FIFA World Cup: Qatar 2022 • Page 112

I know all the reasons you don't take off Messi... but like... surely you sub him up 3-0, right? He's 35!

 

That assist is just something we’ve grown to expect after almost two decades of watching Messi but I think it’s going to be overlooked just how incredible that was. Indescribable greatness.

 

Which French player is Messi going to headbutt on Sunday?

 

Who saw this coming when they lost their opening match to Saudi Arabia?

 

Foyth appearance!

 

Obviously this Argentina squad is talented (especially in a few key positions), but they're not like... that stacked of a squad when you actually look at the bench depth.

 

Morocco winning the WC is crazy enough by itself. But if they do their knockout opponents would be: Spain, Portugal, France, Argentina. I want Messi to win but it’d be incredible to see such an underdog go through that gauntlet.

 

Was just thinking similar

 

Not to mention beating Belgium just to make the knockouts

 

Considering how contentious Argentina-Netherlands was, this was... extremely tame.

 

Can't help but feel Messi is going to do something "generational" on Sunday. I'm talking about a solo run that's never forgotten, etc.

 

I'm honestly shocked at how under control and calm Argentina were in this match. Croatia didn't play poorly but they just looked like they ran out of gas and didn't have any ideas on to really break down Argentina. Argentina really learned their lesson on how to control the emotions after the chaos against the Nederlands.

 

This angle is awesome

 

Same. Especially after 2014.

 

I get it if you might not like this Argentina squad, or maybe you’re of those toxic Ronaldo stans, but I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to see Messi pull of a true GOAT performance to win it all on Sunday.

Especially after all the years of those insane takes from folks about how he can’t be considered the GOAT because he didn’t win the WC for his country like Maradona did. (Stupid, stupid, stupid take.)

 

Something weird to me about ITV’s punditry set up, with the women pitch side whilst the men are sat in the studio.

"Okay so we think we should include women"

"Oh absolutely. But do we have to put them in the studio?"

"Nah, chuck 'em outside. They can't be in the studio with the men, that's for real seasoned professionals like Graeme Sounness."

 

The US sadly has this problem, too. At least Fox, for all the shit they've gotten for this coverage, have Aly Wagner in the booth now.

 

Given how good a run this was, the crowd is weirdly subdued until the ball hits the net.

Ah yes, the Sounness whose solution to his own players fighting on the pitch was to offer them both out for a fight. Perhaps that's really why Graeme is indoors. Just keeping him out of trouble.

 

Big Mik’s influence has already begun

 

Just saw the third goal again. The fact Messi did that against the best defender in the tournament is just exceptional.

 

God that sucks - just utterly heartbreaking

 

Reading the email from her to his newsletter now:

"An autopsy was performed by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office. Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium. The chest pressure he experienced shortly before his death may have represented the initial symptoms. No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him. His death was unrelated to COVID. His death was unrelated to vaccination status. There was nothing nefarious about his death."

If you're wondering about vaccination/COVID being mentioned, Grant's wife is one of the top epidemiologists in America and both were routinely attacked online related to their COVID stances.

 

If you would like to read Celine's write-up:

 

So depending on what happens in this game….Messi has a real chance to not only win the tournament, but lead it in goals and assists. Can’t think of a better way for him to win his WC.