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FIFA WC 26 - Other Nations LIVE Match Thread ⚽

riquelmes_laces said:
I’m sure many people would disagree with my opinion.

I just think for all the resources they have, this reliance of false 9’s just makes hard work of it.

They could be so much more ruthless.

They beat 10 men.

If Enzo stays on the field, that game goes to penalties, I have no doubt about it.
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if Enzo stayed on the field he would have murdered someone
 
Decentric said:
A number would like more action in games. They have said they get bored with sustained periods of possession.

One phenomenon the Dutch impart is having the ball means the other team can’t score. Possession is also an effective defensive strategy.
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Yeah everyone understands that re: possession is the best form of defence.

Spain needed extra-time and a man down to beat a bunch of mid table dross built around a brilliant little guy pushing 40, after 68% possession and 20 shots.

I think what that points too is Spain's front three are mid.

Tuchel should hang his head in shame losing to this Argentinian side.
 
Boring to watch? Nah it was so impressive to see Spain's press and you can literally see them squeeze the life out of their opponents. Like they were literally marking man for man Argentina's backline throughout the game as either Martinez or a defender had the ball trying to find any option! The focus, skill and commitment needed to pull that off throughout not only 90 minutes but the entire tournament and succeed wow.
 
Socceroofan4life said:
Boring to watch? Nah it was so impressive to see Spain's press and you can literally see them squeeze the life out of their opponents. Like they were literally marking man for man Argentina's backline throughout the game as either Martinez or a defender had the ball trying to find any option! The focus, skill and commitment needed to pull that off throughout not only 90 minutes but the entire tournament and succeed wow.
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And yet one Simeone mishit in the dying seconds and it would have gone to penalties.
 
I'm not big on "IF" scenarios in football, but a world class front three would have put Argentina to bed in 90mins without needing a man down and extra time.

The total domination from back to front was clear to see, Spain just don't have elite forwards. That's why they have a defensive midfielder in Marino to bring off the bench to play as a decoy / makeshift striker.
 
riquelmes_laces said:
Yeah everyone understands that re: possession is the best form of defence.

Spain needed extra-time and a man down to beat a bunch of mid table dross built around a brilliant little guy pushing 40, after 68% possession and 20 shots.

I think what that points too is Spain's front three are mid.

Tuchel should hang his head in shame losing to this Argentinian side.
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very good points r l !

As much as I admire the spanish play they should have cleaned them up within the 90 done dusted.
They created enough to win 3 games.
For those who bang on about squad values considering you mention bunch of mid table dross, that yes by $ good diff :
Spain’s €1.2 billion team and Argentina’s €808 million are the third and seventh most valuable line ups in the world, respectively.
 
LFC said:
very good points r l !

As much as I admire the spanish play they should have cleaned them up within the 90 done dusted.
They created enough to win 3 games.
For those who bang on about squad values considering you mention bunch of mid table dross, that yes by $ good diff :
Spain’s €1.2 billion team and Argentina’s €808 million are the third and seventh most valuable line ups in the world, respectively.
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It helps to have a manager like Simeone to raise the valuation of the squad (including his son ;))
 
Robbos said:
Yes on paper yes French has great players, but Spain has beaten France now twice at Euros & WC semis, so I would say they (Spain) are the best team.
Now include the manager of Champions league is Luis Enriqrue, manager of PL champions is Mikel Arteta, of course their is Pep, the top manager in the world, I would say Spain are the best footballing country in the world.
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The 21st Century in football really is a story of Spanish excellence.

* Created and popularised 4-2-3-1 that really took off in the 2000s.
* Most major NT titles (2 World Cups and 3 Euros)
* Most Champions Leagues won (11 with Real Madrid & Barcelona). Ditto with the coaches (Benitez, Del Bosque, Enrique & Guardiola).
* Most Europa Leagues won (12). Same with the coaches (Benitez, Emery, Lopetegui, Mendilibar, Ramos, & Sanchez Flores).

If you look at the rising young coaches say under 45 a lot of them are Spanish too (Alonso, Fabregas & Iraola etc).

It's up to everyone else now to get better and try to surpass them.
 
riquelmes_laces said:
I'm not big on "IF" scenarios in football, but a world class front three would have put Argentina to bed in 90mins without needing a man down and extra time.

The total domination from back to front was clear to see, Spain just don't have elite forwards. That's why they have a defensive midfielder in Marino to bring off the bench to play as a decoy / makeshift striker.
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Spain has got Lamal and lesser extent Williams, who in Lamal case world class but young and Williams very good, however both were injured.
However they do lack a natural no 9.
 
Robbos said:
Spain has got Lamal and lesser extent Williams, who in Lamal case world class but young and Williams very good, however both were injured.
However they do lack a natural no 9.
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The fact Yamal, N. Williams, Pino etc were either not in form or injured and they still won shows how great their midfield really is. You could argue it's better to have a great midfield than a great attack. Nobody has more attacking talent than France or Argentina and they basically did nothing against Spain.
 
riquelmes_laces said:
I'm not big on "IF" scenarios in football, but a world class front three would have put Argentina to bed in 90mins without needing a man down and extra time.

The total domination from back to front was clear to see, Spain just don't have elite forwards. That's why they have a defensive midfielder in Marino to bring off the bench to play as a decoy / makeshift striker.
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But that in many ways is why Spain is so successful, they don't need to have an elite front three & as a matter of fact they don't need to have an elite player in any position. They're an unbelievably good cohesive unit in which the coach is confident that all of them have come through youth and club systems that they can all slot into how he wants them to play with a few positional tweaks. Marry that with depth off the bench and they're a well oiled machine. See Argentina's La Maquinia is similar except they've been reliant too much on old man Messi for too long, that ( I assume ) is all over now however Spain don't need a superstar just a team of talented individuals, that posession and interception game is next level.
 


We already knew it but the way Argentina consolidated their dirty play needs consequences. I suggest every team just point and laugh at them. In future. Just take the piss. Their pride won't be able to handle it.
 
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one thing not mentioned much instead of Lamal etc is Rodri.
He was a puppet master today, sitting so high up the pitch due to dominating.
Also 1 player I really haven't rate a lot in the EPL, maybe never settled due to the club probs/coach changes many times is Cucurella.
Not just the final game but others I had watched him.
Yep he's signed for RM, maybe he's been released mentally for some of his Chelsea play wasn't great, well not to the WC form each game he's played.
Porro - another up and down player for Spurs.
Sure always been a fighter and a half but he also lifted this Cup.
That goal he scored the other game was first class.
His work rate, ball giving, always finding space.
I suppose when your in a team that has every position covered your confidence just oooze's.
 
Spain totally controlled the game and it would have been a travesty if it had gone to a penalty shoot out and Argentina had won.If Spain had Mbappe they would have blown Argentina off the park by half time.That is their only weakness that they don't have a excellent central striker though Yamal and Nico Williams are top wingers and would be having a ball feeding Mbappe .
 
booney52 said:
Spain totally controlled the game and it would have been a travesty if it had gone to a penalty shoot out and Argentina had won.If Spain had Mbappe they would have blown Argentina off the park by half time.That is their only weakness that they don't have a excellent central striker though Yamal and Nico Williams are top wingers and would be having a ball feeding Mbappe .
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as someone mentioned re Spain no strikers, imagine Torres feeding off all those balls from either side or through balls down the middle.
 
HonestSpursFan said:
Lots of regional pride in the Spanish team based on the flags they had! Usually you see players with their flags on big occasions at club level but it’s much rarer internationally. In Spain’s context it makes sense though, for those aware of Spain’s diversity and politics.
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I really enjoyed seeing that
 
Socceroofan4life said:
Boring to watch? Nah it was so impressive to see Spain's press and you can literally see them squeeze the life out of their opponents. Like they were literally marking man for man Argentina's backline throughout the game as either Martinez or a defender had the ball trying to find any option! The focus, skill and commitment needed to pull that off throughout not only 90 minutes but the entire tournament and succeed wow.
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I found it boring because it was one team playing and another team hoping (but not successfully) to hurt the opposition on the break. There have been more entertaining 0-0 games in this World Cup. My definition of entertaining might be different to yours.

Spain were good to watch but their front three weren't super effective. Congratulations to them. They deserved it this morning.
 
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