World Cup: Day 2

Senegalese fans blatantly donning white-face.

Where can I make known how deeply offended I am???

Gueye on a dangerous free-kick outside the Dutch box.

Utterly wasted. Dreadful delivery.

6 ft+ players falling to the ground as if they've been shot. I suggest every player in this World Cup watch Rugby League and more so Wheelchair Rugby. It puts these highly paid divas to shame!

Michael,

Contact Infantino – I'm sure the humble everyman of FIFA will deal with any issue. Keep in mind that his response will depend on how he's self-identifying on the day.

Do they only pay the fake fans for 45 minutes? The stadiums all empty out at half time

A dull game and Holland a shadow of some of their teams of the past. Then again, we shouldn't disrespect Senegal. They have some good players.

Some good centre backs on the pitch mind. I know this will sound blasphemous, but I hoped Koeman was going to bring Van Dijk from Southampton. Koulibaly, how I'd liked Ancelotti to have brought him to Everton. And the underrated Ake. When he was at Bournemouth, I wouldn't have minded taking a punt on him.

Inevitably, I'm picking up on random stuff. Does anyone else think that Holland kid looks a bit odd? Much lighter shade of orange than I remember.

Maybe it's just me.

So he can strike a ball.

If you get him into more forward positions.

Which means playing higher up the pitch.

Everton legend Davy Klaassen covering every blade of grass as he slowly meanders over the pitch while making no effort to get involved in the game.

Oh... so that's Cody Gakpo!

Seems to know how to let a ball fly off the top of his head pretty darned well.

Now if only...

Gakpo is lucky Toni Schumacher isn't in goal going for that header

Goal machine Klaassen! 🤣

And the Everton Legend scores!

Gana elbowing him in the head must have fired Davy up

Pickford-esk parry into a dangerous area.

Good follow up run and anticipation by the midfield.

Davy Klaassen!

Is there an over/under bet on how many goals our former players will score in this World Cup? It's starting to get on my nerves.

Mike

I was just thinking the scorecard so far:

Everton rejects 3

Current Everton goalie conceded 2

So we are 0-5

Maybe 0-6 Kieran, if you count Gana getting a yellow for clouting his former Everton teammate in the head.

What odds on Antonee Robinson scoring in the next game?

Looking forward to this next match. I'm interested to see if the occasion gets to Wales or they rise to it.

And the USA could be a surprise.

Having watched him live, I like Weston McKennie. A lot of Everton supporters would like him. Energy and versatility. A hard worker.

I'm also intrigued in the forward Weah, but don't know too much about him. But coming through at PSG and now at Lille, he can't be too shabby. I'll leave that to the US cohort to comment on though.

And the Welsh national anthem. I'm not Welsh, but it's just the best.

Sorry to our USA fans but THAT is how you sing a National Anthem!

Thanks Mike.

USA has started well here. Wales struggling to settle into the game.

The Welsh aren't just fine singers. They're also really good at screaming in fake agony and drawing yellow cards.

Mike, you haven't seen them with sheep yet!!

Yes, but they aren't screams of fake agony Rob.

Mike, I never put 2 and 2 together and realised he is the son of George Weah.

See Robinson showing his pace stamina and strength already! Knew it was a mistake to let him leave permanently and couldn't believe we let it happen. He will be at a Champions League top club in the next few years.

😁😁😁😁

USA,USA,USA. Get in!!

Can't do with wales.

Mike @106,

And the Yanks are good at crowding round the ref trying to get players carded.😁

US have a Scally on the bench. Must be an RS

OK, well, maybe not ZERO goalscoring. USA!!!

Danny, yes, Tim was born in New York while Dad was president of Liberia.

Mike,

He's got a bit of his old man in him after all

Wales may have to revise their plan of all out defense and hoping Bale scores a 60 yarder.

That was a finish of Georgian poise. Dad must be proud.

Baby Dolllllllllllll. Great run and goal.

Wales been sort of asking for it, though.

That was a really good run and finish.

Good outfit this USA team.

Well, Bale's card cancels the other poor one given McKennie.

So Weah plays at Lille alongside Andre Gomes. That may explain why he never scores. Incidentally Andre is out injured again. He will be happy to get back to the Finch Farm treatment room come the summer

The referee is a complete blert.

He's the finest referee in Qatar. Which is kinda like being the best ice hockey player in Sri Lanka.

First time I've watched the Yanks as a unit... Quite impressed.

Pulisic hasn't quite got the game by the scruff of the neck, but everything time gets it. I fear for the Welsh. Clever play creating the goal.

Taffs need to come out stronger or this game will be taken away from them.

He set the tone with those early yellows Mike, Mckennie's was a maybe, Bale's ridiculous, hes blowing for anything, just stopped the game for a nothing challenge on the US keeper.

What i do like is they seem to be playing a more realistic amount of added time at the end of the halves.

I loved the way USA, broke so quickly for their goal, but couldn't believe Nico Williams, never stepped-up, or just slowed his run, which would have played Weah offside.

Kenny left Everton on a free, Williams left Liverpool for around 㾾 million, and this is a massive difference, for two very similar footballers, imo.

Pulisic screaming like a little bitch over every decision.

Suddenly, we have a game on our hands!

Wales trying to walk into the goal. Why don't they have a shot?

Yanks certainly no mugs and look like they have something about them.

Bale looks done.

I know that was central, but I think the commentators were harsh on the USA keeper saying that was an easy save. I thought in real time and at speed, that was a great save.

Okay, US people, is he just having a good game or do your rate Zimmerman?

That Weah goal had shades of one of my favourite ever goals about it. Michael Thomas against Liverpool in 1989. What a moment for us blues.

By the way, is Weah's mother a yYank, cos his old man was Liberian, he was a great reader of the game.

Err, I'll get me coat.

Bale and Ramsey are becoming a major problem now, Wales have to try and win games without them pronto.

Wales played like the Blues in that first half... a fucking painful watch!

USA looking more likely as Wales tire.

Penalty!

Game, most definitely on!

Well, deserved, but I agree with the comments above about Bale's performance tonight.

Didn't stop the commentators going into a Bale love fest and rattling off the pre-prepared comments mind.

On the balance of the match, a draw is a fair result here. It's been an entertaining 2nd half.

Is Wales the only World Cup team without a fully professional domestic league?

Don't know what drugs John Hartson is on, but I wouldn't mind some. Talks some nonsense that lad.

Ugh.

Cynical foul at the end, but I think a draw ended up being a fair result. Hopefully we are in for a great tournament, just on the pretext that most of the players competing are a lot fresher in November than they could ever be in June.

A better second half, easy to pick a man of the match: Ethan Ampadu, the player we should've signed in the summer... but Kenwright thought Gana would be an ideal signing for us... again!

Tosser!

I enjoyed that. And Mathew @136, I agree but Bale's experience is needed. Made me laugh though, a bit like England still playing Glen Hoddle and Bryan Robson.

Just seen Calvert-Lewin on TV, bloody modelling – get yourself match fit first!

Just caught last 30 mins of Wales game. Kiefer Moore played v well and Ethan Ampadu, who I've always liked.

There were calls on ToffeeWeb for us to sign Moore from (?) Wigan a few years ago. Whilst I think we could have done a lot better, we have managed to do a lot worse! He'd very definitely improve what we currently have.

Listening to the Iranian captain's interview before the game, I thought he was very brave, and it looks like a lot of Iranian people have really begun to have enough of their regime.

Not one player sang their National Anthem, and their centre-forward has also come out with a lot of criticism, because of how women are being treated in Iran.

So is this 10 minutes of injury time at the end of each half a new directive? If so, we're in for a few late nights at Goodison.

Without wanting to turn it political, but it's on topic because of the armband thing, but that's a very pertinent point Tony.

We rightfully beat ourselves up in this country, and rightfully so. But we have one of the most tolerant societies on the planet.

It's when you visit other certain countries you realise the level of tolerance our society has. Perfect? Whatever is? But we're better than most.

I'm glad the Iranian captain and team made their stance. Not just to demonstrate support for their fellow citizens, but to make FIFA uncomfortable. Especially after that bizarre interview over the weekend from the President.

Michael,

I think this is a directive to play the correct amount of stoppage time at the end of each half.

I remember a study about 10 years ago that worked out the true stoppage time should have been about 7 or 8 minutes average per half, that was before the VAR and we were actually getting a mostly standard 1 minute first half, 3 minutes second half – how could that be, game-in and game-out?.

With the VAR and more subs, the extra time has increased, but the World Cup games so far have gone beyond even that, with not many VAR decisions.

I think it's the correct directive.

It's an interesting one, Michael.

There is an argument that they are actually being more by the book rather than the token 2 minutes at the end of the first half and 4 at the end of the second that the Premier League seems to apply. Even though if you're playing Liverpool those 4 minutes can often become and extend to next goal wins. As long as they score it.

Personally, I'd rather time was displayed on the big screens. And when play is stopped, just stop the clock. All plain and clear for all to see. Right now, it's subjective and down to the official. And let's be honest, how much faith do we have in them?

I don't know what the Wales team had to drink at half time but I got to get me some.

The extra injury time should benefit England. Essentially it's like playing extra time every game but England have more depth so we can bring on 5 subs of the same standard whereas Wales you're bringing on 3rd tier players as subs.

So I imagine the countries with thinner squads will get burnt out or lose if they freshen things up with their weaker players.

Interesting stat. England never beaten the USA in a competitive match. 8 wins all in friendlies. A draw and defeat at the World Cup and a loss in the US Cup.

Meanwhile we haven't lost to Wales since 1984 and have won nine in a row. That Welsh team had Southall, Ratcliffe, Rush and Hughes and the England team had Paul Walsh, Tony Woodcock and David Armstrong (? Me either) so not exactly our best 11 of the era.

Wales had some really good players in that era. Let's not forget our very own Pat van den Hauwe, the Welsh Cockney Belgian!!

I just felt they didn't always gel as a cohesive team and unit. That's been the difference in recent eras, starting when the sadly departed Gary Speed took over.

I can see Argentina v Saudi being a cricket score.

Mexico v Poland might be decent; I always like to watch Lewandowski.

And France v Australia might be a good watch. I'm sure many of our Down Under blues will be tuned in. France are probably the favourites to win the competition from a European perspective.

Valencia and Klaassen score in the World Cup Finals, why can't we find players like this...??

Oh, errr... Bring back the Central League!

And now the Qatar Police/Stewards are confiscating any LGBT hat that the Welsh supporters have been wearing - they are now not allowed inside apparently.

The sheer audacity of this FIFA backed shite called the "World" Cup is really pathetic and detestable...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63710435

Hindsight is a great thing so I will have to take back my criticism of Nico Williams, who obviously played whilst going through a lot of mental agony last night.

I'm not into punditry but Souness telling Roy Keane that you learn more by listening, before then going on to say that Argentina had another gear, showed me why I'm not into these expert pundits and the power they give to certain teams with their views – not opinions!

Tony,

The Iranian captain and team have to be applauded for refusing to sing their national anthem, because of the treatment and death of a woman in custody, and the treatment of women in their country.

There could be consequences if they return home. Kane and the other captains of the European nations backing down was a complete lack of bottle. They would have been applauded and the hypocrisy of Infantino with his speech and FIFA would have been brought to a head.

Christy

According to the German federation, FIFA sighted “multiple” rule violations and threatened “massive but unspecified sporting sanctions”. So it wasn't just a guaranteed yellow card.

With that having been said, I think the publicity around the armband being banned has probably generated more buzz than wearing the armband would have. But it's pathetic to see Infantino, who lives in Qatar btw, in the role of a Quisling.

Also another good day for another scum bag tyrant crown Prince Mohamed. News broke last night he'd executed a dozen non-violent allegedly innocent people and timed it to coincide with the World Cup so it would be lost in the news. Now his team won so even a direct search for Saudi will bring the football up rather than more killings to add to Khashoggi etc.

The World Cup, Olympics and other global sports events are now consistently being hijacked by certain groups of people intent on using the tournaments/events to push an agenda.

Sports and politics should be kept separate, this is supposed to be a celebration of football – not a vehicle to push agendas and beliefs.

The game itself becomes a sideshow.

This might have possibly affected the Iranian players during yesterday's game, Christy?

When you listen to footballers speak, a lot of them say that playing for their country is the pinnacle, but I'm certain that most of the top clubs would sooner their players never had to play international football.

It doesn't look like FIFA are helping themselves at the minute, unless we are talking about the chosen few helping themselves to those massive brown envelopes.

So, unless this tournament is a massive footballing success, my own view is that FIFA might be paying the price for a very long time, and especially if certain clubs start pushing for a European Super League once again.

Dave,

So Blatter and the other FIFA officials awarding the World Cup to Qatar was a sporting decision???

Dave,

The thing is that hosting such tournaments both boosts the standing of and enriches nations which, in the case of Qatar or Xi Jingping, is not good.

Also, the separation of politics and sports is sporadically enforced. Case in point: Uefa keep Kosovo and Serbia apart in the draw. So how's it an even playing field if you're Kosovo, Israel, Middle East teams, Armenia, Azerbaijan etc and there are teams you never have to play?

Then we have people not being able to have the word 'Love' on their collars but it's okay for Kosovans playing for Switzerland to taunt Serbs with the Albanian Eagle, the symbol of the nationalistic vision of Greater Albania that would consume half the Balkans and was associated with Albanians massacring Serbs 100 years ago?

Or we ban Russia, Yugoslavia and South Africa from sport but no such thing happens to Sudan despite Darfur, Rwanda in the 90s, China despite imprisoning 2 million Uighurs, Morocco for invading Western Sahara, USSR for Prague spring or Hungary's invasion etc.

So either keep politics entirely out of sport or let it entirely in sport.

Apparently the Wales game attracted more TV viewers than the England game. No doubt kick off times had a lot to do with that but surprising nonetheless.

Good stuff Kieran. The whole discussion is a facade. Keep a scorecard as you do and brandish it about frequently. Some clubs and countries are more worthy of support than others.