I disagree. Watching non-VAR soccer (like EFL Championship) is a much better experience. We need to do better at the highest levels.
***** Official World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Thread *****
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deadbq03 said:AustinScubaAg said:deadbq03 said:
Yeah I think you're right. There's too much money at the high levels to let wrong calls stand if it impacts promotion/relegation/champions league spots/advancing in big tourneys/etc.
And that's why I'm increasingly a fan of the idea to just scrap offside entirely… if we're stuck with dumb levels of precision, let's take away the rule. The game would adjust, and probably end up being a lot more fun.
Offsides will never be scrapped. This would be a seismic shift in tactics. Offsides is a rule specific to 11v11 soccer mainly due to the size of the pitch. Indoor soccer and 7v7 outdoor soccer in the US for instance do not usually have offsides (neither is controlled by FIFA). Fustal which is the FIFA version of indoor soccer has no offside rule.
Could FIFA change offsides to reduce controversy and make these millimeter calls possibly but Offsides will never be eliminated.
I get you. Van Basten has had several ideas, but I think they all fell on deaf ears while he was at FIFA. One of the better "compromise" ideas was to draw a line across the field at the top of the box, or maybe as far back as the "final third" and offside simply doesn't exist if the passer is beyond that line, which eliminates a lot of the really dumb issues with deflections - like we saw in the Croatia game yesterday.
I would be ok with that but then you get the did the player touch the ball on a play like the croatia goal since the original pass was from outside the top of the box.
I am kind of partial to a variant of that which says if the a two defenders (defender and goal keeper) are inside the box no offsides you could apply the same rule to the midfield line as well. this creates only two points where a player can be offsides. You could also make the top of the goal box a similar line which eliminate offensive player just standing in the goal box screening the keeper.
Mathguy64 said:LeonardSkinner said:
IMO, there's only two answers.
2. Stoppage time, but there's an official whose only job is to count that time as accurately as possible, and relay it to the center official.
At the professional level that person exists. It's 4O.
Everywhere else, yeah they don't exist. Hell, the vast majority of games are done solo. Or R plus 2 kids holding flags. Or just 3 kids.
Yeah, I'm aware. You probably lost the spreadsheet that listed all the referees on TexAgs, lol.
The emphasis was intended to be on the "only job and accurate as possible" part. The 4th official, as it stands, is doing the substitutions and technical area supervision as well. The time official should be up in the VAR booth or something.
deadbq03 said:
I disagree. Watching non-VAR soccer (like EFL Championship) is a much better experience. We need to do better at the highest levels.
But that boils down to the officiating not being good enough, doesn't it?
Took a few days longer than I expected but Nagelsmann is out.
Julian Nagelsmann is out as the Germany head coach following the team's shock exit from the World Cup at the hands of Paraguay in the round of 32, with talks already being sought with Jürgen Klopp to replace him. pic.twitter.com/jzR9WgJhiI
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 3, 2026
The only officiating idea that makes sense and doesn't just move the goalposts is adding a second center ref, which doesn't get discussed enough. Hockey does it on a field a fraction of the size.
LeonardSkinner said:
Yeah, I'm aware. You probably lost the spreadsheet that listed all the referees on TexAgs, lol.
No. I knew. I did it mainly for the benefit of those that aren't.
Separately, I didn't watch the match or follow the thread the other night and don't want to troll back through 800 posts.
You red or yellow on the Balugon foul?
Doesn't seem that long when Joachim Low stepped down as manger. Man has he been missed.
It could be that your purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others. Explains why I come with a warning label. Life is short, drink jager with red bull.
I think the image is fine because it can add speed to the decision, done correctly. I just think it should focus on feet alone and require an entire foot to be over.
Lineups for Australia vs. Egypt
OFFICIAL: Our Starting XI is unchanged from our draw with Paraguay 📋💪
— CommBank Socceroos (@Socceroos) July 3, 2026
🇦🇺 v 🇪🇬 - 3.7.26 - 1:00pm local
🇦🇺 v 🇪🇬 - 4.7.26 - 4:00am AEST
📱💻📺 Live on SBS & SBS On Demand#Socceroos #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/5CWshkEAYk
Our Starting XI against Australia in the round of 32 1️⃣1️⃣🇪🇬#egyptnt#FIFAWORLDCUP pic.twitter.com/Mm2Od1kJPR
— Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) July 3, 2026
Not a good sign that Australia still thinks they're playing Paraguay
Says unchanged from that game with Paraguay
Pahdz said:
The only officiating idea that makes sense and doesn't just move the goalposts is adding a second center ref, which doesn't get discussed enough. Hockey does it on a field a fraction of the size.
There are 3 refs already it is simply that the final decision is up to the center ref. 2 two on field ref system has been tested in the past and did not lead to better outcomes.
deadbq03 said:
I disagree. Watching non-VAR soccer (like EFL Championship) is a much better experience. We need to do better at the highest levels.
Yes. Sports were categorically more enjoyable before replay, var, etc.
Let's go back and just accept sometimes you get ****ed and there's nothing one can do. You win some and lose some but it evens out over the long term
The Australia national team sold their twitter name rights?
Go Australia
AustinScubaAg said:deadbq03 said:AustinScubaAg said:deadbq03 said:
Yeah I think you're right. There's too much money at the high levels to let wrong calls stand if it impacts promotion/relegation/champions league spots/advancing in big tourneys/etc.
And that's why I'm increasingly a fan of the idea to just scrap offside entirely… if we're stuck with dumb levels of precision, let's take away the rule. The game would adjust, and probably end up being a lot more fun.
Offsides will never be scrapped. This would be a seismic shift in tactics. Offsides is a rule specific to 11v11 soccer mainly due to the size of the pitch. Indoor soccer and 7v7 outdoor soccer in the US for instance do not usually have offsides (neither is controlled by FIFA). Fustal which is the FIFA version of indoor soccer has no offside rule.
Could FIFA change offsides to reduce controversy and make these millimeter calls possibly but Offsides will never be eliminated.
I get you. Van Basten has had several ideas, but I think they all fell on deaf ears while he was at FIFA. One of the better "compromise" ideas was to draw a line across the field at the top of the box, or maybe as far back as the "final third" and offside simply doesn't exist if the passer is beyond that line, which eliminates a lot of the really dumb issues with deflections - like we saw in the Croatia game yesterday.
I would be ok with that but then you get the did the player touch the ball on a play like the croatia goal since the original pass was from outside the top of the box.
I am kind of partial to a variant of that which says if the a two defenders (defender and goal keeper) are inside the box no offsides you could apply the same rule to the midfield line as well. this creates only two points where a player can be offsides. You could also make the top of the goal box a similar line which eliminate offensive player just standing in the goal box screening the keeper.
Good discussion on offsides, I think the easiest solution if we agree that the tech is here to stay and that the games have to be called right at this level is that you just make a slight change to what offsides means and instead of calling a guy offsides when the tip of his boot is offsides you say that you are onside until your entire body is past the last defender.
We still have the issue with extreme precision, but because it's shifted to the entire body now, I think everyone would agree that at that point the offensive player has an unfair advantage. The problem now is that offsides is called on plays where the offense doesn't have an advantage which goes against the spirit of the rule. I can easily accept delays and precision if the final decision makes sense. Just this small change would make most of the disallowed goals now good and open up scoring just a bit which is good for soccer.
People just need to remember why the offside rule exists, and it's surely not because a shoelace is past the last defender. The rule exists to eliminate cherry picking and as mentioned by another poster to keep players from screening the goalie. Just make a slight edit to the definition of even and we're all good.
We are Egypt fans after the Soccergoob fans turned out to be gigantic whiny *******.
Yokel's anthem reviews
"Advance Australia Fair" is a fine enough tune with thoroughly dumb lyrics. "Our home is surrounded by water." Really???. I can't say I approve of the recently woke-ified lyrics either. We all know the Aussies really want to be singing Waltzing Matilda, which perfectly reflects their national character, but some people have a problem being characterized as homeless sheep thieves.
"Bilady, Billady, Bilady" is quite a bit better than the standard anthem from Arabic countries and seems popular with the players. They need singing lessons, however. I am giving this one to Egypt.
On the pitch, I foresee a defensive struggle that is settled late. Australia with the mild upset, 1-nil.
"Advance Australia Fair" is a fine enough tune with thoroughly dumb lyrics. "Our home is surrounded by water." Really???. I can't say I approve of the recently woke-ified lyrics either. We all know the Aussies really want to be singing Waltzing Matilda, which perfectly reflects their national character, but some people have a problem being characterized as homeless sheep thieves.
"Bilady, Billady, Bilady" is quite a bit better than the standard anthem from Arabic countries and seems popular with the players. They need singing lessons, however. I am giving this one to Egypt.
On the pitch, I foresee a defensive struggle that is settled late. Australia with the mild upset, 1-nil.
Aussie, Aussie, Ausie!!!
LOL...sike.
LOL...sike.
Goal Egypt.
Total breakdown on Aussie defense. Simple secondary attack from set piece and nobody marked anybody.
Total breakdown on Aussie defense. Simple secondary attack from set piece and nobody marked anybody.
Goal Egypt
Australia looks overmatched here.
island Canadians vs pyramids. dont care to cheer for either team. hope it's a good game.
God loves you so much He'll meet you where you are. He also loves you too much to allow to stay where you are.
We sing Hallelujah! The Lamb has overcome!
We sing Hallelujah! The Lamb has overcome!
Trend continues -- African side looking to be much better in the 1H. Will be interesting to see if they can hang on or if we see another late heartbreaker.
All this dancing from Egypt players and fans. Seems like a bit of Pride Night rubbed off on them.
Probably not, given their stance on it
I know I'm beating a dead horse, I love football, but the performative injury milking is absolutely a beating. I just don't get it. If you get a foul you know about 2 seconds after the fact. Laying and rolling around on the pitch does nothing but hurt your team.
Australia is known as the one team that doesn't really do that, possibility that guy was actually hurt.
The Egyptians on the other hand... already a couple of times they've writhed in pain after being tapped softly.
The Egyptians on the other hand... already a couple of times they've writhed in pain after being tapped softly.
Vox Clamantis said:
I know I'm beating a dead horse, I love football, but the performative injury milking is absolutely a beating. I just don't get it. If you get a foul you know about 2 seconds after the fact. Laying and rolling around on the pitch does nothing but hurt your team.
Unlikely but Australia was in striking position twice why that guy was just rolling around. Guarantee you he will be just fine.
I think most of it is just buying time to give their teammates a breather
Mathguy64 said:LeonardSkinner said:
Yeah, I'm aware. You probably lost the spreadsheet that listed all the referees on TexAgs, lol.
No. I knew. I did it mainly for the benefit of those that aren't.
Separately, I didn't watch the match or follow the thread the other night and don't want to troll back through 800 posts.
You red or yellow on the Balugon foul?
It is very hard to completely remove the red white and blue shades, but my gut instinct is the spirit of the game asks for a yellow, and the referee tells Balogun in no uncertain terms that it is by the grace of God that he's still in the match. He gets Ream and the other captain and lets them know that there is zero tolerance for bull*****
The spirit of the game certainly doesn't demand multiple slow motion replays. VAR and tiny microchips are deciding the winners and losers now.
Anyone just see the clip of Pochettino practicing throwing a baseball for the first pitch at the Mariners game? No knock against him.
It just amazes me that some grown men don't know how to throw and catch a ball.
It just amazes me that some grown men don't know how to throw and catch a ball.
I think you'd be shocked at how many can't
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