World Cup (2018) - Group D (Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria)

Banking  on this group to provide us some late drama like today

Inb4 Messi hattrick and the subsequent wankfest that'd follow :ugh:

Would be impressed if he got a Hat trick tbh, would mean he got the ball closer to goal than to Mascherano.

Time for Higuain to save Argentina imo. He owe them that for the very least.

Sportsczy be shitting his pants if Argentina go through

S wrote:Sportsczy be shitting his pants if Argentina go through

Ahmed Musa might actually be a bigger threat in the WC than Mehssi.

Ronaldo just flopped so that Messi could have a great game tomorrow. A red card would have ensured a hattrick for Leo, but I think a brace will do now

Tomorrow's match is honestly set up delightfully for Messi. A fractured squad, both in terms of talent (there is hardly any) and motivation. A numpty manager whose greatest accomplishment in the WC was knowing how to take off his jacket. Higuain getting fatter every time you see him. Whatever Dybala is doing. Ardilles and Maradona taking turns in who can say the meaner things about the numpty manager. BC trying to remain positive in the face of despair.

Yup, the stage is so set for Lionel.

Higuain is a stress eater. He gets thicker as the pressure piles on

Easy day for Leo tomorrow

It's not like he's in control of that If he doesn't see the ball he won't do anything.

I don't really believe in big players turn up etc personally.

He can try his very best but if he's isolated again it doesn't matter, good players are not magicians.

My prediction is he barely sees the ball as Argentina struggle to play through midfield and Nigeria counter attack their horrible defence.

Don't see how any sane person could see it any differently.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:It's not like he's in control of that If he doesn't see the ball he won't do anything.

I don't really believe in big players turn up etc personally.

He can try his very best but if he's isolated again it doesn't matter, good players are not magicians.

My prediction is he barely sees the ball as Argentina struggle to play through midfield and Nigeria counter attack their horrible defence.

Don't see how any sane person could see it any differently.

Eh there are plenty of instances of big players making big time plays ala Jimmy G. Buckets when the pressure is on. However, there are just as many where big time players fail when the pressure is on.

I mostly agree with you, in a game like football when there are 11 players. Basketball? Sure it can happen. Football? Eh it's difficult. Even Messi and Ronaldo are insanely reliant on their teammates.

Obviously some players like Iniesta have a proven track record of it though. Shows up every time and that's why he's a living legend.

Confirmed Argentina team vs Nigeria: Franco Armani , Gabriel Mercado , Nicolás Otamendi , Marcos Rojo , Nicolás Tagliafico , Enzo Pérez ,Javier Mascherano , Ever Banega ,Ángel Di María , Lionel Messi y Gonzalo Higuaín.

Ventura Sampaoli found the right combination of pills it seems. The best 11 he's put out at this tournament @mole

CBarca wrote:

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:It's not like he's in control of that If he doesn't see the ball he won't do anything.

I don't really believe in big players turn up etc personally.

He can try his very best but if he's isolated again it doesn't matter, good players are not magicians.

My prediction is he barely sees the ball as Argentina struggle to play through midfield and Nigeria counter attack their horrible defence.

Don't see how any sane person could see it any differently.

Eh there are plenty of instances of big players making big time plays ala Jimmy G. Buckets when the pressure is on. However, there are just as many where big time players fail when the pressure is on.

I mostly agree with you, in a game like football when there are 11 players. Basketball? Sure it can happen. Football? Eh it's difficult. Even Messi and Ronaldo are insanely reliant on their teammates.

Obviously some players like Iniesta have a proven track record of it though. Shows up every time and that's why he's a living legend.

I just think people underestimate that it's a team sport.

Messi has never won without help, Ronaldo hasn't or anybody else lol.

People are so obsessed with the stars that they underestimate the contribution of the others.

To be clear i don't think Messi has been good, i doubt anybody does but i don't feel he's been put in the position to do so either.

This tournament has been a clear example of why i used to say even if Newcastle signed Messi under Pardew that we'd still be relegation candidates.

CBarca wrote:

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:It's not like he's in control of that If he doesn't see the ball he won't do anything.

I don't really believe in big players turn up etc personally.

He can try his very best but if he's isolated again it doesn't matter, good players are not magicians.

My prediction is he barely sees the ball as Argentina struggle to play through midfield and Nigeria counter attack their horrible defence.

Don't see how any sane person could see it any differently.

Eh there are plenty of instances of big players making big time plays ala Jimmy G. Buckets when the pressure is on. However, there are just as many where big time players fail when the pressure is on.

I mostly agree with you, in a game like football when there are 11 players. Basketball? Sure it can happen. Football? Eh it's difficult. Even Messi and Ronaldo are insanely reliant on their teammates.

Obviously some players like Iniesta have a proven track record of it though. Shows up every time and that's why he's a living legend.

I just think people underestimate that it's a team sport.

Messi has never won without help, Ronaldo hasn't or anybody else lol.

People are so obsessed with the stars that they underestimate the contribution of the others.

To be clear i don't think Messi has been good, i doubt anybody does but i don't feel he's been put in the position to do so either.

This tournament has been a clear example of why i used to say even if Newcastle signed Messi under Pardew that we'd still be relegation candidates.

Luca wrote:Confirmed Argentina team vs Nigeria: Franco Armani , Gabriel Mercado , Nicolás Otamendi , Marcos Rojo , Nicolás Tagliafico , Enzo Pérez ,Javier Mascherano , Ever Banega ,Ángel Di María , Lionel Messi y Gonzalo Higuaín.

Ventura Sampaoli found the right combination of pills it seems. The best 11 he's put out at this tournament @mole

Iheanacho and Musa going to ruin those FBs. Still starting Mascherano instead of Lo Celso

On the plus side at least Messi and Higuain should see the ball this time, the defence is beyond help but we all know this.

Not sure what Lo Celso did to upset Sampaoli so dearly @bc

It's probably just a manager leaning on experience thing, it's wrong but plenty of managers rely on who has helped the team in the past.

I can't really criticise it too much when there's so much else to criticise

I'm sure it is, but he's basically tried every midfielder but Lo Celso... who is getting the Dybala treatment. Not that Lo Celso should make or break your starting 11 or chances to win matches but given that nothing else has really worked, it's surprising

Happy to see Higuain from the start

Lo Celso will get nervous and might possibly stink it up like he did when Emery started him in a big CL game against Real Madrid. Cant fault Sampaoli this time for going with experience tbh.

S wrote:Lo Celso will get nervous and might possibly stink it up like he did when Emery started him in a big CL game against Real Madrid. Cant fault Sampaoli this time for going with experience tbh.

Can't really buy into this line of reasoning but it's a non-factor anyways

Lo Celso is still a kid. Most times, any manager wouldnt throw inexperienced players in an occasion such as this , a virtual world cup knockout game, where Argentina are absolutely required to win to qualify

Sounds like a Ventura thing to do. It's all fine when you're team is achieving results but when you're already out and nothing is working, normally, good managers try new things. Playing Lo Celso, does not seem as risky to me as playing the same players that have consistently disappointed.

Like I said, non-factor because of who were talking about versus the impact of his inclusion or exclusion and talking about Iceland and Croatia are retroactive arguments

Argentina is not already out though, thats the thing. They're not sitting in a nothing to lose situation.

They are still in with a big chance. I'd rather go with experience in such situations. Besides even Banega has hardly seen game time and he impressed in the little game time he got. Its basically a choice between Banega and Lo Celso and i'd rather go with the former. Lo Celso surely wont make or break things for them so understandable decision to go with Banega and Masch in the center.

It's more like Enzo Perez or Lo Celso but either way, I see your point. There are bigger things to criticize this Argentina on then whether or not Lo Celso is the third starting midfielder on the team

Argentina will win this game anyway and by a few goals. It is known.

Only way they go out is if Iceland trash Croatia and we all know that's not going to happen

spent my saving buying argentina out.

messi wont disappoint me.