Day 14: Netherlands vs USA | Argentina vs Australia (Last 16 1&2)
- Thread starter Samid
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They don't look solid, if the Aussies had decent players they would have battered this team.
The Copa America winning Messi? He was fantastic in Brazil.
Australia is not the only team Messi has played against this season.
You’re forgetting how many shite teams Ronaldo has been mediocre against this season.
Stating messi isn’t what he used to be is stating the obvious. The whole world knows that. That’s not the point though.
Agreed.
They can't press at all. They had Tevez, Aguero, Higuain and Lavezzi, insane athletes and pressing machines, especially Tevez and Lavezzi, now they have no pace and if Australia find it easy to play out of their 'press' I can only imagine what Brazil would do to them.
Ronaldo fanboys watching the BBC today 
It's not about attacking its about the energy and work rate, they will get out done with better teams just on that and with quality to hurt them in attack unlike Aus and Poland .
Argentina have just looked so underwhelming in this World Cup.
Messi fanboys watching the BBC todayRonaldo fanboys watching the BBC today
I'm surprised he wasn't a part of the roster. As a Groningen fan I watch him every week and he's been killing it.
He is not having a good game, I’m sure you can see that as wellWhat are you going on about? Utter drivel
I have a hunch Argentina will win this tournament.
why so bitter, just enjoy a great player
Which is why the Portugal coach needs to make the difficult decision not to play him when it matters.
Beating Mexico and Poland after losing a game that was probably the biggest ever wc upset shows a lot of character
This has been an awful game but yet they are winning
Not sure they are good enough to win it but also wouldn’t bet against it
Absolutely no doubt about that
Kinda, but the likes of Brazil, Netherlands,France, Spain, England have the quality to damage Argentina... Australia don't, neither did Mexico or Poland, those are all defensive teams with no actual quality in offensive, which make it teams for Argentina so they could look very dominant with possession and shots.
Do you know what I won’t miss when Messi and Ronaldo finally retire?
absolutely. if you can't accurately ping a long diagonal to the other side of the pitch, you might as well be a dung beetle. it's why i practice so hard.
Why everything must come down to tribalism?
Jaysus, Messi is 35 and having great worldcup, why cant you applause that?
Jaysus, Messi is 35 and having great worldcup, why cant you applause that?
Why does Lineker look so shifty all the time on the edge of his seat and constantly rubbing his nose? Definitely on the stuff.
Ronaldo fans?
Messi fans?
Well anyway, hopefully the 2nd half will be more lively, fingers crossed.
In Qatar?
Your post wasn't only about this match though was it? But about this match, Australia are sitting back playing a low block, so I think he's playing the right way against them, and it's worked so far because they are 1 up and he got the goal.
Ronaldo fans?
Yup
Haemorrhoids
Argentina is so bang average. No chance they will win the WC. Even Messi cant save them in the next one.
Agreed.
"Yeah! F**k Messi and his 4 goals and 5 assists in 7 games Copa Winning performance in 2021."
"Also, F**k Messi and his outstanding first half of 2021 with Barca."
People have conventient memories that last as long as their argument requires it. Just write off half a year to suit the argument for the latter half year in order to create the false narrative that the whole year was bad. Couldn't make it up.
Australia's pressing is great
Agreed with all of this. I was hoping for more from them this time, and all the talk before the World Cup was that this Argentina was different, that they weren't as reliant on Messi, but we've seen none of that at this tournament. There is no cohesion, no dynamism to their play, and I don't think they're particularly great defensively either. Unless they figure something out very quickly as a collective or with some sort of tweak by their manager, I just don't see them winning this.
Echo others thoughts about being happy for the messi/ronaldo era to be over. Tedious.
The goal is being made out to be a top 10 Messi goal. The best thing as always is the case is Messi's movement once he made the central pass. Defender goes over the ball with his leg instead of trying to block the angle and just further unsights the gk who.
One of the most impressive things about Messi is his positional awareness and ease of movement. He literally floats about the pitch and makes the best decisions on the ball then off the ball.
One of the most impressive things about Messi is his positional awareness and ease of movement. He literally floats about the pitch and makes the best decisions on the ball then off the ball.
Martinez coming on
Our boy Lisandro coming on
Licha!
Back 3 for Argentina now with Lisandro
Here comes The Butcher