haha can't believe i found tth, i thought everyone's moved on from tth
I'm a twit
That was fairly glorious.
Messi should have accepted his certain fate as a Spaniard long long ago. Would have been better for all concerned.
The state of that Argie manager. A surprising number of their players are absolutely godawful as well, do they pick them out of local partisanship or do they just have no functioning players in those positions (wherever that Meza guy plays, the left midfielder [Acuna?], at least a few of the defenders)?
baz, mike/mark's brother right?
Indeed. @Mike is still here too.
I'm a twit
I was talking to a guy in work today who has an Argentinian friend. He said his friend said the national team's really corrupt and they get bribed to play players who are looking for big money moves to Europe.
Not sure how true that is but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the case.
No wonder they're terrible when that fucking tosser is their national icon. Look at the state of him.
Croatia getting their good performance in I see. Have their odds shortened since as all the MUGS take it to heart?
I nearly got into a Falklands moment with an Argie on the bus to the game but thought better of it. I had the last laugh after that game. Argentina are like England used to be - lots of good players who can't play with each other. Albeit their good players are superstars. Modric was an absolute delight.
The atmosphere from the Argies was great as well but their Messi Maradona song ended up a bit flat.
Messi should be dropped for the last match.
Part of me feels he's being made a scapegoat. Ok, he's been absolute bilge, but he's getting triple teamed almost every time he gets the ball while the rest of the useless fucks in the team do nothing to make the most of the space that should create.
And at the same time they don't create any space for him because they are shit and not worth marking, which is part of what enabled his peak seasons at Barcelona.
It's ok to play poorly, but the fucker isn't even putting any effort in. That's what's inexcusable.
EDIT: I don't think the poor results are his fault, the whole team is trash. He has the worst attitude of the whole squad though.
Mascherano and Messi literally just standing there for Croatia's last goal. Embarrassing.
I'd much rather see Ronaldo's Portugal die a delightful death than Messi's Argentina, but I'm fine with this timeline as well
Messi seemed to spend most of the Iceland second half turning his nose up at actual passes in the interests of finding an Icelandic to kick it at.
Argentina have zero centre midfield ability and Messi just ends up drifting about trying to make something happen. It was the same for Aguero and any player they brought on.
It's not so much what Messi does on the pitch that makes him a disgrace as what he clearly does off it. How can Messi 'not liking' someone influence national selection? I'm sure the great German teams have all hated each other for a start.
I don’t know for sure but I don’t think Messi is some tyrant declaring who and who should play for Argentina. It’s just that they are all so in deference to him that anytime he offers an opinion they cow to it.
Messi says he feels he and Dybala operate in the same space on the pitch and it doesn’t quite work and Dybala simply doesn’t play and it’s Messi who dropped him.
They need a strong federation and a strong coach to actually pick a functioning team. If Messi uses that as a reason to retire then sobeit.
By the way - amazing stadium
I would seriously consider dropping Messi for the next the game. This nonsnece about not liking Dybala is madness. Once Dybala came on, he stayed wide right and operated fine. Messi clearly plays like he does not give a fuck. I understand they try and limit his defensive responsilbilty but clearly has not worked in the past two games. I would play him much further forward or drop him all together.
You would expect 'the best player in the world' to be a bit of an attacking threat. He covered less distance than pretty much everyone else in both matches. Maybe if he moved around a little bit more, it wouldn't be so easy to 'triple mark him out of the game.' He clearly looked like he couldn't be arsed in both matches. He missed a penalty in the first match. He was completely anonymous in the second one.
Again, I am not saying they are shit because of him. All I am saying is that if a player can't be bothered playing, then he shouldn't play. Like that player from Croatia who was sent back home for refusing to play. Maybe they should do the same to Messi, since he also refused to put any effort in last night. It's ok to play poorly (although when you are 'the best player in the world,' expectations are a bit higher than for some 20 years old from Boca) but moping around on the pitch, that's unacceptable.
Isn't he the captain too? I wonder what's the hit on morale on the team for having a captain with such a shit attitude. 10%? 15%?
I'd strip him off his citizenship while we're at it. He left the country too young and clearly doesn't feel the shirt. He probably wanks himself to sleep on a Catalan flag.
There is something about Messi in an Argentina shirt. It was either the two Copa America finals or the World Cup when Argentina where having a passionate team talk in extra time or before penalties. Messi was just walking around, not even participating in the team talk or anything. He moves and acts like he does not give a fuck.
Three Leicester players in the Nigerian starting 11. Come on the Super Eagles.
I like both of these teams. Not sure who I'd prefer to win.
EDIT: Whichever results makes Argentina going home more likely is the right result.
This is very, very bad.
Typically you'd say that this game needs a goal, but I somehow feel that it'll become even worse if either of them scores.
This is your 0-0.
They both need to win this really but not sure either will be brave enough to act on that.
Nigeria might be the worst side in the tournament.
Dullest maybe. No one is worse than Saudi Arabia.
At least that goal was nice.
Nice goal, love a swift counter attack. Musa has never controlled a ball like that for us though the chancer.
Argentina are going to end up getting through, aren't they?
Who is this imposter?
Ndidi typically great today.
That’s a lovely goal. Musa could get in behind that Argentina side for fun.
The little genius seizes control of Group D.