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Post by zarsta on Aug 10, 2023 17:41:03 GMT -5
The sun is shining down here in Auckland, and I'm super excited to head over to Eden Park after work for the Japan vs Sweden QF! Will watch the earlier Spain vs Netherlands on the big TV in the office - we've had any "office hours" games on that all tournament.
Also of note today: FIFA have given Lauren James a two match ban, so she'll be available for the final should England make it. Personally I wish she'd been given three, but not too surprised as FIFA usually try to avoid players missing a final.
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 10, 2023 18:16:13 GMT -5
The sun is shining down here in Auckland, and I'm super excited to head over to Eden Park after work for the Japan vs Sweden QF! Will watch the earlier Spain vs Netherlands on the big TV in the office - we've had any "office hours" games on that all tournament. Also of note today: FIFA have given Lauren James a two match ban, so she'll be available for the final should England make it. Personally I wish she'd been given three, but not too surprised as FIFA usually try to avoid players missing a final. I think two matches is fair given her contrition and the relative lack of force. Plus, the Nigerian player isn't even upset about it. Two matches is still a stiff penalty in my view. If England wins their quarterfinal, she will be available for either the final or the third-place match, and I think that's a good thing.
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 10, 2023 18:38:21 GMT -5
The first quarterfinal between the Netherlands and Spain gets underway in a little over an hour. I'm looking forward to all of these matchups. I think I'll watch all of them except for the England/Colombia one because that one is on at 4:30 AM my time, and I need my sleep.
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Post by zarsta on Aug 10, 2023 20:06:33 GMT -5
The sun is shining down here in Auckland, and I'm super excited to head over to Eden Park after work for the Japan vs Sweden QF! Will watch the earlier Spain vs Netherlands on the big TV in the office - we've had any "office hours" games on that all tournament. Also of note today: FIFA have given Lauren James a two match ban, so she'll be available for the final should England make it. Personally I wish she'd been given three, but not too surprised as FIFA usually try to avoid players missing a final. I think two matches is fair given her contrition and the relative lack of force. Plus, the Nigerian player isn't even upset about it. Two matches is still a stiff penalty in my view. If England wins their quarterfinal, she will be available for either the final or the third-place match, and I think that's a good thing. For me it was the total disrespect it showed and not relative lack of force. Things like that have no place in the game and should be harshly punished. But I get FIFA doesn't want to exclude players from the final.
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 10, 2023 20:13:02 GMT -5
I think two matches is fair given her contrition and the relative lack of force. Plus, the Nigerian player isn't even upset about it. Two matches is still a stiff penalty in my view. If England wins their quarterfinal, she will be available for either the final or the third-place match, and I think that's a good thing. For me it was the total disrespect it showed and not relative lack of force. Things like that have no place in the game and should be harshly punished. But I get FIFA doesn't want to exclude players from the final. I understand your viewpoint. I honestly would have been okay with one match only. I think two is a decent middle ground.
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Post by zarsta on Aug 10, 2023 20:15:56 GMT -5
For me it was the total disrespect it showed and not relative lack of force. Things like that have no place in the game and should be harshly punished. But I get FIFA doesn't want to exclude players from the final. I understand your viewpoint. I honestly would have been okay with one match only. I think two is a decent middle ground. Sorry, should have mentioned I'm a bit biased (played soccer all my life and still do), I totally understand yours too!
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 10, 2023 20:18:17 GMT -5
Spain just put consecutive shots off the post (first one was deflected by the keeper first).
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Post by zarsta on Aug 10, 2023 20:19:07 GMT -5
Can't believe she missed that rebound off the post!
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Post by c4ndlelight on Aug 10, 2023 20:21:37 GMT -5
van Domselaar has to be favorite for the golden glove at this point. The post was unlucky for Spain, but that first save was excellent.
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Aug 10, 2023 20:24:27 GMT -5
In the Prem, suspensions for stamping start at three matches. Personally, I would have sent James home, but a two-match suspension in a World Cup is not just a slap on the wrist either.
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 10, 2023 20:25:15 GMT -5
Oh, I forgot to post my quarterfinal predictions. I'll do that before anyone scores:
Spain (was my pick before the match started), Japan, France, England. Japan over France in the final.
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Post by zarsta on Aug 10, 2023 20:57:32 GMT -5
Feels like the Netherlands is just hanging in there....barely. Van Domselaar keeping them in it.
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 10, 2023 20:59:31 GMT -5
Feels like the Netherlands is just hanging in there....barely. Van Domselaar keeping them in it. Yeah, saved by the post and the offside flag as well.
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 10, 2023 21:23:54 GMT -5
Once again, VAR overturns a penalty shot. I have the same problem here that I do with the one that was overturned in the England/Nigeria match. In both cases, there was a foul, but the player who got fouled sold it a bit more than necessary. Frankly, if there is a foul, then I don't care if the player reacts like they got shot. If there's no foul, and it's a dive, then give them a yellow card for the dive. I feel this way about hockey as well.
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 10, 2023 21:39:24 GMT -5
Penalty coming to Spain on a handball in the box...off the post on and in. 1-0 Spain.
Edit: honestly, should probably be 1-1. VAR is making a mess of some of this tournament.
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