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World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 17 (30 June)

cwy21

Well-Known Member
May 11, 2009
9,448
7,930
I'm less drunk (but not sober) than last Friday night so I think I'll get this in the right forum.

Match #50 - Round of 16 - 15:00 BST
Kazan
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Iran)
VAR: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)

Odds
France (7/5)
Draw (2/1)
Argentina (12/5)
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Match #49 - Round of 16 - 19:00 BST
Sochi
Referee: Cesar Arturo Ramos (Mexico)
VAR: Mark Geiger (United States)

Odds
Uruguay (9/5)
Draw (19/10)
Portugal (19/10)
-------------------------------------------------------
 

wirE

I'm a well-known member
Sep 27, 2005
4,676
5,582
Finally, the WC is back on!

My predictions are: Uruguay and France for the win
 

Danners9

Available on a Free Transfer
Mar 30, 2004
13,998
20,756
Phew. Yesterday was tough. Almost had to go outside or do some work.

Portugal and France for me.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,842
56,935
Two best ties of the last 16 for me. Don't let me down, Super Saturday!
 

werty

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2005
25,074
26,310
Another one from Chida Junsei

vobewo.jpg
 

yanno

Well-Known Member
Aug 1, 2003
5,857
2,877
Still no Dybala. Pathetic Argentinian selection - whoever was choosing the team.

Pavon has plenty of potential, but Dybala is proven top class.
 
D

Deleted member 27855

Can somebody who watches Argentina on a consistent basis tell me why they aren't doing something like this?

Armani
Mercado Otamendi Rojo Tagliafico
Mascherano Biglia
Messi Dybala Di Maria
Aguero

Do Messi, Dybala and Aguero really play that poorly together?
 

VegasII

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2008
9,750
16,670
Can somebody who watches Argentina on a consistent basis tell me why they aren't doing something like this?

Armani
Mercado Otamendi Rojo Tagliafico
Mascherano Biglia
Messi Dybala Di Maria
Aguero

Do Messi, Dybala and Aguero really play that poorly together?

I think you've Hilfigered it out.
 

yanno

Well-Known Member
Aug 1, 2003
5,857
2,877
Can somebody who watches Argentina on a consistent basis tell me why they aren't doing something like this?

Armani
Mercado Otamendi Rojo Tagliafico
Mascherano Biglia
Messi Dybala Di Maria
Aguero

Do Messi, Dybala and Aguero really play that poorly together?

Because their coach is obsessed with stupid formations. Plus as a genuine legend, Jorge Valdano, said in the article I've linked below, "balls is valued more than talent" in Argentina.

Hence the selection of hordes of water carriers and sub-standard or past-it DMs.

In terms of formations, there was one match earlier in the tournament when Otamendi was playing in a back 3 with a FB either side. I bet in his entire professional career, Otamendi has never played without a CB partner.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/25/argentina-what-is-wrong-lionel-messi-football
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,562
Can somebody who watches Argentina on a consistent basis tell me why they aren't doing something like this?

Armani
Mercado Otamendi Rojo Tagliafico
Mascherano Biglia
Messi Dybala Di Maria
Aguero

Do Messi, Dybala and Aguero really play that poorly together?
You're missing Banega who is pretty much the only midfielder who makes Messi tick.

And Dybala, yeah, he and Messi occupy a lot of the same spaces and they have both admitted they don't work great together because of that.

But no doubt their resources could be a fuck-ton better used than they have been this WC.
 
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