Knockout stage - Round of 16 Games

20 Legend wrote:

 Noah4thenix wrote:
Got up at 4 am to watch Argentina, watched a legendary comeback, went back to sleep, and woke up to see the internet whining about the game being rigged, and personally I don't see it. I mean... Were the calls correct? I feel like people have bought into the idea that FIFA has rigged it all for Messi, and now every call that goes Argentina's way becomes proof in people's minds. Am I just missing something here? To be clear, I'm not calling out this forum, since no one here is crying rigged; just more of a broader internet phenomenon I am noticing.

On a separate note, though, I don't see Argentina making it past the semifinals. Needing late-minute comebacks against Cape Verde and Egypt isn't exactly an inspiring sign of a World Cup repeat.

I stop short of saying "rigged" but the issue is that everyone else falls victim to the inconsistency of VAR, while Argentina so far have always shaded the right side of 50/50 decisions, some examples: 

1. Messi not being sent off against Algeria (definite red)
2. Foul in the build-up for their goal against Austria not given (I'd say 75% foul)
3. Foul in the build-up to Egypt's goal given (I say foul but again on the right side of the VAR coin toss)
4. Foul in build-up of one of their own goals against Egypt not given (soft but VAR barely looked and again, the right side of the VAR coin toss)

Saffa wrote:
I think there are a lot of Africans that are complaining of an obviously rigged system against so called "small teams". 

There are too many incidents in this world cup were VAR sees things for "big countries" and goes missing for the so called "small countries" in football. 

Are they wrong?

Nelfoos wrote:

 20 Legend wrote:

 Noah4thenix wrote:
Got up at 4 am to watch Argentina, watched a legendary comeback, went back to sleep, and woke up to see the internet whining about the game being rigged, and personally I don't see it. I mean... Were the calls correct? I feel like people have bought into the idea that FIFA has rigged it all for Messi, and now every call that goes Argentina's way becomes proof in people's minds. Am I just missing something here? To be clear, I'm not calling out this forum, since no one here is crying rigged; just more of a broader internet phenomenon I am noticing.

On a separate note, though, I don't see Argentina making it past the semifinals. Needing late-minute comebacks against Cape Verde and Egypt isn't exactly an inspiring sign of a World Cup repeat.

I stop short of saying "rigged" but the issue is that everyone else falls victim to the inconsistency of VAR, while Argentina so far have always shaded the right side of 50/50 decisions, some examples: 

1. Messi not being sent off against Algeria (definite red)
2. Foul in the build-up for their goal against Austria not given (I'd say 75% foul)
3. Foul in the build-up to Egypt's goal given (I say foul but again on the right side of the VAR coin toss)
4. Foul in build-up of one of their own goals against Egypt not given (soft but VAR barely looked and again, the right side of the VAR coin toss)

Messi foul didnt qualify as SFP as there wasn't excessive force. It was high contact but glancing, so a yellow would be the correct decision.

I dont recall the Austria challenge, but 3 & 4 were also objectively correct decisions by the VAR. Referees getting calls correct isnt a conspiracy.

There's plenty of bad calls to discuss across the tournament but theres no evidence to support a narrative of favouritism towards Argentina.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZrpTEmIFUI/?igsh=MWZvcGFpanplbjk3ZA==

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZrpTEmIFUI/?igsh=MWZvcGFpanplbjk3ZA==

Nelfoos wrote:
You're welcome to disagree, I'll back my ref training and the expertise of other referees.

martinb wrote:
@dairyflat fairly sure I can do Norway, Belgium and Switzerland! 

<snip>

Belgium is one of the worst colonists of all time. Google Belgium in the Congo. It has yet to apologise for its behaviour, despite getting close. And Tielemans annoyed Ryan Thomas with his diving bs. 
<snip>

Nixieboys222 wrote:
I think the narrative around Argentina is fascinating - They always struggle against the lesser sides, it's what they do - you always suffer as we in Spanish, but this Argentina side is built differently from others, they have this incredible determination & never say die spirit that is hard to really explain.. they dont play well in patches, but find ways.. Since 2022 when they won, it seems the team has been like on a farewell tour of Lionel Messi & co.. playing random friendlies against lower ranked nations home and away, and walked through qualifers & really coasting through the 2024 copa america victory.. 

It wasnt until Cape Verde game where they got a shock of "Hey, we are in a world cup now" & the sudden chnage of pace intensity shocked their system, you could see the pressure on their shoulders & their body language was a heavy one, but found a way.. players admitted so afterwards.

Today I thought the intensity was very good, after conceding a early goal, they went on front foot & probably should have been ahead at half time if wasnt for some goalie brilliance. For Scaloni, there is a tactical saying in portguese that roughly translates to "trying to get a balance of the team right, is like having a small blanket on cold night".. hes still trying to work a few things out.. especially on the right hand wing.. when Lautero came on, Messi played the "Di Maria role" (What i would do to have him back!) & it unlocked Lautero & Julian to great effect... You have players like Cuti Romero & Licha Martinez who EPL fans might know, when they play for Argentina they play with the biggest pair of nuts (sorry if its graphic) & just play like every game is their last.. 

Argentina & Messi dont need many chances or moments to make it count, and in knock out football, thats something that happens... Never, ever rule out Argentina.. 



 

dairyflat wrote:

 martinb wrote:
@dairyflat fairly sure I can do Norway, Belgium and Switzerland! 

<snip>

Belgium is one of the worst colonists of all time. Google Belgium in the Congo. It has yet to apologise for its behaviour, despite getting close. And Tielemans annoyed Ryan Thomas with his diving bs. 
<snip>

With respect to Belgian Congo. My friend has been sending me material about it over the last couple of weeks. It's something he's just started looking at. The Belgian Congo was an absolute horror show. European powers and their "civilising mission". Pah!! 🤬
Belgium still won't answer questions about its role there. Mostly around exactly the contribution, to its treasury, from its plunder of DRC. 
 

dairyflat wrote:

 martinb wrote:
@dairyflat fairly sure I can do Norway, Belgium and Switzerland! 

<snip>

Belgium is one of the worst colonists of all time. Google Belgium in the Congo. It has yet to apologise for its behaviour, despite getting close. And Tielemans annoyed Ryan Thomas with his diving bs. 
<snip>

With respect to Belgian Congo. My friend has been sending me material about it over the last couple of weeks. It's something he's just started looking at. The Belgian Congo was an absolute horror show. European powers and their "civilising mission". Pah!! 🤬
Belgium still won't answer questions about its role there. Mostly around exactly the contribution, to its treasury, from its plunder of DRC. 
 

coochiee wrote:

 dairyflat wrote:

 martinb wrote:
@dairyflat fairly sure I can do Norway, Belgium and Switzerland! 

<snip>

Belgium is one of the worst colonists of all time. Google Belgium in the Congo. It has yet to apologise for its behaviour, despite getting close. And Tielemans annoyed Ryan Thomas with his diving bs. 
<snip>

With respect to Belgian Congo. My friend has been sending me material about it over the last couple of weeks. It's something he's just started looking at. The Belgian Congo was an absolute horror show. European powers and their "civilising mission". Pah!! 🤬
Belgium still won't answer questions about its role there. Mostly around exactly the contribution, to its treasury, from its plunder of DRC. 
 

 King Leopold II. A truly nasty piece of work. 

Deep-sea mineral mining and whale hunting aside, I'm cheering for the Norwegians. They are mostly a likeable bunch.

dairyflat wrote:

 martinb wrote:
@dairyflat fairly sure I can do Norway, Belgium and Switzerland! 

<snip>

Belgium is one of the worst colonists of all time. Google Belgium in the Congo. It has yet to apologise for its behaviour, despite getting close. And Tielemans annoyed Ryan Thomas with his diving bs. 
<snip>

With respect to Belgian Congo. My friend has been sending me material about it over the last couple of weeks. It's something he's just started looking at. The Belgian Congo was an absolute horror show. European powers and their "civilising mission". Pah!! 🤬
Belgium still won't answer questions about its role there. Mostly around exactly the contribution, to its treasury, from its plunder of DRC.