2017 Confederations Cup - Россия

Senator Donut

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Okay we all hate VAR now, right? The AR missed a close offside call, but he whistled an obvious no call, so only the latter got reviewed?
 

swiftaw

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I think it would be useful if it's only use is for borderline offside decisions with assistant refs instructed to not flag anything close and let the VAR decide. In fact, if the VAR is quick at judging offside calls they could have a buzzer on the assistant refs belt they could trigger and then he could raise his flag.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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I'd make offside unreviewable. Fouls and handling in the box, stuff like that is all I would allow.
 

Bosoxen

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I guess I'm the only one willing to take a wait and see approach? This is the first time they've used it, so it's not at all surprising that they would have some kinks to work out. My biggest problems with it have nothing to do with its existence, rather the opacity of the process and the fact that the supposed one-minute limit didn't appear to be very strictly enforced. The latter issue would only be exacerbated by swiftaw's proposal to not call anything close. If you have to make the decision within 60 seconds, you need the call on the field on which they could fall back. If there's no call on the field because of some arbitrary directive, the replays will take far too long and disrupt the flow of the game.

Unfortunately, there won't be too much opportunity to work out the bugs in the process before the World Cup so my guess is that they'll scrap it for 2018 and go back to the drawing board. In fact, they probably should because if what we saw yesterday were to happen in the World Cup they'd have riots in the streets at some point.
 

Vinho Tinto

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I guess I'm the only one willing to take a wait and see approach? This is the first time they've used it
Work out the kinks on somebody else's time. To shoe horn it in to a international tournament (even one that people don't overly value) is silly. In Portugal, they introduced it in the cup final. Again, why? Implement it once you have kinks worked out, not before. This hasn't been worked out and there was no need or rush to put in a half baked review process.
 

dirtynine

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I know it's a mostly useless tournament, but I just love having international top-level competition on during the summertime. This Germany/Aussie match has been a lot of fun.
 

trekfan55

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Work out the kinks on somebody else's time. To shoe horn it in to a international tournament (even one that people don't overly value) is silly. In Portugal, they introduced it in the cup final. Again, why? Implement it once you have kinks worked out, not before. This hasn't been worked out and there was no need or rush to put in a half baked review process.
I know the Conferderations Cup is a big tornament but it's also like a dress rehearsal for the World Cup. (At least many consider it so). So what better place to test this? It has to be tested live in game somewhere, and like someone said upthread, if they muck up a call on this in the World Cup you may have riots.
 

Schnerres

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I don´t think it gets better than the Confed Cup to test this. There is absolutely zero longtime effects if something goes wrong here (besides possibly some Russians going crazy about losing). I mean, who knows what happened @earlier Confed Cups, who cares and who cares about the 5mil. spend in prize money? Like said, this is a tryout for next years WC. Some try a new system, some play their squads together and some test an entire roster to find 2-3 new guys for next year. So you can easily try the video reviewing. If it takes a minute, it takes a minute. Players will figure it out until next year what´s going on, refs need to know what kind of gesture to make if it is reviewed and it needs to happen a little faster, too.

You cannot try this in my 3000people-village, there´s no review system installed. It´s not even installed in our 50.000 spectators arena in Kaiserslautern, which was a WC arena 2006 and it would cost a few hundred thousand €, so where do you want it to be tested? It can only happen in huge arenas where big international matches or finals happen, else it wouldn´t be worth the pay. So would you prefer a national cup final, which could really count for something (international spot for a club) and bring money and prestige as a winner, or this semi-interesting fun cup, which has no long-time value?
(It is probably nice to win this thing, but I honestly have no idea who the past winners of the Confed Cup are, like none. And I bet none of the winners would be mad to give up their title, if that would mean they would win one more knockout match in the following WC.)
 

Senator Donut

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I understand that the Confederations Cup is a glorified exhibition and essentially a laboratory for FIFA (only CONCACAF teams value it more than their own confederation's trophy), but VAR is about to implemented in MLS starting on August 2 for games that absolutely matter. Tests have been ongoing for a year now, starting in the USL and eventually progressing to MLS preseason games. FIFA and IFAB clearly think this system is ready for prime time. I do not envision much further tweaking, but I'm hopefully wrong.
 

Schnerres

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So New Zealand leads Mexico 1-0 with seconds to play in the 1st half. Can´t watch this now, as Germany´s U21 just kicked off vs Denmark @the U21 Euro 2nd matchday.
 

swiftaw

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So VAR is a joke. There was a melee towards the end of the NZ-Mex match, multiple punches thrown. Reviewed by VAR, a grand total of 1 yellow card issued.
 

Bosoxen

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So VAR is a joke. There was a melee towards the end of the NZ-Mex match, multiple punches thrown. Reviewed by VAR, a grand total of 1 yellow card issued.
He initially only gave one yellow to Herrera but ended up showing a total of three:

Herrera
Reyes
Boxall

I don't think the issue was the VAR but the head ref. How he didn't initially call that yellow on Reyes (which would have prevented the whole fucking thing) is beyond me. He had a fist full of jersey and made no attempt to hide it. It was a tactical foul all the way, yet he didn't call anything until Boxall took out Herrera - which looked like it could have resulted in a nasty injury. He further made himself to look like a joke by only showing the yellow to Herrera and then showing the remaining two yellows only after someone likely reminded him that he still had work to do.

Though, to be fair, the replay should have resulted in something for Fabian for flying in and seemingly throwing a punch. So that's a demerit for VAR as well.

As for the game, talk about a tale of two halves. Mexico were completely disjointed in the first half but looked like a completely different team when Herrera came in. Aquino and Damm had acres of space on the wings all day long. A few bounces going right for the Kiwis and all Mexican midfielders not named Herrera taking their heads out of their asses could have resulted in a 4-3 game instead. Just a wild afternoon all around.
 

Schnerres

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Uargh...Mustafi with a huge gift in the 6th minute: big mistake, wrong pass in own box to Vidal´s feet, then Mustafi tries to break Vidals ankle, but he can make the pass in time to Alexis Sanches, who finishes with the tip of his big toe. Chileans still complaining to the ref (want a card for the hard foul I guess, but nothing shown).
Most experienced players in german team are Draxler and Hector, who have about 30 national matches. Chileans have Sanches, Jara, Vidal, Medel etc. at 90+ matches. This cannot end well...

Addition: Sanches overtook Marcelo Salas as record scorer for Chile.
 

InstaFace

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Cameroon got screwed vs Australia. Cameroon leading 1-0, at 59', Australia is chasing down a through ball in their attacking box and a Cameroon defender makes a very close - but clean - tackle (see about 2/3s through these highlights, defender gets the ball before the attacker falls awkwardly over him). Instead of making a call on the field, the referee calls for a VAR review, and somehow, the VAR calls a penalty. Tie game, and it ends that way. A 1-0 win would have meant Cameroon still had a real shot, but now they'll need to beat Germany by a pretty unlikely score.
 

Titans Bastard

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Portugal vs. Chile just ended in the most lopsided penalty shootout I've seen. Chile converted their first three and Claudio Bravo saved all three of Portugal's attempts.
 

Dan Murfman

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Portugal vs. Chile just ended in the most lopsided penalty shootout I've seen. Chile converted their first three and Claudio Bravo saved all three of Portugal's attempts.
I texted my brother right after it was over that Portugal lost in penalties . He texted he watched it just like Ronaldo.
 
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DennyDoyle'sBoil

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I'm not sure I've ever seen a shut out in penalties before in a significant international competition.
 

SoxFanInCali

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I'm not sure I've ever seen a shut out in penalties before in a significant international competition.
Ukraine beat Switzerland 3-0 in the 2006 World Cup, but Ukraine missed one of their kicks (Shevchenko: Istanbul flashback!) and didn't clinch until their 4th shooter converted. As far as I can tell, nobody has ever gone 3-3 with their opponent going 0-3 in a World Cup or Euros.
 

Joe D Reid

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Germany scored twice early and have since decided to ease into some sort of training exercise where they aren't allowed to touch the ball. At HT, GER 2-0 MEX; ball possession GER 30-70 MEX.
 

Bosoxen

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I know this is basically a glorified exhibition tournament and if one is going to tinker, now is the time, but this is fucking unacceptable. This is twice in a row Mexico has gotten roasted on the big stage. At least Chile used their main squad, not what amounts to a U-20 scout squad. Osorio needs to go. In fact, I wouldn't be upset if they just left his ass in Russia.
 

lars10

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I know this is basically a glorified exhibition tournament and if one is going to tinker, now is the time, but this is fucking unacceptable. This is twice in a row Mexico has gotten roasted on the big stage. At least Chile used their main squad, not what amounts to a U-20 scout squad. Osorio needs to go. In fact, I wouldn't be upset if they just left his ass in Russia.
Especially since they're losing to Germany's u-20 squad.
 

Titans Bastard

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I remember when Juan Carlos Osorio led the New York Red Bulls to a 2-4-16 record in the 2009 season and got knocked out of CCL qualifying by Trinidadian club W Connection before he was canned in August.

Mexican soccer can never quite seem to get out of their own way.
 

lars10

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Yeah I know. That's what I said. ;)
OHHHH..my mistake. I thought you were inferring that Mexico had brought a young side. I didn't think that was the case, but I wasn't really paying attention to the names.
 

Bosoxen

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Mexican soccer can never quite seem to get out of their own way.
Which is why I'm basically just screaming into the abyss. Even if they do fire Osorio out of a cannon, I still don't trust the FMF to make the right decision regarding his successor. As always, the decision will be rife with bullshit politics and the so-called golden generation will end up getting officially wasted (though, frankly, that ship already sailed).
 

Infield Infidel

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http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-confederations-cup/57/blog/post/3151741/st-petersburg-might-be-ready-for-world-cup-but-the-pitch-is-not

Tatyana Kopylova, editor in chief at Sport FM St. Petersburg radio station, explained the problem to ESPN FC: "The depth of the surface must be 50 centimeters in order for the grass to grow properly. However, the depth at St. Petersburg Arena was only planned to be 40 centimeters. Apparently, they might not have consulted the specialists when projecting the stadium, and now it is too late to change this. This is a retractable pitch, and it would be impossible to make the whole bed deeper."
Man, what an oversight for a stadium with a retractable pitch
 

Schnerres

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15minutes played in the final, 5-0 shots for Chile.
Same story like the first meeting between the two (and like most of Chiles matches I guess), they are pressing really high up the pitch and Germany has some trouble to play the short passes. In the group match, it led to the early Chile goal. Now Germany has to weather the storm and find the balance. Chile will tire hopefully just like the group match, but this is again a very fast and entertaining match in first 15mins.
 

Schnerres

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Why did Germany send such a B-squad? They look overmatched early against Chile.
a) Because Löw wants to test the younger players and see who can join the WC roster next year.
b) Because this is a summer to rest, Löw rests his star(ter)s and will be in better shape next year, hopefully, than most of the Confed Cup winners before (no matter if they will be winner or runner-up). ^^See: Confed Cup winners in the World Cup.
c) Because nobody cares about this tournament.
d) Because they look overmatched and still lead 1-0?
 

Zososoxfan

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a) Because Löw wants to test the younger players and see who can join the WC roster next year.
b) Because this is a summer to rest, Löw rests his star(ter)s and will be in better shape next year, hopefully, than most of the Confed Cup winners before (no matter if they will be winner or runner-up). ^^See: Confed Cup winners in the World Cup.
c) Because nobody cares about this tournament.
d) Because they look overmatched and still lead 1-0?
All fair points. But with regard to the bolded, nothing to be proud of yet. Getting run over all over the pitch and got gifted a bad turnover in the back by a MF.
 

Schnerres

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Sorry to say...dirty Chileans are assholes.

VAR review called, ref watched the elbow right to the chin of Werner and the ref gave him a yellow card. And that ass Jara clapped like "why? I didn´t do anything?!"...
Wrong decision by the ref to not show a red card, but nice to see the video assistants calling.
 

Zososoxfan

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Sorry to say...dirty Chileans are assholes.

VAR review called, ref watched the elbow right to the chin of Werner and the ref gave him a yellow card. And that ass Jara clapped like "why? I didn´t do anything?!"...
Wrong decision by the ref to not show a red card, but nice to see the video assistants calling.
No need to generalize, but yeah I don't know how someone can watch that and not give red. Ultimately, have to think it was the pressure of a final that kept it to a yellow although it shouldn't. In the 14 WC final, Argentina concussed a German without any repercussions and Neuer may have killed a guy and the ref didn't bat an eyelash. If I was a manager, I'd definitely tell my not super important players to foul the other team's good players early and feel out the ref. Just the nature of the beast I guess.

That's a nice win for Germany's younger players. Very organized at the back and kept most of the Chilean shots from outside the box where MaTS can handle them. I was really impressed with Draxler's workrate. I would think a wing player of his caliber would be allowed to stay up and create problems all match, but he was working back hard and helping Germany get numerical advantages all over the pitch. Reminded me of Di Maria in his heyday. Chile really don't have quite enough firepower up front. Alexis can create and finish, but while Vargas is a nice combo player, he doesn't seem to finish enough against elite competition.
 

Schnerres

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Chile is a well-oiled machine with tons of experience. And their pressing is causing lots of problems.
They could go deep and throw out some favorites next year and they could crash out in a tough group.