World Cup 2026

[HVC]

By the by I think I've said before that Adrian Chiles is my favourite columnist - and this is just a lovely piece:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/02/world-cup-italian-referee-underdog

Italian propaganda! Trying to make you cheer for an Italian ref because they don't have a good enough team to cheer for. I won't be fooled

[Josquius]

So....England are on at 1am....
Wondering whether its practical to keep myself away from anything liable to spoil it until 8:30 (won't use my clock radio that day) and watch it on repeat.
Not sure I trust iplayer not to spoil it though....

How will you not hear it from the noise outside?

I live in a pretty quiet area. If I keep my window shut just in case of neighbours should be fine

Just read however they're apparently thinking of moving it forward 6 hours due to storm risk (and not at all due to advertisers)

[crazy canuck]

the rules are pretty clear that the touch from the defending player needs to be intentional to offset the offside. Since the portuguese player's touch was unintentional, the croatian was offside.

A defender getting his head onto the ball coming into the box is unintentional?
It going the direction it did was very much unintentional, but he clearly did want to get to the ball.

The main defence I would see is the initial Croatian touch came with the goalscorer already in an offside position- but to that I'd say he wasn't interfering in play and hadn't yet touched it himself.

NO, you can see he ducked to get out of the way. It's a stupid rule though. In my day (old man voice) any contact was enough to nullify the offside.

I actually don't think it's clear the deducked.  That goes against everything a defender is taught to do isn't it?  His actions are equally and I think more persuasively consistent with misjudging the ball and failing to clearing it.


If one is going to speak of intention, why would a defender ever intentionally get out of the way of a ball heading towards their net?

[HVC]

One would duck if they think it's going out of play for a goal kick. Obviously I'm biased but to me it looked like he ducked and it went off his back.

[crazy canuck]

One would duck if they think it's going out of play for a goal kick. Obviously I'm biased but to me it looked like he ducked and it went off his back.

Agreed, but it wasn't going out to play

[HVC]

One would duck if they think it's going out of play for a goal kick. Obviously I'm biased but to me it looked like he ducked and it went off his back.

Agreed, but it wasn't going out to play

But if Croatia 15 hadn't handled it the ball was going of well passed the right post.

[HVC]

Also, stupid Egyptians. Why are all the African teams failing me.

[Jacob]

With no investment in the outcome and little clarity on the rule nuances my observation is: guy ducked to get out of the way, but the ball touched him enough to change direction.

[crazy canuck]

One would duck if they think it's going out of play for a goal kick. Obviously I'm biased but to me it looked like he ducked and it went off his back.

Agreed, but it wasn't going out to play

But if Croatia 15 hadn't handled it the ball was going of well passed the right post.

That's only apparent in hindsight. That would not have at all been clear to the defender. Defenders clear balls when there's any danger and that was definitely a dangerous situation.

[Josquius]

Yes.

Catching end of Egypt - Australia. Gone on to pens.
I fear Australia made a mistake with their keeper sub....

[HVC]

Also, stupid Egyptians. Why are all the African teams failing me.

There you go. Didn't really have a horse in the game, I just like Salah.

[HVC]

Refs helping Messi again.

[mongers]

Also, stupid Egyptians. Why are all the African teams failing me.

There you go. Didn't really have a horse in the game, I just like Salah.

Ditto.

[Grey Fox]

It's tie again!

[Sheilbh]

Incredible