World Cup 2022 - Last 16 Round

The train rolls on. The major test will be Netherlands, which will put my hypothesis to the test that they can raise their game when needed. If they win that I think they'll win the WC.

There is this "inevitable champion" aura around this Argentina team I don't know how to describe it and it has nothing to do with the quality of the football or the players. I felt the same about every team that ended up winning the world cup expect Italy in 2006.

Spain '10, Germany '14, and France '18 all entered the tournament as clearly the most talented squad. Argentina isn't like that. What makes them comparable to previous winners for me is a combination of smaller things: Good form heading into the tournament, improving performances as the tournament progresses, defensive solidity, etc. Italy '06 had these traits as well.

Past world cup winners were filled with world class players on paper.

Spain: Casillas, Ramos, Pique, Puyol, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc, Torres, and Villa.

Germany: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Hummels, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Muller, and Ozil

France: Varane, Pogba, Kante, Griezmann, and Mbappe

The only world class player Argentina has in 2022 is Messi. Di Maria can make a difference, but he's too inconsistent and always gets injured. For example, Portugal have more world class talent than Argentina does.

The quarters are the best tell when it comes to who's the real deal. If you can't find defensive stability and tactical cohesion by then, it's unlikely you'll make it all the way. I'm 50/50 on who goes through between Argentina and Netherlands. Both teams will have 6 days of rest until their game.

Scaloni's in-game management is like he's playing FM. He tinkers a lot. I have a feeling he's going to play 5-3-2 against Netherlands to match their 5atb. I'm not a fan of makeshift tactical experiments in knockout rounds, so it'll be interesting to see what comes out of it. I'm really curious to see who decides to take the initiative because it seems like both teams would want to sit back.

Lautaro giving serious higuain vibes. I’m starting to think if it’s a little okay if Messi wants to plays selfish at times in the upcoming games.. how can you miss those chances man

Loving Enzo Fernandez so far. Absolute baller.

farfan wrote:There is this "inevitable champion" aura around this Argentina team I don't know how to describe it and it has nothing to do with the quality of the football or the players. I felt the same about every team that ended up winning the world cup expect Italy in 2006.

I have the exact opposite feeling, imo Netherlands are going through to the semis. It seems to me that Argentina can be easily frustrated against a solid defense and will struggle to break a solid low block

the Socceroos did pretty well, but individual mistakes done them dirty. I feel like a more tactically astute team can hold them out, which the Netherlands is

farfan wrote:There is this "inevitable champion" aura around this Argentina team I don't know how to describe it and it has nothing to do with the quality of the football or the players. I felt the same about every team that ended up winning the world cup expect Italy in 2006.

i said it a few days ago... they can grind out wins because they are probably the best defensive team in this tournament, and Messi is coming through clutch

Argentina finds it challenging to sustain sudden immense press from the opposition. Aus and Saudi Arabia games are examples. They probably learned from the first game and so did better during the press from Aus. The Netherlands is never going to press like that. this team was playing counter-attacking football vs USA. Against Argentina, they won't come out of the box. I, therefore, believe Argentina will be much more comfortable vs them than vs the likes of France who can do what Aus did more efficiently.

neuro11 wrote:Argentina finds it challenging to sustain sudden immense press from the opposition. Aus and Saudi Arabia games are examples. They probably learned from the first game and so did better during the press from Aus. The Netherlands is never going to press like that. this team was playing counter-attacking football vs USA. Against Argentina, they won't come out of the box. I, therefore, believe Argentina will be much more comfortable vs them than vs the likes of France who can do what Aus did more efficiently.

i feel the same

Also I am feeling Polish today @micecat

Unbelievable miss by Giroud, but getting into dangerous positions and seems like only a matter of time until they score.

Damn we're actually playing well ffs

which means goal for France is coming soon

This France team is very impressive. They don’t appear to have any weaknesses. You lot keep going on and on about Argentina, who I found to be anything but impressionable. Meanwhile there are two teams, France & Brasil who appear much much better than Messi & Co.  

Maybe that indeed is the difference. With Argentina, the squad list has only one notable name, whereas the other two have notable names throughout the squad list, much like previous winners (Spain, Germany, France) as noted above by Casciavit.

Yep Zielinski misses from 10m twice and now Giroud scores lmao

Fantastic finish by Giroud.

Poland actually getting a fair amount of good chances, just need to finish them

Myesyats wrote:Yep Zielinski misses from 10m twice and now Giroud scores lmao

tough, but y'all should have scored there

I can't help but root for the underdogs in these matches. I would go out of my way to watch the semi finals and final if none of Brazil, Argentina, France are in them. That would mean that the majority of the high profile players would be out of the competition, but it would also mean that this would be the least predictable WC in my lifetime and I'm here for it.

Mbappe is a cheat code lol

oh well it's been fun

No offence but Poland should not have gone through. Everyone knew they wouldn't challenge France at all given how they played in their previous games

No one in that group was good besides Argentina tbh

halamadrid2 wrote:No offence but Poland should not have gone through. Everyone knew they wouldn't challenge France at all given how they played in their previous games

You think mexico would have challenged them lol

There's maybe 1-2 teams currently who can challenge France, on a good day

More than Poland that's for sure

futbol_bill wrote:This France team is very impressive. They don’t appear to have any weaknesses. You lot keep going on and on about Argentina, who I found to be anything but impressionable. Meanwhile there are two teams, France & Brasil who appear much much better than Messi & Co.  

Maybe that indeed is the difference. With Argentina, the squad list has only one notable name, whereas the other two have notable names throughout the squad list, much like previous winners (Spain, Germany, France) as noted above by Casciavit.

i'm not denyin that France are impressive, and deserve to be favourites ahead of Argentina and Brazil... but what i will ask is does France have a better defence than Argentina?

Myesyats wrote:

halamadrid2 wrote:No offence but Poland should not have gone through. Everyone knew they wouldn't challenge France at all given how they played in their previous games

You think mexico would have challenged them lol

There's maybe 1-2 teams currently who can challenge France, on a good day

This match probably would've looked very different if you had scored on one of your earlier chances. I think there are definitely more than 2 teams that can challenge France, but morale and momentum are often decisive factors in international matches, similarly to the Champions League.