19 Jul 2026 23:16:22
Congrats to Spain, deserved winners. I love the Argentina will to win, just not how they go about it with dirty fouls.
More saliently for England and Utd, it shows once again how important it is to have really top technical players, especially in midfield.
Players who keep the ball, don't give it away and definitely not just lump it. Players who have composure and the confidence in their ability to retain possession and probe and have a bit of creativity too.
20 Jul 2026 00:53:01
The referees were instructed to keep the game flowing and not card for petty fouls. That led to a team like Argentina showing the world how poor football can really be. In their last 3 matches, they had so many bad challenges that should have resulted in yellows. Some of which were reds. When they finally do get a second yellow for launching a player into the stratosphere, they still have the audacity to complain about it.
They have surrounded refs. Surrounded injured players on the floor. Punched, elbowed, thrown to the ground. Even at the end, Paredes punched a player in the throat after the final whistle - he should get a retro ban. There is nothing at all impressive about that squad.
Would have been a disgrace if they had won.
Spain just did what Spain do. They cherish the ball and look for good opportunities. Pretty simple really.
20 Jul 2026 04:18:57
I'm sure the vast majority of other nationals were hoping Spain would win.
Argentina actually have some excellent players. When they go behind, they play some exciting football. Until then, their games are the antithesis of the beautiful game.
I understand how FIFA may want the games to flow, but there's two approaches to make that happen. If referees don't give out cards when justified, then the dirty play just gets worse.
Players will take advantage. If referees give out cards for bad fouls, holding and constant talking back to the referees, and preventing free kicks and penalties from being taken expeditiously, then the players will stop doing it, and the game will flow better. Take that France Panama game. How could one possibly maintain that the game flowed better with the way that game was managed?