Football

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is it unusual for the referee to show the yellow card to a goalkeeper during the duration of a penalty shoot-out?

 

[Carlisle]

"Best" possibly not. Most exciting definitely.

Yes probably agree with that .

 

[SuspectUsual]

Is it unusual for the referee to show the yellow card to a goalkeeper during the duration of a penalty shoot-out?

Yes, but most goalies don’t throw the ball 40 yards away to make the opponent wait longer to have his penalty

 

[Howardh]

I think the mass substitutions spoil the game, I used to love tired players slogging it out in extra time. Used to be one in my day, I reckon now three's plenty with the exception of head injuries of course.

 

[150249]

I think the mass substitutions spoil the game, I used to love tired players slogging it out in extra time. Used to be one in my day, I reckon now three's plenty with the exception of head injuries of course.

You sound fun

"Best" possibly not. Most exciting definitely.

Fair enough

 

[Howardh]

You sound fun

In hockey there are something like 7 subs and they are rolled on and off without the game being stopped. Far better.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I used to love tired players slogging it out in extra time

In hockey there are something like 7 subs and they are rolled on and off without the game being stopped. Far better.

So you don’t want subs in football because you like seeing tired players slogging it out, but ice hockey is better because it allows unlimited substitutions.

I’m a bit baffled

 

[Howardh]

So you don’t want subs in football because you like seeing tired players slogging it out, but ice hockey is better because it allows unlimited substitutions.

I’m a bit baffled

Not ice hockey, field hockey. Much rahter have fewer subs in hockey too, but if you have seven then have them rolling on/off so the game isn't stopped unnecessarily.

 

[KashmireHawker]

What a truly biblical thing to have witnessed this afternoon and evening…

Messi now the best of his Generation. I say Generation due to those of yester years.

 

[150249]

What a truly biblical thing to have witnessed this afternoon and evening…

Messi now the best of his Generation. I say Generation due to those of yester years.

You couldn't have written this final

 

[Herefordian]

Best final ever. I'm calling it.

Well done Argentina. Deserved a win eventually. I'm so happy for Messi

Now we wait for 14th June 2024

I don't watch much football. But I do watch the World Cup final.

Best ever final? I totally disagree.

In my life time, 1986, 2002 and 2006 were far better.

Argentina's constant diving was a disgrace. Deserved winners? Not for me.

 

[150249]

I don't watch much football. But I do watch the World Cup final.

Best ever final? I totally disagree.

In my life time, 1986, 2002 and 2006 were far better.

Argentina's constant diving was a disgrace. Deserved winners? Not for me.

May be a bit of bias in my post.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yes, but most goalies don’t throw the ball 40 yards away to make the opponent wait longer to have his penalty

If I'd been the French player, I'd have shrugged and told Martinez "you chucked it, you fetch it mate".

 

[GS250]

I don't watch much football. But I do watch the World Cup final.

Best ever final? I totally disagree.

In my life time, 1986, 2002 and 2006 were far better.

Argentina's constant diving was a disgrace. Deserved winners? Not for me.

Agreed. For 80 minutes it was pretty ordinary. ET though very entertaining.

The presentation ceremony at the end though....sums up why I rarely watch mass market entertainment. Utterly classless.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The presentation ceremony at the end though....sums up why I rarely watch mass market entertainment. Utterly classless.

Agreed. I was watching on mute, but at one point a gentleman (whom I understand was the Emir of Qatar, but as stated my sound was muted) wearing a weird thin black cloak-type garment presented Lionel Messi with an identical garment and appeared to insist that Messi donned said garment before being presented with the trophy.

Can anyone imagine a World Cup hosted by England (or a combination of some or all the national Football Associations of the nations that make up the UK) with King Charles III press-ganging the captain of the winning team into an ermine robe before he raises the trophy?

 

[GS250]

Agreed. I was watching on mute, but at one point a gentleman (whom I understand was the Emir of Qatar, but as stated my sound was muted) wearing a weird thin black cloak-type garment presented Lionel Messi with an identical garment and appeared to insist that Messi donned said garment before being presented with the trophy.

Can anyone imagine a World Cup hosted by England (or a combination of some or all the national Football Associations of the nations that make up the UK) with King Charles III press-ganging the captain of the winning team into an ermine robe before he raises the trophy?

I suppose you could say the same about any gesture not related to football being forced upon players....

 

[AlterEgo]

That’s one of the greatest World Cup Finals and certainly the most entertaining in my lifetime. I was born shortly after the ‘86 WC. I watched only the Final this time, having not watched any other games at all, and it did not disappoint.

 

[Cowley]

That’s one of the greatest World Cup Finals and certainly the most entertaining in my lifetime. I was born shortly after the ‘86 WC. I watched only the Final this time, having not watched any other games at all, and it did not disappoint.

Yeah it was quite something and so often these games can be (to use the cliches) tepid, cagey affairs. That was an absolute battle tonight though and although I haven’t watched anything like the amount of football I’d usually watch during a World Cup I’m glad I watched that because it was terrific entertainment.

 

[Purple Train]

Excellent final. Congratulations to Argentina. My nerves are completely shot - and all I watched live was the penalty shoot-out

Commiserations to Kylian Mbappe for his hat-trick in, ultimately, a losing cause. Quite some achievement.
The punditry and commentary has, in my opinion, been fairly poor though (with the exception of Jurgen Klinsmann, who provides some interesting tidbits).
I also notice a lot of comments (not on here, but on various news outlets) about how Lionel Messi is now "the greatest player ever". Have they not heard of Pele? Or have they simply bowed to the modern mania for ridiculous hyperbole in general speech?

Either way, it was a terrific game of football (even to me, and I far prefer good defensive football) and it finished at just the right time to allow a short break before this evening's carol service!

 

[AlterEgo]

I also notice a lot of comments (not on here, but on various news outlets) about how Lionel Messi is now "the greatest player ever". Have they not heard of Pele? Or have they simply bowed to the modern mania for ridiculous hyperbole in general speech?

Pele played for one club for almost his entire career and always played in a legendary World Cup side; he was part of an extremely gifted Brazilian football generation. Pele can be credited with creating the modern aesthetic of the skilful flair player married with explosive athleticism.

He came onto the scene just as World Cups began to be televised, with his outstanding flick and volley goal in the '58 WC Final as a teenager. Pele never played outside Brazil until he was old and an exhibition player which limits any comparison to anyone in the modern era. In footballing:music terms, Pele is Elvis Presley, the archetypal exponent of his style of play and benefited massively from existing at a time when TV ownership in the West skyrocketed. He was the first global superstar of the TV age in a way his peers like Di Stefano and Puskas weren't. In short, Pele massively benefited by being a product of his time. He is nonetheless certainly in the top three alongside Messi, and Maradona.

Messi, unlike Pele, has basically 100% completed the game now he's defeated the final boss of the World Cup Final. He has always played in an Argentina team which was good but not outstanding, and led them to both the Copa America and now the World Cup. He also has a peerless club career having won every trophy available to him.

Messi is the greatest footballer of all time and nobody will dispute this in 40 years, unless another one like him comes along.

 

[Butts]

Pele played for one club for almost his entire career and always played in a legendary World Cup side; he was part of an extremely gifted Brazilian football generation. Pele can be credited with creating the modern aesthetic of the skilful flair player married with explosive athleticism.

He came onto the scene just as World Cups began to be televised, with his outstanding flick and volley goal in the '58 WC Final as a teenager. Pele never played outside Brazil until he was old and an exhibition player which limits any comparison to anyone in the modern era. In footballing:music terms, Pele is Elvis Presley, the archetypal exponent of his style of play and benefited massively from existing at a time when TV ownership in the West skyrocketed. He was the first global superstar of the TV age in a way his peers like Di Stefano and Puskas weren't. In short, Pele massively benefited by being a product of his time. He is nonetheless certainly in the top three alongside Messi, and Maradona.

Messi, unlike Pele, has basically 100% completed the game now he's defeated the final boss of the World Cup Final. He has always played in an Argentina team which was good but not outstanding, and led them to both the Copa America and now the World Cup. He also has a peerless club career having won every trophy available to him.

Messi is the greatest footballer of all time and nobody will dispute this in 40 years, unless another one like him comes along.

In my view Johan Cruyff was better than Messi.

 

[birchesgreen]

Messi is the greatest footballer of all time and nobody will dispute this in 40 years, unless another one like him comes along.

But could he do it at Stoke on a Tuesday night in November?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

But could he do it at Stoke on a Tuesday night in November?

Not many World Cups are ever won on a cold, rainy night in Stoke. Horses for courses, and all that!

 

[GS250]

Messi is without doubt right up there but is he really the type of player who can be considered the 'greatest'? Just remember he was utterly going through the motions and completely disinterested during some of Argentina's group games. It took his team mates to lift him and get him firing on all cylinders.

Other players, can be considered superior for their sheer leadership as well as outstanding ability.

 

[AlterEgo]

In my view Johan Cruyff was better than Messi.

I’ve never heard anyone express that opinion before. Why do you think that?

 

[RailWonderer]

Messi, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo (Brazillian), Paolo Maldini, Cryff, Beckenbauer, Platini, Maradona, Pele for me.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The usual debate seems to be simply between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with them being contemporaries. We can debate whether Cruyff or Pele or Puskas were better until the cows come home, but we can't really do a like-for-like comparison between those players and Messi. However now that Messi has won a world cup it puts him streets ahead of Ronaldo, particularly given the petulant way Ronaldo ended this world cup.

 

[al78]

Pele played for one club for almost his entire career and always played in a legendary World Cup side; he was part of an extremely gifted Brazilian football generation. Pele can be credited with creating the modern aesthetic of the skilful flair player married with explosive athleticism.

He came onto the scene just as World Cups began to be televised, with his outstanding flick and volley goal in the '58 WC Final as a teenager. Pele never played outside Brazil until he was old and an exhibition player which limits any comparison to anyone in the modern era. In footballing:music terms, Pele is Elvis Presley, the archetypal exponent of his style of play and benefited massively from existing at a time when TV ownership in the West skyrocketed. He was the first global superstar of the TV age in a way his peers like Di Stefano and Puskas weren't. In short, Pele massively benefited by being a product of his time. He is nonetheless certainly in the top three alongside Messi, and Maradona.

Messi, unlike Pele, has basically 100% completed the game now he's defeated the final boss of the World Cup Final. He has always played in an Argentina team which was good but not outstanding, and led them to both the Copa America and now the World Cup. He also has a peerless club career having won every trophy available to him.

Messi is the greatest footballer of all time and nobody will dispute this in 40 years, unless another one like him comes along.

Would you say Messi is to football what Ronnie O Sullivan is to snooker?

 

[AlterEgo]

Would you say Messi is to football what Ronnie O Sullivan is to snooker?

Not sure that would be an exact comparison, Messi is mercurial but he doesn't have a reputation for bad conduct or sheer arrogance like Ronnie (who is still probably the best to pick up a cue!).

 

[Darandio]

Messi, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo (Brazillian), Paolo Maldini, Cryff, Beckenbauer, Platini, Maradona, Pele for me.

It's interesting that you've omitted Cristiano Ronaldo. It's not because you had forgotten as you emphasised the Brazilian one.

I've noticed quite a few doing it in recent days over nothing more than their dislike for him. I'm not a fan either, certainly given the way he has conducted himself but there is no denying he's one of the best to have ever played the game.