2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

[Phantom255x]

In a group with Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia, Uruguay still couldn't even make the Round of 32 with the expanded format. Yeah that's embarassing. Canobbio was also a sore loser in that game especially near the end, getting a red card, fighting the ref, assistant refs, his own coaches and players on the sideline like a manchild. He should have been booked way earlier, but that summed it up. The coach was also acting like a child in the postgame interview, shouting and being petulant.

[Roy H.]

That Colombia-Portugal game was as exciting as a 0-0 draw can be.

[Phantom255x]

That Colombia-Portugal was as exciting as a 0-0 draw can be.

Yeah, it's so crazy though how offsides can be called with VAR. A fingernail difference and it can wave off a goal. Brutal. Colombia deserved it, but they still won the group anyways.

[Amonkey]

That Colombia-Portugal was as exciting as a 0-0 draw can be.

Yeah, it's so crazy though how offsides can be called with VAR. A fingernail difference and it can wave off a goal. Brutal. Colombia deserved it, but they still won the group anyways.

I think VAR, new rules and officiating where you are letting players play instead of falling for those flops have made the game significantly better. However, I feel that these offsides should be looked at. Some of these are way too close of a call that shouldn?t negate a goal.

[ozgod]

Going to be interesting to see how the Engerlund play against DR Congo, given how they struggled to break down Panama's low block until 20 min to go. I'm sure Congo will park the bus as well and try to get to penalties and see if they can get through that way. They will need their wingers to really stretch that block out of shape.

[ozgod]

That Colombia-Portugal was as exciting as a 0-0 draw can be.

Yeah, it's so crazy though how offsides can be called with VAR. A fingernail difference and it can wave off a goal. Brutal. Colombia deserved it, but they still won the group anyways.

I think VAR, new rules and officiating where you are letting players play instead of falling for those flops have made the game significantly better. However, I feel that these offsides should be looked at. Some of these are way too close of a call that shouldn?t negate a goal.

Here's the problem though. Once you make a determination to override the VAR because it's "too close" then you're back to introducing human judgement and subjectivity to the call, and that human judgment might be different referee to referee, game to game. Like what is "too close"? A fingernail? An inch? A foot? And how would you be able to apply that equally? If you go back to doing that you might as well get rid of VAR again anyway. Or change the algorithm to "an inch is ok". Then the people who miss out on goals by 2 inches will be unhappy 

Yes it sucks to have a goal waved off for a fingernail, but at least it's as objective as it can be, using actual footage and data. Though to be honest I'm not a fan of making it as precise as that, I think human error exists with players and it should be accepted in referees as well, and I think VAR has taken away a bit of that. The Hand of God goal would never have happened if VAR had been around. But these days sports is big business, millions gamble on the result, it makes and breaks careers, so I can understand why they want a common, objective standard to apply to all.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Hw excited are you Americans that ties are not part of this knockout phase of the tournament? 

[Amonkey]

That Colombia-Portugal was as exciting as a 0-0 draw can be.

Yeah, it's so crazy though how offsides can be called with VAR. A fingernail difference and it can wave off a goal. Brutal. Colombia deserved it, but they still won the group anyways.

I think VAR, new rules and officiating where you are letting players play instead of falling for those flops have made the game significantly better. However, I feel that these offsides should be looked at. Some of these are way too close of a call that shouldn?t negate a goal.

Here's the problem though. Once you make a determination to override the VAR because it's "too close" then you're back to introducing human judgement and subjectivity to the call, and that human judgment might be different referee to referee, game to game. Like what is "too close"? A fingernail? An inch? A foot? And how would you be able to apply that equally? If you go back to doing that you might as well get rid of VAR again anyway. Or change the algorithm to "an inch is ok". Then the people who miss out on goals by 2 inches will be unhappy 

Yes it sucks to have a goal waved off for a fingernail, but at least it's as objective as it can be, using actual footage and data. Though to be honest I'm not a fan of making it as precise as that, I think human error exists with players and it should be accepted in referees as well, and I think VAR has taken away a bit of that. The Hand of God goal would never have happened if VAR had been around. But these days sports is big business, millions gamble on the result, it makes and breaks careers, so I can understand why they want a common, objective standard to apply to all.

I agree to some extent. It takes the judgement call away from the refs, which definitely has made it easier to watch. Besides a few bad calls in the Ghana England game and a couple of others, the referees have not been a big talking point in this tournament which is a success for them. However, i still wish there would be some leeway.

[Phantom255x]

Japan up 1-0 at halftime, wow! I would love to see an upset. Japan and Cabo Verde are my two bandwagon/darkhorse teams (just sucks Cabo Verde drew Argentina first, rip)

[Who]

Japan are beating Brazil. Go Japan!

[Phantom255x]

Wow that's so brutal for Japan. Last minute goal for Brazil to win 2-1.

2 knockout games, 2 last-minute game winning goals. Crazy.

[Who]

On that 1st Brazil goal. They were beating up on Japan there for several minutes. Just swinging high balls into the box and letting their superior size & athleticism make the difference.

I remember chatting to a bunch of Japanese business men during a previous World Cup (2006) and they were all telling me they cannot compete with the Europeans and South Americans because they are too small and not athletic enough. Said the reason was dairy. Europeans grow bigger and stronger because of dairy. Most Asians being lactose intolerant.

I was thinking about that as Japan were getting battered by high aerial balls into the box. I don't understand why they didn't do more of that and why they went away from it after the goal. Brazil had a major advantage there and another major advantage in explosive quickness & in power. Big difference between being fast and being fast & strong (power). You can see it all the time with the Japanese forwards. They may be fast but they are not strong. They get pushed off of opportunities that other players can take.

They have to play so well technically to have a chance to win.

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Ah well. I was rooting for them. I would have loved to have seen them win. I like the way Japan plays. This group feel less attacking that teams of the past. But still pretty good.