Semi-finals: Argentina vs Croatia on 13th December

[kancutlawns]

An even game so far. Croatia seem to be dominating the midfield. Messi could open them up later on if they tire

Jimmy Hill makes a comeback!

He’s nay Nostradamus!

[subsub]

[kancutlawns]

Could Argentina tire and allow Croatia to come back late into the match?

[kancutlawns]

Peter Walton, what do you think?

Old brazzer sees cock, opens her legs, looks over her shoulder, can’t see any impediment, beckons from afar, pulls a fetlock, get in, get out. Never in doubt.

A dull jobsworth doing things by the book.

[Carlos J]

Could Argentina tire and allow Croatia to come back late into the match?

Not just through tiring. Croatia could easily score with better final balls and finishing and Argentina will get the fear.

[kancutlawns]

Could Argentina tire and allow Croatia to come back late into the match?

Not just through tiring. Croatia could easily score with better final balls and finishing and Argentina will get the fear.

This is what I think too. Out at the mo, haven’t watched the second half.

[Carlos J]

One for sub. What do you think of this answer on quora to the question, Why do so many people all across the world support Argentina when they haven't won many World Cups, and there are other countries that play much better? https://www.quora.com/Why-do-so-many-pe ... uch-better

Ernesto Gasulla

Follow
Crazy about futbol (soccer)4y

I’m an Argie living in the US, and I have spoken to a number of Indian and Pakis, which are among the places with lots of albiceleste supporters.

The obvious part is, for large, highly populated countries with no football culture of their own, or at least no success in the international arena, supporting a powerful third party seems only natural. Fine. But why Argentina? The “not many World Cups” argument is meaningless, since we have won two, and only Brazil, Germany, Uruguay and Italy are in that “2 or more WCs” league. Still, Brazil has many fans in India and Pakistan, but not the others. And as I understand it, Argentina is more popular.

Hmmm.

What I gather from my friends is, they like the fact that Argentina is definitely third world. Young, poor Asian fans can easily relate to most of our players, straight out the shantyvilles, often dating hot women of dubious brains and even worse morals, and making huge financial messes of their incredibly high wages. And a certain Diego Maradona comes to mind -not only coming from the deep abyss of abject poverty like a veritable Slumdog Millionaire, but continuously defying the system, insulting the rich nations of the West and snorting all the coke that pasts near his nose (I also know Maradona is exceedingly popular in Africa, see last paragraph).

This should straight out exclude Germany and Italy. As for Uruguay… only explanation I can find is, most people don’t even know where they are located. A laughing Homer Simpson once told Marge “hey, look at this country’s name: you-are-gay”. It pains me to no end to say this, for I admire their sheer determination and never give up mindset; as I write this they just dispatched Portugal and the “other” king of football, CR7. (Vamo’ la celeste carajo!)

But why not Brazil? After all, Brazilian favelas get a lot more press than Argie villas miseria. For that, I’ll have to call a different witness, an affable Nigerian guy I met in Washington DC; discussing football idols, he confessed his adoration for El Diego. But when I (in the spirit of conciliation) mentioned Pele, he dismissively said “ah, he sold out to the man”. I can’t say for sure whether many foreign fans share this concern, but it seems believable that, at least, it can make a dent in the otherwise made in heaven match of Brazilian success and poverty.

[Carlos J]

Magic from the master.

[Carlos J]

DBex earning his Qatari coin by having to sit next to Infantino.

Can't remember what game, but they said they stopped showing his boat on the big screen due to the boos.

[subsub]

Pretty conclusive win, that.
Lee Dixon, though, fuck off

[Carlos J]

Pretty conclusive win, that.
Lee Dixon, though, fuck off

If only:

[Carlos J]

Love this from 2014 in Brazil:

[The Ghost of Alex Higgins]

Croatia 6 - 2 Argentina

How much money have you staked on that?

£16,800

[black_guardian]

I note that pundit Karen Carney is slagging her way around every single TV network during the World Cup. One minute she's on BBC then she rolls onto ITV and by tomorrow she'll be back on the Beeb.

Whatever happened to pundits sticking to one channel as part of the coverage team for the tournament?

Pundits shouldn't be employed on an independent contractor basis IMO.

[Carlos J]

I note that pundit Karen Carney is slagging her way around every single TV network during the World Cup. One minute she's on BBC then she rolls onto ITV and by tomorrow she'll be back on the Beeb.

Whatever happened to pundits sticking to one channel as part of the coverage team for the tournament?

Pundits shouldn't be employed on an independent contractor basis IMO.

+1.