but not a good tournament for him. He was subbed at halftime against England and only came off the bench late in the game against Wales where he picked up his 2nd yellow card. His replacement, Gholizadeh, did much better. Group "B" best threat creators (via pass and carry):L. Shaw 🏴A. Gholizadeh 🇮🇷C. Pulisic 🇺🇸R. Sterling 🏴 pic.twitter.com/L4So4YpFNi— markstats (@markrstats) November 29, 2022
This is SO not true, Argentina got 3 goals anulled in the match vs Saudi Arabia!!! What a help from the VAR! at least one of those was 100% legit (the Lautaro one)as proven via photographic evidence showed later. The Messi penalty was a soft call, yes, as were MANY others for other nations as well. Dont let you bias or rivalry show. ARG didnt need help against Poland of all matches, since we steamrolled them since the 1st minute and that match should ve ended 8-0 (as proven by stats, possession, shots on goal, etc). If anything, we needed help with Mexico, when we were struggling in the 1st half and were out of the WC if we lose. If VAR wanted to help us....that was the time. Instead, we were saved by the brillance of Messi or Enzo Fernandez. Anyways, dont see ghost were there arent any. And im always rooting for Brazil to win and complementing the fabulous team and players you have (the best, imo) so sad you have to badmouth a team that had the courage, talent and mentality to come back from the ashes (and whos also your biggest rival). Anyways, hope we meet in the semis, and sportmanship between this 2 nations prevails.
I still think so. Denmark is comparable to Netherlands 2014 ON PAPER. That being said, games are not played on paper. Tunisia played decently but were unlucky against Australia. They beat France. That being said, Chile 2014 was definitely better.
Well If that happens I will celebrate it but i seriously doubt it . Not that I have anything against Netherlands, but honestly they haven't been impressive in this WC
Netherlands plays boring as hell, Van Gaal is taking a very minimalistic approach and the players are out of shape but still, the Netherlands won its group quite easily.
Looking at the way the brackets are shaping up: Realistically I think a rematch of the Copa Final can happen in one semi. Also a rematch of the Nations League Final in the other Semi. BUT I still have a feeling crazy things can happen as I have been saying for months in this thread. Hoping and praying for it really. USA -Japan in a Semi and Morrocco - England in the other!
Both branches of the first bracket half will have top South Americans vying for a semifinal spot. However, two European contenders for the top 4 could each put a stop to that plan. With Spain absent, they are the only Europeans on that side (unless Group G has an unforseeable surprise). As for USA, Japan & runner-up in Group H, they can maybe surprise their way to QF, but not two difficult games in a row. It just doesn't happen that often. Australia has already used up their luck, I think. So basically, one of Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands & Croatia WILL play in the final. In knock-out games, the Dutch's pragmatism, individual quality even if only in small bursts, and most importantly Gakpo's form (scored in all three games) will be pretty big factors. And luck too, because they definitely need it if their questionable group stage performances continues. I still think they have what it takes to make the final, but it'll be less pretty than I had imagined... As for Croatia, that midfield + their experience + the giant that is Gvardiol will be big factors. What worries me is that they had two 0-0 scores so far. At least one of their KO games could go into extra time.