Not much of an Argentina fan but I'd prefer them in the final to the admirable but horrible Croatia who have only managed one actual win to date, and that was over the lowly Canada.
I almost don't think I could bear to watch a re-run of the 2018 final.
Croatia have only conceeded 1 goal the entire tournament. So their game is clearly a defensive won, targetting dextra time and pens - and its worked for them, I'd prefer to see Messi in the final but a Morocco/Croatia final would be epic.
At least with Croatia's loss we'll have something different this time around in the GF. I want Morocco to beat France though I'm just not sure if they will, though Tunisia managed to despite France massively dominating possession so who knows.
Eh, this game is exactly why I don't want Morocco to beat France. The underdogs getting through is always nice but 99% of the time they run out of gas and we get disappointing games like this.
Eh, this game is exactly why I don't want Morocco to beat France. The underdogs getting through is always nice but 99% of the team they run out of gas and we get disappointing games like this.
irt would be great for the african nations to have Morocco make it, but france will likely be a step too far and even if they do beat the French they will be well drained by Sunday/Monday.
Eh, this game is exactly why I don't want Morocco to beat France. The underdogs getting through is always nice but 99% of the time they run out of gas and we get disappointing games like this.
I am not really sure what you mean. We saw a sublime performance from one of the greatest ever. Surely nothing disappointing about that. Croatia could hardly be regarded as an under dog as they made the final in 2018 and put Brazil out this time.
Super proud of Argentina today, and despite some people’s dislike of our tactics or attitudes, we couldn’t care less and are in a final. After the 2018 disaster, these last few years have been incredible, thanks partially to Lionel Messi just being Messi, to Lionel Scaloni, who was never a superstar player got together a band of players who were unknown and turned them into a well oil machine. The centre back, Cuti Romero was going to retire in 2014 as his career wasn’t going anywhere, heroic goalkeeper Emi Martinez was going from loam to loan in the championship, Nahuel Molina and Marcos Acuna were playing in Argentina second division only 5 years ago.. this is a team and a half, this is La Scaloneta, and whatever happens in the final, their journey to this point makes me a proud Argentinian. VAMOS ARGENTINA
Eh, this game is exactly why I don't want Morocco to beat France. The underdogs getting through is always nice but 99% of the time they run out of gas and we get disappointing games like this.
I am not really sure what you mean. We saw a sublime performance from one of the greatest ever. Surely nothing disappointing about that. Croatia could hardly be regarded as an under dog as they made the final in 2018 and put Brazil out this time.
If Morocco beats France tomorrow are you genuinely happy to say they're one of the two best teams on earth? Let's be honest, if Morocco play France 10 times they'd lose 9 times. I want to see, unquestionably, the best two teams on earth in the final.
Also I'd like to see Argentina's road to a world cup a little tougher than Australia, Netherlands, Croatia, and Morocco.
That's how knockout tournaments work - it's the teams who win the games on the day, not necessarily the "two best teams" on paper. If it was about a match between the top two ranks, then you wouldn't bother with the tournament. Similarly the All Blacks haven't been awarded every World Cup as even though they have usually been number 1 at the tournament, they haven't always been able to win the game the mattered. Belgium are ranked number 2 but did they genuinely look like one of the two best teams in their games?
Can't be bothered going back through the history of it but I expect the final hasn't very often been between the number 1 and 2 ranks at the time.
In any case, Morocco to this point have beaten Belgium (number 2), Spain (number 7), Portugal (number 9) and finished ahead of Croatia (number 12, fellow semi finalists and finalist last time) in the group. It looks unlikely now at half time but if they do win they would deserve to be in the final. They've had a much tougher draw than anyone else. I agree Argentina-France would likely be the more competitive game, but if Morocco do beat France as well as the others they have beaten then I'm not sure you can argue they are not currently one of the best teams.
I have no arguments with any of that - if Morocco won today they'd deserve to be there. They won their games.
I just want to see the biggest and best sides in the world, in form, playing each other in the final. And I wish Netherlands/Argentina was one semi, and France/England was the other.
The Messi vs Mbappe comparisons are going to be unbearable, however
Mbappe has far less of a cult than Messi, so France would be more bearable for me. If the constant talk is already mind-numbing, it'd only increase tenfold if Argentina were to win. The World Cup skipping over the entire Ronaldo/Messi cult would be great, and this is the last chance for either.
It seems Qatar got their ideal final though, with the two most marketable players from the club they own, the club whose ownership (among other things like fighter jet purchases) was instrumental in getting them the World Cup hosting rights in the first place. Funny how things work like that.
Super proud of Argentina today, and despite some people’s dislike of our tactics or attitudes, we couldn’t care less and are in a final. After the 2018 disaster, these last few years have been incredible, thanks partially to Lionel Messi just being Messi, to Lionel Scaloni, who was never a superstar player got together a band of players who were unknown and turned them into a well oil machine. The centre back, Cuti Romero was going to retire in 2014 as his career wasn’t going anywhere, heroic goalkeeper Emi Martinez was going from loam to loan in the championship, Nahuel Molina and Marcos Acuna were playing in Argentina second division only 5 years ago.. this is a team and a half, this is La Scaloneta, and whatever happens in the final, their journey to this point makes me a proud Argentinian. VAMOS ARGENTINA
Fair play Argentina I wrote them off after the Saudi loss. Messi has been sublime at age 35.
That French defence was excellent today, the challenge of Argentina will be fascinating. I have a feeling that Mbappe's speed will be the deciding factor.
I think Messi's class will be the deciderOi Oi Edgecumbe
That French defence was excellent today, the challenge of Argentina will be fascinating. I have a feeling that Mbappe's speed will be the deciding factor.
Mbappe is a freak, that mas has a turn of speed like no other, Messi can still work his magi and his experience will certainly help - but it's not gonna be a cake walk for either of them. It will relaly come down to who negates which superstar. Both have more than one player in the team who can take control as well, so it wont just be Mbappe/Messi. France have Giroud, Griezeman, Loris and the Argies have Macalister, Molina, Paredes
Eh, this game is exactly why I don't want Morocco to beat France. The underdogs getting through is always nice but 99% of the time they run out of gas and we get disappointing games like this.
I am not really sure what you mean. We saw a sublime performance from one of the greatest ever. Surely nothing disappointing about that. Croatia could hardly be regarded as an under dog as they made the final in 2018 and put Brazil out this time.
If Morocco beats France tomorrow are you genuinely happy to say they're one of the two best teams on earth? Let's be honest, if Morocco play France 10 times they'd lose 9 times. I want to see, unquestionably, the best two teams on earth in the final.
Also I'd like to see Argentina's road to a world cup a little tougher than Australia, Netherlands, Croatia, and Morocco.
Look it is what it is this is how these tournaments work, I am bemused by your logic. Whoever wins their way to the final are worthy finalists because they earned their way there.
Eh, this game is exactly why I don't want Morocco to beat France. The underdogs getting through is always nice but 99% of the time they run out of gas and we get disappointing games like this.
I am not really sure what you mean. We saw a sublime performance from one of the greatest ever. Surely nothing disappointing about that. Croatia could hardly be regarded as an under dog as they made the final in 2018 and put Brazil out this time.
If Morocco beats France tomorrow are you genuinely happy to say they're one of the two best teams on earth? Let's be honest, if Morocco play France 10 times they'd lose 9 times. I want to see, unquestionably, the best two teams on earth in the final.
Also I'd like to see Argentina's road to a world cup a little tougher than Australia, Netherlands, Croatia, and Morocco.
Look it is what it is this is how these tournaments work, I am bemused by your logic. Whoever wins their way to the final are worthy finalists because they earned their way there.
It's really not hard to understand - when Watford make the FA Cup final they indeed deserve to be there, they won. But no one thinks they're the second best team in the country, and there's a pretty good chance that they're gonna get blown out 6-0.
So just scrap the WC teams and have the top 4 ranked FIFA teams straight into the semis. Perhaps just allow the top 10 EPL teams to enter the FA Cup Yea right.20 Legend
whatever
20 Legend
whatever
20 Legend
Eh, this game is exactly why I don't want Morocco to beat France. The underdogs getting through is always nice but 99% of the time they run out of gas and we get disappointing games like this.
I am not really sure what you mean. We saw a sublime performance from one of the greatest ever. Surely nothing disappointing about that. Croatia could hardly be regarded as an under dog as they made the final in 2018 and put Brazil out this time.
If Morocco beats France tomorrow are you genuinely happy to say they're one of the two best teams on earth? Let's be honest, if Morocco play France 10 times they'd lose 9 times. I want to see, unquestionably, the best two teams on earth in the final.
Also I'd like to see Argentina's road to a world cup a little tougher than Australia, Netherlands, Croatia, and Morocco.
Look it is what it is this is how these tournaments work, I am bemused by your logic. Whoever wins their way to the final are worthy finalists because they earned their way there.
It's really not hard to understand - when Watford make the FA Cup final they indeed deserve to be there, they won. But no one thinks they're the second best team in the country, and there's a pretty good chance that they're gonna get blown out 6-0.
So just scrap the WC teams and have the top 4 ranked FIFA teams straight into the semis. Perhaps just allow the top 10 EPL teams to enter the FA Cup Yea right.20 Legend
whatever
20 Legend
whatever
20 Legend
Eh, this game is exactly why I don't want Morocco to beat France. The underdogs getting through is always nice but 99% of the time they run out of gas and we get disappointing games like this.
I am not really sure what you mean. We saw a sublime performance from one of the greatest ever. Surely nothing disappointing about that. Croatia could hardly be regarded as an under dog as they made the final in 2018 and put Brazil out this time.
If Morocco beats France tomorrow are you genuinely happy to say they're one of the two best teams on earth? Let's be honest, if Morocco play France 10 times they'd lose 9 times. I want to see, unquestionably, the best two teams on earth in the final.
Also I'd like to see Argentina's road to a world cup a little tougher than Australia, Netherlands, Croatia, and Morocco.
Look it is what it is this is how these tournaments work, I am bemused by your logic. Whoever wins their way to the final are worthy finalists because they earned their way there.
It's really not hard to understand - when Watford make the FA Cup final they indeed deserve to be there, they won. But no one thinks they're the second best team in the country, and there's a pretty good chance that they're gonna get blown out 6-0.
I know you're just playing/joking, but you do see the problem with this right? It means globally the "world cup" becomes a joke, inaccessable to a team like Morocco (22), or NZ (105) for the matter. It would no longer be a world cup, it would have no global interest and no longer be the money spinner it is for FIFA.
The world cup is a knockout tournament and with every knockout tournament comes a relatively higher degree of randomness. That means one or two teams every tournament are going to defy the probabilities and win the games they normally only have a 5% chance in.
The only opinion I've expressed is that I want the big nations to perform so the latter stages are more likely to be Goliath vs Goliath...
My prediction: Argentina will control the possession for half an hour. France will score on the break via some speedy striker. Argentina will up the ante and the fouls. France will score again. Argentina will lose their shark and end up being down to ten or nine. France will score again. 3 - 0 win. p.s. I am neutral, don't mind who wins, hoping to see a skillful hard fought game with no controversy.