Third Place Playoff: Belgium v England

[wpdavid]

I hadn't realised this started at 3.00pm.
Looking at the Guardian's running commentary, the midfield has been non-existent again and Kane's barely had a touch again. Is that a fair description?

 

[Uppercut]

I hadn't realised this started at 3.00pm.
Looking at the Guardian's running commentary, the midfield has been non-existent again and Kane's barely had a touch again. Is that a fair description?

Yeah. It’s exactly like the Croatia game after half time, except Belgium are a bit better than Croatia were.

 

[Furball]

Tbf it’s englands biggest game since the same event in 1990. You should be embracing it.

Euro 96 semi

 

[Furball]

What Stones did to Hazard there really should be a red card.

 

[wpdavid]

What Stones did to Hazard there really should be a red card.

I can think of plenty of more deserving offences that I've seen at this WC

 

[MW1304]

Weird how VAR seems to have become a complete non-entity since the knockout rounds started.

 

[wpdavid]

Yeah. It’s exactly like the Croatia game after half time, except Belgium are a bit better than Croatia were.

Watching the 2nd half, it just strikes me that we're narrowly losing to a superior and more experienced side. We've created a couple of openings either side of being too loose in the final third. It would help if they didn't keep falling to Dier, but at least he's trying to get on the end of them.

 

[Spark]

Watching the 2nd half, it just strikes me that we're narrowly losing to a superior and more experienced side. We've created a couple of openings either side of being too loose in the final third. It would help if they didn't keep falling to Dier, but at least he's trying to get on the end of them.

Tbh though if Lukaku had brought his first touch today then it'd be 3-0.

 

[wpdavid]

Weird how VAR seems to have become a complete non-entity since the knockout rounds started.

Yes, the officiating has been really weak; almost a throwback to the 1970s. As we speak, a clear foul on RLC leading to the Belgian break-away.

 

[wpdavid]

Tbh though if Lukaku had brought his first touch today then it'd be 3-0.

True enough.

 

[MW1304]

We've been really decent in the last 20 minutes. Trippier's delivery is inch perfect every time.

 

[MW1304]

Some move. Deserved a goal really.

 

[wpdavid]

Belgium break so well, don't they. Wonderful play.

 

[wpdavid]

And that wasn't entirely unexpected. Maybe one day England will produce footballers of the quality of KDB and Hazard again.

 

[Tangles]

Jones and Rose showing why they were reserves.

 

[Shri]

Lol

 

[Furball]

I can think of plenty of more deserving offences that I've seen at this WC

Cynical fouls like that really piss me off. A yellow card doesn't feel like enough of a punishment when it's that cynical.

 

[wpdavid]

Cynical fouls like that really piss me off. A yellow card doesn't feel like enough of a punishment when it's that cynical.

I know what you mean, but I'm just bemoaning the general standard of refereeing.

In the Conifa WC, they used green cards as well and red & yellow. Maybe for incidents that weren't quite red card offences but were worse than yellow card ones. No idea how they accumulated though, or what happened to players who got green cards; maybe sin binned like in rugby union. As you can see, I haven't looked into this very much.

 

[sledger]

One day it will be revealed what happened to Harry Kane about halfway through this tournament

 

[Furball]

Russia swapped him for his useless twin brother Barry.