2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

[SparzWizard]

Tied game. Gulp

[Roy H.]

[dang] it!  No surprise, as that goal seemed inevitable for the last 10 minutes, but it still sucks.

I can't see England winning at this point unless it's in a shootout.

[SparzWizard]

Argentina player punches an England player in the face but no call.

Typical refs bias with ARG

[A Future of Stevens]

That pass by Messi was amazing

[Roy H.]

Soccer's equivalent of the prevent defense.  You can't just stop attacking completely for 25 minutes.

[Who]

Thank goodness for Argentina!

That made my day!! Wonderful.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Soccer's equivalent of the prevent defense.  You can't just stop attacking completely for 25 minutes.

Yeah, that was a major fail by England's coach. Wouldn't surprise me if he got fired because of it. About 5 minutes before Argentina scored its first goal, I was thinking, "This is gonna bite England. They're giving Argentina way too many good shot opportunities."

[ozgod]

Soccer's equivalent of the prevent defense.  You can't just stop attacking completely for 25 minutes.

Yeah, that was a major fail by England's coach. Wouldn't surprise me if he got fired because of it. About 5 minutes before Argentina scored its first goal, I was thinking, "This is gonna bite England. They're giving Argentina way too many good shot opportunities."

They decided to park the bus and Messi found a way around it 

Speaking of Messi, check out this amazing stat at how this guy, at age 39, has managed to reinvent himself again. Despite spending the most time walking of any outfield player in the WC he still leads in touches, assists and goals for Argentina and in fact the entire competition.

(click to enlarge)

[Kernewek]

Well, there goes the extra bank holiday.

[Amonkey]

I am disappointed with all my teams in this World Cup not making it further (Brazil, France, USA) but I must admit, the most entertained I have been in this World Cup has been rooting against Argentina. Spain vs England would be a cool final, but I will definitely be more invested to root against Argentina in the finals. The only thing is that they have to lose because if they win the whole thing, it will be a real kick in the crotch.

[ozgod]

I am disappointed with all my teams in this World Cup not making it further (Brazil, France, USA) but I must admit, the most entertained I have been in this World Cup has been rooting against Argentina. Spain vs England would be a cool final, but I will definitely be more invested to root against Argentina in the finals. The only thing is that they have to lose because if they win the whole thing, it will be a real kick in the crotch.

I love Messi, but I don't like the rest of the Argies team...they indulge in a bit too much gamesmanship for me. I know in Latin America trying to fool the referee and trying to get other players sent off is considered an integral part of the game (picardia or viveza criolla). I know the Spanish do it too, as do most Latin teams, it's the psychology of the game, but at least La Roja are less obvious about it 

Also I'm part Spanish so I gotta cheer for them...I would have cheered for the US but they're not here 

[ozgod]

Speaking of Messi, here's a picture of him from 2007, when he was 20 years old, a rising wunderkind at Barcelona...and that baby he is washing is Spain's Lamine Yamal, who is now 19 years old, with Messi now 39. Yamal's family won a promotion to appear in a picture with Leo all the way back then. Can you imagine that Messi, at the end of his career as probably the GOAT, would play against the baby he took a picture with two decades ago, who debuted for Barcelona at age 15, one of the brightest young lights in the game 

(click to enlarge)



And here they are now, 19 years later: