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We all would. If Morocco wins the whole thing it will be the greatest sporting achievement ever. International football nowadays makes this a serious possibility.

Football is details though, not xG, which makes it magic and tragic. Evident by Brazil having the highest xG for and lowest xG against in the tournament and still bowed out to fucking Croatia. Similar in 2018 as well I think, as well as Germany having a higher xG difference than all except Brazil despite only winning 4 points at the WC. Also, not sure about how xG is calculated, but four penalties (two non-existent, one dubious and one clear) must have an effect on Argentina’s as well right? For me Messi is carrying this side, myth that he did in 2014 when he was quite poor in the knockouts, but this time it’s his show. Question remains though, will he join the table of the greats of international football and crown his career with the biggest achievement?

100% He’s embracing being an Argentinian. Afraid of what will happen Sunday if they lose...

Of course, but he has turned more Argentinian in the past two years. Good guy Messi isn’t the good guy Messi anymore. He’s become a nastier player. At this World Cup I’ve seen him argue with referees and opposition, I’ve seen him roll on the floor on minimal contact and I’ve seen him dive. Messi 3 years ago wouldn’t do as much of this. And guess what, since he became a nastier plyer they’ve won the Copa America and they’re now in the WC finals. As a Brazilian it’s going to be bittersweet if he wins, because I love Messi and this world cup more than ever he deserves it, and I can even respect Scaloni, but his teammates are for most parts the worst human beings in football for me Especially Otamendi (guy is prime Pepe on crack), but also Paredes, De Paul, Romero

Thought it was until 21 years of age in which case I’d give it to Gvardiol I think. Bellingham there as well.

100% This is by far his best World Cup. This is prime Messi at display. They’ve put 9 defensive players and a striker that makes intelligent runs and let him do everything else and it’s working only because of him. If he wins this, it has to be a top 3 World Cup individual performance with Garrincha in ’62 and Maradona ’86.

Qatar signing him and him then winning the WC in Qatar with the help of dubious calls in almost every game... Jokes aside, I think he’d have been this good no matter what. He has a new found love for Argentina in the past three years.

The best club football in the world was played in South America back in then fwiw. Pele pissed on the biggest European club sides with Santos time and time again. Very good argument otherwise. That is true and why you probably can’t compare between generations. I mean, Messi would’ve been a very small fella in Peles generation due to his growth hormone deficiency that he had to be treated for. That being said, let’s just enjoy Messi one more time Sunday. Hopefully he scores five and has a great performance but they still lose

Not sure. This french side is weak.

Pelé and Cristiano as well. But that’s for another day. What a performance from Messi tonight. Only Mbappé to stop his cunty teammates now though.

That’s not true though. They’re very rarely given.

Here as well, however, the fact they’ve gotten three dubious penalties (and four in total) in 5.5 games says it all for me.

Referee on TV saying he wouldn’t have given the penalty. Goalkeeper has all the right to try and make a save and it’s Alvarez that runs into him. I’m leaning more towards a pk, but Argentina has really had all the decisions go their way this WC...

Amazing. Hurts even more this, we absolutely bottled this tournament. Fuck sakes.

Eh what? They’re the only ones trying? They just dont have a striker that can score.

i cant take this. Ref has been abysmal. Clear corner on the other hand and becomes a corner kick.

I’m bringing you along in 2026.

Yes, but Paredes got the game to catch on fire with that situation, so wasn’t really harmless. Was worse than the mindgames that happen everytime. Casemiro tried it with Modric as well. South Americans have quite a lot of temperament and can be quite sour winners/losers as seen by Uruguay this WC and by many sides from the whole continent in Copa Libertadores. But no one, no one in South American football even comes close to this argentinian side Not even in club football. And mostly due to three players, but especially Otamendi. Go back to 2018. Otamendi kicked a ball in Rakitic and Pogbas face in two separate matches. The Copa America final last year he did similar. Otamendi is Pepe on cocaine basically and he’s their leader at the back. Would love for Messi to win this, and seriously, no one in world football is more deserving of it than him and same goes for their fans (despite having a huge problem with racism, put talking purely out of passion and dedication), but I hope his team burns up tonight because of his teammates.

Nah not as bad as Cristiano at all. Messi is becoming more Argentinian though. He gets away with a lot of diving. Probably been the player that has dived the most at this World Cup, but guess what? He won the Copa America last year being more Argentinian and might win the WC because of it as well, so credit to him not being the nice guy anymore.

That’s not true at all, thats actually a load of shit. Argentina were being cunts up 2-0. Paredes at 2-1 caused a melee (for some reason beyond me, he wasn’t sent off) Dutch then had momentum when they equalized and tried to pay it back, but Argentina ended up with the last laugh. Let’s not rewrite the story of the game though, just because one loves Messi.

It’s funny what the World Cup does to one. I’m in a whatsapp group with a couple of people over 65 years of age and no one has been able to sleep after losing to Croatia. I always thought I’d be better at handling an elimination at a World Cup, but only a few things in life are worse and the fact that these gentlemen are four days later still thinking about that counter attack in the 116th minute doesn’t feed me with hope that I one day will accept an elimination. The fact that the World Cup officially ends when your team bows out in a way just adds to the depressing feeling. Luckily this time I was at home, in 2014 we caught a plane 6am after the 7-1. No one said a word to each other in 6 hours and in 2018 we had to catch an 18 hour train from Kazan to Moscow in a cramped third class wagon. What I do learn each time, however, is how amazing this sporting event is, whether it’s from the comfort of your home or live.

Kobe had a whole season where his team had to basically take farewell. Whole season all about him. Barely graceful that...

Sorry, you clearly don’t know what you are talking about when you mention Kobe and MJ in that way. Both were enormous ego’s and even bullies to certain extent. They managed all they managed in the sport due to that ruthlessness. Let’s not re-write history. Also, people do everything to find the faults in stars. That is a weird obsession. Imagine being criticized for being distraught at a dream being broken. Never thought I’d defend Cristiano, but some of you lot are weird.

With time I hope people will realize what a player Cristiano was and admire that a lot his faults is what made him become one of the greatest to ever play this game. I’ve never been his biggest fan, but he made a nation believe in something that for so long was impossible to believe in. He brought the second biggest trophy in international football home. Seeing people happy at the demise of him as an individual and calling it a major highlight is sad and shows that a lot of football fans nowadays focus on the wrong thing.

You or Morocco. Either would inspire future generations as well as make me a happy fella! Unfortunately, I’m not sure it’s going to happen.