2018 FIFA World Cup Megathread

[Kohr]

Terrible mistake from Caballero. I knew something like this was going to happen, both goalkeepers have been making a lot of terrible mistakes.

It's looking more like Croatia and Iceland will go through, with Argentina being the surprise drop out. Not really surprised about Nigeria.

Though it is still too early to be certain. There are a lot of twists and turns in this World Cup!

I do think it's a bit early to call. This game needs to finish first!

[The Transhuman Union]

Damn, Modric's goal...
Argentina can't recover this.

[San Regada]

Terrible mistake from Caballero. I knew something like this was going to happen, both goalkeepers have been making a lot of terrible mistakes.

It's looking more like Croatia and Iceland will go through, with Argentina being the surprise drop out. Not really surprised about Nigeria.

Though it is still too early to be certain. There are a lot of twists and turns in this World Cup!

I do think it's a bit early to call. This game needs to finish first!

Another great goal from the Croatians, and quite frankly, a very well deserved lead is now looking stronger

Considering its the 81st minute and the Argentine's look deflated, it will take something really special to recover from this.

Argentina will really have to turn up against Nigeria and hope the stars also align in terms of the other Group D games.

[Neu Leonstein]

Any thoughts on why Argentina are struggling so much? I mean, yes, the defending has been suspect at times, but it's not like they've been conceding heaps. The problem is more that they just don't have any penetration going forward. But how do you make that happen with an attack made up of Messi, Aguero, Higuain, etc etc?

(And that by Otamendi deserves a red, in my view)

[San Regada]

Absolutely disgraceful conduct from Argentina. Otamendi should have been sent off. Kicking a man on the floor is a big no.

[The Transhuman Union]

*breaks down laughing*

[San Regada]

That's the final nail in the coffin. 3-0. An absolutely deserved win.

[The Black Party]

Y'all just wait for Iceland to win.

Just you wait.

Sealand for 2020 WC tho

[Starblaydia]

Modric goal of the tournament so far, Otamendi should have had a red,video game goalkeeping from Caballero. Glad I watched that one (not a sentence I've said a lot this Cup).

[Lillorainen]

Čestitam Hrvatskoj, svaka vam čast
(gz to Croatia, you did a good job)

To Argentina: what on earth was wrong with you guys?

[Neu Leonstein]

Going through some of the highlights afterwards, it really does look awful. Argentinian players just jogging around, not giving a shit. Looking at that, I wouldn't back them to win that match against Nigeria, to be honest. Especially if the Nigerians get something out of the Iceland match and still have a chance.

[The Archregimancy]

Any thoughts on why Argentina are struggling so much?

They're just not very good.

We think 'Lionel Messi', and think they must be good; but their recent record just doesn't justify us having that much faith in them. I made this mistake myself. Despite knowing how badly they struggled in qualifying - only scraping qualification on the final day - despite knowing that a Messi-less but otherwise full-strength Argentina lost 4-2 against Nigeria in a friendly in Russia last November, I just assumed they'd come good in the finals.

And they haven't.

Their poor qualifying form, that disastrous friendly defeat against Nigeria (where they had a 2-0 lead), a 6-1 friendly loss to Spain back in March; they all point to Argentina simply not being very good right now. They have one player of genius, but seem to lack any team cohesion, and - unlike Portugal - don't seem willing or able to offer Messi the support that even a player of genius needs to thrive.

[Painisia]

Well, Argentina is officially out of the World Cup now?

[Starblaydia]

Well, Argentina is officially out of the World Cup now?

Not yet, it depends on the Iceland-Nigeria match, and the final matchday.

[The Archregimancy]

Modric goal of the tournament so far, Otamendi should have had a red

As should Rebić, mind. Croatia were lucky not to go into halftime a man down.

[Geisenfried]

Well, Argentina is officially out of the World Cup now?

They can't officially be knocked out yet - that said, they have a -3 goal differential now.

If Nigeria wins, Argentina needs to win and have Iceland either lose or draw to Croatia - or beat them on a tiebreaker if Iceland wins against Croatia.
If Iceland wins, Argentina needs to win, have Iceland lose to Croatia, and cover the goal differential.
If they draw, Argentina needs a win and need Iceland to not win against Croatia.

[Geneviev]

Well, Argentina is officially out of the World Cup now?

Not officially, but their chances aren't very high.

[Kohr]

Y'all just wait for Iceland to win.

Just you wait.

Sealand for 2020 WC tho

Yes! Iceland all the way! (Also, I love it: Nonexistent country wins the nonexistent World Cup.)

Honestly, that 3-0 stomping on Argentina is fantastic news. It means that Argentina is not in a good place to qualify on GD if they tie at 4 points with Iceland.

[Nazis in Space]

I mean, I knew and called Argentina shit.

Just... not this shit. I did expect them to make it into the knockout rounds.

[MERIZoC]

Any thoughts on why Argentina are struggling so much?

They're just not very good.

We think 'Lionel Messi', and think they must be good; but their recent record just doesn't justify us having that much faith in them. I made this mistake myself. Despite knowing how badly they struggled in qualifying - only scraping qualification on the final day - despite knowing that a Messi-less but otherwise full-strength Argentina lost 4-2 against Nigeria in a friendly in Russia last November, I just assumed they'd come good in the finals.

And they haven't.

Their poor qualifying form, that disastrous friendly defeat against Nigeria (where they had a 2-0 lead), a 6-1 friendly loss to Spain back in March; they all point to Argentina simply not being very good right now. They have one player of genius, but seem to lack any team cohesion, and - unlike Portugal - don't seem willing or able to offer Messi the support that even a player of genius needs to thrive.

Someone has a quote along the lines of "The players at Barcelona have the humility to look up and just pass the ball to Messi, the Argentinians don't." That's obviously not all of it but a fun quote nonetheless.

Argentina is looking like the weakest South American team this tournament tbh, and South America is not looking great.

[Bombadil]

I think Spain are potentially in trouble, I can see Morocco finally getting it together and pulling off a surprise win in the final game and I can also see Iran nagging out a 1-0 win over Portugal.. I'm going to assume Spain are together enough to take a draw at least with Morocco but we could be in for a surprise.

I suspect Argentina might pull through.. though there was an analysis that showed Messi has run less than anyone in the World Cup and you can even include 2 goalkeepers in that stat!

Otherwise Group H is interesting, I actually had hopes for Poland but.. well some teams look good on paper just not in practice.

Some of those Messi stats..

In his first match, Lionel Messi covered 1.42km while not in possession – 570m fewer than two goalkeepers
Lionel Messi's top speed in his first game was 9km/h slower than Cristiano Ronaldo's
Russia's Aleksandr Golovin made 69 sprints in his first match, Lionel Messi managed only 17

However..

Despite playing only one game Messi still has four more World Cup 2018 shots than the next player on the list,
Denis Cheryshev.
Messi is still top of the dribble charts with 15.
And despite not running much, he still has more runs into the attacking third than anyone else.

Note these were off the first game.

Basically if you can cut out passes to Messi then Argentina have nothing..

[MERIZoC]

If we don't have a resounding victory tomorrow, we're in trouble.

[Infected Mushroom]

I have saved up a fantastic red wine for tonight’s France game.

France must win.

I'm sure they will. I will be rooting for them.

Yet another decisive French victory.

Vive la France!

[Fartsniffage]

I think Spain are potentially in trouble, I can see Morocco finally getting it together and pulling off a surprise win in the final game and I can also see Iran nagging out a 1-0 win over Portugal.. I'm going to assume Spain are together enough to take a draw at least with Morocco but we could be in for a surprise.

I suspect Argentina might pull through.. though there was an analysis that showed Messi has run less than anyone in the World Cup and you can even include 2 goalkeepers in that stat!

Otherwise Group H is interesting, I actually had hopes for Poland but.. well some teams look good on paper just not in practice.

Some of those Messi stats..

In his first match, Lionel Messi covered 1.42km while not in possession – 570m fewer than two goalkeepers
Lionel Messi's top speed in his first game was 9km/h slower than Cristiano Ronaldo's
Russia's Aleksandr Golovin made 69 sprints in his first match, Lionel Messi managed only 17

However..

Despite playing only one game Messi still has four more World Cup 2018 shots than the next player on the list,
Denis Cheryshev.
Messi is still top of the dribble charts with 15.
And despite not running much, he still has more runs into the attacking third than anyone else.

Note these were off the first game.

Basically if you can cut out passes to Messi then Argentina have nothing..

They have Kun. And I have no idea why they're not using him more.

[MERIZoC]

https://twitter.com/SebasTempone/status/1009963699648548864

SPICY