World Cup 2022 - Team and Match Discussion

Someone wrote into Guardian Football Weekly yesterday too to complain about the constant lumping of Iran in with "Arab" teams. They a re not an arab country or Arab culture.

Let's see what VAR say.

Nothing.

Probably the right decision really, offside player standing right in front of the keeper. It's not really relevant what the keeper does, the player is still in an active position.

That doesn't really matter though... the player is in an active offside position right in front of the keeper rather than a passive one (if he was way off over to the side). If there's even the possibility that his position impacts the keepers decision making - regardless what the keeper does - he's offside.

Poor from the player himself - he didn't need to be there and had time to have gotten back out.

Here is the rule verbatim

"A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:

• interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team-mate or
• interfering with an opponent by:
  • preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or
  • challenging an opponent for the ball or
  • clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or

making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball "

The goalkeeper is airborne so therefore is not prevented from playing or being able to play the ball.

It's fine, this one will stand. They deserve it.

Woah! What a strike, smacked off the crossbar. The Dutch keeper hadn't a chance.

Currently don't look like the most likely team to win this game.

It’s just superstition.

…..I’ll get my coat

And just a word on this Dutch side, they’re absolutely not a team for the group stages. They weren’t under LvG in 2014 either despite beating Spain well. As average as they look now, they’ll be tough for anyone to beat in a knockout game, and that’s always sort of been the case with the Dutch.

You could say the very same about England, but the Netherlands always have a chance in a knockout game over any of the big teams whereas England have their level and would be unlikely to beat the very best when it comes down to it.

You are too serious. Don’t you worry ‘bout a thing

I don't see the Dutch doing much this year. In previous competitions they had firepower up top whereas these are probably the most toothless Dutch forwards in decades.

Credit to Ecuador for their defence. Impressed with the 3 CBs Hincapie, Torres and Porozo. I see Torres is playing in Mexico. Wonder if any European teams are considering a bid for next year.

So in fairness United is the absolute last place to go. Very much a black hole for talent same as Barca given both clubs expectations vs the reality of the off the field sht show.

Ya but by the same token good players always stand out from the rest in poorer/lesser sides. I have not seen anything from FDJ in 2 nearly 3 years that suggests he's the stand out performer among the squads he's involved with.