2022 World Cup knockouts: RIP four games a day

[Lewis]

I wonder how Taz will spin all of these French ebony dons playing like a pub team. Maybe the manager is racist and demoralised them?

That Argentine chant about them all being from Angola has rattled them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Almost got the full Tunisia XI on now, including the masterstroke of Camavinga at left back.

[Waffdon]

Brings Camavinga on at left back. Manager has been paid off here.

[Pepe]

Morocco would have put a better fight.

[Magic]

They don't even look arsed. Utterly bizarre.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Morocco would have put a better fight.

Yes, hope the 'proper final' crowd are enjoying this.

[Manc]

This is truly pathetic from France.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Comeback is ON!

[Manc]

You're welcome.

[Lewis]

Morocco barely put up a fight against France for eighty minutes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They obviously didn't bother giving the fix money to Kolo Muani. He's been their only shining light.

Christ, please equalise from here, the Argies will lose the plot.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"Allez says the president" :D

[Adramelch]

They obviously didn't bother giving the fix money to Kolo Muani. He's been their only shining light.

Deschamps masterclass clearly.

[Pepe]

Another mini-foul.

[Lewis]

Did he grimace as he hit that ropey penalty, like he thought it was getting saved (which it should have been)?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mbappe :drool:

[Lewis]

You beauty.

[Boydy]

Fucking hell!

[Magic]

Fuck off.

[Boydy]

Actually squealed at that.

[Gray Fox]

Wowzers.

[Yevrah]

Unbelievable.

[Lewis]

Should have saved that one as well the shit penalty monkey.

[Pepe]

Messi miles ahead of Mbappe today.

Well lol.

[Ben]

Oh boy here we go.

[Yevrah]

Actually squealed at that.

:D Same here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Where's the little footballing genius cunt now?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fuck me, I haven't celebrated a goal like that in ages.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Where's the little footballing genius cunt now?

It was he who gave the ball away to start the move.

[Danny]

More of a cackle here. Martinez floppy wristing both of those after all his bullshit is enjoyable

[Pepe]

What a stunning finish.

[7om]

Fuck me. Amazing

[Waffdon]

Mbappe goated

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It was he who gave the ball away to start the move.

Not a peep about it from the commentators.

[Ben]

Argentina aren’t winning this now. Heads have gone.

[Boydy]

Southgate > Deschamps
Think this needs revising now.

[niko_cee]

If they were penalties they were penalties, not some big conspiracy.

The Saudi one and the Poland one pretty much showed the fix was in, since then its just been a strong itch for every ref to give them one.

[Ben]

Think this needs revising now.

Come on now, that was just a joke to wind up Taz.

[Yevrah]

I can't believe France are going to win a World Cup having been asleep for most of the final and most of the knockout rounds. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That looked a pen live.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's the first yellow card for simulation in the tournament.

Brilliant refereeing. Superb.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fair play to the ref, that's a dive.

[Spikey M]

I've found a TV. That was more of a penalty the Di Maria's.

[Josh]

I know Di Maria hasn't been that fit all tournament but what a fucking change that was. Been no threat since that stump came on at left wing.

[Shindig]

Think this needs revising now.

What do you mean? The best learn from the best. :D

[Gray Fox]

Argentina completely rattled by this. France need to push before ET happens.

[Yevrah]

Fair play to the ref, that's a dive.

Even on the replay it looked like he caught him the first time, even if he went down with the non contact on the second.

[Magic]

I know Di Maria hasn't been that fit all tournament but what a fucking change that was. Been no threat since that stump came on at left wing.

Arrogant change so it was.

[Lewis]

It's as much a penalty as the Argentina one.

[Pepe]

It's as much a penalty as the Argentina one.

Which is to say, neither of them were penalties.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's as much a penalty as the Argentina one.

Thuram kicked into him and initiated the contact before falling. Di Maria was kicked (albeit softly) from behind.

[Pepe]

Even the French one, I would be ok if it wasn't given.

[Giggles]

Bejaysus looks like I’ve missed a bit. Are we still on for the Messi shootout miss?

[Pepe]

Di Maria was kicked (albeit softly) from behind.

As he was already falling to the ground after diving.

[-james-]

Mbappe winner here would be the greatest NARRATIVE thing ever to happen.

[Boydy]

Bejaysus looks like I’ve missed a bit. Are we still on for the Messi shootout miss?

Imagine. :D

He'd probably never be able to return to Argentina.

[Lewis]

Top NARRATIVE outcomes:

1. Messi winner
2. Messi assists the winner
3. Messi pre-assists the winner
4. Messi touches the ball at some point before the winner
5. Messi is still on the pitch when Argentina score the winner
6. Messi is not on the pitch when Argentina score the winner
7. Mbappe scores the winner

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mbappe wants this.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What you're seeing here is the difference between three subs and five subs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Kolo Muani should do better there.

Argentina all over the shop.

[Lewis]

I was wondering this during the Argentina/Holland match. Assuming that you can keep your own cool and the momentum favours you, in situations like this could you come up with a plan to use people on the bench to accumulate yellow cards to raise the general seethe level and nobble the referee and opposition?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

When Messi cut in there I thought that was the game.

[Lewis]

That was crap refereeing to pull that yellow card back.

[Waffdon]

This referee is refusing to let france play advantage at times here

[Gray Fox]

Absolute madness in the last 15 mins.

[Ben]

That Acuña is fucking useless. Scaloni has cost his country the World Cup throwing that dwarf on.

[randomlegend]

I'm fully down with sending players off for those tackles.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That Acuña is fucking useless. Scaloni has cost his country the World Cup throwing that dwarf on.

Yeah, I find it hard to believe adrenaline wouldn't have got AdM through another 20 minutes.

[Adramelch]

Yeah, I find it hard to believe adrenaline wouldn't have got AdM through another 20 minutes.

I don't think it was due to him being tired. He brought him off to put a left back in his place, so it feels more of a tactical choice.

[Don]

Frame the last few pages on here and hang it in the Louvre (or just have Mahow refer to it next time he makes a post mentioning me) :drool:

Mbappe, Muani and Coman stocks are skyrocketing but this is all Didier, what subs. I thought he'd fucked up with Griezemann off.

[Pepe]

Griezman was useless all day.

[Josh]

I was wondering this during the Argentina/Holland match. Assuming that you can keep your own cool and the momentum favours you, in situations like this could you come up with a plan to use people on the bench to accumulate yellow cards to raise the general seethe level and nobble the referee and opposition?

What happens if your sub runs on and takes a player out if he's through on goal? Well worth a red for the sub only in that case for a world cup final? Basically playing with a free sweeper.

[7om]

Wonder what the odds were for France in, say, the 70th minute compared to now. How can they be so shit for 3/4 of the match and then come alive like this?

[Lewis]

What happens if your sub runs on and takes a player out if he's through on goal? Well worth a red for the sub only in that case for a world cup final? Basically playing with a free sweeper.

Very good question. I bet Mourinho has looked into it.

[Shindig]

I still wouldn't take a cynical red. Especially if you need that person for penalties.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wonder what the odds were for France in, say, the 70th minute compared to now. How can they be so shit for 3/4 of the match and then come alive like this?

It's just what France do. In every sport, for all time. Often the other way round as well.

[7om]

What happens if your sub runs on and takes a player out if he's through on goal? Well worth a red for the sub only in that case for a world cup final? Basically playing with a free sweeper.

I’ve wondered this myself. I wonder if there would be some kind of disqualification.

[Josh]

I still wouldn't take a cynical red. Especially if you need that person for penalties.

Already subbed off. Giroud for example who has a yellow since coming off. Or just a coach?

[Jimmy Floyd]

What happens if your sub runs on and takes a player out if he's through on goal? Well worth a red for the sub only in that case for a world cup final? Basically playing with a free sweeper.

It is only a red for the sub (or already subbed player). When somebody eventually does that they will have to introduce penalty goals.

[Pepe]

It is amazing that they might win a World Cup only playing about fifteen minutes per match.

[Lewis]

Is this the best World Cup of most of our lifetimes? It's easily the best final, what with all of the others being shit.

[Pepe]

Those are vintage Mexican league tactics, when ball boys would throw extra balls into the field every time the home team was winning and the opposition was looking dangerous.

[Pepe]

Is this the best World Cup of most of our lifetimes? It's easily the best final, what with all of the others being shit.

The level has been shit but the games have been good. Qatar. :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is this the best World Cup of most of our lifetimes? It's easily the best final, what with all of the others being shit.

Croatia ruined it a bit, otherwise it's up there.

[Shindig]

My only hope is Infantino doesn't decide December is the time for World Cups now. Although it does get the Premier League's fabled winter break set in stone.

[Yevrah]

Is this the best World Cup of most of our lifetimes? It's easily the best final, what with all of the others being shit.

I'd say yes on both counts.

[Lewis]

I was expecting it to be bollocks and not get into it, but it's been ace and it's going to take a few weeks to get back into the domestic shit.

[Yevrah]

My only hope is Infantino doesn't decide December is the time for World Cups now. Although it does get the Premier League's fabled winter break set in stone.

No way to prove this, but I suspect it's been so good in part due to all of the players not being dead after a long season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Holy shit that block.

[Gray Fox]

My only hope is Infantino doesn't decide December is the time for World Cups now. Although it does get the Premier League's fabled winter break set in stone.

Not when he has 48 countries in a world cup soon. Nobody will be getting a break.

[Waffdon]

France need to win it here as Lloris ain’t doing shit in a shootout

[Ben]

That should have been it. Martinez should be fresh but he took forever to shoot there.

And again.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Upamecano has fucked up Martinez twice.

[Giggles]

This has got real good.

[Adramelch]

Martinez has been a waste of space everytime he's played in this World Cup so today's no different really.

[Yevrah]

Not when he has 48 countries in a world cup soon. Nobody will be getting a break.

Under the three team group proposal, it's the same number of games, right? Even if we go back to groups of 4 it's only one more.

[Pepe]

Lautaro Martinez is dogshit.

[Manc]

Shades of Higuain.

[Ben]

Under the three team group proposal, it's the same number of games, right? Even if we go back to groups of 4 it's only one more.

100% they go back to groups of four. No way will Infantino get rid of it now it's been such a success in his beloved Qatar.

[Gray Fox]

Under the three team group proposal, it's the same number of games, right? Even if we go back to groups of 4 it's only one more.

I was more getting at fewer countries missing out. For example Salah is having a lovely December break this year, but with 48 teams he'd be out there.

[Lewis]

I hope Paulp Ogba has got his kit on for the celebrations.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Under the three team group proposal, it's the same number of games, right? Even if we go back to groups of 4 it's only one more.

The 4 team groups is 100 odd games I think. 12 x 6 is 72 before you've even got to the knockouts.

[Boydy]

I need a dump but I'm just gonna have to shit myself on the sofa here.

[7om]

If the human rights abusers can put on World Cups like this then I’m all for them keeping it. Saudi Arabia next.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I didn't think that looked over.

[Lewis]

That looked offside in the build-up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's good, fuck.

[Giggles]

A mile over.

[Lewis]

Check his hand was onside.

[Adramelch]

Martinez hate aside, truth is the game changed completely since he came on, even if he missed everything.

[Spikey M]

Fuck sake

[Jimmy Floyd]

What did the lino flag for? I think the ref overruled him (correctly).

[Waffdon]

Fucking French

[Pepe]

As it was written.

[Yevrah]

The 4 team groups is 100 odd games I think. 12 x 6 is 72 before you've even got to the knockouts.

Yeah, but only one more game for each team. Why would anyone give a shit if New Zealand etc. are playing those extra games you've highlighted above?

[Giggles]

Did the graphic not show the hand offside but just say onside?

[Lewis]

There were substitutes on the pitch it shouldn't count.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, but only one more game for each team. Why would anyone give a shit if New Zealand etc. are playing those extra games you've highlighted above?

Because it takes longer and so the calendar shrinks.

[Pepe]

I hope Paulp Ogba has got his kit on for the celebrations.

:D

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is early to be holding it in the corner.

[Giggles]

Holding it in the corner with about 10 minutes to go :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Could have been a red.

[Pepe]

Let the shithousery begin. :cool:

[Yevrah]

This is insane.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't tell you how good this ref has been. Just amazing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Let's go.

[Lewis]

He will miss this.

[Ben]

Oh god this is amazing.

[Boydy]

Penalty :lol:

I don't want this to end.

[Yevrah]

The two penalties in one game theory swings into view again...

[Giggles]

This is unreal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The two penalties in one game theory swings into view again...

Kylian shits on the theory.

[Giggles]

RIP Boydys couch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is early to be holding it in the corner.

There you go. NEVER go early with holding it in the corner.

[Yevrah]

The two penalties in one game theory swings into view again...

Yeah, you just need to be better than Harry Kane.

[Lewis]

Don't celebrate you gay dickhead get the ball.

[Pepe]

I can't tell you how good this ref has been. Just amazing.

The first one wasn't a pen.

[Guybrush]

Did the graphic not show the hand offside but just say onside?

:lol:

[Yevrah]

I can't tell you how good this ref has been. Just amazing.

Is he an ex pro?

[Boydy]

Don't celebrate you gay dickhead get the ball.

:lol:

[Boydy]

Is he an ex pro?

Yeah commentators were saying that earlier.

[Waffdon]

23 years old :lol:

[Spikey M]

Hahahahahah

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is he an ex pro?

No, despite the BBC man claiming he was at the start.

[7om]

No chance Argentina will win on pens

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's only played amateur level.

BBC were chatting shit earlier.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was the chance.

[Yevrah]

He's only played amateur level.

BBC were chatting shit earlier.

That's why I was checking. I trust Jim over the BBC on these things.

[Magic]

No chance Argentina will win on pens

Following.

[Pepe]

No chance Argentina will win on pens

Wasn't his keeper good the last time? Lloris kinda shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wasn't his keeper good the last time? Lloris kinda shit.

That was more the Dutch being shit and barely kicking the ball.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking hell, Martinez came up big there.

[Yevrah]

What a final.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think, folks, this might be the best game of football ever played. Well, not best. But best.

[Ben]

What a game this is.

[Boydy]

Give us another session of extra time instead of penalties.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Shit, if Mbappe managed to score there that would have been insane.

[Waffdon]

Greatest final in a long time

[Magic]

What a final, the 0-0 merchants on here will be gutted.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Argies will win the pens. Martinez less of a fop than Hugo.

[7om]

Giroud would have buried at least two of Muani’s chances.

[Manc]

Some save from Martinez.

[Waffdon]

I just don’t see Lloris saving an penalties. He’s the least intimidating goalkeeper you’ll come across.

Need to hope the Argies miss the target

[Lofty]

Emi Martinez is decent at penalties, he nearly got to Mbappe's first. The French wont take 5 pens of that quality so it comes down to pressure and THE BALL.

[Ben]

A traffic cone would be more use than Lloris in this situation. So of course he'll save a couple now.

[thommo]

Couldn't imagine anything like this happening when we were 75 minutes in. It felt like the biggest dud at that point.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Messi to blast his over.

[Waffdon]

Mbappe probably miss his now

[Giggles]

Most of these miss the target rather than be saved don’t they? So I wouldn’t be putting as much relevance into the goalkeepers. It’s all about the penalty taker.

[Lewis]

He will miss this.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

France doing the right thing making Mbappe go first.

[Lewis]

He's put them all in the same place as well the widehead.

[Ben]

If Martinez didn't have floppy wrists the Argies would be on their second bag by now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lloris...

[Shindig]

What a pisstake from Messi. Might be his last kick at international level, too. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Messi was lucky there. Didn't hit it hard enough on that line.

[Luke Emia]

A traffic cone would be more use than Lloris in this situation. So of course he'll save a couple now.

That Messi penalty just proves that.

[Ben]

Lloris. :D

My nana would have put her hat on that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck.

[Lewis]

Imagine the Aston Villa goalie donning you. Embarrassing really.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What is Lloris doing? He's not even looking at them.

[Ben]

Did Lloris lift his foot over that one? :lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Tchouameni was always missing that.

[Spikey M]

Lloris should have saved both of them

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lloris should have saved both of them

And another.

[Ben]

Argentina should be 0 for 3 here.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Do France not have a keeper they could have subbed on? This is embarrassing.

[Lewis]

I hope France isn't as racist as England.

[Shindig]

Man, Loris can't anticipate a penalty, can he?

[Gray Fox]

Lloris is absolutely terrible.

[Ben]

This ref deserves the trophy, fuck both these countries. :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This pen is going over.

[randomlegend]

Martinez has won this shootout.

[Yevrah]

That was absolutely brilliant.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gutting/nauseating but France had the chances to score in extra time, and plenty of them.

Word for Kolo Muani who single handedly dragged them back into the game (don't believe the Mbappe hype).

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Martinez has won this shootout.

Lloris has lost this shootout.

[Shindig]

And with that, Messi completes the lot. Probably. Unless he's missed a Confederations Cup or something.

[Magic]

No chance Argentina will win on pens

:harold:

[Pepe]

What a game. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mbappe hat-trick on the losing side, the ultimate.

France deserved it really for their first 70 minutes.

[7om]

Martinez capping off a perfect shithouse performance for a shithouse team. Amazing game.

[Waffdon]

Gutting/nauseating but France had the chances to score in extra time, and plenty of them.

Word for Kolo Muani who single handedly dragged them back into the game (don't believe the Mbappe hype).

Mbappe wouldn’t have missed that sitter at the end though.

[Pepe]

Player of the tournament?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mbappe wouldn’t have missed that sitter at the end though.

He hit it well, it was a good save.

[Yevrah]

Player of the tournament?

Mbappe or Messi and I'd probably give it to the latter given he's lifting the trophy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Player of the tournament?

Guillermo Ochoa

[Don]

All the blacks held back by the 1 white lad. Classic.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Player of the tournament?

They'll give it to Messi.

[niko_cee]

France need to win it here as Lloris ain’t doing shit in a shootout

This was a good shout. Probably one of the worst goalkeeping shootout efforts I've ever seen. All bar the last one were pretty much straight at him.

[Waffdon]

It was obviously Messi. Mbappe wasn’t great in the QF or Semis.

[Manc]

I'll never forgive Kane after seeing that display.

[Waffdon]

This was a good shout. Probably one of the worst goalkeeping shootout efforts I've ever seen. All bar the last one were pretty much straight at him.

He just doesn’t look very intimidating at all. He’s probably about 6ft2 but he looks 5ft8 and weighs 8st with wet clothes on. I’m not sure why or how he’s managed to swindle getting a game at the highest level for so long.

[Boydy]

Fucking Macron down on the pitch trying to console the French players. :D

[Pepe]

Fucking Macron down on the pitch trying to console the French players. :D

One of them should chin him.

[Adramelch]

Not sure about France's alternatives in fairness. Who was their last good goalkeeper?

[Waffdon]

That France team must have been ridiculously young that finished the game. I was wondering why they weren’t letting an experienced head go up and take one but I’m not sure there was anyone over the age of 25 at the end of it

[Pepe]

Not sure about France's alternatives in fairness. Who was their last good goalkeeper?

Even Barthez was a bit shit.

[niko_cee]

He just doesn’t look very intimidating at all. He’s probably about 6ft2 but he looks 5ft8 and weighs 8st with wet clothes on. I’m not sure why or how he’s managed to swindle getting a game at the highest level for so long.

I find this is the case for Allisson as well. He just never looks likely to save a penalty, although I would imagine his record is decent and he's otherwise very imposing. Dida on the other hand looked enormous in the goal.

[Ben]

Not sure about France's alternatives in fairness. Who was their last good goalkeeper?

Their #2 is fucking Steve Mandanda and he would qualify as a fossil these days.

[Giggles]

This setup looks fairly elaborate.

[Shindig]

Is this ceremony being presented by Qatar Airways staff? :D

[niko_cee]

Their #2 is fucking Steve Mandanda and he would qualify as a fossil these days.

Is Etienne Green English or could they have him? No idea if he's any good. Guess they could have nicked Mendy when he was destitute. Lolris is just the case in point why Gareth Deschamps is a water carrying chancer.

[Waffdon]

I find this is the case for Allisson as well. He just never looks likely to save a penalty, although I would imagine his record is decent and he's otherwise very imposing. Dida on the other hand looked enormous in the goal.

Martinez looks the perfect build and confidence for a penalty. Lloris too small and that Dutch policeman was just too tall. 6ft7, you’re not getting down quick enough to make a save at that height.

[SincereTheRebel]

Never trusted these Stolen Africans on penalties.

[Magic]

Infantino's footwear. :D

[Boydy]

Infantino's white trainers. :D

[mugbull]

Great match. Disappointing that this particular world cup was so good honestly. This’ll give the oil murderers another 10 years of legitimacy

[Waffdon]

Their #2 is fucking Steve Mandanda and he would qualify as a fossil these days.

Mike Maignan has been the top keeper in the world these past two years after Allison and doesn’t get a look in. Shambles.

[Pepe]

Grown men wearing white trainers need to be stopped.

[Manc]

Lineker trying to fill the silence is excruciating. Someone pass me a shotgun.

[Ben]

Grown men wearing white trainers need to be stopped.

Infantino needs to be stopped in general. Bond villain vibes.

[Manc]

Martinez is definitely on the juice.

[Pepe]

Martinez :lol:

[Giggles]

This is bullshit.

[Pepe]

Top goalscorer mate.

[Giggles]

Is Jonathan Pearce on over there? I’d say he has the pearls ground to dust over Martinez.

[Adramelch]

Mbappe must be extra salty with all the drama at PSG.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1604545148347899904

:lol:

[Waffdon]

1604523578128535556

:lol:

[Shindig]

Really ruined a beautiful moment with that see through bathrobe.

[Manc]

Yup. That alone has ruined the World Cup.

[Giggles]

The fucking robe :face:

[-james-]

What the fuck is that cape :lol:

[Pepe]

If the boss tells you to wear the robe, you wear the robe.

[Manc]

Aguero pulling the ultimate John Terry.

[-james-]

Alexis :wub:

[Pepe]

See you for the Women's World Cup lads.

[Shindig]

League Cup on Tuesday. :drool:

[randomlegend]

It's mental the domestic football is basically back in full swing in 3 days.

[Dquincy]

This guy is a legend. :D

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