*****Official United States of America vs Bosnia & Herzegovina WC 2026 Thread*****

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Fenrir
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In reply to ccaggie05 • 10:20a, 7/2/26
ccaggie05 said:
We all know FIFA can do whatever it wants. Of course it can overturn Balogun's one match suspension, but they won't of course.

Given how corrupt FIFA is, I'm a little concerned they extend his suspension for multiple matches.

Fair or not, the still image of the Bosnia player's ankle turned looks awful. I think anybody, who is honest, who watches the play at game speed knows Balogun did it unintentionally. He wasn't even trying to challenge, but I can see FIFA being ****ty enough to extend the ban to multiple matches due to the still image. I hope I'm wrong but I always assume the worst when FIFA is involved.

This is easily the worst part. The Bosnian player was the one making the challenge, Balogun didn't even know he was there. Essentially Balogun got a red card because a player making a challenge from behind stuck his foot underneath Balogun's foot as he was stepping down. In order to make an argument that it was a bad challenge you have to selectively crop and slow down or stop the footage. It's essentially this meme:
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zgolfz85
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In reply to deadbq03 • 10:20a, 7/2/26
AG
deadbq03 said:
I agree. He looked good in that role in the Senegal friendly.

I think Pepi is better than any 9 we've had since ~2017 (outside of Flo, obviously), and with several days of practice with the first team, he's gonna surprise some people.

I hope you're right - he's looked lost in most of his WC mins so far. Hope Poch can instill some confidence in him before Monday
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birdman
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10:23a, 7/2/26
Pepi or Wright need to be presentable. We don't need brilliance.

I think we'll want them to play strong with back to the goal. And maybe some over the top balls, like we saw in Bosnia game.

Don't know who is making the run from midfield or backline, and neither does Belgium. That's how they've been beaten. Senegal wore them out. Belgium had their head on a swivel and weren't picking up the secondary runs. Just be strong with the ball and make the simple pass to onrushing teammate.
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birdman
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10:27a, 7/2/26
People aren't mentioning the US backline enough. They were AWESOME.

Bosnia was desperate and down a goal.
Bosnia then goes up a man.
Bosnia is down two goals and has the man advantage.

They never challenged the USMNT. Matt Freese could have been swapped for a high school kid, and it still would have been a shutout.

Backline locked them up and frustrated them for 90 minutes. Bosnia looked discombobulated for the nearly the whole game.
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stick95
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In reply to birdman • 10:34a, 7/2/26
AG
Agreed, I think Ream might have been our best player last night. Well, probably Tillman, but if not Tillman it was Ream.
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THE_CHOSEN_ONE
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10:38a, 7/2/26
We are fortunate to have 2 good options with Pepi and Wright, neither is quite on the level of Balogun, but still both are good options to have.
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ToddyHill
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In reply to THE_CHOSEN_ONE • 10:52a, 7/2/26
AG
Quote:
We are fortunate to have 2 good options with Pepi and Wright, neither is quite on the level of Balogun, but still both are good options to have.

I am just a casual observer...but I thought Pepi played well defensively when we needed defense.

It wasn't Miracle on Ice, but playing with one man down for 30-something minutes was riveting. Congratulations to the team...
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deadbq03
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In reply to stick95 • 10:54a, 7/2/26
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stick95 said:
Agreed, I think Ream might have been our best player last night. Well, probably Tillman, but if not Tillman it was Ream.
Ream continues to amaze me. Probably my favorite USMNT player ever. And I'd have laughed if you suggested that 10 years ago.

I can't think of another player that had such a late career renaissance. It's like once he realized he was too slow to be a good LB, focusing solely on CB allowed him to become really good at it.

And I can't believe he can still do it. I genuinely thought he'd be a liability this time, despite my admiration for him. Heck of a player.
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nomad2007
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In reply to Fenrir • 11:00a, 7/2/26
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Fenrir said:
ccaggie05 said:
We all know FIFA can do whatever it wants. Of course it can overturn Balogun's one match suspension, but they won't of course.

Given how corrupt FIFA is, I'm a little concerned they extend his suspension for multiple matches.

Fair or not, the still image of the Bosnia player's ankle turned looks awful. I think anybody, who is honest, who watches the play at game speed knows Balogun did it unintentionally. He wasn't even trying to challenge, but I can see FIFA being ****ty enough to extend the ban to multiple matches due to the still image. I hope I'm wrong but I always assume the worst when FIFA is involved.

This is easily the worst part. The Bosnian player was the one making the challenge, Balogun didn't even know he was there. Essentially Balogun got a red card because a player making a challenge from behind stuck his foot underneath Balogun's foot as he was stepping down. In order to make an argument that it was a bad challenge you have to selectively crop and slow down or stop the footage. It's essentially this meme:


If the slow-mo view of it was used to determine intensity of the challenge by VAR, and not simply that there was contact and where it was, then it was used inappropriately. I think that's exactly what happened. But it would be hard to prove that and the VAR officials won't admit it.
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zgolfz85
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11:06a, 7/2/26
AG
It's honestly pretty shocking they made that call as it was far from an obvious red and on home soil for a host nation. Color me a conspiracist, but there's nothing in my being that would allow me to believe that call would be made for Mexico in the Azteca. The ref wouldn't make it out alive.
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chjoak
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11:07a, 7/2/26
AG
Ref had previously been accused of match fixing in Brazil
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fig96
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In reply to ToddyHill • 11:15a, 7/2/26
AG
ToddyHill said:
Quote:
We are fortunate to have 2 good options with Pepi and Wright, neither is quite on the level of Balogun, but still both are good options to have.

I am just a casual observer...but I thought Pepi played well defensively when we needed defense.

It wasn't Miracle on Ice, but playing with one man down for 30-something minutes was riveting. Congratulations to the team...

He understood exactly what he needed to do last night and executed perfectly.

We weren't bringing him on to bag another goal, he was there to slow play down and occupy their backline as needed.
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Mathguy64
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11:22a, 7/2/26
AG
Wasn't able to watch last night and finally saw the play.

In isolation I have red. There is no intent to injure but that's not part of the Law. It's accidental which also isn't important. It's a tackle that endangers the safety of the player. It had some force but I wouldn't call it excessive.

My problem is the Messi challenge checked the same box. It has less force but was 1000% intentional and was a rake down the calf. It's Red all day long. In a Sunday men's league if you don't show Rwd you have a fight.

Let's be clear. If a Referee sends Messi off there that Referee is getting on a plane and going home that night. Their tourney is done. In the WC with the bar so high for cards anyway I'm fine in that context with Yellow. Anywhere else? Send them both.

We will appeal and I bet the suspension is 1 game instead of 2. The media optics comparing it to Messi (and the implied Jordan Rules) look bad.

The BIH coach committed an automatic send off for grabbing the ball and delaying our restart. He committed a second by dissenting outside his technical area. The yellow for dissent was the cowards call because now the dissent card means the restart is delayed anyway.
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YouBet
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In reply to Mathguy64 • 11:24a, 7/2/26
AG
Mathguy64 said:
Wasn't able to watch last night and finally saw the play.

In isolation I have red. There is no intent to injure but that's not part of the Law. It's accidental which also isn't important. It's a tackle that endangers the safety of the player. It had some force but I wouldn't call it excessive.

My problem is the Messi challenge checked the same box. It has less force but was 1000% intentional and was a rake down the calf. It's Red all day long. In a Sunday men's league if you don't show Rwd you have a fight.

Let's be clear. If a Referee sends Messi off there that Referee is getting on a plane and going home that night. Their tourney is done. In the WC with the bar so high for cards anyway I'm fine in that context with Yellow. Anywhere else? Send them both.

We will appeal and I bet the suspension is 1 game instead of 2. The media optics comparing it to Messi (and the implied Jordan Rules) look bad.

The BIH coach committed an automatic send off for grabbing the ball and delaying our restart. He committed a second by dissenting outside his technical area. The yellow for dissent was the cowards call because now the dissent card means the restart is delayed anyway.


But we can't appeal according to what's already been shared.
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duck79
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In reply to deadbq03 • 11:25a, 7/2/26
AG
I think Ream is helped a ton by Richards presence. When Richards was out, Ream was beaten a few times because he just doesn't have the speed to cover the extra space. The presence of Richards has really allowed him to focus on his area and thrive. IMO Richards has been the key to the defense.
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zgolfz85
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In reply to duck79 • 11:27a, 7/2/26
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duck79 said:
I think Ream is helped a ton by Richards presence. When Richards was out, Ream was beaten a few times because he just doesn't have the speed to cover the extra space. The presence of Richards has really allowed him to focus on his area and thrive. IMO Richards has been the key to the defense.


100%
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chjoak
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11:28a, 7/2/26
AG
Don't have a link but I've also seen a claim that the head VAR hadn't reffed a match in 2 yrs.
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tysker
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In reply to chjoak • 11:30a, 7/2/26
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chjoak said:
Ref had previously been accused of match fixing in Brazil

I wouldn't be surprised if every referee at the higher levels in Brazil has been accused of match fixing.
It may even be a badge of honor for them.
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tysker
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In reply to Mathguy64 • 11:34a, 7/2/26
AG
Quote:
The BIH coach committed an automatic send off for grabbing the ball and delaying our restart. He committed a second by dissenting outside his technical area. The yellow for dissent was the cowards call because now the dissent card means the restart is delayed anyway.

That's what I thought when I saw it live. The ref just seemed so casual with his handling of that situation. He could have given 3 yellows to the BIH coach during that whole sequence
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GrapevineAg
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11:39a, 7/2/26
AG
Meet Bolarin Falogun…

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Fenrir
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In reply to Mathguy64 • 11:39a, 7/2/26
Mathguy64 said:
Wasn't able to watch last night and finally saw the play.

In isolation I have red. There is no intent to injure but that's not part of the Law. It's accidental which also isn't important. It's a tackle that endangers the safety of the player. It had some force but I wouldn't call it excessive.

My problem is the Messi challenge checked the same box. It has less force but was 1000% intentional and was a rake down the calf. It's Red all day long. In a Sunday men's league if you don't show Rwd you have a fight.

Let's be clear. If a Referee sends Messi off there that Referee is getting on a plane and going home that night. Their tourney is done. In the WC with the bar so high for cards anyway I'm fine in that context with Yellow. Anywhere else? Send them both.

We will appeal and I bet the suspension is 1 game instead of 2. The media optics comparing it to Messi (and the implied Jordan Rules) look bad.

The BIH coach committed an automatic send off for grabbing the ball and delaying our restart. He committed a second by dissenting outside his technical area. The yellow for dissent was the cowards call because now the dissent card means the restart is delayed anyway.

Based on this line of reasoning, I would have expected someone to get red carded when van Hecke got cleated on the head and bled like a stuck pig a few days ago. It was obvious unintentional but obviously endangered the safety of the player.
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PatAg
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In reply to Fenrir • 11:43a, 7/2/26
AG
Fenrir said:
Mathguy64 said:
Wasn't able to watch last night and finally saw the play.

In isolation I have red. There is no intent to injure but that's not part of the Law. It's accidental which also isn't important. It's a tackle that endangers the safety of the player. It had some force but I wouldn't call it excessive.

My problem is the Messi challenge checked the same box. It has less force but was 1000% intentional and was a rake down the calf. It's Red all day long. In a Sunday men's league if you don't show Rwd you have a fight.

Let's be clear. If a Referee sends Messi off there that Referee is getting on a plane and going home that night. Their tourney is done. In the WC with the bar so high for cards anyway I'm fine in that context with Yellow. Anywhere else? Send them both.

We will appeal and I bet the suspension is 1 game instead of 2. The media optics comparing it to Messi (and the implied Jordan Rules) look bad.

The BIH coach committed an automatic send off for grabbing the ball and delaying our restart. He committed a second by dissenting outside his technical area. The yellow for dissent was the cowards call because now the dissent card means the restart is delayed anyway.

Based on this line of reasoning, I would have expected someone to get red carded when van Hecke got cleated on the head and bled like a stuck pig a few days ago. It was obvious unintentional but obviously endangered the safety of the player.

There is no world where someone could convince them that that play should have resulted in a red card.

They collide shoulde to shoulder going for the ball, and as they are both planting their feet and falling Balogun happens to have his foot come down in the same place a split second after the Bosnian does.

that is NOT what the bolded part is meant to capture
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Fenrir
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In reply to PatAg • 11:47a, 7/2/26
I agree, which is why I brought up the van Hecke situation. He literally fell right underneath another player's foot and got cleated on the head. It was clearly unintentional and was treated as such by the referees. Or maybe somehow accidentally getting cleated on the head is not as dangerous as accidentally getting your ankle rolled up apparently.
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Peter Piper
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In reply to Mathguy64 • 11:51a, 7/2/26
Where you hear that he's suspended for two games?
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pb488
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In reply to Peter Piper • 11:55a, 7/2/26
AG
Peter Piper said:
Where you hear that he's suspended for two games?

I assume game 1 = the end of the BIH game and game 2 = belgium, therefore he'd be available for belgium?
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Idiot Savant
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11:57a, 7/2/26
AG
I don't even think it was a "tackle". In other situations in this WC, referees and phone-a-friend official consultants have refused fouls where there is "a natural coming together" - essentially inadvertent contact in the natural flow of play. I'm not sure how FIFA defines a "tackle," but I can't think it includes a situation where another comes into you from under and/or your blind side and there's no immediate intent to play the ball or foul. I understand the rule might not contemplate intent, but surely the purpose can't be to send off a player for inadvertent contact.
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deadbq03
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In reply to Mathguy64 • 12:04p, 7/2/26
AG
I was waiting to see your take, thanks for sharing.

For me I thought the big screwup was him not giving a yellow on the field… if I understand correctly, once it went to VAR review, the choice becomes binary in this case: stick with nothing or give a red.

And given only those two choices, I reluctantly agree that it leans towards red. But for me I think it was more of a yellow and I feel like if he had actually whipped out a yellow on the field, he would've stuck to that.
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Peter Piper
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In reply to pb488 • 12:16p, 7/2/26
pb488 said:
Peter Piper said:
Where you hear that he's suspended for two games?

I assume game 1 = the end of the BIH game and game 2 = belgium, therefore he'd be available for belgium?


Nah. It's not like targeting in college football.
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AustinScubaAg
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In reply to Fenrir • 12:17p, 7/2/26
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Fenrir said:
Mathguy64 said:
Wasn't able to watch last night and finally saw the play.

In isolation I have red. There is no intent to injure but that's not part of the Law. It's accidental which also isn't important. It's a tackle that endangers the safety of the player. It had some force but I wouldn't call it excessive.

My problem is the Messi challenge checked the same box. It has less force but was 1000% intentional and was a rake down the calf. It's Red all day long. In a Sunday men's league if you don't show Rwd you have a fight.

Let's be clear. If a Referee sends Messi off there that Referee is getting on a plane and going home that night. Their tourney is done. In the WC with the bar so high for cards anyway I'm fine in that context with Yellow. Anywhere else? Send them both.

We will appeal and I bet the suspension is 1 game instead of 2. The media optics comparing it to Messi (and the implied Jordan Rules) look bad.

The BIH coach committed an automatic send off for grabbing the ball and delaying our restart. He committed a second by dissenting outside his technical area. The yellow for dissent was the cowards call because now the dissent card means the restart is delayed anyway.

Based on this line of reasoning, I would have expected someone to get red carded when van Hecke got cleated on the head and bled like a stuck pig a few days ago. It was obvious unintentional but obviously endangered the safety of the player.

This is my problem. When Isolated to the challenge. The Bosnian play came from behind balogun initiated contact in a attempt to reach the ball. The reverse angle replays all start from after that contact has caused Balogun to stumble. Balogun is not challenging with his right foot he is simply continuing his natural motion. The on field official is maybe 8-10 yards away and has an unobstructed view of the whole play.
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annie88
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In reply to ccaggie05 • 12:38p, 7/2/26
AG
We all know FIFA can do whatever it wants. Of course it can overturn Balogun's one match suspension, but they won't of course.

Why is that?
I don’t get enough credit for the things I manage not to say.
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annie88
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In reply to A is A • 12:41p, 7/2/26
AG
A is A said:
CharleyKerfeld said:

it might be time to acknowledge that the problem is actually you, not everyone else.

This is the moment. You're either on board or you're not.


Well said.


Normally, I'm not into soccer at all, but I have to say this World Cup has been very exciting to watch from all the fun with the visiting Europeans and others from around the world and even watching some of the matches. I did the same with the hockey in the Olympics and after. It's good to branch out from my regular football and baseball stuff. Although I do love those. And if you can support our country even better.
I don’t get enough credit for the things I manage not to say.
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annie88
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In reply to Rubicante • 12:44p, 7/2/26
AG
Rubicante said:
mavsfan4ever said:
I'm a die hard USA fan. But please compare that to the videos in Mexico or any other country the last few weeks. That video just shows people clapping a little. It's not insane like any other country.

The Knicks finals videos are much crazier than that.


3 people died during Mexico City's victory celebration last night from crowd crush. I'll pass.


Holy cow. That's horrible.
I don’t get enough credit for the things I manage not to say.
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agracer
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In reply to chjoak • 12:52p, 7/2/26
AG
chjoak said:
Ref had previously been accused of match fixing in Brazil

That's 2 of 4 Referee's for the US WC team the have been accused of match fixing....
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agracer
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In reply to Mathguy64 • 12:57p, 7/2/26
AG
Mathguy64 said:
Wasn't able to watch last night and finally saw the play.

In isolation I have red. There is no intent to injure but that's not part of the Law. It's accidental which also isn't important. It's a tackle that endangers the safety of the player. It had some force but I wouldn't call it excessive.

My problem is the Messi challenge checked the same box. It has less force but was 1000% intentional and was a rake down the calf. It's Red all day long. In a Sunday men's league if you don't show Rwd you have a fight.

Let's be clear. If a Referee sends Messi off there that Referee is getting on a plane and going home that night. Their tourney is done. In the WC with the bar so high for cards anyway I'm fine in that context with Yellow. Anywhere else? Send them both.

We will appeal and I bet the suspension is 1 game instead of 2. The media optics comparing it to Messi (and the implied Jordan Rules) look bad.

The BIH coach committed an automatic send off for grabbing the ball and delaying our restart. He committed a second by dissenting outside his technical area. The yellow for dissent was the cowards call because now the dissent card means the restart is delayed anyway.

EDIT: I was being rude.

I don't believe any of that is correct but I'd like to hear your reasoning for the bolded part.
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Tergdor
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1:01p, 7/2/26
AG
After reading a ton of people fighting about the red card I've come to the conclusion that non-Americans seem to focus on the result of plays and not the preceding actions. Which is, imo, a dumb way to call fouls.

Even for how bad targeting and roughing the passer calls can be in football, those rules focus on actions and the leagues have at least been trying to legislate them in that direction.

At the end of the day, Balogun is effectively being penalized for not flopping as soon as he got hit.
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