# 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:** 207
**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 12, 2026, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4121 "2026-07-12T05:56:27Z")
Probably not but đŸ€· . Because fans don’t want VAR interrupting the game too much, it’s supposed to only be used in [certain situations](https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/video-assistant-referee-var-protocol/#reviewable-decisions-incidents): a. Goal/no goal b. Penalty/no penalty c. Red card (including a clearly incorrect second caution) d. Mistaken identity (when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player) e. Clearly incorrectly awarded corner kick if the decision can be changed immediately and without delaying the restart (competition option) ---
**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 12, 2026, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4122 "2026-07-12T06:11:43Z")
Just watched the highlights back on YouTube after a pretty awful night sleeping with wayyyyy too much adrenaline still pumping. Bit tricky to tell but it looked like Switzerland really were in that game until that pathetic dive. What was he thinking?! The second goal for Argentina was incredible, pretty much on a par with the Cape Verde one. As an Englishman I am very happy it went to extra time, considering ours also went the full 120 minutes. Do I think there is a favourite for Wednesday? I honestly couldn’t pick one. ---
**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 12, 2026, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4123 "2026-07-12T06:15:53Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > My new worry is that if we play like this against England we can get humiliated. My worry is Argentina suddenly remember how to play, because it’s England, and you turn it on. Honest question, who are Argentina’s biggest rivals (or the ones you want to beat the most), other than, obviously, Brazil? I am going to assume, hopefully not arrogantly, that we are on the list of teams it feels extra sweet to beat? For England it is still just about Germany I imagine, but with their slow fall from grace it’s probably diminished a little. Argentina must be right up there, with 1986 still seen as an injustice, rightly or wrongly. ---
**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 12, 2026, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4124 "2026-07-12T10:35:18Z")
Argentina HATE England. Their players were chanting songs about England in their dressing room after the previous round - I do wonder if they took their eye off the game against Switzerland a bit. The semi-final could be an emotional affair full of needle. > **[World Cup 2026: England and Argentina's football rivalry](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c621y75w2x2o)** > > As England and Argentina prepare to go head-to-head in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final, BBC Sport looks at their footballing rivalry. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4125 "2026-07-12T12:38:34Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Three cheers for VAR! Long live video review! > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Pst, don’t tell that to @Frodo
 If he is still not convinced after the red card review for the foolish Swiss diver then he is as big a fool as the Swiss. Of course he will never admit in public that he was wrong in a matter concerning football. > [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > > > > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > > > > > What was the yellow card for? > > > > Yelling at the ref. > > > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > > > That seems arbitrary. Aaah, that is why the referee is called an _árbitro_ in Spanish? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4126 "2026-07-12T12:51:49Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Norway just blows a 2v1. Sorloth not a creator so much. Just saw the replay of this, wow was Haaland more open than I remembered. No wonder he was shaking his head and muttering going back up the pitch. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4127 "2026-07-12T13:43:58Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Rattin, in '66 against England. El PaĂ­s claims he died this week-end, just ten days after we mentioned him and just before the game against Swizzerland. I don’t know whether you can read this or whether it is paywalled: [https://elpais.com/deportes/mundial-futbol/2026-07-11/murio-rattin-el-futbolista-que-en-el-mundial-66-inspiro-las-tarjetas-rojas-y-amarillas.html](https://elpais.com/deportes/mundial-futbol/2026-07-11/murio-rattin-el-futbolista-que-en-el-mundial-66-inspiro-las-tarjetas-rojas-y-amarillas.html) Just in case, this is what he claimed in 2013: > “Ese Mundial estaba preparado para que ganaran los ingleses. Lo que pasĂł contra nosotros fue muy alevoso”, reconstruyĂł RattĂ­n en 2013. “Nuestro tĂ©cnico me habĂ­a dicho que si el juez cobraba mal, pidiera un intĂ©rprete, porque yo era el capitĂĄn y el reglamento me amparaba. Lo pedĂ­ porque el hijo de puta del ĂĄrbitro cobraba todo para ellos, y el tipo me echó”, agregĂł el argentino, en referencia al referi alemĂĄn Rudolf Kreitlein, que luego del partido se retirarĂ­a escoltado por la policĂ­a local ante las quejas de los futbolistas argentinos. Which DeepL(dot)com merecifully translates as (by merciful I mean that I would not have translated _el hijo de puta del ĂĄrbitro_ as _that bastard of a referee_): > “That World Cup was rigged for the English to win. What happened to us was utterly underhand,” RattĂ­n recalled in 2013. “Our manager had told me that if the referee made a bad call, I should ask for an interpreter, because I was the captain and the rules were on my side. I asked for one because that bastard of a referee was giving them every call, and the bloke sent me off,” added the Argentine, referring to the German referee Rudolf Kreitlein, who, following the match, was escorted away by local police amid complaints from the Argentine players. He (RattĂ­n) seems to have embellished some facts, the rest of the article is interesting. Perhaps a bit too pro Argentina, but not too much, considering it is about football. ---
**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 12, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4128 "2026-07-12T13:54:18Z")
I also just read an obituary for Rattin on [kicker.de](http://kicker.de), and they tell the story quite differently, that after already having been booked verbally twice, he didn’t stop complaining to the ref, and finally he sent him off, verbally and with gestures. Rattin knew damn well what was happening, but he pretended not to understand the situation because of the language barrier and refused to leave the pitch. After 10 minutes of back and forth, he had to be escorted by two policemen off the pitch. This chaos led directly to the installation of yellow and red cards as clear and unambiguous signs for bookings. ---
**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 12, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4129 "2026-07-12T15:10:05Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Argentina HATE England Let’s hope they hate us even more after Wednesday night then. For what it’s worth, I really have no strong feelings about them. ---
**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 12, 2026, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4130 "2026-07-12T15:24:43Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Let’s hope they hate us even more after Wednesday night then. For what it’s worth, I really have no strong feelings about them. Not even the hope of revenge for the Hand of God? ---
**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 12, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4131 "2026-07-12T15:35:52Z")
Meh, a lot of people still hold a grudge but to be honest, we probably would’ve lost that game regardless, even if it was blatant cheating. Plus it was 40 years ago. I was 4 at the time! I am a bit of a weirdo though, I’m not particularly bothered by my club side’s big rivals so I’m not the typical fan. I just see them as another team to beat. ---
**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 12, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4132 "2026-07-12T16:08:27Z")
I’m a bit like you, I also don’t tend to hold many grudges or real animosity against other clubs/nations. But I bet the English press will make it some kind of revenge, won’t they? ---
**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 12, 2026, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4133 "2026-07-12T16:14:15Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Honest question, who are Argentina’s biggest rivals (or the ones you want to beat the most), other than, obviously, Brazil? I am going to assume, hopefully not arrogantly, that we are on the list of teams it feels extra sweet to beat? Our biggest “Clasico” is of course Brazil, the list would be something like 1. Brazil 2. England 3. Germany 4. Uruguay (this is specially important but at a local level because it’s the neighborhood derby) 5. Netherlands (due to frequency and piquancy of duels against them in world cups). However that’s the list of teams we want to win against, but there is another, more visceral list of teams against whom we do not want, we can’t, we will not allow ourselves to lose: 1. England 2. England 3. England 4. England 5. Mexico (Because some of their fans are insufferable) ---
**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 12, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4134 "2026-07-12T16:17:36Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > If he is still not convinced after the red card review for the foolish Swiss diver then he is as big a fool as the Swiss. Of course he will never admit in public that he was wrong in a matter concerning football. Well then I must be foolish
 Look, it’s in part an aesthetic preference, I prefer the old football, more human, more fluid, less tech-mediated. And in part it’s the fact that the tech that was supposed to eliminate controversy has done anything but, as you can clearly see in this World Cup, so if the tech doesn’t fulfill its primary purpose and it has all the drawbacks we’ve seen, what’s the point to it?. ---
**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 12, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4135 "2026-07-12T16:19:27Z")
The Rattin game was in some ways the beginning of the England-Argentina rivalry, I haven’t seen it so I don’t have an opinion on either side, but Argentinians at the time took it as a robbery and the English were reportedly shocked by the “uncivility” of Argentinians. ---
**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 12, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4136 "2026-07-12T16:24:20Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > The Rattin game was in some ways the beginning of the England-Argentina rivalry, It’s really ironic that he died during this WC, just a few days before Argentina and England meet again in an important knock out game. ---
**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 12, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4137 "2026-07-12T16:27:33Z")
Or if you are Argentinian you may feel it was somehow fated, Diego’s death brought us the 2022 World Cup, Rattin died so we can face England for the first time with Messi, and Indio Solari’s
 ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4138 "2026-07-12T16:27:50Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > it’s in part an aesthetic preference > [@Frodo](#): > > if the tech doesn’t fulfill its primary purpose and it has all the drawbacks we’ve seen, what’s the point to it? It is a matter of priorities. I think a just result beats aestetics, and I don’t think the tech is doing half as bad as you claim. It’s not perfect, I hope it improves. If helping your beloved Argentina get out of dire straits twice this tournament does not show you the good side of VAR, I will have to wait a bit longer. There are still two matches to play for every team, and the next tournament will surely come. I remember some injustices commited by referees, perhaps willingly, probably out of incompetence, with bitterness. I have no such feelings for a VAR interruption yet. ---
**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 12, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4139 "2026-07-12T16:31:12Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > If helping your beloved Argentina get out of dire straits twice this tournament does not show you the good side of VAR But that would be totally biased on my part, I AM biased, but not so much that I would prefer something that actually hurts the sport in the way I feel VAR does just because it happened to favor my side a couple of times. VAR gives but VAR taketh away too, sooner or later the idiot faking a foul will be Argentinian, the invalidated goal will be from a player with a light blue and white shirt, it’s just a matter of time. And meanwhile we STILL can’t scream our heads off when our team scores because may be the grandfather of the player who scored had an invalid driving license when he drove his father’s mother to the hospital to give birth
 ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962/4140 "2026-07-12T16:39:10Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > And meanwhile we STILL can’t scream our heads off when our team scores because may be the grandfather of the player who scored had an invalid driving license when he drove his father’s mother to the hospital to give birth I am sure you can find a less falacious argument than that one if you put your mind to it. In the meantime, we disagree. Justice and avoiding bitterness is important for me. Aestetics and unbridled joy is important for you. It’s OK: you are young and have the right to be wrong. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=206) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-etc/1023962.md?page=208)