2014 FIFA World Cup

[ThomThomDrum]

A bit rich Scolari complaining about Neymar being hunted, Brazil were knocking seven bells out of Rodriguez all game.

[ThomThomDrum]

I think stinker is a bit harsh as I have seen games where officials have got all the key decisions wrong, to me the officials got most key decisions correct eg penalty, luiz free kick and disallowed goal. I understand the argument that if Fernandinhio had been punished the game may have been different, however in my opinion the referee was too lenient with both teams. I suppose leniency is consistent with FIFAs directive before the tournament and we have all seen games ruined by card happy referees, but there must be a happy medium.

People read way too much into the early games of the tournament. When people think of France in 1998 they think of a very good team outclassing Brazil in the final and forget that they labored through every knockout game to reach the showpiece.

I thought Brazil were the better side and deserved to win today. Colombia did very little for the first 75 minutes Despite often being portrayed as a clown in this country, I think Luiz is a huge player for Brazil and has been good both defensively and offensively in this world cup. He also seems to be relishing playing some kind of leadership role within the team.

[pink_triangle]

Indeed and the ref allowed for hard tackling for 60 minutes before showing a card which played into Brazils hands. A disgrace of a performance from the ref. I hope Ze Germans destroy that Brazil team. They are one of the worst Brazil teams to watch i have have ever seen and they don't deserve to be In the semifinal IMO. Homer decisions for them from the start of the tournament

[pink_triangle]

Columbia were not allowed play for the first 60 mins as Brazil kicked lumps out of them and the ref allowed it to happen. Nearly 40 fouls in that first hour and not 1 yellow? A disgrace of a performance from the ref. he also should have sent off the keeper when he gave the peno but didn't. It stinks to high heaven

[ThomThomDrum]

The referee was too lenient, just as Howard Webb was in the last world cup final when he was praised by man (not myself) for not ruining the game. Colombia didn't play well enough, many top players have played over physical sides and performed, they let the referee rattle them when they needed to stay calm.

Regarding the refereeing, from what I heard today the 4 referees that have been rewarded with quarter finals were the 4 most lenient in the tournament. It seems these referees are officiating in the way that FIFA wants. Too lenient in my view, but if it has to go one side or the happy medium I would rather it be this one. As for the penalty, not all decision are black and white. I have heard enough differing opinions from various people to convince me that he could be justified going either way.

If Holland don't win this game, they only have themselves to blame. As someone with a bet on Argentina a Costa Rica penalty win would be perfect!

[ThomThomDrum]

LvG has just shown all Utd fans what wonderful balls of steal he possesses Masterstroke!

[LJS]

Gutted for Costa Rica.....

[ThomThomDrum]

I thought the whole thing was being blown out of perspective... Seen managers doing this before, wasn't that big of a deal...

[pink_triangle]

Rules are rules. FIFA influencing these games by asking refs to be lenient and/or choosing lenient refs makes a mockery of the game IMO.

[VCK]

Even though I'm a Leeds fan I'm facepalming at the bitterness towards Van Gaal from the "obsessed with Man United brigade" tonight. He made a substitution and went on to win the game, fair play to him, personally I wouldn't mind if Holland won the World Cup, I've enjoyed watching them a lot more than Brazil or Argentina.

I've also not seen one Man United fan claim they're gonna win the league purely because of that substitution, yet according to everyone, that's what they've all been saying.

[dentalplan]

I've also not seen one Man United fan claim they're gonna win the league purely because of that substitution, yet according to everyone, that's what they've all been saying.

[ThomThomDrum]

While rules are rules there is an element of interpretation to the rules. I personally don't watch a match (unless it negatively) effects my own team and judge enjoyment by how well the referee follows the rules. To me previous tournaments have been negatively effected by officials being too stringent. Whether that's down to the rules or the interpretation is debatable. I think moving towards a more lenient interpretation of the rules is more to my personal taste. While this will mean there are games like yesterday which go too far, I think in general it will improve football.

[thegremlin_1999]

Re the keeper coming on for a shoot out.

Leicester did it in the playoff final in '96 bringing on the 6'8" zelkjo kalac. Of course 20 seconds later, in stoppage time of extra time Steve Claridge scored the winner, shinning it past Nigel martyn, so it was irrelevant!

Edited July 6, 2014 by thegremlin_1999

[pink_triangle]

It may be to your taste but it makes football more unfair to have leniency to rules. It does make others switch off even if it's your preferred "style" of refereeing

It also makes the governing of football look farcical considering its consistent push on "fair play" (not that it needs something else to make it look farcical)

[eFestivals]

all of the clearly better teams have come thru the quarter finals - a good thing to see, tho I was vainly hoping that Costa Rica might play the Dutch off the park last night.

[ThomThomDrum]

Where is the evidence to suggest more lenient refereeing makes people switch off. I can never remember in previous tournaments people cheering how great it was to have more red cards and suspensions..

[pink_triangle]

It's simply anecdotal. I know plenty of people getting pissed off with football, watching less and saying the inherent unfair nature of it is one of the reasons why. I for one watch less ball because of it. And I know others who have got into other sports such as NFL and Rugby and find watching football very irritating in comparison now due to the unfair nature of it.

Btw I'm not looking for more red cards and suspensions. I'm looking for players to play within the rules and refs and governing bodies ensuring that's done as much as possible.

[pink_triangle]

all of the clearly better teams have come thru the quarter finals - a good thing to see, tho I was vainly hoping that Costa Rica might play the Dutch off the park last night.

[mrtourette]

It was a bold move that paid off, although it doesn't help those who are already sick of all this sudden circle-jerking over van Gaal. It's like he's only suddenly become a manager to be lauded since he took the Man Utd job.

[thetime]

It was a bold move that paid off, although it doesn't help those who are already sick of all this sudden circle-jerking over van Gaal. It's like he's only suddenly become a manager to be lauded since he took the Man Utd job.

[LondonTom]

I think I'd rather an undergod scraping through and providing excitment ...gives me something to cheer on when England go out ...Its become a touranment of which team do I dislike less than the others...and that leaves me supporting Germany

I don't think van Gaal's Goalkeeper sub was that ballsy really and surely the Man Utd fans going on about it should be asking why Holland were unable to outwit Costa Rica? (Admitedly they got close )

[eFestivals]

I don't think van Gaal's Goalkeeper sub was that ballsy really

at the end of the day it's no different to changing an outfield player in the last minutes of extra time to have better penalty takers.

The only surprising thing with it was that it happened - cos I'm not aware of it being done before in a major match. Then again, normally by that point in a major match all subs have been used anyway.

[TheGayTent]

Martin O'Neill did it in a play off final when he was Leicester manager. Can't remember the name of the bloke but he was huge and he took off Kevin Poole for him with not long left. However, it was forgotten about because Claridge scored in injury time so there weren't any penalties.

Edit: just read gremlins post above - ignore me still trying to catch up.

Edited July 7, 2014 by TheGayTent

[Gucci Piggy]

[Essex_George]

Fuck this is getting embarrassing.