Is it a Dutch thing?
Got to admit it frustrated me last night watching a team that was clearly superior (as far as being able to control the game) having the killer instinct and willingness to really push for a positive result.
It was bizarre watching it to be honest.
I was thinking this, though the Brazilians also seemed a bit like us.
I didn’t see that game but I always remember south American teams being very slow and methodical at times.
Just a little surprising how much the Netherlands appeared to be playing within themselves.
A real concern from last night as an extension to last season was VvD as well. He did not look right to me on more than one occasion. A long way from the rock we’ve been accustomed to in the past.
If it is a continuing thing then he’s going be much the same, then again I do think Grav looked ok in the second half.
Yeah and that’s a bit of a worry for the forthcoming season. I’m sure there is some sort of succession plan in place but it may be a year earlier than planned, and the mess up with Palace might be more costly yet.
I’m not so confident judging by the total lack of success in finding a replacement for Salah.
Drifting off topic here, sorry, but we’re told everything has been planned out, including hiring Iraola.
Not sure I share the confidence of others. More than happy to be wrong of course.
He had a good game. Active, saw a fair amount of the ball, and was always a threat. He’s 19 and just getting started, and the World Cup is a huge stage. He was up against a very committed Ecuador side, mostly Hincapie, and did not have an easy pass, but they had to keep doubling up on him as he was a clear danger.
If we sign him that sort of thing augurs well. If teams have to double up - and I’m thinking Rio on the other flank too, there will be a lot more space for the likes of Wirtz to do his thing. With Isak looking fit again, things could be looking up.
Don’t want to get ahead of myself though. Let’s see what happens. There’s a fair amount of business to do, and even though the rumours are persistent, we don’t know if Diomande is signing or not yet.
I thought you’d be like
It’s no arse of Hincapie is it?
https://x.com/mraimonditv/status/2066483004743000525
https://x.com/BBCRadioScot/status/2066464464657064286
https://x.com/CBSEveningNews/status/2066341160470143095
https://x.com/speedlinexx/status/2066359824837697594
All that talk about expensive everything (tickets, transports, hotel); I still see loads of supporters and stadiums being full. I guess they are lining their pockets 
Seeing all the country fans singing/dancing is great tho… biggest show on earth 
I’m not making a call as to whether this fourth official intended to make a ‘white power’ symbol, but I have to say that it is only giving them power to allow what was until recently a non political ‘okay’ gesture this much power because of usage by a tiny fringe minority. Sometimes it’s better to look through stuff. In contrast the Nazi salute which has been successfully eradicated was an integral part of the Nazi regime, incredibly widespread and not used in other contexts. Once very niche, tiny gestures lead to panic like the above you are effectively creating space for the far right and conceding ground to them.
He is Aussie and in Australia it is a national game to take the piss. Someone makes that circle with their fingers pointing down and if you look in it, they get either an arm punch or dick flick. The Okay symble is with fingers pointing up and palm facing outward
So he is basically just pranked the whole world
Yes I just realised it is one and the same.
One of The VAR officials name from china for the Spain vs Capo Verde is Fu Ming.
Tie-breaking criteria for World Cup groups
If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the completion of the group stage, the following criteria, in the order below, shall be applied to determine the ranking:
Step one
greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned
superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned
greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned
If no decision can be made through this procedure, the criteria below shall apply as follows to the two or more teams still equal on points:
Step two
superior goal difference in all group matches
greatest number of goals scored in all group matches
highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained
If no decision can be made through the procedures of step one and two above, the following shall apply:
Step three
the two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA/Coca‑Cola Men’s World Ranking