The 2022 World Cup Thread

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Well that's game over........

However entitled Mbappe may appear he's really some player.......
 
That's that then.

France have that happy knack of not being the best side in a game, but coming out as winners.
 
A three minute walk from home and I pass a brasserie with French flags plastered all over the walls, directly opposite a computer shop that I've been in a few times, and a bakery I go into everyday...the computer shop and bakery are both run by Algerians who really want Morocco to win this one. Quite a divisive match in Paris.
Have the riots started yet
 
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Okey dokey.
Nice pass in, split the Moroccan defence apart and easy tap in.

Morocco could easily scored several (3 or 4 ) goals if they had a competent striker to put the ball in the net when given the opportunity. So a bit like us in recent games. They often dallied on the ball trying to set up the perfect shot. Should have given Chair a chance late in the game to turn try and turn things around.
 
Only saw the second half. From what I saw, Morocco played well but for some reason they seemed to freeze or lack confidence in front of goal. In the end I just got irritated by it because it seemed as though they wanted to walk the ball into the net and wouldn't have a go when they got into range.. Glad to see that by and large it was a sporting contest given the colonial past.

On another note entirely what is the problem with Argentina that so many on this Forum seem to have? The Falklands War was in the 80s and there have been some great Argentinian players here since not least our two, Ali Faurlin and before him Gino Padula. They've been good to watch and let's face it, the Dutch don't need any encouragement in the dark arts. In fact I'd go so far as to say that if they concentrated on the football instead of the aggro they might actually win something. Some day in the next century.
 
On another note entirely what is the problem with Argentina that so many on this Forum seem to have? The Falklands War was in the 80s and there have been some great Argentinian players here since not least our two, Ali Faurlin and before him Gino Padula. They've been good to watch and let's face it, the Dutch don't need any encouragement in the dark arts. In fact I'd go so far as to say that if they concentrated on the football instead of the aggro they might actually win something. Some day in the next century.

We were last at war with the Germans 70 years ago, the French 200 years ago and the Scots 300 years ago and people still hold grudges against them, so the Falklands is pretty recent history!
 
It’s always difficult to compare players from different eras, but Maradona won things for Napoli and Argentina virtually single handedly, with minimal protection from refs. Napoli’s two championships in Italy came when Milan had one of the best club teams ever, and Inter, Juve and Sampdoria were all superb teams as well. Playing for Guardiola’s Barcelona alongside Iniesta, Busquets, Xavi, David Villa, where your only competition is Real Madrid really doesn’t compare, and as for the pay day at PSG….

Mind you, I haven’t seen Messi live, and I did see Maradona a few times. He was the only player that Sacchi’s Milan, with Maldini, Baresi, Costacurta and Tassoti in defence ever man marked to the best of my recollection.
Totally agree, I also thought Maradonna tried to stay on his feet more, sure he could have a bit of drama but Messi takes the biscuit for play acting which is the main reason I do not like watching him, albeit he is very clever at it.
 
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Another chance for the commentators to drone on about the plucky underdogs and their fans 'beating out those African rhythmns' while drooling about what a remarkably brilliant team Croatia turns out for such a small population.
 
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