2026 FIFA World Cup thread [R]

Well that was a total beatdown. Spain might as well have been playing Cape Verde. Argentina had 3 shots in a 120+ minute game, none until the 2nd half and 0 shots on goal. Spain was wasteful around goal though. Should have been 3 or 4-0.

I'm relieved because we don't have to recycle all of the Messi Great Man™ stuff. I think this is his 6th World Cup. He's won 1. Yes, he's probably the best ever, and he had a really good tournament at 39yo which is incredible. But it's a team game and great players cannot just, on demand, elevate their level to always win the big games.

 

Well, we've got lots of Quakes coming up to ease the pain.

 

I am so glad that's the end of the team known as Messi and the Arrogant Thugs.

 

I think they were paper tigers in this tournament. They had a laughably easy qualifying route, and barely beat some relatively weak teams in the knockout round - Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland. England was the only good team they had to beat to get into the final. I feel like there's a bit of a gap right now between Conmebol / Concacaf and euro teams. And African teams are on the rise a bit. So, stock up, stock down:

Stock down:
Conmebol, Concacaf, Asia

Stock up:
Uefa, Caf

 

Yes, though I don't think they really got favorable calls today. Spain had 0 yellows I think. Partly deserved and partly lucky maybe. Though I thought the ref could've given a few yellows to Argentina earlier (like the takedown of Yamal when he made a turn on the wing).

 

What's interesting is that Bruce was confident that we'd have a good 2nd half of the season last year and we really didn't. And this year he's making the same prediction. I think it would be difficult for the 2nd half to match the 1st half because the 1st half was really good. I think it will be somewhere between the 1st half and poor. IOW could be pretty good on balance but I don't expect the wins to come at the same rate as the 1st half.

 

In 8 part time appearances, Ferran Torres scored 1 goal and 1 assist.

He was named the Man of the Match (Final MVP) for scoring the game winner in the World Cup Final.

He had only come on in the 61st minute.

 

Happy to see that Argentina fell short, didn't think I could stand the upsurge in Messi-Mania.

The better team won.

Viva Espana!

 

I am so happy that shitshow is over.

What a terrible stain on the World Cup, FIFA, fútbol, and the USA. I’m disgusted!

 

The only player to score against Spain at the World Cup:

Charles De Ketelaere 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/0YSLGvBZ66

— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) July 20, 2026

 

Pain on pain! What's not to love.

 

Agreed here and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. We had far less rolling around and simulation than usual but there were also huge pushes to the back on every header, shoulder to shoulder charges that weren't, etc.

I'm really conflicted on whether I'd like to see whatever guidance they got spread to the leagues.

 

I posted my thoughts in a couple of places on social media:

Up to the final, I boycotted watching ARG games in this WC. So I was shocked to see what dirty players ARG are. Countless piddling little fouls meant to hurt or annoy opponents. Deserved PI. I am getting rid of my 20 year old ARG jersey. ugh I am so glad they lost ​

 

I actually was rooting for Argentina. But they disgraced themselves on the pitch in the final and especially immediately afterward. I think a lot of people are re-thinking after that performance.

And Messi’s legacy took a massive hit, I believe. Hard to say now he’s the best ever — even for Argentina. Maradona was 2-0 in World Cup finals; Messi now 1-2. And the win in Qatar was sketchy.

 

As I was saying . . .

New York Times headline: "Argentina disgraced themselves, and the World Cup final, with their charmless petulance".

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7456935/2026/07/19/argentina-world-cup-fouls-disgrace/