shen

On every replay they showed here, you could clearly see the spin and direction change

What?? If the slightest of touches means a goal gets called offside despite having no tangible consequence (Croatia), then why is the penalty given here when the consequence is that the ball gets pushed further away from the attacker (i.e. consequential)? He clearly was when he touches the ball. He would've touched it even more if Cunha hadn't touched it first. The angle was very conclusive. You can see the ball change spin and direction with the angle he was shown, no problem.

Why is it a penalty when he touches the ball before the man?

I suppose it has. No idea if the legal mumbo jumbo splits hairs.

Balogun's match-ban suspended. Bull.

The Aussies clearly rehearsed this, so he didn't put himself forward. To put an 18 a kid in such a high pressure situation, he'd have to be of a certain mental fortitude which he clearly wasn't. His whole body language was off. Even CBs should know how to hit the effing target from the penalty spot. It's just an unforgiveable thing to miss the target altogether.

Terrible choice as fourth PK taker.

Ryan goes early both times. Should be cautioned.

A shame for Souttar. He's been MotM with Beach imo.

Spain were a good watch. Yamal was entertaining if not efficient. Well oiled machine. Just a shame they always have that cheating, whiny character as well.

Didn't you say you'd give up on the club if they appointed Martin?

I seem to remember the officials at the 1966 final were pretty controversial too

Most, not all.

Old games had horror tackle after horror tackle. Defenders would just barge opposition players over with not even a hint of taking the ball. Proper brutish stuff. Had nothing to do with football, but so many still defended it as a "contact sport". At worst, it's regressing a little towards those days.

Most of the best players will have a mean streak.

I won it with a worse team than yours. It's about rng luck as well.

I know '86 won neutral hearts and not many will rank them lower than the very best Danish team ever. But I would dare say the '98 team were the closest to a complete team that could genuinely compete with the best. We ran Brazil very close that day.

No, but they watched on with large smiles. All super cringe, but good fun.

It's a blatant ripoff of Iceland at the Euros/Worlds. But it's a bit of harmless fun, so let them enjoy it. It's been a while generation since they were last at the worlds, so I don't blame their enthusiasm.

Sitting here with the Norwegian in-laws. The nerves were very palpable. The optimism nonexistant happy they go through, but feel sorry for the Ivorians who looked a tidy side.

Lay off Hugo, he's a legend

The only ones that have impressed me so far are South Africa's center halves and their number 7.

I would've looked forward to a money-waving celebration from Algeria fans had they held on. Would've been a sweet revenge.

Imagine being Senegal. Playing France, Norway and England in your first four games at the world cup. Probably the two biggest favourites for the title and the form team out of Europe.

I remember when Rits was touted as the next big thing from Belgium when he broke into the first team at a very young age. Did he peak early or did he never fulfil his promise?