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.
This is my suspicion, too. That photo looks terrible from an Argentinian point of view, but I would guess that they were goaded to some degree by the Dutch. If they were, then fairs fair. If they weren't, then they should be ashamed as I've never seen that before in a penalty shoot-out.
Odds on Croatia holding out for another shoot-out?
No TV showed replay when Dutch player was taken down in the box, and no comment from VAR. Looked as much of a foul as Dumfries on Messi.
Didn't think much wrong about the ref, he should've booked Messi earlier, but that's about it. I mean he could've sent about ten players off and booked pretty much every squad member of both teams the way it went on with several bench clearouts
The penalty was a penalty, the last second free kick was a freekick. Delighted though that Netherlands are out, they have stunk out tournaments for too long now.
There was crap going on throughout the penalties between the two sides. The commentators kept saying it, but the cameras never showed it. There was constant needle throughout the match. The ref didn't help quash it. So yeah, that photo doesn't look great in some regards, but I never trust the media these days. Not all of them are looking that way, and maybe they're looking at management. I'll reserve judgement.
He was excellent today, but a goalscorer he ain't.
Croatia are dogged. I would never call them a flair team. Then again, very few teams are these days.
Often it's about managing games. Croatia never seem to quit, that's why they have been involved on extra time and penalties often.
Martinez watched the league cup final penalty shootout
Pity they haven't one or two good goalscorers, considering they still have such a wonderful play maker in Modric.
He didn't have to make one, he has one.
Fair enough but you should show respect to your opponent's. Reminds me of when Keown made that monkey face after Van Nistlerooy missed the peno for United. Keown was awful horrible cnut.
They are nothing without Messi.
I have never seen Virgil Van Dijk take a penalty until tonight. It's good to see the Captain step up and take responsibility, but to my eyes and I know people will disagree, he never looked like he was going to score it, even the way he stood behind the ball didn't look right.
Croatia ain't stuffing anybody, considering they play without a forward.
They had one shot on target today, and that was the goal in extra time, and it was deflected.
They are no great watch either.
2-2
Ronaldo scores 2, Messi scores 2
Extra time, Messi picks up ball in midfield, dances through 5 players to score the winner with 1 minute to go
Such an unlikeable team. I hope Croatia stuff them.
Pure dirt
I agree that the Dutch were crap in 2010, but if that is the basis for your argument, do you want to back to 1978, and the World Cup played in Argentina, a country being run by a junta for 2 years? The game between Argentina and Peru was fixed to kick out Brazil. Reasons enough there to go against the Albiceleste. They have been dirt for 40 years. Stupid logic, yes, but you started it!
Clearly though tonight something happened between the referee and Argentina, because this was the most biased and corrupt refereeing I have ever seen at a World Cup. He'll be on the next plane out of Doha, and Argentina will get to wondering how to assault the Croatians. They will find out, however, that they are ever so slightly more physical than the Dutch. Hopefully, there'll be a ref on duty that day who knows the rules and isn't just chasing a jersey as a souvenir.
What a game tonight, such entertainment and drama throughout the second half and extra time. The Netherlands free kick was pure genius. I thought they would go on to win it but the Messi narrative continues and I'll be all aboard that train for the next ten days or so.
Agree France are the best team left in it but this tournament has had a few surprises to date. Hopefully France beat England tomorrow and then Portugal should beat Morocco (have a feeling they will be exhausted after the last game).
Knockout rounds have been disappointing to date but tonight really made me appreciate the world cup again.
They replaced Pitch Perfect 3 with an equally pile of $#1#€! Is it called First Dates Ireland?
About an hour ago, the Dutch scored a low Free Kick.
Glad Argentina are through, Dutch were always known for the dirt, kicked the **** out of the Spanish in 2010. However what was Argentinas no 4, Montiel thinking pushing that dutch player in the back just outside the penalty area with a minute to go, are these footballers idiots, no brains?, he nearly caused Argentina to go home.
I think we can all agree that the worst outcome for the other semi-final would be Portugal v England. So fingers crossed for Morocco and France. France are the probably the best team left in the tournament.
1990 World Cup
Argentina lose first game
They over rely on one exceptional player
They don’t play a particularly entertaining football
Their goalkeeper performs heroics in penalties on way to final
The list keeps synchronising up the further they go in this.
Meh. There were players who should have been booked, and weren't. Van Dijk in that mini melee. Could have been sent off, but weren't. Wieghorst. I think the refs try to protect the players, especially the standout players, they're probably instructed to do so.
There's nothing in the rules or basic ideology of the game that a free kick should guarantee a high-quality shot straight at goal. It's just a free kick, same as everywhere else on the pitch - you may get one closer to goal, from which you can try something more dangerous, and you're given all the time you need to work out your tactics and strike it however you wish. Having an extra man in the wall means an extra attacker free, and attacking teams can see if they can use that to take advantage by doing something else. We saw something interesting done today for the first time in aaages, and i'd rather see more of that, of teams looking to innovate, than force the game to get stuck in a pre-determined pattern.
I think football is better when it's not hyper regulated with room for the unexpected, and the counter actions to that. So I prefer the simple situation of a free, from which you can do what you want tactically, and the defending team can do what they want to try to counter act your plans.
Yeah he's always at that, as you can see tonight he lost complete control of the game. Welcome to La Liga refereeing.
Fair enough, just being curious.
I personally think France and England play better stuff but to be fair very few international teams play brilliant football (Portugal were good against the Swiss). I think it’s just their antics to be honest, just feels like they could actually be a much better watch if they played football, rather than spending most of the match trying to antagonise the opposition.
and messi passes out batistuta as argie all time world cup scorer. as far as i'm concerned the best striker the last 20 years followed by RVN
It would've been magical 8, or maybe even 4, years ago... Ronaldo just doesn't offer enough now though.
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.
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.
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