Refereeing
I've been really struck by how few yellow cards there have been. Compared to the club games I have been watching, it seems as if yellow cards are given less liberally which just seems a bit weird and almost old-fashioned. I think it has worked quite well but clear, deliberate professional fouls being left unpunished isn't ideal, for me. On the other hand, I have not seen it get particularly out of hand and seems to be people fairly even so it has helped the games flow VAR was always going to be a talking point but I really feel that the implementation has been excellent (so far) although I have not agreed with all decisions. The speed of review is good and I think the effect on the players already feels clear. Neymar failing to neymar a penalty out of the Costa Ricans after going to review is one of the great moments of VAR and should, hopefully, change some habits. Video assistance is all it is though, and now bemoaning VAR for not getting everything right is the next stage for those kinds of people in the punditry game. The time taken has not been onerous, in my opinion, and has really helped get some decisions spot on - South Korea's opener was incorrectly flagged offside and then overturned on review after noticing the ball had come off a German player. I wonder if VAR will level the playing field a little to prevent the big teams always getting the big decisions. FIFA have been quite brave to go with VAR in the World Cup and UEFA have been clear about not supporting it. Conceptually, I have never had an issue with getting the right decision but the time has been a problem but FIFA seem to have the implementation right here and hopefully it will be understood that the ref is in charge - and can still make howlers on handball, for example. It isn't often I get to praise FIFA so I'll take the opportunity - bravo.
Football
And so the Russians got found out. Russia played fairly well with their strong running in the first two games but looked out of their depth against a fairly workmanlike Uruguay. It was a lovely free kick by Suarez after the wall clearance but quite a ragged midfield all told. Russia have some quality but I cannot see the hosts doing too much more against Spain unless Spain are as unfortunate as they were to meet the famously dubious South Koreans in 2002. I don't think the tournament will be missing this Egypt or Saudi Arabia teams though it was nice to see Salah score in that way that he does – lofting the ball over the keeper. Uruguay may be workmanlike but they are proper workmen with two centre back and two forwards of genuine quality and that may be enough against Portugal. Though it will probably be pretty dull…
Bordering nations, Spain and Portugal, progressed as expected from day 1 but neither were particularly convincing. In 2014, Spain were excellent in patches before being destroyed by the Dutch and the Portugal and Morocco games exposed that soft jaw again. Portugal are an attritional side (as are Spain too, in a very different way) with little in the way of beauty, just workmanlike servicing of what Ronaldo might be able to do. That was enough to be winners of Euro 2016 and they probably should not be entirely written off. Iran were hopeful but miss the end product that so many improving teams lack. I won't miss them but I did massively enjoy them being a bit Spanish in their time-wasting and rolling around versus the Spaniards. Morocco can count themselves a bit unlucky and were quite impressive in patches through the three games but not enough for anything.
Classic third match dead rubber between the French and Danes gave us both the first goalless draw of the tournament and also a human rights abuse on anyone that watched. Denmark look fairly neat but the French were just so disappointing. They will always cause a threat but watching them, it is almost just by accident that they attack - there seems to be precious little construction. They remind me of a high-level videogame football team but controlled by someone not very good mashing square every so often and hoping it'll work. Peru brought a lot of noise, fervour and excitement and Australia didn't. I'm not sure either will be particularly missed into the last 16 but they will have enjoyed themselves.
Do not write Messi off, that has to be the thing to learn. And so we end up with what we thought - the two better-known teams progressing. Argentina finally looked vaguely competent and were more comfortable in the game than the scoreline suggests. The Messi goal to open the game up was a goal that is so very difficult to do but he has really made look easy. The left leg control to take the ball into space is astonishing - there is nothing you can do about that. Croatia have arguably been the team of the round with a competence and quality that has shone through. Nigeria and Iceland will both be missed to be honest and both have done themselves proud both on and off the pitch - the Iceland thunderclap will surely be one of legend. Nigeria had a young side with some eye-catching players - and not just due to the ludicrous kit.
Everybody's second team won with grace and quality is what was decided by the commentary team before the game had even kicked off but the game itself wasn't like that. Brazil will be there or thereabouts I expect but not through a particular quality of attack. They do, however, have one of the brightest passers in world football in Philippe Coutinho who has been neat, tidy and the expansive when he needs to be. He sees passes that I don't see even from the television viewpoint. Serbia will be kicking themselves for a lapse in concentration against Switzerland to let them back in and for Shaqiri, especially, to take advantage. Switzerland look dangerous whenever Shaqiri has a little bit of space and can cause a lot of grief for their opponents.
F. F. That was quite the shock. Germany out after three terrible performances has to be the story of the round. Mexico almost threw it away with a big loss to Sweden but still got through. This wasn't a strong group and South Korea looked awful so for Germany to be unable to break them down until the end was truly shocking. In the parochial commentary, Germany missed the pace and incision of Leroy Sane but as he was not seen as reliable, he would not have played. His replacement in the squad, Brandt, looked very good whenever he came on with pace and quality so I really don't think Sane would have made a difference. What would have made a difference, and German performances still defined the group here, was a set of German players that looked like they knew how to construct attacks. South Korea were no more than competent in winning but it was a pleasure to see VAR making an offside goal onside and Son running free for the second. What a set of games Germany were involved in!
Goals aplenty in previous games left this last matchday as a bit of a dead rubber. England and Belgium were far superior to their opponents and so went into the last game with good goal difference and maximum points - split on disciplinary points. And both managers decided to rest much of their first teams and blood some of the subs. As a result, there wasn't much to be gleaned, Belgium deservedly continued their run of wins but neither team was left with egg on their faces and we were not quite treated to the spectacle of the France vs Denmark match. England lacked a cutting edge and were found wanting defensively quite a few times straight down the middle. I'm a huge fan of Trent Alexander-Arnold and it was great to see him start and give a very good account of himself - one to keep an eye on. The game started with talk of where the draw was already heading and this game decided which half would host which team - and many in England would be pleased to be on the "easier" half. But these are the same people oblivious to the fact that England have a woeful record in knockout games - beating only Ecuador and Denmark in the current millennium. Why they need reminding again, I don't know, but pride so often comes before a fall.
How do you solve a problem like matching records? Goal difference, followed by goals scored followed by head to head followed by discipline. Discipline? Yep, so Japan progress instead of Senegal by virtue of having picked up fewer bookings in the three games. It is the first time I have heard if this method but it is better than the coin toss of 1990, I am happy with that. This always looked a tight squeeze with a balanced group due to the imbalances in each team but it is a shame to lose Senegal after their pace and (attempted) attacking verve was pegged back by a Japan that was under the cosh. I've generally got a soft spot for Japan but this was not an impressive display and they are pretty fortunate to have caught Colombia out. Colombia will be without James, probably, and so will not have the guile in the middle that he possesses but the more basic threat of Falcao and Cuadrado can definitely unsettle. One to watch.
I've been really struck by how few yellow cards there have been. Compared to the club games I have been watching, it seems as if yellow cards are given less liberally which just seems a bit weird and almost old-fashioned. I think it has worked quite well but clear, deliberate professional fouls being left unpunished isn't ideal, for me. On the other hand, I have not seen it get particularly out of hand and seems to be people fairly even so it has helped the games flow VAR was always going to be a talking point but I really feel that the implementation has been excellent (so far) although I have not agreed with all decisions. The speed of review is good and I think the effect on the players already feels clear. Neymar failing to neymar a penalty out of the Costa Ricans after going to review is one of the great moments of VAR and should, hopefully, change some habits. Video assistance is all it is though, and now bemoaning VAR for not getting everything right is the next stage for those kinds of people in the punditry game. The time taken has not been onerous, in my opinion, and has really helped get some decisions spot on - South Korea's opener was incorrectly flagged offside and then overturned on review after noticing the ball had come off a German player. I wonder if VAR will level the playing field a little to prevent the big teams always getting the big decisions. FIFA have been quite brave to go with VAR in the World Cup and UEFA have been clear about not supporting it. Conceptually, I have never had an issue with getting the right decision but the time has been a problem but FIFA seem to have the implementation right here and hopefully it will be understood that the ref is in charge - and can still make howlers on handball, for example. It isn't often I get to praise FIFA so I'll take the opportunity - bravo.
Football
And so the Russians got found out. Russia played fairly well with their strong running in the first two games but looked out of their depth against a fairly workmanlike Uruguay. It was a lovely free kick by Suarez after the wall clearance but quite a ragged midfield all told. Russia have some quality but I cannot see the hosts doing too much more against Spain unless Spain are as unfortunate as they were to meet the famously dubious South Koreans in 2002. I don't think the tournament will be missing this Egypt or Saudi Arabia teams though it was nice to see Salah score in that way that he does – lofting the ball over the keeper. Uruguay may be workmanlike but they are proper workmen with two centre back and two forwards of genuine quality and that may be enough against Portugal. Though it will probably be pretty dull…
Bordering nations, Spain and Portugal, progressed as expected from day 1 but neither were particularly convincing. In 2014, Spain were excellent in patches before being destroyed by the Dutch and the Portugal and Morocco games exposed that soft jaw again. Portugal are an attritional side (as are Spain too, in a very different way) with little in the way of beauty, just workmanlike servicing of what Ronaldo might be able to do. That was enough to be winners of Euro 2016 and they probably should not be entirely written off. Iran were hopeful but miss the end product that so many improving teams lack. I won't miss them but I did massively enjoy them being a bit Spanish in their time-wasting and rolling around versus the Spaniards. Morocco can count themselves a bit unlucky and were quite impressive in patches through the three games but not enough for anything.
Classic third match dead rubber between the French and Danes gave us both the first goalless draw of the tournament and also a human rights abuse on anyone that watched. Denmark look fairly neat but the French were just so disappointing. They will always cause a threat but watching them, it is almost just by accident that they attack - there seems to be precious little construction. They remind me of a high-level videogame football team but controlled by someone not very good mashing square every so often and hoping it'll work. Peru brought a lot of noise, fervour and excitement and Australia didn't. I'm not sure either will be particularly missed into the last 16 but they will have enjoyed themselves.
Do not write Messi off, that has to be the thing to learn. And so we end up with what we thought - the two better-known teams progressing. Argentina finally looked vaguely competent and were more comfortable in the game than the scoreline suggests. The Messi goal to open the game up was a goal that is so very difficult to do but he has really made look easy. The left leg control to take the ball into space is astonishing - there is nothing you can do about that. Croatia have arguably been the team of the round with a competence and quality that has shone through. Nigeria and Iceland will both be missed to be honest and both have done themselves proud both on and off the pitch - the Iceland thunderclap will surely be one of legend. Nigeria had a young side with some eye-catching players - and not just due to the ludicrous kit.
F. F. That was quite the shock. Germany out after three terrible performances has to be the story of the round. Mexico almost threw it away with a big loss to Sweden but still got through. This wasn't a strong group and South Korea looked awful so for Germany to be unable to break them down until the end was truly shocking. In the parochial commentary, Germany missed the pace and incision of Leroy Sane but as he was not seen as reliable, he would not have played. His replacement in the squad, Brandt, looked very good whenever he came on with pace and quality so I really don't think Sane would have made a difference. What would have made a difference, and German performances still defined the group here, was a set of German players that looked like they knew how to construct attacks. South Korea were no more than competent in winning but it was a pleasure to see VAR making an offside goal onside and Son running free for the second. What a set of games Germany were involved in!
Goals aplenty in previous games left this last matchday as a bit of a dead rubber. England and Belgium were far superior to their opponents and so went into the last game with good goal difference and maximum points - split on disciplinary points. And both managers decided to rest much of their first teams and blood some of the subs. As a result, there wasn't much to be gleaned, Belgium deservedly continued their run of wins but neither team was left with egg on their faces and we were not quite treated to the spectacle of the France vs Denmark match. England lacked a cutting edge and were found wanting defensively quite a few times straight down the middle. I'm a huge fan of Trent Alexander-Arnold and it was great to see him start and give a very good account of himself - one to keep an eye on. The game started with talk of where the draw was already heading and this game decided which half would host which team - and many in England would be pleased to be on the "easier" half. But these are the same people oblivious to the fact that England have a woeful record in knockout games - beating only Ecuador and Denmark in the current millennium. Why they need reminding again, I don't know, but pride so often comes before a fall.
How do you solve a problem like matching records? Goal difference, followed by goals scored followed by head to head followed by discipline. Discipline? Yep, so Japan progress instead of Senegal by virtue of having picked up fewer bookings in the three games. It is the first time I have heard if this method but it is better than the coin toss of 1990, I am happy with that. This always looked a tight squeeze with a balanced group due to the imbalances in each team but it is a shame to lose Senegal after their pace and (attempted) attacking verve was pegged back by a Japan that was under the cosh. I've generally got a soft spot for Japan but this was not an impressive display and they are pretty fortunate to have caught Colombia out. Colombia will be without James, probably, and so will not have the guile in the middle that he possesses but the more basic threat of Falcao and Cuadrado can definitely unsettle. One to watch.
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