The Beautiful Game thread, season 2015/16

[10spro]

) Pincha tu madre...
.

Milf?

Yes.

That A. Sanchez with that speed makes me really goosey with only the 3 Albicelestes in the back. A well organized counter attack and it's game over.

[10spro]

Just like last year, whatever the outcome don't let it go to PK's. Pleeaazzz.

[XXXIV]

Just like last year, whatever the outcome don't let it go to PK's. Pleeaazzz.

Goal soon please!

I skipped first GoT viewing for this.

[XXXIV]

I hate pks

[XXXIV]

As I said I hate pks.

Garbage way to end a game.

Make em play til they die.

[10spro]

As I said I hate pks.

Garbage way to end a game.

Make em play til they die.

I SWEAR to God...

[XXXIV]

As I said I hate pks.

Garbage way to end a game.

Make em play til they die.

I SWEAR to God...

[10spro]

Argentinians are an emotional bunch. No one feels the pain greater than Messi himself when he missed his penalty kick. After the ceremony was done, he told the press that he was done wearing the Albiceleste colors. As great as a player that he is, he was emotional saying that he just couldn't bring the International trophy to his country despite several tries. It's been haunting him forever. He's only 28, he could play another World Cup easily. I certainly hope that he was just too emotional after the game because we all know that he will always be welcomed wearing the Argentinian colors. His heart will tell him so in the future...

Geeez I am still a mess...

[10spro]

I'll be always proud of my boys...

[XXXIV]

As you should always be.

Hang in there. There will be better days. There always are.

[RobVarak]

That game was beyond officiating. It was basically an NBA game. The players were going to foul on every touch and it was only a matter of degree. The players deserve a share of the blame for a game that gets that ridiculous.

That said, the guy was a disaster and that was a complete $hit show. He got the second yellow wrong, both yellows for Vidal and Mascherano wrong, the Messi yellow wrong and the straight red wrong. Other than that, great first half by him.

[10spro]

Rojo's expulsion was a direct 'Sorry, I shouldn't have shown Diaz the early showers'. Although he went strong and low to intercept the pass, he went straight at the ball. The game never needed to get that physical and emotional in the first half, but Lopes was a disaster. Damn shame to have a clown officiating the finals.

That save from Bravo on Aguero's header was the game.

[pk500]

As if anyone believes Messi won't be in Argentina's starting 11 in two years in Russia. Come on.

#DramaQueen

[RobVarak]

As if anyone believes Messi won't be in Argentina's starting 11 in two years in Russia. Come on.

#DramaQueen

I don't begrudge him a little fit. A guy who has brought his team to four finals, getting kicked more than the ball in every game he plays, is entitled to vent his frustration. I expect he'll be back as well, but I don't mind this, especially from Messi who was criticized early in his career for indifference to his national team.

[10spro]

As if anyone believes Messi won't be in Argentina's starting 11 in two years in Russia. Come on.

#DramaQueen

I don't begrudge him a little fit. A guy who has brought his team to four finals, getting kicked more than the ball in every game he plays is entitled to vent his frustration. I expect he'll be back as well, but I don't mind this, especially from Messi, who was criticized early in his career for indifference to his national team.

Bingo. If you're not Argentinian, you don't know the pressure and scrutiny that he feels every single time that he wears the national colors. In fact, some morons still criticize him that he'll never be the best despite his numbers with his club. Maybe so. But, I know also that he's also fed up putting up with the politics at AFA, he's fed up when people question the coach under 2 years of management having reached 2 copa Americas. Yes, winning is the only formula with AFA but to question every single individual when things don't go right is taking a toll on him probably.

He spoke with mixed emotions but I know there was a lot of truth in there too. His love for his country eventually will prevail...

[pk500]

As if anyone believes Messi won't be in Argentina's starting 11 in two years in Russia. Come on.

#DramaQueen

I don't begrudge him a little fit. A guy who has brought his team to four finals, getting kicked more than the ball in every game he plays, is entitled to vent his frustration. I expect he'll be back as well, but I don't mind this, especially from Messi who was criticized early in his career for indifference to his national team.

Venting frustration is one thing. But this comes off as self-centered whining, fairly fueled by emotion. Argentina isn't the only nation with a f*cked-up FA. They're all corrupt and inept, including USA Soccer.

Let's put it this way: Would Messi have retired if he made his PK yet the team lost? Doubt it. Would he have retired if Argentina won? No effing way.

BTW, I'm a HUGE Messi fan.

[10spro]

As if anyone believes Messi won't be in Argentina's starting 11 in two years in Russia. Come on.

#DramaQueen

I don't begrudge him a little fit. A guy who has brought his team to four finals, getting kicked more than the ball in every game he plays, is entitled to vent his frustration. I expect he'll be back as well, but I don't mind this, especially from Messi who was criticized early in his career for indifference to his national team.

Venting frustration is one thing. But this comes off as self-centered whining, fairly fueled by emotion. Argentina isn't the only nation with a f*cked-up FA. They're all corrupt and inept, including USA Soccer.

Let's put it this way: Would Messi have retired if he made his PK yet the team lost? Doubt it. Would he have retired if Argentina won? No effing way.

BTW, I'm a HUGE Messi fan.

For the record, the interview was in Spanish and he hardly if at all was whiny when he said he would quit the national team. In fact, besides the initial disappointing emotions, it sounded as if he was willing to step aside for the next guy that may have better luck at an International trophy. Simply because he wasn't the guy after 4 tries. Nothing else. The recent chaos with AFA didn't help and it would be too long for me to explain here.

To answer your two questions, if Argentna won the answer is NO, he wouldn't have said what he said, and YES, I strongly believe that he would have still said what he said even if he converted yesterday and the team lost.

Unlike Ronaldo, he's never been about himself. Case in point, everyone wanted the best player in the world to captain Argentina for the past 8 years, yet he always respected the process and Mascherano was the leader until this tournament, when Javier thought it was time to pass the baton.

BTW, I am still a Mano de Dios fan.

[10spro]

Italy was pretty good today neutralizing Spain. Solid D as usual and a difference I see with this team unlike yesteryears teams, is that they don't park the bus when they take a lead. They continued to control the pace of the game and were very good at marking key guys like Silva and Iniesta.

With big guys like Pique and Ramos, the low crosses had venom. A. Conte who was critiqued for his selection of players has his prints all over this team. Guys like Pelle, Eder are fun to watch. There's something about this national team, they'll. be a handful for the Germans.

For the record, this is how you referee a game of this importance.

[10spro]

Let's go Iceland, let's go...

[pk500]

ICELAND! Holy sh*t.

[GB_Simo]

JESUS F*CKING CHRIST.

[10spro]

England hit rock bottom, they had many disappointments in their history but this result today got to be their worst ever. From a 90th minute winning goal to this miracle on cleats. Tiny country, what a Cinderella run.

[dougb]

The English squad is a shower of s*** - from the Manager right through the entire squad. Not a quality player in the entire mix - a five alarm dumpster fire would look good in comparison. I was utterly baffled why Hodgson was kept on after their clueless World Cup campaign.

A country that at least used to field dependable defenders and goalkeepers. Horrible. Glad Iceland beat those s*** stains - amazing how a squad that hasn't ever been in a major tournament before looks organized and poised compared to those cretins wearing the lions. They also scored from open play.

Doug

[RobVarak]

This is one of the greatest things ever...

[pk500]

McClaren showing about the same tactical nous he did at Newcastle. Brilliant.