Pata

Hadn't really seen much of him before the knockouts of last Copa America but I thought he would end up a superstar and €35m looked like a steal. Seems like Simeone has suffocated all the ability he had with the ball.

Like just wasn't enough.

Messi and Di Maria are old but still good. Otamendi too but I don't think it matters, he's still the same. Australia scored with a shot that would've been 20 yards wide and high and got few chances from loose balls and and one once-in-a-lifetime run while Argies missed a sitter after sitter. Argies the favourites against Netherlands imo.

No and no.

Jesus what a run!

The midfield is really good base to build on but the lack of striker and the age of the centrebacks looks like a real problem, four years goes pretty fast. Edit. Have no idea about potential kids though.

The fuck is that defending?

Would have been ridiculous finish if he meant that but based on the touch a minute earlier it’s just impossible.

Horrible first touch.

Really like Adams and Musah.

Nah, mid level PL player is loaded. IMO more understandable when it's from leagues like Ligue 1 and Portuguese Primeira Liga (like Aboubakar) where a good player is well off but not filthy rich. All this said without having any idea how much Aboubakar made in those leagues.

Didn't know him before the tournament but going to KSA at the age of 28 seems like a massive waste, at least he's making a decent wedge.

I don’t ever want to watch a World Cup without Uruguay in it, such a unique mentality and love of cuntishness. Can’t remember any accidents with either Valverde or Cavani on their club teams.

Ref has been way too happy to blow his whistle in the second half, played a big part in ruining this half.

What a half! Loved the Mitro header, knew he would score as the CB wasn’t close enough.

I don't see it as cheating. He did something illegal and got punished for it. 100% the right thing to do at that spot.

Nah, they are not shit. You play that group again with the same chances and they go through 9 times out of 10.

Germany insanely unlucky although their defense looked shaky against both Japan and Costa Rica.

This makes it look so obvious ffs. Love the effort though.

VAR still can’t check corners.

Is unfair advantage an inch, 3 inches or 10 inches?

I wouldn’t be too down, you’ve been exciting and fun to watch. Just don’t have the quality in the back and it ended up being really tough group considering how good Morocco have been.

Entirely possible. I do agree that 32 and 16 are perfect but FIFA and UEFA clearly want more teams so I would just skip these 24 and 48 formats and go all in to keep the group stage structure as it was.

They really should just make the Euros 32 teams and WC 64 teams and dump the fancy group stages that have anything other than 4 teams with 2 qualifying from each group.

I know what you mean but I'm neutral in this World Cup so prefer teams that I find entertaining to watch. Countries like Australia and Finland just don't have the talent to play nice football and I didn't give a fuck about the complaints from neutrals about how Finland played in the 2021 Euros. Congrats again for getting through!