FIFA World Cup: Qatar 2022 • Page 110

The replays stink as far as showing the whole play, but France gained possession and never lost it, so if they gained possession on a foul and then scored on that counter without giving up the ball, then VAR should intervene there? Every replay I see though starts with Saka on the ground. It was an emotional game, and I'm probably remembering wrong, but it seemed like it was a quick counter and I remember at the time just being angry they even got the counter going without a foul being called.

For the penalty I'm talking about, he did go check the monitor I thought? and I read that since it was outside the box, you can't award a free kick. The VAR was for a penalty check only, so the ref basically had to admit that he missed a foul but couldn't give a penalty as it was outside the box, and VAR doesn't allow you to award a free kick. At least that's how I've seen it explained in a lot of places.

Here's an ESPN article about it.
Why Kane didn't get a VAR penalty vs. France, and no foul on Saka?

Either way - England had their chance with the penalty and probably left it too late to get some subs on, but it was the most valiant and positive tournament loss for England in as long as I can remember watching them play. Most tournament exits in retrospect are fully deserved. This just felt different.

EDIT: I do want to say the first French goal was excellent though. What a well placed strike.

 

The ref didn't go to the monitor. I remember it because right after the situation in my stream they asked ex-ref Manuel Gräfe about it and he explained that if the ref had gone to the monitor, then he could have given the free kick at least.

 

It’s similar to Chapelle bringing out Elon by saying “it’s the richest man in the world”, them getting booed, and Chapelle mocking the crowd for being poor.

“Guys, I just can’t work out why no one likes us”

 

I think they said at half time that it was like 45 seconds between the Saka foul and the goal. I'm not sure how accurate that was (one of the short replays suggested it can't have been that long), but it's a bit of a crutch to go on about that as a key point, given how much France had to do to score after it.

The foul on Kane was a poor miss, but it was outside the box and again, it's a single missed incident which wasn't especially key. We still got two penalties.

France's opening goal was mighty. Giroud did Giroud things for the second. We got two penalties, made a bunch of chances and even hit the post. Just one of those games.

My only real worry is whether we're going to get another good striker through in the next few years. Not really seen anyone who is going to get anywhere near replacing Kane.

 

David Squires on … England (and footballs) coming home from Qatar

Funny as always and a nice tribute to Grant Wahl at the end.

 

I keep thinking Croatia will lose but yet here they are.

 

I might get chance to sit and watch this one. Wondering if Croatia will play to get Argentina to lose their heads. It certainly didn't seem to take much to get them going on Friday...

 

I am going to go ahead and call a rematch of last cups final but what do I know. These are going to be 2 very close games. Morocco/Croatia would be bananas with how unpredictable that is, but France/Argentina on paper would be a classic match and then you have the enticing rematch I think we'll get. Argentina/Morocco would be my least 'watchable' match up. but there's plenty of stories there though mainly around can Messi beat the amazing underdogs to win it all in his final attempt.

 

I would say that I think Croatia having played two back to back 120'+penalty matches gives Argentina the distinct advantage... but Modric is just so damn incredible that he can inspire his teammates to do just about anything (same with Messi, obviously). Potentially the last time we ever see Modric or Messi today for their nations.

 

Argentina/Morocco final

 

We all said that about Croatia in 2018 and they managed to beat England, in extra time as well.

 

Did you see Brozovic has run 44 miles in the 5 matches thus far? Rodrigo de Paul is the next closest at like 35 miles.

 

Brozovic knocked in 16km in their last game alone, which is absolutely outrageous. I know it was a 120 minute match, but when you consider that the ball is in play for far less time, he's not running at a continuous speed or even in one direction, it starts to sound more and more insane.

 

The English revenge

 

The Dutch had the flu before the US game supposedly so maybe take that with a grain of salt haha

 

Gvardiol masterclass, please.

 

Romero's got away with murder there.

 

I feel like Argentina desperately need a more creative centre back. This 3 man defensive midfield is not helping them at all.

 

Messi having a muscle issue?

 

I think he's doing his "go slow, read the game" thing.

 

Messi definitely keeps grabbing the back of his leg.