LIVE World Cup Thread

I know FIFA are a corrupt organisation - but one thing about them. And perhaps the most recent edition - or just now have more money than sense.

They do seem to be embracing change - I know people are going on about the hydration thing all the time - but look at all the other stuff - be it faster VAR - throw ins - fake injury - flow of play - play on. There is a better flow and higher intensity in the world cup (IMO) , look at this game end to end already in 5 mins.

I think people should look at entire package - and take the hydration break , if this is ball we get.

Brilliant, good early goal, and Larin doing the business again! Well worth his start.

Great bit of wing play to get into a dangerous position to cross it back, lovely first strike by David, and then Larin sweeping up the rebound. Hopefully can kick on from here.

Plenty of boos at the quarter-time ad break again. Will rightly be jettisoned after this tournament for sure. Which suits those who pushed for it grand anyway, Fox only wanted that bonus ad revenue for these few weeks.

Lucky to get it - but great strike.

Nice oppertunistic finish from the blocked shot, another pure strike from David and this one goes in. Great to have both strikers off the mark now. That's a potentially very decent strike partnership.

And we still have Alphonso Davies and Bombito to come into this team, so there's more to come from them.

<edit> and a pen awarded in short order.

<edit 2> Changed to a free outside the box, and a red card for DOGSO.

should have been. but ref has been the opposite of trigger happy with the cards.

upgraded now to red and a free kick.

If you're a citizen, you're eligible. That's all that matters, and all that should matter.

The Qatar one (and some of the other 'oil wealth family' countries) is a weird issue that I don't particularly think should be allowed - because they're not actually given real citizenship, they're being given special dispensation, but those players never gain the rights granted to real Qatari citizens. They have 'mission passports' rather than actual Qatari citizen passports. There's a clear delineation in their status.

But for the likes of Haiti and Cape Verde that you mentioned, those are all legit citizens, and even if they're a generation removed or whatever, have a legal right to represent their country.

Seamus Derby, blatant push ref!

broken leg here for canadian lad it looks like