So given all that Jim, which I'm now fully on board with, how did you single out the Pole for the final? And perhaps more importantly can one bet on these things and did you?
Top bombing either way.
His every touch of the ball brings a tremble to my nethers
I like him a healthy amount and think his career is worth a World Cup win
I like him but sod Argentina winning
He's great, obviously, but I don't care if he succeeds or fails
He's great, obviously, but pundits need to settle down
I'm a racist and that's why I hate him
I'm an idiot and will argue he's actually not all that good
So given all that Jim, which I'm now fully on board with, how did you single out the Pole for the final? And perhaps more importantly can one bet on these things and did you?
Top bombing either way.
The possible refs for the Argentina semi and final (based on who didn't get sent home early) were:
Orsato (Italy - who got the semi)
Makkelie (Holland - ruled out of contention after the Argentina v Holland QF fight)
Taylor (England - ruled out due to nationality)
Sampaio/Claus (Brazil - ruled out due to nationality)
Turpin (France - his team progressed)
Elfath (USA - but Moroccan born, and his team progressed)
Valenzuela (Venezuela - would be rejected by Argies, if I'm right about them insisting on European refs)
Barton (El Salvador - as above)
Al Jassim (Qatar - as above - has been given 3rd place match)
Mohammed (UAE - as above)
Ramos (Mexico - did the other semi)
Frappart - is only at the tournament because she's a woman, nowhere close to world standard ref
Marciniak - only one left
The red flag for Argentina choosing their own refs was the group stage game against Poland which was officiated by Makkelie, that just wouldn't happen normally. Lahoz from Spain might have been a final candidate, but sadly got liquidated by FIFA after the QF. Another ref to be placed into the death ray was Iran's Faghani, experienced enough for the final but who ended his chances by giving Portugal that late handball penalty against Uruguay.
And no, I don't think you can bet on it, but even if you could, everything changes as the tournament goes on so you can't really predict it early. I would however predict that Marciniak will now also get the CL final, so find a market for that.
Those tears gonna be so delicious.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63998821
Sounds like the groups of 3 idea is done which is a good thing.
No sooner do I say this than The Hood announces a 32 team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. Just perfect. All out war.Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
So they're going to try and pretend this is a bigger deal that the Champions League then, right?
We're going to get to the point where players are getting maybe a week off between finishing one season and starting the next.
Oh no, won't somebody think of their poor hamstrings. Fucking suck a dick.
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The ridiculous durability of Messi and Ronaldo has covered for a lot of scheduling ills. Once they are gone and let's say Mbappé gets a stress fracture and misses a year and isn't the same player afterwards, that's hundreds of millions wiped off football purely because they're all greedy fucks.
Sinisa Mihaijlijhijhhovic has died.
A defender with ludicrous dead ball prowess. That doesn't happen anymore, does it? Can't think of a single current example.
Trent I guess but he's an attacking wing back which is slightly different.
Pretty sure Sinisa played most of his career as a 'wingback' [or at least not primarily as a fullback in a back 4], in a defensive, lo-tempo league. Trent is probably a good example, save for being the wrong foot.
Trippier? Or is he an attacking wing back too?
Trippier counts too if Trent does. I guess I'd think of them as the heirs of Roberto Carlos, while I'd have Mihajlovic, Hierro, Koeman etc in a different bracket. Might just be nostalgia, I dunno.
The difference is those were all players who dabbled [or played their careers] in central positions, be they defence or midfield.
Is Kimmich a modern-day Mijhailovic?
Irwin.
Dennis Irwin taking penalties would be categorically not permitted in modern football.
Probably Unsworth too.
Irwin is our greatest ever player.
Melbourne City derby abandoned after fans invade the pitch. Fans aren't happy at the moment after the Aussie FA announced that the next 3 grand finals would be held in Sydney, regardless of the teams involved.
It was a crooked deal where only the NSW Government were allowed to bid in secret no other States were offered a chance to bid themselves.
The APL has nuked the League unless they overturn their deal with NSW.
Last edited by Queenslander; 17-12-2022 at 11:21 AM.
What type of bogan brings a bucket to a fist fight?
That freekick is up there with that Dutch one.
goal of the tournament?
That was really nice.
Morocco
That sort of chance is where you appreciate the "simple tap-in" strikers. En-Nesyri was far too forward there, at a place where any ball in would have been blocked by Livakovic.
Just as I was about to say that Orsic doesn't seem like a player that has enough quality to be in the Croatian squad.
That's a lovely finish from Orsic.
That whole lolfest was enjoyable. Love the Moroccan guy just falling over in disbelief.
VAR at it again. It's ruined the sport.
I was hoping for a Morocco win but after all that moaning they can fuck off.
Literally have no idea what Morocco are complaining about. If anything Croatia were the ones with a valid complaint re: the non-penalty on Gvardiol.
Have you watched a North African team lose by one goal before? It's always the same. Surprised there weren't a few red cards thrown in.
I see the Argentines have been caught at the same as our women.
If we weren't such a generous and freedom-loving country, then Martinez x2, Romero, Alvarez and Mac Allister (whose father is a paedo, by the way) would all be turned around at the border when they attempt to return to their clubs next week.
Melbourne is full of eshays/chavs.
Just seen the Croatian penalty that wasnt given. There is no argument that exists for the existence of VAR when that wasnt given. Too much bullshite and still not getting things right.
Fucking Southgate is staying on. Grim.
Name me a suitable replacement.
Down for some Bielsa ball after having Gareth's turgid shite funneled into my eyes for half a decade.
Is he? They didn't mention that bit on Football Weekly.
He wouldn't be an interesting appointment that's for sure. I just don't think (of all the coaches readily available) that anyone could have done any better than Southgate (results-wise) at the last World Cup and would do any better going forward. Also, I think we played some good football in the World Cup and we were very unlucky against France who are likely to win the entire tournament.
We played some good football against Iran, who are fucking wank, and that's about it.
Another tournament of turgid football that you have no chance of winning but he'll get you close enough to start believing only to then lose the next match
Croatia didn't deserve a penalty. The Moroccan accidentally brushed his left leg, and he immediately trailed his right foot on the floor and fell over like a cheating fanny.
And Wales. And Senegal. And I'd argue we were the better team against France too.
People expecting club football levels from international football are dumb fm inspired wankers.
Don't agree we played any particularly good football against Wales or Senegal. We won because they have shit players in comparison to England, but we weren't impressive.
As per every other Gareth Southgate England tournament - and as I said would happen - we lost against the first good team we played.
Turgid football? Name me a football tournament in which England has played better football in your lifetime?Another tournament of turgid football that you have no chance of winning but he'll get you close enough to start believing only to then lose the next match
I predicted the same thing but was pleasantly surprised by how well we played against France and also by the football we played and the goals we scored (both things were a major improvement on previous tournaments).
Not exactly a high bar is it. Like telling someone their day can't have been bad because they only got sexually assaulted when on the last 5 days they got fully raped.
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