World Cup Schedule

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Did not know this.  I wonder if they've been training at night?  Can imams give dispensations?

Brilliant scheduling by Russia/FIFA

https://www.sbnation.com/2018/6/4/17426094/2018-world-cup-tunisias-goalie-faking-injury-ramadan-fast

[WarriorFan]

Did not know this.  I wonder if they've been training at night?  Can imams give dispensations?

Brilliant scheduling by Russia/FIFA

They were given dispensation to eat.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/13/fast-friends-world-cup-squads-dealt-with-ramadan
https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/ramadan-2018-saudi-arabia-s-football-players-to-fast-intermittently-during-world-cup-preparation-1.731527

But that can be worse than fasting.
And, during qualifying, despite the dispensation, only 4 players on Saudi team chose to eat. 

[GGGG]

Did not know this.  I wonder if they've been training at night?  Can imams give dispensations?

Brilliant scheduling by Russia/FIFA

It was done by random draw.  Russia could have faced one of 8 teams from Pot 4.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

It was done by random draw.  Russia could have faced one of 8 teams from Pot 4.

You view FIFA in a much more favorable light than I do, they're sketchy as crap. Smart, but sketchy.

[GGGG]

You view FIFA in a much more favorable light than I do, they're sketchy as crap. Smart, but sketchy.

They're sketchy.  But I really doubt they drew SA into a match with Russia knowing it was during Ramadan.

[WarriorFan]

Nothing important happens in Russia without some input from Putin.  In this case, his input would have been that "we need to win the first match". 

I would imagine nothing was left to chance.  Certainly not the draw, nor the opponent, nor the foreign ruler who would be sitting in the box with him. 

[tower912]

Holy crap, Uruguay.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

That's a damn shame. Started parking the bus and Uruguay had chance, after chance, after chance.

After the crap Suarez pulled against Ghana I have never wanted to see Uruguay win anything.

[Its DJOver]

That's a damn shame. Started parking the bus and Uruguay had chance, after chance, after chance.

After the crap Suarez pulled against Ghana I have never wanted to see Uruguay win anything.

Interesting perspective.  I actually have no problem with what he pulled against Ghana, it was the right play, and it was up to Ghana to convert, either from the penalty or the man advantage, even though it was short lived.  I take much more exception to him biting Chiellini, especially as that was his third biting incident.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

God I hate Suarez.

You'll appreciate this one though Sultan. Thought the referee was outstanding in this match.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Interesting perspective.  I actually have no problem with what he pulled against Ghana, it was the right play, and it was up to Ghana to convert, either from the penalty or the man advantage, even though it was short lived.  I take much more exception to hit biting Chiellini, especially as that was his third biting incident.

It wasn't so much the handball, as much as I'd like to say I wouldn't do that I have no clue, it's the way he celebrated in the tunnel after as though he scored a game winning goal.

[Its DJOver]

It wasn't so much the handball, as much as I'd like to say I wouldn't do that I have no clue, it's the way he celebrated in the tunnel after as though he scored a game winning goal.

That's more understandable, I just know that a lot of people see intentional handball to prevent a goal and assume he's a dirty player.  While he is a dirty player, it's not because of that.  Tactically speaking it was %100 the right play.

[GGGG]

God I hate Suarez.

You'll appreciate this one though Sultan. Thought the referee was outstanding in this match.

LOL.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the game this morning.  Saturday and Sunday morning though...

[Its DJOver]

Anyone got a favorite World Cup Ball.  If you go vintage I much prefer the Tango over the more famous Telstar.  For modern balls, the Fevernova just edges out the Teamgeist as my favorite, while the Jabulani is by far the worst, even though the Brazuca was bad too.  Unsure how I feel about the Telstar 18.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I'm in Helsinki right now and I'm seeing obvious soccer fans I assume are enroute to Russia (St. Petersburg, guessing) to watch a match.  There was a whole horde of people with Morocco soccer jerseys and a bus in front of my hotel and they got off wearing soccer jerseys and started doing a loud soccer chant.

[tower912]

Mr. Messi, it is now your turn. 

[Its DJOver]

First ever VAR penalty given in a World Cup and they got it right.  Only quarrel with it is that it should come right away, the ref played on for a full 30-45 seconds before signaling for VAR.

[tower912]

I am a sucker for a good underdog story.  Go, Iceland.

[tower912]

Ice, Ice, baby.   Word to your mother. 

[GGGG]

OK, I will admit that it doesn't seem like not having announcers actually at the games is much of a problem.  The production value is pretty high, so if I didn't know it ahead of time, it really wouldn't be noticeable.  (I'm looking at you BeIn Sport.)

Their studio show sucks though.

[Mr. Nielsen]

I guess we couldn't make it with two positive statements. Heck, it's babysteps.

As I thought not having some of the crews in Russia was not going to be an issue.

Rob Stone has been outstanding, like always. Need more Ian Wright.

[GGGG]

I guess I just wish that studio shows would stop insulting our intelligence and approach the sport as if people have a brain. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I guess I just wish that studio shows would stop insulting our intelligence and approach the sport as if people have a brain.

Yup, that's been my biggest issue. If the US isn't in the World Cup, your audience is most likely going to be people who st least follow the sport.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

wow - go mexico. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Alright, officially opting out of these Fox broadcasts after that one announcer was convinced that Sweden drew a foul in the box. That wasn't even close to being a penalty.