Brazil v Croatia Match Thread

[shen]

Wasn't it Pierluigi Collina who gifted the Netherlands a penalty in their opening match against the Czechs at Euro 2000? The generally highest rated ref of our generation to date?

[Tincy]

Was it me or did Croatias keeper look like he had taken a brown envelope before the game?? He could of and should have stopped all 3 goals last night

[Bugg]

Was it me or did Croatias keeper look like he had taken a brown envelope before the game?? He could of and should have stopped all 3 goals last night

I agree. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt with the penalty, but he was far too slow to react to the other 2 goals.

Disclaimer - I am not accusing the keeper of match fixing!

[Aus Fox]

Quote of the tournement

"Te ref bottled it, if it's any other player there they get sent off" A.Shearer

[StanSP]

What about Howard Webb allowing kung fu kicks in the World Cup final.

 

Your fighting a losing battle here, ref's make mistakes no matter where their from, and aside from the pen he had a pretty reasonable game.

 

What about the Neymar elbow incident? How was that only a booking?

What about the Olic 'foul' on Cesar which would have led to Croatia scoring their 2nd? I don't get how the goal-keeper was put in danger there. He was barely reaching the ball, Olic hasn't made him fumble it and it's a 50/50 challenge. If those kind of aerial challenges are going to be given as fouls you might as well not challenge for anything if you see the keeper coming. As an offensiver player in that kind of scenario, you're never going to get anything given your way.

 

I'm all for protecting goal-keepers, but there's just too much protection for them and it's been going on for ages where legitimate challenges are given as fouls and have a bearing on the game.

[Bert]

Can we not just move on? It's not like we don't have three games to discuss today and argue about.

But until they start, what are we gonna bitch about??

[Grandad.]

But until they start, what are we gonna bitch about??

 

[Manwell Pablo]

What about the Neymar elbow incident? How was that only a booking?

What about the Olic 'foul' on Cesar which would have led to Croatia scoring their 2nd? I don't get how the goal-keeper was put in danger there. He was barely reaching the ball, Olic hasn't made him fumble it and it's a 50/50 challenge. If those kind of aerial challenges are going to be given as fouls you might as well not challenge for anything if you see the keeper coming. As an offensiver player in that kind of scenario, you're never going to get anything given your way.

 

I'm all for protecting goal-keepers, but there's just too much protection for them and it's been going on for ages where legitimate challenges are given as fouls and have a bearing on the game.

 

Easily, he didn't even elbow him he brushed him with his forearm. As it's already been said if you think that's a straight red you need to play more sport.

 

Again, it is not that ref's fault that every single slight touch on a goalkeeper is given as a free kick, 99% of refs would of given a foul on Cesar for that. 

[StanSP]

Easily, he didn't even elbow him he brushed him with his forearm. As it's already been said if you think that's a straight red you need to play more sport.

 

Again, it is not that ref's fault that every single slight touch on a goalkeeper is given as a free kick, 99% of refs would of given a foul on Cesar for that. 

 

'Brushed him'. I'd like someone to 'brush' you like that in your face and see how you react. And how would you even know how much sport I play ? Such a weak retort.  Neymar's looked at him, run up to him with no eyes on the ball and it was a red clear as day.

[LAprice_]

Whether it was an 'elbow' or a mere 'brushing', Neymar looked directly at the player before committing the offense. To me it seems like it was intended...

[RowlattsFox]

Modric was looking at neymar as well. I've not seen it since it happen but it looked to me that it was hold off sort of elbow rather than a flying one. Benefit of doubt for me.

[AKCJ]

FIFA have employed the best referees from each region, which does not equate to the best referees in the world. It would do if the standard of football was the same in Japan as it is in Spain, but it's not. And me saying that doesn't make me ignorant of Japanese football, it is what it is.

Clearly we're not going to agree on this. I understand the point you're making, but I disagree pretty strongly and resent the implications of ignorance or xenophobia directed at anybody who doesn't agree with you.

 

 

Sorry mate, but it's the World Cup.

 

Do you think that Honduras shouldn't be there because they're not as good as, say, Sweden?

 

It's racist to suggest that he's not good enough because of where he is from. That's the original point.

[Haydos]

'Brushed him'. I'd like someone to 'brush' you like that in your face and see how you react. And how would you even know how much sport I play ? Such a weak retort.  Neymar's looked at him, run up to him with no eyes on the ball and it was a red clear as day.

 

As soon as you play Rugby you realise how pathetic most footballers are, it's embarrassing mate.

[Manwell Pablo]

'Brushed him'. I'd like someone to 'brush' you like that in your face and see how you react. And how would you even know how much sport I play ? Such a weak retort.  Neymar's looked at him, run up to him with no eyes on the ball and it was a red clear as day.

 

pppfppfffytttt Trust me I've had that and twice as bad and you obviously don't play football if you think that's a red. And if you do I worry even more. Neymars looked at him but when you play football you do generally look at other players to, you know, see where they are given your meant to try and beat them to the ball, at the moment of contact he eyes are clearly in the sky looking at ball, i've just seen a still of it on youtube, he's put his arm out to try and gain leverage and sheild off Modric but it's high and catches Modric in the jaw, with his forearm, not his elbow, yellow card. You start wanting reds for that it'll be 8 vs 9 in some games. 

 

The only thing weak here is people trying to find as much fault as they can with a ref he's made one blatantly bad decision to try and back up their view that Japanese officials shouldn't be reffing any games that actually matter. ALL refs make mistakes and I've seem many a German English and Spanish official make a lot more mistakes than he did last night

[Lionator]

If you play Football regularly even at Sunday League level, you'd understand why the yellow card was the correct decision for Neymar, whereas armchair fans who are heavily lead by the misleading media would scream out for a red card. 

 

As for the penalty, poor decision and it screamed home crowd influence. 

[Beliall]

modric is pretty short right? on a normal, non hobbit sized player his arm would have been lower on his body

[Samilktray]

Sorry mate, but it's the World Cup.

Do you think that Honduras shouldn't be there because they're not as good as, say, Sweden?

It's racist to suggest that he's not good enough because of where he is from. That's the original point.

How the hell is that racist

[StanSP]

As soon as you play Rugby you realise how pathetic most footballers are, it's embarrassing mate.

 

Again, I've played rugby before and I do realise how pathetic footballers are. It is embarrassing.

 

pppfppfffytttt Trust me I've had that and twice as bad and you obviously don't play football if you think that's a red. And if you do I worry even more. Neymars looked at him but when you play football you do generally look at other players to, you know, see where they are given your meant to try and beat them to the ball, at the moment of contact he eyes are clearly in the sky looking at ball, i've just seen a still of it on youtube, he's put his arm out to try and gain leverage and sheild off Modric but it's high and catches Modric in the jaw, with his forearm, not his elbow, yellow card. You start wanting reds for that it'll be 8 vs 9 in some games. 

 

The only thing weak here is people trying to find as much fault as they can with a ref he's made one blatantly bad decision to try and back up their view that Japanese officials shouldn't be reffing any games that actually matter. ALL refs make mistakes and I've seem many a German English and Spanish official make a lot more mistakes than he did last night

 

Aw look at you thinking you know whether I play football or not. I 'obviously' do play football and I do think it's a red. You do realise you can think like that, right? Or is that not allowed in your books? Not the first time you think you've got more of an opinion than anyone else and get on a high horse about it all.

 

And I have never mentioned his race or nationality so not sure how that comes in to your argument in this case. I'm not arguing about where he's from or what nationality he is cos to me that has less of a bearing than anything else.

[Guest ttfn]

Sorry mate, but it's the World Cup.

Do you think that Honduras shouldn't be there because they're not as good as, say, Sweden?

It's racist to suggest that he's not good enough because of where he is from. That's the original point.

Honduras or Sweden are not being selected on merit to be in one of the biggest games of the tournament.

If Barton was saying that the referee shouldn't have been in charge because he is Japanese, that is racist.

If Barton was saying that the referee shouldn't have been in charge because, as a Japanese referee, he doesn't have the requisite experience and frequent exposure to high-level football, that is not racist in the slightest. It might well be ignorant (you seem to be an expert on the standard of Asian club football) but it's not racist. I don't want to speak for Joey Barton and for all I know he may have meant the former.

Have the best referees from the various regions refereeing the best players in the world on a regular basis and this conversation goes away. To be honest it's slightly parochial that this doesn't happen anyway.

[Manwell Pablo]

Again, I've played rugby before and I do realise how pathetic footballers are. It is embarrassing.

 

 

Aw look at you thinking you know whether I play football or not. I 'obviously' do play football and I do think it's a red. You do realise you can think like that, right? Or is that not allowed in your books? Not the first time you think you've got more of an opinion than anyone else and get on a high horse about it all.

 

And I have never mentioned his race or nationality so not sure how that comes in to your argument in this case. I'm not arguing about where he's from or what nationality he is cos to me that has less of a bearing than anything else.

 

you can think however you want your still wrong, I think you need to wind your neck and stop getting upset to be honest, you've quoted me and asked me if it was not a red card I am little perplexed why are you crying about me answering your question.

 

There's more than just you posting in this thread. There is a clear overall discussion going on as to whether a ref from a small non European country should be given a game like this. 

[notnow john]

I thought it was a bit unfair letting Neymar's dad ref the game.

[Grandad.]

How the hell is it racist what ttfn has said?! 

 

Jesus Christ.

[Guest ttfn]

How the hell is it racist what ttfn has said?!

Jesus Christ.

(I hope) he didn't think it was racist.

I think he was talking about what Barton said which is slightly more open to interpretation.

[StanSP]

you can think however you want your still wrong, I think you need to wind your neck and stop getting upset to be honest, you've quoted me and asked me if it was not a red card I am little perplexed why are you crying about me answering your question.

 

There's more than just you posting in this thread. There is a clear overall discussion going on as to whether a ref from a small non European country should be given a game like this. 

 

And that is why it is pointless arguing with you.

[Captain...]

did you agree with Neymar looking at modric, then the ball, then back at modric, clearly not being bother about the ball before lashing an arm in his face but only being booked?

If that's a Cameroon centre half midway through meaningless group game next week he's sent off, disgraced and banned for the rest of the competition. It's Neymar so well just book him. Ok.

 

It's a booking, no different to Wasyl and many other players using their arms to get an advantage, he looked at Modric and stuck his arm in his face, he didn't swing an elbow. If the ref decides it is a yellow then it is a yellow, if the ref decides it is a red, then it is a red.

 

The rules leave it down to the ref's interpretation on one viewing of it, not the fans or pundits interpretation after numerous slow motion replays, there is not a clear definition in the rules.

 

My point was that the overreaction on here is oh so typical, blaming the ref when the ref's do not have the tools to enforce the game, the rules aren't clear enough and every ref can interpret that "elbow" differently, it doesn't make them a bad ref. He was equally lenient with some Croatian challenges.

 

The penalty shouldn't have been given, we've all seen equally soft ones given at the highest level by the best ref's, that doesn't excuse it, but the ref has no choice but to go on what he sees, and he has no option in that situation to give a penalty if he believes he has seen a foul. He was conned by the player and possibly influenced by the crowd, but the player only went down because there was contact and from the refs angle it is difficult for him to tell how much.

 

This has been a problem for years, and there have been countless solutions proposed, retrospective bans and fines for play acting, which I still can't believe doesn't exist. TV ref, that is watching on a screen in the stands that can assist or overrule the ref, the option to challenge the ref's decision, the option for the ref to watch a replay, and more. Finally we have goal line techno, but that resolved about 3 desputes last season.

 

I don't blame the ref for the penalty he had no choice, he believed he had seen an infringement, it will happen again and again this world cup, next season and beyond until FIFA actually try and do something to tackle cheating by players and giving the ref the tools to make the right decision.