LIVE World Cup Thread

How can you have evidence to the contrary. To have that he would need to play in Europe

What you have is a theory and evidence will be if and when Argentina go deep in this tournament.

Its this fanboy stuff is why I can't wait to see the back of himself and Ronaldo.

it was, the Iraqis with ten players in their domestic league gave their all for an hour and ran themselves into the ground but the legs just went when the third went in. Great first half performance and really enjoyed watching them even if they are guaranteed to finish bottom of the group … and what a header for the equaliser.

Have they changed how handball is reffed when scoring? In tha Austria Jordan game ball bounces on to the Austrian players arm and then falls to Arnautovic who scored. The rule is handball in the build up doesn't count as long as the player who handles isn't the one who scored and also if the ball deflects of the body at close range.

I'm quite impressed with refereeing at the tournament so far. Shows how soft the PL has become and how conditioned we all are in what is or isn't a penalty.

For me Mbappe doesn't have to go down. He decides to. It was a genuine effort to get the ball and there's minimal contact. Mbappe probably conditioned also in thinking that's a textbook penalty.

Hope the high threshold continues.

That still is without context. He challenged for the ball just before this and I think he tries instinctively to regain his balance and clumsily ends up in this position. There was absolutely no intention to do that or hurt the lad imo.

Having said that, even if there was serious intent and he was in full control FIFA would find a way to get him off lightly. That has been proven with the other fella.

Even if M'Bappe doesn't go down it should be a penalty. Recklessly jumping into someone's path and slowing down or making them jump over you is obstruction which still makes it a penalty.

You are right that he doesn't have to go down because you don't need to go down for a penalty to be awarded. Also it doesn't matter if contact is minimal when you are moving at speed off you feet.

I've enjoyed it too overall. France Senegal seemed step up in standard. Hopefully some great games to come.

Controversial comment maybe but it feels at times that Messi is given more room than other players due to his iconic status. It should be easier to track him nowadays but I think opposition players are intimidated by him. No one wants to be nutmegged by him on his way to scoring or god forbid lunge in and injure him. Mbappe and Haaland seemed to receive more physicality.

Not taking anything away from Messi being one of the greats. Its just how he is treated in recent years.

Given, Didi and Doyle in the house.......OK. Could be worse. A lot worse.

Yeah but how much of Didi's ankles can you see?

A fair amount unfortunately, but he's bought himself some ankle time by freely admitting he wasn't listening to Doyle no less than 10mins in.

Pro.

Well his farcical corrupt ban lifting happened before kick off so fair game.