World Cup: Day 9

Entertaining match this one.

Tough cookies the Serbs. Like Croatia, they seem to produce really good players and punch above their weight. The type of teams you would be cautious about drawing and playing against.

The Croatians have more flair, the Serbs are hard as nails.

Vidic is probably one of the best central defenders of his generation.

Another region to get those scouts of ours on a plane to and out of the Finch Farm canteen.

The very existence of the VAR made those Cameroon goals an odd experience.

But then they may have been disallowed without the VAR so it's a good thing.

Seems strange to think that later generations won't know any different.

If football can sort itself out like Rugby, Ernie, the VAR won't be the pantomime villain that the pundits try to convince us it is.

We should know that as Evertonians over the years, especially with the countless derby decisions that I won't bore everyone with.

There are two key factors to making it work. Accountability and competence. Football officiating lacks both.

Have them audibly explain their decisions and thought process makes them accountable. That in turn would breed competence as they have to explain themselves.

In Rugby, you can hear the Referees and officials in discussion and coming to a conclusion. Is it right 100% of the time? Probably not, but it's transparent and open and they sound like they know what they're talking about.

I said on another thread, I don't really understand Rugby too much, but having attended the England v New Zealand match last weekend at Twickenham, I could have paid for an App that allowed me to listen in live to the officials throughout the entire game, let alone listen to the big decisions on the big screen.

No way is that happening in Football. Cloak and dagger, knowledge is power. Never explain yourself. They don't even do post-match interviews. Little if any accountability.

I think there is a Scouse term for it.

Shithouse.

Kudus. Is that the guy we were trying to buy? But won't be now.

Great game and win for Ghana.

Kudos was tearing it up in the Champions League, so without the World Cup he wouldn't be joining us. We have more chance of signing someone surplus to a Premier League club's requirements in January, like Iheanacho. (Personally I'd take him.)

Another good match.

I think the Kudus ship has sailed.

Kudus must be thanking the gods right now he never signed for us. Knowing Everton he would either be injured or totally shot of confidence by now. Instead he has done really well in the Champions League and now the world cup. As soon as he had been pictured in an Everton shirt his career would have been over.

Richarlison looking very dangerous agains the Swiss. Everton should have charged Spurs 㿞 million (non-refundable) to open negotiations.

So far he has looked like the best striker in the World Cup.

If Kenwright was involved in selling control of Apple he'd probably get a MILLION dollars.

Lovely goal scored by Brazil chalked off for an offsde against a retreating Richarlison who didnt even touch the ball.

No wonder we are getting so many scoreless draws

Darren, I think Richarlison was actually in his own half, but even if not, the idea of “phases” in football is stupid

Arsene Wenger got it right in proposing that there had to be clear daylight between the defender and the attacked for it to be offside. If any part of the attacker was in line with the defender then onside.

Charles #9,

Do you really think Spurs is gloating about that deal right now? They paid us 㿨M for a striker who hasn't scored in the Premier League this season. His total goal outlet for them is a brace against Marseilles in the Champions League 3 months ago.

Maybe one reason he looks great for Brazil is because he's surrounded by the Selecao.

Beautiful finish for the winning goal. Sublime.

Going to take some beating this Brazil team.

As are France.

Danny,

I disagree on Serbia. Yes, as you say, they produce great players, but no, they don't punch above their weight. Since competing as just Serbia they've never made it past the first round and have failed to qualify for the majority of tournaments. The last time they made it past the first round was in 2000 when they were still "Yugoslavia" along with Montenegro.

To me, Serbia have always been too negative in their approach even when they have had great forwards. They are less than the sum of their parts.

I think I just heard the commentators say that the last time Portugal beat a South American team in a World Cup was 1966 at Goodison Park.

Sad to see where we were back then in terms of stature and stadium.

Glad we are on the map to be in the mix for the British Isles' bid for the next Euros or World Cup.

Fair point, Kieran. But for a country of 8 million in comparison to ours of 58m (if you consider England alone), that considers football its first sport, I'd say regular competitiveness is punching. They don't have the flair of their Croatian cousins, I'll give you that, but they have something about them that enables them to compete above where they arguably should be.

Danny makes a great point @3.

I watched a Rugby League game recently and could not believe my eyes or ears when the referee was discussing a decision with the two captains. He explained his reasons and everyone was happy with the outcome.

Imagine this happening in the Premier League with the cheating deluded idiots who officiate games? This is proof that things can improve but sadly not with the current Sky 6 in charge.

He never touched that... did he?

For those history buffs out there, anyone notice that the intro music to the Qatar World Cup is the same as the Nazi, Der Deutsche Wochenshau newsreels popular during World War 2?

Blink and you missed it:

The first transgender streaker wrapped only in a rainbow scarf!

The cheat that Ronaldo is. Got a pen that wasnt by dark and devious means last game and now claiming a goal having not touched the ball. Maybe he will sign for Hogwarts Utd in the Saudi league.

Michael,

If Ronaldo touched that, then Alan Smith's header v the RS for the title in 1989 was a full facial smackdown.

Talking of cheats, Rat boy coming on.

Goal being given to Bruno Fernandes and correctly so.

Ronaldo appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored tomorrow to complain that this is a travesty and a conspiracy of continuing disrespect from Man Utd.

Ronaldo will run back on to take the penalty...

His arm is outstretched, yes, but it's because he is about to fall flat on his back, so it's a natural instinct to put your arm down to soften the fall.

Seems a ridiculous penalty to me.

I don't know where you're supposed to put your arm anymore, what else can you do if you're falling backwards???

Ronaldo never touched that. No way.

Penalty is laughable. How on earth can the VAR and the ref be so utterly wrong?

Please find me anyone who believes that should have been awarded.

Ghana can get a measure of revenge for Suarez's 2010 handball if they knock them out of the World Cup.

Neil Ball

I can only assume it was in an "unnatural position" although being almost horizontal is in itself an unnatural position so you would think common sense would prevail.

The phantom VAR strikes again. Rugby tackles on Stones and Maguire = no problem. Tug an Iranian shirt = penalty.

Now they are linked with Kudus, apparently.

Two things:

I am rather pleased this isn't going well for Paulo Bento, dude's a dick and one of those views of Ghanian women dancing and chanting was the most World Cup thing I think I've ever seen.

Only the one in the middle would look at the camera and it was not out of ego. She was beckoning us to the magic of the cup. I almost teared up, not even the Qataris can spoil this thing, it is magic.

Son's crying again!

Andy (27),

No, he never touched the ball but claimed the goal like the egotist he is.

It reminded me of the goal Lukaku “scored” versus Middlesborough from a centre by Bolasie, he never touched it either but claimed the goal and was awarded it!!