2018 FIFA World Cup Finals

[Dennisch]

Can we have a massive round of applause for Iceland!

1-1 against Argentina. Messi was an absolute no-show today.

 

[girabyt3]

Finally... After 36 years we're gonna play a world cup match!!! Watch out Denmark!!!! ARRIBA PERU C...!!!!

 

[PeterJB]

Good God that was stressful to watch. It pains me to think how close Iceland came to winning.

 

[zzz_pt]

That was some nice action by Costa.

And Pepe with some fine acting.

Pepe has too much history of being a drama queen for something that soft to be given.

These are hilarious.

Even spanish media said Costa did hit Pepe with his arm. Go and rewatch the replay.

This moment is the worse for VAR up until now. I'm sure it will be reviewed by FIFA after the groups phase.

Saying something is OK because it happened to a player you don't like is just childish.

 

[Dennisch]

The Spanish and Portuguese are all diving Queens. No need for any further discussion.

 

[girabyt3]

How Cueva!!??!! HOW!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Crazy Taylor]

The Spanish and Portuguese are all diving Queens. No need for any further discussion.

Add some of the English for that. They are drama queens without having to dive.

 

[PzR Slim]

These are hilarious.

Even spanish media said Costa did hit Pepe with his arm. Go and rewatch the replay.

This moment is the worse for VAR up until now. I'm sure it will be reviewed by FIFA after the groups phase.

Saying something is OK because it happened to a player you don't like is just childish.

Football is a contact sport. Not every bit of contact is a foul. Yes Costa made contact with Pepe but it wasn't enough to give a foul. And that's coming from someone who can't abide Costa or his dirty 'tactics'.

 

[zzz_pt]

The Spanish and Portuguese are all diving Queens. No need for any further discussion.

Yeah, Evert other team is super processional. No agressions, no band balls, no simulations, no burning time if they're playing against stronger teams, etc.

You hate Portugal and Ronaldo. Just say it.

@PzR Slim Pepe was hit in the chin/throat and that left him out of the game. Costa jumped with his arm in front of him and he wouldn't ever reach the ball. Contact is OK. Elbows on faces are not.

 

[Dennisch]

You hate Portugal and Ronaldo. Just say it.

Stop crying. They're all divers and actors. Not just Ronaldo. It's a sad trend that is infecting football. Thankfully the video ref will help a bit.

 

[zzz_pt]

Stop crying. They're all divers and actors. Not just Ronaldo. It's a sad trend that is infecting football. Thankfully the video ref will help a bit.

I'm not crying. I'm calling out your bs.

 

[Dennisch]

I'm not crying. I'm calling out your bs.

Ok. Keep living in that bubble .

 

[zzz_pt]

No fault at all, sure.

Apart from this, it was a great game.

 

[Woodybobs]

No fault at all, sure.

View attachment 743982


Apart from this, it was a great game.

Not a foul imo. Pepe should've been stronger.

 

[zzz_pt]

Not a foul imo. Pepe should've been stronger.

So, Pepe should wear a helmet + neck armour next time. Right.

Also, he gained that ball. Costa only got it afterwards because he elbowed Pepe in the throat. That's not a legal challenge in football. Not the European football at least.

 

[Woodybobs]

So, Pepe should wear a helmet + neck armour next time. Right.

I've stood up to worse. No protective gear needed.

 

[daan]

So, Pepe should wear a helmet + neck armour next time. Right.

Also, he gained that ball. Costa only got it afterwards because he elbowed Pepe in the throat. That's not a legal challenge in football. Not the European football at least.

So why did Pepe go down holding his face?

 

[Famine]

Pepe ... holding his face

 

[Dennisch]

So why did Pepe go down holding his face?

To hide the tears.

 

[PzR Slim]

@PzR Slim Pepe was hit in the chin/throat and that left him out of the game. Costa jumped with his arm in front of him and he wouldn't ever reach the ball. Contact is OK. Elbows on faces are not.

How was he able to jump up so quickly when he realised he wasn't going to get the foul then?

 

[zzz_pt]

You're all freaking hilarious. Not even with pictures you admit that was fault.

Your arguments are one of these:

1. It's Pepe, so who cares.
2. He was hit in the throat but puts his hands on his face so who cares.
3. He should deal with it because this is absolutely normal (jumping with you elbows out and hitting an opponent in the head).
4. He was hit yeah, but he dealt with it pretty quickly so who cares.

Let's see how similar situations are handled until the end of the tournament. Because if something like this happens in the final, it will be a scandal. But hey, it's Pepe and Portugal so all good.

Good thing is we're used to this. Spain got through to the final last time against Portugal with an offside goal too.

Have a great tournament everyone!

 

[PzR Slim]

You're all freaking hilarious. Not even with pictures you admit that was fault.

Your arguments are one of these:

1. It's Pepe, so who cares.
2. He was hit in the throat but puts his hands on his face so who cares.
3. He should deal with it because this is absolutely normal (jumping with you elbows out and hitting an opponent in the head).
4. He was hit yeah, but he dealt with it pretty quickly so who cares.

Let's see how similar situations are handled until the end of the tournament. Because if something like this happens in the final, it will be a scandal. But hey, it's Pepe and Portugal so all good.

Good thing is we're used to this. Spain got through to the final last time against Portugal with an offside goal too.

My argument, which you seem to have missed from your little list, is that contact was made, as it is a thousand times every game, but it wasn't enough to warrant a foul. Pretty simple really.

 

[Jimlaad43]

1. It's Pepe, so he obviously overreacted to something you see in every game of football

Corrected

 

[PzR Slim]

What was the Nigeria defender thinking?!?

 

[Woodybobs]

@zzz_pt
1. I love Pepe and I think he's a quality defender. He goes down too easy but he buys free kicks because of it. That will to win is exactly what is needed at elite level sport. I don't blame him for being part of the current culture. It's FIFA's job to sort it out.
2. He's tried to con the ref. Without the safety net of VAR the ref might have fallen for it. Hopefully players begin to trust VAR enough so they can return to a "play to the whistle" mentality. Pepe could've prevented Costa from getting a shooting opportunity if his experience hadn't told him he could get a free kick if he stays down.
3. There wasn't enough force. The challenge didn't impact him the way he made out.
4. Because there wasn't enough force.

 

[Dennisch]

Salah will play against Russia on Tuesday. 👍

 

[MUSC4EVER]

'Super Saturday' recap.

France 2-1 Australia
Argentina 1-1 Iceland
Peru 0-1 Denmark
Croatia 2-0 Nigeria

That Argentina-Iceland result is the shock of the tournament so far.

Eight World Cup games so far, six penalties, including four today, one in each game!

 

[Phoenix]

'Super Saturday' recap.

France 2-1 Australia
Argentina 1-1 Iceland
Peru 0-1 Denmark
Croatia 2-0 Nigeria

That Argentina-Iceland result is the shock of the tournament so far.

Eight World Cup games so far, six penalties, including four today, one in each game!

Five. 2 in the France - Australia match, 1 each in the other 3.

 

[adamp93]

Disappointing performance from Nigeria, but on the bright side they weren't forced to wear that horrendous kit.

 

[dacc10]

First, it was a foul what Diego Costa did. It wasn't normal contact, it wasn't natural movement from his body. Even if Pepe acted a bit, the contact was there and was illegal.

As for the amount of penalties, it's a result of the VAR, which clarifies a lot of the situations that most referies would look past and mark nothing.

More games tomorrow now, let's see if there are more surprises.