Now just some ball control and hang on for dear life - take no chances ...
NFR World Cup
- Thread starter DoesItFloat
- Start date
Non-fishing related
That…and “Adonde esta el bano” & “dos cervezas por favor” (the extent of my Spanish)
Yes, offside.
Well that was some interesting futbol. For a bunch of “old guys” as portrayed prior to, but less during the match, Argentina’s strategy seemed to be a poke, prod, & defend then let it rip the last 20 minutes.
Amazing peripheral vision with the ball, both teams.
Harry Kane looked to be a foot taller than Messi. Wonder what brand of shellac Harry uses on his coiffure.
Messi un mago con pies y pelota!
Amazing peripheral vision with the ball, both teams.
Harry Kane looked to be a foot taller than Messi. Wonder what brand of shellac Harry uses on his coiffure.
Messi un mago con pies y pelota!
Well, here we are, last 2 games of the 2026 World Cup, out of the starting 48 nations 2 (England-France) will compete for 3rd place this Saturday and 2 (Argentina-Spain) will meet at the final this Sunday, so we have some answers to some questions discussed more than a month and a half ago!
And finally, not a dark horse, but more GOAT than ever, Messi with 39 years old playing almost all minutes of every game, going toe to toe with players half his age, some of which are the sons of players he played against in his beginings, shattering records of World cup goals, assists, minutes and matches played, still showing the drive and ability to excel at the top level. In a twist of fate 39 year old Messi will face in the final 18 year old Lamine Yamal, arguably one of the most primising young players in the world, who Messi met when Yamal was a six-month baby during a photoshoot for a UNICEF charity calendar while playing for FC Barcelona.
Like they say "Gotta see it to believe it" :
I certainly still hope so, at least they made it to the Final! Spain have dominated with possession and great passing, punishing when the chance is right, they have never been behind in score during this World Cup. Argentina has had a knack for early disarray and last minute (literally) scoring drama , so it should be an enteraining match!
No new nation will win it this time, Argentina already has won it 3 times, Spain only once and is the most recent new nation to win it, in 2010.
Spain convincingly dropped France in one of the semifinals, so Spain could still win it all.
No, England heartbreak will continue for at least 4 more years. Argentina came from behind in the last 5 minutes of regulation and then again in the first few minutes of added time to drop England in the other semifinal. It was an ugly 1st half with many scuffles (1st one before the 3rd minute of play!), fouls, not enough cards, bad refereeing. The 2nd half was very entertaining with England scoring first on a great break but then dropping back too early, surrendering possession, defending with 5 central defenders (!) while Argentina threw the kichen sink at England's goalkeeper with shot after shot, overwhelmed the defense and thanks to another inspired playmaking by Messi changing to a top right position assisted two great goals.
No, Brasil heartbreak continues, unable to beat an European team in an elimination game since 2002 (When they won it all), even if this time they had for the first time ever a non-Brazilian, European coach (Ancelotti, widely considered one of the best coaches in football history).
Well, tiny nations were surprisingly good in this world cup! Curacao momentarily tied their game with Germany (!) in their ever first WC goal, their keeper having an all time record 15 saves in their draw against Ecuador. Cape Verde were amazing, they actually made it out of their group, becoming also the only team in this world cup not to loose to either finalist in regulation time, shockingly tying Spain 0-0 and ending 2-2 against Argentina before loosing it 2-3 in extra time.
Not many people would have considered Cape Verde as a potential cinderella story before the start of this World Cup, but they were great! Very entertaining football, great goalkeeper and scoring probably one of the candidates to best goal in this world cup with an absolute stunner shot to drew Argentina 2-2 before their eventual defeat.
And finally, not a dark horse, but more GOAT than ever, Messi with 39 years old playing almost all minutes of every game, going toe to toe with players half his age, some of which are the sons of players he played against in his beginings, shattering records of World cup goals, assists, minutes and matches played, still showing the drive and ability to excel at the top level. In a twist of fate 39 year old Messi will face in the final 18 year old Lamine Yamal, arguably one of the most primising young players in the world, who Messi met when Yamal was a six-month baby during a photoshoot for a UNICEF charity calendar while playing for FC Barcelona.
Like they say "Gotta see it to believe it" :
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When Englands coach decided not to lose instead of attacking and possibly win it in regulation it became a jail break and Pickard looked like a human target. If not for him it could have been 4 or 5-1.
England’s Coach may want to change his hair color and take a boat home.
Spain, I doubt very much, will operate in that manner.
The blood lines run close between Argentina and Spain so the passion will be extreme. I love Argentina since my first time there in ‘85. The people, the history, the food, the trout, and I remember the wine in Mendoza being excellent but alas, none since ‘87.
Two years ago when I was there my driver Henrique, made a stop at the National Futbol Training Center to show me they were already practicing for the Copa Mundial in the US in 26.
The heart is with Argentina but the mind is thinking Espana is younger and perhaps stronger.
What say you VMP?
England’s Coach may want to change his hair color and take a boat home.
Spain, I doubt very much, will operate in that manner.
The blood lines run close between Argentina and Spain so the passion will be extreme. I love Argentina since my first time there in ‘85. The people, the history, the food, the trout, and I remember the wine in Mendoza being excellent but alas, none since ‘87.
Two years ago when I was there my driver Henrique, made a stop at the National Futbol Training Center to show me they were already practicing for the Copa Mundial in the US in 26.
The heart is with Argentina but the mind is thinking Espana is younger and perhaps stronger.
What say you VMP?
I'm not sure why there is a game for third place. It is an alien concept in most sports. How hard do you expect the players to play in today's game between England and France? Will the game be treated as a "friendly"? No one remembers who placed where in the World Cup beyond the winner (and the embarrassment of a top team being eliminated in the group stage). Beyond the winner, the financial incentives are weak ($50 million for the champion vs. $33 for second). And the difference in payout for today's game ($29 million for 3rd vs. $27 million for 4th) wouldn't seem to matter to the balance books of these top-flight (and highly-paid) players, especially with their domestic leagues starting up in about a month. Why risk injury?
Steve
Steve
For glory—what glory is left for 3rd place— the spirit of competition, and the fact that you just have something to prove—that we’re better than them. It feels better to win than to lose, for most people.
At least I’d like to think that. But you’re probably right.
It may be one of those situations where the heart says one thing and the mind another, but like I said before, anything after the win in Qatar is just a cherry on top, would have been heartbreaking for Messi not to experience to win the World Cup. Put it perfectly by Pablo Aimar, one of Argentina's historic futbol greats and now assistant coach: "The last Messi will always be the best Messi". But what a run it has been, come what may, Vamos Argentina!
It may not be so much as the glory of 3rd place but wanting to avoid being 4th place, that means that after placing as one of the best four in the world (a major accomplishement!) you still go out loosing 2 games in a row. Furthermore, 3rd place games tend to be much more free flowing, entertaining and high scoring than single elimination games, perhaps removing the pressure to win and progress in the tournament allows teams more freedom of play and risk taking. Also, younger/alternative players that probably did not get enough time on the pitch when it really counted may get a chance to show their stuff. Anything that happens during a 3rd place game still counts, several players are still on the run for the golden ball (best overall player), golden boot (top scorer) with France's Mbappe tying Messi for goals (8 each) and only behind on assists (3 to 4 for Messi) with both Kane and Bellingham close behind with 6 goals each. At the very least, we get one more bonus game before the final and then having to wait another 4 years! I will surely be watching!
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