Football (Soccer)

[manufc10]

Lukaku is a BEAST…Batshuayi is a BEAST....I've said it from the get go, look out for the dark horse that is Belgium.

[Seul]

If Mexico win, and Germany lose today, then this might be the best day of my life…

[manufc10]

[Seul]

[manufc10]

Si se puede!

[AdamC]

Huge for Englands side of the draw if this stays as is! Cannot count the Germans out with 45 to play though!

[manufc10]

@Seul is 45 minutes away from having the best day of his life.

[Giles]

Didn't happen…..

[501IH]

Not so fast… @Seul : look at the bright side. So much better to be able to say, "the best is yet to come".

[GBurke]

https://gifer.com/Tl6h.

We’re still alive!

[manufc10]

Woooooooowwwwww…....

[manufc10]

Fucking Germany

[501IH]

Language!

[manufc10]

Sorry….mother fucking Germany...

[501IH]

Only marginally better…..

Gosh, this was suspenseful.

[manufc10]

Honestly they deserved that win, 100%.  That's what world class champions do.  Kudos to Germany they deserved every bit of that.  They had 10 men for crying out loud!  That was impressive..

[nurunuru]

Gutted for Sweden…  Especially after the absolute stonewall penalty which wasn't given early on in the match.  I guess all four of the VAR team were off taking a smoke break at that particular moment.  Seriously...  What is the point of the whole VAR deal again?  If you can foul a player that blatantly within the box and get away with it, I just don't understand what anyone is doing in that room.  When they implemented goal-line technology, it had an obvious impact on the game.  However, I've watched several of these World Cup games apparently featuring 'VAR' and have yet to be aware of it making the slightest bit of difference.  It's just four guys doing nothing in a room and getting payed for it.  Kindof like my job, actually.  (Although I do occasionally have to leave to go and fight fires and whatnot  :D)

[Giles]

I agree, the two blatant penalties on Kane in our match against Tunisia were missed by the VAR boys (who actually wear full ref kit in their darkened room to make them feel like they are actually refs - but seems to be the only similarity)

[neph93]

Isn’t it the case that VAR can only be used if the ref on the pitch asks for it? So if the ref doesn’t see a foul in the box or sees it but doesn’t think it’s a pen, the VAR boys can’t intervene unless explicitly invited to do so by the ref.

[Giles]

My reading of the below, means that the VARs can and should intervene….

VAR only intervenes in the course of a match when the officials have made a 'clear and obvious error' in one of four key areas.

Goals
A close offside decision is the most common reason for VAR being consulted after a goal has been scored, but shirt-pulling and other infringements can cause goals to be chalked off.

Penalties
The most subjective and arguably problematic area. Penalties can be awarded or rescinded using VAR if there has been a 'clear and obvious error' in the original decision.

Straight red cards
Violent conduct and dangerous tackles can be penalised using VAR. Second-yellow cards cannot.

Mistaken identity
If the referee sends off the wrong player