2022 World Cup Thread ⚽️ Dubai -

[White Collar Boy]

Absolutely loved that final. I was all in for Argentina, and found it very suspenseful. I disagree France played badly for most of regulation time; I thought something seemed to change when Di Maria came off around 60 minutes in, which quickly became clearer as Coman and Camavinga started to have an impact. I didn’t foresee the quick comeback, but that lead suddenly didn’t feel unassailable.

One of the best sports things I’ve ever seen.

[JP.]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

1982 was a great WC. That Brazilian midfield was amazing with Zico, Socrates and company.

Ah... that was the team I loved the most. So beautiful football.

I played junior football and Socrates was my hero. What a genius he was.

I was devastated when he missed the penalty against France four years later and Brazil was eliminated.

http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1...bra_v_fra.html

[daveathall]

I have seen Pele, Maradona and Messi, all of them, absolute magicians of the game. The best for me? Messi, but any of them could wear that crown, Mbappe will take over that crown once Lionel retires. What a treat we have had over the last couple of weeks, culminating in that last match, fabulous. I am of the opinion that the two best teams in the tournament, gave us the match of the century.

[JP.]

Originally Posted by daveathall

I have seen Pele, Maradona and Messi, all of them, absolute magicians of the game. The best for me? Messi, but any of them could wear that crown, Mbappe will take over that crown once Lionel retires. What a treat we have had over the last couple of weeks, culminating in that last match, fabulous. I am of the opinion that the two best teams in the tournament, gave us the match of the century.

Agreed with everything you said. Mbappe is going to be the next number one. He is a phenomenal player.

Will Mbappe ever play another World Cup final?

Not sure.

Will he break all goal scoring records in the World Cup?

Absolutely. If he stays healthy.

He's a machine.

[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Yes Philip, I use it out of respect for my friends from the US .

We used either football or soccer terms back in the '60's and '70's without concern although football was generally the preferred terminal although TBF if used "soccer" always sounded slightly odd as if you were somehow being contentious even though it wasn't. The term Football is so ingrained in most British that Soccer just sounds incongruous

both are English terms from the UK irrespective of what other nations may suspect

Another less contentious phrase in English football is "Dirty Leeds"

but that's another story....

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by RichardBartlett

Another less contentious phrase in English football is "Dirty Leeds"

but that's another story....

I agree, although, personally, in England, I have never used soccer but that may have been regional, ooop North, it was always football.

"Dirty Leeds" (although justified) was used when we were the best club side the world had ever seen in the early 70's and most of those from the south only had it to use against us as their football was certainly lacking. Now, the phrase is; "we all hate Leeds," it's a badge of honour we wear well, as we march on together.

Here you are Richard, something you can sing along too.

[JP.]

Updated FIFA rankings. What a joke!

What is Belgium STILL doing up there? Biggest flop of the World Cup.

Brazil had a great run in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup but lost the Copa America final to Argentina and was now eliminated in the QF. Meanwhile Argentina won the Copa America, The Finalissimo and the World Cup... lost 1 game out of 41 games.

What is this ranking based on?



ELO rankings is MUCH better. Sure it's not 100% perfect but at least it's based on something.

[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by JP.

Ah... that was the team I loved the most. So beautiful football.

I played junior football and Socrates was my hero. What a genius he was.

I was devastated when he missed the penalty against France four years later and Brazil was eliminated.

http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1...bra_v_fra.html

I forgot a very important name in that 1982 Brazilian midfield to go with Zico and Socrates... Falcao! That team was favored to win that WC, but ran into Italia with a Paolo Rossi in his prime (RIP) who went onto win the Ballon d'oro in '82 and a veteran Dino Zoff between the pipes. The game between those 2 countries in 1982 was one of the best matches I had ever seen until Sunday's final.

Switching to the FIFA rankings, is that up to date? How can a team that just won the Copa America 18 months prior and a WC this week not be top ranked?

[AK797]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

I forgot a very important name in that 1982 Brazilian midfield to go with Zico and Socrates... Falcao! That team was favored to win that WC, but ran into Italia with a Paolo Rossi in his prime (RIP) who went onto win the Ballon d'oro in '82 and a veteran Dino Zoff between the pipes. The game between those 2 countries in 1982 was one of the best matches I had ever seen until Sunday's final.

Switching to the FIFA rankings, is that up to date? How can a team that just won the Copa America 18 months prior and a WC this week not be top ranked?

That team also had Eder and Junior and on paper was as good as the 70 side, and had they had got past Italy and won it then they probably would have been the best WC side of all time, but you have to also get the results.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by JP.

Updated FIFA rankings. What a joke!

Reminds me of the 'Holy Trinity' for timepiece brands

[JP.]

[SonoItaliano]

Glad and Proud Argentina won. Especially seeing Italian descendents on the team including coaching staff.


The french team compromised of non French players all from Africa. Also the one given 3 penalty kicks at final is dating a transgender.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by SonoItaliano

Glad and Proud Argentina won. Especially seeing Italian descendents on the team including coaching staff.


The french team compromised of non French players all from Africa. Also the one given 3 penalty kicks at final is dating a transgender.

What on earth does any of that have to do with football?

[Andad]

Originally Posted by SonoItaliano

Glad and Proud Argentina won. Especially seeing Italian descendents on the team including coaching staff.


The french team compromised of non French players all from Africa. Also the one given 3 penalty kicks at final is dating a transgender.

Really!

[White Collar Boy]

Originally Posted by SonoItaliano

The french team compromised of non French players all from Africa. Also the one given 3 penalty kicks at final is dating a transgender.

Disgusting and dumb comment.

[77T]

Glad the Mods slammed the door on that jackwagon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by SonoItaliano

Glad and Proud Argentina won. Especially seeing Italian descendents on the team including coaching staff.


The french team compromised of non French players all from Africa. Also the one given 3 penalty kicks at final is dating a transgender.

Mi hai fatto vergognare di essere italiano.

(Translate: You made me feel ashamed to be Italian).

[SDGT3]

It just takes 1 to derail the entire thread...

Anyway, great WC and am looking forward to Euro Qualifiers starting in March. In other news, the South American countries now say that will allow US and Canada to compete in the Copa America tournament to make it a true Copa America. Great news for those 2 countries to get more high level international experience.

[Star Ferry]

The French players are generally born and raised in France. Hence the term Boys from the Banlieues. Did that guy expect each player to produce historical evidence of pure Gallic ancestry?? Does every US player need to produce a tribal affiliation? Just when I thought I’d seen it all on TRF…

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

It just takes 1 to derail the entire thread..

Well, mods have already taken good care of him :-)

[jbglx]

Originally Posted by JP.

From historical perspective...

Germany has 8 World Cup Final appearances, 4 titles
Brazil has 7 World Cup Final appearances, 5 titles
Italy has 6 World Cup Final appearances, 4 titles
Argentina has 6 World Cup Final appearances, 3 titles.

France has now 4 World Cup Final appearances, 2 titles.

But the big difference is that France's first World Cup Final was 1998. It has become the fifth "Big Football Nation".

Before 2010 there was never a World Cup Final played without Brazil, Germany, Italy or Argentina in the final... one of the four teams being at least the other participant.

If you look at football ELO ratings and history, France is relatively "new" big football nation. Sure they did great in the 80's with Platini... and won the European Championship but they never achieved anything in the World Cup before 1998.

Argentina had 5 World Cup final appearances , not 6 :-)
1978 , 1986 , 1990 , 2014 and 2022