World Cup 2022 - Team and Match Discussion

Yes, however, referees don't deal with it.

Take control, take the wind out of it and set the pace yourself. Everyone knew what he was going to do, take the steam out of it and be prepared.

Mbappe was phenomenal once the first penalty went in last night, he also did absolutely nothing as he watched his team get played around with for 80 minutes until Otamendi gifted them a penalty to finally get the momentum going.

I was really impressed with the different tactical set ups that Argentina displayed throughout the WC. Hats off to Scaloni for that. Switches from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 and back to 4-3-3 again.

They took the game to France last night and kept their foot on the ball, playing good attacking football with intricate interplay. In other games, we saw them be stodgy and break up play more on the counter. Putting Di Maria in for this game was a great call, his directness hurt France.

Messi was brilliant in that opening 70 mins too. His career building up to this game, and he delivered. at 35. Undisputed GOAT!

It's just the latest measure of talent that has lost all meaning by now

See "World Class" for precedent.

I agree I only learnt what it was a few years ago! First thought was did those Kerry 70's and 80's football lads come up with at the puc fair?!!

Top drawer at the end of the day....

One thing I ended up loving about this World Cup was the accurate time added on for stoppages. We saw some mental added on minutes early on but players became aware that there was very little benefit to play acting or any other time wasting because it would all be added on eventually. Consequently we did end up seeing the times come down I think(don’t have data for that but it certainly felt that way). Disappointing to hear the PL doesn’t have plans to follow suit.

What I absolutely hated, was seeing this “let it flow” mentality from referees. So many fouls go unpunished so as to not disturb the flow of the game. It feels so backwards as a concept - like it’s the referees responsibility to not only ensure the players are following the rules but to also ensure that the match is a spectacle. It also further engrains fouling as a legitimate tactic in the game which is bizarre to me. Would love to see it just go back to referees calling fouls as they see them.

Tbf Pele got injured in the second game of '62, they won it without him thanks to Garrincha.

Whatever Pele did Arthur Friedenreich did first.

Apparently all the big names of Brazil were in the Brazilian league at the time of Pele.

But I watched the whole 1970 final repeat on telly once. To see if Pele was any good. He didn’t really stand out to me to be honest.

Messi, Maradona, Best seem to be on different levels to me anyway. Messi edges it as number 1 for longevity IMO.

I was thinking that this WC has had more shocks than even the 2002 WC - on the pitch anyway excluding the Keane Saipan incident.

Maradona also had the best ever individual performance throughout a tournament in 86.

"But I watched the whole 1970 final repeat on telly once. To see if Pele was any good. He didn’t really stand out to me to be honest."

I agree with you completely. Whenever I want to judge the ability of a player who has played over 800 games, I just take one game and use that as the way to judge. Never lets me down, ever.

Well wouldn’t you think he would stand flashes of brilliance, movement etc. Not the same as just watching clips etc

Have you ever went to the trouble of watching a whole Pele match? It was a WC final. 1970.

Most Pele matches don’t have that coverage. Decent quality images etc. what’s wrong with that? Pele just seemed like a decent player - OK but didn’t stand out IMO.

Or are you too jacool for school to watch any full Pele games?

You just sound bitter about something. I can’t put my finger on it.

But anyway it was an enjoyable WC 2022 great games, shocks and great final what more do you want?

Ah Portuguese Ronaldo will always be considered a great. But the difference between Ronaldo and Messi is Ronaldo could play any style.

Personality wise Ronaldo isn’t right in the head because of his family background. But it is because of his family background that he got his drive to succeed.

At least Ronaldo won’t be crying into a camera like Maradona thinking of the player he ‘could have been’.

Ronaldo has got the last ounce out of his talent through sheer hard work and drive. Ronaldo never polluted his body in contrast to Maradona.

Aqua v Cocaine

Who is the better example as a person? Footballer a different debate. But that is the fun of the discussion.