The 2018 World Cup Superthread

fyfe79

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Maradona did it. The true sign of greatness surely....rising to the greatest occasion when the world watches? What we got tonight, was a player in Ronaldo, who wholly relies on others to create, who can't influence the game in open play to any great extent; and Maradona light (Messi), who's head drops far to often at international level. Ronaldo is a great goal scorer, Messi is a true great, but neither have met the level set by the greatest, Maradona

Didn't Maradona himself only recently say that when he had a poor game for Argentina he had players like Valdano, Burrachaga and Brown to bail him out - meanwhile Messi has nobody? Argentina in 1986 relied a lot on Maradona, no doubt, but weren't even nearly as poor as their current side.

mickmackey1

fyfe79 wrote: »

Didn't Maradona himself only recently say that when he had a poor game for Argentina he had players like Valdano, Burrachaga and Brown to bail him out - meanwhile Messi has nobody? Argentina in 1986 relied a lot on Maradona, no doubt, but weren't even nearly as poor as their current side.

Messi has Aguero, Di Maria, Higuain who've each been transferred for 10s of millions of euro. Hardly nobodies.

adox

fyfe79 wrote: »

Didn't Maradona himself only recently say that when he had a poor game for Argentina he had players like Valdano, Burrachaga and Brown to bail him out - meanwhile Messi has nobody? Argentina in 1986 relied a lot on Maradona, no doubt, but weren't even nearly as poor as their current side.

Argentina have better players now than they had in 86 imo and by a long way.
Just look at the names in the current squad.

blueser

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Thought the World Cup came alive yesterday. Two brilliant games, esp Portugal v Uruguay. I could watch the opening goal for every on a loop!

Seriously? The one that went in off Cavani's face/neck/shoulder? It was an okay goal, but I wouldn't put it in the top rank of goals scored in the tournament so far.

blueser

adox wrote: »

Argentina have better players now than they had in 86 imo and by a long way.
Just look at the names in the current squad.

The likes of Higuain and Aguero on the bench, and Icardi back home. Baffling management.

ERG89

mickmackey1 wrote:

Messi has Aguero, Di Maria, Higuain who've each been transferred for 10s of millions of euro. Hardly nobodies.

Di Maria spent most of the season on the bench, Higuain looked out of shape again he was about as athletic as a fence post against Nigeria. Aguero scored twice but in general isn't lethal for Argentina.
Their back 5 happen to be incredibly bad & the midfield was marginally better at the world cup.

adox

blueser wrote: »

Seriously? The one that went in off Cavani's face/neck/shoulder? It was an okay goal, but I wouldn't put it in the top rank of goals scored in the tournament so far.

The goal by the French right back was the one that got me off my seat. An absolute thing of beauty. Up there as a contender for goal of the tournament.

The Talking Bread

blueser wrote: »

Seriously? The one that went in off Cavani's face/neck/shoulder? It was an okay goal, but I wouldn't put it in the top rank of goals scored in the tournament so far.

It as a brilliantly worked goal.

chips1234

jesus its ligue uhhhhhhhhn not la ligue

The Talking Bread

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

Winning La Ligue with PSG as opposed to winning the league with Spurs in England is completely different.

Not to mention Kane is only 24 and playing in a very good but hardly exceptional squad.

Kane would be a monster if playing in that PSG team

quarryman

What’s the word on James for the England game?

blueser

adox wrote: »

The goal by the French right back was the one that got me off my seat. An absolute thing of beauty. Up there as a contender for goal of the tournament.

Pavard yesterday. Belting goal. Also, Nacho for Spain against Portugal. Cavani is a proven goalscorer; those two lads are full backs!

fyfe79

fyfe79 wrote: »

Didn't Maradona himself only recently say that when he had a poor game for Argentina he had players like Valdano, Burrachaga and Brown to bail him out - meanwhile Messi has nobody? Argentina in 1986 relied a lot on Maradona, no doubt, but weren't even nearly as poor as their current side.

Obviously he was being generous, and Valdano was a fine player. But Burrachaga and Brown? Think both played briefly in France once they left Argentina, and not PSG or Marseille level but mid table sides. Workmanlike is being kind.

Seriously, not even on the same football planet as the players that Messi had around him.

NIMAN

blueser wrote: »

The likes of Higuain and Aguero on the bench, and Icardi back home. Baffling management.

Aguero is carrying an injury into it...if he was fully fit he would have started every game.

Higuain looks like he's been partying since Juve got knocked out of the CL. He looks fat, he's slow and his first touch was awful.

I can't understand why Dybala didn't get more game time. He's young and surely could have influenced a game somewhere along the line? Maybe he's not part of the clique in the team?

Icardi was left out of the squad for personal reasons that involve shagging an ex-team favourite's wife. His inclusion would have had a lot of in-fighting in the squad.

blueser

NIMAN wrote: »

Aguero is carrying an injury into it...if he was fully fit he would have started every game.

Higuain looks like he's been partying since Juve got knocked out of the CL. He looks fat, he's slow and his first touch was awful.

I can't understand why Dybala didn't get more game time. He's young and surely could have influenced a game somewhere along the line? Maybe he's not part of the clique in the team?

Icardi was left out of the squad for personal reasons that involve shagging an ex-team favourite's wife. His inclusion would have had a lot of in-fighting in the squad.

I'd heard about Icardi being a bit of a tw@, to be fair. Kun had said that he was fit after missing the last bit of the season with us. Higuain is a proven scorer at the highest level, and a step up on what they had in the staring XI.

Gbear

NIMAN wrote: »

Aguero is carrying an injury into it...if he was fully fit he would have started every game.

Higuain looks like he's been partying since Juve got knocked out of the CL. He looks fat, he's slow and his first touch was awful.

I can't understand why Dybala didn't get more game time. He's young and surely could have influenced a game somewhere along the line? Maybe he's not part of the clique in the team?

Icardi was left out of the squad for personal reasons that involve shagging an ex-team favourite's wife. His inclusion would have had a lot of in-fighting in the squad.

Higuain has been fat for about 3 years.

gormdubhgorm

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Maradona did it. The true sign of greatness surely....rising to the greatest occasion when the world watches? What we got tonight, was a player in Ronaldo, who wholly relies on others to create, who can't influence the game in open play to any great extent; and Maradona light (Messi), who's head drops far to often at international level. Ronaldo is a great goal scorer, Messi is a true great, but neither have met the level set by the greatest, Maradona

And with Napoli as well they were an average team at best when Maradona went there in his first season 86/87.

I mean look at this for a squad:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986%E2%80%9387_S.S.C._Napoli_season

Can you honestly say you remember/know of any of the others besides Maradona?

He won them the league on his own.

gormdubhgorm

mickmackey1 wrote: »

Messi has Aguero, Di Maria, Higuain who've each been transferred for 10s of millions of euro. Hardly nobodies.

All forwards though and Mascharano has gotten too old, and Benega is in and out of the team.
Di Maria is notoriously inconsistent

fyfe79

mickmackey1 wrote: »

Messi has Aguero, Di Maria, Higuain who've each been transferred for 10s of millions of euro. Hardly nobodies.

Absolutely. But I think Maradona was having a dig at those players, the better players, for not supporting Messi better. Argentina 2016 have better players than 1986 but not nearly a better team.

gormdubhgorm

blueser wrote: »

Seriously? The one that went in off Cavani's face/neck/shoulder? It was an okay goal, but I wouldn't put it in the top rank of goals scored in the tournament so far.

Yeah his second goal was better I thought.

ERG89

gormdubhgorm wrote:

Can you honestly say you remember/know of any of the others besides Maradona?

If you don't know who Ciro Ferrara is I assume you only started watching football in 2005

Blazer

blueser wrote: »

The likes of Higuain and Aguero on the bench, and Icardi back home. Baffling management.

Apparently Aguero was benched because he was leading calls for the manager to be fired.

fyfe79

Deleted User wrote: »

Obviously he was being generous, and Valdano was a fine player. But Burrachaga and Brown? Think both played briefly in France once they left Argentina, and not PSG or Marseille level but mid table sides. Workmanlike is being kind.

Seriously, not even on the same football planet as the players that Messi had around him.

I think his point was that he had a better team around him, if not better players. It's hardly Messi's fault if the other star names in his side do little to help.

blueser

Blazer wrote: »

Apparently Aguero was benched because he was leading calls for the manager to be fired.

He'll probably get his wish. Can't see the Agassi lookalike surviving a poor tournament and a player revolt.

The Talking Bread

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

And with Napoli as well they were an average team at best when Maradona went there in his first season 86/87.

I mean look at this for a squad:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986%E2%80%9387_S.S.C._Napoli_season

Can you honestly say you remember/know of any of the others besides Maradona?

He won them the league on his own.

If you don't know a player like Ciro Ferrara,you shouldn't really be criticisng anyone for their knowledge of football!! Carnevale is well known also

But, yes, a very average squad! I would love to see a documentary on that season if there is one out there?

blueser

That's a poor goal to concede. Again, the defender was more concerned with grappling his opponent rather than the actual ball.

ERG89

I don't know if that was an og or not but the idea of defending a set piece by turning your back to the cross ain't a smart one.

titan18

blueser wrote: »

He'll probably get his wish. Can't see the Agassi lookalike surviving a poor tournament and a player revolt.

AFA probably can't afford to fire him though. Estimates are it will cost 20m to fire him.

Will I Am Not

Dumb.

blueser

Good decision, in my opinion. Pique knew what he was doing there.

Corholio

Spain almost too comfortable and got caught. They still should win if they step it up any bit but they wouldn't want to be too casual about it.

Stephen15

Could that been a straight red for Pique? It was deliberate no doubt but could it have been classed as blocking a clear goal scoring chance?

eagle eye

Surely we'll see Iniesta for the last half hour.
Spain need him badly.

NIMAN

Do we think Costa would be a starting CF for Brazil had he played for his country of birth?

His style doesn't suit how Spain play, he must get fed up at times waiting for through balls that never come.

Would the Brazilian style suit him any better?

blueser

Spain not pulling up too many trees out there today. Russia are keeping them very quiet.

*cue a Spanish goal*

eagle eye

Spain are not creating anything, seems to nearly be a fear to put the ball in the box in case you lose position.
This is awful to watch.

Loafing Oaf

Spain over and back for a couple of minutes, lose the ball. Rinse and repeat until penalty shootout.:rolleyes:

pjohnson

eagle eye wrote: »

Spain are not creating anything, seems to nearly be a fear to put the ball in the box in case you lose position.
This is awful to watch.

A Carvajal just floated a lovely ball to Akinfeev.

eagle eye

FFS, that substitution annoys me. Costa wasn't the problrm, Koke, Isco., Alba, Asensio and Busquets have been the issue.

Gbear

eagle eye wrote: »

FFS, that substitution annoys me. Costa wasn't the problrm, Koke, Isco., Alba, Asensio and Busquets have been the issue.

Aspas has made a couple of runs towards the ball and behind the defence since he came on.

I don't know was Costa doing that but nobody else was moving into the space Aspas created.

Maybe the heat is dulling their thinking but you'd think Spaniards would be used to playing on conditions like this.

Loafing Oaf

This half of the draw was open already but if Spain go out there could be anyone reaching the final.:eek: Losing to Belgium would certainly look the right move by England.

pjohnson

Match Summary.

martyos121

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

This half of the draw was open already but if Spain go out there could be anyone reaching the final.:eek: Losing to Belgium would certainly look the right move by England.

It’s all setting up nicely for the ultimate grudge match in the semis, England vs. Russia. :pac:

TiGeR KiNgS

Is it just me or does the RTE live player keep cutting out ?

ERG89

To say Spain aren't what they were is an understatement. I think they hoped to get through the game without Iniesta but couldn't even manage to do that.

pjohnson

TiGeR KiNgS wrote: »

Is it just me or does the RTE live player keep cutting out ?

Probably bored hopeless the poor thing.

blueser

This is pretty grim fayre.

Panthro

Christ tis boring stuff.

Panthro

Kick the ball. Hit the wall. Retrieve the ball.
Repeat

marklazarcovic

Russians won't care if they get through