Quarter Finals

[Kurt.]

Lot of Messi hate in here tonight

I drink your tears and revel in your hatred

 

[Shevin Keedy]

American = Kopite. I suppose that makes sense from your perspective. Harsh, but I can see it.

Hendoooooo

I can't tell from the type face if that's an american accent sorry, but deffo sounds like kopite.

 

[Walken]

This is low tier bait, and I respect it

I've had a few drinks

 

[Martin Alvito]

I can't tell from the type face if that's an american accent sorry, but deffo sounds like kopite.

Surely you wondered why people call him Big Oil all the time somewhere along the way.

 

[Rook]

It was the kind of game where the ref did himself no favors by failing to distribute an early card or three. The yellow on van Dijk surely should have been his second, after he bowled over players during the first melee and dodged a card. Both sides were fortunate to finish with eleven on the pitch.

I get that the ref doesn't want to paint himself into a corner if it's avoidable, but swallowing the whistle for too long just lets it degenerate into the kind of melee the 2010 final was.

After he booted that ball into the stands despite all the yellows it sent a message that no one is getting sent off. I understand not wanting it to be 10v11 but there were plenty of cards passed around that it could have been 10v10 in mintues.

 

[Rook]

Just getting the feeling that Croatia just gonna let the Argies beat themselves.

Argentina is probably the best team at this tourney at being able to cut up a organized defense in the final 1/3. The other 2/3rds of the pitch seem to be a problem.

 

[Drico]

Just getting the feeling that Croatia just gonna let the Argies beat themselves.

Argentina is probably the best team at this tourney at being able to cut up a organized defense in the final 1/3. The other 2/3rds of the pitch seem to be a problem.

Yeah, I think Croatia - who hammered Argentina in the last World Cup - might be a bit too canny and cool for the over-emotional hot heads of Argentina. That overwrought emotion can lead to some pretty interesting implosions, and the Croatians will certainly have no fear of Argentina after 2018 and today's win over Brazil.

 

[Martin Alvito]

After he booted that ball into the stands despite all the yellows it sent a message that no one is getting sent off. I understand not wanting it to be 10v11 but there were plenty of cards passed around that it could have been 10v10 in mintues.

If he had wanted to send him to the showers, he probably had enough to go on in the melee to send van Dijk there with him. Trouble is, that also affects the game. Rightly or wrongly, people will feel that banishing the Dutch captain and marshal of the defense gives the Argentines a relative advantage 10v10.

It's already a no-win situation by that point. If you want my opinion, he could have handed out a very marginal card rather than a lecture around the 13th or 14th minute and asserted a lot more control over the game. This bothered me at the time. By the time he started distributing cards around halftime, it was too late to keep the proceedings from getting chippy, and it was already obvious that he would be avoiding a sending off at all costs.

This then goes right back down the rabbit hole of refereeing the players and the game state rather than applying the rules consistently, though.

Another problem with FIFA referees IMO is the low retirement age. I understand the physical demands of refereeing football, but functionally giving refs one shot and one shot only at refereeing on the biggest stages seems nuts to me. They're not immune to pressure any more than the players are, and they're all the proverbial Cinderella story with one shot at glory and no reasonable pathway back to the title game for a chance at a redemption arc. No pressure.

 

[tommye]

Reminds me of this...

?

 

[tommye]

I've never liked him purely because of the shape of his head

As good a reason as any ?‍

 

[TheBigIguana]

Just getting the feeling that Croatia just gonna let the Argies beat themselves.

Argentina is probably the best team at this tourney at being able to cut up a organized defense in the final 1/3. The other 2/3rds of the pitch seem to be a problem.

They're actually defending really well but their keeper is a ghost (pre-shootout). 5 goals allowed, 3 saves. Neither Dutch goal can be called unsaveable.

 

[Martin Alvito]

They're actually defending really well but their keeper is a ghost (pre-shootout). 5 goals allowed, 3 saves. Neither Dutch goal can be called unsaveable.

It's like they should be exploding anyone who gets a really good look in the box. The keeper is more likely to save a penalty than a shot in open play.

 

[LinekersLegs]

If he had wanted to send him to the showers, he probably had enough to go on in the melee to send van Dijk there with him. Trouble is, that also affects the game. Rightly or wrongly, people will feel that banishing the Dutch captain and marshal of the defense gives the Argentines a relative advantage 10v10.

It's already a no-win situation by that point. If you want my opinion, he could have handed out a very marginal card rather than a lecture around the 13th or 14th minute and asserted a lot more control over the game. This bothered me at the time. By the time he started distributing cards around halftime, it was too late to keep the proceedings from getting chippy, and it was already obvious that he would be avoiding a sending off at all costs.

This then goes right back down the rabbit hole of refereeing the players and the game state rather than applying the rules consistently, though.

Another problem with FIFA referees IMO is the low retirement age. I understand the physical demands of refereeing football, but functionally giving refs one shot and one shot only at refereeing on the biggest stages seems nuts to me. They're not immune to pressure any more than the players are, and they'r all the proverbial Cinderella story with one shot at glory and no reasonable pathway back to the title game for a chance at a redemption arc. No pressure.

Messi not getting a yellow for a very deliberate hand ball was simply ridiculous and really showed that the occasion was getting to him.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

Messi not getting a yellow for a very deliberate hand ball was simply ridiculous and really showed that the occasion was getting to him.

Deliberate handball isn't an automatic yellow card though, only in certain circumstances like attempting to score a goal or stopping a promising attack.
Messi did neither so I think the ref was right not to book him to be fair.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I know a hell of a lot happened afterward so I'm going to point out that Messi's assist is one of the greatest passes in the history of this tournament. He took 6 defenders out with one pass to a player he never actually looked at. There will never be another like him.