₦airaland Forum

Carot:
italy that almost got knocked out by Australia in R of 16. Materazzi was red carded and it was the aussies game to win until a dubious penariti came to italys rescue. They press italy like pressing iron

Exactly bro, even England at this World cup has not played a top 10 team till their arrival at the Semis.

How are they being protected? People are just allowing emotion to overrule their objectivity when it comes to Argentina.

Embolo's yellow card wasn't the first time that it will happen in the world cup and that showed consistency in VAR use.

There is no goal Argentina has scored in this world cup that should not have counted under the rules of the game. And they have scored 17!

England benefited from questionable calls against Norway.

There was a handball in the build-up to France's first goal vs Morocco.

Croatia and Colombia had seemingly legit goals ruled out vs Portugal. Yet no one is shouting protection for all these countries.

It's Argentina that the laws of the game are being correctly applied for that is being singled out.

This is just jealousy and nothing else.

Gucciboy:
This is the first time a team has reached a World Cup semi finals without playing against any world champion or FIFA top 10.

Historic record for Argentina!!!!

Big lie! Pls rest with the failed conspiracy theory.

In 2006 WC, Italy did not play any top 10 team till they reached the Semi final and they eventually won with no shout of rigging.

Stop bringing farming agenda from X here

BlueMann:
Scaloni should stop obsessing with Nico Gonzalez and try the other young blood on the bench

I swear, the guy plays football like a character from the Old Testament.

BlueRayDick:
The thing is : If a ref mess up, it's expected that people call him out. But if a ref took the right decision in accordance with the rules of the game(like the ref did in the game between Argentina and Switzerland), u cannot blame him for the failings of another ref in a different game.

From here it sounds as if u are not pleased with the ref doing the right thing booking Embolo as he rightfully deserve.

It's not like he even booked Embolo specifically for the dive.

It was because he had already issued Paredes a yellow unjustly. Under the new rules, a wrong yellow card issued for simulation must be transferred to the simulator.

If the ref had not given Paredes a yellow, VAR would not have picked up the case and Embolo would still be on pitch.

But then, if the ref had not issued Paredes a yellow for a challenge that looked bad in real time, the conspiracy theorists would have had a field day accusing the ref of bias for Argentina.

So they got caught up in their own twisted emotional shenanigans.

BlueMann:
Happy for Argentina, happy for Messi for standing out as the first to reach 10 assists in WC history.

England will feel good about their chances, I'm tipping them to win. In any case, I want whoever wins that semifinal to win the cup.

Argentina
Spain
England

In that order....

Unlimited22:
He's just helped fan the flames of controversy with his foolishness


That was the most blatant dive I have ever seen in my life

His head went East, his neck went west, his hands faced the Pacific while his legs headed towards the South pole.

He took off flying in all directions.

Definitely deserves an Oscar!

What a blinder by Alvarez.

Thats what you do if you are elite. Find a way to win.

Argentina are who they think they are.

It's nice that Messi's supporting cast found their groove today.

Argentina's worst game. They look out of ideas even with an extra man.

They'd better get that go ahead goal else it seems penalties will suit the Swiss more.

Messi should not even take any penalty in event of shoot out.

AirBere:
No way!!!

Argentina isn't winning this game, chai!

They must win o. I think Messi is a bit tired and that's why Argentina lacks the forward thrust.

Enzo and RDP have been below par.

nitrogen:
But even if there was a simulation, the ref only needed to give him a warning or something. Also, have you seen VAR used for reviewing a simulation/dive in the middle of the pitch?

Its like you are not aware that before the tournament began this was one of the areas FIFA clamped down on with specific rules changes against simulation.

Are you saying they shouldn't apply the rules?

nitrogen:
What would the ref have done if it was an Argentinian player?

He would have sent him off. Me that was even thinking at first that Paredes had committed something more than the yellow he got. I was already preparing for a red for Paredes.

This is the law of the game.
No sentiments.

BlueRayDick:
Red card for Embolo.

Argentina no go escape this conspiracy theory if they eventually win Sha, but that was a deserved yellow card for Embolo being reckless.

It's completely deserved. The thing is critics will not apply objectivity here.

Even Michael Phelps would have been most impressed with Embolo.

It's like Embolo bought into this FIFA conspiracy cos why will he have to dive like that?

Conspiracy theorists oya e gbewa

Remove RDP please..

This is a match made for Simeone Guiilarmo

The thing is whenever Arg will concede you'd already see it minutes ahead.

That was the most obvious equalizer. Hopefully they raise their game again.

BlueRayDick:
De Paul finds it hard to do basic things like trapping the ball on first touch and keeps misplacing passes anyhow like some amateur.

I wonder how this team would fare if Messi just do mistake carry injury in the next two matches shouod they qualify here.

The guy is seriously annoying me. Cant get the basics right again. No wonder he can't even dominate in Inter Miami.

God bless Sergio Busquets.

OkpaNsukkaisBae:
𝟏𝟎 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 🎯

The most in World Cup history.

This Messi picture reminds me of Smallville of years ago.

Fitting that the world's greatest superhero is wowing in Kansas.

In other news, one of Argentina's dark arts legends, the great Antonio Rattin died a few hours ago.

The guy was one of the reasons FIFA introduced yellow and red cards in 1970 after refusing to leave the pitch for 10 minutes in a World cup match.

AirBere:
ARG play far too narrow. It's making it difficult for them to play to the press at times.

It's the lack of wingers issue. Wetin RDP dey find for right wing...

BlueRayDick:
Argentina are finding it difficult to play expansive football in this game, I don't know why. Not like the Swiss are all that defensively sef.

Players like Enzo and McAllister really need to step up their midfield game so they can switch play and spread the ball wella. They will need it against teams like England, France or Spain

The Swiss midfield is bullying them with strong press causing them to lose possession easily.

BlueRayDick:
Martinez dey try wella, but De Paul dey GBA seriously; he's just been committing fouls without focusing much on the ball.

Yeah, RDP's just been about fouling and misplacing simple passes.

Licha's been mixed for me sha.

AirBere:
Nope, Licha has been good. I feel more confident whenever they're trying to play from the back.

Offensively he's been good but he's had bozo moments at the back against Cape Verde, Egypt and now vs Embolo.

Just worried for him against more elite opposition.

This Switz guys are quite physical, big and strong with aggressive press. Honestly, this is almost like what Colombia does. Can they maintain the press for 90mins though?

Lisandro Martinez has been awfully vulnerable this tournament. See how Embolo outmuscled him there to get a one on one with the G.K.

De Paul is another underperformer. If not for Messi tax....

Messi started this match at the wings and caused havoc with two telling passes that led to the corner he assisted from.

Then he's moved back to central when more space has opened up.

Smartest player ever liveth.

OkpaNsukkaisBae:
We have Fermin Lopez, If We get Alvarez too. Plus Ade baller and Gordon, we have successfully covered whatever stat he brings

Ade and Gordon are more like covering for Rashy and Lewas departures.

Fermin has always been around or not around.

Alvarez would be an upgrade but the super cost might not justify the difference in output.

Lets consider Gyokeres whaddayathink?

Kilishihunter:
I don't like the fact he's heading to psg before we see what happened with dembele but if he's leaving we have to get a good transfer fee for him. Enrique is just coming for our players which I don't view as a good thing

Exactly, that's another angle. The potential for him to turn into a monster under Enrique at PSG.

I don't even trust a Gyokeres will do better over him. But can we go for Gyok even with his below par technical sense?

OkpaNsukkaisBae:
We will not miss Ferran at all. Barca under Flick create chances after chances especially in the league and Spanish cup competitions. Where it matters most is champions League & this is where Ferran fail woefully together with Araujo.
I'm surprised that they're not talking about selling Araujo too or even sending him on a season long loan

I'm saying he still serves some purpose and brings up to 20G/A a season which is decent. Glass leg Olmo cannot be relied on to be always around on the pitch, so who do we fall back on since Lewa has moved on?

He needs to be properly replaced that's what I'm saying and if he isn't we will miss his quota.

Ferran reportedly agreeing to leave for PSG gives me mixed feelings. He's kind of decent in his effectiveness and often performs when you least expect.

In today's inflated market, there's no guarantee that whichever more expensive striker we want to replace him with will do better (with exception of Haaland or Kane).

We definitely need to replace his G/As esp when we've also lost Lewa.

Kilishihunter:
Signing Gordon and then adeyemi means Flick never wanted rashford. Tbf I would be angry with Barça later on if I was him

Why should Rashy be angry wuth Barça when he should be grateful that Flick at least revived his almost dead career?

At least he will now have a proper resale value if United want to sell elsewhere.

andrewbaba44:
Na because e no score today ,he did everything

i will hand it to cubrasi,Rodri is out of this Walai

I like it when young players display a level of maturity that belies their tender years. Cubarsi is a great example. Moving like Nesta at 20 years old.

Yamal seems to be regressing but I trust him to bounce back fully.