<Tigga>, fellow footy fans-

I just watched this terrific biography on legendary gaffer <Bobby Robson>- I think it is brilliant: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6864864/

<Russia v Saudi Arabia> 4-0

Well this is the first match I watched so far and I enjoyed it. Good flow, no major controversies and the referee was grand, in my view.

The Russian number 6 <Claymation Shev> got two goals, but it was his first that was highlight of the match for me. Russians were calm on the break and exhibited some lovely one and two touch footy to get <Claymation Shev> in position for a quality finish. The punters seemed happy, especially <El Presidente Putin>. If I'm not mistaken, the <King of Saudia Arabia> also had a good time sitting up there with the Russky top dog.

<Examples: two Argentine teams, and one French team that celebrated disgusting thuggery; <one south American goalie murdered by his home fans for a mistake in goal;>

That's not true. It was a <defender> called Escobar who was Columbian. Scored an own goal! Went back to Medellin (probably the worst move he could make!) and got shot 12 times.

<David Beckham getting pilloried by his home fans for getting sent off; obviously corrupt or, at best, incompetent refereeing nearly every time.>

<Dr. O'Footy> Yes I have Spain v Portugal teed up on the TIVO already!

What a fascinating story of <Bobby Robson> who came so close to winning the World Cup- twice. Who won the UEFA Championship with <Ipswich>. Who managed <Barca> and also two <Portugeese> clubs, who practically raised <Paul Gascoigne>, who rescued <Alan Shearer's> career.

The part of his story that angered me the most was being replaced at <Barca> by <Louis Has a Lot of Gall>, who almost succeeded in destroying football at <Manchester United> by putting everyone- including the players- asleep for a season.

<O'Footy> Thanks- I just took a spin in there and some very interesting comments from people who know 10 times more World Cup footy history than me. I also noticed the lack of spoilers which I thought was very respectful- but I am now scared of spoilers because I realize that my TIVO telly is not necessarily offering me the best matches, so I will have to wait on a one day delay to download them from my special "footy site." I enjoyed <Russia v Saudis> but I'd rather the TIVO had force fed me one of the other matches, or let me choose.

Always a day behind, me... If I had a million pounds I would buy a powerful satellite dish and buy the BBC ITV BEIN SKY package of the stars and watch my footy with proper English commentators.

Spain will win it all: they would even beat <MagnusCarlsen>.

<Teem>! I didn't know you were watching the footy. Thanks for letting people know about spoilers, but in fact I don't have time to watch many games. I've only had time to watch the first one and I posted the wrong score.

So Puyallup is actually another name for Seattle? This makes sense to me because both are <FIST NATIONS NAMES>. Possibly from the Salish or Oompahpah. I'm not a North America First Nations expert, but I frequently tell people on the internet that I am.

<Tigga> Don't worry about posting spoilers because I just don't have time to watch many games- so I watch the nightly highlights on the news only. During EPL season I watch every <Spurs> game without fail, and typically I only get access to them a day or two after they are played.

Curiously, I *did* in fact think <Tim> lived under a rock. In Puyallup lore the "Screaming Rock" is a noted gathering place for Sasquatch. Here is scientific proof- the "Puyallup Screamer": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sd...

<Tim> (Boomie) is a chess bon vivant and noted Bigfoot researcher. He has posted many photos of the footprint casts he has made over the years, but I forget where he posted them.

<Tigga> <Thierry> really is a superb commentator, despite his outrageous French accent. I like his analysis so much that I have actually downloaded pre game shows and manually cut the speed in half so I can make out what he says.

On a rare serious note, I applaud you for taking care of your Mom. You may recall I did the same darn thing about 20 years ago. Although the time off killed my career (along with the dot bomb and the downed towers), I wouldn't go back to change it. I like the idea that I gave back. Plus there were many happy moments that more than made up for the difficulties.

A few points !

1. Christian Ronaldo has now entered my pantheon of UNTOUCHABLE greats in football history. That free kick against the Spanish had the WOW factor.. the THRILL factor.. which makes the BEAUTIFUL GAME er, beautiful!

2. VAR ... It's used in other sports, but in Football , although essential and necessary, it's just open to too much subjectivity in interpreting the rules of the game.Will cite examples another time.

3. NON Russia World Cup Stuff..

Have you seen this ? A player taking a Throw in a good 3 metres in side the football pitch .. lol

Cardiff City vs Reading • Shadow Line 😱
https://youtu.be/AjRUEyvKukI

And this? The Battle of Santiago. Possibly the most infamous game of football in footballs' illustrious history...

This vid gives the background info which in itself is fascinating, as well as highlighting the brutality on show in the actual game.

1962 WC G2 R2 Chile - Italy (02.06.1962)

<Hozza> lol Yes <Ronaldo> was magnificent in that match, but I tell you what-

Both of <Diego Costa's> goals were better quality than the first two goals of <Ronaldo's>.

Two of Ronaldo's goals were a penalty and then shooting it directly into the arms of <De Hey! What are you Doing?>, who promptly dropped it into his own net.

Both of <Diego's> goals showed the highest quality, making the punter think HOW IN THE HELL DID HE DO THAT?

On his first goal, he single handedly took on 4 players and still scored, from more than 20 yards out, twisting and turning.

Diego Costa is certainly an outstanding player, I guess taking the role David Villa used to have for Spain.

<Jim> That's said with your usual politeness, but certainly true. I would say that <Diego Costa> is a dirty player. Using the VAR, I think the ref should have called back his goal that started with him winning the ball by deliberately smashing a Portuguese player in the face with his elbow.

He is, also, a great player. He has done more than enough for club and country for enough years for me, at least, to regard him as a great footballer, one who should be remembered.

I want to note something else about <Ronaldo>. I have watched a lot of football over the last five years and I think the stats will bear me out on this- maybe as long as three years ago he lost his touch on scoring from set pieces. And yet nobody, including the gaffer, ever made a move to have another player to take over set piece duty, or even just have a chance on a given set piece. <Ronaldo> took every set piece free kick in every game I ever saw him play. I remember several pundits remarking on this as well.

Oh and I did manage to watch all of <Argentina v Iceland> as well. It was ok, but I don't think the FOX announcers should have said "Iceland beats Argentina in a 1-1 draw."

That's disrespectful to both sides and it's also clumsy "humor." They kept chortling to each other over this until I wanted to smack them.