Argentina vs Croatia (Group D) - 19:00 - 21/06/2018

[strung out]

It is possible.

Nigeria vs Iceland looks like a draw or a narrow Iceland win to me
If Iceland do win by a goal and are on 4pts with a +1 GD then Argentina could steal it beating Nigeria by a few goals

If Argentina do sneak through though, it's a guaranteed second round tie against the French though, which would be a win/win whoever gets knocked out.

 

[marty21]

It is possible.

Nigeria vs Iceland looks like a draw or a narrow Iceland win to me
If Iceland do win by a goal and are on 4pts with a +1 GD then Argentina could steal it beating Nigeria by a few goals

Argentina now 28/1 on Bet365 to win the World Cup

 

[not-bono-ever]

If Argentina do sneak through though, it's a guaranteed second round tie against the French though, which would be a win/win whoever gets knocked out.

that would be a miserable game until one of then scuffs in a flukey goal, then it would be red cards all round

 

[The Octagon]

that would be a miserable game until one of then scuffs in a flukey goal, then it would be red cards all round

So...win/win/win is what you're saying?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Proper shit performance and attitude from Messi, body language was defeatist, sulked throughout and made no effort to lead the team.

He should shoulder some of the abuse coming Argentina's way, but the rest of the team will be blamed for not being good enough for him, I bet the atmosphere in that dressing room is awful.

Yep, this. And to add to the messi-ronaldo debate, you can hate the preening one all you like but he did lift a decidedly average team to the Euros. Looking at this Argentina team, they have more star quality than that Portugal team had. The other side to that is that Messi did score a hat-trick to bring Argentina to the finals in the first place. He might be wishing he hadn't.

 

[Teaboy]

Yeah exactly. Ronaldo would get you goals in a crap team, Messi needs decent players around him. People hate on Ronaldo because he's a 24 carat bellend, but he's a class apart from anyone else - even Messi.

 

[Badgers]

Yep, this. And to add to the messi-ronaldo debate, you can hate the preening one all you like but he did lift a decidedly average team to the Euros. Looking at this Argentina team, they have more star quality than that Portugal team had. The other side to that is that Messi did score a hat-trick to bring Argentina to the finals in the first place. He might be wishing he hadn't.

A lot of teams seem to have a 'talisman' like Ronaldo, Messi, Suarez, etc. but when they don't click then one player can't carry a team.

Brazil and Spain have good squads
France as well
Belgium look strong
Should not write Germany off
Even England have a decent team balance this tournament

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Yeah exactly. Ronaldo would get you goals in a crap team, Messi needs decent players around him. People hate on Ronaldo because he's a 24 carat bellend, but he's a class apart from anyone else - even Messi.

I don't think you can say Argentina don't have decent players though - that team even without Messi should be contenders. Their problem isn't a lack of good players. Portugal aside from Ronaldo are well drilled and know their roles - Messi would score plenty in a team like that IMO.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

A lot of teams seem to have a 'talisman' like Ronaldo, Messi, Suarez, etc. but when they don't click then one player can't carry a team.

Maradona 86? Stoichkov for Bulgaria for a while, Hagi for Romania. Average teams can be lifted by one star forward if they all play as a team. Argentina, as well as not being very good, were a sulking non-team shambles.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I don't think you can say Argentina don't have decent players though - that team even without Messi should be contenders. Their problem isn't a lack of good players. Portugal aside from Ronaldo are well drilled and know their roles - Messi would score plenty in a team like that IMO.

This is a good point. This Argentina team just isn't a team. Can Messi take some blame for that, though? I think he can - not all of it, but his share.

I still think that what Ronaldo has achieved with Portugal sets him above Messi. Can you imagine Messi getting injured early on and then basically pushing the coach aside to lead the team from the touchline?

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

This is a good point. This Argentina team just isn't a team. Can Messi take some blame for that, though? I think he can - not all of it, but his share.

Yeah definitely - he's not playing well enough to justify the whole focus on him is he, and I think his presence stops them being more team focussed. How much that's something he imposes and how much it's how the others react to him you can't really say.

To go back to Ronaldo, maybe the fact that Argentina have better players than Portugal is actually part of the problem. Ronaldo is obviously totally accepted as the main man there, whereas if you look at some of the Argentina players you could understand them being unhappy with being told they're basically there to back up someone else.

 

[nuffsaid]

Yeah exactly. Ronaldo would get you goals in a crap team, Messi needs decent players around him. People hate on Ronaldo because he's a 24 carat bellend, but he's a class apart from anyone else - even Messi.

Cesc would beg to differ it seems -

"Yes, he is playing well, but if you really look at what he has done, he has scored one penalty, one free-kick, one goal from a corner and one with a shot that David de Gea should have saved.

You cannot say that he and Portugal have shown great combinations or tiki-taka football to score great goals.

You have to give him credit, of course, but his goals have come from set-pieces, penalties or mistakes."

Fair point.

World Cup 2018: Germany walking a tightrope - Cesc Fabregas column

 

[Kaka Tim]

I still think that what Ronaldo has achieved with Portugal sets him above Messi.

yep - much as it grates to admit it.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Cesc would beg to differ it seems -

"Yes, he is playing well, but if you really look at what he has done, he has scored one penalty, one free-kick, one goal from a corner and one with a shot that David de Gea should have saved.

You cannot say that he and Portugal have shown great combinations or tiki-taka football to score great goals.

You have to give him credit, of course, but his goals have come from set-pieces, penalties or mistakes."

Fair point.

World Cup 2018: Germany walking a tightrope - Cesc Fabregas column

I think Cesc is wrong about that. I would put it in reverse - for all their great combinations and tiki-taka football, Spain create precious few clear-cut chances.

Also, Ronaldo's free kick was a great goal. Especially given when in the game he scored it.

 

[Teaboy]

That'd be ex-Barcelona player Cesc.

You could say that Kane only scores tap ins. We've seen quite a few games where lower ranked teams have given it a real go but never really look like they're going to get the ball in the net. Somebody who gets you goals is worth their weight in gold (more, tbf), so saying he only scores a certain type of goal is besides the point and quite frankly a bit churlish.

 

[agricola]

I think Cesc is wrong about that. I would put it in reverse - for all their great combinations and tiki-taka football, Spain create precious few clear-cut chances.

Also, Ronaldo's free kick was a great goal. Especially given when in the game he scored it.

I don't think he is that wide of the mark, as he ages CR7 does tend to just score goals rather than dominate games in the way that he used to (and Messi still does, at least domestically). When he doesn't score (as in the CL final) his contribution is minimal.

You are right about Spain though, in a way I suppose all we are seeing now is confirmation of just how good David Villa was.

 

[skyscraper101]

hahaha. Look at the fat fucking cheat. Suck it up mate.

 

[LiamO]

Don't quite get the amusement tbh

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Yep. And I want Germany to lose cos Hitler.

 

[Pickman's model]

Even England have a decent team balance this tournament

we shall not see its like again

 

[not-bono-ever]

Everyone big is shit this year + England may not be as shit as the last few times = its coming home*


* I will never return to these boards or watch another football game in my life if this happens

 

[Pickman's model]

Everyone big is shit this year + England may not be as shit as the last few times = its coming home*


* I will never return to these boards or watch another football game in my life if this happens

after so long it's never coming home, it's hiding somewhere and doesn't want to be found

 

[magneze]

that would be a miserable game until one of then scuffs in a flukey goal, then it would be red cards all round

Everyone's a winner then.

 

[Teaboy]

hahaha. Look at the fat fucking cheat. Suck it up mate.

I can't decide whether he is a terrible advert for cocaine or a terrible advert for stopping cocaine.

 

[nuffsaid]

Everyone big is shit this year + England may not be as shit as the last few times = its coming home*

* I will never return to these boards or watch another football game in my life if this happens

I quite like that idea - quit watching football at the very zenith of any football fan's watching experience. No other game would ever compare, there's logic there.

 

[rekil]

Lovren. Oh dear.

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/...azi-collaborator-ustase-song-bojna-cavoglave/

 

[Mr.Bishie]

What a cunt.

 

[not-bono-ever]

its mad isnt it- we sometimes forget how recently the whole area was at each others throats

 

[Badgers]

 

[Cheesepig3]

We’ve got a bunch of Hrvats on site. They have a massive tv in a container. They have Bluetooth headsets. Because they’re being paid to weld not watch football.


They forgot that Bluetooth headsets don’t stop your hysterical cheering being audible 50 yards away.


Site director let them off on pain of multiple bottles.