Off Topic International Break Thread

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When they focused in on his wife crying in the arms of Schmeichel I was seething. Poor women's in distress and they're zooming in on her like it's a ****ing TV show.

****ers, mate.

I have a certain amount of sympathy for them, it's a huge shock and not one you can be prepared for. The pictures carrying on too long and the commentator trying to commentate on who's consoling the guy's wife made a grim show and I think it's much more important that this is learned from. I know I couldn't take my eyes off, just as I couldn't with Fabrice, perhaps I'm as bad.

That said, there's a whole lot more to look at too. Players are pushed hard at the best of times but over covid they've been pushed even further, along with rules on drugs being used beyond their intended purpose. You can't say either were involved in this specific case but it's pushed up the danger for footballers, all in the pursuit of keeping the money flowing. It's properly ****ed up. Can someone check what the temperatures in Qatar are going to be like next summer? We're sleep walking into that still, aren't we.
 
I don’t know if it’s been mentioned on here but amazing work from Denmark’s captain Kjaer to put Eriksen in the recovery position and clear his airways before the medics got there. To have the presence of mind to do that halfway through an intense football game and when it’s your mate on the floor is admirable <applause>

Yeah superb captain's display. Got the players to form a protective barrier too. Can see why he is indeed captain.
 
I have a certain amount of sympathy for them, it's a huge shock and not one you can be prepared for. The pictures carrying on too long and the commentator trying to commentate on who's consoling the guy's wife made a grim show and I think it's much more important that this is learned from. I know I couldn't take my eyes off, just as I couldn't with Fabrice, perhaps I'm as bad.

That said, there's a whole lot more to look at too. Players are pushed hard at the best of times but over covid they've been pushed even further, along with rules on drugs being used beyond their intended purpose. You can't say either were involved in this specific case but it's pushed up the danger for footballers, all in the pursuit of keeping the money flowing. It's properly ****ed up. Can someone check what the temperatures in Qatar are going to be like next summer? We're sleep walking into that still, aren't we.

Very relevant final point NKNG. <ok>
 
Apparently Eriksen had a facetime call with the Danish players telling them to continue with the game as he was feeling better.

And as I'm typing this Finland go 1-0!
 
According to BBC London both sets of players agreed to replay only after assurances from the Danish FA that Christian was comfortable and in recovery
 
Terrible decision to play the game. That the players apparently wanted to finish the game is neither here nor there, they'd just been through something incredibly traumatic which is naturally draining. Again duty of care to the players is absent, authorities shouldn't have made it an option.
 
Terrible decision to play the game. That the players apparently wanted to finish the game is neither here nor there, they'd just been through something incredibly traumatic which is naturally draining. Again duty of care to the players is absent, authorities shouldn't have made it an option.
The show must go on is not the right attitude.
The problem is that logistically they can’t accommodate the game at another time because of the schedule. They don’t want to mess up their tournament after the delay and other COVID related issues.
 
The show must go on is not the right attitude.
The problem is that logistically they can’t accommodate the game at another time because of the schedule. They don’t want to mess up their tournament after the delay and other COVID related issues.

It was only impossible to reschedule from a prime-spot on TV point of view, otherwise it was completely workable and would have given us a better game than we saw.
 
Belgium have been coasting a bit this second half but Lukaku looks in excellent form. Could be ominous. Though Russia showed you can get at this Belgium side at the start of the second half when they made things a little uncomfortable, before running out of steam.
 
Belgium have been coasting a bit this second half but Lukaku looks in excellent form. Could be ominous. Though Russia showed you can get at this Belgium side at the start of the second half when they made things a little uncomfortable, before running out of steam.

Without Hazard and De Bruyne too
 
Without Hazard and De Bruyne too

Good point. Hazard came on towards the end and he clearly can still beat a man, but he had a few wayward passes and seems to have lost that yard of initial acceleration that he initially had. Given his fitness is likely awful too I doubt we’ll see him starting much unless maybe the 3rd group game if Belgium win the second.