TM

I'm more shocked that Alan Smith sounds animated on co-commentary for once done lots of Sky games when he sounds like he's falling asleep

I think he got a yellow when Munai was taking the penalty for France, throwing the ball away got him a talking to by the ref

Martinez was even worse in the Copa America when he was playing Colombia, although I do think he should have got a yellow when he threw the ball away

8/10 for me, a slow start apart from the Saudi shock result but the end of the group stages were dramatic and something that needs to be kept for 2026 knockout stages were mostly good although there was a few games that went above the level for drama. I'm going to say that at 80 minutes, that final was going nowhere near a "incredible finale" but from 80 minutes on, it was pulsating until the last kick of the ball. One of the best periods of extra time I've seen in years as well

apparently he was a cloud earlier although I don't see it myself

working for the Herald I'd say very unlikely we never were going to sign him but the story was something like Alex McLeish's son played FM and told his dad that Messi was quite good in that game so we made an enquiry but it never got anywhere

unless Mbappe decides he can't be bothered with tournament football in the future, he's going to be the all time top scorer at World Cups 12 in two tournaments is a ridiculous amount only 4 off Miroslav Klose

deserved without Mbappe, France are nowhere in that game

I've been stung by Mbappe too many times in FIFA to say much Argentina need another to finish this

maybe Argentina are going for 1986 here? West Germany fought back from 2-0 down as well

people who play FIFA rate Dembele quite a ridiculous 2nd that was from Argentina, brilliant counter attack

I think he might retire from Argentina if he wins it, next Copa America isn't until summer of 2024 no chance he leaves the job at PSG though

Croatia currently looking up "Burnley tactics" on Google don't think Argentina deserve their lead but that's how the game goes sometimes, the 2nd goal was like watching something you rage quit in a FIFA game to, trying to clear the ball and it just keeps coming back to the striker

saw the title, knew where the person worked and instantly knew this would be clickbait to try and drive people to phone-in there isn't anything that says teams have to play the way you want them to, Greece in 2004 showed that being defensive can lead to glory and if you can't be all guns blazing attacking, then you play to your strengths, even if I thought Morocco were more positive in the game V Portugal. Would I like to see France V Argentina in the final? of course I would, Messi V Mbappe, probably what all the casuals would want but if it's Croatia V Morocco, I'll still watch it

reads the posts here and goes for a career move out of left field, becomes Croatia manager

maybe for FIFA players (and a bit harsh on Henderson who I think is a good player) but somebody said Saka/Bellingham was like watching somebody control them with an analogue stick yesterday but Henderson felt like somebody using the d-pad (which people generally don't use to control players in FIFA games nowadays) harsh but he did feel a bit disjointed where he was

considering his tournament so far, I'd be surprised if it's Dembele

Messi? lost World Cup in 2014 and two successive Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016 although not all down to him of course

they have given golden ball to losing finalists in the last two World Cups (Messi and Modric) so it could easily be Mbappe if France go out early or in the same situation

maybe not player of the tournament but I'd be surprised if Gvardiol and Amrabat don't get in the team of it both have been very impressive in any games I've seen for Croatia or Morocco

I'd probably agree with this, normal for a manager to take time to think things over but unless he can get England to the place of winning tournaments, he's always going to have people who say they won't win major titles with him in charge because he's not attacking/negative maybe he might think it's time to let someone else have a go, he's done more for an England team in the last 6 years than some have done in the last 20 in major competitions. Would leave them in a good place if he decides to go, England definitely have the players to win Germany 2024 in my opinion

considering this has turned into a "England future" thread, what's the thoughts of using TAA as a midfielder? if it would ever happen which I doubt as he doesn't play there for Liverpool and it would be a big risk, although in qualifying you could at least try it in games against lesser nations to see how it worked would say he has the best passing of that potential England midfield, he'll create chances which means Kane doesn't have to so he can go upfront and do what he's good at, although it might result in others having different roles - Bellingham or Saka maybe which might negate their effectiveness

don't particularly care who wins it as it will be great for anyone but my thoughts are wanting to see Messi lift a World Cup before he retires, just because I've watched all his career since he started as a teenager in the Barcelona team and it would feel like the final curtain to it all failing that, I'd love to see Croatia win it because Yugoslavia would have won something major in the 90s if the war that took place there in the early 90s didn't happen

can't be bothered reading back but did Matterface actually say "England needed a Lineker, instead they got a Waddle" when Kane missed the 2nd penalty? I'm sure some will have a wee laugh at it but that's disrespectful towards someone who is almost certainly going to becoming the England all time goalscorer and has saved them on numerous occasions. I watched the BBC replay last night and Mowbray was saying Kane has been England's hero/saviour in the past and didn't deserve it then again I could just start this with "it's Matterface, he's terrible at his job"