OT: World Cup semi-finals. Any thoughts or picks?
The World Cup semi-finals (an equivalent of the CFP) will kickoff within an hour. There are two matches - one today, and one tomorrow - before the finals take place this weekend.
The match schedule:
Argentina vs Croatia - today, 2:00 pm EDT, and
France vs Morocco - tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2:00 pm EDT.
This appears to be the "swan song" for Messi, and France is the defending champion.
One thing that strikes me is how "good", or how "poor" certain teams have been in their penalty kicks (and, I'm especially looking at Brazil and Spain).
I don't have a horse in the matches, and just look forward to the play.
Are you following the World Cup? If so, any preferences or predictions?
December 13th, 2022 at 1:30 PM ^
Back to back
December 13th, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
I'm hoping for a Croatia v Morocco final with Morocco winning it all.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:07 PM ^
Maybe in the runner-up game.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
Do they still have a game for 3rd place?
December 13th, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^
They do. It’s the day before the final.
December 13th, 2022 at 1:37 PM ^
I could never get into soccer. 90 minutes of running around and nobody scores? No thanks. That and you don't need an opposable thumb to play that game.
December 13th, 2022 at 1:41 PM ^
Imagine the goals are worth 7 points each. Then a 4-2 score line is more like 28-14. Seem more reasonable?
December 13th, 2022 at 1:42 PM ^
Nope, not at all. Sorry.
December 13th, 2022 at 1:45 PM ^
Maybe that and allow old school hockey style fist fights. That would end the fake crying.
December 13th, 2022 at 1:54 PM ^
Or issue the players crowbars and shop tools?
December 13th, 2022 at 1:57 PM ^
I think the rule is just that if there are any crocodile tears on the pitch, then cold cocking or mma style submission moves are legal and encouraged.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:44 PM ^
For a decade, some troglodyte has felt compelled to come here and play killjoy with the same tired cliches every time someone wants to talk soccer. Seven billion people don't give the tiniest poop what your sorry anonymous behind thinks. But--hey--stay magnanimous.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
I think the acting is Oscar-worthy though.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:32 PM ^
Actually, by all accounts, the histrionics are limited in this World Cup, reportedly due to the advent of VAR.
There's no doubt the players play up the fouls to try and draw the attention of the referee, but at the same time, you try running full speed down a field and then have someone kick you -- with cleats -- hard in the ankles.
Eh, I don't know. It's as irritating to me as wide receivers emphatically gesturing "first down" at their own 32 on the first drive of the game in (American) football. And like with American football, I'm able to overcome that frustration and still enjoy the game. It's like ... 1% of the game time. Is it really that big a deal, or is it an excuse people who are bored by the game use to justify their disinterest?
December 13th, 2022 at 1:54 PM ^
How many 4-2 games are there?
December 13th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
Agreed. I've tried and tried, but it's excruciatingly boring.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:36 PM ^
Yeah I've tried not to be 'that guy' but I try over and over again to enjoy soccer and I just do not get what's entertaining about it.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:49 PM ^
I've played Soccer in school, and it's still excruciatingly boring to watch.
First thing they should do is make flopping a penalty. Outside of that, I'm at a loss as to how to improve it.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:36 PM ^
It's a game to be watched with other people, who care. Go to an English pub, or an Italian pizzeria, during their season. The joy and the agony is almost tangible, and ... I don't know how you can not get caught up in it.
I personally think watching golf and bowling and car racing is insanely boring. But I understand millions of people like doing those things. It's always weird to me that people "announce" that soccer is boring as if they're not just stating a personal preference -- if you like the NBA more than the NFL, godspeed -- but somehow issuing a ruling from on high.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:11 PM ^
OH WOW I'VE NEVER HEARD THIS TAKE BEFORE
December 13th, 2022 at 3:12 PM ^
You'd care if you had opposable thumbs.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
I tend to agree. I did enjoy watching the USA matches but every other match is hard. I know there is a whole lot of strategy involved but way too much passing backwards and back and forth. Way, way too much flopping and crying. I also hate the offsides rules. I get they don't want cherry picking down the field with players so far out in front of the defense that we mistakenly think were watching Michigan receivers torch Ohio St. secondary again, but if one were to beat their man by a step or two because they are a better athlete or because they caught the defender flat footed, they shouldn't be called for offsides.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:10 PM ^
LOVE this take, esp. your thoughts on offsides. Agree completely. And great way to tie it into our WRs torching OSU!
December 13th, 2022 at 6:42 PM ^
If you took away or amended offside, the game would be structurally impossible to play. It’s essentially a fluid line of scrimmage. Not to mention, you would lose the nuance of the perfectly timed run and pass. It still favors the best and smartest athletes - the best athletes can beat their defender from an even position, and the best athletes have the ability and vision to time their passes to beat those defenders as well. It’s a rule that makes the beautiful game the beautiful game.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:37 PM ^
I've never understood why they couldn't at least move the off-sides lines a bit, as they do with hockey. It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing, but damn, midfield?
(Also, at the very least, they need to make it based on foot position, not ... a stray finger.)
December 13th, 2022 at 3:45 PM ^
Ha, what a sub-post here. I guess that's what the OP gets for asking if anyone has any thoughts on the semis. He practically invited posters and simians to chime in, even if those thoughts are, "I don't like soccer". I'm going to start taking this approach to everyday life, maybe I'll join a hot yoga class and complain about the temperature. Maybe I'll join 4H and be like, "Ugh, I could never get into pigs. They're just so boring, they just sit there and eat."
To answer the original question, calling this Messi's swan song would be accurate, if swans could twist you in a knot and then murder you in front of 100 million people watching.
December 13th, 2022 at 9:27 PM ^
You mean like Iowa v Northwestern?
December 13th, 2022 at 1:39 PM ^
Can't wait to watch Croatia and Argentina play. Love both those teams and will hate to see not having both of them move on.
December 13th, 2022 at 1:40 PM ^
VAMOS, VAMOS ARGENTINA!!!
VAMOS, VAMOS A GANAR!!!
December 13th, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^
Mbappe wins back to back but never becomes truly great because he refuses to leave the terrible French league and psg’s oil money.
December 13th, 2022 at 2:01 PM ^
I don't think Ligue 1 is much different than the Bundesliga or Serie A. Bayern and Juventus have dominated those leagues as much as PSG has dominated Ligue 1, if not even more so.
Regardless, at this point club play is all about the Champions' League.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:28 PM ^
"never becomes truly great" That ship sailed a long time ago, amigo. And he just proved it again today.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:39 PM ^
Ummm. You know you were watching Messi today right? Mbappe plays for…France, who plays tomorrow.
December 13th, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^
Morocco fascinates me - seems like every World Cup there are a couple teams that play a very defense and counter attack strategy in order to advance past their expectation. But I don't remember one that looks so dynamic and dangerous on the counter attack as this team.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:00 PM ^
That was France in 2018, and it still is to some extent this year. Mbappe is a cheat code in that regard. Morocco is on fire this year because of their goalkeeper. They'll win if they can take it all the way to penalty kicks.
December 13th, 2022 at 1:54 PM ^
I have a good friend who is vacationing in Morocco right now.... and another friend who's wife is from Croatia....
So i'm picking Morocco vs Croatia for the finals.....
and my friend who's in Morocco isn't mean.... John's wife is mean as hell..... Morocco for the win.
December 13th, 2022 at 2:06 PM ^
Two French starters (Rabiot and Upamecano) apparently missed practice with an illness. They can replace Upamecano but if Rabiot can't go, that could be a problem. He's been surprisingly good this tournament and there's not much quality depth behind him.
I think both of these semis are going to be 1-0 struggles. France and Argentina finally break through in a slog.
December 13th, 2022 at 2:10 PM ^
It’s weird being in the pro-Argentina camp, but I’m definitely pulling for Messi here. An all-timer by any standard, but to get a Cup at this moment would be amazing.
I generally like France dating back to the ‘98 Cup, but prefer variety to repeats. Still, they have to be the prohibitive favorite. That they’re doing this without Benzema or Kante (or Pogba, but his role would be less assured with this roster and his recent play on the field) is remarkable.
Of course, as much as there’s historical legacy on the line for Messi, Modric stands to gain more. I can’t pretend that I’ve followed his game closely for his career, but he’s a brilliant player, and if he were to make back-to-back finals as the leader of the team, given what his Real teammates have done with better teams around them in recent Cups… that says something.
And I think they can make the final. Not sure Argentina can overcome the midfield mismatch today.
December 13th, 2022 at 2:22 PM ^
For all his skill, I just don't like Messi. He's always too whiny. It will bring me great joy if Croatia wins today. They're my favorite Slavs.
But I'd be shocked if France doesn't triumph.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^
We know you have a problem with Ukrainian Slavs.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:39 PM ^
Watch the Maradona highlights and goals on Youtube, back when all this tackling and physicality was allowed. He was running through that BS, playing on another level. Not like players such as Neymar today falling and crying on every little contact.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:39 PM ^
Update: they did, in fact, overcome the alleged midfield mismatch today.
December 13th, 2022 at 2:18 PM ^
The World Cup in November/December just feels wrong. I am normally GLUED to the TV when its on but this year I just cannot make myself give a darn(outside of the USA matches), the timing is just too weird. Only my issue I know and I hope those who are enjoying it are enjoying it greatly.
December 13th, 2022 at 5:49 PM ^
Nah, it’s an issue for a lot of people. I’m still watching but it doesn’t have my full attention like it would in the summer.
December 13th, 2022 at 2:21 PM ^
i would love to see croatia win it all as i have some croatian (well, technically yugoslavian) friends who were born and raised in war on the (now) croatian coastline.
picks?
croatia somehow pulls it out vs argentina, but gets their hearts broken again in the finals v france.
December 13th, 2022 at 2:22 PM ^
France juts seems like world beaters right now with Mbappe and crew. Have to imagine Morroco's dream run ends and sets up France and Argentina in the final.
December 13th, 2022 at 2:25 PM ^
France “seems like world beaters.”
There is no greater condemnation of soccer than that.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:00 PM ^
I laughed.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:37 PM ^
Spoken like someone who does not follow the sport