Messi and Alvarez fire Argentina past Croatia 3-0 into World Cup final

Thank you, Croatia, for denying Brazil the chance to beat Argentina; smh(!); a “good” team with a good mentality, that’s all Croatia is; they’ll never be a top level team so this isn’t surprising.

Well done for the team from outside Europe. Hopefully they go all the way and win the World Championship.

Well done for the team from outside Europe. Hopefully they go all the way and win the World Championship.

What's with your anti-European obsession?

Are you still angry that Japan went out to a European team. Again.

Maradona dragged Argentina to success in 86.

Can Messi do the same.

No matter what it's been an absolute pleasure to have been able to watch those two footballing geniuses.

a “good” team with a good mentality, that’s all Croatia is; they’ll never be a top level team so this isn’t surprising.

Making the WC final in '18; then making the SF 4 year's later indicates a "top level team". Period.

@ buchaillidana 8.31am

"Maradona dragged............"

I think you mean "handled" Argentina.....

Argentina outside Croatia. The great player Messi is equal to Maradona.

Today  08:42 am JST

a “good” team with a good mentality, that’s all Croatia is; they’ll never be a top level team so this isn’t surprising.

“ Making the WC final in '18; then making the SF 4 year's later indicates a "top level team". Period. “

Excuse me; their success is based on a) Modric; b) their team spirit; c) luck; 3-0 and completely dominated by THIS Argentinian team (yes, they’re not even that good); that would never happen with Brazil, France (as we’ll be able to see), England, Portugal or Spain; but don’t worry, France will win the final; the WC is coming to Europe… again.

I dont understand why they are playing 10pm local time. That's 4am here.

By the time PKs finish it will be 12~1 am in Qatar.

That's just riddiculous, just to appease the Europeans.

That's correct - and to keep South America happy too. Far larger lucrative markets than Japan! I don't think its ridiculous at all. Last nights games would have started at 8 pm in Croatia and 4 pm in Argentina. Two of Japans group games were scheduled to keep Japan happy.

Group Games were played at 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, and 10pm local time.

Knockout games at 6pm and 10pm local.

The Final will be at 6 PM local.

That schedule managed to capture the biggest (most lucrative) markets in daylight/evening hours.

I truly hope to see Messi's tears when Argentina lose to France in the final.

Hope either France or Argentina wins it - that will give the winner 3 world cups and annoy the hell out of the English, which is always a good thing!

Messi is certainly a great player; arguably the best in the past 25 years, but would he have thrived in the '80s game? Not a chance

If you are using that logic, I suppose you could argue that Maradona wouldn’t have been as good in generations before him when pitches were even worse, the game was even more physical and the boots and ball were more primitive. I think great players can adapt although I can’t imagine Messi scoring as many as he has in previous generations.

Messi is a great player although I’d have liked to have seen Modric lift the World Cup. Croatia have only been in 6 World Cups but reached the semis 3 times. That is incredible for a country of that size. A great footballing country.

Well done for the team from outside Europe. Hopefully they go all the way and win the World Championship

European teams have dominated the World Cup in recent times ( I’m not sure what the ‘World Championship’ is here ) - 2006; 2010, 2014 and 2018 all won by a European side. Maybe it’s time for a change.

annoy the hell out of the English

England living ‘rent-free’ ( as the trolls would say ) in the heads of people again. I never thought they were so significant in football.

More of a major footballing power than I thought and I’m English and have followed every World Cup since 1982 very closely

@Jimizo - Well said. I guess that makes around the same age. Our expectations are probably pretty simiar too! Don't get the fascination with the anti-English sentiment. I assume its mostly from Americans though, who, let's face it don't really have much of a clue when it comes to International 'Team' Sport. Some of the European teams in Basketball are gaining on them far more rapidly than they are gaining in Football on the Europeans and South Americans (just as an example)

theResidentToday  12:52 pm JST

@Jimizo - Well said. I guess that makes around the same age. Our expectations are probably pretty simiar too! Don't get the fascination with the anti-English sentiment. I assume its mostly from Americans though, who, let's face it don't really have much of a clue when it comes to International 'Team' Sport. Some of the European teams in Basketball are gaining on them far more rapidly than they are gaining in Football on the Europeans and South Americans (just as an example)

What a silly thing to say.

First, a quick scroll through the comments here, and no anti-English sentiment is found--could you point out for me such remark here if I missed one?

Second, what would make you believe you have more of a clue when it comes to International 'Team' Sport than Americans?

Third, to suggest the Americans are not gaining rapidly on European teams might be true if England were not part of Europe because based on the result of the USA--England match, logic dictates differently.

And finally, to believe European basketball is gaining on American basketball is, well, a severely miseducated statement. I have to presume you do not believe that but instead it is a reactionary comment to having one's feelings hurt by perceived anti-English sentiment,

@Logg:

Hope either France or Argentina wins it - that will give the winner 3 world cups and annoy the hell out of the English, which is always a good thing!

That covers this thread alone, and, yes, my Basketball statement is..just to see the American reaction. But there has been an undue amount of anti English sentiment in the last week on this website when its come to Football.

@Jimizo - Well said. I guess that makes around the same age. Our expectations are probably pretty simiar too! Don't get the fascination with the anti-English sentiment. I assume its mostly from Americans though, who, let's face it don't really have much of a clue when it comes to International 'Team' Sport

I find it’s also a minority of Canadians who get really upset about football’s popularity. I think they have convinced themselves that ice-hockey is the greatest game around.

I emphasize minority as most Canadians are grown-ups and very agreeable people. Fantastic country.

First, a quick scroll through the comments here, and no anti-English sentiment is found--could you point out for me such remark here if I missed one?

Here’s one:

Hope either France or Argentina wins it - that will give the winner 3 world cups and annoy the hell out of the English, which is always a good thing!

Ticks the boxes for anti-English sentiment. Angry teenager stuff.

Anyway, back to things which require reaching the age of adulthood. Can you give me the name of that casino which gave you 50/1 on Saudi Arabia beating Argentina? Suicidal odds and everyone likes beating a bookie.

Cheers.

win the World Championship.

pits called the World Cup !

I know @Jimizo. The longest pre match odds I can track down were 24/1.

Third, to suggest the Americans are not gaining rapidly on European teams might be true if England were not part of Europe because based on the result of the USA--England match, logic dictates differently

The USA beat England 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup.

Does logic dictate that US football has gone backwards?

theResidentToday  01:24 pm JST

@Logg:

Hope either France or Argentina wins it - that will give the winner 3 world cups and annoy the hell out of the English, which is always a good thing!

That covers this thread alone, and, yes, my Basketball statement is..just to see the American reaction. But there has been an undue amount of anti English sentiment in the last week on this website when its come to Football.

Ok, I missed that one. I'm based in England now, and next to the US loss, England's hit me the hardest.

But I think from herein everyone is just going with their sentimental favorites.

@jimizo--Can you give me the name of that casino which gave you 50/1 on Saudi Arabia beating Argentina? Suicidal odds and everyone likes beating a bookie.

my bad--it was 25-1; payout was about $5000---one of my almost 40 bets made. Not sure if there were higher odds previous to my in-house placement of the bets.

The 125-1---that popped up on my screen during play, and I also saw afterwards that was the longest odds. Maybe it was Caesars Sportsbook line everyone was following?

I know @Jimizo. The longest pre match odds I can track down were 24/1

Sounds about right. I watched those odds as I had in mind that there can be mad results in World Cup openers. Quite a few over the years. I was looking at Iran v England and Japan v Germany too.

I know @Jimizo. The longest pre match odds I can track down were 24/1.

Then:

my bad - it was 25-1

:Lol. That’s was genuinely funny.

You got us with that one. Well played.

I am not a betting man. Uncle was a bookie and he always won. I get the impression that some people are into football not for the sport but for the betting.

Checking the odds online would not encourage me. I am against online betting.

Lionel Messi is offering joy to lovers of beautiful football. His dribbling, passing, running, and shooting skills are a treat to watch. Well played Argentina. All the best in the summit clash.

Ouch, so now Argentina Vs. France or Morocco it is going to be a good game to watch no matter who plays it, Good Luck to all.

There's no such thing as an "undue amount of anti English bias" when it comes to football.

It's because of the arrogance of your media and the obnoxious nature of the england football supporters over many years.

Look what happened in your own country at the Euro final.