World Cup 2026

[Pblakeney]

They're done, outclassed by Spain in all areas.

Unless I'm mistaken, Spain have only conceded one goal all tournament.
They are/will be hard to beat.

 

[briantrumpet]

That's what I was replying to! 😂🤪

Apologies. I did a Pinno.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

It'll be an unhappy Bastille Day in France then!

2 - 0 Spain.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

That team could have won the whole thing but for a cheating midget. Sp could the 1990 team. But they didnt.

If only we had a keeper that could jump higher than a cheating midget

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Unless I'm mistaken, Spain have only conceded one goal all tournament.
They are/will be hard to beat.

Very much so. If we make the final we know we are not going to win a possession game which makes it a bit more straightforward, pace and counter attack. Got to get there first though!

 

[Beebo]

If only we had a keeper that could jump higher than a cheating midget

In his defence, (and I think Shilton is overrated) he probably didn’t think he needed to bother jumping. Because he wasn’t factoring in his extended arm into the calculation for catching the ball.

The win at all costs, even if it means blatant cheating is something I struggle with. To even consider handballing at that point in the game puts you in the top 1% of cheaters.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

In his defence, (and I think Shilton is overrated) he probably didn’t think he needed to bother jumping. Because he wasn’t factoring in his extended arm into the calculation for catching the ball.

The win at all costs, even if it means blatant cheating is something I struggle with. To even consider handballing at that point in the game puts you in the top 1% of cheaters.

It's not my cup of tea either, but I think there's very much a tradition in some parts of the world of "playing the ref"/being "clever". Getting away with what you can is thought of as part of the game, and a skill when done well. At the worst it's considered a bit cheeky, but possibly endearingly so (at least if it's your team).

In contrast, British football deified The Reducer, preferably Early Doors, just to Let Them Know You're There. There have also been plenty of good old fashioned honest dark-arts on these Isles - like treading on the defender's toes when you're backing towards the goal, off the ball, elbowing your opponent in the chest in close situations (corners) etc. All of this was again a question of what you could get away with without getting caught/drawing a booking (hence why you get the reducer in early, when the ref doesn't want to get his cards out yet).

I've always found it interesting how going in recklessly hard in a way that's designed to intimidate and potentially injure an opposition player, and doing it early so as not to get booked, isn't as despised as using your hand to control the ball into the net.

EDIT: One day I'll have to go and watch the famous Ireland France match where Thierry Henry's handball led to a goal and stopped Ireland qualifying for the word cup. Because I wonder how many times he was intentionally kicked, tripped, held, or shirt-pulled in it.

 

[Pblakeney]

It's not my cup of tea either, but I think there's very much a tradition in some parts of the world of "playing the ref"/being "clever". Getting away with what you can is thought of as part of the game, and a skill when done well. At the worst it's considered a bit cheeky, but possibly endearingly so (at least if it's your team).

In contrast, British football deified The Reducer, preferably Early Doors, just to Let Them Know You're There. There have also been plenty of good old fashioned honest dark-arts on these Isles - like treading on the defender's toes when you're backing towards the goal, off the ball, elbowing your opponent in the chest in close situations (corners) etc. All of this was again a question of what you could get away with without getting caught/drawing a booking (hence why you get the reducer in early, when the ref doesn't want to get his cards out yet).

I've always found it interesting how going in recklessly hard in a way that's designed to intimidate and potentially injure an opposition player, and doing it early so as not to get booked, isn't as despised as using your hand to control the ball into the net.

EDIT: One day I'll have to go and watch the famous Ireland France match where Thierry Henry's handball led to a goal and stopped Ireland qualifying for the word cup. Because I wonder how many times he was intentionally kicked, tripped, held, or shirt-pulled in it.

Funny thing is that I noticed how many times the French deployed those dark arts last night. Justice was served cold.

 

[stephec]

If only we had a keeper that could jump higher than a cheating midget

The midget was high as a kite though.

 

[AndyRM]

It's not my cup of tea either, but I think there's very much a tradition in some parts of the world of "playing the ref"/being "clever". Getting away with what you can is thought of as part of the game, and a skill when done well. At the worst it's considered a bit cheeky, but possibly endearingly so (at least if it's your team).

In contrast, British football deified The Reducer, preferably Early Doors, just to Let Them Know You're There. There have also been plenty of good old fashioned honest dark-arts on these Isles - like treading on the defender's toes when you're backing towards the goal, off the ball, elbowing your opponent in the chest in close situations (corners) etc. All of this was again a question of what you could get away with without getting caught/drawing a booking (hence why you get the reducer in early, when the ref doesn't want to get his cards out yet).

I've always found it interesting how going in recklessly hard in a way that's designed to intimidate and potentially injure an opposition player, and doing it early so as not to get booked, isn't as despised as using your hand to control the ball into the net.

EDIT: One day I'll have to go and watch the famous Ireland France match where Thierry Henry's handball led to a goal and stopped Ireland qualifying for the word cup. Because I wonder how many times he was intentionally kicked, tripped, held, or shirt-pulled in it.

Re: the Henry handball, whether he was fouled in the build up is irrelevant, and in any case he admitted it, but rightly pointed out that it was the referee who should have been questioned, not him.

 

[Pblakeney]

Re: the Henry handball, whether he was fouled in the build up is irrelevant, and in any case he admitted it, but rightly pointed out that it was the referee who should have been questioned, not him.

He could have held his hands up. 😂
IIRC there was a West Ham Italian player who did the "right thing". His name is escaping me for now. Bloody hell, I'm getting old.

 

[AndyRM]

He could have held his hands up. 😂
IIRC there was a West Ham Italian player who did the "right thing". His name is escaping me for now. Bloody hell, I'm getting old.

Di Canio. The Everton goalie went down absolutely broken and he picked the ball up to stop play.

ETA: Almost right, he caught it.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...st-everton-in-moment-of-sportsmanship-in-2000

I believe Gerrard kept on for a bit, but kept having a reoccurrence of the injury, so that was all but playing career ending, which is pretty horrible.

 

[Pblakeney]

Di Canio. The Everton goalie went down absolutely broken and he picked the ball up to stop play.

ETA: Almost right, he caught it.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...st-everton-in-moment-of-sportsmanship-in-2000

I believe Gerrard kept on for a bit, but kept having a reoccurrence of the injury, so that was all but playing career ending, which is pretty horrible.

That's the fella! I also recall a "missed" penalty.

 

[matticus]

Re: the Henry handball, whether he was fouled in the build up is irrelevant, and in any case he admitted it, but rightly pointed out that it was the referee who should have been questioned, not him.

Opinions differ on that word in that sentence. Hence the discussion over the last few posts.

 

[icowden]

Well Church choir practice has been cancelled because of concerns that the men won't turn up. That's me down £75!!