2018 FIFA World Cup Finals

[PzR Slim]

How it is possible to have a player like Messi on the pitch and not be able to set up your team or tactics to get him into the game?

 

[ASH32]

France showing great tenacity to come back to lead 3-2...

Gem of a comment from the BBC co-commentator: "The goalkeeper should have done better..." - well duh!

Apart from complaining about the refs this sort of keeping is what I complain about the most. Who on earth teaches them that diving is the default way to save a shot, so much so that they move their feet out of the way of the ball to have the space to dive but by then of course the ball is past them and into the back of the net. Just use your feet and never move away from the line of the ball, a dive should be a desperation save, nothing else.

 

[Dennisch]

How it is possible to have a player like Messi on the pitch and not be able to set up your team or tactics to get him into the game?

I'd say, ****** manager.

It's not like Argentina is only Messi. They have plenty of A-class players in the squad. But it brings on this question: Are the other Argentinians willing to form a squad around Messi?

As it seems now, no. But then again, it could also be the manager.

 

[boiltheocean]

I thought all the players stopped talking to the manager after the second group match. Whatever is going on with Argentina is humiliating.

 

[girabyt3]

How it is possible to have a player like Messi on the pitch and not be able to set up your team or tactics to get him into the game?

Argentines always play alone, they rarely play together nowadays because all of them (I'm guessing) want to get noticed like Messi, and all Sampaoli did was getting that even worse by getting Messi help him with the lineup since he called his friends who all are A-class players but don't get too noticed nowadays. Also, Messi always plays alone on the team when he gets the ball (sometime even in Barça)

That's why, apart of others, AFA has Gareca (our coach) on the eye, since he can make them play together or call younger talent to play with Messi as a team

 

[Touring Mars]

How it is possible to have a player like Messi on the pitch and not be able to set up your team or tactics to get him into the game?

It beggars belief, but I think part of the problem is:

Are the other Argentinians willing to form a squad around Messi?

...it's painfully apparent that they are not, and more fool them. Aguero too - he's a brilliant footballer but that doesn't count for alot when you don't have a football.

Argentina seem to lack team spirit as well - Messi has looked stressed and miserable but for the occasions where he has been involved in a goal. The rest of the team are a shambles.

 

[Dennisch]

Tuned in for the last 10 minutes or so, and I see that the Argentinians are being themselves again.

 

[Brend]

Incredible by France, sure fire favourites now if they can play like that for the next few rounds.

Argentina just look all over the place, at times it looked like they could dig deep but then others it seemed they already wanted to be on the plane home.

 

[andrea]

Meza instead of Dybala. What the hell.

Not disappointed at this point. It's completely normal. Argentina are not a good team. They've played well for like 45 minutes in 4 games. This is the logical consequence.

 

[zzz_pt]

What a game that was!

I don't think the next game will be as exciting... I hope I'm wrong though.

 

[Dennisch]

Interesting to see Ronaldo so relaxed and smiling all the time. Don't see that too often.

 

[PzR Slim]

I would love to see Pepe on a rugby pitch.

 

[PzR Slim]

What a start!

 

[Dennisch]

That was quick.

 

[Touring Mars]

Superb goal for Uruguay!... Game on.

 

[zzz_pt]

Guerreiro was sleeping.

 

[andrea]

Suarez perfect assist to Cavani, who scores with his FACE

 

[zzz_pt]

Guedes is too bad to play at this level. :/ He hasn't done anything useful in the whole tournament and during the qualification it was Andre Silva who was playing with Ronaldo.

 

[PzR Slim]

It's such a shame that such a good footballer has got to be such an arse.

 

[girabyt3]

So far, so good for Uruguay!

 

[Touring Mars]

It's such a shame that such a good footballer has got to be such an arse.

Sorry, but you are going to have to be more specific!

 

[PzR Slim]

Sorry, but you are going to have to be more specific!

I realise quite a few of them are! The pulling up of the shorts before the free kick

 

[zzz_pt]

Suarez being Suarez.

 

[PzR Slim]

Contact was nowhere near his head. So much to dislike about players on both sides in this match.

 

[Brend]

Uruguay and Portugal trying to out-do each other with the nasty parts of the game.

 

[Touring Mars]

Uruguay and Portugal trying to out-do each other with the nasty parts of the game.

I don't think we've seen anything yet!

Both teams have been good, but Uruguay have been dogged, skilful and at times brilliant - it would be a travesty if Suarez was to let his lack of discipline let them down, but he is already getting close... perhaps he's not biting people any more, but he has gone down twice clutching his head for no apparent reason... that stems from the same lack of discipline that is, sadly, inherent to his character.

 

[PzR Slim]

Uruguay work so hard as a team. I've played in a few teams over the years where every single player on the team worked as hard as every other and it's a wonderful thing to be involved in. They must have such amazing team spirit.

 

[girabyt3]

Guerreiro almost does the world cup goal!

 

[Dennisch]

Excellent. That hideous Pepe did it! Now we need Ronaldo to finish the job.

 

[Jimlaad43]

I'm surprised Pepe didn't fall to the floor in "pain" after heading that ball.