ITVX SCORES BEST 7-DAY PERFORMANCE SINCE 2024 AS THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 GETS UNDER WAY@markpougatch @SemraHunter @laura_woodsy @AdamRichman & the teams!https://t.co/e7r8VKgCnp— John Williams (@JohnWilliams004) June 16, 2026
I hope that this refereeing philosophy of not calling basic contact makes it to MLS. MLS games are so bad with all of the waiting for contact and dropping like sacks of hammers. All of the WC matches have had very consistent adjudication. They flow so much better for it.
They also have the best refs in the world (and the best VAR teams). I'm always impressed by MLS refereeing but they can always improve.
Which is why I pointed out that this seems to be an adjudication standard across all matches. It is wonderful for flow and standard of play. As to the refs. Yes. They are the best (even Elphath managed to call a good match /s).
I have to say, cheating seems to be way down in this World Cup. I guess Argentina haven't kicked off yet.
Even Almiron got a yellow card for simulation via VAR on Friday....... He's one of the biggest floppers in MLS
When they showed the replay from behind the goal after he made the decision, it looks like Mbappe's leg makes contact with the defender's thigh. Given Mbappe was having to jump over the reckless challenge, I don't see how that was Mbappe initiating it.
France kicked up its game noticeably in the second half. Mbappe gets the elusive first goal of the match.
Another case of a match in this World Cup where the first half sorta sucked, but the second half of play was scintillating! So far, only one scoreless draw, which was a massive victory for Cape Verde Islands.
It's as if teams are trying to conserve their energy in the first half out of fear of the heat and then let loose in the 2nd. I know that's not what's happening, it's just the level of play between the 1st and 2nd in so many games is night and day.