FOOTBALL 2022 FIFA World Cup

[Super Freak]

That was too easy for Argentina.

If it wasn't already game over for Croatia, it is now.

 

[Renegade]

Messi carves up Croatia and puts it on a plate for Alvarez. 3-0 and game over.

 

[Super Freak]

Jesus, Tyler.

Just get on your knees and blow Messi already.

 

[The True King]

This Messi fella is an alien.

He will be the guy everyone is still talking about in 50 years time.

 

[BroncosFever]

This Messi fella is an alien.

He will be the guy everyone is still talking about in 50 years time.

Not if he doesn't win the World Cup they won't be. They talk about Pele and Maradona but they don't talk about what they did for their respective clubs (and that's coming from a Napoli fan), they talk about how they lifted their nation to win a World Cup.

If Messi wants to be in the conversation, he must win the World Cup for Argentina. It's really that simple. I think France will win the World Cup, their team is ridiculous. Morocco will play with spirit and all of that but France are just freakish in what they can throw at you and they've shown the ability to work a team over. They're unpredictable and the quality of their entire team around the penalty area, it's unmatched for mine. Messi will need a few mates if they're to beat France, if France do beat Morocco (which I firmly believe that they will).

 

[The True King]

Not if he doesn't win the World Cup they won't be. They talk about Pele and Maradona but they don't talk about what they did for their respective clubs (and that's coming from a Napoli fan), they talk about how they lifted their nation to win a World Cup.

If Messi wants to be in the conversation, he must win the World Cup for Argentina. It's really that simple. I think France will win the World Cup, their team is ridiculous. Morocco will play with spirit and all of that but France are just freakish in what they can throw at you and they've shown the ability to work a team over. They're unpredictable and the quality of their entire team around the penalty area, it's unmatched for mine. Messi will need a few mates if they're to beat France, if France do beat Morocco (which I firmly believe that they will).

So if I'm following, the logic is you can't be the greatest player ever if you don't win a World Cup?

Interesting. Cruyff retired nearly 40 years ago and is still widely considered one of the greatest ever. Never won a World Cup and yet his legacy in football is arguably on par with Pele and Maradona.

 

[BroncosFever]

So if I'm following, the logic is you can't be the greatest player ever if you don't win a World Cup?

Interesting. Cruyff retired nearly 40 years ago and is still widely considered one of the greatest ever. Never won a World Cup and yet his legacy in football is arguably on par with Pele and Maradona.

Pele and Maradona, then the rest.

Yes, winning the World Cup is the one thing you must do to be in the conversation.

 

[The True King]

Pele and Maradona, then the rest.

Yes, winning the World Cup is the one thing you must do to be in the conversation.

Virtually rules out any player ever that plays or has played for a third tier nation like Poland, Egypt, Wales, Croatia, any African/Asian country etc.

I take your point but it's that sort of elitism that is the opposite of what football is about. It really shouldn't matter where you're from but instead what you can do with the ball at your feet.

Cruyff and Di Stefano are perfect examples of players who are in the conversation regardless of not having won the World Cup. Pele and Maradona are different because the were superstars that transcended the sport, similar to what Messi has undoubtedly done.

 

[BroncosFever]

Virtually rules out any player ever that plays or has played for a third tier nation like Poland, Egypt, Wales, Croatia, any African/Asian country etc.

I take your point but it's that sort of elitism that is the opposite of what football is about. It really shouldn't matter where you're from but instead what you can do with the ball at your feet.

Cruyff and Di Stefano are perfect examples of players who are in the conversation regardless of not having won the World Cup. Pele and Maradona are different because the were superstars that transcended the sport, similar to what Messi has undoubtedly done.

In the case of Messi where he plays for a team like Argentina that has some really good players, it's reasonable that you'd expect him to play a major part in them winning the World Cup and if he were able to do that, he'd undoubtedly be spoken about for as long as Maradona and Pele have been. Given they'd all have achieved the same things.

Who is the best? argue all day and night about that one, it really doesn't matter.

 

[The True King]

In the case of Messi where he plays for a team like Argentina that has some really good players, it's reasonable that you'd expect him to play a major part in them winning the World Cup and if he were able to do that, he'd undoubtedly be spoken about for as long as Maradona and Pele have been. Given they'd all have achieved the same things.

Who is the best? argue all day and night about that one, it really doesn't matter.

Croatia has some really good players but you can't put a line through Modric's name as an all time GOAT cause he hasn't won a World Cup.

I don't think Messi needs to win it to be the greatest, his individual and club achievements speak for themselves.

I'm not too bothered who anyone thinks is the best either, it's all very subjective. Just not a fan of the argument that you need to win a specific team accolade to be considered the greatest individual player.

 

[Super Freak]

When there are other players who qualify for GOAT status that have dragged their side to WC victories, it does matter that Messi is yet to win one.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Virtually rules out any player ever that plays or has played for a third tier nation like Poland, Egypt, Wales, Croatia, any African/Asian country etc.

I take your point but it's that sort of elitism that is the opposite of what football is about. It really shouldn't matter where you're from but instead what you can do with the ball at your feet.

Cruyff and Di Stefano are perfect examples of players who are in the conversation regardless of not having won the World Cup. Pele and Maradona are different because the were superstars that transcended the sport, similar to what Messi has undoubtedly done.

A bit of logic here, finally. I have never got the whole World Cup winner or you don't count argument. You can have an amazing career and dominate club football week in and week out for years on end, but if you don't play lights out for a specific four week period regardless of whether you have good players around you or not, then you aren't worthy, apparently.

 

[Super Freak]

Man I don't know about that. How does the goalkeeper avoid that collision? I mean his feet are planted and Alvarez' momentum takes him into him.

Watching the replay of it, the GK comes off his goal to attack the ball and ends up colliding with the player, he didn't give the ref any choice but to award a penalty. It's the risk they take when they do that.

 

[Super Freak]

That was unlucky for Morocco.

They did well up until that last deflection which just went straight to Hernandez.

 

[Super Freak]

Holy ****.

How did Morocco not score there? That would have been some goal, the bicycle kick to score.

 

[Renegade]

Morocco doing everything but scoring.

 

[Super Freak]

Unlucky Morocco.

They didn't do too badly. Their defence was good for the most part, unfortunately both of France's goals came from deflections that went straight to them.

They came as close as you could come to scoring without scoring, with a couple of shots hitting the bar. They never stopped pushing France though.

It's been a good WC for them.

 

[The True King]

Two best teams in the final. Two best players on the planet right now up against each other.

Can't ask for much more really.