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World Cup Qatar 2022 - Desert Strike

Boothjan

By Boothjan
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Loik V credern

Loik V credern

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I pretty much desperately wanted Messi to win so those not arsed probably enjoyed it more. 'why fucking get close to the player there so late in the game to give them a penalty, why give them a chance, a goal is bound to rejuvenate them like every knockout game ever, Otamendi you fucking idiot, why why whyyyy' etc a few times, a number of 'nooooooo'. 

 

A week ago before it was brought up again I'd forgotten all about the 4-3 to France vs Argentina game at the last World Cup, so these two creating another classic wasn't a surprise, but 2 goals up with Giroud and Griezmann off I thought there was no chance of France getting 2 goals. With each penalty to France i thought it was over, but then i was sure Martinez would win the shoot out for Argentina. But then..Dybala steps up and I still think Lautaro is out there somewhere. 

 

I'd always just wanted to see Messi lift the world cup like 'what will it be like?' as though there would be something different about it, the pressure he felt to win it was so far beyond any pressure any other sports person has been under I'd say, the third consecutive final loss in 2016 making him think him with Argentina wasn't meant to be. The Copa win was really the moment of elation for him, a curse lifted, then he watched Lautaro in this world cup and thought maybe it's returned.

 

Still when you see the clip of Messi watching Montiel score the last penalty it's just so much weight being lifted from him. It's such an odd working life that's hard to imagine, reaching best in the world status then having a whole nation hang on you delivering in a sport no one individual can just shape everything as they wish, the margins so fine, idiot forwards missing chances, idiot defenders giving penalties away.

 

All the stuff about Messi's lack of character, to retain a level and keep trying at 35 years old, to need to become so zen you try staring out the keeper to cope with taking penalties when you've had the worst experience in the past of missing one in a final penalty shoot out before, I'd feel kind of trapped if I was him, I don't know what about the whole world cup of being so close to going out in nearly every game was worth being put through for him but he still did it.

 

He desperately wanted to deliver the world cup to the people of Argentina like it's seemed no other sports person has before (for their country), people who for years many were resentful he couldn't match his Barcelona performances for them and couldn't just deliver the world cup like it'd be inevitable, resentful he left Argentina so young and they never got to see him play, accusations he didn't care as much. 

 

It's different but when Federer won his first open at was it 35 or 36 after 5 years it was viewed as miraculous. He came back after injuries as well but I think the pressure of a whole nation, successive final losses and that the margins are finer make it as much of an achievement if not more.

 

Messi's career from beginning to end and his time with Argentina is one of the great stories in sport I think. 

 

Hyperbolic but I love Messi. 

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Seanfl9

Seanfl9

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I'm a huge fan of Messi and have always felt privileged to be able to have gone to see him at Camp Nou and again at this World Cup in the Quarters and Semis.

 

He is most likely the greatest football player of my lifetime and it is so fitting to see him lift that trophy and produce the performances he has throughout this tournament. 

 

PS - Harry Kane should've been lifting that magnificent gold bastard tonight instead. 🙄

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Loik V credern

Loik V credern

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I only saw Messi once (except so high up I couldn't make him out). It was an Argentina Portugal friendly at Old Trafford a decade ago. Messi was right in front of me on the right pretty much, I got good seats and I thought his nonchalance was because it was a friendly but that's what he's said to be like isn't it. He kept doing these chipped balls that didn't make sense like he was seeing angles no one else was.

 

He did a few dribbles where he knocked it past the player. The most memorable moment was in the centre circle where he received the ball and it was the way he became animated as he sensed a player approach from behind, it was like watching Jackie Chan the speed of it.

 

Every professional player has a better spacial awareness than any of us but it's mostly watching Messi where it becomes clear, someone seemingly born to play because his instinct for it is so high. Until another player scores a goal as impossible as his Bilbao goal no one will match him for me. To calculate in the moment the only way to execute something with the randomness of opposition players then achieve it. 

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Plissken

Plissken

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Messi didn't just have the pressure of an entire footballing mad nation on his back for a decade and a half, he had the pressure of that nation being used to one of the other all-time greats wearing the same national shirt and number as him.  For millions, he's not going to be good enough until he matches Diego Armando Maradona.  Being close wasn't good enough. 

 

You could practically see the weight lift from his shoulders.

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Gotters

Gotters

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Incredible final and representative of the football at the tournament as a whole in that there was quite a lot of drama even if the quality wasn't always the highest. 

 

In some ways that is what makes the WC now, massive stakes but without teams chock full of the most expensive talent they've hoovered up as most countries have weak spots. The champions league latter stages may have the quality but that doesn't always necessarily translate into excitement. 

 

Messi saying he going to carry on now with international football, not sure why as they are reigning Copa and now WC champs, surely that is a fitting place to end things. That said take him out that team and they fall a long way back in the pecking order.

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The Fox

The Fox

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1 hour ago, Gotters said:

Messi saying he going to carry on now with international football, not sure why as they are reigning Copa and now WC champs, surely that is a fitting place to end things. That said take him out that team and they fall a long way back in the pecking order.

 

Probably just wants to play at least one game back in Argentina I suppose, to soak up the adulation. I doubt he'll continue to the next Copa.

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Naysonymous

Naysonymous

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We are still mid season. A couple of weeks ago people were suggesting Ronaldo would retire on 196 caps when Portugal have got Euro qualifiers for the rest of the season including games against Lichtenstein and Luxembourg in the spring.   Messi might not play another World Cup but he’s probably going to at least see the season out.  

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Gotters

Gotters

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Messi himself had stated just before the final though and before the tournament that he was calling quits on international football after Qatar, whatever the result.

 

Winning seemed to change his mind quickly.

 

Ronaldo will be insisting Portugal pick him into his 50s trying to emulate Messi winning this. May have a bearing on him not going to Saudi too for a quiet pre-retirement. 

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Fry Crayola

Fry Crayola

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I don't think there was a suggestion that he would retire from club football right now. Argentina don't have any matches lined up and won't play competitively until the 2024 Copa America, so if there was a perfect time to bow out of the international game, it'd be now.

 

But I kinda like it if he doesn't. I have a lot of respect for people who are still committed to their international sides into their mid thirties and beyond, rather than "retiring" at 29. Which, er, Messi actually kinda did, but ssh.

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Ork1927

Ork1927

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30 minutes ago, Gotters said:

Messi himself had stated just before the final though and before the tournament that he was calling quits on international football after Qatar, whatever the result.

 

Winning seemed to change his mind quickly.

 

Ronaldo will be insisting Portugal pick him into his 50s trying to emulate Messi winning this. May have a bearing on him not going to Saudi too for a quiet pre-retirement. 

 

Yep - Portugal and the next World Cup will be good fun as Ronaldo will want to be there to be only player to play in 6 world Cups and picked in enough games to break Messi's appearance record.  Hopefully they won't even qualify.

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The Fox

The Fox

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He's probably their greatest ever player (although never really did it at a World Cup like Eusebio), but if Portugal have any sense they won't pick Ronaldo again. He's not even close to being worth the circus that comes with him at this point.

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Plissken

Plissken

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23 minutes ago, ChewMagma said:

I didn't get why Macron was on the fucking pitch consoling Mbappe at the end. What a prick.

 

Imagine Sunak running on to give Kane a cuddle. Fucking barf.

 

There were there as representatives of both finalists - though the BBC said that the Argentinian President stayed at home as he didn't want to be seen as bad luck.

 

Macron is Blair+, but unlike Saint Tony, he is a genuine football fan.

 

Could have been worse, can you imagine what Johnson would have got up to.

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Gotters

Gotters

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Before we all get too pleased for Argentina a nice assortment of post match socials has :-

 

Emu Martinez stopping a conga of the team calling for 'a minutes silence for Mbappe who is dead'

 

De Paul telling anybody who doubted him to 'suck his dick'

 

and the Argentinian John Terry Aguero dedicating their win to 'that dickface' Camavinga.

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Fry Crayola

Fry Crayola

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20 minutes ago, Ork1927 said:

Ronaldo will want to be there to be only player to play in 6 world Cups

 

Homare Sawa and Formiga already managed that in 2015. Formiga went on to play in a seventh.

 

Now, you might make a distinction and say the only man, but I feel it's necessary to rub it in Ronaldo's face that he has a long way to go.

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ryodi

ryodi

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3 hours ago, The Fox said:

He's probably their greatest ever player (although never really did it at a World Cup like Eusebio), but if Portugal have any sense they won't pick Ronaldo again. He's not even close to being worth the circus that comes with him at this point.


Ronaldo also wasn’t even on the pitch when they won the Euros in 2016. He was for their Nations League win but that doesn’t count.

 

As for Martinez shithousery I’m amazed France didn’t do anything to combat it. During one of the Liverpool Chelsea Cup Finals the Liverpool goalkeeper always made to sure to grab the ball and hand to the next Liverpool spot kick taker to avoid Kepa’s shenanigans putting them off. Lloris not doing that played into Argentina’s hands.

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Boothjan

Boothjan

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36 minutes ago, Gabe said:

I'm glad this tournament is done now as I'm well and truly footballed-out. No enthusiasm at all for the return of the Premier League, I wonder if anybody else feels the same in any significant numbers? 

 

As my team are currently 20th in the Premier League, very much so

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