Good point, yeah smaller nations have to rely on one or two players and losing them is hard.
Group D (Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria)
- Thread starter roonster09
- Start date
They weren't in the same group. Plus, they beat Croatia in qualifiers at home and topped their group.
More like Croatia toyed with the trash that is in Argentina's midfield and defense. With how half-assed Messi plays and terrible tactics by Argentina, I can see them getting murdered on the counter. Of course, I might have jinxed Nigeria with this post.Argentina's midfield isn't that great and you are underestimating this team. They will come out and play and win. Argentina is overdue a competitive L vs us.
This win wasn't Argentina's get out of jail free card but a win for Nigeria and a means for us to advance from the group.
Chances of Iceland progressing are close to none. Nigeria or Argentina with Nigeria needing only a point.
At this rate Croatia look the most likely to win the whole thing.
Our head is still our worst enemy. If we solve that it could happen.
Dare to dream.
Now argentina putting pressure on us to select best team vs iceland. Argentina talking about fair play. Argentina that selecting b team four years ago. Argentina whos players showed zero class and zero fair play against us. If i am dalic i would select b team and rotate positions to all players. In attack 2 goalkeepers, attackers in defence, etc....
That's why there are 23 player squads. Any players selected from the squad in Russia is fair play.
They shoud piss off. They were dirty as they come so they should just shut their mouth.
Massive game for Argentina tomorrow. Nigeria looked really good against Iceland and beat Argentina 4-2 in a friendly quite recently. I think they will go out tomorrow.
Dybalq thought it was funny.
Modric is playing apparentley?!! What a idiotic move. Can't believe that we are that stupid.
Argentina's manager is clueless. Argentina not only has to overcome Nigeria, but likely a terrible team selection and tactics by Sampaoli. (And yet people will blame Messi.) Nigeria @ +525 (21/4) to win seems like amazing value.
Messi contributes nothing for 2 games, yet somehow all Argentina's problems are not his fault at all, he's blameless for missing the penalty, it's all the fault of the manager, the team mates, the FA, the opposition, etc.
It's very strange. It's not as if Messi has been playing great and let down by the team. He is part of the problem at the moment, and it might be best to reduce his influence and play him further forward as a pure attacker.
The Argentina setup seems to worship him, and treats him as a god that can do everything on the pitch. The reality is that Messi was at his best under Guardiola and Enrique where he was a part of the forward line, not as a psuedo midfielder.
When he had Xavi and Iniesta who could carry some of the creative load? Sure.
Oh yeah, there's definitely no creative players in this team. Not at all
Love this stuff. Keep it going guys. We have 3,4 threads about the same thing.
Yep. That's exactly what I said.Oh yeah, there's definitely no creative players in this team. Not at all
I’m with you, hope you light ‘em up!
I wouldn't say Messi is the problem, but he certainly hasn't helped. Messi has been poor, and hasn't been able to step up when needed.
Yes, because it all starts with the manager. Messi didn't pick the 23 man squad, nor the lineup, nor the tactics. Sampaoli does. Messi wasn't involved in the 6-1 and 4-2 beatings from Spain and Nigeria. THe problems go deeper than Messi, and it starts with the manager. It is up to the manager to put his players in the best possible chance to succeed. Finally today, he goes with a 4-3-3, gets Messi out wide to free him up, and starts Banega and benches rid of Willy. This manager has been making a ton of questionable decisions, and the primary blame goes to the manager. United fans of all people should realize that a poor manager can handicap a team with poor tactics. We know first hand the difference SAF can make, compared to a Moyes. Managers matter.
My complete Stages of Maradona collection
Seriously find this heartbreaking.My complete Stages of Maradona collection
Don't want him found dead in some random hotel room somewhere. He looks as high as a kite.
Fecking gutted to be honest.
Hope Ighalo never plays for us again. Stick to China mate.
Hope Ighalo never plays for us again. Stick to China mate.
Did I ever say the manager doesn't matter? But shouldn't Messi share some of the blame for those first 2 games?
Group was good. Almost all of the games were close and games decided by many little moments. I don't think that Nigeria or Iceland were worse than Argentina but Croatia easily deserved to top.
For me I thought Iceland performed as expected. The difference this tournament was poor finishing and we scored less despite creating more chances. I wonder how it would have played out if everyone had been fit but they gave us a good World Cup. I'm disappointed but not unhappy.
For me I thought Iceland performed as expected. The difference this tournament was poor finishing and we scored less despite creating more chances. I wonder how it would have played out if everyone had been fit but they gave us a good World Cup. I'm disappointed but not unhappy.
I just hope France utterly destroy them.
About the handball...if the guy had converted his chance when that happened, they'd be through.
Historic result for us in arguably the toughest group of the Tournament. @Jim Beam
Have Croatia people put the bile towards Modric/Lovren on hold for this tournament out of interest?
Keep the politics out of this and Croatia can have a great WC, the quality is there.
I don't know about the rest but I hope we have a historic result and they get sentenced afterwards.
I see what you did there
Once in a lifetime my friend!Just hope we get past Denmark and then, whatever happens, happens with Spain.
Guess you're consistant.
Lived up to its billing this group
A helluva drug.My complete Stages of Maradona collection
I'm in a hope for the best mindstate. I and many family and friends always have fun during the world cup, sometimes drinking too much and acting melodramatic. Hopefully just some World Cup fun times.
It's all a bit 'Nordic'. If you look at the NTs of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and to a lesser degree, Denmark, we always do well when most factors are in place: Home ground, well rested, well drilled, up against a team which wants to win the game themselves and slightly underestimates you, etc. Once you get to a tournament, and some of the factors change (neutral ground, tournament fatigue, unusual opposition, playing against packed defences, etc), we always become a bit more hit and hope, a little bit less skilful, and so on.
Overall, Iceland did ok. Not brilliant, not embarrassing.
Yup. Whatever happens after that is a bonus.. I'll be nervous on Sunday that's for sure.. And I don't like it.I see what you did there
Just hope we get past Denmark and then, whatever happens, happens with Spain.