[knightrider_7]

Final round of group matches has started. Two matches at the same time.

The second match can be viewed on Sony Six channel.

[vamsi.kona]

An excellent article by Jorge Valdano (Part of the 1986 team and scorer of two goals in the final and also an Ex- Real Madrid Coach) about the state of Argentine football.

What’s wrong with Argentina? We now value ‘balls’ more than talent

Nor do I want to overlook something of great importance: the mediocrity of the debate, where a base crassness more suited to bad actors than good journalists *******ises the play and denigrates players. This infernal racket conditions everything, a deafening noise that surrounds everything and made the Argentinian people believe that if Messi does not win a World Cup he will never be Maradona; that made Messi himself believe it.

Thirty-three titles later, Messi has taken that message to heart and when the World Cup starts he becomes a tortured soul who carries the fierce demands of 45 million people on his shoulders. And yet it’s not true: Messi has defended Argentina’s footballing pride like no one else for 15 years now and he has done so with an astonishing, scandalous consistency. But that perception became received wisdom and Messi is treated as if he was any old player by journalists who demand an excellence from him they cannot even dream of.

[vamsi.kona]

By the way it was one hell of an end to Group B games with every goal changing the contours of the standings. Iran came so close to moving ahead to the round of 16 and relegating Portugal. And the backline of Spain seemed as porous as the net in the goal. Morocco have been outstanding in both yesterday's game as well as Portugal. If only they were a bit more clinical in the final third, they would have been in the round of 16.

[thoma]

Lionel Messi has given an emotional insight into his World Cup obsession after admitting he couldn’t bear to retire from football without winning it.

Source

[joe1980]

Finally Argentina are going to the next round! It will be even tougher for them now as they have to face France! But it will be an interesting match to watch!

[naveenroy]

Woohooo woohooooo. What a sublime touch by Messi to score the first! And denied by the GK a second. And I really thought the Mascherano foul was unnecessary. But thankfully Rojo put it to bed with a spectacular goal!

Why does Higuain even play football?

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by vamsi.kona

By the way it was one hell of an end to Group B games with every goal changing the contours of the standings. Iran came so close to moving ahead to the round of 16 and relegating Portugal. And the backline of Spain seemed as porous as the net in the goal. Morocco have been outstanding in both yesterday's game as well as Portugal. If only they were a bit more clinical in the final third, they would have been in the round of 16.

Completely agree! These matches literally took nail-biting finishes to a new level altogether! Nigeria were all set to move to Round 2, till Rojo seized the opportunity right from under their feet. In this match Argentina played with new found vigour, and deserved the victory. That said, the number of yellow cards dished out was just crazy!

Originally Posted by joe1980

Finally Argentina are going to the next round! It will be even tougher for them now as they have to face France! But it will be an interesting match to watch!

I hope Argentina prevail over an insipid French side.

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Woohooo woohooooo. What a sublime touch by Messi to score the first! And denied by the GK a second. And I really thought the Mascherano foul was unnecessary. But thankfully Rojo put it to bed with a spectacular goal!

Why does Higuain even play football?

Agree with every word here. I cannot imagine how higuan can start over aguero. He missed at least two chances where at least the effort should have been much better.

[nirvanaguy19]

Argentina's supporting cast is so poor its unbelievable. Maschearno kept giving the ball away, Di Maria didnt make one good cross and Higuain continued his record of missing chances. Dropping Aguero to the bench makes no sense. Its sad that Messi has to play with such timid players and yet get blamed for not doing well for Argentina. Luckily for them France is playing very poorly too. May the least worst team win

[vamsi.kona]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Why does Higuain even play football?

I am starting to believe that Higuain might be having some naughty videos of all his team members and managers, present and past. Or else his inclusion after continuous failures over a period of many years can't be explained, especially when you have players like Aguero and Dybala on the bench. 😁

[androdev]

Higuain brought back painful memories of 2014 WC final, but for him Messi would have got his well deserved WC. His ability to screw up the finish is unbelievable.

Argentina performance is not as bad as the numbers say. They underestimated the importance of Iceland match. With Croatia the goalkeeper gifted the first goal and totally killed the morale and gave Croatia the license to kill. Hopefully now the team believes in itself and plays confident attacking game.

The first goal by Messi is such a beauty, classic Messi and IMO the best moment of the tournament so far.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by vamsi.kona

I am starting to believe that Higuain...Or else his inclusion after continuous failures over a period of many years can't be explained, especially when you have players like Aguero and Dybala on the bench. ��

Perhaps it's because Maradona has more of an influence on the team selection than he should have? Speculating here, of course. But Maradona does not like his former son-in-law Aguero and has recently called for Higuain's inclusion.

http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/the-...n-family-photo
https://www.calciomercato.com/en/new...sampaoli-95980

[vamsi.kona]

Its not as if Higuain is a bad player. He is a good striker and does well for his clubs. Somehow he botched up at crucial times for his nation, that too very easy chances which he wouldn't even think much before putting the ball in the net at club level. And one such moment has changed the entire narration about Messi's greatness or otherwise for many, though that is quite ridiculous.

[am1m]

https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/...for-hug/297314

"Under-fire Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli thanked Lionel Messi for sharing a bit of affection with him after his side’s dramatic 2-1 over Nigeria"

“You know when Leo came and hugged me, I felt very proud and happy because he knows I am passionate, very passionate every single day,” Sampaoli said"

Does anyone else think this is getting a bit too much? Am a Messi fan, but no player, however great should be allowed to dominate a team like this. Can you imagine any of the great football managers/coaches grovelling before any (however)great player like this? Would Ferguson? Guardiola? Jose? Zidane? Del Bosque?

Ridiculous! Why have a coach at all, let Messi do it all. This is a bit like the Kohli-Shastri admiration society in our cricket team.

[vamsi.kona]

Originally Posted by am1m

https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/...for-hug/297314

"Under-fire Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli thanked Lionel Messi for sharing a bit of affection with him after his side’s dramatic 2-1 over Nigeria"

“You know when Leo came and hugged me, I felt very proud and happy because he knows I am passionate, very passionate every single day,” Sampaoli said"

Does anyone else think this is getting a bit too much? Am a Messi fan, but no player, however great should be allowed to dominate a team like this. Can you imagine any of the great football managers/coaches grovelling before any (however)great player like this? Would Ferguson? Guardiola? Jose? Zidane? Del Bosque?

Ridiculous! Why have a coach at all, let Messi do it all. This is a bit like the Kohli-Shastri admiration society in our cricket team.

And I believe this is putting unnecessary pressure on Messi, as now he would be made responsible for every tactic or strategy that the team adopts even if it wasn't his decision. To think that Sampaoli managed Chile and Sevilla with flying colours, yet not even able to get one strategy correct for Argentina, including team selection is perplexing.

On another note Belgium look like the team which is balanced in all the areas. They have been very impressive and have played as a unit rather than collection of players so far.