I definitely would have considered that fair. Palacios wasn’t long for the match either, way, obviously, but the Pogba leg whip seemed really flagrant to me in live action.
This brings up a bit of a conundrum. If we do move to video replays and give each captain a couple of challenges…who would have asked for a review there? Seeing as both, under close scrutiny, could have legitimately been sent off…which captain would dare?
Incidentally, watching the BBC coverage of the game it was delightful to see Robbie Savage shown up by Clarence Seedorf and especially Thierry Henry.
It isn’t even their first language and yet they make more sense he did.
Even my wife, who takes little notice of football, said “can’t he (Savage) shut up and leave it to the other two (Seedorf and Henry)? He’s yet to string a coherent sentence together.”
Bit late to the party in terms of commenting on the England game but I just want to add my agreement that there were signs there of more to come from this side, couple of bits of dodgy defending put paid to our efforts but I think it was more important that we showed a real attacking threat on a number of occasions, which has been our big problem in the recent past. Defensive mistakes are mainly organisational and can be sorted in training, attacking flair can’t be taught though and we showed some of that. A win against Uruguay would put us back on track and even a draw wouldn’t be a disaster, because provided results in the final group games go to form we could still qualify even if only on goal difference.
Nice of the BBC pundits to all, in turn, offer their predictions for the winner of the Argentina v Bosnia-Herzegovina match, as if the two teams are in the same league.
Nice own goal, too. :smack:
And Argentina take the lead at 2’.
Despite my earlier dismissal of Bosnia-Herzegovina, this match looks good so far, own goals excepted.
Especially with Argentina showing some lackadaisical defending, and not a huge commitment to moving forward.
Argentina just seem really sluggish here. The BBC did a lovely wee short film before the match about Bosnia - this match means a LOT to them. I’ll link it if they put it up.
Yeah, I must admit that by a good match I especially mean a serious upset; they’re always a lot of fun. Anyway, I’m not a big fan of Argentina - I think they play especially dirtily - and besides that, the sooner they’re out, the better for everyone else.
I knew what you meant. 
Argentina are showing too much complacency and caution. Bosnia might be able to exploit this with talent like Džeko and Begović, especially if Messi doesn’t show up. I think Bosnia can score and perhaps keep Argentina from accomplishing much more.
Argentina haven’t shown a lot of ideas so far. Too often it’s just Messi running into three blue shirts. I don’t follow La Liga, so I don’t know how Barca usually use him.
Does anybody else think that Messi looks like he’s decided damn the torpedoes, he’s going to score in this tournament? He doesn’t appear to be using his teammates very well and instead blundering into the teeth of the Bosnian defenders, and for the most part is giving up possession quite easily because of it.
In the play that stood out the most for me, he did a good job drawing two or three defenders to himself and had a player open on the wing, but instead he turned into the middle, lost the ball and then took a lazy foul.
Isn’t that just the Messi style? “I’ll do everything myself because I’m awesome!”
Actually, Messi is also famous for his numerous, marvelous assists. In La Liga, he’s really been a complete player in terms of offense.
And now a true Messi moment. Magnificent.
Yeah, that Messi’s pretty good. So surprising, he’s struggled so much at club level in the last few years 
Yeah, right. 
But I’m sure you’ve also seen many of his goals where he has ignored his teammates and taken on multiple defenders himself. Not that it doesn’t often work, of course.
True. Sometimes he can just run by several defenders, look off balance, and still score with great elegance. A bit like Michael Jordan.
I wouldn’t know anything about that, I’m afraid. I saw Space Jam 18 years ago, but that’s about it. 