I'm not trying to be obtuse --

by omahadomer, Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 19:48 (6 days ago) @ HCE

but the guy who scored the goal for England was the "second toucher." Is the distinction that the "second toucher" wasn't offside when the ball was originally kicked but in the Croatia game the guy whose hair got brushed was offside when the ball was first kicked?

If so, I get it.

But does it turn on whether the kick before the "second toucher" was a shot on goal, as opposed to a pass? In England's case, I take it that had it been a pass to the guy who scored the goal he would have been offside, but because he was redirecting a shot and wasn't offside when the shot was taken by the first toucher it's not offside?

If so, I suppose that's no worse a judgment call than whether a defensive back was playing the ball on a PI call.

--
"Somewhere in Middle America"