Thread to discuss the football itself.
This is not a thread to discuss the hosting of the competition in Quatar.
You can discuss the hosting in the relevant thread.
its an EXTREMELY defensive team Argentina have picked?
I'm starting to think the likes of Pirlo and Xavi were over-rated when compared to Modric. They certainly didn't have the same all-round game, or engine, as Modric anyway. Modric walks onto my best ever 11, dating from around 1998 onwards:
Buffon
Thuram-Cannavaro-Vidic-Maldini
Keane-Modric
Messi-Zidane-C.Ronaldo
Ronaldo
i think its not being humble in victory is what annoys people.
It's today's world, everything triggers someone, no matter how innocuous the act.
0-0 written all over this one, hopefully I'm wrong
An article on Sky Sports about the Brazil Croatia game calls it "one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history"
A bit of a stretch I think. Not sure I'd even put it in the top 3 shocks of this year's tournament
Nowhere near a huge upset. Croatia were finalists last time out and are still a very good side.
Spot on, it wasn't exactly Senegal v France 2002
no rush in this game anyway, shocking tempo
Messi unlocks the defence. Nice finish by Molina.
The game desperately needed a goal so hopefully it will liven up now
There are slide rule passes, and there’s that. What a player Messi is. Could watch him forever.
Messi Magic the inspiration for that goal!
If ever a game needed a goal
He took it well in fairness, lovely ball by Messi
Ahem. You are. 😁
God can you imagine a Croatia-Morocco final? As Frankie Boyle said of some event involving Gordon Brown, "so boring it would break time"
The little dink by Messi before the pass was lovely, let alone the actual pass. He's having a very good tournament.
Up to Holland to come out now and attack Argentina. Which might suit Argentina as they can be stodgy and stick and defend and kick and break the game up.
Thanks for that useless piece of pre-match trivia Darragh.
Someone tell Darragh Maloney that Brian McFadden and singing shouldn't be in the same sentence 😅
The greatest goalscorer ever and the greatest passer ever. He's just ridiculous.
Ref not shy in dishing out the cards. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a sending off.
Messi confirming the Ref. got the cheque?
As a Betis fan I know all about La Hoz, he's an awful ref and always looks to be the protagonist in every game.
Argentina are really turgid to watch.
If they didnt have Messi they would be on a par with the likes of Wales or Scotland.
What is Maloney on? A couple of mins after an excellent Gapko free kick they win another one and said surely they will change it up and let Blind take this one.
Does he always hand out so many to the people on the side lines? It’s crazy stuff
Worst Dutch team ever?
Worst Argie team ever?
Could be.
As for Brazil, for all the raving the media were doing about them, if their main no9 is Richarlison, you'd have to say it might be Worst Brazil team ever?
Ronaldo and Neymar have such similar ugly characteristics.
The standard of international football in general is pretty poor.
The favouritism towards Messi in this tournament from the officials has been scandalous.
