Beren

You say that as if the World Cup hasn't previously been awarded to fascist Italy in 1934, the Argentinian military junta in 78 and Colombia in 86 a country riddled with internal corruption and a full scale guerilla drug war. Both South Africa and Brazil arguably have societal problems that give Russia a run for their money and both are vastly more dangerous countries for visitors than either Qatar or Russia. FIFA don't really give a shite, basically. Especially not when there is dollar to be pocketed. Most of those were before my time unsurprisingly South Africa/Brazil were controversial in so far as that there were policital/economic consequences of hosting them there and issues about profit distribution etc, but nothing which amounted to a serious human rights breach (as far as I know, happy to be corrected on this). Conversely, the upcoming two are absolutely appalling. You couldn't script two regimes more diabolical.

The domestic schedule rejigging doesn't bother me half as much as the human rights issues in Russia/Qatar, and the domestic schedule rejigging is really, really, REALLY daft.

Ouch

:lol: Pele would have buried that like.

Messi has been good, but I already knew he was class, the person on the pitch I've been most impressed with is the referee. Been really, really good.

Proper creep Messi

Why did I read that in Stallone's voice? Judge Dredd. Very distinguished way of saying 'law'. Loaaaar.

Arrest him. Assaulted an officer of the law.

Alba = cunt

He was much better second half. Unforgivably petrified first half. Daft daft challenge.

He's killing me. Plays like Shola at this level (I do like him FWIW, but he's had a very bad start)

Entire Barca team stopped because Bony stopped That was hilarious. Clouseau fucked them up

Oh there are fans in the stadium apparently.

His inexperienced movement confused the shit out of them

Bony was absolutely fucking clueless there :lol:

Barca have taken their foot off Citeh's throats a bit here

That take by Messi

How is that passenger Fernando staying on?

Lovely by Aguero. By his own standards he should score though.

Nah. Ride it out IMO. Citeh are nowhere and they already have a two goal cushion, even if Citeh fluke a goal.

Agree. Was hoping to see a good match tonight. Oh well. at the same time I do enjoy watching the mighty PL gettin well and truly bummed. I'm enjoying it personally. Much prefer this iteration of Barca, way quicker going forward. Don't want to take it away from them, especially Messi who has been excellent, but Citeh are particularly shite tonight. They stepped on to the pitch tonight like they were Roger Federer, and looked across the net and saw Nadal standing on clay.

Agree. Was hoping to see a good match tonight. Oh well. at the same time I do enjoy watching the mighty PL gettin well and truly bummed. Surely no one really thinks the PL are mighty on the European stage though. Even Sky etc can't, they just bill them as such for the mula.

Agree. Was hoping to see a good match tonight. Oh well.

Awful tactics. Letting one player press the ball at a time, no marking on throw-ins, sending them out shit scared.