The World Cup

[PrestwichBlade]

What are the chances of an England red card for, effectively, nowt?

This is definitely my fear for tonight; Argentina dark arts and excessive protection of Messi

 

[mattbianco1]

What are the chances of an England red card for, effectively, nowt?

I think anything over evens is an absolute steal

 

[Selly]

Argentina giving yet more Coventry City vibes...

 

[Greenwich Blade]

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Argentina giving yet more Coventry City vibes...

Leo Sayer is retiring after the game?

 

[Kenilworth]

This is definitely my fear for tonight; Argentina dark arts and excessive protection of Messi

Same. You can feel in your waters, can’t you?

Sends a shiver. I sincerely hope we shan’t be coming back to this exchange later on

 

[CrookesBlade]

“You’re always going on about “La Malvinas”, let it go Lionel you’re never going to have them back”

 

[Kenilworth]

Leo Sayer is retiring after the game?

When I need you, which is more than I can say, and with thunder in my heart, You make me feel like dancing

 

[fifty shades of blade]

Someone farts near midget messi and its a pen and a red card. Messi rakes his studs down someone's achilles...no foul.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

David "you know" Batty

Like the poster above, never heard Batty talk. This was the first tournament that got me into football and I remember it vividly.

Great attitude and mindset of Batty. Seems pretty unphased by it, able to process and move on quickly.
More importantly, he had the bollocks to take one and seemingly wasn't nervous about the outcome.
Great individual ownership.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

I don't think Argentina would ever recover if England ends Messi's world cup career

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

FIFA won't want two European teams in the final.

Why though?

 

[SwissBlade]

It wouldn't surprise me.

As much as I'm desperate to see us win something in my lifetime, I have to acknowledge we've rarely been good enough.

If we get through tonight, i wouldn't be confident against Spain (or France for that matter). They were the two stand out teams before and are that notch above us imho. Nonetheless you've got to be in it to win it.

I'll be disappointed if we lose fair and square tonight but if it's something controversial, that will really leave a bitter taste, especially considering previous encounters.

What's bothering me is that it's Messi's last WC and FIFA won't want two European teams in the final.

I’m expecting controversy, but I think we have as good a chance as ever to make them final.

It’s not that we’re especially better than Argentina, but we’ve become much more tournament savvy in the last 10-20 years because the England players are reaching semi and finals of big tournaments on the club stage on a regular basis.

Looking at the squad, am I right in thinking that only Pickford, Anderson and Toney haven’t won a major trophy?

 

[SwissBlade]

Why though?

Not good for their global product if it’s just European teams

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Not good for their global product if it’s just European teams

What happened in 2006, 2010 and 2018?

Were they busy with something else?

 

[Davalon]

What happened in 2006, 2010 and 2018?

Were they busy with something else?

Were they held in the Americas with what some see as the greatest player of all time bowing out from the World Cup who just happens to be from the Americas and also had UEFA openly criticising FIFA during the tournament for making a controversial decision based on the host President asking the head of FIFA to overturn a suspension?

Let's hope these concerns that many share don't come to pass tonight.

Even the choice of referee has a whiff about it.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Let's hope these concerns that many share don't come to pass tonight.

It's either fixed or it isn't.

You can't have it both ways.

 

[Blade In Flame]

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Argentina giving yet more Coventry City vibes...

Invaders? You have no idea luv. You want to be thankful that you don't have hundreds of them rocking ashore in dinghies every day.

 

[SwissBlade]

What happened in 2006, 2010 and 2018?

Were they busy with something else?

Same applies there, but they're in the past. Sundays final is upcoming.

FIFA, especially now are much more of a global brand that will constantly want to see later stages which are mixed with teams from different continents. They don't want to just see European domination.

 

[Davalon]

It's either fixed or it isn't.

You can't have it both ways.

I can have it how I want. No-one is suggesting that Infantino is sitting down with the officials telling them they make Argentina win at all costs. If England literally play Argentina off the pitch and win easy then there's sweet fa anyone can do.

However, if it's closer and certain incidents allow for leeway one way or another......

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

I can have it how I want. No-one is suggesting that Infantino is sitting down with the officials telling them they make Argentina win at all costs. If England literally play Argentina off the pitch and win easy then there's sweet fa anyone can do.

However, if it's closer and certain incidents allow for leeway one way or another......

I don't like Argentina or Messi but I just don't buy any of it.

It was also Ronaldo's last World Cup who is a bigger global name than Messi.

Why didn't they help Portugal?

They were on the different side of the draw to Argentina as well so they could have had a Messi v Ronaldo final.