OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread

[upstater1]

I used to support VAR but it is applied so inconsistently now as to be a problem.

1. Balogun's red card: the protocol for VAR red card was not followed.

but just today...

2. An Egyptian goal was taken away by rewinding the play all the way back to the other end when both teams committed ticky tack fouls in the normal course of play. There was no reckless challenge at all. It was the type of play refs let go, and if VAR wants to rewind every time the ref let's a foul go, the game would be endless.

3. Before the final Argentinian goal, the same thing happened with Argentina committing a foul, but where was VAR? It didn't review.

4. The Colombia game was a total mess. A goal was disallowed because someone's toe was in front of an imaginary line. Absurd.

5. We saw clear fouls that should've been penalty kicks ignored by VAR. Happened to both teams.

You can't use VAR if it is to be applied inconsistently. Goals should not be waved off because of a much earlier foul unless we have a reckless challenge. VAR should review all contact in the box and not make arbitrary decisions to ignore some.

 

[XLIX]

Tough to beat the Argentina Chiefs when it's 12 on 11.

 

[patfanken]

My only interest in this corrupt tournament is when the US was in it. I'll look forward to seeing the highlights when appear, and might even watch a a couple of game, just a half hour at a time. It's almost like I watch the NBA now. If the C's aren't playing, I tune in for the last 5-8 minutes of a game. As much as I love football, I rarely watch a full game the Pats aren't playing in these days. Though I still love a 4th quarter of a tight game, especially in the playoffs. But my days of being glued to the set with rapt attention are over. Again, with the exception of when the Pats are playing.

Soccer is a beautiful game, and I have come to appreciate the skill level of watching the buildup of the offense and the many passes it takes to get the ball into the scoring zone to attack the goal, but the fact remains it never seems to matter to me if I miss the first 70 minutes of a one score or tie game if I turn it on then and watch the last 15-20 minutes

I enjoyed the US getting to the round of 16, but it was pretty sad how they went out, with a whimper rather than a roar. Not remotely heroic like Cape Verde, or Egypt and the like. Can't help but wonder if the Trump touch tainted their efforts like the economy, the War he started, the insurance he knocked people out of, the snap benefits he knocked people out of, AND the massive personal corruption he has perpetrated that have been DOCUMENTED let alone the others we don't know about. And worst of all, the damage he has done to our very democracy. His big lie has people questioning the very veracity of the system of voting that has worked well in EVERY election we've had, and that includes one we had during a civil war. But this is no longer the case. His "big Lie" He tried over SEVENTY times to go to court and prove his "fraud" and in EVERY single case he didn't provide enough evidence to prove a SINGLE case, and yet his claims go on and belief in his lies grows. And to think I might live long enough to see the end of a stable democracy. Who would have thought.

BTW- Trump has pretty much followed the Nazi party build up in Germany in 1932 - He got big corporate interests behind him with big public works programs and the buildup of defense spending etc. He gave the people their enemy. With Hitler it was the Jews, with Trump its immigrants. Now all we have to wait for over the next 4 months is our Reichstag Fire. Some dramatic event that will be the excuse to suspend the election, suppress opposition, and reduce civil liberties, just like the Nazis did in Feb of 1933. Probably a little too obvious for the Capital to burn down, but some sort of violence that can be blamed on "communists" or the like.

As Trump's approval ratings keep dropping it is only a matter of time. He has more power now than any previous president in US history thanks to a compliant GOP and Supreme Court. Historically people with that power kind of power don't give it up willingly in relatively normal times, but we are dealing with a narcissistic sociopath who lives in a different reality than the rest of us, so I can pretty much guarantee something is going to happen. Hope I'd dead wrong.

.... and as usual. Pardon me for my diatribe. Seems like every couple of months they just pop on out out of nowhere. This time it was a damned soccer comment. Feel free to edit, move or delete it. I feel better already just for penning it.

 

[Tunescribe]

I used to support VAR but it is applied so inconsistently now as to be a problem.

1. Balogun's red card: the protocol for VAR red card was not followed.

but just today...

2. An Egyptian goal was taken away by rewinding the play all the way back to the other end when both teams committed ticky tack fouls in the normal course of play. There was no reckless challenge at all. It was the type of play refs let go, and if VAR wants to rewind every time the ref let's a foul go, the game would be endless.

3. Before the final Argentinian goal, the same thing happened with Argentina committing a foul, but where was VAR? It didn't review.

4. The Colombia game was a total mess. A goal was disallowed because someone's toe was in front of an imaginary line. Absurd.

5. We saw clear fouls that should've been penalty kicks ignored by VAR. Happened to both teams.

You can't use VAR if it is to be applied inconsistently. Goals should not be waved off because of a much earlier foul unless we have a reckless challenge. VAR should review all contact in the box and not make arbitrary decisions to ignore some.

Big-time soccer might be the worst-officiated game in all of sports. That is because it's nearly impossible to officiate efficiently between the lines real-time on a judgment-call basis. When to use replay itself is a judgment call and unfortunately, the game's pacing demands it be used sparingly.