Over the next month, I'll be covering the World Cup for Tribalfootball. And along the way, I'd like to share with you some of my experiences and keep you up to date with all the action!
And it won't be the last time
It has come up before, and we all said it wouldn't be the last time. Now that we've experienced our worst VAR night to date, do you think it'll end there?
There was Iago Aspas' injury-time equaliser that was originally ruled offside before the referee changed his decision, meaning Spain drew with Morocco 2-2.
Just two minutes later, three hours away, another VAR decision was changing the course of the tournament for Spain's group rivals. Portugal were up 1-0 and cruising to top spot finish in Group B, ahead of La Roja, before Iran were awarded a penalty for handball.
Cedric Soares was hit from point blank range and the referee initially agreed that he didn't know anything about handling the ball. But after checking VAR he reversed the decision.
And just like that, in 120 seconds, the tournament has changed for Spain and Portugal. The former now goes into the easier side of the draw, where as Portugal must now face Uruguay, who haven't conceded in nine hours of football, in the last-16.
Here's an interesting take from former BBC Sport website editor Lewis Wiltshire on VAR at the World Cup... (read the entire thread!)
Literally everything about VAR needs to be reframed. If you think the Iran pen wasn't a pen, the ref got it wrong not VAR. He had a chance to review and called it that way. If you think it was a pen (not many do), VAR helped the ref get it right. Not a "VAR assisted goal", FFS.
— Lewis Wiltshire (@LewisWiltshire) June 26, 2018
Back up north
I trudged off the night train at 6 a.m in Saint Petersburg this morning, bleary eyed after my bumpy ride up to the northern capital.
My spirits were immediately lifted by the hordes of Argentina fans that piled off the trains. Drums, flags, chanting. The whole kit and caboodle.
Fans of La Albiceleste have invaded the city in preparation for tonight's match against Nigeria.
It is a do-or-die clash for Argentina. They must win, Nigeria need only a draw.
Iceland and Croatia will join them in the 9 p.m slot tonight.
But before that, we have the Socceroos taking on Peru in Sochi and Denmark vs. France in Moscow.
The Socceroos must beat Peru convincingly and hope France do them a favour over the Danes. Come on France we've been Allies before!
