FIFA World Cup 2018 - Russia

[tob]

Originally Posted by Nielsb90

Morocco have been very unfortunate. They actually play some aggressive and entertaining football. They create chances but their finishing just hasn't been good enough. They are nowhere near the worst teams of this tournament.

Shameful (or maybe shameless?) performance by Ronaldo and especially Pepe. So much talent, and yet no class whatsoever. They are honestly hurting the sport, and the refs need to start punishing some of the pathetic dives we've seen so far. Portuguese theatricality at its very worst, combined with boring play in general. They let Morocco create way too many chances. I hope they get knocked out of the tournament as soon as possible.

What rubbish are you on about now Ronaldo like any modern day player took a cheeky fall to try and get a penalty but this is something that is part of the game today don't pretend you have not seen anything like this before, Ronaldo got back up laughing because the referee was not having it, and he even tried the VAR sign again he was just joking.
How was his performance shameful today he was quite because he was coming back deeper to collect the ball but he still scored from a good diving header and that's four goals so far from him.
Morocco play entertaining football they didn't come alive until the second half today.

[Nielsb90]

Originally Posted by tob

What rubbish are you on about now Ronaldo like any modern day player took a cheeky fall to try and get a penalty but this is something that is part of the game today don't pretend you have not seen anything like this before, Ronaldo got back up laughing because the referee was not having it, and he even tried the VAR sign again he was just joking.
How was his performance shameful today he was quite because he was coming back deeper to collect the ball but he still scored from a good diving header and that's four goals so far from him.
Morocco play entertaining football they didn't come alive until the second half today.

When it is that blatant he should be booked. And yet he never is. Also - the VAR sign is a bookable offense. Mertens was absolutely pathetic the other night as well. It harms the credibility of the sport when that sort of behaviour is simply accepted and expected. Or even celebrated.

But to be fair - Pepes dive was what really pissed me off. We've met Portugal so many times over the years and he always tries to cheat in one way or another. He's a good player but he has absolutely no sportsmanship. I cannot fathom how he was not booked.

[Nielsb90]

Originally Posted by tob

Players and coaches having been trying the VAR sign all the time its not a bookable offence and if it was brought in half the Brazil team would have been booked the other night against Switzerland.

Thats what they keep saying on television here? They even mentioned it specifically in the Ronaldo situation.

Either way. Pepe is still a fraud in my book. And I really think the refs need to punish diving (Mertens included). Do you agree, or do you see it as part of the game?

[tob]

Originally Posted by Nielsb90

Thats what they keep saying on television here? They even mentioned it specifically in the Ronaldo situation.

Either way. Pepe is still a fraud in my book. And I really think the refs need to punish diving (Mertens included). Do you agree, or do you see it as part of the game?

The VAR sign is a grey area the referee can act on it if he wants but i have not seen a ref to book a player yet for using the sign.
Go back and look at Ronaldo when he gestured the VAR sign but he was laughing about it but the ref just got on with the game.
I think the referees so far in this World Cup have been good and i do believe diving in or around the penalty area the VAR is their to help the ref a lot more today.

[Blu Lemmy]

I agree, the refs have been pretty good. I've only missed a couple of games thus far.

Cheating is part and parcel. It's one of the reasons I watch Rugby Union mostly nowadays.

As world cups go, this has been stellar so far.

[Nielsb90]

The refs have been good! There have just been some pathetic dives that warrant a booking. I don't think cheating should be part and parcel which is why there should be some sort of punishment - otherwise we'll just see more of it.

I may have been a bit quick with my first post. But I still think it is a shame how a fantastic player like Ronaldo does so much shady stuff. You would not catch players from the Irish national team diving like that consistently. His comments after the Iceland game in the Euro 2016 was just icing on the cake for me. He needs to show more class and respect other players/teams/refs more! Pepe is literally shameless. He knows the world is watching and still he doesn't care. That is almost impressive now that I think about it.

Portugal has a fantastic keeper but even their defending, which won them the Euro 2016, was terrible today. 2016 was a pretty boring and defensive tournament overall which is one of the reasons I hope Portugal lose sooner rather than later. And I think they will when they meet a team that actually knows how to score.

Anyway, Saudi looking alright..

[tob]

Originally Posted by Nielsb90

The refs have been good! There have just been some pathetic dives that warrant a booking. I don't think cheating should be part and parcel which is why there should be some sort of punishment - otherwise we'll just see more of it.

I may have been a bit quick with my first post. But I still think it is a shame how a fantastic player like Ronaldo does so much shady stuff. You would not catch players from the Irish national team diving like that consistently. His comments after the Iceland game in the Euro 2016 was just icing on the cake for me. He needs to show more class and respect other players/teams/refs more! Pepe is literally shameless. He knows the world is watching and still he doesn't care. That is almost impressive now that I think about it.

Portugal has a fantastic keeper but even their defending, which won them the Euro 2016, was terrible today. 2016 was a pretty boring and defensive tournament overall which is one of the reasons I hope Portugal lose sooner rather than later. And I think they will when they meet a team that actually knows how to score.

Anyway, Saudi looking alright..

I agree i like to see refs come down harder on diving but i guess that depends on what referee you get for each match.
I am not defending Ronaldo for his antics in the past just admire the man's ability and hunger for the game even at this stage in his career.
Honestly diving you get it everywhere and our players have done it in the past too.
But anyway enjoy the World Cup and i wish Denmark all the best.

[Nielsb90]

Originally Posted by tob

I agree i like to see refs come down harder on diving but i guess that depends on what referee you get for each match.
I am not defending Ronaldo for his antics in the past just admire the man's ability and hunger for the game even at this stage in his career.
Honestly diving you get it everywhere and our players have done it in the past too.
But anyway enjoy the World Cup and i wish Denmark all the best.

Yea you'll see Denmark and Ireland do it occasionally but some teams/players definitely overuse it.

And you too! Sorry we knocked you out - always enjoy following Ireland. I hope we are ready tomorrow as Australia have proven to be much better than I expected..

[tob]

Originally Posted by Nielsb90

Yea you'll see Denmark and Ireland do it occasionally but some teams/players definitely overuse it.

And you too! Sorry we knocked you out - always enjoy following Ireland. I hope we are ready tomorrow as Australia have proven to be much better than I expected..

Don't be sorry you played us off the pitch and the way we play under Martin O Neill is long ball football again and again its time for him and Keane to go but we have to put up with them for the Euro campaign as well.
Australia will be hard to break down they will have every man behind the ball and will try to hit you on the counter attack but i think if you can get the ball to Eriksen he will be the key tomorrow for you.

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by tob

Morocco the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup.

Were Egypt not?....both out anyway.

[tob]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

Were Egypt not?....both out anyway.

Sorry i meant second team but both out anyway.

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by tob

Sorry i meant second team but both out anyway.

Followed by Saudi Arabia.

[Penton-Man]

I didn't even know this thread existed until I went to Tob's thread and wondered what was up with the complete inactivity on World Cup discussion.

Looks like I have some back reading to do later on. That said, for me, probably the most impressive team performance I’ve seen so far in 2018 World Cup was the hustle by the Mexican National Team in the 1st half of their match with Germany.

[tob]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I didn't even know this thread existed until I went to Tob's thread and wondered what was up with the complete inactivity on World Cup discussion.

Looks like I have some back reading to do later on. That said, for me, probably the most impressive team performance I’ve seen so far in 2018 World Cup was the hustle by the Mexican National Team in the 1st half of their match with Germany.

Sorry penton i should have contacted you about this thread but i forgot.

[Bullitt]

Keane saying again what he thinks on ITV.

[tob]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

Keane saying again what he thinks on ITV.

What did he say watching the World Cup on R.T.E Irish channel.

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by tob

What did he say watching the World Cup on R.T.E Irish channel.

He was on a rant about Querioz saying that the second time he was at Utd he disrespected Keane and Keane told him where to go....he said he should have ripped his head off but Querioz was out the door 18 months later with his tail between his legs.

[tob]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

He was on a rant about Querioz saying that the second time he was at Utd he disrespected Keane and Keane told him where to go....he said he should have ripped his head off but Querioz was out the door 18 months later with his tail between his legs.

Typical keane always looking for attention.

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by tob

Typical keane always looking for attention.

Nutter

[Bullitt]

Now that’s what you call parking the bus.