Argentina vs Croatia

[tiger76]

Forward was looking for that pen knowing he'd messed us his shot at goal, soft at best for me.

[Vegas Claret]

The “experts” have let themselves down badly there. One glance at social media will tell you that.

PLC, we aren't going to agree, you think it's a pen, I think it's another joke of a decision. Let's leave it at that

[arise_sir_charge]

It another case of pundits showing that they don’t know the rules. If he comes out and challenges he’s got to win the ball. I bit like Vydra and Krul which we all believed was a penalty. If he doesn’t he’s in the sh!t. You can’t have goalkeepers or anyone for that matter being allowed to stand in a players path with the defence of “where is he meant to go”.

I also guarantee that had that happened to any of them 3 on the field of play they’d have been demanding a penalty.

[jrgbfc]

As McCoist has just pointed out, anywhere else on the pitch it's a 100% foul and a free kick.

[fidelcastro]

Remember when people said VAR would sort these incidents out?

[RVclaret]

It another case of pundits showing that they don’t know the rules. If he comes out and challenges he’s got to win the ball. I bit like Vydra and Krul which we all believed was a penalty. If he doesn’t he’s in the sh!t. You can’t have goalkeepers or anyone for that matter being allowed to stand in a players path with the defence of “where is he meant to go”.

I also guarantee that had that happened to any of them 3 on the field of play they’d have been demanding a penalty.

Krul on Vydra was a case of him making a foul though. He actually moved towards the player and punched him in the head after the ball had gone.

In this case, the keeper is standing there to make a save, Alvarez has tried to score, his momentum took him into the keeper who is standing there, the shot is a poor one and is easily cleared.

[PremierLeagueClass]

Glad that commentary team are as baffled by the pundits take on that pen as I am. Utterly bizarre from three men that have played the game. Sense there may be a bit anti Argentina bias going on that’s clouded their judgement.

[PremierLeagueClass]

I will say this is why we love the game. I always find divisive incidents like this interesting.

[arise_sir_charge]

Krul on Vydra was a case of him making a foul though. He actually moved towards the player and punched him in the head after the ball had gone.

In this case, the keeper is standing there to make a save, Alvarez has tried to score, his momentum took him into the keeper who is standing there, the shot is a poor one and is easily cleared.

If the keeper comes, he puts himself in that position, he has to win the ball, if not and he takes the player out it’s a penalty.

He should have either stayed at home or more probably come out sooner.

[Vegas Claret]

It another case of pundits showing that they don’t know the rules. If he comes out and challenges he’s got to win the ball. I bit like Vydra and Krul which we all believed was a penalty. If he doesn’t he’s in the sh!t. You can’t have goalkeepers or anyone for that matter being allowed to stand in a players path with the defence of “where is he meant to go”.

I also guarantee that had that happened to any of them 3 on the field of play they’d have been demanding a penalty.

Krul punched him in the face, it's not remotely the same !!

Anyway, need Croatia to score because this has been a bit of an anti-climax game so far, very one sided which is disappointing imho for a semi-final

[tiger76]

Krul punched him in the face, it's not remotely the same !!

Anyway, need Croatia to score because this has been a bit of an anti-climax game so far, very one sided which is disappointing imho for a semi-final

Croatia play some great passing football. but they have nothing up top to hurt Argentina sadly.

[Vegas Claret]

Croatia play some great passing football. but they have nothing up top to hurt Argentina sadly.

yep, today they look their age as well

[RVclaret]

Messi been top class again.

[Nori1958]

Krul punched him in the face, it's not remotely the same !!

Anyway, need Croatia to score because this has been a bit of an anti-climax game so far, very one sided which is disappointing imho for a semi-final

Croatia have only won one game properly, and that was against Canada... Didn't see that changing tonight, hope to be wrong, but don't think so

[RVclaret]

Incredible Messi. What a player.

[expoultryboy]

GOAT

[tiger76]

3-0 game well and truly over now. Great play by Messi to set that goal up.

[Lancasterclaret]

Ridiculously good from Messi

[Taffy on the wing]

That's the Tin-Hat on it!

[Vegas Claret]

Having Messi is like playing on cheat mode

[PremierLeagueClass]

Greatest of all time. I don’t care what happens in the final, it’s settled forever.

We are blessed to have watched this man.

[Pickles]

Messi's a truly sublime footballer.

[Vegas Claret]

GOAT

has to be

[Pickles]

Greatest of all time. I don’t care what happens in the final, it’s settled forever.

We are blessed to have watched this man.

Agreed. He's the best to have played it and he doesn't need to win a World Cup to prove that. But it'd be nice.

[houseboy]

Okay we had a war against Argentina years ago. Other than that why do people go on about hating them, is it fashionable? They are a great team. They’ve been in three times as many WC finals as us and won it twice as many times. Messi is one of the greatest players who ever walked this earth. And they came into these finals as favourites, or one of them. Do they cheat? Yes. Do we? Absolutely. Does just about every team on earth these days? Yes.
I have stuck to my guns on this WC and haven’t watched any of it, including right now, but it slightly saddens me that my second team internationally looks like they could go on to win it and I won’t see it.

[Vegas Claret]

I'll be amazed if Argentina don't win the whole thing, assuming (?!!) France get to the final and they play like they did against us I think they will struggle against Messi and City's reserve striker

[Vegas Claret]

Okay we had a war against Argentina years ago. Other than that why do people go on about hating them, is it fashionable? They are a great team. They’ve been in three times as many WC finals as us and won it twice as many times. Messi is one of the greatest players who ever walked this earth. And they came into these finals as favourites, or one of them. Do they cheat? Yes. Do we? Absolutely. Does just about every team on earth these days? Yes.
I have stuck to my guns on this WC and haven’t watched any of it, including right now, but it slightly saddens me that my second team internationally looks like they could go on to win it and I won’t see it.

I guess it's because someone punched the ball in the net against England

[arise_sir_charge]

I’ve always been Ronaldo over Messi but I’m converted. One player has spent this tournament cementing his reputation and the other has spent the build up and the tournament tarnishing his.

[tiger76]

Okay we had a war against Argentina years ago. Other than that why do people go on about hating them, is it fashionable? They are a great team. They’ve been in three times as many WC finals as us and won it twice as many times. Messi is one of the greatest players who ever walked this earth. And they came into these finals as favourites, or one of them. Do they cheat? Yes. Do we? Absolutely. Does just about every team on earth these days? Yes.
I have stuck to my guns on this WC and haven’t watched any of it, including right now, but it slightly saddens me that my second team internationally looks like they could go on to win it and I won’t see it.

In purely footballing terms "The hand of God" goal still rankles among older England fans.

[jrgbfc]

If Messi lifts the trophy does it settle the Messi/Ronaldo debate once and for all?

[Vegas Claret]

If Messi lifts the trophy does it settle the Messi/Ronaldo debate once and for all?

Not sure it's a debate tbh, Ronaldo has been an incredible striker, Messi has always worked for the team. I guess you could say Ronaldo has done it in 2 leagues and Messi hasn't really been a success in France but for me it's Messi by a mile

[Pickles]

I’ve always been Ronaldo over Messi but I’m converted. One player has spent this tournament cementing his reputation and the other has spent the build up and the tournament tarnishing his.

Never been a question for me. It's Messi every time. Is Ronaldo a brilliant player with stupendous figures and records? Yeah, definitely.

But who'd I rather watch? Who's more unique in style? Who is less likely to be replicated in years to come? It's Messi. Generational, a one-off, a more complete footballer than Ronaldo ever has been. He's blessed with something like magic.

Ronaldo is a supreme footballer but when Messi is around everyone else is a level below.

[tiger76]

Comfortable win for Argentina in the end and after the 1st goal they were in cruise control all evening.

Messi has got better as the tournament has progressed and that's what the true greats do rise to the occasion when their teams needs it.

[Colburn_Claret]

If a keeper goes for the ball, he has to get a touch of it. That was as stonewall as you can get. I can only imagine the dissent is purely bias against Argentina.
If that happened to Burnley we would all be fuming if it wasn't given, ridiculous argument.

[Vegas Claret]

If a keeper goes for the ball, he has to get a touch of it. That was as stonewall as you can get. I can only imagine the dissent is purely bias against Argentina.
If that happened to Burnley we would all be fuming if it wasn't given, ridiculous argument.

You imagine incorrectly

[claretburns]

That question in the studio aimed at Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright:

"Lionel Messi is playing at a considerably higher level than any of you?"

I mean seriously? What an absolute stupid question.

[Elizabeth]

Remember when people said VAR would sort these incidents out?

While VAR has been a backward step for the game in its current form it shouldn’t be cross referenced in this instance.

[Big Vinny K]

Incredible performance from Messi.
As said above Ronaldo has had an amazing career but I’d rather watch a player like Messi every time.
Messi’s skill, balance, vision, dribbling, natural finishing is on another level to Ronaldo.
Can’t split Maradona and Messi. If Messi wins the World Cup he might edge it for me.

Word for Modric too. Brilliant player.

[Stayingup]

The little maestro. What a pleasure to watch him.

[KRBFC]

Messi is fortunate to be 2 years younger than Ronaldo, recency bias is a huge thing. People are forgetting how truly special Ronaldo was but now he's 37 and not the same player. Where as Messi still has those extra years in the legs to scoop up the recency bias plaudits whilst Ronaldo fades first due to being older.

[KRBFC]

Not to forget a 37 year old Ronaldo still scored more PL goals last season than Harry Kane.

[Pickles]

Messi is fortunate to be 2 years younger than Ronaldo, recency bias is a huge thing. People are forgetting how truly special Ronaldo was but now he's 37 and not the same player. Where as Messi still has those extra years in the legs to scoop up the recency bias plaudits whilst Ronaldo fades first due to being older.

Messi was better when they were both in their twenties. And now as both are in the latter stages of their career (yes, I know Messi's younger) one of them is sulking and being a total self absorbed dick while the other is inspiring his country to a World Cup final.

[houseboy]

I guess it's because someone punched the ball in the net against England

Well many still go on about that but it was one man thirty six years ago. People don’t seem to have a problem with Portugal despite one man getting a teammate sent off and winking more recently. I just think many just have a fashionable problem with ‘the Argies’ (can we call the Japanese ‘Japs’ any more - I think not). People need to see beyond the rubbish and see Argentina for what they are, a great team.
Update required: they have now been in four times as many WC finals as us, but I suppose they are still sh!te.

[Swizzlestick]

A truly special performance from a truly special player tonight. An artist on the pitch. The greatest of all time.

[houseboy]

I was watching a montage of his play recently and I don’t believe I have ever seen a player with feet that quick and he seems to be able to spot the right pass from the back of his head. As one has said on here tonight we are privileged to have lived in his era.

[Roosterbooster]

Update required: they have now been in four times as many WC finals as us, but I suppose they are still sh!te.

Surely 6x as many?

[Vegas Claret]

Well many still go on about that but it was one man thirty six years ago. People don’t seem to have a problem with Portugal despite one man getting a teammate sent off and winking more recently. I just think many just have a fashionable problem with ‘the Argies’ (can we call the Japanese ‘Japs’ any more - I think not). People need to see beyond the rubbish and see Argentina for what they are, a great team.
Update required: they have now been in four times as many WC finals as us, but I suppose they are still sh!te.

Argentina are no better than any other 'top' team at the World Cup, a squad full of good players - the difference is they have Messi just as France have Mbappe.

[fidelcastro]

While VAR has been a backward step for the game in its current form it shouldn’t be cross referenced in this instance.

Why?

[dsr]

If a keeper goes for the ball, he has to get a touch of it. That was as stonewall as you can get. I can only imagine the dissent is purely bias against Argentina.
If that happened to Burnley we would all be fuming if it wasn't given, ridiculous argument.

That leads to the next question, should the keeper have been sent off for doing the same thing again for the second goal? The player had the shot, the keeper failed to touch the ball, and the attacker's momentum carried him into the goalkeeper from closer range than the last. Obviously it would have been a penalty and second yellow if the ball hadn't gone in; but should he have been booked anyway, for failing to touch the ball?

And another question. Should the Blackburn keeper have been booked for not getting out of Barnes' way after the first goal?

[IanMcL]

Argentina were awesome tonight.

They are both skilful and cynical!

Probable winners, if they don't blow a gasket and all get sent off!