JUST IN: @Bosnia Instagram page admits “It’s soccer” pic.twitter.com/61ngfDK6JI
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) July 2, 2026
Soccer Topics: No goalies in the USA
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Last: 1 hr ago by sycasey
Typical Spanish goal, they make it look so easy!
🚨🌎 OYARZABAL OPENS THE SCORING FOR SPAIN!
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) July 2, 2026
Spain 1-0 Austria.pic.twitter.com/TWvSbfo3NM
Atletico Madrid midfielder Alex Baena, originally from Andalucia, is wearing long sleeves for this game, 73F in LA, lol.
That Spain shirt looks great in long sleeves, because the ridiculously big adidas stripes look just like their flag.
— 👑 Kitkingdom (@Kitkingdom83) July 2, 2026
Matching what they’ve done with the sock tops too. It’s won me over. pic.twitter.com/asRRs3XLWN
If you only had the player for a year, which player would you want on your team?
1. Messi
2. Kane
3. MBappe
4. Haaland
5. Vinicius
6. Other?
1. Messi
2. Kane
3. MBappe
4. Haaland
5. Vinicius
6. Other?
PAC-10-BEAR said:
If you only had the player for a year, which player would you want on your team?
1. Messi
2. Kane
3. MBappe
4. Haaland
5. Vinicius
6. Other?
1. Messi
2. MBappe
3. Haaland
4. Vinicius
5. Kane
oski003 said:PAC-10-BEAR said:
If you only had the player for a year, which player would you want on your team?
1. Messi
2. Kane
3. MBappe
4. Haaland
5. Vinicius
6. Other?
1. Messi
2. MBappe
3. Haaland
4. Vinicius
5. Kane
Nice.
Kane might not be as athletic or quick as the others but he has a knack for putting himself in position to score. He's also a deadly finisher, where others sail the ball above or wide of goal, Kane will more often than not challenge the goalkeeper.
1- Olise
2- Mbappe'
3- Yamal
4- Vini
5- Haaland
6- Messi
2- Mbappe'
3- Yamal
4- Vini
5- Haaland
6- Messi
Cal88 said:
1- Olise
2- Mbappe'
3- Yamal
4- Vini
5- Haaland
6- Messi
I haven't seen Olise play much but Dembele isn't on the list?
Definitely in the top 10.
BearlySane88 said:sycasey said:BearlySane88 said:Cal88 said:
Still no subs 1 man down at the 78th??
I was surprised by this too but…
I guess Poch knew what he was doing.
Honestly, to get the bad call on the red card and then respond like THAT? To ADD a goal? I think this team has real quality, that was super impressive.
Agreed with all. Sucks to not have Balogun for the Belgium game.
Just curious. I watched the replay a few times and it seems to me that if the foul was intentional, Balogun would have been looking at where his foot was going. I do not see him looking at the Bosnians foot. To me that's clearly unintentional. Again, curious as to what others think.
It was unintentional.
He was literally in the air when he landed on the Bosnian players ankle. There was nowhere else for him to go.
VAR screwed us.
He was literally in the air when he landed on the Bosnian players ankle. There was nowhere else for him to go.
VAR screwed us.
bonsallbear said:BearlySane88 said:sycasey said:BearlySane88 said:Cal88 said:
Still no subs 1 man down at the 78th??
I was surprised by this too but…
I guess Poch knew what he was doing.
Honestly, to get the bad call on the red card and then respond like THAT? To ADD a goal? I think this team has real quality, that was super impressive.
Agreed with all. Sucks to not have Balogun for the Belgium game.
Just curious. I watched the replay a few times and it seems to me that if the foul was intentional, Balogun would have been looking at where his foot was going. I do not see him looking at the Bosnians foot. To me that's clearly unintentional. Again, curious as to what others think.
It clearly is. What I'm hearing from the FIFA ball knowers is that when reviewing via VAR the referee isn't supposed to divine intent, only how "dangerous" the play was. So once it went to VAR review it was likely to be called.
Of course, that also brings up the question of whether or not this should have even been brought up for VAR review, since it's the kind of play where it doesn't look bad in real time, only if you slow it down and freeze-frame it, and that's not really in the spirit of the VAR process re: fouls. See the Messi play cited earlier or several other plays that were not reviewed for red cards while this one was.
What I'm basically learning here is that VAR review for red cards is like targeting in college football: we do it when we feel like it, and no the calls will not ever be consistent.
The red card was not undeserved, because that tackle was fairly reckless,
- Balogun is moving through the Bosnian defender who beats him to the ball
- The first contact from Balogun was initiated with the tip of his right foot on the top of the defender calf, he then slides his foot down his calf and lands on his ankle, so it's not like he randomly landed on his ankle, he could have pulled his right foot further inside to avoid landing on the ankle.
This being said, Balogun did not follow through and put his entire weight on the Bosnian's ankle which indicates he didn't mean to maim him, but his initial contact and movement was reckless. It could have gone yellow, but red is just as warranted given the endresult and potential damage.
- Balogun is moving through the Bosnian defender who beats him to the ball
- The first contact from Balogun was initiated with the tip of his right foot on the top of the defender calf, he then slides his foot down his calf and lands on his ankle, so it's not like he randomly landed on his ankle, he could have pulled his right foot further inside to avoid landing on the ankle.
This being said, Balogun did not follow through and put his entire weight on the Bosnian's ankle which indicates he didn't mean to maim him, but his initial contact and movement was reckless. It could have gone yellow, but red is just as warranted given the endresult and potential damage.
The other old man opens the score for Croatia, should be a high intensity last half hour with Portugal throwing the kitchen sink and the Croats countering.
Cal88 said:
- The first contact from Balogun was initiated with the tip of his right foot on the top of the defender calf, he then slides his foot down his calf and lands on his ankle, so it's not like he randomly landed on his ankle, he could have pulled his right foot further inside to avoid landing on the ankle.
IMO this is assigning a lot of thought process that Balogun could not possibly have had in real time. In slow-mo replay it looks like this but in reality it was a split-second thing, he was going for the ball and suddenly was on top of a guy who undercut him. His foot landed on the other foot/ankle but there wasn't enough time to have pulled the leg away to avoid that.
Ronaldo taking his penalty like a centrist.
Ronaldo didn't do a true panenka, but close. Hahaha
Portugal taking their final sub ahead of what looks like an OT game, a bit risky in a high intensity, hot weather game.
Croatia has a dilemma, in that their vets are PK scoring machines but won't have much left in the tank for extra time.
Croatia has a dilemma, in that their vets are PK scoring machines but won't have much left in the tank for extra time.
His offsides goal….tgat was a thing of beauty, actually. To catch it over the shoulder, settle and shoot before the keeper arrived?
Very slick.
I kinda root against him because the train wreck of his damaged ego is fun to watch. But that was impressive!
Very slick.
I kinda root against him because the train wreck of his damaged ego is fun to watch. But that was impressive!
Wow, what a save off the fingertip off the post!
That would have gone in for Croatia
That would have gone in for Croatia
These guys are good, the finishing on the other disallowed goals was clinical. Top flight football from two great footballing nations.
Cal88 said:
Portugal taking their final sub ahead of what looks like an OT game, a bit risky in a high intensity, hot weather game.
Croatia has a dilemma, in that their vets are PK scoring machines but won't have much left in the tank for extra time.
Well, that could be curtains for CR7.
But didn't we go through this 4 years ago?
Cal88 said:
Atletico Madrid midfielder Alex Baena, originally from Andalucia, is wearing long sleeves for this game, 73F in LA, lol.That Spain shirt looks great in long sleeves, because the ridiculously big adidas stripes look just like their flag.
— 👑 Kitkingdom (@Kitkingdom83) July 2, 2026
Matching what they’ve done with the sock tops too. It’s won me over. pic.twitter.com/asRRs3XLWN
The amazing thing about is that he has only one arm!
Perfect cross.
PAC-10-BEAR said:
If you only had the player for a year, which player would you want on your team?
1. Messi
2. Kane
3. MBappe
4. Haaland
5. Vinicius
6. Other?
Gimme Haaland
Tough finish for Croatia, thought they'd gotten the tying goal at the end but taken away for offside.
(Correct call probably, but I always feel like offside for a deflection within the box feels kind of unfair.)
(Correct call probably, but I always feel like offside for a deflection within the box feels kind of unfair.)
bonsallbear said:BearlySane88 said:sycasey said:BearlySane88 said:Cal88 said:
Still no subs 1 man down at the 78th??
I was surprised by this too but…
I guess Poch knew what he was doing.
Honestly, to get the bad call on the red card and then respond like THAT? To ADD a goal? I think this team has real quality, that was super impressive.
Agreed with all. Sucks to not have Balogun for the Belgium game.
Just curious. I watched the replay a few times and it seems to me that if the foul was intentional, Balogun would have been looking at where his foot was going. I do not see him looking at the Bosnians foot. To me that's clearly unintentional. Again, curious as to what others think.
Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said on the coaches podcast that intent plays no role in the decision. He is correct.
The components are careless, reckless, and excessive force - and only excessive force leads directly to a red card.
IFAB removed "intent" from foul evaluation years ago because:
1. Referees cannot reliably judge a player's internal motivation.
2. Player safety is based on actions, not intentions.
"I didn't mean to high kick and slice his face open, I was just going for the ball."
No. That's what player control is all about.
The only way the US could get out of this is if it was determined that Balogun got fouled by Bosnia's #4 just before. Close, but no cigar.
concordtom said:bonsallbear said:BearlySane88 said:sycasey said:BearlySane88 said:Cal88 said:
Still no subs 1 man down at the 78th??
I was surprised by this too but…
I guess Poch knew what he was doing.
Honestly, to get the bad call on the red card and then respond like THAT? To ADD a goal? I think this team has real quality, that was super impressive.
Agreed with all. Sucks to not have Balogun for the Belgium game.
Just curious. I watched the replay a few times and it seems to me that if the foul was intentional, Balogun would have been looking at where his foot was going. I do not see him looking at the Bosnians foot. To me that's clearly unintentional. Again, curious as to what others think.
Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said on the coaches podcast that intent plays no role in the decision. He is correct.
The components are careless, reckless, and excessive force - and only excessive force leads directly to a red card.
IFAB removed "intent" from foul evaluation years ago because:
1. Referees cannot reliably judge a player's internal motivation.
2. Player safety is based on actions, not intentions.
"I didn't mean to high kick and slice his face open, I was just going for the ball."
No. That's what player control is all about.
The only way the US could get out of this is if it was determined that Balogun got fouled by Bosnia's #4 just before. Close, but no cigar.
Good thing neither his face was sliced open nor his ankle broken. The player that was accidentally stepped on stayed in the game.
sycasey said:
Tough finish for Croatia, thought they'd gotten the tying goal at the end but taken away for offside.
(Correct call probably, but I always feel like offside for a deflection within the box feels kind of unfair.)
No way did he touch that with his head. The inside-ball tech will show soon enough that a hair touched it.
But. All that aside, the game was 12.5 minutes beyond 90. And 2.5 beyond the posted 10 extra. Whistle should have been blown before the cross.
I was laughing yesterday with a friend how sometimes when I started reffing youth that I'd be halfway through a half and realize my wrist watch timer wasn't going. I think that happened to this ref, who happened to ref us in a playoff game once. We had the game won and we started yelling at him as to when he was going to blow the whistle. Play continued until his friend's team tied it.
Boy were we pissed. We let him have it. So, mysteriously, instead of going into PK's, we ran around another couple minutes and retook the lead on our own "magic minute" goal.
Jubilation restored, that ref was an idiot.
Soccer Justice says Portugal should win because the clock had expired and so the controversial play never happened.
That said, Croatia appeared to have more close chances. Such is soccer. Fickle.
oski003 said:concordtom said:bonsallbear said:BearlySane88 said:sycasey said:BearlySane88 said:Cal88 said:
Still no subs 1 man down at the 78th??
I was surprised by this too but…
I guess Poch knew what he was doing.
Honestly, to get the bad call on the red card and then respond like THAT? To ADD a goal? I think this team has real quality, that was super impressive.
Agreed with all. Sucks to not have Balogun for the Belgium game.
Just curious. I watched the replay a few times and it seems to me that if the foul was intentional, Balogun would have been looking at where his foot was going. I do not see him looking at the Bosnians foot. To me that's clearly unintentional. Again, curious as to what others think.
Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said on the coaches podcast that intent plays no role in the decision. He is correct.
The components are careless, reckless, and excessive force - and only excessive force leads directly to a red card.
IFAB removed "intent" from foul evaluation years ago because:
1. Referees cannot reliably judge a player's internal motivation.
2. Player safety is based on actions, not intentions.
"I didn't mean to high kick and slice his face open, I was just going for the ball."
No. That's what player control is all about.
The only way the US could get out of this is if it was determined that Balogun got fouled by Bosnia's #4 just before. Close, but no cigar.
Good thing neither his face was sliced open nor his ankle broken. The player that was accidentally stepped on stayed in the game.
The rule does not require stitches or broken bones. But if you DO cause that, you can get suspended not for 1 game but, 2, 3, 4.
Just look at what happened to the guy who broke Canada Kone's leg in the first game!
sycasey said:
Tough finish for Croatia, thought they'd gotten the tying goal at the end but taken away for offside.
(Correct call probably, but I always feel like offside for a deflection within the box feels kind of unfair.)
Drama!
Excitement!
Sepp Blatter LOVES it!!!!
Cal88 said:
Perfect cross.
Triple teamed? Gimme a break, how does the one guy get it?
Kind of silly how some things happen.
Plinko!!!
Croatia and Portugal deserved to keep playing
MEMBER POLL:
If your team is going to be eliminated, rank from preferred to awful ways to lose:
A) pk shootout
B) Balogun red card, Pepi sucks and misses 5 shots that Balogun would have finished.
C) the gyroscope inside the ball says that Croatia #20 headed the ball, when the naked eye sees no change in flight.
D) Trump pulls the entry visas right before the game against USA and Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, Barcola, Cherki, Hernandez, Saliba, Kante, Rabiot, Doue, Tchouameni, and starting keeper Maignan are all sent to Alcatraz.
If your team is going to be eliminated, rank from preferred to awful ways to lose:
A) pk shootout
B) Balogun red card, Pepi sucks and misses 5 shots that Balogun would have finished.
C) the gyroscope inside the ball says that Croatia #20 headed the ball, when the naked eye sees no change in flight.
D) Trump pulls the entry visas right before the game against USA and Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, Barcola, Cherki, Hernandez, Saliba, Kante, Rabiot, Doue, Tchouameni, and starting keeper Maignan are all sent to Alcatraz.
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