I ignore the precise wording of the rule, and whether it mentions “animosity” or “cordiality”, or whether the referee just made that rule up for Bellingham.
You could have stopped right there.
It’s one thing to disagree with a rule, it’s quite another to advocate a referee going rogue and ignoring it.
I could, but I did not.
You could have quoted the precise rule and fought my ignorance, but you did not.
That’s how it goes.
At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card.
Is there some other wording that is more ambiguous?
the swedes disappointed me.
on to the matches of today.
That’s assuming the “logical” results and we all know that there is nothing “logical” about a World Cup.
Cape Verde has not been defeated in this tournament (or ever, in World Cup history :D)
Australia (if not Egypt) was though to beat in 2022.
And finally Colombia, we had to fight for 120 minutes in the Copa America final to barely defeat them 1-0.
As I said, if we get that far I’ll be happy.
Yeah, and in the Copa Lautaro actually played very well. IIRC I didn’t think Argentina was the best team in that tournament.
If you think I’m being too rosy I think the most likely finish is them losing a boring game to England or getting smoked by France.
Exciting day today! England is my backup team to root for if the US is eliminated so I hope they do good in their first knockout round. Belgium was my wife’s favorite team in some past cups but they aren’t looking too great this year. I’m not sure if it would really be an upset, but I could see them eliminated by Senegal.
And then of course the big US game! We are having friends over for a BBQ and to watch the game, which should be really fun. I just hope we don’t embarrass ourselves against Bosnia and Herzegovina!
Exactly.
That’s the most we can realistically expect… but of course see my comment about “logic” and the World Cup, the hope is always there, waiting to kill you.
With Japan out, I am down to three national teams to root for France, Argentina, Colombia and the US (I have familial ties to all of them), so still a lot of cheering left for me. The last world cup final was tough, though it was possibly the last chance (at the time) for Messi to get a World Cup so I was leaning more in that direction for that match.
//i\\
I have lots of teams I root for in every WC. Germany and Netherlands were huge disappointments this time. Spain is always promising, but I’m trying not to get too invested because they really haven’t looked as strong as they are. I always cheer for England because they are perpetual underdogs. I’m really excited for Norway being competitive. I also love the rise of African football, so I’m cheering for Cape Verde. Mexico looks far stronger than I expected them to be, but I’m not sure how much of that is down to the Azteca. Ultimately though, I think the final will end up being France vs. Argentina. I don’t really have strong feelings about either, but if all else fails I root for the underdog, so I’ll be pulling for Argentina.
Cheering for the US team leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Of course I want them to do well, but all the Reyna/Berhalter drama, as well as the underpaid women has really turned me off of US Soccer. They’ll need to make it to the QF before I start really paying attention.
With Germany out, I don’t really have any dog in this fight anymore, I don’t have a second team on the national scale. My sympathies are mostly for the underdogs, so I should root for Cape Verde and DR Congo, but they really don’t stand a chance to make it far. OTOH, France clearly play the most attractive football in this tournament which could be a reason to wish them well, but it’s a no-brainer anyway that they’re the favorite.
ETA: my dark horse is Morocco. I really see them getting very far in this cup.
Oh dear.
Well I am surprised 
I jinxed it for England! 
Nothing surprises me when England play.
Right call: Kane was already falling and on the ground when the keeper’s hands touched him. He couldn’t avoid it.
ETA: but it was uncool by the Congolese defender to demand a yellow for Kane, it wasn’t a dive either. The defender should have been carded for that.
This is interesting.
Kane clearly looking for it but how the actual hell is that not a penalty?
I have to say, that should have been a penalty. ETA: the GK was clearly going for Kane and not the ball.