The Official 2018 FIFA World Cup Thread

[05_never_again]

Sheer desperation now...they just subbed off a LB for Aguero.

 

[HeadVol77]

Marcos Rojo just put Argentina up 2-1

 

[bigdaddy]

That classless move of the Argentinian bench booting another ball on the pitch to waste time is one of many reasons I hate them. And Diego throwing double birds shows how classy they are....

 

[bigdaddy]

And only 4 mins of stoppage is a joke. There was 4 min wasted on the PK

 

[Persian Vol]

This Argentina crowd reminds me a little of Tennessee. So passionate, yet the team performs so poorly. Except we don’t get happy endings.

 

[HeadVol77]

That classless move of the Argentinian bench booting another ball on the pitch to waste time is one of many reasons I hate them. And Diego throwing double birds shows how classy they are....

100% Agreed!

 

[05_never_again]

This Argentina crowd reminds me a little of Tennessee. So passionate, yet the team performs so poorly. Except we don’t get happy endings.

Both fanbases are desperate, starving for a winner, because they have a history of success and a lot of resources to be successful.

Argentina might actually beat France in the knockout game. Both teams are going to come into this game with immense pressure, and one underachieving side is going home relatively early in the tournament.

 

[HeadVol77]

I thought Nigeria might get it right there at the very end

 

[bigdaddy]

There is absolutely nothing respectable about Argentina’s way they play football. Classless and cheap all the way.

 

[05_never_again]

There is absolutely nothing respectable about Argentina’s way they play football. Classless and cheap all the way.

Groups tend to take on the character of their leader, who in this case is Maradona.

I don't know if he's involved in any official or unofficial capacity with AFA, but he absolutely still casts a huge shadow over their federation and the entire country.

 

[Persian Vol]

France Vs Argentina

The battle of underperformers.

 

[05_never_again]

What a quote:

To understand the gargantuan shadow Maradona casts over his football-mad homeland, one has to conjure up the athleticism of Michael Jordan, the power of Babe Ruth – and the human fallibility of Mike Tyson. Lump them together in a single barrel-chested man with shaggy black hair and you have El Diego, idol to the millions who call him D10S, a mashup of his playing number and the Spanish word for God.

 

[Persian Vol]

I think there needs to be a major discussion about VAR after this game.

If you are calling the handball against Portugal yesturday against Iran then there should be a handball against Argentina today.

We can argue whether they should or shouldn’t be called, but the fact of the matter is that there is way too much inconsistency despite having access to VAR.

 

[05_never_again]

I think there needs to be a major discussion about VAR after this game.

If you are calling the handball against Portugal yesturday against Iran then there should be a handball against Argentina today.

We can argue whether they should or shouldn’t be called, but the fact of the matter is that there is way too much inconsistency despite having access to VAR.

I still don't quite understand why they have a different VAR official for each game. Why not create a crew of "permanent" VAR officials? Every time there is a review, have it go to this same group of designated people, just like challenges and reviews in the NFL/MLB. Both of those leagues have a crew that handles reviews with lots of games going on simultaneously. That might help with the inconsistency.

 

[NorCalVol67]

What a quote:

I have about as much respect for Maradona as I do Luis Suarez and a touch more respect for him than I do Diego Costa.

 

[n_huffhines]

The double birds was glorious. Never change, Maradona.

 

[FLVOL_79]

The double birds was glorious. Never change, Maradona.

Dudes a low class scumbag.

 

[n_huffhines]

I guess D10S had to have paramedics pay him a visit before he left the stadium. His coked up heart probably couldn't deal with all the excitement.

 

[NorCalVol67]

I guess D10S had to have paramedics pay him a visit before he left the stadium. His coked up heart probably couldn't deal with all the excitement.

Wasn't he at deaths door about 15 or so years ago? I seem to recall him being extremely ill.

 

[n_huffhines]

Wasn't he at deaths door about 15 or so years ago? I seem to recall him being extremely ill.

Sounds right.

 

[MAD]

Wednesday's Matches

Mexico vs Sweden 10 AM FOX
South Korea vs Germany 10 AM FS1
Serbia vs Brazil 2:00 PM FOX
Switzerland vs Costa Rica 2:00 PM FS1

 

[bleedorange0037]

Not a coincidence they are performing better when expectations are lower. Which is ironic, because they've brought a squad this time that is more talented than their 2014 and 2010 teams, IMO.

England is like Notre Dame in that they have (underserved) high expectations, tradition, and money, but occasionally do play well, typically when for whatever reason expectations aren't as high.

Which has now landed them in the most England position ever in that they could end up getting screwed by winning their group. They’re in a deadlock with Belgium on every tiebreaker except yellow/red cards, with the “prize” for winning the group being bracketed with the Brazil/Germany winner for a QF, while the 2nd place team will find themselves with a relative cakewalk to the semis.

 

[appyvol]

Group F is fascinating. All four teams are still able to advance or be eliminated.

 

[05_never_again]

Wasn't he at deaths door about 15 or so years ago? I seem to recall him being extremely ill.

He's 57, but I bet he's got the body of a 95 year old.

 

[05_never_again]

According to his former agent, he has trouble sleeping and takes sleeping pills, which interacts with the alcohol he consumes during the day.