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.
Semi-final Results
Argentina 3 V 0 Croatia
France 2 V 0 Morocco
Third place play-off
Saturday 17th December
Croatia V Morocco - (15:00) - Live on BBC One
Final
Sunday 18th December
Argentina V France - (15:00) - Live on BBC One / ITV
I’m failing to see what makes this French team a shoe in for the tournament.
Fair play to Morocco they had a fun run to the semis.
Slight chance RTE might be covering these games too.
France v Argentina
Mbappe v Messi
Given that Ronaldo wanted it to be all about him - as he always does - I hope Argentina win, Messi scores and reinforces his standing as the Greatest of All time.
For Morocco, I really hope they play a similar brand of football in a few days time and come away as 3rd best team in the World Cup.
France, have 'doing just enough' down to a tee,
Hope Argentina win it, Messi deserves to bow out as a World Cup winner.
France have looked dodgier the last two games, more vulnerable but they do seem to find a way. I want Messi to win it but there will be a Saudi money flavoured bad taste to it all.
Saudi money?
Qatar money pumped into PSG along with the money given to Mbappe & Messi amongst others has worked getting both of there marquee players from there sports washed club to the World Cup final.
France thoroughly deserved to win both the last two games. Ridiculous statement.
Messi is a Saudi spokesman, gets paid a fortune by them.
It is a bit of a shame that the best player of all time is perhaps also the most cynically barefacedly money hungry too. Driving Barca to the brink with some crazy financial demands through the years, going for PSG money, Qatari money, Saudi money, and literally every merchandising/branding opportunity he can possibly do, he'll do. As he's entitled to, of course.
Will be hoping Argentina win as well, but happy to see France in the Final as well. I think it’s set up to be a fascinating final. Neither have actually hit top gear as yet but they’re in the Final now.
Let's be honest, Messi's legacy is on the line. If he loses, the Argentinian fans will forever say he failed to do what Diego did. Rightly or wrongly, that will always be held against him.
Meanwhile, if Mbappe fires France to victory on Sunday, he puts himself firmly in the GOAT discussion. That is an accomplishment unprecedented in modern times: two back-to-back World Cups. Platini, Zidane, Henry, none of the French greats managed that.
A career-defining match.
It would a crazy decision if he does that. Upamecano has to many mistakes in him at the minute. With all the talk about Messi v Mbappe now defense is going to be cruical and a Varane/Konate partnership is much much stronger that Romero/Ottamendi and I think that's what will sway it towards France...
Never knew that. Not much of a spokesman given I had no clue about that LOL.
I suppose he epitomises the game of football and not just the modern game in most recent times either if he’s also a cynical money grabber.
It reminds me a lot of France 98 except the team with the wonder players that dominates all headlines is playing for the contenders not the champions.
Did he get done for tax evasion?
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.
Yup, was found guilty and given a suspended sentence.
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...
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
To quote Napoleon, who was French “I would rather have a general who was lucky than one who was good.”
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!
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