The Beautiful Game thread, season 2017/18

[XXXIV]

Now the beautiful game!

Sweet f***in goal!

[XXXIV]

So you pick and choose VAR?

Disgusting .

Where was VAR on the dive by the Tournaments biggest c***\?

[XXXIV]

Disgusting

Picking and choosing VAR.

That dive should have been looked at.

VAR should be a managers challenge leaving it to the corrupt filth at fifa stinks on ice.

[dougb]

That’s pretty harsh. Arm was returning to the side as he was in the air following the jump so looked to me like it was in the natural position. Croatia definitely were better in the first half and even the first free kick awarded France on their goal was harsh.

Doug

[XXXIV]

That’s pretty harsh. Arm was returning to the side as he was in the air following the jump so looked to me like it was in the natural position. Croatia definitely were better in the first half and even the first free kick awarded France on their goal was harsh.

Doug

You say it all so much nicer that I do.

[XXXIV]

Now that was a sweet goal.

[dougb]

Now that was a sweet goal.

Yep, but boy it’s astounding how Croatia can be technically better and still be 3-1 down.

Doug

[XXXIV]

Now that was a sweet goal.

Yep, but boy it’s astounding how Croatia can be technically better and still be 3-1 down.

Doug

and 4-1 down

Much of the credit to Croatia for pushing.

[dougb]

Now that was a sweet goal.

Yep, but boy it’s astounding how Croatia can be technically better and still be 3-1 down.

Doug

and 4-1 down

Much of the credit to Croatia for pushing.

What an absolutely bizarre final!

Doug

[XXXIV]

Yes sir

[XXXIV]

Lovren is always dangerous

[XXXIV]

Felt so wrong.

[10spro]

Congrats France on a great tournament. They were the better and deeper team, Croatia fought hard but they just didn’t have the depth and talent that Les Bleus had. A couple of unfortunate goals on each side, fantastic work by Matuidi-Pogba and Kante again.

If there’s anything every nation needs to learn from this WC, is to nourish the under 17 young players program to their full potential, be patient and be young, very young.

[XXXIV]

Ya okay.

Most undeserving winner ever,

My take.

[Rodster]

If there’s anything every nation needs to learn from this WC, is to nourish the under 17 young players program to their full potential, be patient and be young, very young.

Please forward your memo to the USMSNT because obviously the US is going about it all wrong and congrats to France.

[RobVarak]

A tough loss made harder because we so thoroughly outplayed them for long stretches. I'm fine with not being able to handle M'bappe, but them getting the breaks on the Griezmann dive and the dubious PK is frustrating in that it gave them a foothold they didn't deserve and forced Croatia on the front foot even more, opening up those long balls.

Super proud of this Croatia team, but I think the underdog storyline is wrong. We should be making regular deep runs in international tourneys. The reality is that we've been underachieving over the last 10-12 years.

Still, Congrats to France for winning despite only probably playing their best football for a few small stretches throughout the tournament. Their incredible depth earns them that luxury and they deserve to add the star to their shirts.

[XXXIV]

Just finished rewatching the first half.

Most undeserving winner in WC history.

Not happy with the dive at all.

Horrible dive that should not be worshipped.

[pk500]

That’s pretty harsh. Arm was returning to the side as he was in the air following the jump so looked to me like it was in the natural position. Croatia definitely were better in the first half and even the first free kick awarded France on their goal was harsh.

Doug

Disagree. It's up to the defender to keep his arms tucked. Natural or not, Perisic's arm was at a 90-degree angle when the ball hit it. That's handling the ball, intentional or not.

[pk500]

Ya okay.

Most undeserving winner ever,

My take.

Say what? France beat Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium en route to topping a tough Croatia side in the final, fair and square. How is that an undeserving, easy road?

Did you go for the 18-pack for the game today instead of the 12?

[XXXIV]

Ya okay.

Most undeserving winner ever,

My take.

Say what? France beat Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium en route to topping a tough Croatia side in the final, fair and square. How is that an undeserving, easy road?

Did you go for the 18-pack for the game today instead of the 12?

Most undeserving winner ever.

Did you suck too hard on that pipe?

[RobVarak]

Now, now, boys. Let's not start denigrating each other's intoxicants of choice.

France were somewhat fortunate in the match, but it's an overstatement to say they don't deserve to be champions. The proper call on the Griezmann dive and a better break on the PK call and the it is easy to see Croatia rewarded with a result that fit their quality. Croatia's only real break was self-made, with Meathead Mandukic forcing the Lloris error.

But breaks seldom even out over 90' and like I said, France had the talent to win while being outplayed for long stretches. That's not a skill per se, but it's attributable to them being really, really good.

I couldn't be more biased. I've seen every major tournament game played by Croatia since 1998 and almost all of the qualifiers. They're the team that made me fall in love with the game and my fondest childhood memories include old Croatian men slipping me sips of slivovic as they tended to roasting whole lambs on a spit. Yet, I don't begrudge France their victory.

As for the PK, and PK's position regarding said PK:

A handball occurs if any player, other than the team's goalkeeper within his own penalty area, deliberately handles the ball when in play. A ball can be handled with any part of the arm, from the tips of a player's fingers right up to the shoulder.

Paul says "intent doesn't matter," but the law says differently. It's "deliberately handles", not "deliberately moves his arms."

I believe it is unreasonable to expect that a defender who leaps in a natural manner is going to be able to keep his hands behind his back. I believe that if his hands are away from this body, even intentionally, it is only a handball if he arrays those hands in a manner so as to deliberately touch the ball. Did. Not. Happen. Here.

[XXXIV]

you are far too kind Rob.

When I say that they are the most undeserving champion in history, I am speaking My opinion.

That is still allowed yes?

France is undeserving. You dont like my thought dont like it.

I enjoy my right to My opinion and will exercise it every f***in day til I die.

[pk500]

Ya okay.

Most undeserving winner ever,

My take.

Say what? France beat Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium en route to topping a tough Croatia side in the final, fair and square. How is that an undeserving, easy road?

Did you go for the 18-pack for the game today instead of the 12?

Most undeserving winner ever.

Did you suck too hard on that pipe?

OK. You make a "bold" statement like that. What's your rationale? How is a team that advanced through clearly the tougher side of the bracket the "most undeserving winner ever?"

Talk sh*t like that, and you better back it up. I named the teams France had to beat to reach the final. Just a smidge tougher than Croatia's "murderer's row" of Denmark, Russia and England.

[pk500]

you are far too kind Rob.

When I say that they are the most undeserving champion in history, I am speaking My opinion.

That is still allowed yes?

France is undeserving. You dont like my thought dont like it.

I enjoy my right to My opinion and will exercise it every f***in day til I die.

Your opinion is more than worthy. Everyone's is, even when it's not supported by any facts, which is the case here.

I can have the opinion the world is flat, too.

Love,
Kyrie Irving

[XXXIV]

They were undeserving today.

What I saw.

Facts? Really? this is not a court of law. They were dominated all day.

Undeserving in my eyes.

End of story.