Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic

[OntarioFox]

I like how this is the current game but nobody here is talking about it and there hasn't been a post for five days. As harsh as it is, this is the most boring group for me. 

[fazzyfox]

The Czechs have holes in their defence 

[OntarioFox]

 And we're off!

 

[Jaspa]

Nah Seeth Efrika are just shite

[StanSP]

5 minutes ago, OntarioFox said:

I like how this is the current game but nobody here is talking about it and there hasn't been a post for five days. As harsh as it is, this is the most boring group for me. 

Probably because the last group game was that long ago, or longer?! 

[StanSP]

Czechia have started very brightly. 

[ramboacdc]

4 minutes ago, OntarioFox said:

I like how this is the current game but nobody here is talking about it and there hasn't been a post for five days. As harsh as it is, this is the most boring group for me. 

It isn't the worst group IMO. Group B is bobbins.  A very good chance that will be decided by goal difference or even cards. 

 

If this is a draw and one of Mexico or Korea win, at least we can start building the knockout brackets. 

[MC Prussian]

Great team effort for that goal.

[OntarioFox]

4 minutes ago, ramboacdc said:

It isn't the worst group IMO. Group B is bobbins.  A very good chance that will be decided by goal difference or even cards. 

 

If this is a draw and one of Mexico or Korea win, at least we can start building the knockout brackets. 

Overall quality-wise, sure, but the two games we've had so far in Group B have been a lot of fun and none of them have really looked out of their depth - limited, sure, but all with their merits. Even Qatar are well-organised and worth the admission price, which I'm amazed to be saying after their laughable showing at their own world cup four years ago.

South Africa are absolutely stinking the tournament out so far, they seem to be playing purely on vibes and blind hope. And that's in a tournament where even the minnows have clear gameplans, sticking in games and springing surprises here and there (Curacao aside after their deserved equaliser). I'd be surprised if this one ends in anything other than a comfortable Czech win.

[Stuntman_Mike]

I can't believe this South Africa side finished above Nigeria in qualifying.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Czechia living off memories from Euro 96. I always expect them to be fun and good to watch but in reality they're bang average and have been for years and years.

[Finnegan]

Kinell are we back to group A already? Where has the week gone.

[StanSP]

Czech are lucky South Africa aren't as good as South Korea. Wasted chances. 

[MC Prussian]

Ever since the opener, this game has gone very flat. Late equalizer incoming.

[BKLFox]

Harsh penalty that 

[OntarioFox]

Shit bastards! Totally undeserved.

[The Doctor]

absolute robbery

[Arriba Los Zorros]

This result will eliminate both teams from the tournament 

[Kitchandro]

These pundits do my head in.

 

The handball rule is that it has to be intentional. I hear this every other week. Why are there 3 former professionals plus a presenter and not one of them can make this point.

 

There is no such thing as an objective handball, so the only thing that matters is if the referee thinks the player did it on purpose or could have avoided handling it.

 

Based on that it’s quite obvious that is not a penalty. Harsh is irrelevant. The presenter should be asking one question. Do you think it was intentional or not? If no, then you don’t think it’s a penalty.

These guys are saying ‘no, I don’t think it was intentional’ and then saying they think the decision is correct. Idiots.

[DennisNedry]

Never a penalty, that.

[Super_horns]

 

Group A might well see a 3rd place side go out?

[when_you're_smiling]

3 hours ago, Kitchandro said:

These pundits do my head in.

 

The handball rule is that it has to be intentional. I hear this every other week. Why are there 3 former professionals plus a presenter and not one of them can make this point.

 

There is no such thing as an objective handball, so the only thing that matters is if the referee thinks the player did it on purpose or could have avoided handling it.

 

Based on that it’s quite obvious that is not a penalty. Harsh is irrelevant. The presenter should be asking one question. Do you think it was intentional or not? If no, then you don’t think it’s a penalty.

These guys are saying ‘no, I don’t think it was intentional’ and then saying they think the decision is correct. Idiots.

I completely agree with you, however….

 

….they changed the law so even if it’s not deliberate it can still be penalised if someone ‘touches the ball with their hand/arm when it is in a position that makes their body unnaturally bigger and that position is not the result of their body moving fairly as part of play’

 

Going away from a handball having to be deliberate has caused more problems IMO.

[Jaspa]

Winner of this one likely wins Group A. Hope this game goes better than the one on earlier.

[trabuch]

Looking forward to this. But I'll probably fall asleep. 

[OntarioFox]

22 minutes ago, trabuch said:

Looking forward to this. But I'll probably fall asleep. 

I'm up but more to see the byelection result come in - just have a feeling it's going to have more bearing on my life than who wins out of Mexico or Korea