ohhh_yeah

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-tyne-44667162/russian-nufc-fans-meet-hero-alan-shearer

VAR at the World Cup: the big decisions, game by game Diego Costa: Spain v Portugal What happened: In the build-up to Diego Costa’s 24th minute equaliser, he challenged Pepe for the ball, leaving the Portuguese defender on the floor, dramatically clutching his jaw. What should have happened: Portugal were after more VAR-VAR than jaw-jaw, but the goal should have stood, and it did. VAR verdict: 👍 Risdon and Griezmann: Australia v France What happened: Josh Risdon dived in and tripped Antoine Griezmann just inside the box, in a tackle which the referee initially waved on as good. A shout in his earpiece from the VAR room led Andrés Cunha to the pitch-side screen, and he awarded the penalty. What happened: Even with multiple angles, TV pundits still argued over whether Risdon had got enough of the ball before touching the man to make it a legal challenge. VAR seemed to have swapped one borderline decision for the opposite borderline decision. VAR verdict: 👎 Kim and Claesson: South Korea v Sweden What happened: Play was called back after Kim Min-woo’s forceful challengeand follow through upended Viktor Claesson. What should have happened: Sweden’s coach said it was “crystal clear” and it was. The correct decision. VAR verdict: 👍 Harry Kane: England v Tunisia What happened: Nothing, despite Kane repeatedly being wrestled to the ground when Tunisia were defending corners. What should have happened: Kane should have been awarded at least one penalty during the match. He described his eventual last minute winner as a form of “justice”. VAR verdict: 👎 Mohamed Salah: Egypt v Russia What happened: The referee awarded Egypt a free-kick on the very edge of the box after Salah was hauled over by Roman Zobnin for the hosts. What should have happened: The foul on Salah continued into the box, and the correct decision was a penalty. After the review, the spot kick was given, and Salah smashed in his debut World Cup goal. VAR verdict: 👍 Guerreiro and Amrabat: Portugal v Morocco What happened: Morocco’s Nordin Amrabat and Portugal’s Raphaël Guerreiro tangled in the box. Morocco appealed for a penalty that was not forthcoming. Morocco coach Hervé Renard was furious, making the TV review signal to the fourth official on the sidelines, and was ultimately spoken to by the referee. Guerreiro later lifted his shirt which appeared to show marks left on his skin where he had been on the receiving end during the exchange, possibly from Amrabat’s boot as they fell. What should have happened: Replays suggested that both players had a firm grasp on each other’s shirts, and that no penalty was probably the correct call. VAR verdict: 👍 Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal v Morocco What happened: In the 85th minute, with Portugal still only leading 1-0, Ronaldo took a free-kick on the edge of the box which struck the wall. Running in to the box to try and pick up the rebound, he fell under a challenge. Ronaldo himself made the gestrue to ask for VAR when the penalty was not awarded. What should have happened: It may have been an exaggerated fall, and there was a lot of criticism on social media of CR7 for daring to dive and then ask for VAR himself, but the still images speak for themselves, there was definitely contact in the box, and it should have been a penalty. VAR verdict: 👎 Pepe: Portugal v Morocco What happened: In the 90th minute, Moroccan captain Medhi Benatia tapped Pepe on the shoulder to get his attention when the ball was out of play. Pepe collapsed to the ground. Gary Lineker tweeted “See Pepe is still a dick”. What should have happened: Retrospective punishment for Pepe for simulation VAR verdict: 👎 Ezatolahi: Iran v Spain What happened: Saeid Ezatolahi appeared to equalise against Spain, and all hell broke loose as the Iranians celebrated. But the referee’s arm was raised to caution them to wait for the VAR check. What should have happened: The goal was correctly disallowed for offside. The looks on the faces of the referee and his assistants suggested that is the verdict they would have reached more quickly left to their own devices, but VAR made the right call. VAR verdict: 👍 Poulsen: Denmark v Australia What happened: The referee consulted the pitch-side screen and awarded a penalty against Yussuf Poulsen for handball. Poulsen was three feet away from where the ball was headed, had his arm out because he was jumping, and didn’t move it towards the ball - but having viewed it, the referee did move his hand to point to the spot. What should have happened: Probably not a penalty, but it wasn’t clear cut. ITV pundits Eni Aluko, Slavan Bilic and Martin O’Neil argued about it for most of half-time. It was a harsh decision - but maybe, given how Australia fell foul of a VAR penalty in their opening game, just like old-fashioned refereeing mistakes, VAR will also even itself out over the course of a tournament? VAR verdict: 👎 Aquino: Peru v France What happened: The referee was going to issue a yellow card to the wrong player. What should have happened: He should have booked Pedro Aquino. VAR stepped in, and he did, exactly as the system was designed. VAR verdict: 👍 Rebic: Croatia v Argentina What happened: In the 40th minute Ante Rebic plants his studs on Eduardo Salvio’s shin. The referee brandishes his yellow card quickly, so VAR isn’t used to turn it into the red it should have been. What should have happened: Croatia should have been down to 10 men, and Rebic should not have been on the pitch to profit from Willy Caballero’s howler to later give Croatia the lead and set them on their way to demolishing Argentina. VAR verdict: 👎 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/22/var-at-the-world-cup-the-big-decisions-game-by-game

200 villagers having a blast!

Icardi.

Caballero with an absolute clanger. Beautiful finish though.

Giroud recalled.

There is a supporter in the crowd stark naked after Jedinak scored.

James Maddison to Leicester for £20m.

Poulsen misses the next match. VAR gives a penalty for handball.

Eriksen with a screamer of a volley.

One of Iran's coaching staff had to be rushed to the hospital after the VAR decision.

Hopefully this is a start to him realizing he has to flip. "As the son of a Polish holocaust survivor, the images and sounds of this family separation policy is heart wrenching,” Cohen wrote. “While I strongly support measures that will secure our porous borders, children should never be used as bargaining chips."

Southgate dislocated his shoulder while jogging.

Barcelona to probe Gerard Pique's involvement in video of Antoine Griezmann's decision to snub Catalan giants Barcelona’s vice president has revealed that the club will engage in talks with Gerard Piqué and Samuel Umtiti for their part in Antoine Griezmann’s video rejecting a move to the Catalan giants. "The Decision" was the title of the dramatic video that Griezmann published to reveal his intentions to stay at Atletico Madrid following weeks of speculation around his possible transfer to Barcelona. The video was roundly criticised but Pique, who has an affiliation with the producers, Kosmos Studios, tweeted positively about it four times. In one tweet he wrote, "Another way to see the footballer's life and his doubts to make the most important decision of his career. Thanks to the team at Kosmos Studios and especially Antoine Griezmann for these last few weeks. You decided to stay in the Atletico Madrid and I hope you go great this season!" Samuel Umititi will also come under Barcelona spotlight after he retweeted the video of his compatriot, saying, "I need popcorn." Barcelona were unaware that the video was being made and vice president, Jordi Mestre said at the unveiling of Eric Abidal as the club's new sporting director, that the manner in which the Barca fans were made aware of the French striker’s decision to remain in the Spanish capital was unfair. "As a club, we respect Griezmann's decision to renew with Atletico as we respect any player's right to decide their future," he said. "But we feel bad for the supporters who felt disappointed with the way it happened and the way the final resolution came out. "(Barcelona president Josep Maria) Bartomeu spoke with Pique to tell him that his involvement provoked surprise and discomfort at the club and among fans. We will speak with him and Umtiti internally after the World Cup about what happened but we won't make any more public comments." Pique previously defended his actions, but he and Umtiti will have to answer to Barcelona when they return from World Cup duty with Spain and France respectively. https://tinyurl.com/yarmkd7g