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Topi
My apologies.

Anyhow, what can I do except root for the underdogs here? C'mon, Croatia and Morocco!

I think there's a tradition in the soccer world cup which consists of supporting the underdogs and also defeating the titleholder.

So no surprise in your post.

Hey now, I still do have a soft spot for France. I wouldn't mind them winning it all again.

It's a great, well-assembled team.

I'll let you in on a little secret: when I was a kid I used to draw soccer players and in Mexico 1986 (I was 7!) the team I drew the most was indeed France!

This whole England thing only started for me in Italy 1990 (now where was France and Jean-Pierre Papin? )

You see, I have this weird thing for old goalkeepers. Peter Shilton in Italy 1990 was 41 years old. He was my favorite. I think I had a poster of him from before.

Good times, I'll never get them back!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-12-12 18:37 by Topi.

I remember Peter Shilton, a great goalkeeper with Gordon Banks too of course.

1990 was a bad time for the French team, we were not qualified for the world cup. A big disaster !
It's fortunate that being ridiculous doesn't kill otherwise we would've been thunderstruck !!

honestly, the English national team is getting better and better. Will be interesting to see them in 2024.

It's still a bit strange to me to see the difference of efficiency between the National team and English clubs (the best with German, Italian and Spanish) which were so successful.

the team of England will not win
never any trophies
in 1966 she stole the final against
Deutschland
It is a loser team

Not really on point, but was Mario Balotelli as physically as talented a soccer player as Ronaldo and was his temperament and coaching his downfall.And could have helped Italy qualify this year for the World Cup



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-12-12 22:14 by Taylor1.

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Taylor1
Not really on point, but was Mario Balotelli as physically as talented a soccer player as Ronaldo and was his temperament and coaching his downfall.And could have helped Italy qualify this year for the World Cup

assuming these are questions the answer to

Talented as ronaldo; not sure which ronaldo, r9 or cr7 but in both cases, not even close

Temperament; yes. Just read the story about the mourinho halftime speech about him

Italy qualify; who knows but i doubt it. Italy had other problems

Morocco - Croatia would be a great final. I will root for both.

It’s impressive that a small country like Croatia can produce such quality national teams two World Cups in a row, competing against countries like Brazil which have million more athletes to draw from

Go fake four.

tonight is the first semi final and I see Croatia defeating Argentina in the penalty session after the extra time.

I got ARG 2-1

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Paris75014
thanks Topi for your good sport spirit cos I know you supported England.

I agree with you about the Senegalese fans and their exemplary and jovial behaviour which is not the case of moroccan fans who behaved like pigs in France when they defeated Spain.
They destroyed shops in Paris on the Champs-Elysées, burned some cars, agressed some people in many french towns.

They booed every time Portuguese had the ball and we know that they will boo the french anthem and french players.
I hope we will beat them !

I'm afraid it will be even worst tomorrow...

HMN



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-12-13 20:30 by Honestman.

and now already 2 to 0 for Argentina

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Paris75014
and now already 2 to 0 for Argentina

Why wasn't that play offsides near the end?

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The Sicilian

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Paris75014
and now already 2 to 0 for Argentina

Why wasn't that play offsides near the end?

to me, there is no offside for the secong goal.

the second gol was a golazooo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

saludos from Argentina
Fernando

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Fernandobsas
the second gol was a golazooo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

saludos from Argentina
Fernando

confusion and luck !!!!

Argentina! Messi! Amazing!

Bjornulf

Alvarez's second goal of the match assisted by Messi gives Argentina an insurmountable lead of 3-0 and a trip to the finals.

ahhh the dinner table in now set for Mr Messi !

Beautiful third goal from Argentina ! Messi's on fire.

HMN

and Julian Alvarez, a guy who months ago was playing in a local Argentinean team, was also brillant.

Saludos
Fernando

Jugaba en equipo más grande de Argentina, el club River Plate !!!!

Croatia was a great team. I was touched with their quick passing game.
I can't believe a country with a population of 4 million has that many talented players.
They must have adjusted their condition for the final 8 and beyond.
I think the group league and the game against Japan were just their practice matches.

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FloresMuertas
Jugaba en equipo más grande de Argentina, el club River Plate !!!!

Gonzalo Martínez was more prominent back in 2018 on River Plate, but now Álvarez is amazing.

Dammit, Messi, you killed my bet!

Let's say 3-0 France today as well. Sorry, Morocco, I root for you guys but FRA is just on a mission here.

Please do NOT bring up discussions related to racism, taking the knee, woke, snowflake, or other other matters intended to create political and/or racial hate and fighting here. I will delete any such posts immediately.

Bjornulf



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-12-14 13:33 by bv.

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Topi
Dammit, Messi, you killed my bet!

Let's say 3-0 France today as well. Sorry, Morocco, I root for you guys but FRA is just on a mission here.

I must admit I was very surprised by the result of the game Argentina - Croatia.
I would have never bet 3 to 0.

Neither would I bet on the same result for France tonight.
Nevertheless, I like pleasant surprises !

Croatia sure do have a strong team, but they made a draw including overtime play during both of the two previous play-off games leading up to the semifinal vs Argentina last night. Croatia do have a great goalkeeper, he was the main difference during the shoot-out's. At one stage a great goalkeeper is not enough, as we saw last night, when Argentina finished 3-0 against Croatia during the regular 2 x 45 minutes play.

Morocco (FIFA ranking #22) has been a big surprise so far in this world cup, but if France (FIFA ranking #4) are playing up to their best, we should have them playing the final on Sunday vs Argentina (FIFA ranking #3).

Bjornulf

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dead.flowers
HMN's post

On footnote no. 4) Russia

Was there ever a football team Soviet Union or even CIS?

My dull remembrance is that the former Soviet Union used to have three teams, viz. Russia, White Russia (now Belarus) and Ukraine. Or am I mistaken.

Can someone football expert clarify?

Cheers

d.f

Soviet Union had a national team. Their best achievement was winning the European Championship in 1960. They were runners-up in Euro '88 against Netherlands. In the World Cup, their best result was reaching the semi-finals in 1966.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, only then did you have the individual countries' national teams. I remember Russia qualified for the 1994 World Cup in USA.

Ukraine has qualified for the World Cup once, in 2006. They also qualified for three European Championship tournaments. Belarus has never qualified for a major tournament.



Edited 7 time(s). Last edit at 2022-12-14 14:14 by Topi.