Well. I posted this at the beginning of the tournament and whoever wins, it will remain true even if there is a new champion. Forza Norvegia.
Btw, I thought the Egypt VAR call was correct. That was a foul. Was it the worst foul in the world? No. But he was tugging the shirt and slightly clipped his foot.
Lautaros assist was beyond world class. Some talksport ****** said mctominay the best serie a player. Lol Actually, I think it was a caller
and its really even tighter when we consider most of brazil is rain forrest it is the straight shot from europe to souther brazil Argentina.
I cannot believe Morocco's Starting 11 in their opening match versus Brazil was all foreign born and raised. First time this has ever happened. Now they have a chance to win this ********ing thing. What a farce broken system. I hope France pulverize them.
It goes against Jules Rimet's idea when he launched the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930. His concept was to showcase an all star team full of local talent from the domestic league.
The Swiss Colombia extra time was way better than the 90 lol. Many chances for each team to end it before the shootout. Colombia should be kicking themselves, but they are what they are, they've shown it time and time again in this WC they are poor at finishing.
Roy Keane: "And let’s be honest, Argentina keep getting these African teams in the World Cup. To me, they’re not even playing in the World Cup they’re playing in the Africa Cup of Nations." (3 of 5 played have been from CAF)
As we say goodbye to Egypt, this is a reminder to everyone that the only Egyptian legend isn't Salah; rather, it's the man himself who broke Italian hearts in 2009, Homos
Can roy be canceled for that insensitive remark. Will Ian Wright turn his back on him? What about that clown michah richards?not to be confused with our own big mike here in the states
Why? It will be Moroccans born in France and Spain playing for an African coungry, and Africans heritage players born in France playing for France, aside from Digne and Rabiot. Does it matter either way?
Yeah because this isn't a representation of the strength of Moroccan football. And I'm very consistent about these things. Back in February during the World Baseball Classic (I don't know if you follow baseball), yhe team from Italy made it all the way to the semifinals losing to the eventual Champions. Now is that team made up of Italian Americans, or m sons of Italian-Americans , representative of the strength of italian baseball or the strength of American baseball?
But Egypts argument is why wasn't the same applied in the foul that occurred seconds before Argentina scored.
Back to the topic of expansion and Confederation allotment This World Cup increased 16 spots and Europe was only given 3. Worst Euro team placed 9th worst. If the talk of going to 64 comes to pass, it'll be another 16 teams. Will it still be only 3 teams from Europe. Anyhow, unless they lower stadium standards and allow 35K seater stadiums to host, it will either be WC in the US every 4 years or multiple nation hosts. 64 teams is massive.
Many have said the same about France in the past, which is the reason why I brought it up. Personally if one of the teams I support can't win it, I never want the enemy. That's what makes this tournament so great, there are so many different ways to dislike teams
So I'm not looking at it from a race/ethnic origin POV (you absolutely didn't write anything wrong, all good), my POV is strictly where these players were raised in football. Mbappé may be ethnically black-algerian_ -whatever mix but his football is French. Just like my baseball example. Hakimi was raised with Moroccan food and drink, probably went to the mosque on occasion, went to Moroccan weddings but his football is Spanish through and through. How can anybody stand there with a straight face and say Cabo Verde's 350K population spread out over 10 islands have given Argentina a battle if it weren't for 14 of their 26 from European football? Or 21/26 from Morocco. Absolutely no way. FWIW, Cameroon 1990 had all domestic players and they went to the QF. Many of those players were actually from the same neighborhood (I watched a program on that team). THAT is a result by Cameroon through and through, not what Morocco is doing. I detest how globalization is killing the sport.
@Leo Bartoni And before I forget a second time... yes, I noticed it as it was being played out in real time. England reduced Mexico to the outside and crosses. Mexico went down battling but really screwed up on missing that free header on the corner kick and the ricochet that went past the post. Happens. Conversely, Egypt gave everything in the middle to Argentina. Their team defence was appalling.
As an Italian American, I'm proud of my Italian heritage. I think any of our first generation cousins born in the USA and Canada who grew up playing soccer dreamed and will have loved to have played in Italy and for the national team. Of course none of us were good enough growing up in North American but the dream was still there. When I was in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl in 1994 and saw Italy lose on pk's to Brazil, I was heartbroken. I think a piece of all of us died that day. As Italians born abroad, I think we cared more about the national team than the regular Italians do living in Italy and it is still that way. I think the only ones who care are us Italians living abroad here on Internet forums because neither club presidents, the FIGC or club fans care too much about it. I'm not really against using the Oriundi but it is still sad seeing 3-4 Italians on each Serie A roster and honestly, Italy anyway, has no choice but to use them. Italy won their first two World Cup's using 6 Oriundi. 1934: Luis Monti (Midfielder, Argentina): The fierce defensive lynchpin of the team. Having played for Argentina in the 1930 final, he became the only player in football history to play in consecutive World Cup finals for two different countries Raimundo Orsi (Forward, Argentina): A legendary winger who scored three times during the tournament, including the crucial 81st-minute equalizer against Czechoslovakia in the final. Enrique Guaita (Forward, Argentina): A powerful attacker who scored the lone semi-final winner against Austria's famous "Wunderteam". Atilio Demaría (Forward, Argentina): A backup forward who provided vital depth to the squad. Like Monti, he had previously represented Argentina at the 1930 tournament. Anfilogino Guarisi (Forward, Brazil): The lone Brazilian-born oriundo in the squad, who added explosive pace to the flank. 1938: Michele Andreolo: Born in Uruguay, he played as a dominant half-back (midfielder) and was a crucial pillar of Italy's defensive stability during their run to the 1938 title. He previously played for Nacional before moving to Bologna. Sooner or later though, if this continues, as opposed to a national team, I foresee club all-stars from the Serie A , EPL , La Liga. Bundesliga , Ligue 1 , Liga MX etc in a World Cup. Sadly, it is the only solution and inevitable.
Some distinctions, please. AKA lets not get it twisted. - All of those oriundi were playing for Italian clubs at the time of these 2 WC's. Not seeing that with teams like Morocco who only have the 3rd Choice GK as a Moroccan league player. - On the '34 team only 2 of the 5 were starters. Unlike all 11 for Morocco against Brazil. The guy they named the stadium after, Meazza, was the centerpiece of the team. I do admit however 5 is excessive. But still well below Morocco's 21/26, LMAO. - Uruguay never capped Andreolo. As well, they didn't qualify in 1938. Given that he was playing for Bologna for years, why wouldn't guy named Michele Andreolo play for Italy? Just doing some checking, Italy went about 45 years between their usage of oriundi. But this will be the norm for Morocco going forward. Also, the WC will remain a NT tournament not a league vs league tournament. Not sure what gives you this impression. I'm only banging on about this because it's excessive what African teams are doing.
If I w if I would have ever been good enough to play professionally, and fortunate to be good enough to play international football too, I would have chosen Italia over USA in a heartbeat. immediately. Never in question. Not even a micro percentage. I would only hope that Italia would accept me, having been born to Italian immigrants. My heart, my passion, my football sense is all Italia, end of story. So, I hope this example would be acceptable to the fans. USA would not have been an alternative. It would be all italia internationally or no international football at all. When the heart is Italian, it is Italian. My limbs would have been put on the line for the Azzurri jersey