World Cup 2022 - Team and Match Discussion

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997665#Comment_119997665

Don't see why anyone "deserves it"

Probably the best player ever and has won loads but I can't see why he deserves it.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997852#Comment_119997852

Yup, was found guilty and given a suspended sentence.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997834#Comment_119997834

Yeah, he's in loads of ads for Saudi tourism and business, and is currently their spokesperson for their world cup bid - dunno if that'll remain the case though, as Argentina have entered the same bidding pool, so it'd be very tricky for him to be advocating against his own country...

Drumpot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997721#Comment_119997721

They got lucky in both games. England were the better team and France got the awful ref decisions. Tonight they relied on Moroccos poor finishing to help them through.

In hindsight it will be classed as great tournament management , but it’s as much riding your luck. I’m ok with you believing otherwise.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997751#Comment_119997751

If Argentina fans think his legacy is on the line or it's a him or Maradonna thing they are idiots. He is a legendary player and not winning the World Cup won't be his fault. If anything the fact the have made two recent finals is a miracle of his making.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997724#Comment_119997724

I always felt Ronaldo got too much stick in this sort of perfect golden boy vs selfish bad boy battle with Messi. Messi can be just as selfish and cynical but just doesn't do it in such a stroppy manner.

(That's no defense of Ronaldo. I like neither)

TheCitizen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997884#Comment_119997884

England were definitively not the better team. This game tonight they won it without getting out of second gear. Believe what you like.

Would prefer to see Argentina win and I think they’re also a street wise team. Been an odd World Cup with the timing and the obvious corruption re the choice of venue but I think it’s a good Final pairing.

citytillidie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997647#Comment_119997647

First post I made with the group games I said all games will be on RTE and I will post which UK broadcaster will have each game as it is released.

NIMAN

I think Griezmann has been my player of the tournament.

His new role suits him perfectly.

And what a stat rte told us about him tonight, that was his 73rd consecutive international. Amazing.

The Big Easy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997622#Comment_119997622

Pele was injured early in '62 and didn't play for the rest of the tournament.

It'll be a singular achievement for Mbappe, no player has ever been the catalyst for back to back world cup wins.

Edit: You could argue Garrincha in '58 and '62 but the '58 team also had Pele.

The Golden Miller

Some final now. France the more well drilled balanced team, Argentina carry the raw talent. As I said before, France on paper should win, but there's something in the air of how the Argentinian players are fighting for each other.

From a mindset this isn't how Argentina should be thinking, and hopefully they won't, go for it and let natural talent take care of itself. As drilled as we are on namechecking teams and equating them to good teams based on household names, Argentina have the better gifted players, not France.

We look at their players, your Aimars, Ortega's, Riquelmes, they always flatter to deceive, but there's something mercurial about them, get them on the right day they're unplayable. I'd love nothing more than to see Argentinas mercurial players click when it matters.

The world has a soft spot for them, the famous white and light blue, because of what they produce and play. Hopefully they do the business Sunday, when Argentina get in the grove they have no peers. The nation that produces the most gifted technical player's

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119998415#Comment_119998415

I think France carry way more "raw talent"

The whole idea that Argentina have some sort of history for producing skillful teams is a myth peddled by people who know very little about football. Argentinian football has always been far more about a team of dirty bruisers with the odd "mercurial" star thrown in.

jacool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997615#Comment_119997615

To quote Napoleon, who was French  “I would rather have a general who was lucky than one who was good.”

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119998704#Comment_119998704

Agreed , I think the only Argentina player who gets in that France team is messi, you could make an argument for another couple but they’re debatable.

I have to say I think Argentina are a very average side, not in anyway exciting and without Messi would been out a long time ago. I feel like I’m watching a different game when people tell me they are a good side!

that said they certainly have a decent chance here, has felt a bit like name on the trophy for them but if both teams turn up and play to their best level, France win!

StringerBell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997751#Comment_119997751

Mbappe? GOAT conversation?

Jesus wept

Mbabbe isn't anywhere near being the GOAT currently.

Ronaldo, Messi, Maradona, Pele. Not fit to tie any of their laces imo.

No amount of goals in a one horse race (cough Lille) farmers league team will convince me otherwise!

DoctorEdgeWild

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119997751#Comment_119997751

I don't think anyone who has played 300 ish games gets anywhere near that discussion. In a few years, back to back WCs would definitely be a factor in that discussion, assuming he continues on. But today? Not even in consideration.

The whole GOAT discussion has gotten ridiculous (particularly since this WC kicked off as there are two players who would be in fair consideration as greatest of all time), the acronym GOAT has just become synonymous with 'really good'.

Kingp35

Why is Mbappe getting all the mentions around back to back World Cups? Why not others like Griezmann who has actually been France's best player this tournament?

GOAT comment for Mbappe is just silly.

StringerBell

Flavour of the month I guess, Griezmann has probably been the best French player and possibly player of the tournament alright.

Did you smash it

I hope Argentina win for many reasons but one of the most is that the World Cup wouldn’t really exist if everyone treated it like the French public. Useless fan numbers.

dr.kenneth noisewater

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120000277#Comment_120000277

Agreed, best player so far for me but it will be Messi/Mbappe depending who wins Sunday

jacool

There is of course, the "other" side to Griezmann, which he may have kept in his back pocket for the final, as he did in 2018.

This was the dive for the free-kick, which everyone by-and-large agreed, was not a free kick, but was "bought" by Griezmann, The photo here shows him "air-borne" even before any contact was made. Wasn't a goal or penalty, hence, no VAR. France might need this "guile" on Sunday.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120000485#Comment_120000485

I don't care what the narrative is usually but when it starts to affect things like the Ballin D'or which became the annual Messi vs Ronaldo popularity contest it's annoying.

If France win Greizmann has to be player of the tournament.

rob316

Mbappe GOAT? He hasn't even won a champions league or Ballon Dor yet.

rob316

After all said and done its the best of South America vs the best of Europe. Messi the legend vs the rising star of Mbappe. Absolutely cracking final it should be. I can see Argentina getting over the line, Messi is like a man possessed to win this and the french are getting by on individual brilliance which they have an abundance of. Argentina have the firepower to punish France that Morocco didnt.

Benimar

Mbappé has a way to go to even be in the conversation as the GOAT - Maradona, Messi, Pele, Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cruyff all have some level of claim to that title. For me it is still Maradona, but I understand why some will pick Messi.

Mbappé is flavour of the month. He’s only 23 so has 10-15 years to stake his claim. Maybe he will or maybe he will go the way of his mate Neymar, who will never be mentioned with the names I listed above.

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120000269#Comment_120000269

I agree not because he is not a great player. But he has not done it consistently has he dragged PSG to a CL yet? And he has not been around very long yet in any case. A bit premature to be calling him the greatest ever. Personally I think Haaland will get that mantle after Messi and Ronaldo hang up their boots.

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120000383#Comment_120000383

I would like Messi to get a WC he gets slated so much for never having 'done it' for his national team. If he does it will be very impressive as this Argentina team are no great shakes. Messi will have basically carried them like Maradona did in 1986.

France have a great team and if Mbappe did win the WC it would be not half as impressive as if Argentina won it.

In five years time (without an internet search) how many people would rattle off players from Argentina or the France team? French team will be recalled much easier.

Osmosis Jones

The World Cup is a harsh metric for judging individuals seeing as a large part of it comes down to being lucky enough to be born in a country that has a lot of other great footballers as well.

Did you smash it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120000860#Comment_120000860

That is a geographical reaction. If you ask a Brazilian to name the Argentinian 11 they’d do better than if naming the French 11

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120000913#Comment_120000913

I doubt it.