And he wouldn’t have given away the first one!
Day 8: Denmark-Australia, France-Peru, Argentina-Croatia.
- Thread starter FootballHQ
- Start date
He was the orchestrator, he'd make others player better around him. He was half the player in 1990 yet the Argies almost retrained the WC.
Shearer stop talking over the guys that actually know the game you dickhead
Think Argentina are out as there is absolutely no fighting spirit in that team.
Huh wasn't aware of this.
Anyway, shocking display by Argentina tonight. Tbf Croatia were impressive in the second half, though they were gifted the first goal. Still Argentina have to be doing better with the attacking talents they have.
So, permutations:
Croatia are guaranteed qualification, will win the group if Iceland fail to beat Nigeria or if Croatia avoid defeat vs Iceland.
Iceland will guarantee qualification if they gain four points from their final two matches i.e. a win and a draw. Win both and they top the group.
Argentina will qualify if they beat Nigeria and a) Iceland gain three points from their final two matches and there is a sufficient goal difference swing (currently 4) or b) Iceland gain two points or fewer.
Nigeria need four points minimum. A win tomorrow and a draw vs Argentina, combined with an Iceland win vs Croatia, would bring it down to goal difference. A draw tomorrow would be no good if Iceland went on to beat Croatia. Two wins for Nigeria would guarantee qualification (and even an outside shot of winning the group, but only with a favour from Iceland vs Croatia and the GD swing needed would be huge).
Croatia are guaranteed qualification, will win the group if Iceland fail to beat Nigeria or if Croatia avoid defeat vs Iceland.
Iceland will guarantee qualification if they gain four points from their final two matches i.e. a win and a draw. Win both and they top the group.
Argentina will qualify if they beat Nigeria and a) Iceland gain three points from their final two matches and there is a sufficient goal difference swing (currently 4) or b) Iceland gain two points or fewer.
Nigeria need four points minimum. A win tomorrow and a draw vs Argentina, combined with an Iceland win vs Croatia, would bring it down to goal difference. A draw tomorrow would be no good if Iceland went on to beat Croatia. Two wins for Nigeria would guarantee qualification (and even an outside shot of winning the group, but only with a favour from Iceland vs Croatia and the GD swing needed would be huge).
Was Messi that influential in 2014 ?
Zabaleta seems a decent guy. Very good grasp of English. Offering considered analysis and delivering it well in a second language amidst clear anguish at what has just gone on.
He seriously did nothing in these two games. Just focus on the WC performances
Not a chance.
Ronaldo is doing the exact same thing Messi was doing in the last world cup's group stage. So I don't see why this changes anything if everything is quickly forgotten as soon as the next season starts. It's like this every season.
Israeli curse.
These tackle replays remind of the film Predator, those killer traps in the jungle.
Haha well I think the caf want him now
Wow..missed the match..but just seen the highlight reel of legbreakers!!!! Wow what a collection of nasties!!!
Just me or wasn't that Modric goal uncannily similar to the one he scored against us in 2013?
Yeah I was just thinking exactly the same thing !
The worst Argentina team I have seen in my lifetime, I thought they would actually be a threat with Sampaoli but they have been the total opposite
Was astounded by how much walking around Messi did. Maybe I don't watch enough La Liga but is it the same case for Barca?
Ronaldo doing it with a weaker team and he scored a hattrick against Spain not Nigeria.
You said last World Cup in which Messi hardly did anything impressive in their run imo.
By far. Just look at the players. Anyone can remember a worst team man for man than this one for Argentina? Incredible regression.
Obviously, a win by Iceland tomorrow would be the worst outcome for Argentina. But the 3-0 could make a difference if Iceland makes three draws or Nigeria wins.
Well Messi has really proven he is the GOAT . He was busy grazing the field rather than playing on it . 
Croatia totally dominated the game . Rakitic and Modric wiped the floor with Argentina . Heck even Lovren was outstanding . The lesser said about the Argentina team the better for them .
The referee had a real mare . The Argentineans could literally murder a Croatian player and he would wave play on . Maybe he was a Messi fan or Pepe's
Croatia totally dominated the game . Rakitic and Modric wiped the floor with Argentina . Heck even Lovren was outstanding . The lesser said about the Argentina team the better for them .
The referee had a real mare . The Argentineans could literally murder a Croatian player and he would wave play on . Maybe he was a Messi fan or Pepe's
If Argentina somehow make it through this group and then fluke their way to a final
Lmao
Lmao
Argentina v Croatia Match Stats
Come on mate, everyone on this forum watches football, it's not like Messi's teammates are random pub players.
Wow, on the belgian TV, they just showed a camera pointed on Messi during the first goal... Appalling! No reaction at all. Amazing
lovren is underrated
Alan Shearer is a numpty
Alan Shearer is a numpty
My brother was saying the exact same thing whilst we were watching the match.
I can understand Messi not playing well in the first game, sometimes you get the jitters or you are heavily marked.
Today he just didn't look like he was up for it. Seemed isolated for many stages of the game. There wasn't much urge to get on a mazy run. Really disappointed from him.
Cesc said it best, 5 strikers and 5 defenders or something like that. No midfield.
Croatia is a very complete team.Combative, committed, well-trained, with a decent defense, a midfield with a lot of quality and Mandzukic up, a nuisance for the defense for 90 minutes, getting petrol from any irrelevant play.
Today I discovered Rebic.
About Argentina, it is the first time in my life that I have to check where some players play. Acuña, Pavón, Tagliafico ... Salvio playing in a match so transcendent ... Mascherano walking.
The midfield is very límited too
Today I discovered Rebic.
About Argentina, it is the first time in my life that I have to check where some players play. Acuña, Pavón, Tagliafico ... Salvio playing in a match so transcendent ... Mascherano walking.
The midfield is very límited too
Messi... The best in the world.... In la liga....
Agreed
Biggest mistake before a WC , removing him completely from the team when his wife said he was able to recover from then injury.
Messi was never as good as Maradona.
And some saying he is better than Best even.
EDIT:
When I saw the goals I was thinking how unfortunate for Argentina Romero was not there.
Still Croatia were a better team all round.
You missed situation where cro has 9 points and everybody else has 2.
The whole team is behind their attacking front line.
Yeah, they had set up terribly. They let the opposition midfield help themselves to so much space and time on the ball. Wish that free-kick had gone in as well. It was well taken.
G'wan Iceland! Pulling for you now!
Croatia has to make sure Iceland qualifies. They are already guaranteed first.
I will be very disappointed if they don't kill the snake when it's still in the nest, having the opportunity to do so.
I will be very disappointed if they don't kill the snake when it's still in the nest, having the opportunity to do so.
The title curse spreads... it now includes all finalists.