Anarchistbear said:

---

Croatia and Portugal deserved to keep playing

---

And they did !
The ref blew the final whistle at 1:08:48.

And I didn't see anybody carted off the field with a stretcher. The two VAR reviews were relatively quick, as those go.
I'll spot you the 3 minute hydration break.



…the disallowed goal came 12.5 minutes after full time.
3 for hydration
The Croatia PK occurred (the cross was at 63.30, play was stalled at 64, Ronaldo sets ball at 66:30, so that's no more than 3 minutes)
Goal scored at 67. Kickoff at 68:10
Croatia goal celebration lasted 1:20

I count 8.5 minutes, plus whatever actual injury time. Were there 4 minutes of injury?

How about sub time? Those seconds should be added.

Also, add time for VAR on the two offsides goals. I don't think that was anything.

Meh… maybe you get there. But barely.

E) The American way is to keep playing until someone scores. Golden goal rules should be changed so that the first one to score in extra periods wins if this isn't the rule in the knockout rounds already.

PAC-10-BEAR said:

---

E) The American way is to keep playing until someone scores. Golden goal rules should be changed so that the first one to score in extra periods wins if this isn't the rule in the knockout rounds already.

---

FIFA last used the Golden Goal rule in a major tournament in 2004.

Why was it abolished?

USA vs Bosnia had 24.4 million viewers.
32 million peak says Fox Sports.

concordtom said:

---

PAC-10-BEAR said:

---

E) The American way is to keep playing until someone scores. Golden goal rules should be changed so that the first one to score in extra periods wins if this isn't the rule in the knockout rounds already.

---

FIFA last used the Golden Goal rule in a major tournament in 2004.

Why was it abolished?

---

It is deemed unfair, because the other team cannot respond. A bit like the difference between the sudden death NFL overtime back in the day vs the NCAA rules where both teams have a possession in OT, the latter rule is more "fair".

DiabloWags said:

---

USA vs Bosnia had 24.4 million viewers.
32 million peak.

---

Amazing, the last NBA finals averaged 20M viewers, same number as the last MLB world series (game 7 drew 26M).

The sport is really picking up here, I can imagine a USA-Spain quarterfinal with 35M-40M viewers.

concordtom said:

---

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.

---

That intramural team would kick ass!

Cal88 said:

---

concordtom said:

---

PAC-10-BEAR said:

---

E) The American way is to keep playing until someone scores. Golden goal rules should be changed so that the first one to score in extra periods wins if this isn't the rule in the knockout rounds already.

---

FIFA last used the Golden Goal rule in a major tournament in 2004.

Why was it abolished?

---

It is deemed unfair, because the other team cannot respond. A bit like the difference between the sudden death NFL overtime back in the day vs the NCAA rules where both teams have a possession in OT, the latter rule is more "fair".

---

Not the answer I was looking for, nor the respondent.
Lone gripes about something already explained in this thread.

So I'll say it again. Golden goal caused refs to not want to call anything for fear of suddenly ending the game.

FIFA is not perfect, but it is improving.
Positive changes include:

Time limits on restarts. Throw ins and goal kicks get a 5 second countdown.

Players go to sidelines for 1 minute if they deign injury, unless it's a head injury concern.

VAR is a net positive, goal line and end line technology, offsides analysis is better than guessing.

More subs brings in new pace at end of games rather than a bunch of exhausted walking killing games off.


Hydration break, however, is a farce.

#darts was the first sport to introduce #hydrationbreaks 🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/IsATj5CRZw

— steve (@bagshaw2112) July 2, 2026

I used my jet lag to rewatch the game today at 5am from my couch. And to watch the last 40 minutes for the first minute. Here is what I saw:

1. Complete and total domination before the red card. BH's only scoring efforts during that time were on a goal kick where maybe the center defenders don't know there is no offside on goal kicks and the wind taking a corner leading to a difficult save that prevented an Olimpico (goal directly off a corner). What an awesome performance!
2. The US was way, way too athletic for BH. Other than Ream every other US player is at least replacement level athletic, while some (Mckennie, Tillman, Robinson, Freeman) are way above replacement. Freeman will be scary by 2030. He just glides past players without even making a fancy move. Remember he got his first start in MLS (!) just over a year ago. Where it all ends is hard to say, perhaps top 10 center back in the world (he is not really an outside back).
3. BH's line of confrontation (the line where the first defender attacks the ball) started just outside the goal box when the game started but after like 15 minutes (I am making up that number) moved to the other side of midfield. That is, the US gained half a field offensively for free by scaring the crap out of BH.
4. Balogun was other worldly. Like was said about Dembele once, he has a favored foot, he just doesn't know which one it is. I believe Balogun is right-footed, but his left-footed finishing is insanely good and perhaps more precise.
5. Tillman was very, very good. Before the WC he had played a more offensive position. But McKennie has that locked down. (Berhalter liked to play two offensive mids and one defensive mid, Poch likes the reverse.). His backheels are insane. McKennie and Robinson are also very good at the backheel, I play I generally disdain because it is low percentage. I hope Tillman's German club sees how good he is playing back a bit and puts him back on the first team.
6. The center defenders, who I thought would be a weakness, are a strength. Richards has not put a foot wrong the whole tournament. Ream's passing is the best I have seen from the back line in the whole tournament, although I have only seen about 1/3 of the games. (The 48 team tournament sucks, it is too much for a even sicko like me.)
7. The US was a little messy. McKennie and Robinson, who both tend to be a little messy, were extra messy. But it did not matter. I like that McKennie plays so many high-risk, high-reward balls. I read that McKennie has more line breaking passes than anyone else in the tournament. I want to see him play for a top team in the premier league, he is too big for Italy. And I want him to start dating Olivia Rodrigo or someone like that to push the popularity of the team over the top. There were rumors, denied by both, that Pulisic was dating Sydney Sweeney a few months back.
8. A few minutes after I posted here that Pulisic was not getting the ball enough Stu Holden said Pulisic was not getting the ball enough. This has to change against Belgium. Holden provides almost no tactical insight, he is pure vibes. I hate that. Donovan every once in a while mentions something tactically. Come on, we all have eyes, tell us (casuals) something we can't see. Like how BH changed the line of confrontation, how BH was playing a mid block and squeezing the field, etc. The stuff I can see. And please lock up Jenny Taft with Melissa Ortiz. I am not a misogynist but the role they have female sideline reporters play makes me crazy.
9. I think the red against Balogun was incorrect, although not a terrible call. I think he slipped rather than going into the challenge recklessly, that is why I think it deserved a hard yellow, but not a red. But I can't claim it was unfair because it was so close.
10. I feel great with Freese minding the goal. He is not the best keeper, but he is 100% confident all the time; if he makes a mistake it is not because of nerves. In this way he reminds me of Pickford of England. Turner is a nervous mess. it also help that he is built like a linebacker when there is jostling on corners.
11. Our only respectable opponent was Turkey. BH had nothing, I think they were the worst. We have done what we were supposed to do better than we were supposed to do it. Time to show out on Monday.
12. Lastly, I love Poch. I hope he stays. He has gained a little weight, grown his hair, and looks like a boss. Who needs the every day stress, it will shorten your life?

Thank you for your detailed summary.
Much appreciated.

DiabloWags said:

---

Thank you for your detailed summary.
Much appreciated.

---

Thanks man. It is good that I have somewhere now to write down my thoughts. My friends and family will listen to a little, but they have their limits. I should post on bigsoccer, but one website, BI, is my maximum.

sluggo said:

---

9. I think the red against Balogun was incorrect, although not a terrible call. I think he slipped rather than going into the challenge recklessly, that is why I think it deserved a hard yellow, but not a red. But I can't claim it was unfair because it was so close.

---

In thinking this over I think the real problem is the inconsistency, with several similar plays in the tournament being let go without a VAR review but suddenly this one warranted it. As I noted, quite similar to the targeting penalty, where no college football fan understands the how or why of when it's applied.

As if Holding in American Football is called consistently.
That's a joke!

sluggo said:

---

DiabloWags said:

---

Thank you for your detailed summary.
Much appreciated.

---

Thanks man. It is good that I have somewhere now to write down my thoughts. My friends and family will listen to a little, but they have their limits. I should post on bigsoccer, but one website, BI, is my maximum.

---

You don't post enough here!
And we could use a few more crazies!

sluggo said:

---

8. A few minutes after I posted here that Pulisic was not getting the ball enough Stu Holden said Pulisic was not getting the ball enough. This has to change against Belgium. Holden provides almost no tactical insight, he is pure vibes. I hate that. Donovan every once in a while mentions something tactically. Come on, we all have eyes, tell us (casuals) something we can't see. Like how BH changed the line of confrontation, how BH was playing a mid block and squeezing the field, etc. The stuff I can see. And please lock up Jenny Taft with Melissa Ortiz. I am not a misogynist but the role they have female sideline reporters play makes me crazy.

---

We need John Madden with the telestrator. Improved upon by Cris Collinsworth.


ADD: I noticed USA was going to Dest's right side a lot and I couldn't understand why. Why not pulisic's left side?
The CB's were definitely favoring Dest. Must be by design. But why?

sluggo said:

---

11. Our only respectable opponent was Turkey. BH had nothing, I think they were the worst. We have done what we were supposed to do better than we were supposed to do it. Time to show out on Monday.

---

I agree. We are in the last 16, but it doesn't feel like we've played anyone. Host scheduling advantages. Along with getting a 3rd place opponent in BH. We've played nobody.

sluggo said:

---

12. Lastly, I love Poch. I hope he stays. He has gained a little weight, grown his hair, and looks like a boss. Who needs the every day stress, it will shorten your life?

---

At halftime of Ausie Egypt, they showed him trying to learn how to catch and throw a baseball. Hilarious!
Tyler Adams' prediction for how well Poch will do throwing out the first pitch at the Mariners game tonight?

With laughter, he said, I don't think baseball is a very big game in Argentina.

concordtom said:

---

As if Holding in American Football is called consistently.
That's a joke!

---

It isn't, but no one gets ejected from a game for holding.

sycasey said:

---

sluggo said:

---

9. I think the red against Balogun was incorrect, although not a terrible call. I think he slipped rather than going into the challenge recklessly, that is why I think it deserved a hard yellow, but not a red. But I can't claim it was unfair because it was so close.

---

In thinking this over I think the real problem is the inconsistency, with several similar plays in the tournament being let go without a VAR review but suddenly this one warranted it. As I noted, quite similar to the targeting penalty, where no college football fan understands the how or why of when it's applied.

---

Yes, it would be ideal if fans could recognize what the call should be from the reply. Targeting, as you know, is something that Cal does, not something that happens to Cal. Remembering that may help you next season.

I have not seen the other relevant plays in the tournament. But I watch A LOT of soccer year round. This red is an unusual call. The players are side by side, I cannot remember the last red card I saw from a side to side challenge. When you are side by side you are typically not reckless. Balogun slips with one foot leading to the ugly contact with his other foot. A counter argument is that Balogun was in no position to get the ball so he purposely fouled and made dangerous contact. Everything happens so fast.

A much more typical red is when one player is 5 yards from the ball and another is 4 yards from the ball in the opposite direction. They both go toward the ball and the player who comes in second has a cleat (or both clears) in a dangerous position and does not pull back in the challenge.

I think Cal88 states the law earlier. I can't remember the words but I know from experience what the typical interpretation is. That is, a red is for a reckless challenge followed by dangerous contact. This play has the latter but not the former IMO.

sluggo said:

---

2. The US was way, way too athletic for BH. Other than Ream every other US player is at least replacement level athletic, while some (Mckennie, Tillman, Robinson, Freeman) are way above replacement. Freeman will be scary by 2030. He just glides past players without even making a fancy move. Remember he got his first start in MLS (!) just over a year ago. Where it all ends is hard to say, perhaps top 10 center back in the world (he is not really an outside back).

---

Richards + Freeman center back pairing for the future!!

concordtom said:

---

sluggo said:

---

12. Lastly, I love Poch. I hope he stays. He has gained a little weight, grown his hair, and looks like a boss. Who needs the every day stress, it will shorten your life?

---

At halftime of Ausie Egypt, they showed him trying to learn how to catch and throw a baseball. Hilarious!
Tyler Adams' prediction for how well Poch will do throwing out the first pitch at the Mariners game tonight?

With laughter, he said, I don't think baseball is a very big game in Argentina.

---

I saw that. Poch could become huge if he stays here for one more Cup. I hope that has appeal.

sycasey said:

---

concordtom said:

---

As if Holding in American Football is called consistently.
That's a joke!

---

It isn't, but no one gets ejected from a game for holding.

---

But it gives a first down that leads to a game winning TD, or takes one away. It matters!

I agree, though, tough.

Penalties have to be harsh, otherwise "if you're not cheating, you're not playing hard,"

Egypt is making Australia look very good.

If Australia wins, our Group D, which I showed was the weakest rated, will advance 3 teams to the final 16. That's a shocker!!

If Egypt loses, their own goal defender better go into at least 2 months hibernation. That's his second own goal this tournament!

concordtom said:

---

sluggo said:

---

2. The US was way, way too athletic for BH. Other than Ream every other US player is at least replacement level athletic, while some (Mckennie, Tillman, Robinson, Freeman) are way above replacement. Freeman will be scary by 2030. He just glides past players without even making a fancy move. Remember he got his first start in MLS (!) just over a year ago. Where it all ends is hard to say, perhaps top 10 center back in the world (he is not really an outside back).

---

Richards + Freeman center back pairing for the future!!

---

I think so, although they like one to be right footed and one left footed and both of those are right footed. Trusty has looked surprisingly good at left center back, so I think he will slot in next. With the asymmetry of Robinson going forward but Freeman staying back in some ways they play three center backs, right center back Freeman, center center back Richards, and left center back Ream. But when it is a more straight 4-man back line Freeman plays outside back, which I don't think he is good at. More on this when I preview the Belgium game. How to deal with Belgium left winger Doku is the key to the game.

I keep remarking on how the US is developing better talent. Unfortunately, I do not see any great outside backs in the pipeline. Dest and Robinson were developed outside the US, while Freeman is only sort of an outside back. The US hoped to get Brown, who has a US connection, but he started for Germany. The US does have excess midfielders and wingers, so hopefully some can be moved back. If you have a child or grandchild looking to break into the USMNT, tell them to learn to be an outside back.

(McKennie is their best outside back on the team but he is needed elsewhere. He plays some outside back at Juventus. Some games last year McKennie and Weah would share right back, with one subbed for the other. In the champions league McKennie played left back on defense and striker on offense, because he is freaking superman, once the WC ends go back and watch these performances.)

concordtom said:

---

sluggo said:

---

8. A few minutes after I posted here that Pulisic was not getting the ball enough Stu Holden said Pulisic was not getting the ball enough. This has to change against Belgium. Holden provides almost no tactical insight, he is pure vibes. I hate that. Donovan every once in a while mentions something tactically. Come on, we all have eyes, tell us (casuals) something we can't see. Like how BH changed the line of confrontation, how BH was playing a mid block and squeezing the field, etc. The stuff I can see. And please lock up Jenny Taft with Melissa Ortiz. I am not a misogynist but the role they have female sideline reporters play makes me crazy.

---

We need John Madden with the telestrator. Improved upon by Cris Collinsworth.


ADD: I noticed USA was going to Dest's right side a lot and I couldn't understand why. Why not pulisic's left side?
The CB's were definitely favoring Dest. Must be by design. But why?

---

This is not a complete reason but of the 10 field players only Ream and Robinson are left-footed. It is not surprising the US plays mostly left to right since most players want to pass and shoot with their right foot. Cavan Sullivan will soon join the team, and it will be great to have a left-footed midfielder.

They also play asymmetrically. While Pulisic and Dest are both wingers, Pulisic comes back and gets the ball much farther from the goal and tends to drive it forward but to the right. Dest basically always stays right and as close to the sideline and opposition goal as he can while staying onside. When they attack up the left wing it also takes longer because Robinson has to get there from his back line position.

In the future I would like to see Pulisic at right wing, a young winger at left wing, and Dest as a reserve.

For once I am confident that the coach understands this and has thought about how to fix it. Or has made the decision to leave as is. Berhalter was incapable of adjustments, he played basically one way against all opponents or parked the bus.

sluggo said:

---

sycasey said:

---

sluggo said:

---

9. I think the red against Balogun was incorrect, although not a terrible call. I think he slipped rather than going into the challenge recklessly, that is why I think it deserved a hard yellow, but not a red. But I can't claim it was unfair because it was so close.

---

In thinking this over I think the real problem is the inconsistency, with several similar plays in the tournament being let go without a VAR review but suddenly this one warranted it. As I noted, quite similar to the targeting penalty, where no college football fan understands the how or why of when it's applied.

---

Yes, it would be ideal if fans could recognize what the call should be from the reply. Targeting, as you know, is something that Cal does, not something that happens to Cal. Remembering that may help you next season.

I have not seen the other relevant plays in the tournament. But I watch A LOT of soccer year round. This red is an unusual call. The players are side by side, I cannot remember the last red card I saw from a side to side challenge. When you are side by side you are typically not reckless. Balogun slips with one foot leading to the ugly contact with his other foot. A counter argument is that Balogun was in no position to get the ball so he purposely fouled and made dangerous contact. Everything happens so fast.

A much more typical red is when one player is 5 yards from the ball and another is 4 yards from the ball in the opposite direction. They both go toward the ball and the player who comes in second has a cleat (or both clears) in a dangerous position and does not pull back in the challenge.

I think Cal88 states the law earlier. I can't remember the words but I know from experience what the typical interpretation is. That is, a red is for a reckless challenge followed by dangerous contact. This play has the latter but not the former IMO.

---

Bruce Arena, quoted by Tom, stated the rule, which was kind of similar to my justification (reckless challenge resulting in dangerous play) as Balogun was driving through the defender who established position between him and the ball.

It looks like the betting market has the Belgium game as a toss-up:

Quote:

---

The USA vs. Belgium Round of 16 World Cup match on July 6 in Seattle is a statistical toss-up. Major sportsbooks like BetMGM list the three-way moneyline as a near pick 'em: USA (+160), Belgium (+160), and a draw (+230). To advance, both teams are deadlocked at -110 odds. [1, 2, 3, 4]

---

Homefield advantage is big, especially considering that the Belgians often aren't mentally strong, their last comeback notwithstanding, though on paper they feature more talent than team USA. Strong start and 2nd quarter play a must.

Looking at the venue, forecast is 79F and partly sunny, the milder weather in Seattle favors Belgium, a veteran team from a relatively colder weather country, vs the younger US squad. They would have struggled more in a steamy east coast venue.

Cal88 said:

---

sluggo said:

---

sycasey said:

---

sluggo said:

---

9. I think the red against Balogun was incorrect, although not a terrible call. I think he slipped rather than going into the challenge recklessly, that is why I think it deserved a hard yellow, but not a red. But I can't claim it was unfair because it was so close.

---

In thinking this over I think the real problem is the inconsistency, with several similar plays in the tournament being let go without a VAR review but suddenly this one warranted it. As I noted, quite similar to the targeting penalty, where no college football fan understands the how or why of when it's applied.

---

Yes, it would be ideal if fans could recognize what the call should be from the reply. Targeting, as you know, is something that Cal does, not something that happens to Cal. Remembering that may help you next season.

I have not seen the other relevant plays in the tournament. But I watch A LOT of soccer year round. This red is an unusual call. The players are side by side, I cannot remember the last red card I saw from a side to side challenge. When you are side by side you are typically not reckless. Balogun slips with one foot leading to the ugly contact with his other foot. A counter argument is that Balogun was in no position to get the ball so he purposely fouled and made dangerous contact. Everything happens so fast.

A much more typical red is when one player is 5 yards from the ball and another is 4 yards from the ball in the opposite direction. They both go toward the ball and the player who comes in second has a cleat (or both clears) in a dangerous position and does not pull back in the challenge.

I think Cal88 states the law earlier. I can't remember the words but I know from experience what the typical interpretation is. That is, a red is for a reckless challenge followed by dangerous contact. This play has the latter but not the former IMO.

---

Bruce Arena, quoted by Tom, stated the rule, which was kind of similar to my justification (reckless challenge resulting in dangerous play) as Balogun was driving through the defender who established position between him and the ball.

It looks like the betting market has the Belgium game as a toss-up:

Quote:

---

The USA vs. Belgium Round of 16 World Cup match on July 6 in Seattle is a statistical toss-up. Major sportsbooks like BetMGM list the three-way moneyline as a near pick 'em: USA (+160), Belgium (+160), and a draw (+230). To advance, both teams are deadlocked at -110 odds. [1, 2, 3, 4]

---

Homefield advantage is big, especially considering that the Belgians often aren't mentally strong, their last comeback notwithstanding, though on paper they feature more talent than team USA. Strong start and 2nd quarter play a must.

Looking at the venue, forecast is 79F and partly sunny, the milder weather in Seattle favors Belgium, a veteran team from a relatively colder weather country, vs the younger US squad. They would have struggled more in a steamy east coast venue.

---

So we all agree on a reckless challenge being part of a red card. I think the challenge was not reckless, since to me he was side by side and slipped, but I also think reasonable people can disagree on whether it was.

With Balogun, I see an even game. Without him, I hope the crowd can be a 12th man.

It does pay to have a little luck.

As the Chronicle Sporting Green mentioned this morning:

First game indoors at SoFi

Second game in Seattle with lovely sea breezes

Third game back indoors at SoFi stadium

Group play included one round-trip flight and two round-trip bus rides from their base in the OC.

And for the round of 32 knockout game, a quick trip up the coast to the balmy Bay Area where it was 77 degrees.

Compare this to the 90-degree heat France faced in NJ, the thunderstorms that delayed Mexico's game in NJ, the suffocating temps that are predicted in coming days in Miami, Kansas City, and Philly.

By winning its group, the U.S. managed to stay exclusively on the West Coast

Salah Panenkas in the shootout, strong nerves.

Before that, the Egyptian goalie made the mistake of going early on one side while the Aussie PK taker had a very short runup and ended up slotting a weak shot on the other side.

Haven't watched the game, but thought the Aussies would do better on the shootout in line with their laid back and hardcore national character.

Egypt has got to feel good if they -somehow- manage to hold Argentina to a draw after 120min next week.

concordtom said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

concordtom said:

---

PAC-10-BEAR said:

---

E) The American way is to keep playing until someone scores. Golden goal rules should be changed so that the first one to score in extra periods wins if this isn't the rule in the knockout rounds already.

---

FIFA last used the Golden Goal rule in a major tournament in 2004.

Why was it abolished?

---

It is deemed unfair, because the other team cannot respond. A bit like the difference between the sudden death NFL overtime back in the day vs the NCAA rules where both teams have a possession in OT, the latter rule is more "fair".

---

Not the answer I was looking for, nor the respondent.
Lone gripes about something already explained in this thread.

So I'll say it again. Golden goal caused refs to not want to call anything for fear of suddenly ending the game.

---

I never heard this before, but it makes total sense. Imagine the outrage in an elimination game where the golden goal is a result of penalty taken after the VAR shows the ball grazing a player's arm that sort of looks like it's in a natural position in one angle vs. another angle in the corner of the 18-yard box far away from the goal.

smh said:

---

sluggo said:

---

I got my brand new McKennie t-shirt pseudo-jersey on and am ready to go 4.5 hours before the game! LFG!

---

congrats, except gotta share a pic or it dint happen; from the manufacturer would suffice.

---

I can't find it online. I should figure out how to post pictures. I bought it and another shirt, a more USMNT t-shirt, at a sporting goods store near the Seattle stadium. I would be surprised if it is counterfeit.

I wore the other shirt for the Australia game. So clearly both are good luck. I am considering which to wear (to work) on Monday.

Has anyone been to a watch party in SF? Thinking of going to one on Monday.

PAC-10-BEAR said:

---

concordtom said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

concordtom said:

---

PAC-10-BEAR said:

---

E) The American way is to keep playing until someone scores. Golden goal rules should be changed so that the first one to score in extra periods wins if this isn't the rule in the knockout rounds already.

---

FIFA last used the Golden Goal rule in a major tournament in 2004.

Why was it abolished?

---

It is deemed unfair, because the other team cannot respond. A bit like the difference between the sudden death NFL overtime back in the day vs the NCAA rules where both teams have a possession in OT, the latter rule is more "fair".

---

Not the answer I was looking for, nor the respondent.
Lone gripes about something already explained in this thread.

So I'll say it again. Golden goal caused refs to not want to call anything for fear of suddenly ending the game.

---

I never heard this before, but it makes total sense. Imagine the outrage in an elimination game where the golden goal is a result of penalty taken after the VAR shows the ball grazing a player's arm that sort of looks like it's in a natural position in one angle vs. another angle in the corner of the 18-yard box far away from the goal.

---

I hate the golden goal because soccer is a timed event and tiebreakers should model the standard game. This is why I also hate penalty kicks.

concordtom said:

---

sycasey said:

---

concordtom said:

---

As if Holding in American Football is called consistently.
That's a joke!

---

It isn't, but no one gets ejected from a game for holding.

---

But it gives a first down that leads to a game winning TD, or takes one away. It matters!

I agree, though, tough.

Penalties have to be harsh, otherwise "if you're not cheating, you're not playing hard,"

---

Do they HAVE to be harsh, though? Seems to me that a yellow card for Balogun would have done the job, no need to send him off given that there had been no other dangerous play by him.

The ejection is why I'm comparing the red card review to targeting: a rule that seems inconsistently applied but nevertheless carries a severe penalty.