Messi has made 3 successive major tournament finals in a row. He is the defending World Cup 'MVP'. He has 12 goals in 16 games over the last 2 years. He dragged Argentina to the finals.

Argentina are so rich with attacking talent that they can leave the likes of Icardi at home, but they don't have much else. Mascherano is old, Biglia is ordinary. Neither centre back starts for their club, and the goalkeeper is a flapper. Meza plays in Argentina and no one here has ever heard of him. They are not a super team, to suggest so is nonsense.

Also, every other Argentina player seems to get a pass. Di Maria, one of the most richly experienced attacking players in world football, was fucking awful.

DAMNIT KYLE WALKER!!!

KANE SAVES THE DAY!!!

England looked really good first half, created a lot of chances although we need to work on the finishing and less dicking around at the back.

Second half was a different story, we looked flat and devoid of ideas and although we deserved the win we got out of jail with Tunisia's horrendous marking at the end.

A positive start with a win but much to work on

I had Japan and Columbia winnung Group H, but Senegal upsetting Poland in what was a complete road match definitely shook up Group H.

Russia is up next with a chance to clinch their way into the elimination games.

Russia's gonna go through. Perhaps they're better than many have expected them to be.

They’re in and +7 in goals right now. 8-1. Amazing start from the home team.

Barring an upset victory tomorrow by Saudi Arabia against Uruguay, this is the end of Egypt. If Uruguay wins or ties tomorrow, it eliminates Egypt and I wouldn’t be surprised if today was the last we see of Salah. He got his WC goal in that penalty kick and that’ll wrap it up. Russia and Uruguay will then play for the first place. I doubt SA does anything against Uruguay.

That was legitimately about as good a first group of matches you could wish for. For all the theories about how the current setup promotes defensive football as teams try not to lose first up there were really only one or two uneventful games (and no 0-0s).

We've had an all time classic, some major upsets, last minute winners and some absolute top shelf bangers already.

Yeah, there was 4 stoppage time goals already.

Speaking of 4, in the 4th minute, Christiano Ronaldo scores his 4th goal of the World Cup. 1-0 Portugal.

After being the hottest team heading into the World Cup, Morocco becomes the first team eliminated with a 1-0 loss to Portugal/Ronaldo. My takeaway from the game is that Ronaldo is a one man show. The rest of that team plays scared and weak.

Hopefully Portugal gets in. They should beat Iran.

Yeah the competition has been brilliant thus far. If you remember, Brazil 14 was an incredible World Cup until the quarter final stage but the knockout games didn't live up to the group stages. Hopefully teams don't get too careful later on.

Ronaldo knows this is probably his last real shot at a World Cup title and is playing like a man possessed.     If Portugal can pull it off this will be like Maradona in 86. 

Argentina stinks. A draw to Iceland, and now a loss to Croatia 3-0.

And they look like total thugs out there too. Terrible losers.

Argentina not getting through the group is going to be the story of this World Cup. They really need that tie tomorrow so they can still have a chance.

I'm going to have to think really hard to come up with a more disappointing team in the history of the World Cup than Argentina this year.

Jun 21, 2018 22:08:49 GMT thereallt said:

I'm going to have to think really hard to come up with a more disappointing team in the history of the World Cup than Argentina this year.

Wouldn't be surprised if Messi retires from the national team again after this.

Jun 21, 2018 22:08:49 GMT thereallt said:

I'm going to have to think really hard to come up with a more disappointing team in the history of the World Cup than Argentina this year.

Spain/France 4 years ago?

Jun 21, 2018 22:40:22 GMT KING KID said:

Jun 21, 2018 22:08:49 GMT thereallt said:

I'm going to have to think really hard to come up with a more disappointing team in the history of the World Cup than Argentina this year.

Spain/France 4 years ago?

But they didn't have the star power that Messi has.  Having Messi would usually get you pass the group stage with relative ease.

We knew Argentina were a fragmented team that was a sum less than their parts - they only just qualified so while it wasn't predicted, this isn't completely coming out of nowhere. Something you guys don't seem to have grasped is that football is different to American sports whereby having one or two of the best players is enough to win. International football in particular is so reliant on teams achieving chemistry and cohesion, because players don't get to play together every week like at their club sides. Argentina have truckloads of talent (particularly attackers) on paper but they've never managed to gel together, and have regularly been undisciplined and disorganised. We're seeing particularly at this tournament that the "lesser" countries are compensating for their lack of individual talent with tactical organisation and defensive solidarity and that's why there's been so many hardfought 1-0 wins and very few big defeats. Messi's brilliance can paper over the cracks from time to time as Todd talked about, but you simply can't rely on that every single match. They might have the best player in the world, but they're also playing a 34 year old defender from the Chinese league as their creative midfielder.

Jun 22, 2018 3:11:22 GMT CM Punk'd said:

Jun 21, 2018 22:40:22 GMT KING KID said:

The Spain squad in 2014 had Casillas, Pique, Ramos, Iniesta, Xavi, Alonso, Villa, Silva amongst others. No way they should have been knocked out in the groups. 

This Argentina squad has Messi, Aguero, Higuaín and not a lot else. Meza looks like a competition winner, Di Maria is a shadow of his former self, their midfield yesterday was a joke, and their defence has been a disaster waiting to happen. Yes they should have been doing a lot better, but you can't just rely on Messi to get you through.

I mentioned to a friend last night, they are a poor man's Portugal. However, while Portugal rely heavily on Ronaldo the rest of the team is organised and knows their job, this Argentina side doesn't

Brazil with TWO huge stoppage time goals knocking Costa Rica out and positioning themselves well with 4 points. Serbia vs Switzerland is going to be a HUGE game. If Switzerland wins, we’re looking at a win or go home showdown between Serbia and Brazil. That’s exciting.

Up next Iceland and Nigeria. If this game ends in a tie, Argentina still has a legit chance. That -3 in goals is going to hurt them if they end up with 4 points tied with Iceland. This is the game all of Argentina should be watching on pins and needles. Because if Iceland wins this one, Argentina is going to need a miracle to advance.

Argentina have truckloads of talent (particularly attackers) on paper but they've never managed to gel together, and have regularly been undisciplined and disorganised.

Sorry but some of this falls on Messi as well. He's the team captain, I expect some signs of actual leadership.

Nigeria just scored. A blessing in disguise for Argentina.

Jun 22, 2018 16:09:06 GMT CM Punk'd said:

Nigeria just scored. A blessing in disguise for Argentina.

Definitely huge. Iceland would need to go on a 2-0 run late to hurt Argentina right now.

2-0 now. I think Argentina's safe.

Safe if they can beat Nigeria and if Iceland loses to Croatia.

I feel that their game vs. Nigeria is more of a setup game for Messi to prove that he is still one of the top two players in the world.

I'm about as sure as the sun rises in the east, and sets in the west.

If you think Messi needs to do anything to prove that, you need to give your head a bang.

Messi is still easily one of the top 2 players today. But I do think people need to give the GOAT talk a rest right now. Top 5 all-time sure, but that's about as high as I'm willing to go.

Shaqiri and Xhaxa scoring against Serbia and doing the Albanian Eagle with their hands is my favorite part of the World Cup right now. Fucking represent!