Anyone watching the golf? Phil Mickelson ran after his ball and hit it back towards the hole as it was heading off the green. The football equivalent would be to move the goal to prevent a shot going in. Totally mad stuff.

dec, it looked to me like Argentina's tactics were 'give the ball to Messi and let him win the game on his own'. Stupid tactics if Messi wasn't at his best, which he clearly wasn't. So I'd say the fault is shared between the coach and Messi. I realise he's a great player, but I don't want Argentina to win it because I don't want Messi to get a World Cup winner's medal. In my view Maradona is football's greatest ever player and Messi hasn't changed that. I don't want Messi to win a World Cup like Maradona did.

How did he reach it in time, if it was still moving after the initial shot, which from what you say I presume it was?

There are strong rumours that Torreira will sign, as there were that Arteta would take over from Wenger so that alone is no guarantee of anything. But as far as I'm aware, he hasn't already joined.

It was a putt, so no problem in chasing the ball. It really was quite amazing and compounded by his post round interview when he admitted that it wasn't just a moment of madness, rather a calculated action to take a two shot penalty rather than face a difficult shot.

[quote="TOP GUN"]Jack Wilshere is about to Join palace apparently so there will be much change next year. [/quote]
The Mirror says he'll leave but don't mention Palace as one of his destination options.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... 721052.amp

EDIT: Bugger. The replied to post isn't in yellow. Rog, after the problems I've had in getting back on the forum, my vote is to leave things as they are. It didn't used to happen every time I posted a reply.

Has anything been said about the VAR over there. If VAR was applied why were Argentina not given a penalty late in the game. The ref thought it was a dive but it clearly was contact with the foot and VAR should have given a pen. There was time to look.

It's a mess. It isn't applied with any degree of consistency. In Argentina's case I thought the penalty that they got was a dive anyway but that's not the point.

Bernard will be settling down with a pint of Liebfraumilch and a few bratwurst cheering on his boys, but I've got the Tequila and tortillas out.

And a picture of Leo Messi pinned to his dartboard by the sounds of it.

And a well deserved goal for Mexico who've been electric so far

That was a great 45 mins of football. Mexico's fast direct attacking is super.

Absolutely, so brave to leave 3 up front all the time. A coach who has clearly worked on a very good game plan. Nice to see a team who on paper are the weaker team but don’t resort to 11 men behind the ball killing any spectacle and playing for a 0-0. No problem with a defensive game plan but nexico’s Plan to use the 3 speedy attackers on the counter is fantastic. Germany need a central mid to sit a lot closer to the centre backs to cut out the counter

Liebfraumilch? Good grief, not in a million years. A riesling Trockenbeerenauslese more like.

I thought that might draw a reaction out of you Bernard

Ah c'mon Bernard. It's only about a fiver a bottle in Lidl

I presume you mean Liebfraumilch. I wouldn't know, as I don't live near a Lidl.

A much better second half but no equaliser yet and time is slipping by.

Mexico have blown a few great chances to finish it off. Wouldn't surprise me one bit to see a German equaliser.

Mexico have missed some chances on the break. They should have at least one or two more goals. Fabulous match.

Yes, a cracker and what a great win for the underdogs. First Spain-Portugal and now this, let's hope the exciting football continues and gives us a World Cup to remember.

The shared passion of players and fans is something you don't see in club football any more. Not like that anyway. That was a brilliant game.

Watching Germany today and Argentina yesterday felt eerily similiar to watching Arsenal on a bad day. All the possession you could ask for, but very little movement and ideas. I do expect Germany to defeat both Sweden and South Korea pretty easily, but it's nice to see a bit of unpredictability so far.

Obviousy a huge win for Mexico. I was actuallyi cheering for the Germans but not anything close to being upset that they lost.
Mexico played great team defense. They were committed. They were well organized where they also took advantage of the break but had no finishing. They could have and I think should have scored a second goal. Bad decision making on when to make the pass hurt them a couple of times.

Germany didn't seem organized. They didn't seem like they knew how to play together. Draxler impressed me.We are rumored to be in for Reuss possibly and I would take him instantly if the opportunity presented itself.
Boatteng..hmm...didn't impress me. To be fair to Germany they tried and had the shots on goal to prove it. I thought there was a bit too much Arsenal esque pitty patty arouind the 18 yard box. There just seemed to be disconnect at times between their players. Not the strongest German side I've seen. Maybe they are rebuilding.

Congrats to the Swiss (somewhere Babu is smiling). Heroic defense, excellent tactically. Both sides had another goal in them, Brazil obviously the more but a thrilling game nonetheless. Brazil will be disappointed but they tried and so far look the favorites to me despite the result. Germany didn't impress me. Although I need to see Argentina play, I'm basing ruling them out on what I saw in the highlights.
Xhaka plays better for his national team than for us. I can only guess its that although his position seems the same, center mid, his duties are a little different with the Swiss team. He seems to lie deeper with them. A wee bit more. Anyway, I hope he can replicate it for us.

That Coutinho strike!! Pure unadulterated class and it wasn't luck either. That ball went exactly where he wanted it and it got there exactly how he wanted it.

Could Lichtsteiner be appointed as our Captain in the new season? He looks the part. I like his energy for the Swiss team, which I believe he will offer the same to Arsenal.

I am tipping England to have a very good WC and I would not be surprised if they progressed a long way. I think Southgate has built a team who will fight for each other.

Very unlikely, I'd have thought. He won't be a regular starter anyway. He was signed as Bellerin's back up.

It's not impossible, they have a good team and Kane could be an x factor. Very weak midfield on paper though. Long gone are the days when they had the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes and Beckham in the side.

I know this is a really unique idea but why don't we appoint a captain who is likely to play most of the season. Until we know if there are other signings it is not clear who I would want. If we signed no one else then it may be Monreal or Ramsay but if Lichsteiner becomes a regular on the park then him.

I think people who expect Lichtsteiner to get significant playing time this season are seriously underestimating Bellerin. One of the most talented young full backs in Europe, if we get some semblance of a functioning team together he's one of the players I expect to benefit most from it.

For all Aussies because of the total f up by Optus in providing streaming of the WC SBS has all matches live tonight and probably will have some tomorrow night as well.

Funny that Bellerin wasn't in my thinking. I already forgot he is still here. Hope his game improves under Emery and with a changed Arsenal game.

Funny that Bellerin wasn't in my thinking. I already forgot he is still here. Hope his game improves under Emery and with a changed Arsenal game.

England should still win it. They just need to be more composed when taking shots in the penalty area. It was surprising how they fluffed easy chances right where the entire goal post is in front of them. Walker was dumb, putting his hand out like that.

They are huffing and puffing a bit, and lack a real quality playmaker in the middle of the park. Set piece looking the most likely route to a winner.

And Kane wins it from a corner. England have looked pretty uninspiring though.

For the first time in ages, England actually looked the part and played like they do in the league. Tunisia impressed me actually, they are fairly well organized. However, England deserved the victory and I thought the penalty wasn't a pk but with these international judges, they see any residual contact and they call it. Its the one thing the younger players especially defenders in their own box need to be made aware of and I assume have gotten the message.

England deserved it. The annoying thing was how weak the ref was. I think he fell for or wasn’t strong enormously he on every act of gamesmanship. Not giving the penalties from either himself or VAR for the wrestling of Kane (which was as blatant as anything I’ve seen for a while) was a particular low.

‘Weaker’ teams have shown that you don’t need to resort to those tactics to upset the bigger boys, all of that nonsense needs to be stamped out of football. It frustrates the hell out of me, players constantly chipping away pushing and breaking the rules to gain every advantage they can because the refs aren’t strong enough to clamp down on it

That midfield was crying out for a bit of craft. Someone who can take a ball and move forward. Someone who can spot a truly penetrating pass rather than a 40m quarterback job to the wing. Someone who can drop a shoulder and beat a man.

Instead of the lump Henderson, that midfield needed Wilshere.