bookd.
Paraguay
France
I view games like this as a matter of perspective. Of course, we would all love every team to play inspiring and passionate but sportsmanlike football like Cabo Verde. Unfortunately, not every team is as interested in playing attractive football and some simply want to win at any cost. Paraguay are one of those types of teams. I have to say I was entertained by the shithousery, but of course I question the integrity of the sport if teams play like this consistently. A large part of the game is mental, which it’s obvious that Paraguay understands. The bigger question in my mind comes down to over if it is cunning or if it is simply unsportsmanlike. Maybe it’s both, but I’m not entirely sure how you can control what players say to each other on the pitch without it being a total overstep and preventing players from expressing emotion. Emotion is what makes the game special. I don’t want it to be policed in the game and I’m sure most people agree with that sentiment. With that being said, nobody wants the game to devolve to this, where such clear acts of provocation go unpunished. There has to be a balance somewhere and I’m curious what everyone else thinks about this issue.
France
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Comments
I also want to give props to Orlando Gill on Paraguay because that was a ridiculously good performance from him. Will be interested to see if he gets a move to Europe
I don't think that any systemic blame can be placed upon Paraguay when they weren't punished for their transgressions. The players/coaches job is to win the match by any means, the referees job is to enforce the rules of the sport, I can't blame Paraguay for taking advantage of a lenient referee, had I been playing for my nations pride I would have done the same, I think the blame falls entirely on the officiating
@harris I agree but to what extent can you punish provocation? In the end, football is an emotional sport so emotions will naturally run high in big games
@holdenwillemsen I agree but I think Paraguay's players definitely crossed some lines at points, at which point they should have been booked, but weren't. Had they been booked they likely would have changed their behaviour, but as they didn't receive any punishment there's no reason from a cost/benefit standpoint to do anything differently. I believe that for the most part people are rational actors, and I think Paraguay acted rationally given the circumstances.
@harris Totally agreed, but I think the other question lies in where that line is drawn from a refereeing perspective and where it should be drawn with an aspect of the game that is so unmeasurable
@holdenwillemsen This will always be a matter of debate, but I think everyone's in agreement that this was too far in the leniency direction, 0 cards for Paraguay the whole match is ridiculous
@harris 1000% agreed. I don’t think they should have shame about it necessarily because it’s a style of football like any other, but it’s an interesting conversation for referees especially when so much of the game is based on the senses or binaries (either onside or offside which are both visible, fouls that are visible, handballs that are visible, discriminatory language that is audible, etc)
@holdenwillemsen I think these referees in particular just happened to be bad, it seems that fifa is trying to have an equal amount of referees from around the globe but the ones coming from countries without strong footballing cultures are not neccesarily the best of the best