No Irish, No Yanks, No Clogs - FIFA World Cup 2018

Until Simeone or Pochettino want a shot, Argentina should prob go with a European manager.

Basically, in front, Argentina played with two wingbacks and 2 strikers and an out of position central midfielder who scored 9 goals for club and country over the last 2 season. No attacking midfielders per se.

Antonio Pulis (xp)

Ha. Really hope they don't go like Enrique, who would be a horrible fit, followed by Bielsa stint number two (but can totally see that happening)

Why is Pastore isn't in the squad?

been put out

Did Di Maria even get on the pitch? Not that it would have made much difference.

I think it hurts because every time they flop it gives ammunition to the idiots who underrate Messi

Why is Pastore isn't in the squad

He's barely played for PSG for the last two or three years

Also that was terrible darragh

actually it owned

im 50/50 but when im put in the ground a sombre, unpainted clown in a plain coat will stand over the plot and say "he did his duty" and land the first pie on the coffin

I always come back to the moment against Germany in 2006 when Peckerman took Riquelme off for Cambiasso at 1-0 up. That was a masterful Argentinian side and they could have gone all the way if that hadn't happened.

And he refused to put Messi on

I think about that substitution every day, what it must be like for Argentinians I can't imagine.

I've been away for exactly half of a new larry appleton ban and Modric scores the goal of the tournament so far huh

Eriksen's was better...

nacho's trivela was best imo

Two really good goals yesterday. And altho everyone is focussing on Caballero's brain melt, Rebic's insouiscant volley was a thing of beauty too

I enjoyed modric's teasing back and forth and it might edge ahead of the mertens and coutinho goals, but nacho produced his masterpiece on the world stage and we owe him our gratitude

My reckless prediction of the day is that Nigeria will beat Iceland, which will open up the group nicely but would probably mean Croatia being able to throw the final match knowing they can’t be caught as group winners.

a deflated argentina vs a nigeria with a chance would be a good game

hearing "deflated Argentina" to the tune of "Alternative Ulster"

I think I'm watching Tuesday's game in a Nigerian restaurant and would dearly love Nigeria to still have something to play for by then because the atmosphere would be insane.

And altho everyone is focussing on Caballero's brain melt, Rebic's insouiscant volley was a thing of beauty too

OTM. Also the way there are three Argentinian defenders just standing there for the Rakitic goal as Willy runs and flaps about all over the place.

The Players' Tribune has rapidly become my football media outlet of choice. Digested and loved both the Sterling and Shaqiri stories on there this morning, highly recommended

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/raheem-sterling-england-it-was-all-a-dream?utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=worldcup18&utm_term=Sterling

gary neville dislikes shaqiri so you know he's good

Check out the archives too. The Ronaldinho and Mkhitaryan articles are particularly good iirc

Yay, off today, wall-to-wall World Cup.

give it half an hour of listening to hoddle and you'll be begging to go back to work instead

I hope Lawro has been given the day off to compensate

Costa Rica had a really good chance a few mins ago.

watching this with volume off while also attending training, lol....

Costa Rica looks better than they did against Serbia, though that isn't saying a lot

I keep forgetting Costa Rica have a Celtic player in the team 'cos I keep forgetting he's a Celtic player.

Opening up more now that Hack-a-Neymar is subsiding

This is a ridiculously dominant performance and yet Brazil still seem to be making hard work of it.

Wondering if there are any good teams in this tournament

Argentina players have reportedly had a meeting and demanded that Sampaoli be removed as manager before the Nigeria game.

Or cover his arms up at least.

i know kit complaints are getting boring now but this is a fucking travesty apart. the most storied footballing nation looking like one of the generic teams on pro evo

he's the vuvuzela of brachial needle-art

(xp bcz it took so long to say this in a comedy-fancy way)

Korea white instead of red vs Sweden yellow. Brazil yellow vs Swiss red. Brazil blue instead of yellow vs Costa Rica white instead of red...

erm Brazil have had that shit all blue away kit for a while now(?)

ok... i mean, as long as we agree it's shit

ossie ardilles says that this argentina side is their worst side ever, poor enough that they won't be able to do anything even with the best player in the world. but even tho it for sure wouldn't solve their midfield or goalkeeper problems, having cron alongside messi does sound p spicy.

give it half an hour of listening to hoddle and you'll be begging to go back to work instead

If I can stand Tyldesley I can stand anything. That's what I am telling myself. Over and over again.

I always come back to the moment against Germany in 2006 when Peckerman took Riquelme off for Cambiasso at 1-0 up. That was a masterful Argentinian side and they could have gone all the way if that hadn't happened.

― Matt DC, Friday, June 22, 2018 2:47 AM (six hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

And he refused to put Messi on

― Number None, Friday, June 22, 2018 3:16 AM (five hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I think about that substitution every day, what it must be like for Argentinians I can't imagine.

― A Warning to the Karius (Bananaman Begins), Friday, June 22, 2018 3:17 AM (five hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Arrrgh! Peckerman!!!!!! 2006 Argentina probably my favorite international side ever.

(xp) His Dooglas Costa is wounding me though.