Today's Game

[Elizabeth]

I’m excited for this one!

[Rileybobs]

It’s nothing to do with the laws. It’s everything to do with

1 Oliver getting it wrong
2 Kavanagh not prepared to challenge it
3 Walton just being a complete nonsense

Well it has everything to do with the rules and absolutely nothing to do with the obvious dislike that people on here have of Michael Oliver.

’A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.’

He went in with two legs and used excessive force. I can understand people who think it was soft. But to take a binary position that there’s absolutely no way it can be a red card, despite the laws clearly stating why it could be a red card, suggests a clouded judgement - be that of the officials or people’s desire for Switzerland to win.

[Elizabeth]

Riley - please move on, new game started and you have a record of arguing your point all night

[Conroy92]

If you have both feet off the ground you aren’t in control and therefore it’s reckless. I wouldn’t have complained at a yellow though

That's fair enough.
I'd argue if you make the challenge successfully it proves you were in control, there was certainly nothing lucky about the challenge and it looked well timed. I also understand that's not the rules though. A bookings fair in my game.

[yTib]

But to take a binary position that there’s absolutely no way it can be a red card, despite the laws clearly stating why it could be a red card, suggests a clouded judgement - be that of the officials or people’s desire for Switzerland to win.

and from the pedantic to the patronising.

good gracious.

[ClaretTony]

Well it has everything to do with the rules and absolutely nothing to do with the obvious dislike that people on here have of Michael Oliver.

’A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.’

He went in with two legs and used excessive force. I can understand people who think it was soft. But to take a binary position that there’s absolutely no way it can be a red card, despite the laws clearly stating why it could be a red card, suggests a clouded judgement - be that of the officials or people’s desire for Switzerland to win.

Sorry but it is nothing to do with any dislike anyone has of Oliver, it’s just a downright shocking decision.

[Rileybobs]

Sorry but it is nothing to do with any dislike anyone has of Oliver

All you have to do is read the thread to see that clearly isn’t the case.

[Conroy92]

Well it has everything to do with the rules and absolutely nothing to do with the obvious dislike that people on here have of Michael Oliver.

’A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.’

He went in with two legs and used excessive force. I can understand people who think it was soft. But to take a binary position that there’s absolutely no way it can be a red card, despite the laws clearly stating why it could be a red card, suggests a clouded judgement - be that of the officials or people’s desire for Switzerland to win.

I think the vast majority, after seeing replays, would argue it wasn't excessive force.

The two feet off the ground I can accept. But excessive force? Never.

[taio]

Well it has everything to do with the rules and absolutely nothing to do with the obvious dislike that people on here have of Michael Oliver.

’ A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

He went in with two legs and used excessive force. I can understand people who think it was soft. But to take a binary position that there’s absolutely no way it can be a red card, despite the laws clearly stating why it could be a red card, suggests a clouded judgement - be that of the officials or people’s desire for Switzerland to win.

I quite like Oliver but I don't think it was a red card. And that's not because I don't understand the laws of the game - it's down to interpretation of the laws. You've gone from suggesting that people who don't believe it was a sending off don't understand the laws of the game, to saying it was a marginal decision.

[ClaretTony]

All you have to do is read the thread to see that clearly isn’t the case.

He’s dropped a bollock and wrongly sent a player off in my view.

[Tall Paul]

I think the vast majority, after seeing replays, would argue it wasn't excessive force.

The two feet off the ground I can accept. But excessive force? Never.

It was endangering the safety of an opponent.

[Rileybobs]

I think the vast majority, after seeing replays, would argue it wasn't excessive force.

The two feet off the ground I can accept. But excessive force? Never.

Well the match officials, former ref and pundits in the studio (including Roy Keane!!!) thought it was a red. So quite why my position here is courting so much controversy and rudeness towards me god only knows.

[Elizabeth]

Ok you’re right. Now can we enjoy commenting on a game that would be worthy of the final itself ?

[ElectroClaret]

1-0 Italia

[Rileybobs]

I quite like Oliver but I don't think it was a red card. And that's not because I don't understand the laws of the game - it's down to interpretation of the laws. You've gone from suggesting that people who don't believe it was a sending off don't understand the laws of the game, to saying it was a marginal decision.

For the record, I haven’t suggested that anyone who thinks it wasn’t a red card doesn’t understand the laws of the game. If that’s how it comes across then apologies, but that was not my intention. I was referencing the poster who said;

’ Apparently claret, it is now an offence to endanger your opponent whilst making a tackle......although it was ok for the last 130 years ! Football is going soft.’

I believe that it was a marginal decision that the referee called correctly. I can also understand why some people don’t think it wasn’t a red card - but not those who demonstrate a lack of understand of the laws or those who clearly have an axe to grind with Oliver.

[ElectroClaret]

Disallowed

[Rileybobs]

Ok you’re right. Now can we enjoy commenting on a game that would be worthy of the final itself ?

Go away. If you don’t want to read my comments then block me.

[Elizabeth]

Get in you beauty

[Aclaret]

The laws and how the game is played have certainly changed, but, opinions and arguments of what happens in the game certainly havnt love it !

[ClaretTony]

1-0 Italia

Offside

[Buxtonclaret]

Now THATS what VAR is for.

[Vegas Claret]

All you have to do is read the thread to see that clearly isn’t the case.

I don't dislike him, I've never met him - I just think his career has gone backwards over the last few years or so and I don't understand why that is

[Rileybobs]

I don't dislike him, I've never met him - I just think his career has gone backwards over the last few years or so and I don't understand why that is

I think he peaked a bit early didn’t he - probably because he broke onto the scene so young. Those saying that Oliver tries to make it all about himself couldn’t be more wrong though.

[Vegas Claret]

Now THATS what VAR is for.

it's going to be really interesting to see how we all adapt to it in terms of goal celebration. Players will stop celebrating and so will we until it's given, then it could well be an anti-climax which would be a real shame

[Rileybobs]

Great save by a great keeper.

[Vegas Claret]

I think he peaked a bit early didn’t he - probably because he broke onto the scene so young. Those saying that Oliver tries to make it all about himself couldn’t be more wrong though.

yeah I don't see that in him at all. He's just become very inconsistent. I blame Mike Riley for our refs drop in standard, he fell out with Clattenburg at the time when he was arguably the worlds best and he left because of it. Wrong man at the top !

[yTib]

nobody kicks a ball quite like kevin de bruyne. he is just magical.

[ElectroClaret]

Good situation now where TWO of the big guns of Belgium, Italy and Spain are going out, either tonight or in the semi.

[Conroysleftfoot]

Cracking game

[ElectroClaret]

That'll count...

[Rileybobs]

1-0 Italy. What a great side to watch.

[Spijed]

Good situation now where TWO of the big guns of Belgium, Italy and Spain are going out, either tonight or in the semi.

On the flip side it also means one of the top teams is guaranteed to be in the final.

[Vegas Claret]

I think the Tournament winner comes from this game

[Elizabeth]

That one does count!
Makings of a great game

[Buxtonclaret]

Can honestly see the Italians winning the whole thing.
They've a cracking side.

[Stayingup]

All you have to do is read the thread to see that clearly isn’t the case.

Out of interest have you ever played football?

[Spijed]

We'll now see how well Catenaccio works.

[Rileybobs]

Out of interest have you ever played football?

Yep. Played football all my life since primary school until as recently as last night. Why?

[Aclaret]

1-0 Italy. What a great side to watch.

Indeed, love watching Chiellini, a good old fashioned Italian center half.

[tiger76]

Great finish, but terrible play by Belgium to gift them the chance. Just maybe Italy are the real deal after all.

[ElectroClaret]

Fabulous

[taio]

What a side they are

[Rileybobs]

What a goal. Belgium being absolutely spanked.

[Elizabeth]

My little man

[ClaretTony]

I never thought I’d say this but I love watching Italy

[ElectroClaret]

On the flip side it also means one of the top teams is guaranteed to be in the final.

Aye. Just got to make sure we're the other one.

[BurnleyFC]

Roberto Martinez is to Belgium what Sven was to England. Absolutely wasting a golden generation.

[Spijed]

Game on?

[Vegas Claret]

game over

Belgium look like that played a game last night, no energy at all

[BurnleyFC]

That’s not a penalty.