# FIFA World Cup 2026 - discussion etc **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-soccer-fifa\ **Created:** [October 14, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962 "2025-10-14T15:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 135
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2681 "2026-07-03T19:49:25Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > I once took a point blank shot to the middle of my thigh on a cold, damp November evening and couldn’t straighten my leg for a solid minute. My father once took a knee to his thigh which made his whole leg turn black and blue, and he could barely walk and not work for a week. And that happened in a friendly, go figure! ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2682 "2026-07-03T19:51:17Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > But that doesn’t mean that football is a sport for sissies, and that you’ll never hurt on a football pitch. Everybody who thinks so has never played the sport. There’s a reason that simulation works – it hurts like hell to get kicked or take some cleats to your foot or leg, so writhing on the ground for a minute is totally believable. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2683 "2026-07-03T19:52:08Z")
Also I think there’s something about being kicked in the leg which is simultaneously holding you up _and_ maneuvering with the ball that makes it hurt even more, you are not in the ideal configuration to receive a kick, more like the inverse. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2684 "2026-07-03T19:55:33Z")
I think this goes into Newtonian physics (hey, we’re the Dope, why not in a football thread?), but often when two players collide, it is a matter of milliseconds/millimeters who gets hurt much more (actio=reactio, conservation of momentum etc.). Also has to do with the muscle pressure/contraction I think, but this is rather medicinal, and there I’m out of my depth. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2685 "2026-07-03T19:56:31Z")
Great save. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2686 "2026-07-03T20:12:38Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > And measured against _any_ part of the second to last defender, which includes said defender’s arms and hands. It’s also any part of the defender that can play the ball. [![](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_tablet_webp/s3/2022-02/Screen%20Shot%202022-02-09%20at%209.44.29%20AM.png.webp?itok=VDInv11P) ](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_tablet_webp/s3/2022-02/Screen%20Shot%202022-02-09%20at%209.44.29%20AM.png.webp?itok=VDInv11P) ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2687 "2026-07-03T20:16:57Z")
I used to get kicked up in the air on a regular basis playing Sunday League football and not once did I feel the need to perform a triple flip with pike, clutching my shin and rolling about 27 times across the turf, them miraculously rise to my feet completely unscathed 30 seconds later. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2688 "2026-07-03T20:40:49Z")
It seems in this WC, players who received medical attention have to stay off the field for a few minutes after play resumes. Not sure if this is a formal rule ? ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2689 "2026-07-03T20:42:28Z")
Australia has switched the goalkeeper for the penalty shoot out. I guess they fear the starting keeper was fatigued? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2690 "2026-07-03T20:43:15Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Australia has switched the goalkeeper for the penalty shoot out. I guess they fear the starting keeper was fatigued?. Maybe the new guy is just their best at blocking penalty kicks. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2691 "2026-07-03T20:43:30Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Australia has switched the goalkeeper for the penalty shoot out. Yeah, interesting tactic. The Aussie goalie was nails during the match. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2692 "2026-07-03T20:52:45Z")
It didn’t work. All 4 shots went in and Egypt won. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2693 "2026-07-03T21:08:56Z")
I remember from a few WCs back that the Netherlands under van Gaal also subbed their keeper for the penalty shoot-out, but I don’t remember how that turned out. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2694 "2026-07-03T21:11:28Z")
It worked IIRC, against Costa Rica I think in 2014. I don’t think it’s a good idea, I read a few minutes ago something with which I agree “doing that puts pressure in the goalkeeper”, normally the GK is the one without pressure in PKs, but by doing this you are putting some unwelcome responsibility on him. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2695 "2026-07-03T21:11:32Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > It seems in this WC, players who received medical attention have to stay off the field for a few minutes after play resumes. Not sure if this is a formal rule ? Yeah, I mentioned it before. A player who has gotten medical treatment on the pitch and recovers has to wait for one minute before he can get on the pitch again. That’s a new rule in this tournament, and IMHO a very good and effective rule against simulation and time wasting. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2696 "2026-07-03T21:43:46Z")
So see you later, @Frodo, and good luck! (I must confess that of course I’m rooting for the absolute underdog. But nothing will come out of that, for sure. Sadly I can’t watch it, it’s on a pay channel I don’t have access to). ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2697 "2026-07-03T22:25:50Z")
Pretty slow / deliberate game so far. Very minor chances. Cape Verde will be happy, Argentina not panicking yet. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2698 "2026-07-03T22:29:06Z")
Jesus Christ Messi. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2699 "2026-07-03T22:30:13Z")
He makes that look so so easy. Ridiculously impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/2700 "2026-07-03T22:36:29Z")
Messi’s basically is playing as a target forward. He was way more involved in the buildup last WC and at Miami. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=134) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=136)