The nationwide emergency alert test going off on a Sunday night is a nice reminder that even New Zealand’s most terrifying emergency is still scheduled around the work week.
If anyone in Scotland can’t remember the second half against Haiti because they were drunk and up too late, don’t worry. Those of us who were sober and watched it at a reasonable hour can’t remember it either.
Diogo Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso, has written a letter to Scotland captain Andy Robertson ahead of the World Cup.
She thanks Robertson for his friendship, and for preserving Diogo's memory. Robertson adds he'll have Jota at the forefront of his mind.🙏
Arsenal v PSG will be the first European Cup/Champions League final between clubs from different capital cities since Ajax v Panathinaikos in 1971 (Amsterdam v Athens).
(Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have met twice in finals since then)
I have loved this first half but I have to put it on record that basing the Irish away jersey on a Microsoft PowerPoint Template from 1997 is not fitting for rhe occasion. #coybig
“Football is currently at a crossroads; while the introduction of VAR was intended to correct 'clear and obvious' errors, it has inadvertently ushered in an era of 'microscopic officiating' that is draining the joy and spontaneity from the world’s most popular sport.”
Important letter sent to IFAB by broadcaster Dave Johnson urging Law-makers to adopt Arsene Wenger’s offside law (allowing daylight) to “protect the spirit of the game”. Johnson, who covers D.C. United in Major League Soccer, continues…
“The Problem: Accuracy at the Expense of Atmosphere. We have reached a point where goals - the most precious commodity in football - are being disallowed because a player’s toe, elbow, or armpit is a millimeter ahead of a defender. These 'toenail offsides' do not reflect the spirit of the Law, which was originally designed to prevent goal hanging' and unfair advantages.
"In the current climate: Strikers are penalized for being faster or better positioned by margins invisible to the human eye. Fans are hesitant to celebrate, waiting for a three-minute geometry lesson on a screen rather than reacting to the beauty of a goal. The 'benefit of the doubt' - historically given to the attacker - has been effectively abolished.
“The Solution: The Wenger Proposal. The proposed change - stating that a player is onside if any part of their body that can score a goal is level with the second-last defender - is the logical evolution of the game. By requiring a 'clear daylight' gap between the attacker and the defender for an offside offense to occur, we return the advantage to the attacking side. This would virtually eliminate the agonizing delays caused by drawing pixelated lines to determine if a player’s shoelace was offside.
“A Historic Precedent: The Lessons of Italia 90. This would not be the first time the IFAB has acted to save the game from stagnation. Following the 1990 World Cup in Italy - a tournament marred by defensive cynicism and a record-low goals-per-game average - the IFAB showed great courage by: amending the offside Law (1990), declaring an attacker 'level' as onside and introducing the back-pass rule (1992), forcing goalkeepers to use their feet.
“Those changes revolutionized the sport, leading to the high-tempo, attacking football we have enjoyed for the last three decades. We find ourselves at a similar tipping point today. The game has become too clinical, and the balance has tilted too far in favor of the defending team and the video booth.
“Conclusion: Football is a game of emotion, not a game of millimeters. I urge the IFAB to prioritize the 'spirit of the game' over the 'perfection of the technology'. Adopting the Wenger proposal will restore the flow of the match, encourage attacking intent, and ensure fans remain at the heart of the experience. It is time to let the players play and the fans celebrate once again."
.@FC_Auckland re-take the lead in the NZ Derby thanks to a 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 finish 🔵✨ Bravo, Jesse Randall!
A wonderful run and an even better chip from the 23-year-old puts the Black Knights back in front 👌
Watch #WELvAKL live on 10 Drama, and stream live on Paramount+