World Cup 2022 - Team and Match Discussion

Messi dug deep last night, and left it all on the pitch. He done all he could, did Ronaldo? Ronaldo calls himself the supreme athlete , the strongest, the fittest, and yet in the whole world cup he covered a mile in all the games, while a Chinese man in his 50's ran a marathon in 3 hours last week, 26 miles, while chain smoking. So how can someone as young as Ronaldo, who is super fit, not do more than stand still, or walk, and only come alive when he gets the ball. I think he has got lazy this past year, Messi is forever busy, as is Modric, who is Ronaldo's age, yet covers every blade of grass, he tends to be the one with the last ditch tackle to save a shot on goal, when everyone is wondering where are all the defenders.

Ronaldo at the moment at club level and international level is getting carried, it's why no one wants him, and again it's not as if he can't do more, he simply doesn't , that's not giving 100%, it's giving 25%

Correct, and incorrect. A yellow card by itself would have not led to a suspension, but it could have curtailed Messi getting involved in anything else for the rest of the game. Unconsciously it lets Argentina know that they are going to get away with a lot more than they should.

Surprised it hasn't been mentioned but Paredes, cleaned out a player on the side-line, just before he got substituted. Yellow card, all day long, but not here. Again, its the referee thinking they are letting the game continue, but they're not. He let Argentina slow down every free-kick.

Croatia were no saints by the way. At least twice Perisic held the ball for throw-ins and eventually gave it to the thrower. All easy when the ref is spineless.

He didn't do any running because he was afraid of his life to be anywhere other than around the penalty spot for fear it would be someone else to get the glory.

It was so obvious against Morocco. He was there in the middle for everything and never once made a diversional run to create space or drop back to help build play.

If the ball went out of play or over I don't think the ref would have gave a pen bit ot was a stonewaller. Can't believe any of the arguments against it.

Reminded me of Luis Garcia ghost goal, if goal wasn't given a pen and red would have been.

Being forced to leave out Upamecano is a big blessing in disguise for the French, Konate a much more solid looking player.

My fantasy team is all french leaning - but bloody hell it'd be amazing to see Morocco make the final! Brilliant to see Saiss and Aguerd looking fit enough to start too.

<edit> looks like Aguerd was pulled out at the last second. Big loss. Lot of pressure on the new fella Dari.

This will test the Moroccan defence for sure. Looking forwards to it clash of styles. And both sides will be able to insult each other fluently.

I was just coming on to post that, Upamecano is a mistake waiting to happen these days and was bar far their worst performer against England...Konate and Varane is a serious partnership!

Well that didn’t take long

Could be a long night for Morocco

That didn't take long. 1-0 France. We'll see what Morocco are made of.

France are fragile in the back. A team pushing on could get to them as long as they are lucky enough not to get caught on the break.

Unfamiliar territory for Morocco. Will be interesting to see is their attack as blunt as Croatia's.

Griezman the main man again and brilliant finish.

Don't know why George keeps saying 'Ounachee' for Ounahi.

Giroud so close. Post denies him. Saiss doesn't look fit.

Were the Moroccan fans doing all that whistling in other games?? I don't remember noticing it. It's nearly making this match unwatchable 😖

Also, Ray's bad grammar " should have went"

So f...ing irritating. I don't recall it happening in their other games.