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Post by dem bones on Dec 19, 2022 13:29:11 GMT
Croatia 2 Morocco 1Full credit to both for overcoming their disappointment to provide such an absorbing, full-blooded contest for bronze. Croats joy at final whistle while their opponents rounded on the ref, summed up just how much that 3rd place meant to both sides. Two superb goals, too. In local news, I'm so glad Gareth Southgate is staying for the Euro's. Never felt any great fondness for the National team until he took over. They're far more likeable and certainly a better watch than the serially mismanaged 'golden generation.' FinalArgentina 3 France 3 (aet. score at 90+ minutes 2-2. Argentina win 4-2 on pens). After the 3rd/4th playoff, on to the main event. It's Messi's last chance for glory so surely he will be up for it. France will want to spoil the party, and have their own superstar in Mbappe. It's difficult to predict which team will win. A number of the French squad have come down with a virus, so that could also be a factor. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it got a tad physical at times. Well, that was spectacular. Normal time almost a clone of Argentina-Holland epic in that, with ten minutes to go, the S. Americans were two up and in complete control over opponents who'd simply not turned up. One needlessly conceded penalty later and suddenly Mbappe comes alive and with him, his teammates. After which, what had been a fair-enough final went insane. What a magical game to see out the tournament.
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Post by ripper on Dec 19, 2022 13:59:27 GMT
Croatia 2 Morocco 1Full credit to both for overcoming their disappointment to provide such an absorbing, full-blooded contest for bronze. Croats joy at final whistle while their opponents rounded on the ref, summed up just how much that 3rd place meant to both sides. Two superb goals, too. In local news, I'm so glad Gareth Southgate is staying for the Euro's. Never felt any great fondness for the National team until he took over. They're far more likeable and certainly a better watch than the serially mismanaged 'golden generation.' FinalArgentina 3 France 3 (aet. score at 90+ minutes 2-2. Argentina win 4-2 on pens). After the 3rd/4th playoff, on to the main event. It's Messi's last chance for glory so surely he will be up for it. France will want to spoil the party, and have their own superstar in Mbappe. It's difficult to predict which team will win. A number of the French squad have come down with a virus, so that could also be a factor. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it got a tad physical at times. Well, that was spectacular. Normal time almost a clone of Argentina-Holland epic in that, with ten minutes to go, the S. Americans were two up and in complete control over opponents who'd simply not turned up. One needlessly conceded penalty later and suddenly Mbappe comes alive and with him, his teammates. After which, what had been a fair-enough final went insane. What a magical game to see out the tournament. It was 2 - 0 to Argentina, 10 mins to go and the South Americans were cruising. I left the room for 5 mins and when I came back the French had equalised and were transformed. After that it was gripping end-to-end stuff. Mbappe showed why he is so important to France and Messi turned back the clock. It's terrible to lose on penalties, and as an England fan of 50+ years, I have suffered on many occasions, but for the neutral it's very exciting. Mbappe has the consolation that he is only the second player to score a hat-trick in a WC final--does he get to keep the ball, I wonder? Agreed about Southgate. Since taking over he has led the team to a QF, a SF and a final. I think we also have to look at the state of the team prior to that, culminating in that loss to Iceland. I think he's the best man for the job and deserves another chance at a major competition, especially when there are young players with great potential like Bellingham, Foden, Saka and Rice establishing themselves.
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Post by ripper on Dec 30, 2022 11:13:38 GMT
Less than 2 weeks after seeing Messi crown his career by lifting the World Cup, football has lost its greatest player, Pele, who won no less than 3 World Cup winner's medals, and was a pivotal part of perhaps the greatest international side of all-time, the Brazil of 1970. One of my earliest football memories is seeing Pele play for his country against England in Mexico, and his perfect header from a perfect cross, and that incredible save by England's greatest goalkeeper, Gordon Banks, all viewed in black + white via a slightly stuttery satellite feed.
We have seen wonderfully gifted players such as Maradona, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Messi and George Best, but in my opinion Pele was the greatest, and certainly the best loved, player of all time.
RIP Pele
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