The 2022 Qatar World Cup continues today with both Wales and England playing their second group stage matches.
Wales take on Iran, while England take on the USA.
As with most World Cups, we’re witnessing good games and bad games but one thing that has stood out for me, so far, is the management of injury time.
Now I’ve harked on about time wasting and game management before but, for me, the FIFA directive where the officials are encouraged to play what seem to be abnormal amounts of injury time, is to be encouraged.
Sides that tend to waste time are being punished and time lost to substitutions and the dreaded VAR is being, correctly added on.
The mission seems to be to ensure that we get 45 minutes of actual play in each half.
My view is that the strategy should be adopted in the English League, even if it does result in fixture completion times slipping.
As a lad, I can recall when half time only consisted of ten minutes, and it was rare for a traditional 15:00 hours kick-off to finish later than 16:45.
With, at this World Cup, officials not being afraid to announce more than 10 minutes of added time, are we heading towards nearer 17:00 hours when the final whistle being sounded?
Please feel free to have your say, on the above subject, in the comment facility beneath this article.
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I agree with you mh, although I think it would not be until next season before it comes in force. Also I have noticed that certain divers an play actors are no longer rolling around as if shot when brushed by An opponent. Simply because refs are pointing out that times are being added on. The other thing is the new tactics being used an shown regularly is treading on feet of opposition. Have you noticed that or is it just because of the amount of cameras and watching it at a ground we miss these.
I have noticed the feet thing and I wince at how flimsy the top of modern boots are! Getting back to the added time, it’ll be interesting how late a midweek 20:00 hours fixture would finish, well past my bedtime I reckon 🙂
Thought the very same thing about feet and meta tarsals. Ouch. Re the time wasting I’d like to think that some sort of punishment (sin bin, yellow card, free kick to opposition?) would soon see the end of a keeper catching the ball then falling unnecessarily to the ground for fifteen seconds or so. Likewise not retreating ten yards from a free kick immediately. And then throw-ins. So many result in difficulty finding a colleague with time being wasted and so very few throw-ins result in any advantage that I wonder if the hockey idea of playing the ball to oneself could be adopted. Player taking the “tap in” could not pass immediately to anyone but have to take second touch before passing. Opposition to be ten yards as for a free kick but able to advance immediately after the first touch.
we all hate time wasting unless its our team thats doing it. you will never stop it, but a few more yellow cards would’nt go amiss. i wonder if this world cup will be remembered for the amount of backward passing, i think its what makes me nod off. maybe the beer helps as well.COYH.