Probably helps to quote the post you're responding to - that will make the whole thing look a lot more coherent!
The Final: Argentina vs France
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
The winner has already been decided by FIFA. It's gonna be Messi & Friends.
Those photos make them all look like they're about 60.
France has the better team/squad even with all the absentees. So, I'd go for France.
Messi deserves a WC for everything he has done, but I must be honest, I really don't want to see him win it.
Messi deserves a WC for everything he has done, but I must be honest, I really don't want to see him win it.
1-1 with goals from Giroud and Alvarez. Penalty shootout where Griezmann misses a penalty to give Messi his World Cup. Infantino closes proceedings by saying "this is the greatest World Cup evaaa"
You read it here first
You read it here first
Will that's what I'm thinking, a back up option, it just seems too insane, but then again reading they never actually replaced him in the squad. So the slot is there
Messi magic
Yes - it pays to be a ref from a non-competitive country, as you might get such opportunities. This will be the biggest game of his career by far.Is he the hench Polish ref? I called it soon as Poland went out that he'll get the final. Should have put a bet on it
Are they locking the manager and the team in a room and forcing them to watch the match?
great great post
Really?
How so?
Stop drinking the kool-aid.
Outcome really depends on who the officials are tomorrow. Apparently the ref might be Polish referee, Szymon Marciniak? Don’t really know much about him.
Any news regarding the French players who are ill? Personally, i thought Konaté was excellent against Morroco and i would start him over Upamecano. But Fofana doesn't compliment Tchouaméni at all in the midfield. For all his weaknesses, Rabiot can carry the ball through the lines and he can be useful on both ends of the pitch. And he's hit top form for a couple of months now. I wouldn't be surprised if Deschamps plan is to absorb pressure and hit on the counter, but it's one thing for Griezmann to be forced so deep so many times - leaving the frontline isolated - when your opponent doesn't have the tools to cause much damage, and it's a different proposition to do it against someone who can hurt you if they sense that you don't possess alternatives, other than Mbappé running solo with the ball, to move the ball forward.
not at all
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Rabiot and Upamecano are feeling better.
Varane and Konaté are sick, mild symptoms for Varane so far, a bit worse for Konaté.
I don't know what's this virus (undiagnosed covid or something else that cirulates through the AC) but it's hitting France hard.
https://en.as.com/soccer/what-is-camel-flu-virus-affecting-france-squad-ahead-of-world-cup-final-n/
Some report that it might the Camel virus what has going around there.
Yeah i've read that but it's hard to know. Whatever it is, it could infect more player and that will surely complicate the preparation of the final.
All the french fans (including me) complaining about the number of centre backs in the squad, while Deschamps was playing 5D chess and anticipating the Camel virus hitting his defenders.
Is this karma for poisoning Ronaldo before the 1998 final?
I had the same thought. Saliba, Pavard and Disasi are still available.
That can be said about any football match ever played
Yeah and that's a weak mentality. The ref obviously has an influence but there's much you can do without him interfering. On top of that, Marciniak is a pretty good ref in my book.
Martínez and Varane could team up as a centre-back pairing for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Burnley next week. You could imagine the relationship could be strained by the result in Qatar on Sunday. Admittedly, one must hope the pair are offered a few days off by ETH rather than immediately returning to the freezing cold of north-west England, to make sure they are fresh and available to play Nottingham Forest on 27 December.
Both of them are definitely not playing that game. They'll probably miss the Forest game as well.
Rabiot coming back is the most important but imagine having to draft in Saliba who has barely played in a WC final 
With the amount of subs available, i bet Varane starts under all sorts of medication to at least see if he can.
With the amount of subs available, i bet Varane starts under all sorts of medication to at least see if he can.
"They (France) are an odd side, content to play in bursts, happy to do just about enough and leave you wanting more. On the other hand, barring another Messi masterclass, they are about to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup. Are France any good? Does Deschamps know what he’s doing? The eyes sometimes say no; the results say otherwise."
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/14/france-morocco-world-cup-semi-final
That's the weird thing with the French. They look like they're not on top when actually they are. I feel like if someone broke their playing code they would beat them. It's basically 'Try and dominate us. We will let you until we don't.'
I'm beginning to think Argentina will win this one. If Varane has the mystery bug then France's chances of keeping the Argentinians out is much lower.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/14/france-morocco-world-cup-semi-final
That's the weird thing with the French. They look like they're not on top when actually they are. I feel like if someone broke their playing code they would beat them. It's basically 'Try and dominate us. We will let you until we don't.'
I'm beginning to think Argentina will win this one. If Varane has the mystery bug then France's chances of keeping the Argentinians out is much lower.
Any truth to the story that Benzema could be on the bench for the final?
Konate is the better defender, Upamecano is a far superior passer. Considering that it's going to be in Messi's zone, i'd go for Konaté if we have the choice.
Honestly Konate is a bit of a blow. He has been the best CB for me
That wouldn't make any sense knowing Deschamps, unless the virus takes Giroud, Mbappé and Griezmann out.
Better than Varane? Or you meant just out of him and Upamecano?
Honestly Konate is a bit of a blow. He has been the best CB for me
Frank Le Beouf didn't kick a ball in the 1998 tournament before the final when Blanc was (unfairly) suspended. Frank still has his winners medal and rightly so.Rabiot coming back is the most important but imagine having to draft in Saliba who has barely played in a WC final
With the amount of subs available, i bet Varane starts under all sorts of medication to at least see if he can.
Was the best defender of the back 4 against both Tunisia and Morocco when he was paired with Varane.
Best of the lot in this tournament.
Konate and Varane would be big misses for France. Upamecano and Hernandez should be heavily targeted by Argentina if that's what France go with as they're both defensive accidents waiting to happen.
Disagree with this, but yeah he's been very good. For sure better than Upamecano.
In any case, if they both miss, that's a big issue for France (even though they have about 137 CBs in the squad)
Give it Messi, by all means.
Based on his ability as a footballer over the years, he clearly "deserves" it.
It would be a bonus if he actually played like a man possessed in the final, though - I would like to see that.
Based on his ability as a footballer over the years, he clearly "deserves" it.
It would be a bonus if he actually played like a man possessed in the final, though - I would like to see that.
Yea I agree, Konaté has been the best CB for France so far but he has greatly benefited from playing alongside Varane which allowed him to play aggressive and proactive with Varane covering. Even if a couple of them end up being unable to play the final, we still have Saliba who's good enough to start for most countries. And Disasi is a very good CB too, Koundé as well but that would involve bringing Pavard back on the right.
Honestly Konate is a bit of a blow. He has been the best CB for me