Guilty as charged, m’lud.
It’s a crazy game! Now an own goal for the 5-3 in minute 84! And I don’t think that’s the end of it.
I don’t remember such a high scoring competition game between such heavyweights other than the legendary 2014 7-1 win by Germany against Brazil, and that was totally one-sided, while this is on par.
ETA; and now 5-4!
ETA2: and now it’s over. What a game!
The Yamal penalty was pretty clearly a penalty IMO. Rabiot with a clumsy scissor tackle that only contacts the ball after taking out Yamal. Mbappe went down under routine contact and I agree that was a bad call.
I’ve seen enough, I predict that Spain will win the 2026 World Cup…
Two heavyweights flying up and down the pitch, an amazing game. I’m not sure how great the central defenses are for either team – ditto for Portugal and Germany – but both Spain and France can score almost at will.
Frodo, I concur with the Spain pick but I’m interested in how you see your boyz stacking up.
I cannot possibly comment on that.
(You won’t get anything more than that from most of my fellow countrymen, the risks of mufa are too high!)
Never underestimate Uruguay!
Argentina’s chances seem to rely a lot on which Lautaro Martinez they get.
Spain could be a menace for a while. Pedri, Gavi, Yamal, Cubarsi, and Nico Williams are all <23.
This is some match. CR7 playing like he’s 25.
And now he’s out. But really, he is a phenomenon, now at 40. I never liked the guy, but I have to admit this.
ETA: If Spain pull this off, it’ll be a great day for Spanish sports, after Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in an epic match at Roland Garros. The matchball conveniently happened just 5 minute before Spain-Portugal started.
Same.
Imagine this match if they called simulation yellows…
The refs are quite cool and don’t let those shenanigans faze them. Every card was well deserved.
ETA: I noticed that one of the ref assistants is female, that’s quite remarkable for a game on that scale. Where is the ref team from? I haven’t followed because I’m watching with muted TV and listen to music, as I often do, because mostly the commentary is useless.
ETA2: ah, looked it up, it’s a Swiss team, with Sandro Schäfer as the main ref. Rather young guy.
I have to say, this is way better than summer friendlies.
Germany has some work to do, can’t wait for Musiala to be back.
That’s quite the army of talented and active midfielders that Portugal has.
Completely irrelevant nitpick…
That would be ‘match point’, actually.
Back to footy.
Well sure, I confused it with my original German, where we call it “Matchball”. Sorry.
Bayern-Auckland in the club WC is a joke, 4-0 after 21 minutes. I knew that Auckland is an amateur team, but they’re playing at a level of maybe a German Oberliga team (which are the fifth highest leagues here). Enhances my skepticism about this tournament. What do you all think about it? Are you interested, do you follow it?
And now Olise is allowed to score the perfect Arjen Robben memorial goal™ for the 6-0, still in the first half.
I had forgotten it was happening. The only thing I wish is that Real Madrid does not win it, as they are the enemy. And if Barça gets some money they will not need to be so corrupt next year*, so OK.
* That was a good one, wasn’t it? 