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Probably caused by all the head contact. They really should wear helmets.
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Would love to have seen that happen while Klinsmann was still playing. Never seen someone roll eight times since after a tiny contract.
I think England can beat Argentina. Switzerland might well have won except for that red card
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So all those matches for the top 4 chalk?
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Announcer said that it’s the first time that the top 4 seeded teams made the semifinals.
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Very unusual. Here are the seedings that made it through to the last few world cup semifinals.
2022 - 3, 4, 16, 24
2018 - 5, 7, 12, 18
2014 - 2, 3, 8, 11
2010 - 2, 3, 5, 25
2006 - 4, 6, 7, 17
2002 - 1, 4, 23, 25
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I think i could easily decline an invitation from that world’s biggest a-hole.
I’d be concerned about my wallet.
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Probably the first time that pairings allowed the top 4 to reach the semis. Remember that WC brackets are not seeded in the same way American tournaments are.
There is some history -
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In 2022,
France (3) played Croatia (16) in the semifinal after Croatia had knocked out Brazil (1) in the quarterfinal.
Argentina (4) played Morocco (24) in the semifinal after Morocco had topped the group containing Belgium (2), who did not qualify for the knockout rounds.
So, if games had gone according to seedings, 3 would have played 1 and 4 played 2 in the seimfinals.
England and Argentina fans despise each other
Almost as bad as Brazil vs Argentina fans.
Spain vs France game will very likely decide who wins the WC.
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People in Bangladesh take their football a little too seriously.
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English fans shouldn’t mention the Falklands War but they do.
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The four semi-finalists all have superstars that are household names: Mbappe, Messi, Yamal and Bellingham. Not surprising I suppose that there is no surviving team of lesser known stars.
FIFA and the broadcasters must be salivating over this.
It’s a bit silly for FIFA to deny the ball hit the cable. The Norway coach and Haaland were barking at the ref when it happened, and the TV crew showed pretty clear footage of the ball changing trajectory at halftime. At a minimum it should have gone to VAR.
I think this WC has been well called in general. This non call was certainly not the difference in this match. However denying it happened is a bit nuts.
What’s the remedy when the ball hits an object over the field?
It’s a little crazy all the new camera placements. With drones available, I think it’s going to get more crazy.
I noticed the ARG-ENG match is in Atlanta. What will the temperature inside be with the roof closed?
Another issue in the area:
“IF”.
Dropped ball to the team that last “possessed” it.
At the field I referee, there is a tree that overhangs the field. Instead of a dropped ball every time, it is “part of the field.” Everyone knows it’s there, and it is not changing its placement.
Why FIFA is “denying it hit it”: That might be an error by the VAR not to check for an anomaly like that. Match restarted before “it was discovered,” so they have to “protect” the incompetent VAR? I don’t think that is what FIFA does.
They could show us the “non-touch” graph. But “they” could fake that, just like “they” did with that Croatia goal.
But, show us and most of us will be placated.
Similar to people claiming to talk with McConnell or flaming (both ways!) Lindsey Graham.
However, it seems like a lot of work by evil geniuses to get England to advance, when having Norway advance would be just as pleasing.