Brad

Dnitry, I was unsure about who made the call and to be honest, I didn’t care who made the call. I’m just happy it was made. Any new system takes a bit getting used to and perhaps adjustments will be made in the future. Does anyone know if VAR will be used in the leagues come this fall?

I could be wrong but I think the ref has the ultimate decision, with the refs in the booth helping him. It seems closer to the NFL system than baseball. I agree about limiting it but that assumes, the coaches are the ones requesting it, not the booth. I'm not completely clear on this point but I think it's the ref that initiates review.

Why? If technology can help get decisions correct, why not use it. Aspa's goal was clearly not offside and they got it right. C'mon, Dmitry join the modern age Marca ran a fan poll today (in which I voted) and some of the results are interesting: a different starting lineup is needed, the goalie needs to be replaced, only 56% think they will beat Russia, Isco received the best rating and the others (for the most part received a C (aprobado or passing), while de Gea received a D. This is not a team that is going to beat you with a lot of goals; it was that way in 2010 and it seems that way now. However, the defense really needs to improve for that to work.

No, because it’s a referee decision on placement not game action. I disagree about VAR; it’s gotten wrong decisions correct. What could be wrong with that. Every other sport has them.

True and you can throw in there Tunisia and maybe Costa Rica. It will probably get worse in eight years: Coming to the World Cup: More Drubbings

I just read the introductory essays to the book and although I know nothing about sound engineering, Bill Savory sounds like he was a genius in his field. What was even more amazing to me was that his heirs were going to throw out all the discs. What a loss that would have been.

It’s not for nothing that this area has been complicated since time immemorial. Even now, Greece and the Macedonians have just settled a dispute over the Republic of Macedonia using Macedonia in its name.

Nice! 👍

Nice looking kids. Congrats.

No fun getting old!

Every team in Group B was tough. Other than Panama and may Egypt or the Saudis. all the teams at the WC deserve to be there; no easy marks.

An incredible set of events. Spain looking they’re limping in but somehow win the group. A less than impressive showing, especially the defense. Spain was saved by the post and they were lucky on that handball on Pique.

Could be an early exit for Spain

If Spain and Uruguay won their groups, we could be looking at Spain vs Russia and Uruguay vs Portugal, the latter being a very interesting match.

I’m more sympathetic to the Austrians as they were tired of all the provocations from the Serbs. However, the basically unconditional letter they sent to the Serbs didn’t help the situation nor did the German attitude. Notwithstanding, this can be traced back to Serbia and the Black Hand.

Very cool photos. I was never a big suspenders fan. Call it vanity, but I get my hair colored. I hate gray.

When I say again, I refer back to 1914 as I hold them responsible for starting WWI. Back on the anniversary of WWI, I recall reading an article where many Serbians were still proud of the shooting of the Archduke. It seems what Faulkner said was correct: "the past is never dead. It's not even past."

Adjust the glasses, maybe?

Politics Ensnare Salah and Switzerland at World Cup The Serbians again.

Falcao! Y Cuadrado!! Buen hecho muchachos!

My cousin lives in Princeton and we're meeting her for lunch next Friday so I will take a look.

That has basically happened as Messi is picking the players for the Nigeria match. The inmates are running the asylum.

Meet the 11-Year Olds Whose Music Wowed the Philharmonic They are part of of the Philharmonic's Very Young Composer initiative.