Noticed something in the Spain game that I never saw before.

There was a foul and a team was given a free kick. The defensive team is supposed to give the taker 10 Yards. Normally an official will place himself ten yards away from the ball, and out stretch his arm. Meaning the defensive team has to be behind his arm.

But in this game the official had a can of spray to mark a line. That the defensive team ad to be behind. I don't remember seeing any official do that before.

The spraying from the can is quite common in the Dutch and Portugese leagues if that's what your meaning. I have barely watched the Brazilian league, but i imagine it probably is there too, on account of Brazils links to Portugal.

How are you liking it so far Footreads? I have no clue if you were being sarcastic or not earlier, but you seem to be a bigger football fan than any other sport since i haven't seen you active in any other sport threads.

I thought the Spain game kicked ass.

I did not like the brazil game because of the way brazil got there PK.

There is no other sport in my eyes other then soccer.

I played both American football and soccer as a kid. My like to hurt people side of my personality loved American football. I stopped playing at around 23 years old.

Soccer started to play at a eleven. Never really stopped playing. Started coaching at 19. Retired from coaching in 1992. Continued to train players for my club in 1994 through 2001. Then started to coach again for another ten years. Then retired again.

I didn't like the Brazil game because i thought they were shockingly average, and i really thought Croatia deserved a draw at least. As you mentioned the PK shouldn't have been awarded, and imo if it wasnt Brazils 3rd goal wouldn't have happened. Croatia's defence was solid imo, Neymars first goal was just a strike from 20 odd yards before the defence could engage him, the Penalty shouldn't have been awarded, and Oscars goal was the result of an unjustly behind Croatia desperately plunging for an equalizer at the expense of their defence.

Today's Big game England v Italy. Have to tape it because tonight is Dion's concert of Dion and the Bemonts. I am not feeling well, but going any way. Maybe by the time it is on I will feel better.

My heart is saying a England win but my head says a draw.. Come on England..

I'm guessing 2-1 to England. At this point the pressure is off England, nearly everyone is making jokes of how bad England is and that they have a difficult group. I think they'll be relaxed enough to edge out a win.

Theres no pressure on England for the first time in my lifetime so hopefully we'll surprise a few people..

So far it's been an impressive WC..

Three great games today, it's been a great tournament so far. England played well, they were quite unlucky not to come away with a draw. I'd say this is looking like the most promising England side in a while. Congats to Italy, i can see them getting far here.

Even though we lost i'd say it was the best we have played for years, people have been saying we should play the youth, which we did and we still slag them off. Rooney is frustrating at times, but did he get any real service? But he should have took his chance in the second half, stirling was a breath of fresh air to watch and i think he'll terrorise Uraguays aging defence. What Jack Wiltshire brings to the England team is i dont know. I confident we can get something from the next game but we must defend better..

Pirlo is something else, he just dictates the game and gets better with age..

Agreed on Sterling he was Englands best player imo, it's hard to believe that he's only 19. There was nothing the defence could've really done about the 1st goal Pirlo's dummy reminded me a bit of the famous Pele one, god knows what the defence was thinking with the Balotelli goal though. Rooney was actually pretty good, it was a good cross for the goal from him and he nearly scored himself late on.

Pirlo is still a genius.

I missed the Italy v England game because of the Dion concert. Forgot to tape the game.

But on a coaching site I was on someone said their was too big of a gap between England's mids and their backs. Did anyone here notice that gap of space. He said Italy exploited that gap.

Until the wife got mad and changed the channel I watched the first hour of the England/Italy game. Was a fun game to watch!

So now we know who wears the trousers in your house..

France looking decent so far which is a far cry from four years ago..

3-0 to France now against Honduras. Benzama is looking good. Honduras are a very physical team to say the least.

France has always been a really weird team, they either do great like 98,00 and 06, or terrible like every other tournament since 98. I agree that they're looking good but even though my man Izaguirre is there, Honduras isn't exactly a good or even average team and they still managed to hold a clean sheet until half time.

I have to say i'm still baffled by at Deschamps decision to leave Nasri out. I mean even if he didn't fit into your plans, surely he would've been useful as a sub or a replacement if someone gets injured or suspended.

Apparently Nasri is a bit of a trouble causer as we saw in the Euros. so i guess Deschamps doesn't want people like that around the team a bit like Tevez for Argentina.

Maybe that is the case, tbh it makes alot more sense. In this article Deschamps disputes your theory which he of course would even if it was true. His reason here is that Nasri does not perform at the same level for France as he does for Man City, yet i've also seen him saying that he doesn't fit into his plans so who knows.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/...bed-samir-nasri

In my opinion they are better off without him, i read that he once refused to be on the bench for France as he thought he was too good. He overated in my opinion,he'll have maybe three decent months in a whole season and is gone missing for the rest.They seemed to coped without him tonight.

Again they were playing Honduras, if you think he wouldn't be a major help in games against teams like Germany,Argentina,etc, then i think you just don't like him. Football players of Nasris quality get payed multiple millions a year and get idolized, so they of course have massive egos. If players are to be penalized for temper tantrums, then i actually think Scotland have a chance at the next world cup .

I have to say DE NIRO, after your comments about Suarez (less surprising) and now Nasri, i don't think you're being objective in your ratings of players. You should seperate the World Cup and Premier League, as it's apparent that you genuinely dislike two of the best players on sides that did better than yours this season.

Also Nasri is not overrated in the slightest imo, maybe by Man City fans but that's expected. You don't see him in best player conversations, but most rightfully recognize that he is an elite midfielder. The complete definition of overrated for me, was always when Rio Ferdinand was rated as one of the best defenders in the world

Question is an own goal just a mistake by the defending team?

Or could it be considered a great play by the attacking team? Because when you put a lot of offensive pressure on the defensive team. They are more likely to make a mistake that can lead to an own goal by the defensive team

Both can happen. For instance this world cup own goal was just idiotic, while it led to the trajic murder of the player if that was actually why he was killed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFjke_ahBYY

The Brazil own goal at the start of this cup suits the latter more imo.

I don't really consider an own goal a mistake by the defensive team most of the time.

I think the attacking team is puttin a lot of attacking pressure on the opponent. If my team was the attacking team I would be pretty happy.

If my team was the defending team and an own goal happened. I think we need more time on the practice field working on the little things that can mean so much in real games.

Today Big Big game Germany v Portugal man I won't miss that one.

Last game America v Ghana it is a big game for me only because I do consider myself a patriot in my own way. But, I do think we could be playing a much better game then we are playing. That does not mean we can't win. But it will make it harder for us to win.

The thing that bothers me most is if we lose Jurgen won't blame himself for the loss. Their are many things i think he left undone.

Their is an old saying "if it is not broke don't fix it" I always thought that made sense.

Until another coach told me "if it is not broke then break it and make it better"

Meaning you should always try to build on the game you already have.

Muller is starting as a centre forward, i knew Klose being listed as their only forward wasn't accurate.

Poor dude from Bosnia didn't stand a chance with his OG last night. You could tell he didn't expect the ball to hit him. Been some decent matches so far

Wow so far it is a blitzkrieg on the under achievers. Notice how the Germans tried to take away Portugals closest back pass option.

Hey the official is not using the spray can good for him.