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.
Argh, disappointing. Would've loved The Netherlands to do it.
15 in total is it?
Enjoyed that. Have to say this World Cup has been fantastic for twists and excitement.
There's going to be sleepless nights ahead for a lot of people.
VVD doing that captain thing, stepping up to score the first, except it was saved, very brave, but was it a good call for a defender to take the first.
I couldn't care who won as I dislike both but feck me twas exciting !!
Think so, but with this ref it could be 25!
Yesssss! Delighted. They deserved it. Hope they can go on and win it. Messi v Modric could be good.
Ah gutted for LVG, will definitely be missed from the game.
Unreal how many fans Argentina have there, defo a great advantage. Tired of all the Messi talk though, there's more than just him in the team FFS!
It was a good penalty, but an equally good save. Had he blazed over, you could question it.
Ronnie v Messi final still on .
No sympathy for Dutch.
They had argies on the ropes and their head were shot after going to 2 2.
Could have started extra time at same pace, moving it quick to the big men up top.
But no, extra time I don't think they put one high ball into them. Happy to take it to pens.
Take yer oil.
Exciting but lacking in quality.
Nothing in the rules about walls of any kind. The rules now are simple - ten yards space from the ball, that’s it. I’m not sure I fancy a far more complicated rule than it is currently, with the measuring stick being brought out for where players can gather without infringing on the new rule… goals chalked off by var for a fellas t-shirt line being behind the wall a few yards beyond etc.
Feels like needless hyper regulation.
And it took until the 43rd minute for the first card!
Jayus I didn’t think of that angle. Media would love it.
They probably deserved it tonight but out of curiosity why would you want them to win it? I’m assuming it’s not their style, so for Messi?
Don't think so. The sight of a centre back lumbering up to take a pen never fills me with confidence
Delighted for Argentina!
And Netherlands got 7 yellow cards. The referee wasn't great, I agree.
That ref should be put on the next plane out of Doha, dreadful performance by him, he absolutely loves himself aswell I'd say
Hopefully Ronald gets eliminated tomorrow or in the semi-final. Messi is a starter and finisher. Ronald isn't either.
Could Louis Van Gaal go for the Ireland job after Kenny? The FAI could offer him a lifetime supply of Tayto or something.
Please no
It would be mental if the last 15 years or so of debates came down to a Portugal vs Argentina final. If Portugal did make it that far, it's unlikely Ronaldo would be starting, but I'm sure he'd come off the bench at some stage.
Even 15/20 minutes of Ronaldo vs Messi in a World Cup final, despite one of them being on a serious decline, would be magical. Surely one of them would pop up with the winner.
If Portugal and England make it through tomorrow, I fear I might actually end up supporting the latter to win the cup.
I just don’t like what’s left at this stage, Croatia and Argentina are pretty tough to watch and Portugal are as toxic a side I’ve ever seen in international football. Sh*thousery is only enjoyable once someone gets their comeuppance for it.
As that gimp Infantino would say; Tomorrow, I’m Moroccan.
I would argue the rules are no longer fit for purpose. In years gone by, a player taking a free could go high or go low. The option of going low has now been taken off the table by this practice of planking behind the main wall. Do we not want the sport to favour the attacking team? The fouled team, as opposed to the foulers? When is the last time you saw a successful, low free-kick? Previously it was a gamble for the attacking team to go for it, hoping that the wall would jump. It was a fair balance. Now we have an imbalance due to this second barrier tactic.
I know the lawmakers could sort this out with little difficulty. They've made up all sorts of rules for issues much less important.
Mainly for Messi, yeah. But I’m not sure what’s wrong with their style compared with the other contenders ? They were the better team over 120 minutes tonight. OK, the ref should have booked Messi for the handball but I thought it was a peno, took his legs inside the box. The Dutch had about 10 minutes after they scored and Argentina panicked.
Drama filled game. Lots of entertainment throughout - partially because of the referee wanting to be centre stage.
Worth noting that Messi stepped up straight away to take his penalty after Netherlands had missed theirs. No waiting around to be the 5th or score the winning penalty for the headlines and ego. Instead he done the important thing. Score and take the lead straight away. Set the tone for his teammates and let them take the headlines. They all win together. A few others should take note.
It would've been magical 8, or maybe even 4, years ago... Ronaldo just doesn't offer enough now though.
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