The official FIFA World Cup 2018 thread

[SpeakWithMichael]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

Botching a single save, vs. not creating scoring chances at all over the course of 90 minutes

He attempted 11 shots on goal vs Iceland, but none hit the back of the net. He also assisted in several other attempts, such as the play that created the penalty, which he missed.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

He attempted 11 shots on goal vs Iceland, but none hit the back of the net. He also assisted in several other attempts, such as the play that created the penalty, which he missed.

Did he 'miss' that penalty or did the keeper 'save' that penalty?


but anyways, enough bickering about that. Good game in progress right now!

[tudorbaja27]

I don't have Argentina beating Croatia. But let's see. Some great games on today

[KBM]

Ok, ok, I'm a fan. But couldn't resist posting.

[ProdigalGil]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Will England be going home the first round again?

I bet England to top the group actually...and a second for Belgium to top it in my accumulator...just in case.


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[SkyKing31]

I was at my doctor's office yesterday afternoon and watched the match between Russia and Egypt while the doctor wasted my time by taking forever talking to the drug rep when I could have been at the market up the road enjoying the worlds best handmade milkshake!!

[TeddyS]

Originally Posted by dmash

I'm going to reserve judgement until the group stages are over. It shouldn't affect a player of Messi's caliber, but still, first game jitters are a real thing.....especially when you have the weight he does on his shoulders. If he doesn't have a better showing than that first game though, yes, I will consider him a bit choking. This is his last real hoorah, he's got to make a larger impact than lst week.

I don’t say Ronaldo is better than Messi based on this tournament, I say it based on everything. Because Messi is unwilling to come to the Premier League and be properly tested for time that goes against him massively. Ronaldo did it, and flourished.. unfortunately will will never know if Messi could do the same


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[dmash]

Originally Posted by TeddyS

I don’t say Ronaldo is better than Messi based on this tournament, I say it based on everything. Because Messi is unwilling to come to the Premier League and be properly tested for time that goes against him massively. Ronaldo did it, and flourished.. unfortunately will will never know if Messi could do the same


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I also, personally feel, it was a mistake to only showcase his skills at Barcelona. Full agreement It's a COMPLETELY different play style, EPL to La Liga

[TeddyS]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

How come you can do that with Messi for not scoring one goal in one match, but when I questioned De Gea's performance versus Switzerland and Portugal (4 goals combined), and who's NOT a top ten GK of all time, you basically called me crazy.



Just want to bring that out in the light to ponder.

De Gea is probably the best GK in Europe if not the world at the moment. He literally saves Man United’s ass last season. Their player of the match almost every game. I would go as far as to say that he is every bit as valuable to United as any outfield player.


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[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by TeddyS

De Gea is probably the best GK in Europe if not the world at the moment. He literally saves Man United’s ass last season. Their player of the match almost every game. I would go as far as to say that he is every bit as valuable to United as any outfield player.


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Agreed. He was certainly the best player on that Man U team for many games. I'm also a big fan of Navas - I don't think he gets nearly enough credit (especially with the horrendous RM defense of last season) and I cringe every time I hear a rumor of RM going after another goalkeeper

[Zakalwe]

Let’s be honest, why would Messi leave Barca?

You could argue it might harm his legacy - personally I doubt that very much. But Barca and Real Madrid are the two most prestigious clubs in the World bar none. Messi earns as much as Ronaldo (Cristiano’s image rights make him a bit more because he doesn’t look like an adolescent gnome), has won multiple league and CL trophies at club level, speaks Spanish and, no offence to Northerners, lives in a much nicer place than Cheshire.

Ronaldo only played in England because Fergie plucked him from Sporting Lisbon, partly on the back of Ronaldo playing like a beast against United in a friendly. Fergie told Portuguese (and now Iran) coach Carlos Quieroz to sign him. Ronaldo very nearly joined Arsenal at that time - it was luck he ended up at ManU and had Real come for him in 2004, he’d probably never have played in the PL.

Put another way, how many Barca/Real first team players choose to leave for the PL? Would anyone here choose to leave their company for a less prestigious one that doesn’t pay any more, where the weather is worse and you don’t speak the lingo?

[TeddyS]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Let’s be honest, why would Messi leave Barca?

You could argue it might harm his legacy - personally I doubt that very much. But Barca and Real Madrid are the two most prestigious clubs in the World bar none. Messi earns as much as Ronaldo (Cristiano’s image rights make him a bit more because he doesn’t look like an adolescent gnome), has won multiple league and CL trophies at club level, speaks Spanish and, no offence to Northerners, lives in a much nicer place than Cheshire.

Ronaldo only played in England because Fergie plucked him from Sporting Lisbon, partly on the back of Ronaldo playing like a beast against United in a friendly. Fergie told Portuguese (and now Iran) coach Carlos Quieroz to sign him. Ronaldo very nearly joined Arsenal at that time - it was luck he ended up at ManU and had Real come for him in 2004, he’d probably never have played in the PL.

Put another way, how many Barca/Real first team players choose to leave for the PL? Would anyone here choose to leave their company for a less prestigious one that doesn’t pay any more, where the weather is worse and you don’t speak the lingo?

Why would they choose to leave to play in England when they have it easy in Spain? It’s a no brainer to stay there where it’s way less competitive.
I think if pay determines if someone is the best or not then all the best players are playing in China haha


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[tudorbaja27]

Feel bad for Peru. I think they played two more than decent games. But alas, this is football. Excited for Argentina - Croatia.

[AK797]

The PL and La Liga now defer to the Champions League which is the tournament to win, and there Messi and Ronaldo have done outstandingly well and that is a tie, but where they are so different is how they play and influence their country and so far Ronaldo is far ahead, not so much in performance but in results, which is all that matters at the day's end. If Messi gets a WC then he goes above Ronaldo, if not then he probably doesn't, esp if ordinary Portugal go further than talented Argentina.

Where there is no debate is that Maradona not only was the most skilful player of recent times but he also won Argentina a WC and nearly two, and, maybe until Bale, scored the best goal of all time... and the bloody worst in the same match!

[KBM]

Another promising match starting right now. Let's go!

[KBM]

Goooooaaalllll!!!!!!

[123Blueface]

Argentina just choked a big one.
What was he thinking?

[AK797]

What a dreadful game, Argentina Croatia is like a park game, braindead defending and horrendous finishing... Messi needs to really step up now and take hold of this game. As soon as he missed that early half-chance the first thing I thought was, Ronaldo would have scored that.

[Roll the Lex]

Let’s learn some Spanish!

Caballerar- to f&$k up. Monumentally.

Yo caballero la copa mundial por Argentina.


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[City74]

Did I just see a shot of Maradona pulling a Schwarzkopf?

[KBM]

Wowwwwww 2x0!!!

[SpeakWithMichael]

3-0 Croatia over Argentina. And the last goal was painful to watch.

[dmash]

Wowowowowow

ICELAND IS GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS YEAR TOO

[ProdigalGil]

Originally Posted by AK797

What a dreadful game, Argentina Croatia is like a park game, braindead defending and horrendous finishing... Messi needs to really step up now and take hold of this game. As soon as he missed that early half-chance the first thing I thought was, Ronaldo would have scored that.

The moment Messi missed the penalty in the first game, I place a group winner accumulator in Croatia to top the group!

As for Ronaldo, I have each way win outright for Portugal.

I think Portugal might do back to back European and now World Cup before he retires.

Messi just can’t carry the Maradona weight!


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[cdmorenot]

What the heck just happened !!!

Wow.

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[tudorbaja27]

Haha I'm enjoying this as much as anything

[AK797]

Originally Posted by ProdigalGil

The moment Messi missed the penalty in the first game, I place a group winner accumulator in Croatia to top the group!

As for Ronaldo, I have each way win outright for Portugal.

I think Portugal might do back to back European and now World Cup before he retires.

Messi just can’t carry the Maradona weight!


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Croatian midfield looks good but then they didn't really have an opposition for some mad reason.

Messi just doesn't have it, yes he was surrounded by donkeys, but best player in the world? On that performance he's not even the best player in my house.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by City74

Did I just see a shot of Maradona pulling a Schwarzkopf?

£65K on each wrist I believe. He don't believe in no GMT watch.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by AK797

Croatian midfield looks good but then they didn't really have an opposition for some mad reason.

Messi just doesn't have it, yes he was surrounded by donkeys, but best player in the world? On that performance he's not even the best player in my house.

He's REALLY underwhelming. He's always had that kind of defensive flocking on him, in every game he's played. The only difference being that last game and this one.....these are not even top tier, million dollar contract defenders. Is he on something? WTF, this is insane. He is making ZILCH happen.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by dmash

He's REALLY underwhelming. He's always had that kind of defensive flocking on him, in every game he's played. The only difference being that last game and this one.....these are not even top tier, million dollar contract defenders. Is he on something? WTF, this is insane. He is making ZILCH happen.

He's not hungry enough. I was afraid he was mentally weak after the first game, and previous tourneys, but had to give him the benefit of the doubt, but in this game he just disappeared, he should have dropped into midfield and been the creator for Aguero and Higuain, but God knows what he and the coach are thinking.