Round of 16: France v Argentina, 30th June, 3pm(GMT)

[JJ1532]

People won't admit it, but Messi was was pretty good today. His shot led to the 2nd goal and his cross for Aguero was superb. But what can he do when his manager leaves Aguero on the bench and Mercado and Otamendi lose their heads in the final minute of the game. He's surrounded by morons and even I'd want to quit.

Funny game for some players. Pavard plays Mercado onside and he scores. Then he goes up the other end and scores the probable goal of the tournament. Mercado could have scored his teams winning goal, but then he gets booked and goes mental in the last minute of the game and could have got sent off.

France though, might have seen the tournament winners right there. Incredible performance, although I doubt Uruguay or Portugal give them the time and space Argentina did today. Matuidi will be a big loss for them in the middle.

 

[Pagnell]

And here come the bitter Scots to talk about England in a thread that doesn't involve them.

 

[SALTIRE]

Game over....fucking great afternoon.....sitting with a few snifters watching this....brilliant. What impressed me about France was their attitude after going behind. Never sat back, chased, closed down....absolutely no fucking about with the 'possession is king' shite. Doff my hat.

Yeah they showed up big time today (except Pogba again).

 

[SALTIRE]

And here come the bitter Scots to talk about England in a thread that doesn't involve them.

Well you are the best team in the world we are told. This next match and tournament will be a walkover. Just saying you'll have to play some to match Mbappe and co today Paggle.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Yeah they showed up big time today (except Pogba again).

I’m not sure which game you were watching but Pogba definitely turned up today.

 

[Renegade]

Yeah they showed up big time today (except Pogba again).

Taking the piss? Pogba and Mbappe were clearly the best players on the pitch.

Anyway, about time Argentina were found out. Awful tournament.

 

[JimJams]

People won't admit it, but Messi was was pretty good today. His shot led to the 2nd goal and his cross for Aguero was superb. But what can he do when his manager leaves Aguero on the bench and Mercado and Otamendi lose their heads in the final minute of the game. He's surrounded by morons and even I'd want to quit.

France though, might have seen the tournament winners right there. Incredible performance, although I doubt Uruguay or Portugal give them the time and space Argentina did today. Matuidi will be a big loss for them in the middle.

Well its rumoured Messi makes a lot of the decisions, as its also rumoured at Barca, so he may deserve more blame than you think.

 

[JJ1532]

Well its rumoured Messi makes a lot of the decisions, as its also rumoured at Barca, so he may deserve more blame than you think.

And he's calling for Aguero and Higuain to be on the bench so he can play as a false 9 whilst Pavon does jack shit alongside him? Nah, not buying it I'm afraid. Hey, the players and him can clearly take some blame because they seemed to have downed tools on the manager and have taken it upon themselves to make some decisions. But the notion that Messi picks the team is a bit silly.

 

[SALTIRE]

Sorry, Pogba did bugger all apart from spray a couple of pretty passes out wide nonchalantly. Mbappe, Griezmann and Kante were brilliant, along with Giroud's touch for the last goal.

 

[Pagnell]

Well you are the best team in the world we are told.

 

[SALTIRE]

And now you know how we feel suffering through it all.

 

[Renegade]

Sorry, Pogba did bugger all apart from spray a couple of pretty passes out wide nonchalantly. Mbappe, Griezmann and Kante were brilliant, along with Giroud's touch for the last goal.

You are talking out of your arse, he controlled the game. Held possession superbly at the right times, drove forward effectively with the ball, created a bunch of chances. BBC even commented after the game how good he was. You don't have to criticise him because he plays for United, he was superb today.

 

[Abertawe]

Sorry, Pogba did bugger all apart from spray a couple of pretty passes out wide nonchalantly. Mbappe, Griezmann and Kante were brilliant, along with Giroud's touch for the last goal.

He did bugger all except for running the legs off the Argie midfield and leaving em dead by 60 minutes you mean?

 

[Dirk]

Europe 1 South America 0 , keep up the good work. Up to Portugal.

What's with Diego? They only showed him when Argentina made the 1-1. Was there some kind of arrangement from the TV broadcasters not to show him so often again? Kind of sad tbh

Congrats mistermagic

 

[Jockney]

 

[JimJams]

And he's calling for Aguero and Higuain to be on the bench so he can play as a false 9 whilst Pavon does jack shit alongside him? Nah, not buying it I'm afraid. Hey, the players and him can clearly take some blame because they seemed to have downed tools on the manager and have taken it upon themselves to make some decisions. But the notion that Messi picks the team is a bit silly.

The notion he picks the team might be but picking his own position/role doesnt seem farfetched and that effects the team selection.

 

[SALTIRE]

You are talking out of your arse, he controlled the game. Held possession superbly at the right times, drove forward effectively with the ball, created a bunch of chances. BBC even commented after the game how good he was. You don't have to criticise him because he plays for United, he was superb today.

I really like him as a player, and has the talent to be one of the best around; its not a Utd thing. He just doesn't look arsed. And sorry listening to pundits speak about players when half the time they dunno what they are talking about, isn't for me. I judge it on how I see it.

He did bugger all except for running the legs off the Argie midfield and leaving em dead by 60 minutes you mean?

Well he must've been going some cause I couldn't see him, maybe he was that lightning he became invisible.

 

[Jockney]

Only thing standing in the way of France winning this world cup is Didier Deschamps, or Spain firing on all cylinders.

 

[Renegade]

I really like him as a player, and has the talent to be one of the best around; its not a Utd thing. He just doesn't look arsed. And sorry listening to pundits speak about players when half the time they dunno what they are talking about, isn't for me. I judge it on how I see it.

Well he must've been going some cause I couldn't see him, maybe he was that lightning he became invisible.

The player ratings from the public have him as one of the top performers in the game too. You're on your own mate.

 

[Jockney]

I judge it on how I see it.

what did i fucking tell you about rubbing shit in your eyes.

 

[Leewilson]

France aren't winning this World Cup. They were good but the majority of teams in the last 16 are better than this Argentina side. Still not fully convinced by the French. Very up and down in terms of level.

 

[SALTIRE]

The player ratings from the public have him as one of the top performers in the game too. You're on your own mate.

Polls and ratings mean nothing. Salah won the best goal in the CL one round in the same round that Ronaldo scored that overhead kick. There will be a bunch of Utd fans picking him on that BBC thing they keep advertising stupidly like its the best thing ever.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Europe 1 South America 0 , keep up the good work. Up to Portugal.

What's with Diego? They only showed him when Argentina made the 1-1. Was there some kind of arrangement from the TV broadcasters not to show him so often again? Kind of sad tbh

Congrats mistermagic

It probably wasn’t fit for family viewing to show him after France went ahead!

 

[SALTIRE]

France aren't winning this World Cup. They were good but the majority of teams in the last 16 are better than this Argentina side. Still not fully convinced by the French. Very up and down in terms of level.

Its their best display this tournament. They weren't that amazing at the Euro's either, but got to the final. I do think they can get there. Aren't they in the same half of the draw as Brazil though? Dunno if I'd fancy them against the samba bastards.

 

[Jockney]

France aren't winning this World Cup. They were good but the majority of teams in the last 16 are better than this Argentina side. Still not fully convinced by the French. Very up and down in terms of level.

Who do you think matches them at that level from the sides left? I can only think of Spain. Brave call. I think you're wrong but hope you're right -- would love to see an unfancied side win it.

 

[JJ1532]

France aren't winning this World Cup. They were good but the majority of teams in the last 16 are better than this Argentina side. Still not fully convinced by the French. Very up and down in terms of level.

Fair shout. Portugal and Uruguay will defend deep and not give Mbappe the time and space to run at them like he was able to. If they can stifle the attack(which is looking tough), then they might be able to get one against the defence like Portugal did 2 years ago.

I think them against Brazil would be an excellent game though and I think that's the semi-final we're going to get out of the top bracket.

 

[Nilsson]

Pogba was brilliant offensively and defensively, picked the wrong pass a few times if you want to be overly harsh but 2nd only to Mbappe imo. Such a shame Rojo wiped Mbappe out after that run, that would've been one of the great World Cup goals.

This France side has it all, physicality and technical players all over the pitch. Deschamps rarely seems to get the best out of them but they're gonna take some stopping.

Great game, feel sorry for Messi though. He needed Aguero and Dybala on the pitch with him. Sampaoli is a goner.

 

[Abertawe]

I dread to think what this French team does to a Gareth Southgate one man in midfield England.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I dread to think what this French team does to a Gareth Southgate one man in midfield England.

Like...In the World Cup Final? I'd take that!

 

[Renegade]

Polls and ratings mean nothing. Salah won the best goal in the CL one round in the same round that Ronaldo scored that overhead kick. There will be a bunch of Utd fans picking him on that BBC thing they keep advertising stupidly like its the best thing ever.

Denial is a funny thing. Qualitative and quantitative evidence don't mean anything apparently. Your bias is evident by singling out only Pogba from the French team despite him clearly not being their worst performer and everyone else believing he was one of their best.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...video-highlights-replay-ratings-a8424691.html

https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/france-v-argentina---player-ratings-496288/page2

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/fifa...tina-ragged-as-france-finally-shift-into-gear