comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 23 minutes ago
Argentina or Morocco. Nothing against France, but they won the last one. Nothing against Croatia, but I think a final + world champions flatters them based on their actual quality. Morocco clearly aren't one of the most talented sides left in the competition either, but it would be amazing to see an African team win it. Argentina - a fitting career bookmark for Messi, great for Lisandro and future United legend Enzo Fernandez, and it would royally pss off Ronaldo and his army of idiots.
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A bit harsh on Croatia. Modric aside, no out and out stars but you could maybe argue a more balanced team than most others?
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I have a lot of respect for this Croatia side. Full of technically accomplished, tactically intelligent players, resilient and experienced as a team. I just think they have ridden their luck a bit in two successive WCs and getting to one final is about the right reward for the sum of their qualities. I was rooting for them in the 2018 final.
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I think every team left have ridden their luck. There hasn't been an outstanding team in this world cup.
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The best team went out to France in the quarters.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - Whiteside has done it again (U21434)
posted 4 minutes ago

If Croatia and France get there, they are the two best sides in the World.
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If they get there, they deserve to be there. And the winning team is a deserved winner. But I take issue with the idea that it means they are the best teams. In a knock-out competition there's a huge element of chance, which is to say luck, involved in who makes it to the end. It's too small a data sample for it to tell you which is the best team. There are lots of examples of teams creating more good chances than the other and getting knocked out, essentially due to fractional roll of the ball details. Play the same World Cup again and it's quite conceivable you'd have four different semi-finalists.
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Tell me you are a data scientist without telling me you are a data scientist

Morocco every day of the week. Yes they’re not great to watch but I’ll always back the underdog.
Also it sends a message to the lesser lights in international football that it can be done (if they win obviously)

comment by Serious Thorgen Kloppinson - It's the facking world cup. (U1282)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
comment by Serious Thorgen Kloppinson - It's the facking world cup. (U1282)
posted 13 seconds ago
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - It's Beekers! (U2958)
posted 6 seconds ago
I've enjoyed the Morocco games. Are we supposed to be thinking that Spain and Portugal out skilled them and they just got lucky? That's certainly not the games I watched. I don't think they are even "doing a Greece"... They shown plenty of skill and about equal attacking thinking as the teams they've faced.
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Exactly. Think some people are a tad jealous.
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It's not jealousy. As a neutral fan watching this WC I want to see good attacking football. What Morocco have done is effective and fair play to them but I don't enjoy watching them as much as other teams that have been knocked out.
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Oh, I didn't have you in mind Process, I hadn't even read all the thread tbh. Some criticisms are valid.
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I didn't think you did. I think the majority of us watch football to be entertained especially when neutral and Morocco have effective but not entertaining.

I know xG doesn't paint the full picture but it's a decent guide and they've had less xG than their opposition in every game.

Also nothing against Argentina or Messi but the fawning over him if they win it will be vomit inducing

comment by Clockwork Red: Jadon and the Argonauts (U4892)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 23 minutes ago
Argentina or Morocco. Nothing against France, but they won the last one. Nothing against Croatia, but I think a final + world champions flatters them based on their actual quality. Morocco clearly aren't one of the most talented sides left in the competition either, but it would be amazing to see an African team win it. Argentina - a fitting career bookmark for Messi, great for Lisandro and future United legend Enzo Fernandez, and it would royally pss off Ronaldo and his army of idiots.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A bit harsh on Croatia. Modric aside, no out and out stars but you could maybe argue a more balanced team than most others?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I have a lot of respect for this Croatia side. Full of technically accomplished, tactically intelligent players, resilient and experienced as a team. I just think they have ridden their luck a bit in two successive WCs and getting to one final is about the right reward for the sum of their qualities. I was rooting for them in the 2018 final.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I think every team left have ridden their luck. There hasn't been an outstanding team in this world cup.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The best team went out to France in the quarters.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

comment by Clockwork Red: Jadon and the Argonauts (U4892)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 23 minutes ago
Argentina or Morocco. Nothing against France, but they won the last one. Nothing against Croatia, but I think a final + world champions flatters them based on their actual quality. Morocco clearly aren't one of the most talented sides left in the competition either, but it would be amazing to see an African team win it. Argentina - a fitting career bookmark for Messi, great for Lisandro and future United legend Enzo Fernandez, and it would royally pss off Ronaldo and his army of idiots.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A bit harsh on Croatia. Modric aside, no out and out stars but you could maybe argue a more balanced team than most others?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I have a lot of respect for this Croatia side. Full of technically accomplished, tactically intelligent players, resilient and experienced as a team. I just think they have ridden their luck a bit in two successive WCs and getting to one final is about the right reward for the sum of their qualities. I was rooting for them in the 2018 final.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I think every team left have ridden their luck. There hasn't been an outstanding team in this world cup.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The best team went out to France in the quarters.

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thats the spirit

comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 47 seconds ago
Also nothing against Argentina or Messi but the fawning over him if they win it will be vomit inducing
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Definitely, he's been decent in this tournament but he's well past his best at the same time.

comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 43 seconds ago
Also nothing against Argentina or Messi but the fawning over him if they win it will be vomit inducing
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Definitely. It's the main reason I don't want them to win it.

I also think the meltdown if they go out will be very entertaining. I can't see them not picking up a few red cards if they lose.

Morocco.

Only team without any Spurs players I believe.

Morocco do have Greece 2004 vibe about them. Not fun to watch but they're doing what they need to.

Croatia are like the cockroaches of international football, no matter what happens - there they are, grimly hanging on in there.

Part of me would like Argentina to win just so all those people who like to harp on about how Messi hasn't won a world cup will be shut down. Another part thinks it would be good for Morocco to win.

comment by Naby8 (U6997)
posted 50 seconds ago
Morocco do have Greece 2004 vibe about them. Not fun to watch but they're doing what they need to.

Croatia are like the cockroaches of international football, no matter what happens - there they are, grimly hanging on in there.

Part of me would like Argentina to win just so all those people who like to harp on about how Messi hasn't won a world cup will be shut down. Another part thinks it would be good for Morocco to win.
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This notion that he has to win a WC to be the greatest ever is quite frankly nonsense.

comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 6 minutes ago
Also nothing against Argentina or Messi but the fawning over him if they win it will be vomit inducing
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It already is

comment by Naby8 (U6997)
posted 1 minute ago
Morocco do have Greece 2004 vibe about them. Not fun to watch but they're doing what they need to.

Croatia are like the cockroaches of international football, no matter what happens - there they are, grimly hanging on in there.

Part of me would like Argentina to win just so all those people who like to harp on about how Messi hasn't won a world cup will be shut down. Another part thinks it would be good for Morocco to win.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I want Morocco as it sends a message that any team actually can do it

comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 42 seconds ago
comment by Naby8 (U6997)
posted 1 minute ago
Morocco do have Greece 2004 vibe about them. Not fun to watch but they're doing what they need to.

Croatia are like the cockroaches of international football, no matter what happens - there they are, grimly hanging on in there.

Part of me would like Argentina to win just so all those people who like to harp on about how Messi hasn't won a world cup will be shut down. Another part thinks it would be good for Morocco to win.
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I want Morocco as it sends a message that any team actually can do it
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's ours in 2026, bookmark this.

comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 42 seconds ago
comment by Naby8 (U6997)
posted 1 minute ago
Morocco do have Greece 2004 vibe about them. Not fun to watch but they're doing what they need to.

Croatia are like the cockroaches of international football, no matter what happens - there they are, grimly hanging on in there.

Part of me would like Argentina to win just so all those people who like to harp on about how Messi hasn't won a world cup will be shut down. Another part thinks it would be good for Morocco to win.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I want Morocco as it sends a message that any team actually can do it
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's ours in 2026, bookmark this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------


My point stands though I just think it would be a great story. You forgot to add we will do so as euro champs after 2024

comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 20 seconds ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 42 seconds ago
comment by Naby8 (U6997)
posted 1 minute ago
Morocco do have Greece 2004 vibe about them. Not fun to watch but they're doing what they need to.

Croatia are like the cockroaches of international football, no matter what happens - there they are, grimly hanging on in there.

Part of me would like Argentina to win just so all those people who like to harp on about how Messi hasn't won a world cup will be shut down. Another part thinks it would be good for Morocco to win.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I want Morocco as it sends a message that any team actually can do it
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's ours in 2026, bookmark this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------


My point stands though I just think it would be a great story. You forgot to add we will do so as euro champs after 2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It would be a great story but the football has been dull.

Of course, Kenny's boys to bring it home.

comment by Bobby Dazzler (U1449)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 6 minutes ago
Also nothing against Argentina or Messi but the fawning over him if they win it will be vomit inducing
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It already is
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I mean every time they play the BBC show a 15 min segment of that Messi documentary, it’s borderline obsession

comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 17 minutes ago
Morocco every day of the week. Yes they’re not great to watch but I’ll always back the underdog.
Also it sends a message to the lesser lights in international football that it can be done (if they win obviously)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
it has been done...by greece in '04
by putting everyone behind the ball

at least denmark in '92 played some good stuff

comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Naby8 (U6997)
posted 50 seconds ago
Morocco do have Greece 2004 vibe about them. Not fun to watch but they're doing what they need to.

Croatia are like the cockroaches of international football, no matter what happens - there they are, grimly hanging on in there.

Part of me would like Argentina to win just so all those people who like to harp on about how Messi hasn't won a world cup will be shut down. Another part thinks it would be good for Morocco to win.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This notion that he has to win a WC to be the greatest ever is quite frankly nonsense.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It's factually wrong but I suppose it's true to say that Messi winning the WC would be decisive in elevating him to GOAT in terms of the popular discourse. We should be honest with ourselves that the axiomatic truth of our generation - that Pele and Maradona were the two greatest ever - is heavily reliant on the fact that millions saw them win WCs on TV. If Brazil had won the WC in 1982 and Argentina had gone out to England in 1986 after that handball was spotted, are we absolutely certain that the respective collective memories of Maradona and Zico would be the same as they are now? Brazilians in the 60s considered Garrincha superior to Pele, but the latter was still around in 1970 so the world got to see him win it in colour.

I want a classic final between Argentina and France, in which Morocco prevail.

comment by peks - 1974 (U6618)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 17 minutes ago
Morocco every day of the week. Yes they’re not great to watch but I’ll always back the underdog.
Also it sends a message to the lesser lights in international football that it can be done (if they win obviously)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
it has been done...by greece in '04
by putting everyone behind the ball

at least denmark in '92 played some good stuff
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That was the euros and I did say they are not a good watch but someone different winning would be a good thing imo

comment by Grand slam done, World Cup next, Blimey! (U10012)
posted 20 minutes ago

Tell me you are a data scientist without telling me you are a data scientist
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not! And I struggle with anything more complex than sorting columns by header on Excel.

comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by peks - 1974 (U6618)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 17 minutes ago
Morocco every day of the week. Yes they’re not great to watch but I’ll always back the underdog.
Also it sends a message to the lesser lights in international football that it can be done (if they win obviously)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
it has been done...by greece in '04
by putting everyone behind the ball

at least denmark in '92 played some good stuff
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That was the euros and I did say they are not a good watch but someone different winning would be a good thing imo
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would be good if a team outside of Europe and South America won it , I agree

but would much prefer a team that plays good football to do that

The Nigeria team of the mid late 90s would have been much more worthy WC semi-finalists imo

comment by Lalalala Lokonga (U3664)
posted 15 minutes ago
Morocco.

Only team without any Spurs players I believe.
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