[ninjatalli]

It's great fun to look at amazing photos based articles that are popping up across various international news sites. One example being the below one from the WashingtonPost.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...p-france-fans/

Two images that stood out for me from the above article

[DCEite]

If you know, you know.

[RiGOD]

Originally Posted by ottocycle

After witnessing the loss of 2014 WC in last minutes of extra time, I couldn't gather courage to watch the match live this time. I played FIFA 23 the whole day yesterday to distract myself. Then started watching TV series in the evening.

Did google score check at around 10:30 to find score as 2-2 at 90+9. Then checked the score again at around 11:10 or something to find out it's 3-3 at around 120+3. I was sweating for next few minutes. And finally did score check once again to see penalties were going on with Argentina leading 3-1. And then I tuned in to see the last penalty win and joined the celebrations for next 2 hours.

Exactly what I did the whole day (except the FIFA 23 part) and during match hours. Being a die hard Messi/Argentina/FC Barcelona fan, I couldn't gather the courage to watch the game live or even get some sleep in that time. Jumped outta bed at 11:25 PM hearing loud crackers around the locality and I knew exactly what it was for. Two hour of pure enjoyment and I even cried in the moment. What a fairy-tale ending it was for the man. He truly deserved it!

Me and my friends who went through the same plight have planned to watch the whole game once more with some beers

[vamsi.kona]

In Argentina people call any positive sentiment or routine or to simply put it, a superstition, which is associated with the team winning as 'cabala' and fans religiously follow it, just like when Sachin had no one moving from their place in dressing room during 2011 world cup final if I am right. Most of us would have done such silly, completely illogical acts at some point in our life while watching sports. An elderly women in Argentina became national Grandma after her celebration with her neighbourhood boys after Argentina victory in group games and soon it became a ritual, a 'cabala'.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...ela-world-cup/

This time around out of my love and wish to see Messi lift the cup just so that the completely illogical debate whether he would be a Goat without winning a World cup can be put to rest, I didn't watch a single game after the loss to Saudi Arabia. Even that match I watched only for few minutes. Since that match, till the final was over, I didn't even see updates online. Do I believe that my act in anyway can impact the outcomes?. Logically speaking, absolutely no. But when was logic a hindrance while following a sport.

Would be quite interesting to know if any of you had such rituals this time around or earlier.

PS - If any Messi fan wants to enjoy Messi videos on YouTube just search for them with Ray Hudson commentary. He is a genuine fan of Messi and his remarks are quite funny as well.
Like when he said "Defenders try to follow him on Facebook and he comes out on Twitter, that’s how evasive he is.”

[kavensri]

Originally Posted by RiGOD

Exactly what I did the whole day (except the FIFA 23 part) and during match hours. Being a die hard Messi/Argentina/FC Barcelona fan, I couldn't gather the courage to watch the game live or even get some sleep in that time. Jumped outta bed at 11:25 PM hearing loud crackers around the locality and I knew exactly what it was for. Two hour of pure enjoyment and I even cried in the moment. What a fairy-tale ending it was for the man. He truly deserved it!

Me and my friends who went through the same plight have planned to watch the whole game once more with some beers

Add me to your group
This is what exactly I did/do whenever my fav team/player is playing.
I just do not have the courage to watch my fav player/team losing a match.
After the match, if my fav player/team wins, I can watch the highlights, read articles from all the websites, etc for hours.

Btw, even I am a huge fan of ARG/MESSI/BARCA.

[androdev]

Got back from Qatar! Started with Arg-Mex match and ended with the final. I can't remember the last time I felt so happy in life - fellow Barca/Messi/Argentina fans would understand. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric. Managed to get the seats behind Argentina goal (superb fan seats) - the epicentre of nonstop madness. Truly unforgettable experience.

The longest wait:





A night to remember:





My boys and me had a real good time:

[ToThePoint]

The King of Football, the Legend, the Ambassador of Football is no more....

RIP PELE

[ValarMorghulis]

Football experts, what does Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr mean for his career and legacy?
Have read a few articles which said his competition with Messi is basically over and this move to Asia is like a slow death to once in a lifetime talent.

I understand he won't play next WC (age?) but is this basically a foot out of the door?

[am1m]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

what does Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr mean for his career and legacy?

Not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I think this is pretty much the last stage of what has been an amazing career. What C Ronaldo has done at/for Man U and Real has forever cemented his legacy as one of the best footballers ever, not just his generation. Not to mention he is clearly the best footballer Portugal has produced so far.

This is pretty much how almost every footballing superstar ends, with a big payday at the end of their careers at one of the not so competitive leagues outside of Europe.

Who knows, he might raise the profile of middle-eastern football, like Beckham and Rooney did for US soccer. But yes, the fact also is that this is the only move he had left, since no major club in Europe seems to want him. And frankly, it could have ended better- to some extent, he's created this situation with his own tantrums at Man U and again with the Portugal coach during the world cup. Perhaps a similarly talented 25-year old without such an astronomical wage demand would have still gotten away with such behavior and still been in demand at Europe's major clubs. But age and pay figures are against him here.

[Chetan_Rao]

In a world of multi-billion dollar 'corporate' clubs run primarily for profit, how does the common Joe fan feel?

Arsenal: Why the hearts of Dial Square FC fans still sing for the club across town

[am1m]

Just when you think it's safe to invest your emotions in sport again, we get yet another reminder that your favorite moments in world sport...may just have been scripted.

https://www.theguardian.com/football...yments-scandal

"Barcelona’s past payments to referees’ chief cast dark cloud over La Liga"

Not just about Barca, but any sport and any team, across countries. There have just been too many fixing scandals. Makes me wonder if most international sport is nothing but movies anyway.

Seeing more wisdom in the advice to 'play the sport, at whatever level, time better spent than watching it on TV.'

[Axe77]

Someone needs to send Liverpool a memo that its football and not basketball - the score line is certainly beginning to resemble the latter!! What a night for the Reds - both of them.

[benbsb29]

I watched the highlights of the game, and still can't get my head around it! How in the world did ManUtd allow 7 goals to get past them while scoring none?!! Shocked!

[vb-san]

Originally Posted by Axe77

Someone needs to send Liverpool a memo that its football and not basketball - the score line is certainly beginning to resemble the latter!! What a night for the Reds - both of them.

Originally Posted by benbsb29

I watched the highlights of the game, and still can't get my head around it! How in the world did ManUtd allow 7 goals to get past them while scoring none?!! Shocked!

What a game! Been a while since Liverpool has played like this, and they did it in style, and at the right fixture. I hope this act as a springboard for a top four finish.

[meconi]

Story of Football in Kerala - A well made documentary by FIFA

I really liked this documentary and being from Kerala enjoyed it thoroughly

https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/wat...UwgKBAKWj4WZrT