Tonight ...

Brazil should defeat Cameroon but it will depend on how they approach a game that they don't have to win.  In the same group, if Serbia win they go above the Swiss and probably qualify for the round of 16

In the other group Portugal are in a similar position but any team in this group finishing 2nd will see an advancement to the round of 16 but the likely opponent would be Brazil.  Good luck!

Ghana play Uruguay and the winner would probably advance.  Portugal are up against Sth Korea and the Koreans need to win to have a chance of advancing

Another fascinating night ahead!

Group H down the wire this morning. Uruguay had an hour to score another goal against Ghana which would’ve seen them through ahead of the plucky Koreans. Son with a quality run and through ball for the winner late on. Well done South Korea.

 Suarez in the dying minutes  was very emotional watching from the bench. Been a terrific World Cup so far, high drama, quality football with unpredictable results. 
Cameroon becomes the first African nation to beat Brazil in a World Cup.

Edited December 2, 20222 yr by Dee Zephyr

  On 28/11/2022 at 00:32, roy11 said:

Incidents like the Ronaldo one have increased in the VAR era, player knows if there is contact the VAR unlikely to reverse the penalty. There were a few incidents in Serie A last season where the VAR cottoned on to the player initiating the contact. Wish more VAR officials were that brave. 

Cavani tried this overnight, just sticking the leg in front for contact. Ref and VAR not moved. 

Interesting that nobody has mentioned the goal from a ball on the other side of the line gifted by VAR to Japan. They are invoking geometry and all kinds of total bunkum to justify what is blatant cheating: even Pommie commentators are jumping up and down.

  On 03/12/2022 at 01:01, Monbon said:

Interesting that nobody has mentioned the goal from a ball on the other side of the line gifted by VAR to Japan. They are invoking geometry and all kinds of total bunkum to justify what is blatant cheating: even Pommie commentators are jumping up and down.

Nonsense! ALL of the ball needs to be over the line, NOT just the area that makes contact with the ground.  At first I thought that it was a wrong decision, but if you look at the shot from directly above the ball, it is clear that the ball has not completely crossed the line.

And how is that cheating? Do you think the Japanese player looked at the ball and thought to himself “that ball is out, but I’m going to take a shot anyway, with intent to trick the referee and fool VAR”?

  On 03/12/2022 at 01:07, hardtack said:

Nonsense! ALL of the ball needs to be over the line, NOT just the area that makes contact with the ground.  At first I thought that it was a wrong decision, but if you look at the shot from directly above the ball, it is clear that the ball has not completely crossed the line.

And how is that cheating? Do you think the Japanese player looked at the ball and thought to himself “that ball is out, but I’m going to take a shot anyway, with intent to trick the referee and fool VAR”?

You can do anything with 'shots'. There are also 'shots' which clearly show a gap between the ball and the line. It is all in the eyes of the beholder: like I say, there were many Pommie commentators - Souness one of them - who called this spade a spade, as regrettable as the hand of god and the infamous 1966 English/German farce. In fact Souness puts them all on the same level. 

 

Edited December 3, 20222 yr by Monbon

  On 03/12/2022 at 01:07, hardtack said:

Nonsense! ALL of the ball needs to be over the line, NOT just the area that makes contact with the ground.  At first I thought that it was a wrong decision, but if you look at the shot from directly above the ball, it is clear that the ball has not completely crossed the line.

And how is that cheating? Do you think the Japanese player looked at the ball and thought to himself “that ball is out, but I’m going to take a shot anyway, with intent to trick the referee and fool VAR”?

Anyhow, since when has any footballer NOT looked at the ball and the line, but I'm going to take the shot anyway - you heard of Wayne Harmes?

Asked about the lack of replays shown by FIFA, Walton said: "Well that is very peculiar, because at the start of this tournament, for offside decisions it was that those decisions would be shown automatically to the stadium so the people in the stadium could see it, that technology is still available for the people in the stadium.

"I’m at a miss as to why they haven’t showed it yet. They’ve got their reasons and only time will tell. I do think the evidence will appear sooner or later whether that ball hasn’t crossed the line."

Whilst Walton is confident evidence will eventually be made public, a baffled Souness said: 'We’re getting close to an hour since the incident. The longer they don’t come up with a picture, that last bit would show me that ball is out of play.

 

Initial pictures appeared to show the ball had crossed the line© PA

"The longer we don't see that picture which shows conclusively that it's not gone out of play, you’d think there’s something untoward going on. It has to be.

"There’s 80 million Germans, right now, going mad that shows that ball didn’t go out of play. I think every TV studio, pundit, people doing your job [presenting] is waiting, why, nearly an hour later are they not showing it?"

He added: 'This is not subjective, this is a black and white situation. Show us the pictures."

Gary Neville, meanwhile, felt the incident marked a wider problem with communication over decisions at this World Cup. He stated: "From the very first day of this tournament, I don’t think we've been able to communicate big decisions properly to fans at home and even at us, even how decision are being overturned.

 

Footage seen by VAR to overturn the decision was not shown during or immediately after the match© AFP via Getty Images

"The goal was disallowed and seen something we haven’t seen in this studio, around the world, we can’t get the angle of what VAR have seen."

Souness continued: "Every television studio, every pundit has an interest in this World Cup will be wanting to see the picture where at the end where this happened. In real time, as it happened, the ball went out, the pictures we’ve seen shown the ball went out.

"Why aren’t FIFA showing us something which is so controversial that it just cost the Germans dearly. Why are they not showing it to us? This is enormous, 45 minutes later, why aren’t they showing it? Clear it up for us, please."

Edited December 3, 20222 yr by Monbon

  On 03/12/2022 at 03:35, Monbon said:

Why aren’t FIFA showing us something which is so controversial that it just cost the Germans dearly.

Well, they eventually did…

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20631085/fifa-goal-line-footage-japan-germany-goal/amp/

Edited December 3, 20222 yr by hardtack

Anyone watching tonight, chance of a miracle? I have us at 10:1

Edited December 3, 20222 yr by DEE fence
Us vs at

  On 03/12/2022 at 18:32, DEE fence said:

Anyone watching tonight, chance of a miracle? I have us at 10:1

Watching in Naples DF. Very watchable time of 8pm.

Exciting start so far.

We got em rattled...

Edited December 3, 20222 yr by Wadda We Sing

  On 03/12/2022 at 19:06, Wadda We Sing said:

Watching in Naples DF. Very watchable time of 8pm.

Exciting start so far.

We got em rattled...

I am in Addis, is 10pm start, we are putting in, look like we belong,  they are quick though.

Ouch Ryan…howler.

Lionel Messi looks like Chip Frawley 

Well thats it, Socceroos were so brave this morning and battled hard for 90 mins. Pushed them to the max but Messi was the difference. 

We leave this tournament with our heads held high, a great tournament in so many respects and we can definitely build on this for the future. 

Never gave up, Martinez saved Kuol’s shot with his bicep at the death. 

Incredibly proud of the boys. True Aussie grit, determination and heart all tournament. 

  On 03/12/2022 at 21:01, layzie said:

Well thats it, Socceroos were so brave this morning and battled hard for 90 mins. Pushed them to the max but Messi was the difference. 

We leave this tournament with our heads held high, a great tournament in so many respects and we can definitely build on this for the future. 

Agree… we had gone for so long with barely scoring any goals in the course of play (just via penalties), so to score three goals in four games in this World Cup, is a fantastic effort.

  On 03/12/2022 at 11:19, hardtack said:

Well, they eventually did…

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20631085/fifa-goal-line-footage-japan-germany-goal/amp/

And what they showed us was hocus pocus bulldust about Geometry. That was many hours later, presumably after Doctor Shot and Euclid had been consulted. I can clearly see with me own 4 eyes dat there is grass between the ball and the line: Ah, I know, that was the doctored shot. 

I guess the saying you can fool most of the people most of the time is probably true. 

Most salient, is the point Souness and Neville make, that the protocol of screening the replay straight away was conveniently put into the amnesia corner.

Edited December 3, 20222 yr by Monbon

  On 03/12/2022 at 01:07, hardtack said:

Nonsense! ALL of the ball needs to be over the line, NOT just the area that makes contact with the ground.  At first I thought that it was a wrong decision, but if you look at the shot from directly above the ball, it is clear that the ball has not completely crossed the line.

And how is that cheating? Do you think the Japanese player looked at the ball and thought to himself “that ball is out, but I’m going to take a shot anyway, with intent to trick the referee and fool VAR”?

Also, Hardtack, I'm not implying the Japanese cheated: Var certainly did and the fact that the replays were put into Amnesia territory only adds more smoke to the fire.

  On 03/12/2022 at 20:20, Dee Zephyr said:

Ouch Ryan…howler.

My son likened it to the Jack Fitzpatrick tunnel ball incident.

  On 03/12/2022 at 20:20, Dee Zephyr said:

Ouch Ryan…howler.

His only error I thought   made a couple of great saves, Up the other end we did not have enough shots on goal.   Great game though   still taking and making chances inn the last minute

  On 03/12/2022 at 23:32, Monbon said:

And what they showed us was hocus pocus bulldust about Geometry. That was many hours later, presumably after Doctor Shot and Euclid had been consulted. I can clearly see with me own 4 eyes dat there is grass between the ball and the line: Ah, I know, that was the doctored shot. 

I guess the saying you can fool most of the people most of the time is probably true. 

Most salient, is the point Souness and Neville make, that the protocol of screening the replay straight away was conveniently put into the amnesia corner.

So you missed the actual video showing the foot connecting with the ball which was clearly not entirely over the line? I know, it must be doctored…a conspiracy.

  On 04/12/2022 at 05:53, hardtack said:

So you missed the actual video showing the foot connecting with the ball which was clearly not entirely over the line? I know, it must be doctored…a conspiracy.

The photo I posted shows the ball clearly over the line. Whenever the connection was made is irrelevant: the ball is OVER THE LINE.

On to tonight ...

You'd reckon that France & England should progress but both their opponents have nothing to lose and could play that way accordingly

Senegal probably have a better chance of upsetting England as opposed to Poland over France but we've seen plenty of upsets in this WC so you never know

And I echo the sentiments of those praising Australia's run in the WC.  2 eke out 2 wins and to put up a more than credible performance against Argentina in the round of 16 was admirable.  The team should be proud of themselves! (as we are of the team)

  On 04/12/2022 at 06:56, Monbon said:

The photo I posted shows the ball clearly over the line. Whenever the connection was made is irrelevant: the ball is OVER THE LINE.

No, it shows the base of the ball is over the line… however, the perimeter is not, and that is what matters. That’s my final word… bring on the rest of the games.