erogenouszone said:

To me personally Messi is already the "goat". He's won everything already so he's up there Maradona who is the OG goat.

Would be nice for Spain to win as not many people are feeling the love for Argentina throughout this tournament.

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Yeah I've always been pretty pro Ronaldo because he's been a supreme athlete I always thought having less technical ability showcased the work he does. But there was a 15-20 mins period towards the end that was vintage Messi just picking up the ball running at people all over the park played some superb crosses looked 25 again he is just an anomaly and alien almost not sure if we will see it again.

HonestSpursFan said:

Who do we want to win? Spain with their first win in 16 years or Argentina to settle the GOAT debate? I kinda want Spain to win it despite their federation having a disgraceful recent history.

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I so badly want Spain to win...the Messi-FIFA love-in has been appalling. No-one can tell me Messi has not had on-field privileges that don't apply to lesser players. He's not bigger than the game but is being privileged as if he is.

erogenouszone said:

To me personally Messi is already the "goat". He's won everything already so he's up there Maradona who is the OG goat.

Would be nice for Spain to win as not many people are feeling the love for Argentina throughout this tournament.

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Maradona for me. The way I see it its not just about the numbers, its about the football they played in the context they played it in. The challenges Maradona faced were more difficult.

Even though it was traumatic when the Socceroos were knocked out in the pen shoot out, it has been nice to be a neutral and just admire the quality of some teams at the WC.

* The best technical teams I've seen are Spain, Portugal ( when playing Spain) and France. I'll go into more detail in the Socceroo match analysis/stats thread, and the differential with the Roos.

* Have been astonished that Tuchel didn't take shorter players with lower centre of gravity, like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer? Maybe Tuchel had too much talent to choose from?
England 's huge, tall team, with most of the players 1.85 and 1.88 metres tall, ( 6 feet 1 and 6 feet 2), couldn't jockey the shorter nimble Argentinian players on the ball after the English Gordon goal and when the Poms subsequently parked the bus.
In central midfield Rice and Anderson, were too big and cumbersome, to stop Messi and his mates beating them, with most of the English team the same. Conversely, Norway had a few even taller CBs, but they still had 3-4 shorter players on the pitch.

Very disappointed that Brazil have lost their Jogo Bonito and flair. Checked their South American WCQing and they were ordinary, losing quite a few games. Only Vinicius Junior at Left Wing displayed a nice skill set in the WC, more akin to older style Brazilian players.


I think Brazil has a crisis in identity. The Euopeanisation of Brazilians developing in UEFA academies has seen their past lobs, flicks, dribbling and attacking interplay in tight spaces, almost disappear. Yes, Brazilian players are more two footed and two side of the body proficient, but the old one foot dominant flair players developed playing futsal in the favelas don't seem to be making it to the Brazil national team.

JS96 said:

It doesn't help when Argentina are already beginning a simulation before minimal contact. I don't think any English fouls during play were dirty. Argentina meanwhile..

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Sorry
Even back in Maradonas days the Argies we dirty rotten scoundrels to the EU and evidently more to us play it to the rules ethos.
Nothing has changed but they like all the genuine play actors in Latin America Etc have played it even better today’s game.
Uruguay the dirty rats here karate chopped Baartz in the Sydney game - that was un heard of way back then.
I see it that those opposing them either stand up or play better to nullify it- now then I’d rate who beat them.
Not whinge about the rules the officials the certain oh it’s set up for Messi.
Seriously play the game to beat the system.

Astonished how good the DR of Congo were against England. Congo had a wide player on each flank, who were good ball players and worried England.

Congo were organised, skilful and athletic. Losing 1-2 to a quality England team was impressive.

JS96 said:

Definitely develop systems to beat them but the balance of the match is unfairly effected if refs don't give cards. Imagine if Fernandez had a yellow, he holds back. Fernandez should have had 2 yellows. Any competent ref does it for the punch in the head and the blatant trip.

Enough evidence has been shown that Egypt and England had shocking officiating. I didn't watch the Cape Verde game live and they had a system to get at Argentina who also had an off day. Each game is circumstantial.

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Ah now the refs
Some play it harder than others.
Others blow the whistle too much another doesn’t,
What next ?
We are getting towards robot officials striving for perfection - I suppose at my vintage I’m not for this whatsoever but next gen’s most likely.
I like the inconsistency
The difference match to match by officials as well.
Nothing worse than vanilla every single game for that will come and truely change the game even mote.
I am not for this.
I like how league games are officiated differently to Champs league.