PBP Match Thread: Nigeria vs Argentina, 26 June 2018 [R]

Tough luck Nigeria. Congratulations to Argentina.

Argentina did just enough to deserve the result, especially since both their goals were nice. But they also had too many mistakes, many errand passes and have not clicked for a while now. How they do against France is anyone's guess, since France haven't looked impressive either, but overall I can see Argentina getting embarrassed again at some point in this tournament.

As for the calls, I just have to say I once again felt VAR isn't helping things! I didn't think the penalty Nigeria were awarded was the right call. There was more dive than contact on that play. On the other hand, I felt the handball was a penalty that should have been awarded to Nigeria, but it wasn't despite VAR giving the referee no real excuse to not make that call. In fact, I got the impression that the Turkish refused to call that penalty in reaction to the criticism for the penalty awarded Iran against Portugal. That along with the fact that if the penalty had been awarded, Argentina would have basically been eliminated thanks to 2 penalties, the first of which was very soft and the second (while more clearly a penalty) still not really one of these incidents that ordinarily should decide a game. There were other incidents, in both ends, that were ignored and some of them were clear infractions. If VAR was supposed to reduce the number of wrong calls, I don't think it is working.

 

or asked directions from Siri? I asked for directions to a land mark in San Francisco. It gave me directions to a stadium in San Diego....

 

This

 

The importance of how often it doesn't get called (I'd say at least 50%) is in that some were arguing the ref was biased in favour of Argentina. The fact the ref called this penalty proves he was not.

For that matter, as others have pointed out, there wass an element of diving involved. The problem for Argentina was (as has also been pointed out) that Mascherano was holding the player with both hands.

 

France-Argentina is going to be a duel between the attack that doesn't really click and the midfield that doesn't really exist.

What happens when a very stoppable force meets an easily-moved object?

 

It's argument clinic for you

 

You can disrespect us but we will be back. With continuity and a plan.


VAR is only used for big teams. It's BS.

 

VAR negated a PK for Neymar against Costa Rica . . . hardly a big team. It should have been used to give at least one PK to England against Tunisia and wasn't.

 

Agree the Rojo handball could have been a penalty. However, VAR instead of standardizing the refereeing has instead made it more volatile. Arguably implemented with good aims but has turned out into a complete mess, the worst thing is that it is now being used as a tactical tool by teams.

 

The force stops, the object moves. And the spectators are completely unmoved by the abject lack of force in the fixture and slip into a deep slumber during the game a la Maradona.

 

The penalty was to make up for the high boot non-penalty call in the first half.

 

I do not think it was a penalty but I appreciate your honesty against your team. People were being naive about VAR, if you follow cricket and rugby a similar system hás been used for over a decade, and from that you could of expected what is happening, it also shows how backward FIFA is.

 

I feel so very happy for Armani. Not only did his childhood dream come true of playing for Argentina in a World Cup but he also helped them win their first match in Russia.

He should have been starter from minute one of the Iceland match.

 

Oh and I love VAR.

 

It is not my impression that the support for Nigeria back home in Africa by any means matches the Argentinian support for their team.

This tournament has so far substantiated that the greatest passion for foofball aspires in South America. The amount of spectators from far away South America tells it all.

Back home in Copenhagen, Denmark, football does not top the list of topics when two strangers or friends engage in a conversation.

 

Many people in Europe are losing their love of Nationalism and focus more on the club rivalries I imagine.

In South America it is very different. There's still a lot of passion for local clubs but when your National team plays you live and die with every kick on the field. So much more passion and pride.

 

The reason you don't see a lot of supporters from Nigeria or Sub Saharan Africa at the World Cup is because many Africans are poor and many of the African Expats are worried about racism and racist abuse, especially in Russia.

If you See the amount of Nigerian fans at the 2010 World Cup or for that matter a home Game for Nigeria, there are Nigerian fans everywhere.

 

I hate Argentina, If we get you in the group next world cup you won't win!!!!