Amazing pressure from Argentina in the late goings. Their last two goals seemed inevitable.
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Unless Oyarzabal scores 4 goals more than Messi in the final, Messi will be the golden boot winner.
I am fairly certain the UK media is going to demand Tuchel’s scalp after his decisions in the 2nd half (they were legitimately terrible).
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3rd place game goals still count in golden boot standings.
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LOL, I forgot all about the consolation game.
Insane stat: Argentina hasn’t led any of their 4 knockout stage matches after 90 minutes.
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Spain might want to go with a three goal lead and see if that works.
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In general there hasn’t been much criticism about pitch conditions this WC, unlike in Club WC where the temporary pitches were widely panned.
However multiple players did complain about the pitch in NY during group stages. Here’s why FIFA thinks the pitch there is better now:
Gift article
Thanks!
There is another article there Stu Holden being “the star” of Fox. Gawd, he and Strong yap about shit that doesn’t matter all through the telecast. So much so, that I tune them out. So if he does say something smart, I have not heard it. The other day, we switched to Telemundo. They yap all through the match, too, but it is better because I don’t understand it.
Worst is Strong asking questions into the ether. Essentially, every question is some form of, “What will happen next?”
Fun fact: I told my wife during the ENG match that one goal was not enough vs ARG. I said it right after the ENG goal. So, it’s a pretty easy gig.
Reminds me of FCB back in the day with Messi (and Blazing Saddles). “Oh, don’t score on them too early. You’ll just make them angry.”
Buried in an ESPN article, found this link:
Early into reading it, I get Gretzky flashbacks with the places he skated. Also, it helps NOT to have to be part of the defense because his (both’s) teammates were up to the task.
Oh, found it in this article, about Messi being the greatest male athlete of all time.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49379413/messi-best-player-2026-world-cup-best-male-athlete-ever
And, yes, he HAS had his picture on bubble gum cards:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/336078773643
The article you shared has a dead link for the original source it cites “Beyond Expected Goals”. I was curious so I found it elsewhere:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327139841_Beyond_Expected_Goals
Just skimmed it and it’s interesting.
I noticed that, too.
Will be reading it now.
ETA:
Yeesh. Complicated.
AP photographers share their favorite photos from the WC
ArthurItas Pitmaster
Beautiful story. CBC had an interview this morning with the Catalan photographer who took the photos. Worth watching if you can access CBC Gem.
Wild consolation match. Only watched the last few minutes
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Turned it on at about 25min in and saw it was 2-0 already. Figured it was over. Glad I watched the rest.
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Times Square is more blue/white than red at the moment, although the crowd seems to be dispersing.