So are we gonna do a matchday thread for Thursday's friendly vs. Lyon? Is that game even available to view? It wouldn't shock me if all of the TV production equipment in Dubai was on loan to Qatar this month.
In our last real preseason we didn’t have MD threads for each match but rather a USA tour thread which saw a small amount of match-related activity. I’d say if you want a separate thread, maybe you make a catchall “interlull friendlies” thread like that? Alternatively we could use the other existing thread called “hip hip hiatus”? What I am most interested in at this point is whether any of the games will be streamable? Without a fee?
Tomiyasu got his first start in Qatar today. Apparently he almost gifted Croatia a goal in the opening minutes. I tuned in at 38' just in time to see Japan go 1-0 up. They're kind of a machine this WC. Cede possession, but press & counter, be clinical with their few chances, including set pieces like today's short-corner which was impressive, and that's coming from someone who doesn't care for short corners. As for Tomi, I wonder if he's gonna be able to do his first full 90. And if so praying he doesn't tweak anything again!
He was marking another player. In one of the replays you can see him with his hands on the back or a player to the inside of the goal scorer. Japan out, which means we get him back early and apparently healthy.
Penalty shootouts can be cruel. Meanwhile Tomi went the full 120+ Thought I caught a glimpse of a limp late in ET but honestly didn't watch closely enough to be sure
Sure. But when the ball passed him, he quickly turned around to try to put pressure on Peresic but the shot was too quick for Tomi to have any effect. Tomi being turned around like that and his facial reaction is what prompted my "looked lost" comment. I wasn't saying he was at fault and the cause for the goal. Also, that comment was after only seeing one view of the play. Haven't rewatched it since. Anyway, if anyone really watched the game the whole way through (I did not), it would be great to hear how they think he played, and more importantly if he looked relatively uninjured throughout.
Japan and Croatia's penalties were worse than ones I see taken in my over 35s comp. How can you be a paid professional and do those. Side note, South Korea really unlucky as the weakest team to get out of the group stages and have to run into Brazil. But Neymars stutter penalty is trash and Fifa should ban that. If they want to force keepers to stand in the line and really put penalties in favour if attackers the least they can do is ban stutter penalties.
Yeah I really dislike that kind of PK, but it seems hard to regulate. Haven't they already said you can't come to a full stop... so the players have just figured a way around that? And haven't the modern rules/interpretations been more about enabling more goals, rather than inhibiting?
Was that the one with Richarlson bouncing it on his head, then doing a slick one-two, before a lethal shot? That was indeed something to behold! Edit: actually on rewatch it was more like a one-two-three. Even better! If I was a Korean I’d be a bit PO’d by Brasil’s OTT goal celebrations. Not just one or two times, but all 4 times in a 4-0 trouncing. Everyone's entitled some joy, and surely it's part of their culture, BUT doing it to this extent seems more like show-boating, rubbing it in, dissing the opponent, etc. YMMV
Yeah, no surprise. I'll pass on those fees, and maybe on dodgy pirated streams too. But then we have another match at home vs Juve... wonder if that'll be the same kind of PPV thing?
There ya go Korea! Golazo!! No clean sheet for Allison and Brasil. Would be cool to see them get a 2nd. p.s. Martinelli came on after 70'... haven't seen his action much except for a little kick he suffered a few mins later.
Someone mentioned a rule from another sport (forget which, might be rugby) where if applied to penalties it would be that your run up speed is your run up speed. In Neymars case he runs quick, then goes to slower than walking speed, then speeds up again and kicks. This would be a retake because he clearly goes from fast to slow to fast. Where as you look at Toneys casual run up for pens its two steps, stays in motion albeit slow, that would be acceptable. Messi, be it a panenka or into the top bins, the run up stays the same speed. Or how quickly Saka runs in for his penalty against Liverpool. When they start moving to when they kick the ball, they are moving at the same speed.
The broadcast I am illegally streaming said they have a different celebration for EVERY goal upto #9. Really want anyone but France or Brazil to win the WC. Arrogant flogs.
Hate stutter steps. In water polo for a 5 meter shot (its version of a penalty) the shot must be taken in one uninterrupted motion (no pumps or fakes) and the refs are very stingy about it. I'd be happy if there was some rule that every player only got three steps before they had to take the kick. Off foot, shooting foot, off foot plants, and shot.
We need to have our own version of reeducation camps so that people can remember how ridiculous Wengerball was on a good day.
portugal is the team i want to see succeed least amongst the european teams i can think of. their players always have a crap ton of talent and always do garbage bullshit. and i'm not a huge fan of argentina either. i'd take even brazil in place of either of those.
i hate it. it's fucking garbage. 100% agree if they want to be strict about keeper touching the line then the continuous movement needs to be outlawed. one single continuous movement. you stop, whistle it foul and you lose that penalty kick. players and teams will adapt real fast and real hard.
So many punchable faces on Portugal. Absolutely no way I'd want them to win. Argentina I have a soft spot for Messi and Thiago Almada who plays for Atlanta United.