9 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I never said they’d struggle to get out of the group, struggle in group games, we struggled against USA, wales and Iran were terrible so even we couldn’t struggle against them. Didn’t you say it was coming home? 🤣

'It' or 'they'?

16 minutes ago, bolty58 said:

Yes L/H White, the money is (was) on the three of them. Argentina and Brazil to make profit, France to break even (the silly TAB here in WA gave me $12.63 for France to win it! Everyone else had them around the 7.00 to 8.00 mark!).

Obviously need the Argies to win it to make money but would be happy with the two in the final with a win or break even scenario.

I'll be doing Brazil and Argentina again in 2026 - just a question of who the other will be.

It is never difficult to predict that England will go out at a WC quarter final.

for footballing reasons I hope Messi lifts it

for betting reasons, I hope France win and Mbappe is top scorer

currently £313 down over the tournament and that would win me £85

28 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I never said they’d struggle to get out of the group, struggle in group games, we struggled against USA, wales and Iran were terrible so even we couldn’t struggle against them. Didn’t you say it was coming home? 🤣

If you say we will struggle in group games given we only had 3 it is the same as saying we would struggle to get out of group. Do not worry I know it was really tongue in cheek throw away comment you do not have to twist or justify it. 

44 minutes ago, Zico said:

for footballing reasons I hope Messi lifts it

for betting reasons, I hope France win and Mbappe is top scorer

currently £313 down over the tournament and that would win me £85

Only returns I have had have been from Bet365 refunding bets on 'snore draws' 

Once again last night, for over the 100th time, Messi shows he plays a different game to everyone else on the planet.

Its not even close with him and Ronaldo, the debate is Messi, Maradon or Pele as the best ever.

Who you prefer is a deifferent debate, but THE best is not even close.

Messi does things Ronaldo can never do, and neve has been able to do, the all round magic with the ball at his feet....the scanning or the pitch in his "quiet" first 10-20 mins of every game....its genius.

Ronaldo is great too, closer to Messi than any other player....but its still not close, and both so different.

The only reason many pick Ronaldo is the English arrogance to assign more value of him "doing it in the prem", which really means nothing, just look at what Messi has done to English teams!!

The only way to compare is to look at the stats / games / trophies / awards when they was actually head -to-head in Spain for 9 years.....

He is just magic.

Edited December 14, 20223 yr by Pablo

2 hours ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I never said they’d struggle to get out of the group, struggle in group games, we struggled against USA, wales and Iran were terrible so even we couldn’t struggle against them. Didn’t you say it was coming home? 🤣

I did, many times mate. 😪

2 hours ago, Pablo said:

Its not even close with him and Ronaldo, the debate is Messi, Maradon or Pele as the best ever.

Ronaldo is great too, closer to Messi than any other player....but its still not close, and both so different.

so you saying Ronaldo is closer to Messi that Maradona or Pele, or not?

anyway

Messi would be unarguably better than Ronaldo if he wins the WC

Pele was a different era, but his international trophy haul and overall goal scoring record will probably never be match

whereas Maradona doesn't match any on goals or trophy hauls, but Argentina and Napoli probably couldn't have done it without him

for me:

Messi
Ronaldo
Pele
Maradona

but I didn't see that much of Maradona and wasn't alive when Pele was playing, I've only seen clips, and anyone can look good in clips

edit: been thinking about it some more and I think Pele has to go 2nd

Messi
Pele
Ronaldo
Maradona

4 minutes ago, Zico said:

so you saying Ronaldo is closer to Messi that Maradona or Pele, or not?

anyway

Messi would be unarguably better than Ronaldo if he wins the WC

Pele was a different era, but his international trophy haul and overall goal scoring record will probably never be match

whereas Maradona doesn't match any on goals or trophy hauls, but Argentina and Napoli probably couldn't have done it without him

for me:

Messi
Ronaldo
Pele
Maradona

but I didn't see that much of Maradona and wasn't alive when Pele was playing, I've only seen clips, and anyone can look good in clips

No Higuain?

45 minutes ago, Zico said:

so you saying Ronaldo is closer to Messi that Maradona or Pele, or not?

anyway

Messi would be unarguably better than Ronaldo if he wins the WC

Pele was a different era, but his international trophy haul and overall goal scoring record will probably never be match

whereas Maradona doesn't match any on goals or trophy hauls, but Argentina and Napoli probably couldn't have done it without him

for me:

Messi
Ronaldo
Pele
Maradona

but I didn't see that much of Maradona and wasn't alive when Pele was playing, I've only seen clips, and anyone can look good in clips

 

Ronaldo is closest to Messi, during his time playing.

The real debate on THE Best is between the 3 true greats... Messi, Maradona or Pele. So many arguments for all 3.

Messi doesn't need to win the WC to be better tha Ronaldo, he alreadyis and was way ahead of him.....even though Ronaldo has been unreal...and also one of the best ever.

When both directly against each other....it was never really close.

4 minutes ago, Pablo said:

 

Ronaldo is closest to Messi, during his time playing.

The real debate on THE Best is between the 3 true greats... Messi, Maradona or Pele. So many arguments for all 3.

Messi doesn't need to win the WC to be better tha Ronaldo, he alreadyis and was way ahead of him.....even though Ronaldo has been unreal...and also one of the best ever.

When both directly against each other....it was never really close.

Heard a brilliant summary of Ronaldo V Messi.

'They are both brilliant at what they do, Messi just does more.' 

5 minutes ago, Ani said:

Heard a brilliant summary of Ronaldo V Messi.

'They are both brilliant at what they do, Messi just does more.' 

 

Thats a good one.

I enjoyed Ronaldo's game more at Man United, winger runnning with the ball all game, trying things at 100 MPH, Year or so after joing Real Madrid he "just" became a striker, I mean...one hell of a striker, but still.....Messi has never ever been a striker and has played deep his whole career. Picking off teams all game, from all over the pitch, its hard to keep track of him just watching.

He coud play in midfield for 2/3 years next at the highest level, maybe even another World Cup in him after this.

It is a real shame we haven't seen Messi in the Premier league I think Ronaldo more suited to the Premier league than Messi, so it is probably a wise decision but even bearing that in mind I think Messi is the best.

 

Edited December 14, 20223 yr by Mounts Kipper

That might be game over already.

1 minute ago, Didledee said:

That might be game over already.

Diddles is back, get the fuck in.

Hows it going?

One of the all time greats is Diddles

 

1 minute ago, barryk32 said:

Diddles is back, get the fuck in.

Hows it going?

One of the all time greats is Diddles

 

Haha, I'm well, yourself? I've been around quite often in here tbh.

7 minutes ago, Didledee said:

Haha, I'm well, yourself? I've been around quite often in here tbh.

While you're here, I'd like to apologise for repeatedly posting that daft video of you a few years back. You seem a decent lad, and that was proper knob behaviour from me. Probably tantamount to bullying in hindsight. I'm really sorry.

10 minutes ago, Cheese said:

While you're here, I'd like to apologise for repeatedly posting that daft video of you a few years back. You seem a decent lad, and that was proper knob behaviour from me. Probably tantamount to bullying in hindsight. I'm really sorry.

Not a problem Cheese, I was quite immature tbh years back.

2 minutes ago, Didledee said:

Not a problem Cheese, I was quite immature tbh years back.

Thank you 🙏 Hope you're doing well in whatever it is you're doing these days.

Having seen the moroccan get booked when he was fouled in the box im not watching any more

Shit

54 minutes ago, Didledee said:

Not a problem Cheese, I was quite immature tbh years back.

I've always wondered... 

Do you wake up having cold sweats that you turned down some work experience with a kit designer at Adidas. 

 

27 minutes ago, Casino said:

Having seen the moroccan get booked when he was fouled in the box im not watching any more

Shit

I thought it was a penalty. Morocco pummelling them second half, still 1-0. 

6 hours ago, Zico said:

so you saying Ronaldo is closer to Messi that Maradona or Pele, or not?

anyway

Messi would be unarguably better than Ronaldo if he wins the WC

Pele was a different era, but his international trophy haul and overall goal scoring record will probably never be match

whereas Maradona doesn't match any on goals or trophy hauls, but Argentina and Napoli probably couldn't have done it without him

for me:

Messi
Ronaldo
Pele
Maradona

but I didn't see that much of Maradona and wasn't alive when Pele was playing, I've only seen clips, and anyone can look good in clips

edit: been thinking about it some more and I think Pele has to go 2nd

Messi
Pele
Ronaldo
Maradona

Move Maradona to the top of that last pile and it's where I am at.

Edited December 14, 20223 yr by bolty58

2 hours ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I thought it was a penalty. Morocco pummelling them second half, still 1-0. 

Result never in doubt for me. Once the early goal went in there was only ever going to be one winner. There was probably only ever going to be one winner of this game 30 seconds after the end of the quarter finals.

One of the commentators called it 'the World Cup of upsets'. Really? If you check back to previous tournaments there have always been upsets. West Germany 0 East Germany 1 springs to mind immediately but there have been plenty. This has had little effect on the end result. Who will really remember Argentina 1 Saudi Arabia 2 or France 0 Tunisia 1 other than the minnows who will treasure these results as their greatest ever achievements? Answer, no one.

In 20 years time when a newly enthused young football fan is poring over the records he/she will see winners and finalists from earlier WC finals tournaments recorded in history as winners and runners up with monotonous regularity.

Before you bet in the next one, please remember this. I'll go out on a limb now and predict that the 2026 tournament will be won by Brazil or Argentina. It's all just a case of history repeating.

Edited December 14, 20223 yr by bolty58

Unfortunately the greatest player in the world plays for Argentina, so sorry to say, fuck him.

Come on France.

Been to Argentina a couple of times and loved it. Immensely passionate about their football. Much rather they win it than the French.