FIFA World Cup: Russia 2018 [Archived] Soccer • Page 43

Argentina’s manager was running off the field as fast as possible lol

 

Embarrassing all round from Argentina.

 

Lionel and Sergio deserve better than this Cleveland Cavs ass reject team

 

Hilarious. What a horrible team, horrible players, embarrassing performance all round.

Croatia gave their fair share of dirty challenges, but their midfield is top class. Modric has got to be best midfielder in the world right now surely? Such good chemistry with Rakatic too. Every player gave their all for the cause, love teams like that.

 

Now that Argentina most likely won’t make it, I suppose I should decide what team I will pull for. I wouldn’t mind seeing Mexico or Iceland go far.

 

Croatia's midfield is why they won that game.

Argentina can still get out of this group, and probably will.

 

How is Meza getting in the team ahead of Dybala?

 

I like that Mascherano stood with his hand in the air on the 3rd goal. Interested to see if Argentina try against Nigeria or if they've completely given up.

 

want belgium to win it out now just for craic of big dedryck getting a world cup medal

 

Apparently Spurs are 4/1 favorites to sign Modric lmao

I absolutely do not believe that will happen. But my god a midfield with Modric, Eriksen, Dele would be dreamy.

 

Another brilliant article, this time by Raheem Sterling.

 

Well then...

quick translation is basically that the Argentina players had a meeting & asked Sampaoli to be removed as manager before they play Nigeria.

 

Honestly, it looked like they didn't have a clue. Their set up was all wrong. The decisions during the match were all wrong.

 

Quite enjoyed that. Just wish he could find whatever it is he needs to perform for England. He seems happy enough putting on the shirt.

 

Personally I think Argentina need to switch to a back four and have some more stability because their defence is awful and playing wingers like Salvio at WB isn't working. They aren't defenders and are getting exposed.

Mercado and Tagliafico are players who played well this season and can both defend and offer width. You could play biglia as a DM or maybe even bring in Mascherano who can pull back to make a back three when the full backs get forward.

Aguero has been okay but I think you need Higuain's strength up top, and then use the creativity of Messi and Dybala behind him, with Benega and Lo Celso making a solid and skillful midfield.

I don't see how this team would lose to Nigeria but who would thought their current team would do so poorly?



-----------Armani-----------------
----------------------------------
Mercado - Rojo - Otamendi - Tagliafico
------------Biglia-----------------
------Benega --- Lo Celso----------
--------Messi - Dybala-------------
-----------Higuain----------------

 

I’m obviously quite biased, but I feel for Messi an immense amount right now. His mom has talked about how he cries when he talks about his failures with Argentina. You can see the anxiety and weight on his face every time he’s in the blue and white. I struggle with mental health issues a ton and I just struggle with the weight of “letting down my parents:” I can’t imagine having to carry the hopes of an entire nation, no matter the talent level.

Ronaldo and Neymar have the attitude for it, but I’m curious what their moments of doubt and struggle looks like. Their image is so cultivated. Messi has always had such a different personality than them, so watching how they all react to the pressure put on them has always been a weird sticking point in the “GOAT” argument for me.

Messi carries that pressure better at Barcelona, absolutely, but Argentina’s main faults are not Barcelona’s...obviously.

After the immense feat he even did to get Argentina into this World Cup that night in Ecuador, I’m also not surprised he’s “off” right now. His entire career his expectation has been through the roof, for good reason.

I’d just like to see him play happy again. But I can’t deny what losing three straight finals, all in AET or penalties, would do to me.

I’m rambling now but I’m having one of the worst mental health weeks of my life and watching a hero of mine become human so publicly is really tough. Especially with the amount of jokes being made of it. Because I’ve heard those same jokes made by my father about me. I can’t imagine having the entire planet making them.

 

Hope all is well dude.

I think it's amazing that they can actually still get through (and if they get themselves together defensively I would expect them to).






Is it me, or since only really Russia, Croatia and Spain have looked good so far, can we see England actually... Doing well?

 

Yeah, hope you’re well, man.

I’m sure him thinking he was done internationally and then coming back to have to deal with all this is weighing on his mind too.

 

The next games from England's group I think will give a better measure of that. If England struggle against Panama and Belgium stuff Tunisia, then England just look middle of the road. If England cruise past Panama and Belgium also find Tunisia a pain to crack, then England actually start looking decent. I think quarter final is probably the best which can be hoped for for us though.

 

Yes VAR! It was a poor decision to give that penalty. Good officiating.

 

Finally yellow for Neymar. Long overdue.

 

Ah fuck off Brazil

 

can’t stand neymar

 

The entire Argentina squad gathered for a meeting & unanimously asked for Jorge Sampaoli to be removed and asked for him not to be involved in the match against Nigeria.
Jorge Burruchaga has been asked to step in as Sampaoli's replacement.

Edit: I didn’t notice this was already posted.