ponsaelius

Martinez is a great striker but it's hardly his fault in this game. They've not been able to get the ball anywhere close to attacking areas.

There's just so many spoiling sides that have the mid-season match fitness to pull it off. Mexico are usually a good watch but they've got very little quality up top by their standards so have been instead been extremely good at nullifying this game completely through intensity and physicality.

If it stayed like this Argentina would go into the last game needing to win by two clear goals to get through. Which seems highly unlikely.

Add to this a system that requires good full backs but having two crap ones.

After everything Argentina honestly look barely any different to the last World Cup. A stodgy and static midfield, Messi barely involved, and Di Maria going on the odd random forage. Easy to nullify. Can see a red card and a loss today.

Rabiot has been great for the last couple of months for Juve too but he was bad for ageeeees before that. He's a player who saves his best form for when his contract is running out (end of this season) and for that reason I am skeptical. He's also a bit of a renowned knobhead.

Honestly think Lucas H injury is a blessing in disguise because it has forced Deschamps to play one of France's best players in his brother. Lucas is fine but always feels like a CB playing wide to me.

It's the same for US last night. A draw actually did nothing for them in the grand scheme of things. A draw is a good result for France in the same way it was for England - it's worth basically nothing for Denmark. They're better off giving it a go and trying to to win which leaves them only needing a draw in the last game.

But that's going to be exactly the same scenario if they lose. There is literally no benefit whatsoever to Denmark getting a draw here.

Just don't see what this does for Denmark though. A point leaves them needing to beat Australia the same way a loss does. It's basically a free hit to try and get a victory and make their last game easier.

The lack of first half goals has been unreal in this tournament, especially considering the endless added time.

This game at the last tournament was one of the worst games of all time (and that competition's only 0-0). Hoping for more as a draw does absolutely nothing for Denmark.

Obviously some credit to Poland for not conceding and putting the ball in the net but I absolutely hate this way of playing.

Poland are the ultimate party pooper side at this tournament. Rubbish football, missing penalties, saving penalties.

Tunisia desperately poor. No idea why they waited until 85 minutes to give it any kind of go.

Having watched AFC and CONCACAF in the past footballing culture of Middle East teams and Central America is honestly surprisingly similar. There really is a lot of gamesmanship and pushing the boundaries to win. I think if he had caveated it with 'footballing culture' it would be fine.

I agree the inability to put pressure on their defence was the most frustrating thing. Even from set pieces. Were never able to overcome their intensity in midfield.

Plus evening games on a weekend are horrific for travelling fans too. Obviously midweek it can't be avoided. There's a reason why football has historically been played at 3pm on a Saturday.

They definitely don't like. It was painful during COVID having every game televised and 10am games would be dreadful for travelling supporters.

Also club football is about building a style, fluidity and intensity over that extensive period. Over years and year even. I'm always amazed people watch international football and expect the same thing. It simply doesn't happen from any of the teams really. They're a bunch of players hoyed together. You will always get duff performances.

Yup. Through unless we get howked.

Feel like the tournament needs one of Tunisia or Saudi to get through, they're basically surrogate hosts.

Absolutely loads of Tunisians there

No. It's on goal difference, not head to head.

Honestly the game last night was bad but people do overreact. A draw puts us essentially through while a loss would have left things completely in the balance. We could afford to do that because the opening win was so convincing. I complained after the Scotland game bitterly that we had 'lost monentum' because of the way we played - but it turned out to be nonsense as we cruised through the rest of the competition up to the final. So this time I am witholding judgement.