2026 WC

Discussion in 'Italy: National Teams' started by johnny6, Jun 11, 2026.

  1. Rossonero23

    Rossonero23 Member+

    Sep 9, 2010
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Waka waka!! Shakira and jlo the goat sb ht show. Nothing to do with the music though. I did those old bags lol
     
  2. Rossonero23

    Rossonero23 Member+

    Sep 9, 2010
    Club:
    AC Milan
    What about messi though??
     
  3. AGomes

    AGomes Member+

    Juventus
    Brazil
    Aug 29, 2023
    ...this time for Africa?

    No thanks.
     
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  4. Domenico Berardi Enjoyer

    Tottenham Hotspur
    Australia
    Nov 2, 2023
    Germany have been in their Italy Age for quite some time. I guess the only difference is that Germany can still qualify for the tournaments
     
  5. TorontoCalabria

    TorontoCalabria Member+

    Fiorentina
    Italy
    Sep 12, 2018
    yes it and if they don't they could be stuck on 3 for a long long long time. there won't be another Messi/Maradona you would think and without that they have never reached finals/semi finals off home soil.

    If they go on 4 since 78 you could argue they surpass Brazil considering they have like 9 more Copa Americas over Brazil and Brazil have rarely beaten top nations in world cups.
     
  6. AGomes

    AGomes Member+

    Juventus
    Brazil
    Aug 29, 2023
    Thing is, Italy has improved in so many other sports. Davis Cup X2 in tennis, so many players in the top 10-15, World Champions in both Men's and Women's Volleyball, improving their level in rugby, good returns in the summer and winter Olympics. To boot they will get their diaspora in the USA to have them win baseball games, lol. But when you reduce your own players in your domestic football league and have corruption reign, you will suffer.
     
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  7. TorontoCalabria

    TorontoCalabria Member+

    Fiorentina
    Italy
    Sep 12, 2018
    Yes but 34 38 with the Olympics in between is the only golden generation that matched Brazil 58-62. If Argentina win two world cups and two copa americas in 5 years this group would probably be the most dominant ever and when you consider that on paper they are not really good enough to win one world cup without Messi we have to then say Messi is above Pele/Maradona definitively.

    For me Argenitna 86 2022 are the two worst teams to win a world cup on paper. Not that they weren't superb but considering the other teams that have won they are by default. Messi is something else.

    In 25 years people will debate Ronaldo with Haaland Van Basten and Ronaldo Nazario which is no disrespect to him. Messi Pele Maradona are un matched maybe there will be another that joins those ranks in our lifetime but Messi sits at the top.
     
  8. AGomes

    AGomes Member+

    Juventus
    Brazil
    Aug 29, 2023
    Messi for me is already on top because he Assists as much as he scores, Freekicks, etc. Assists are something CR7 never did add to his game. But I'm more loyal to CR7 because he scored 101 goals for Juve and I don't watch La Liga. I never thought R9 would he touched in his years on dominance but almost as if he's an afterthought but only those at a certain age know how feared he was.
     
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  9. AGomes

    AGomes Member+

    Juventus
    Brazil
    Aug 29, 2023
    #2509 AGomes, Jul 16, 2026
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2026
    Without DiMaria and France's shitty 1H either. Or E. Martinez's Save against Randall Koulo Mouani.

    But just think back at how many times Messi has rescued them. I know when Maradona played it was for butchers and Messi played for a Barca team supremely more talented than any other Maradona's teams. Barca played for Messi more and catered to him whereas Maradona had less to work with. But i've seen them both and it's absolutely no comparison. I don't care what anybody says only an out of touch boomer would suggest Maradona was better than Messi.
     
  10. AGomes

    AGomes Member+

    Juventus
    Brazil
    Aug 29, 2023
    Written that, I knew a guy who lived in Italy in the 80's. He wasn't Italian. Became a Fiorentina fan. Hated Juve but he would fight you of you if you suggested Maradona was better than Platini.
     
  11. TorontoCalabria

    TorontoCalabria Member+

    Fiorentina
    Italy
    Sep 12, 2018
    Ronaldo was incredible in his prime people forget how good he was from 2004-2014 before his injury. 2014-2020 he was still incredible but less of an all round player. For me his peak was short of R9 Van Basten Cruyff. His goals were impressive but we are seeing Kane and Haaland do the same with similar advantages.

    Ronaldo also does not have a tournament where he carried Portugal. In 2016 he was probably their 4th best player. He only had 1 goal in the KO stages with Griezman winning player of the tournament. He never had a month where he was as good as Baggio in 94 or Zidane 98 etc outside Real Madrid where again he had a massive advantage over every team he played as they had to cover Benzema and Bale. His goals per game/per minute are not top 5 all time when you take away penalties he is actually closer to aa Harry Kane who scores the same with about 3 shots less per game.

    Still because of his mentality his accomplishments and his insane ability from 2006-2012 (never seen anything like it before or since) you have to put him at least 5th all time. I have him one behind Cruyff and i could see time slowly eat away at his legacy since so much of it is based on longevity and goals without context.
     
  12. DonBartolomeoColleoni

    Brescia Calciio
    Italy
    Jun 29, 2026
    Italy
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Belgium will never win a WC and at this rate perhaps the Dutch will neither .

    Belgium will always have that 1986 WC semi final though.

    Perhaps its true. Perhaps some nations are meant to win these and others not .

    Im just farting in the wind here.

    Don't mind me .
     
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  13. Domenico Berardi Enjoyer

    Tottenham Hotspur
    Australia
    Nov 2, 2023
    Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018 were the serious opportunities for them. Both squandered
     
  14. TorontoCalabria

    TorontoCalabria Member+

    Fiorentina
    Italy
    Sep 12, 2018
    I think the Netherlands can win... they have 3 finals if you get to finals you can win.
    Portugal/Belgium needs to get to finals but it's hard to do if you are not truly a top 3 team ever.
     
  15. Domenico Berardi Enjoyer

    Tottenham Hotspur
    Australia
    Nov 2, 2023
    His timing with Portugal is a tad unfortunate. By the time he made it into the National Side, the 1991 U20 WC Players were already past their best. He was stuck between generations, which is perhaps why he can’t let go right now?

    2014 World Cup - Whilst I don’t think Portugal were ever going to get close to winning it, he came into that tournament with a knee injury?that neutered his overall ability.
     
  16. AGomes

    AGomes Member+

    Juventus
    Brazil
    Aug 29, 2023
    #2516 AGomes, Jul 16, 2026
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2026
    While I can find it normal to support your OTHER team (ie; if your a Mexican in the USA/ Italian in Switzerland/ Algerian in Belgium, etc) Afterall, you don't switch teams. But to go out the way to insult, spit in the plate of who let you in their home, I draw the line. Imagine calling the people that gave you a job (maybe), healthcare, school "sons of bitches". GTFO. I would have them deported before the sun came up. Unconscionable.

     
  17. Azzurrifan87

    Azzurrifan87 Member+

    Club: Frosinone
    Mar 29, 2015
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Belgium had a golden generation in the 80s that gets glossed over

    Van Moer, Vandereycken, Van Der Elst, Vandenbergh, Ceulemans, Pfaff, Gerets, Scifo, De Wolf, Vercauteren all wonderful footballers. A pleasant squad to watch
     
  18. Leo Bartoni

    Leo Bartoni Member

    River Plate
    Argentina
    Dec 22, 2024
    Did Deschamps not get the memo? On paper it didn't appear to be, but 2 midfielders against Spain?
     
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  19. Leo Bartoni

    Leo Bartoni Member

    River Plate
    Argentina
    Dec 22, 2024
    We lost to Saudi, first game of the 2022 WC to keep your record intact. We'll do our best on Sunday to keep it intact again :)
     
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  20. Azzurrifan87

    Azzurrifan87 Member+

    Club: Frosinone
    Mar 29, 2015
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I'll sacrifice the record and keep you from Jules #4 LOL
     
  21. Vieri#9

    Vieri#9 Member+

    Real Madrid
    Italy
    Oct 22, 2023
    As a Madrid fan, CR7 will go down as quite possibly my favorite player and Madrid's GOAT. I grew up hating Barca which meant despicing Messi but Messi is the Greatest Player of All Time.
     
  22. Vieri#9

    Vieri#9 Member+

    Real Madrid
    Italy
    Oct 22, 2023
    True and at least Italy have won a recent major tournament. Euro 2021. One of the greatest days of my life.
     
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  23. Vieri#9

    Vieri#9 Member+

    Real Madrid
    Italy
    Oct 22, 2023
    :)
     
  24. Azzurrifan87

    Azzurrifan87 Member+

    Club: Frosinone
    Mar 29, 2015
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    It truly was wonderful. 2006 and 2021 will long live in the memory. Magical journeys.

    I did not get to experience 1982, I have only watched replays of every game. I was only two for 1990, but I could feel the magic of that in the replays. 1994 at age six captivated me and is a core memory, as did early 90s Serie A.

    We complain today about the stadia, but as a youngster the Serie A stadiums looked like cathedrals to me on tv, I'll never forget them. To this day Italia 90 is the best looking world cup.
     
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  25. calabrese8

    calabrese8 Member+

    Feb 9, 2008
    Vancouver
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    its hard to say a team was superior to another when they had 0 shots on target prior to Gordon's goal....

    i think the xG right before the goal was like 0.03 to 0.05 cant remember who was in favour either way both were lackluster.
     

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