There was some awful playacting/time wasting in the France vs Belgium game. The ball was in play for like 10 minutes during the last 20 minutes of the game. Awful.

Agreed, Colombia were a disgrace and Neymar ruined any enjoyment of watching Brazil, for me.

I think Neymar’s singlehandedly stopped Brazil being everyone else’s second favourite team. He was a disgrace at this WC.

I agree with what you are trying to say, but lets be honest some of the worst cases i saw were today, and the worst thing was the main arbitrator was a 19 year old, this makes me very sad - i know you want to do anything to win.......but jeez come on, and when its the youngest player on the pitch that tells you a lot imo.

Mbappe wasn't very sportsman like last night.

I also think that if Neymar concentrated more on playing and less on playacting, he may have had a more positive influence on the tournament and Brazil's progession in it. On paper, they were the favourites.

Not very night seeing time wasting at around 4am in the morning.

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So because you don’t like someone the World (Cup) is better without.

And a whole continent in one brush stroke.

Shinjury list (U1700)

No, it's better without him because he brings more cheating than he does quality football - whether I like him or not is not really the issue.

I think it's fair to say that the South American teams have been worse for play acting and dirty tactics in this tournament.

That isn't labelling an entire continent - it's just labelling the teams that represented them in this tournament.

Agree with the article but don't think it is JUST south america. I think VAR has been refreshing in general. Let's be honest imagine Italy had made it

I'm trying to remember - were Peru particularly bad as well? I don't remember lots of histrionics on the part of Uruguay (despite the bitey one). Argentina had their moments but weren't that much worse than things we've seen European teams do. Colombia were despicable. Neymar and a few of his colleagues let themselves down. On balance I think we could probably phrase it more precisely than 'the South Americans'.

I'd say uruguay and argies are the worst of the bunch RR.

Mascherano Otamendi Just clowns

Suarez during the Portugal game was about as bad as it gets

Pepe for Portugal too. This isn’t a South American thing, it’s more certain individuals.

Really, VAR should also be used to highlight overreactions and dives and those players punished for it. Given two yellows can lead to a suspension, it is a deterrent if used correctly. There didn’t seem to be many bookings for simulation, a couple of Neymars I thought were ridiculous and didn’t get why he wasn’t carded.

meltonblue (U10617)

I really would beg to differ.

Generally speaking, and anecdotally, I found the South Americans painful to watch in comparison with other sides.

comment by Bobby Dazzler (U1449)
posted 27 minutes ago
Suarez during the Portugal game was about as bad as it gets
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To be fair, I missed the Portugal / Uruguay game

On the other hand, is there anyone here who wasn't a little bit in love with the spirit and style with which Japan play football?

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comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 29 seconds ago
comment by Bobby Dazzler (U1449)
posted 27 minutes ago
Suarez during the Portugal game was about as bad as it gets
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To be fair, I missed the Portugal / Uruguay game
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There were about 3 major ones involving Suarez in that game but worse for me were the lesser ones, numerous cases of him screaming out in pain and rolling around due to totally innocuous "challenges"
It totally ruined the game as a spectacle

Lol melton terrible example considering pepe is from brazil

Costa also the worst for spain, from south america.

The crowding round the refs was the worst I have ever seen from the South Americans and also Iran were bad. I know teams do it but they were just constant. Then the theatrics when there was a slight touch on them. I do agree the South Americans were one of the negatives on an otherwise fantastic WC. Maybe its because they know they simply aren't as good as there European counterparts anymore and so need to try something else