2022 World Cup knockouts: RIP four games a day

[Bam]

Fuck knows why we took Maddison then.

[Luke Emia]

Breaking the play up for the French to bring on Grealish in the 96th minute has to be one of the most bizarre substitutions I have ever seen as well.

[Spikey M]

Fuck knows why we took Maddison then.

My personal theory is that he hates him for some reason and plays Mount over him just for the sake of trolling.

[Yevrah]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63931761

Of course he's the one playing the tune on this. :D

[Kikó]

Breaking the play up for the French to bring on Grealish in the 96th minute has to be one of the most bizarre substitutions I have ever seen as well.

Wasn't stones injured?

[Bam]

Wasn't stones injured?

Shhh, lets ignore that. :dance:

[niko_cee]

So we bring him on just for a set piece and let Mbappe run wild.

My problem is more that Kane is never in the box.

Both things play to the same problem. Caution over bravery. The game should be played to win, not to not lose. This is Southgate's major problem, but it isn't just him, it's international football writ large. I thought Southgate was about as brave as he could reasonably have been expected to be with his selection, at least he didn't go to a back 5/full LVG. Subs maybe not so much. It would be better, at least from a viewers perspective, if he thought sod it, we have the players to win this, let's go out and see what they can do, but that's not his thing. There was literally no point in taking Alexander-Arnold and it would probably have been nice to have Toney as an option but he wouldn't have been used so meh. I hope Southgate buggers off although I have no idea who would be my preference to replace him and I doubt he will. This is 'his group'. Maybe they can get Bobby Martinez to ruin another golden generation of players.

[randomlegend]

My personal theory is that he hates him for some reason and plays Mount over him just for the sake of trolling.

He does hate him #ITK

[Shindig]

The only candidates I can think of are Howe and Potter. I'd suspect the latter might be more suited to it on account of how his Chelsea stint has started. I would probably let Southgate run his contract out, though.

[Giggles]

It’s all explained now.


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[Dquincy]

Still can't believe he ballooned that pen. I get the pressure and all that, but he's normally so reliable with penalties*.

* I've not checked the stats, but feel like he always scores them.

[niko_cee]

One thing I would be interested to see again, and I don't know if there was any replay of it, was the Kane shot in the first half that Lloris saved which, to me, looked like it might have grazed an outstretched arm en route. I don't know if it was in the area or not, but there was little to no analysis of it so I assume it must have been outside.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

58 scored 11 missed.

Not including shootouts.

It was his third miss this calendar year.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The FA will 100% stick with Southgate, he's their dream manager and always will be. Howe or Potter more suited to these players though.

[Shindig]

I always feel someone taking multiple penalties in a game will miss one.

[niko_cee]

This post is brought to you by Martin Palermo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXYJl9Uh138&ab_channel=UltrasAction).

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ultimately Kane had three easy chances to score and only took one, that's just not good enough at World Cup quarter-final level and that's the sole reason why we lost.

[Dquincy]

58 scored 11 missed.

Not including shootouts.

It was his third miss this calendar year.

81% conversion rate (not inc shootouts). Pretty good I reckon.

[Dquincy]

I always feel someone taking multiple penalties in a game will miss one.
To select another player to take a pen after your striker has already scored one is not real life.

[Shindig]

I know it's irrational, I just still see penalties as a game of chance, however good their record is.

[Andy]

81% conversion rate (not inc shootouts). Pretty good I reckon.

Think the average is 76% so it's not bad.

[Giggles]

Wilkinson’s fault :uhoh:


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[Waffdon]

Broja must have done some serious damage to his knee in this friendly. Looked like nothing at all but I’ve never heard a football player scream in pain like that for so long in my life. Sounded like a dog

[Spikey M]

Speaking of knee injuries. The injury footage in the BBC's Fat Ronaldo documentary was pretty grim viewing. Probably hit me harder because I have a history of knee injuries myself, but I would have sued that useless, thick, baguette eating, frog, cunt doctor into the ground for botching the first surgery.

[Dquincy]

Speaking of knee injuries. The injury footage in the BBC's Fat Ronaldo documentary was pretty grim viewing. Probably hit me harder because I have a history of knee injuries myself, but I would have sued that useless, thick, baguette eating, frog, cunt doctor into the ground for botching the first surgery.

I remember seeing a photo of his knee injury in the papers when I was just a wee kid. :( Was grim. I too have had shit luck with knees.

Fat Ronaldo over giraffe neck Ronaldo any day.

[Shindig]

I admired the little shimmy that did the damage. I don't think any knee would've survived that quick change of direction.

[Lewis]

Speaking of knee injuries. The injury footage in the BBC's Fat Ronaldo documentary was pretty grim viewing. Probably hit me harder because I have a history of knee injuries myself, but I would have sued that useless, thick, baguette eating, frog, cunt doctor into the ground for botching the first surgery.

Was it you who had your knees knocked out once by a lift stopping?

[Dquincy]

I admired the little shimmy that did the damage. I don't think any knee would've survived that quick change of direction.

Ah, victim blaming. Not cool. I don't even want to know your view on rape victims.

[Spikey M]

Was it you who had your knees knocked out once by a lift stopping?

There was a bit more too it than that, but yeah. Luckily I seem to have grown out of it. It's been about 10 years since it last happened.

That said, I've not tested it by ice skating or anything like that. It handles squats fine though.

[Waffdon]

Broja must have done some serious damage to his knee in this friendly. Looked like nothing at all but I’ve never heard a football player scream in pain like that for so long in my life. Sounded like a dog

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Don’t even know what’s happened there. A year out no doubt

[Jimmy Floyd]

Knee fucked and career probably derailed while performing a high press in a mid season friendly against Aston Villa in Abu Dhabi. Nothing says modern football like that.

[Spikey M]

That's a ligament going pop.

[Gray Fox]

Is that The Operation live on the field?

[SincereTheRebel]

Since football began in 98. A list of England's world cup wins without penalties. Not sure how it compares to other major nations who haven't won it during that time. It looks wack.

98 Tunisia
98 Colombia
02 Argentina
02 Denmark
06 Paraguay
06 Trinidad
06 Ecuador
10 Slovenia
18 Tunisia
18 Panama
18 Sweden
22 Iran
22 Wales
22 Senegal

[Yevrah]

It is often forgotten that our record in World Cups (and major tournaments in general) outside of England is pretty rubbish. Can only assume the win in 66 clouds it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We're not going to get another run without perennial arse-aches Germany and Italy in the way, as well as whoever are the top sides of the day. Biggest missed opportunity ever I think, even more so than Euro 2004 or Korea/Japan.

[Lewis]

2020 was the bigger/biggest missed opportunity because we were already there and all we had to do was make better substitutions. In 2002 and 2004 we just lost fair and square to better teams. Of course the actual biggest missed opportunity was 2008, when we could have fielded half the Champions' League final and the only decent team there was Spain.

[ScousePig]

Easiest thing in the world to blame substitutions and there's a lot of that going on here. If I was going for a layman answer, I'd say England were just a bit unlucky yesterday.

[Yevrah]

Easiest thing in the world to blame substitutions

What does that even mean?

[Jimmy Floyd]

We were unlucky, and that's why I'm properly not enjoying this defeat (much like Moscow 2008), because if you were shite and had lost for explainable reasons then it makes a lot more sense.

Lots of people seem to have taken heart from a good performance and 'the future is bright', but I have watched enough sport to know that the future is rarely bright and you have to be ruthless whenever you are playing well, so it's the opposite feeling for me.

[Yevrah]

We weren't unlucky, we just weren't good enough.

[Adramelch]

Ye unlucky is pushing it a bit. You were the better team for much of the game but you didn't create enough chances to capitalize on it and got punished for it.

[Ian]

Yeah, I don't think we really had much bad luck. The fact that Hernandez probably should have got enough yellows for a couple of reds which might have changed the game but France got it right at the point end, we didn't. Being the better team for big stretches of the game is all well and good but doesn't matter if you can't kick it into the net when the chance arises.

Bringing Mount and Sterling on with their respective form was criminal and plainly not going to change anything (as evidenced by Mount getting the ball in acres of space and deciding to just spaff it goalwards) and there were matchups which were clearly working for us (Kane vs. Upamecano, Saka running at basically any of their defence especially after the first penalty) which we saw for brief stretches and then allowed France just entirely snuff out.

We played better football than we have a lot of other times we've gone out and weren't constantly under the cosh but that attack is still simply not capable of creating enough against stodge.

[Yevrah]

While the game was closer than I imagined it would be before kick off, for me France still never particularly looked that threatened. Ok, there were passages of play where we were on top but we really didn't create anything like enough from open play to look back and think what might have been. When we equalised with the first penalty, France woke up and we were pretty dodgy for about 10 minutes afterwards. Saka was still threatening and again, it's not bad luck to take him off, just dreadful management. We'll never know, but even if Kane had scored his second pen I don't think we'd have gone onto win - it shouldn't matter what's gone in World Cups before, but for some reason it seems to and we clearly just don't have the balls to grab a game like this by the scruff of the neck and do what's necessary to win.

[Kikó]

Mount did win the penalty tbf.

[ScousePig]

What does that even mean?

Exactly what it says. The most visible things in a game to spot are mistakes from a referee and substitutions. If games are lost then invariably people look at those first.

Why not consider how Griezmann was able to find space and dictate the game more than Bellingham, or why Tchouameni was allowed so much space to pick his spot for the opener (presumably because England were focusing on other players more).

England were too cautious, ultimately. They're very effective on the wings but chose to keep Kyle Walker back pretty much at all times (yes, I get why), ending up playing a back three despite this idea that it was a back four. Henderson ended up drifting out wide and the effect was negligible. Attacks broke down out wide because they were outnumbered, and England aren't as threatening centrally so France were able to deal with that too.

England were more aggressive in their press, but as France have good players and players able to counter, it generally suited them. France, on the other hand, sat deeper but were more organised and allowed little space for Rice or Bellingham to dictate the game.

On the flip side, Henderson moving out wide allowed Saka to work in the dangerous half spaces and he became England's most influential player, and France became more disorganised. So yes, in that sense, criticise the substitution.

Maguire and Stones both eventually found that with France deep, they were afforded more space and were able to travel with the ball into more dangerous areas, but this is something that could have been exploited earlier. Or at least forced France to move further up the pitch and mark them tighter, thus affording more space to the likes of Rice and Bellingham.

All I'm saying is there's a lot more to it than just mentioning a substitution but people rarely discuss exactly what it was.

[Dquincy]

The majority on here think Southgate isn't good enough. So who takes over (who is English)? There isn't a wealth of other contenders. Potter has only recently moved. Howe is having a lovely time with his A-rab blood money.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Carlos Queiroz.

[Yevrah]

All I'm saying is there's a lot more to it than just mentioning a substitution but people rarely discuss exactly what it was.

Some of that stuff was discussed in the thread, but when you're looking at one of the worst substitutions of all time (I can only really recall Argentina taking Riquelme off to rival it) then it deserves to be mentioned front and centre.

[Lewis]

Somewhere in FA Towers is a whiteboard with 'TOURNAMENT MANAGER' in the middle and a cloud with 'Scolari still alive?' in it.

[Browning]

Paul Ince.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Frank Lampard as a front man, with Steve McClaren assisting him. Both in perfect roles. Will never happen though, imagine the meltdown.

[Bam]

Frank Lampard as a front man, with Steve McClaren assisting him. Both in perfect roles. Will never happen though, imagine the meltdown.

Lumpard? :boydy:

[Boydy]

Give Wayne Rooney a go.

[Lewis]

We're not really spoiled for binmen owing to never doing that well and lacking crowd favourites, to the point where you would be looking at Alan Shearer as the closest thing to one. Thomas Tuchel it is.

[ScousePig]

Some of that stuff was discussed in the thread, but when you're looking at one of the worst substitutions of all time (I can only really recall Argentina taking Riquelme off to rival it) then it deserves to be mentioned front and centre.

That's fine. My criticism of blaming substitutions (or the ref) is a generic thing, not specifically for this game or this forum.

[Adramelch]

That's fine. My criticism of blaming substitutions (or the ref) is a generic thing, not specifically for this game or this forum.

I think this specific substitution was emblematic of an inability/unwillingness to adapt and/or read the game, hence why people focus on it. You could have put even the most clueless person in front of the TV and they would have probably told you that Saka was the one player that shouldn't be subbed.

[Dquincy]

Lols

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[Dquincy]

Sorry with the tweets, but these people make me cringe up inside my arsehole.

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[Lewis]

Did they cancel Sunday Supplement because we left the European Union?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I once saw Brian Woolnough in the high street. I stopped him and asked for his autograph. He tore off a bit of his News of the World and signed it 'Steve Curry'. On the rear of that newspaper fragment was a tip to back a certain horse for that afternoon's 2,000 Guineas. I was only twelve so asked my dad to place the bet for me. He took the fragment to Ladbrokes, handed it to the cashier and told him to place the bet. Unfortunately the cashier looked at the wrong side of the paper, and put the bet on a horse called Steve Curry, which was also running in the 2,000 Guineas that day. Steve Curry fell at the first fence (the 2,000 Guineas was part of the jump season that year, in a departure from the norm) and died. Years later, the journalist Steve Curry also died.

I'll call this a 'sandwich story', a new literary form in which the first and last sentences are true but everything in between is complete balls.

[Shindig]

Don't have me doubting all your workplace stories, Jimmy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Arab has just declared Harry Kane to be 'the worst striker I have ever seen in my life', so that's my full bollocks quotient for the day surpassed.

[niko_cee]

Should have let Ronaldo take it.

[SincereTheRebel]

Saka's ability to dribble and lean on players while keeping control of the ball is amazing.

[Dave.]

I see quite a few people here are calling for Southgate to be sacked. But I haven't seen any sensible suggestions as to who can replace him. Unless there is a superior alternative available, we should stick with him.

[Waffdon]

Tuchel will replace him I think

[Kikó]

Going with a foreign manager again. :-/

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Word is that Southgate will go to the USA if he leaves. He wants an MLS side or the national team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't think foreign manager is the way to go. No matter how good a coach they are, they don't get the English emotional makeup, and that's such an important part of coaching any international team.

Imagine, I dunno, Southgate in charge of Uruguay, or Scotland.

If Southgate leaves we should pay top dollar to get Howe out of Newcastle. If that doesn't work, Potter out of Chelsea. If that doesn't work, there are lots of thoughtful coaches out there. Chris Wilder, Lampard, Rodgers. Lots of people could do it.

[Dave.]

Tuchel will replace him I think

I'm not against the idea of a foreign manager but will he do better than Southgate? My instinct is he won't.

[Waffdon]

He’s just as negative as him anyway. Proper tournament football manager though (until you get to a final)

[Jimmy Floyd]

Actually, would Scott Parker be the worst choice in the world?

[Boydy]

I don't think foreign manager is the way to go. No matter how good a coach they are, they don't get the English emotional makeup, and that's such an important part of coaching any international team.

Imagine, I dunno, Southgate in charge of Uruguay, or Scotland.

If Southgate leaves we should pay top dollar to get Howe out of Newcastle. If that doesn't work, Potter out of Chelsea. If that doesn't work, there are lots of thoughtful coaches out there. Chris Wilder, Lampard, Rodgers. Lots of people could do it.
Rodgers? Brendan Rodgers?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah. I know he's foreign in a sense but he's been in our football forever so knows the territory. Ditto Patrick Vieira.

Tuchel has had a couple of years going mental on the sidelines at Chelsea with about 5 English players, not quite the same experience.

[Yevrah]

Jim, you're scaring me. Lampard and Parker? I'd rather stick thank you very much.

Howe is the obvious choice and I know it's a fair argument to question whether he'd want it but I think ultimately he would.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I mean, if Southgate chose to leave (wanting to go to the USA is a bit of a red flag, who the fuck wants to do that unless they just want a nice easy life?), and it is clearly going to be his decision, then we'll have to answer the question. And it's very possible that Howe and Potter would want to stay at their club jobs in which case you're into the realms of creating bin men.

The other 'knows the club' name would be Steve Cooper, who spent years coaching the youth sides, although nominally he is Welsh.

[CJay]

New ball for the semis and final. :cab:

[Boydy]

Yeah. I know he's foreign in a sense but he's been in our football forever so knows the territory. Ditto Patrick Vieira.


I thought that was maybe what you were thinking and yeah, fair enough. Might get them playing a bit more attacking stuff too.

[Boydy]

I don't see any current Premier League manager leaving their job to be England manager though.

Why would you?

[Yevrah]

I don't see any current Premier League manager leaving their job to be England manager though.

Why would you?

Sense of patriotism I guess. The role's definitely not got the prestige it once had, but the squad of players is decent, very decent compared to the state most teams in the World are currently in and you have a chance to do something bigger than you could ever achieve in club football.

[Yevrah]

But now I think about it, I'd absolutely love Mourinho to get the gig. It'd be horrible football, but the man understands knockout football and the shithousery alone he'd bring would be enough to make up for the eye bleeding displays on the pitch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, J Mourinho is the dream choice for pure entertainment reasons, but I can't see the FA appointing him in a million years, for the same reasons that they never appointed Clough.

[wullie]

How's Rooney doing in the US?

[Yevrah]

Yeah, J Mourinho is the dream choice for pure entertainment reasons, but I can't see the FA appointing him in a million years, for the same reasons that they never appointed Clough.

Sadly I agree and they're probably right, he'd bring a bukkake of toxicity.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

New ball for the semis and final. :cab:

This is very strange.

[Yevrah]

I still can't get over how they've managed to muff ball technology, it's bad enough in snooker when they cock the cloths up, but this is a whole new level.

[Pen]

New ball for the semis and final. :cab:

I take it they couldn’t find the old one Kane blasted to the orbit.

[niko_cee]

The FA are never going to sack Southgate and you would think he's still in the unfinished business phase of things - my guess would be he'll take us to the next Euros and then go after that [or after we fail to qualify if that is possible] then we can appoint Brendan McCullum.

There probably is something to be said for simply having an England manager coaching pathway through the age groups as the job really is wildly divorced from actual football management. Not sure Potter's methods would be at all cut out for it, maybe Howe a bit more but neither of them are in a position where they would want to leave their current employers.

[Ian]

Fucking Mourinho, Jesus Christ.

[-james-]

I don't know how you can want Southgate out and want Mourinho as his replacement. It would still be awful to watch and still only worth it if they win the thing. What odds do you give England of winning a tournament with Mourinho in charge? You're still looking at 10-15% and a "colossal waste of possibly England's greatest ever selection of attacking talent".

[Kikó]

I don't think your Gerrards, Lampards, Parkers and Bruces of the world would be that bad. Can they bring together a team in tournament football and have their respect? Probably. They don't need to squad build so it's a different skillset required.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ian Holloway is free.

[Yevrah]

I don't know how you can want Southgate out and want Mourinho as his replacement. It would still be awful to watch and still only worth it if they win the thing. What odds do you give England of winning a tournament with Mourinho in charge? You're still looking at 10-15% and a "colossal waste of possibly England's greatest ever selection of attacking talent".

Really I'd only be in it for the lols, safe in the knowledge that it's never going to happen.

[Spikey M]

Give the job to Steve Bruce. The Yevrage would be beautiful.

[wullie]

I'd go with whatever Richard Keys is suggesting from his sordid griefhole. For too long he's gone ignored, give him a shot.

[Gray Fox]

I have heard that he is a good manager.

[Browning]

Mourinho wins things wherever he goes (except Tottenham, but we can forgive him for that, because it's impossible). I'd say we have as good a chance with him as anyone else. But I do agree it's only worth it if he does actually win something, but at this stage, that's true of pretty much anyone.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd go with whatever Richard Keys is suggesting from his sordid griefhole. For too long he's gone ignored, give him a shot.

Be careful what you wish for, he was pushing Mark Robins for Man U a while ago.

[wullie]

That would fit into his whole 'I love Cov, we're the ones in red right?' history.

[Yevrah]

Give the job to Steve Bruce. The Yevrage would be beautiful.

I think I'd just full on give up if that happened.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sean Dyche and its not even up for a debate

[Jimmy Floyd]

In my FM save (2035) France, off five straight World Cup wins, gave the job to Sean Dyche, who promptly lolled my England side out of the Euros. It's written in the stars.

[Dave.]

So:

- Potter and Howe are the best options but probably are not available at the minute unless the FA gives Chelsea or Newcastle a ridiculous amount of money.

- The general consensus seems to be no foreign manager apart from Mourinho for the lols (not exactly a serious suggestion).

- The other options available are the likes of Lampard, Bruce, Dyche, Gerrard etc.

Please remind why people want Southgate to resign/be sacked again?

[Offshore Toon]

Southgate will not win you a trophy. That alone is enough to get rid.

Somebody else may also not get a trophy, but you're left in the same position.

It's stick or twist. There's absolutely no reason to stick.

[Boydy]

How many big tournaments does the average international manager get?

[niko_cee]

Fairly random.

Feels like the Portugal coach has been going forever. Deschamps the same. Took Low 8 years was it to win something with Germany? England tend to be one and done.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It varies. Some countries go through loads, then you get an Oscar Tavarez who managed Uruguay seemingly forever, and that lounge lizard in charge of Croatia.

Recently the trend seems to have been for stability and for attempting to create a club-like atmosphere in national squads.

[Bernanke]

Get Sven back.

Have one of the wags offer him some special services, that'll get him out of retirement.

[Raoul Duke]

Tuchel and Smallpockets are both free

[Dquincy]

Cunts, the lot of you.

Ignoring my post.

[Foe]

Give it to ted lasso.

[Lewis]

I've been telling people at work that it should be Emma Hayes so I get a pay rise.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

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:cool:

[Shindig]

Joey must've had money on it.

[Lewis]

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Interesting if true. Think back to Ronaldo having to re-take one against Arsenal in 2008 and just going down the same side to finish the True Blue Gunner Gooners off as a serious club.

[Lewis]

1602277472896270344

Covid Nonce on it as well. I'm sure Rooney's penalty success was directly related to how important it was. If they were 3-0 up with ten minutes left it was going over every time.

[Dquincy]

It makes sense.

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[Jimmy Floyd]

Has Trashford taken many penalties? He might have been a nice option but imagine he misses and Kane gets called a coward. It's just never going to happen.

[Waffdon]

He famously took a penalty in the Euro 2020 final that swung the shoot out.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

15 scored with only 2 misses.

Not including shootouts like in the Euros.

[Manc]

Is there any other club/country on the footballing planet that has suffered more at the hands of penalties? I know Spain have an atrocious record, but they were unbeatable for four years.

[Shindig]

I think the Dutch haven't got a great record either.

[niko_cee]

Has Trashford taken many penalties? He might have been a nice option but imagine he misses and Kane gets called a coward. It's just never going to happen.

Took a great one in somewhat similar circumstances against PSG.

[Jimmy Floyd]

European nations with 4 or more shootouts:

Germany 6-1 86%
Croatia 4-1 80%
Portugal 3-1 75%
Italy 5-4 55%
France 3-4 43%
Spain 2-6 25%
Holland 2-6 25%
Switzerland 1-3 25%
England 2-7 22%

That's basically a list of international overachievers and underachievers in order.

4 of Italy's 5 wins have been against the hopeless trio of England, Holland and Spain. Czech(oslovakia) are 3-0 as well. Must be something to do with dumplings in your diet.

[Giggles]

Gerrard? Hasn’t he just been ran out of Villa?

[Don]

I don't remember anything about Croatia's 3-0 battering of them in 2018 but I'm not having Argies as strong favourites tonight. MON Croatia.

[Lofty]

Croatia had strikers back then, still think they have a good chance.

[Dquincy]

Can't wait for Messi to win it for Argentina tonight and put all you haters in your place. :drool:

[Bernanke]

Can't wait for Messi to win it for Argentina tonight and put all you haters in your place. :drool:

Pretty much. I was thinking about it over the past few days and have decided that all the Messi salt in here comes from absolute melts. He is the greatest player of all time and deserves to cap that off with a WC title, no matter how much the media are wanking off to him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm happy to be on team melt then.

[Don]

A wild Maradona shitting on you imperialists and gammons is fantastic scenes but I'm not cheering on the fucking dull moping prick and his band of filthy twats against dons like Croatia (or frankly many other teams).

[Kikó]

I don't remember anything about Croatia's 3-0 battering of them in 2018 but I'm not having Argies as strong favourites tonight. MON Croatia.

Croatia completely dominated the argies..Modric ran riot. I'm pretty sure Argentina still had that Rojo in defence.

[Don]

Courtesy of Gilles Peterson:


https://youtu.be/sSRNXpm9rO4

:drool:

[Lewis]

Any British person supporting Argentina is a massive mong.

[Spoonsky]

Do you really prefer France winning over Argentina?

[Bernanke]

1602695368789164034

Sod it I'm with the melts

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

100% she's got on OF and she'll put the pictures on there for $100 single tip.

[Pepe]

She will get naked regardless.

[Waffdon]

Poor McCoist stuck between these two melts

[Lewis]

Do you really prefer France winning over Argentina?

Absolutely. From a purely English perspective, the only worse winners would be Scotland or Wales.

[Pepe]

Does anyone actually care about the whole islands thing?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a cracking penalty.

[Waffdon]

These penalty decisions :face:

[Adramelch]

It was a clear penalty I thought.

[Waffdon]

Have they had a penalty in all of their games?

[Pepe]

He ran straight into the keeper. Not sure what the keeper is supposed to do there. Still a penalty, mind.

Glad it was not a red, at least.

[Pepe]

Lol, that goal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:moop:

[randomlegend]

He ran straight into the keeper. Not sure what the keeper is supposed to do there. Still a penalty, mind.

Glad it was not a red, at least.

He's supposed to not come charging out if he's going to get nowhere near the ball. Not really any different to any other foul where one player beats the other to the ball.

[Waffdon]

Both full backs not knowing how to put their foot through it :sick:

[Shindig]

Croatia are shellshocked.

[Pepe]

He's supposed to not come charging out if he's going to get nowhere near the ball. Not really any different to any other foul where one player beats the other to the ball.

Hence me saying that it is a penalty.

[randomlegend]

Not sure what the keeper is supposed to do there.


You also said you're not sure what the keeper is supposed to do.

[Pepe]

I find discussing with you insufferable, so I will just ignore you instead.

[randomlegend]

I find you say things then get weirdly upset when people actually respond to them, like some sort of toddler.

[Pepe]

They'll need a double dose of PEDs during half time. Not looking good right now.

[Giggles]

Only in the door and this shit is over already.

[Don]

One costly lapse for the first and a flukey second (Sosa is not an athlete), the comeback is still very much on here with introduction of Petkovic and Orsic.

[Offshore Toon]

Wtf are Roy Keane and Gary Neville on about? Keepers can't just do what they want rugby tackling players.

[igor_balis]

Hope they have like 8 commentators for the final

[niko_cee]

At least with a France v Argentina final we can just dismiss it as having clearly been fixed by Qatar and be done with it all.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Do Croatia have the sort to just start playing the long ball game like the Dutch?

[Waffdon]

I’d assume that was the 2nd most likely final after Brazil/France

[Lofty]

Hope they have like 8 commentators for the final

Commentator Royal Rumble :drool:

[igor_balis]

Commentator Royal Rumble :drool:

I genuinely think I'd rather Taz over Lee Dixon.

[igor_balis]

Not you Don

[Lewis]

This is like every Arsenal vs Chelsea during the decade after 2005.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I hate him.

[Giggles]

Let the belly boxing begin.

The dickhead commentator on RTE reckons there needs to be an asterisk beside Alvarez’ name because it wasn’t really his goal :face:

[Offshore Toon]

Messi should have fun with that French defence.

[Pepe]

I hate him.


Let the belly boxing begin.

:D

[Don]

Doing that to what was being lauded as one of the best defensive talents in the world. I genuinely thought he'd lost the ability to do something like that. What a man.

[Ian]

Well this is a load of old yawn.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Fuck me that was good.

[Pepe]

Morocco to win it in the toughest run ever.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"Lautaro ... Paolo Dybala"

:D

They all look a like.

[Waffdon]

Argentina really have had the dream draw so far. Saudi Arabia, Poland, Mexico, Australia, Netherlands and Croatia. It was about time they played well I suppose

[Spikey M]

France did us a favour really. The Argies would have brutally molested us.

[Pepe]

Bloody Brasil, this could have been so much better.

[Pepe]

France did us a favour really. The Argies would have brutally molested us.

As if you could get past the mighty Morocco.

[Giggles]

Bloody Brasil, this could have been so much better.

Brazil.

[Pepe]

:D

[Offshore Toon]

Londonderry.

[Lewis]

How did Brazil let these dweebs knock them out with their one attempt? You can't play for penalties once you go two down lads.

[Giggles]

Londonderry.

Exactly. Well done dourshore.

[Dquincy]

Have that you melts.

Messi showing he is a superstar. :drool: He truly is an amazing footballer and you cannot disagree, no matter how bitter you feel.

[Shindig]

It does feel like this is his best and last chance. His work for the third goal was great.

[igor_balis]

Yeah for all the talk about the commentators spunking their pants whenever he makes a pass and #NARRATIVE shit, sometimes the hyperbole isn't reallllly hyperbole, it's just accurately saying he's a world class player doing world class footy stuff.

For all my aversion to focussing on individuals in a team sport, I'm even just about getting on the Messi winning the world cup bandwagon. Admittedly partly cus we're out, and cus Ronaldo is such a bell it would be great if Messi had that over him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have him for golden ball at 8/1 so I'm the real winner.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I have him for golden ball at 8/1 so I'm the real winner.

Pretty much the only winner I'm on for the whole tournament.

[Spoonsky]

Messi's been wonderful the whole tournament. He has about five moments a game that you'd never see from another player. (Modric the same.)

He also seems to have become some kind of a leader and 'winner' which I never used to really think was the case. Maybe winning the Copa took some kind of pressure off his shoulders with Argentina.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pretty much the only winner I'm on for the whole tournament.

I need 10 goals and 4 scored penalties (inc shootouts) in the last three games, and I'll have made a profit. Morocco's presence in two of those games doesn't bode fantastically well.

[Yevrah]

He started slowly but Messi has improved as the tournament's gone on and he was obscenely good tonight.

[Pepe]

He has been very good all tournament (didn't watch the S. Arabia game) and is carrying what seems to otherwise be a bang average squad.

[Yevrah]

Yeah, he was wank against Saudi Arabia (as they all were).

[Giggles]

Did Messi really do anything that special for the third goal, any more so than you'd see 3 or 4 times over a weekend of club games anyway? Like, it was good but there's an absolute wankathon going on on social media with some angle taken from a phone.

[Yevrah]

Probably not, but it's the doing of it in a World Cup Semi-Final that makes it so much more special.

There seems to be this weird hatred of Messi because he gets praised (in some cases over the top praise, yes), which I don't really get. He's been magnificent and I'd love to see him win a World Cup.

EDIT: As much as one can love things that have absolutely nothing to do with them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There's currently a simp football debate raging in the office. The topic is: can good footballers go on to be good managers? The warehouse manager is convinced it's 'really difficult' because managing is different to playing (no one has brought up that he was much better as a low level supervisor in the goods in department before he was promoted to the big job).

Anyway, consensus has developed that some good players can go on to be good managers. The evidence: Gareth Southgate having done really well with the England women's team before moving on to the men and doing equally well. Everyone's just nodding sagely.

[Adramelch]

Weird argument to be having given the likes of Ancelotti, Guardiola etc exist no?

[Yevrah]

It's the World Cup and England, every fairweather rent a gob who knows nothing comes out with their opinion.

[Giggles]

Probably not, but it's the doing of it in a World Cup Semi-Final that makes it so much more special.

There seems to be this weird hatred of Messi because he gets praised (in some cases over the top praise, yes), which I don't really get. He's been magnificent and I'd love to see him win a World Cup.

EDIT: As much as one can love things that have absolutely nothing to do with them.

It's because it's so over the top. The hate really isn't for Messi, it just deflects onto him because of all the hand pumping.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm trying to find narratives for myself to be able to accept the impending Messi World Cup win. I think the main one is that it pretty much finally settles his superiority over Ronaldo, thus ending that tedious discussion for ever and making the Ronaldo bros very sad, a feeling they deserve for liking that cunt.

Still, allez les bleus.

[Don]

It's been a while since I watched some League of Ireland action but fair fucking play if Paddy McGrail is running all the way from the halfway line to the byline, beating the most lauded defensive prospect in the world multiple times and laying off a sitter to his teammate 3 or 4 times a week with the entire world watching on the biggest stage.

[Baz]

The evidence: Gareth Southgate having done really well with the England women's team before moving on to the men and doing equally well. Everyone's just nodding sagely.Fucking hell, praise be for WFH.

[Lofty]

Apparently Morocco are the walking wounded with at least 4 changes and France are more rampant than me at the Pizza Hut Ice Cream Factory so 1-0 legendary Morocco rearguard action win yeah?

[Pepe]

With the state of the French defense, they better batter them quickly or things might get dicey.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tough night for the Paris gendarmes coming up I think, regardless of the result.

[Don]

Even more toothless a team than Croatia which should make for a thoroughly boring semi. Hopefully Mbappe brings some joy to us.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm a bit of a refereeing sicko these days (I like watching the refs in other sports to inform aspects of my cricket umpiring), and I note that Argentina have had a European ref in all six of their matches, including last night's Italian twice. They even had a European ref when they played Poland in the group stage, which is unheard of in group stage play - ref is always from a neutral continent.

Think there's a better than evens chance (especially in light of what happened in the game vs Holland) that the Argie FA are hand picking their referees with FIFA. Would say the final referee is almost certain to be Szymon Marciniak from Poland, who they had vs Australia.

[Pepe]

South American commentators were talking about some English ref as if it was almost a given.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No way they will give Argentina an English ref. Argentina haven't been given a British ref since 1974 (i.e. before the Falklands War). England of course have had an Argentinian ref in that time (2006 QF), because even FIFA know that it's a one-sided seethe.

[Don]

1602987565203726338

https://media.tenor.com/c_XPwp0MNmsAAAAd/jose-mourinho-i-prefer-not-to-speak.gif

[Bernanke]

He's right.

[Lofty]

With the state of the French defense, they better batter them quickly or things might get dicey.

Upamencano out surely a bonus for them.

[Adramelch]

I'm a bit of a refereeing sicko these days (I like watching the refs in other sports to inform aspects of my cricket umpiring), and I note that Argentina have had a European ref in all six of their matches, including last night's Italian twice. They even had a European ref when they played Poland in the group stage, which is unheard of in group stage play - ref is always from a neutral continent.

Think there's a better than evens chance (especially in light of what happened in the game vs Holland) that the Argie FA are hand picking their referees with FIFA. Would say the final referee is almost certain to be Szymon Marciniak from Poland, who they had vs Australia.

Funnily enough, they came out with complaints about Lahoz in the game against the Netherlands. According to them, he was massively favoring the Dutch.

[Ben]

Bidets are quality.

[Lewis]

I'm trying to find narratives for myself to be able to accept the impending Messi World Cup win. I think the main one is that it pretty much finally settles his superiority over Ronaldo, thus ending that tedious discussion for ever and making the Ronaldo bros very sad, a feeling they deserve for liking that cunt.

Still, allez les bleus.

Alternatively, they should have won the 2014 final quite comfortably, so if they bomb this one as well then he goes to his grave cursing Gonzalo Higuain.

[Waffdon]

Upamencano out surely a bonus for them.

Yeah, Konate is clear. Better off with Saliba or Kounde partnering him but Deschamps gonna Deschamps.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Attiyat Allah a miss for Morocco. That said, Fofana in midfield?

[Giggles]

Attiyat Allah a miss for Morocco. That said, Fofana in midfield?

Fuck Allah.

[Pepe]

Infantino + Macron. What a duo.

[Pepe]

Moroccan anthem. :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Are France trying to play on the break? Could be an eye-bleeder if so.

[Shindig]

Queuing up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Game over already then.

[Yevrah]

Good stuff. Need a proper final at the end of all this.

[Adramelch]

Good stuff. Need a proper final at the end of all this.

And a proper semi here to be honest. That goal should open things up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Argentina v Morocco would be every bit a proper final, if they got there. There's no bluffing in this competition.

[Yevrah]

Would you prefer that to France vs. Argentina?

[Giggles]

Argentina v Morocco would be every bit a proper final, if they got there. There's no bluffing in this competition.

Except it wouldn't.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Would you prefer that to France vs. Argentina?

I'd prefer it if the objective is for Argentina to be defeated. Otherwise, I'm easy.

[Pepe]

Giroud. :(

[Jimmy Floyd]

This Mexican ref is superb, the best in the tournament. Only FIFA being mongs and running their appointments on the assumption Morocco would get knocked out much earlier has denied him the final.

[Giggles]

I'd prefer it if the objective is for Argentina to be defeated. Otherwise, I'm easy.

You've surely had more wars with France.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We haven't had a war with France since we settled the series in 1815. The Argies are still actively seething about the one we had with them.

[Giggles]

We haven't had a war with France since we settled the series in 1815. The Argies are still actively seething about the one we had with them.

Seething or right is just a matter of whether you’re British or from the rest of the planet. Or wrong and right as we all like to call it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Should have won it then shouldn't they.

France are like a modern day Germany. Absolutely no effort going into this except when they absolutely have to. Was the same against England.

[Waffdon]

I can’t believe the world let Real Madrid sign Tchouameni. Will be the best midfielder of this generation - he has absolutely everything.

[Ben]

Seething or right is just a matter of whether you’re British or from the rest of the planet. Or wrong and right as we all like to call it.

At the risk of derailing the thread, I’ll add that the Falklands is one of the few times we (Britain) aren’t really in the wrong. Historically, settlement on the islands was a bit of a merry-go-round between Britain, France, Spain and Argentina so it’s all much of a muchness there. And now in the current day Falklanders want to be British. Argentina have about as much right to the Falklands as Russia do to Ukraine.

[Jimmy Floyd]

France really need to switch Mbappé to the other side, or something. Hakimi doing what the fuck he likes at the moment.

[Adramelch]

I think Morocco are showing that they didn't reach the semis by accident if you ask me. They are trailing because they are the inferior team, but they are holding their own for the most part.

[Giggles]

At the risk of derailing the thread, I’ll add that the Falklands is one of the few times we (Britain) aren’t really in the wrong. Historically, settlement on the islands was a bit of a merry-go-round between Britain, France, Spain and Argentina so it’s all much of a muchness there. And now in the current day Falklanders want to be British. Argentina have about as much right to the Falklands as Russia do to Ukraine.

Like a lot of places around the world, you’ve no business in them, but everyone hasn’t the power to make the tail fall like China had, so the rest of us are stuck with historical occupation. They were just planted too late to be up to speed with the rest of us.

But yes, probably better if jimmy starts a British conquest thread instead of this one, even at the risk of his mickey falling off.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Excellent game, this. England would be in the shit against these I think.

[Giggles]

Excellent game, this. England would be in the shit against these I think.

France will grab a second and coast if. Morocco have only had a few lucky chances at the end of the half.

[randomlegend]

I can’t believe the world let Real Madrid sign Tchouameni. Will be the best midfielder of this generation - he has absolutely everything.

They paid 100m euros and he wanted to go there, I'm not sure what "the world" could have done to stop them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

France will grab a second and coast if. Morocco have only had a few lucky chances at the end of the half.

With your disdain for smaller nations you'd make a good British imperialist c.1840.

[Giggles]

With your disdain for smaller nations you'd make a good British imperialist c.1840.

They’re full of hustle and bustle but luck runs out. They’d have zero mentality to actually win it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Amrabat on Mbappé there one of the greatest tackles I've seen. Proper ego-duster.

[Ian]

Mbappe getting the physios out so as not to look a divey tart as well. Classic move.

He should've done the full Dani Alves, get stretchered off then hop off and come back on.