Knockout Stage General Discussion Thread

LOL..they couldn't hold on. I thought Egypt would likely win too. They had a 2-0 lead with 10 minutes left plus stoppage time. Argentina is one of the few teams on earth who could've pulled that off!

 

Totally agree. Credit to Morocco for not having that mentality. Like you said, on paper some of these teams have nothing to be jealous of and their players are schooled in Europe anyway. I think it comes with experience at the highest level and experience having to defend a lead against a strong team. Huge difference between defending a 1-goal lead vs. Angola in the AFCON QF and whatever happened over the last 4 days. Lots of amateur situations: the space they gave Messi to cross on the 1st goal, then the time given to Lautaro on the 3rd goal (let alone to allow a 2v2 situation) is crazy. And Marmoush should have made it 3-0.

For what it's worth also, Morocco ultimately may have had that inferiority complex in 2022 as well, but they were rock-solid at the back and had an incredible keeper. And today, they've convinced themselves that they are the top team in Africa, which they are on paper, and they play with that amount of confidence (see the Brazil opener and how they got out of the Canada game despite being outplayed in the first half).

I was pleasantly surprised with Cape Verde as well. CAF is such a deep confederation, very akin to UEFA. There's probably 5-6 teams in the continent I would take before Cape Verde to the WC (Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Equat. Guinea, Cameroon in other years). They just need their top teams to get their stuff together. We could easily have had 4-5 teams in the R16 and 3 teams in the QF.

 

Do you think France could’ve pulled that off?

 

Men's soap opera... That's the world cup baby. Women have k dramas... We have this every four years... The last three pages have been hilarious.

It's just like wwf...

Messi is the hero champion
Mbappe is the villain
Ronaldo, Haaland, Lamine, Kane, Hakimi, are character foils... who is on Belgium? deBruyne ketalare?
Infantino is Vince McMahon
The refs are always confused and discipline the wrong person
VAR is just like a wwe ref... Sometimes distracted sometimes knocked out. Never do what they are suppose to in consequential decisions against any of the main characters.
Shit is just wild.
How are we still pretending the draw is random in 2026? The hosts just magically get all the easy teams ... I know it's seeded but... lmao

 

France wouldn't have gone 2 down in the first place but yes they could have turned it round too.

 

It's a bit bitter for Egypt and Colombia. I expected Egypt to concede in 2nd half, but when they scored second, thought they has a chance, but they just couldn't handle the pressure. Argentina just proved that mentally they are very very tough team, that's one of their main strenghts this year. They simply didn't collapse when lot of teams could to. Experience, mentality is there, it's crucial at this stage. Don't think that will be enough to win it all, but it might bring semis atleast.
Also thought Colombia will make it against Swiss, it will be close, but they will do it. Especially with injured Manzambi, hurt Vargas and the way Colombians looked so far, but Swiss just proved how tough and versatile they are. For anyone who follows them here in Europe it's not a secret anymore that they climbed from that category of being just average good side. They are much more closer to elite now. Not there yet, but close. It's impressive how they can handle different styles, different tactics. Change own one game to game during the tournament. Be good in controlling the game, be good with more defensive approach and be succesful at the end. They will need that against Argentina and also will need injured players back. Manzambi is crucial to them in this tournament, but seeing how he was limping yesterday, didn't give much hope of his comeback for this game. Argentina will have experience on their side, but they doesn't look unbeatable at all, especially defense looks shaky. If Manzambi will be there, or if Embolo will finally play the way he can, it might be very interesting.

And ffs, cut this conspiracy theories about Austria-Algeria already lol Yes, FIFA is freaking rigged organisation, yeah fixed games happens and I'm from Eastern Europe, I know that perfectly, saw bunch of fixed games back in the day, even live in stadiums, knew guys who were involved in this. And if that would be a fixed one, then Austrians with Algerians are the worst fixers I've ever seen. It'd be more of a comedy movie script than real life, cause no one ever will score a goal in a fixed game in 93rd minute when draw is needed and 2-2 on scoreboard. NO ONE EVER. Especially when there are only 4-5mins added on. Just accept the loss and move on. It's football, at times sh!t just happens without any fixes

 

I wouldn't say that. France has started slow more games than not, and their defense has leaks. Lucky not to concede first against Senegal.

 

To be 100% honest here, if anyone wonders why Argentina is tough and shows grit, its BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PLAY BRAZIL ALL THE TIME! You play against great teams, and it makes you better.

Argentina coming back and not stopping fighting until the end? Yeah, you learn that because in South America even a qualifying game away in Bolivia is a tough game. Sad that people don't give South American teams enough credit.

 

Very pleased with Switzerland reaching two consecutive quarterfinals at the Euros and now World Cup. In fact, we have now reached the quarterfinals in three of the last four major tournaments.

I've also got some mixed feelings as I have Colombian heritage on one side, but the fact that one of the most insufferable posters here is a Colombian supporter does help.

Onwards and upwards, we are playing with house money now and there is a 2014 score to settle with Argentina.

 

Colombia was very underwhelming yesterday. They've got a ways to go to really get into that conversation in terms of the true elites.

 

This time I think Switzerland takes it. CHE-ENG & FRA-ESP semifinals. All Euro.

Really shaping up to be an England x France final, IMO. France because of the level they are currently playing at, and England because they are the only ones on that half of the bracket who look like they have another gear in them.

 

Switzerland really needs Manzambi back if they're going to take it against Argentina. Otherwise I don't see where the goals will come from. The Argentina defense is pretty solid and Switzerland doesn't have creativity without Manzambi with mostly great defenders, box to box midfielders, and finishers. I don't think they'll break down Argentina's defense without Manzambi.

That being said, I would probably favor England over Argentina at this rate in an England vs Argentina semifinal. England seems to have more depth and tactical flexibility, and maybe slightly more players than can make a difference compared to Argentina.

 

Yeah, didn’t France go down 4-0 to Spain in the Nations League semifinal last year and score 4 goals and have 2 or 3 great chances for a 5th, before losing 5-4? If France could score 4 and nearly 5 against Spain like that, they could do it to any team.

 

If Switzerland can take it to overtime, or even tied late, they have a great chance against Argentina in that Kansas City heat. Argentina is looking slow in these latest games. It’s got to be heavy legs after these battles they have had against younger teams. Messi is dead last in ground covered among all players in the World Cup. Egypt was taking advantage of that on their counters.

 

Yes, Switzerland need to tire Argentina out. That said it is Switzerland that played 120 minutes and it was reported to be hot under the roof. This match is played with a quick turnaround. It will be tough for all. Argentina are based in Kansas City, I think that is a marginal advantage. Switzerland are based in San Diego. Potentially a lot more traveling for Switzerland. The Swiss are not a young team, at least not in defence. It isn't groundbreaking to say that Argentina are set up to do the running for Messi. Accumulated fatigue might net out to level for each side.

We have also seen that Argentina are vulnerable on the break. Are Switzerland the team to exploit that? Argentina will have the vast majority of the crowd, that is in their favour. Overall I expect Argentina to win a close match by 1 goal.

Tonight is interesting. Should be a great match with France winning by 2.

 

Yes. I said Argentina is one of a few teams who could've pulled it off. France is one of those few teams but I don't think France would've fallen behind 2-0 to begin with.

 

They barely got past Ghana! If Ghana could learn to score better they could've beaten Colombia.

 

Algeria’s defensive set-up is dreadful, on par with some of the worst teams in this WC. Don’t attribute to malice what can be attributed to incompetence.

 

not sure if Diaz will actually be false nine but yeah it's likely

 

Iced the kicker! Keeping it close

 

I have to say that it seems like EL Aynaoui of Morocco is always yelling at the refs in every match I have seen him play in

Seems like a real punk.

 

Say what you will about Paraguay, they limited this France team to just a couple of good chances in 90 minutes.

This match looks like France x Sweden part II, despite all the hype around Maroc.

Of course, Hakimi chooses today to have a stinker!. He was on fire against Holland.

 

Moroccan defense doesn't give me confidence for some reason. Just the same feeling like with Egypt defensive game against Argentina before 2nd half, that they will concede sooner or later