World Cup 2026

[HVC]

Before my time so I can't truly compare the early 80s style, but even into the 2000s with ronaldinho, ronaldo, Roberto Carlos they had a playful joyful style.

When it went downhill is when they stopped using nicknames hah

*edit not saying Roberto was the same style as the other two. I just like him and you could tell he enjoyed it. Not just enjoying the scoring or the winning, but the game itself.

[HVC]

Also just globalisation and everyone being able to watch each other. The days of some team turning up and no-one knowing how to play against them are gone.

Tell that to the teams that faced cabo verde

[Duque de Bragança]

Before my time so I dant truly compare the early 80s style, but even into the 2000s with ronaldinho, ronaldo, Roberto Carlos they had a playful joyful style.

When it went downhill is when they stopped using nicknames hah

People were already complaining back then about the relatively defensive playstyle.
For the Canarinha that is.

[DGuller]

Meanwhile, FIFA cancels a red card against the US (Balogun). 

Allez les Diables Rouges !

Definitely the right decision to rescind the ban, but probably arrived at through a very tortured reading of the rules.  There really should be a direct way to appeal clearly wrong decisions, obviously VAR is not a sufficient check on it as VAR referees themselves can make clear and obvious errors.

Uhhh he received a red card for serious foul play. Dude almost broke the ankle of the opponent, studs first didn't he.

You can't have a serious foul play if you don't even have a foul.  It seemed like an accidental collision triggered in no small part by the foul of the other player.

[HVC]

For CC

[crazy canuck]

Many thanks

[HVC]

You cannot view this attachment.

[Josephus]

P-S: jogo bonito died in 1982, killed by la Nazionale on July 5, precisely.

I said mid 80s....close enough

[Josephus]

Bah.  England game delayed

[Zoupa]

Meanwhile, FIFA cancels a red card against the US (Balogun). 

Allez les Diables Rouges !

Definitely the right decision to rescind the ban, but probably arrived at through a very tortured reading of the rules.  There really should be a direct way to appeal clearly wrong decisions, obviously VAR is not a sufficient check on it as VAR referees themselves can make clear and obvious errors.

Uhhh he received a red card for serious foul play. Dude almost broke the ankle of the opponent, studs first didn't he.

You can't have a serious foul play if you don't even have a foul.  It seemed like an accidental collision triggered in no small part by the foul of the other player.

Bruh.

[DGuller]

Meanwhile, FIFA cancels a red card against the US (Balogun). 

Allez les Diables Rouges !

Definitely the right decision to rescind the ban, but probably arrived at through a very tortured reading of the rules.  There really should be a direct way to appeal clearly wrong decisions, obviously VAR is not a sufficient check on it as VAR referees themselves can make clear and obvious errors.

Uhhh he received a red card for serious foul play. Dude almost broke the ankle of the opponent, studs first didn't he.

You can't have a serious foul play if you don't even have a foul.  It seemed like an accidental collision triggered in no small part by the foul of the other player.

Bruh.

I don't think anyone disputes that his cleats went into an ankle of the Bosnian player.  I don't know what else you think this shows, it's kind of hard to ascertain from "bruh".

[Zoupa]

  corruption is ok if my team benefits lol. Insane.

[DGuller]

corruption is ok if my team benefits lol. Insane.

So are you arguing that the red card was deserved, or are you arguing that the way it was "suspended" was corrupt?  I was under impression we were debating the first point.

[Zoupa]

The red was deserved. It might have been an accident, but as a player you're responsible for your feet.

[Sheilbh]

You can't have a serious foul play if you don't even have a foul.  It seemed like an accidental collision triggered in no small part by the foul of the other player.

From an ex-ref in The Athletic - who is sympathetic to your point. Commentary here was very much as soon as you see the slow-motion it's going to be a red card:

'Unlucky but inevitable' – an expert's view
Analysis by former Premier League referee Graham Scott

The introduction of VAR has created situations such as Balogun's red card.

He was dismissed for 'serious foul play', which deals with players who endanger the safety of an opponent. Historically, the law was invoked by referees when players went flying into tackles at high speed and out of control, without a moment's thought for the consequences.

Since we have had video review, the focus has shifted to the point of contact. Slow-motion replays and still images distort the offending player's actions, with innocuous tackles looking more serious.

By contrast, players who dive in, off the ground, with both feet can escape red cards if they happen to miss their opponent.

Lionel Messi's potential red card for Argentina against Algeria was a classic example. There is no intensity in his challenge, but the still images were ugly and on another day, he might have been sent off.

Balogun became a victim of this modern trend against Bosnia. His actions are all part of the normal rough and tumble of football, he is never out of control and the contact is accidental.

But the replays make for grim viewing, as Muharemovic's ankle buckles and he is clearly in distress — no simulation here.

I would prefer tackles like this to produce cautions at worst. Messi was let off completely, and there is nothing reckless about Balogun's actions either.

In the spirit of the law, Balogun was unlucky. But in its recent interpretation, a red card was inevitable.[/qote]