There was instances of at least two red cards that I counted. The foot-stamping was atrocious and some of you will point out that Argentina did the same but those were in response to the referee letting them slip. I am not discounting that Otamendi also committed a straight red, but overall Croatia is a dirty team no question about that. They are also a slimey bunch. Rakitic napping while Argentina were on the attack is an example of that.
I still think Argentina finishes 2nd.
I know there's dbags on the team, but unlike you and that other clown I don't look down on everybody from my high horse.The sooner you accept there's a bunch of cynical cloggers in your team, the better. Laughing off the suggestion just makes you look like you're wilfully ignoring reality.
Thanks to Sampaoli I’m over this tournament and ready to watch a team that will commit to Lo Celso, Lanzini, Ascacibar, Dybala, Icardi, Martínez and others as regular starters.
He plays well, but people who have no idea about what makes a goid player think he just passes the ball to the guy first to himself, but that has an upside, ignoramuses are easily detectable.
Disagree. In both matches I watched, Croatia were dirty. I'm not saying that to discount their performance. It's a good strategy but you have to accept that the style they're playing is very very physical. A good ref would book them with yellows for each of those foot stamps.
You're saying that the overall game was chippy. Chippy is not football. The ref has to stand his ground and give yellows when they are deserved.
He plays well, but people who have no idea about what makes a goid player think he just passes the ball to the guy first to himself, but that has an upside, ignoramuses are easily detectable.
What would be really fun is if the Messi generation were all on the bench for the next game and the reserves clinch the qualification.
Croatians have to be pleased as well when looking down the road. I think Spain will win the group and play Russia, which could lead to Croatia playing Spain. Croatia has a good track record against them as well. Then on the other side of that same bracket they could avoid Germany or any other favorite.
He has about one per tourney. Let’s hope there is more to come this time around.
Yeah if Sampaoli (or your next coach) can turn to the youth, you could be really fun again right quick. Paredes, Lo Celso & Ascicabar should be a really effective troika in the midfield that let the attackers just worry about attacking, n not also building up. And with Dybala, Lautaro, Correa, Lanzini, Pavon, etc. the attack could be really fun even if Messi retired...though if he didn't you could just roll through the next copa with something like:
Dybala* - Lautaro
Messi
Lo Celso - Paredes
Ascacibar
Tagliafico - Foyth - Mammana - Bustos
----------------------------
Lautaro
Dybala* - Messi
Lo Celso - Paredes
Ascacibar
Tagliafico - Foyth - Mammana - Bustos
*if Dybala & Messi can't ever click then just play Correa, Lanzini, Pavon, etc.
They shouldn't go full youth.
If Nigeria wins or it’s a draw, I think it’s very likely.
The problem is the horrible goal difference for Argentina. They have to trash Nigeria to get it back
They shouldn't go full youth. Icardi should be in the team. Him not being there is such a huge joke.
I just wanna know how my buddy @Duchene2MacKinnon has been dealing with Hall over MacKinnon and this. Stay strong!
Apparently Argentinian fans chanted the famous 'anti-gay' slur at Sampaoli after the match, spat at him and tried to get to him.