2022 FIFA World Cup Finals

[Webster]

Amazing job by Morocco!!

Africa's run riot in this World Cup; Senegal made the Round of 16 and Morocco are headed to the Quarters.
That said, elsewhere outside of America, Concacaf couldn't find its with both hands and a compass......

 

[Webster]

Oh, @PGen98, your favorite international official is looking around.....

Gianni Infantino, cooking up a 48-team Badminton Horse trials. Photograph: Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images

 

[Webster]

Another bit of history today Gen....

(The Guardian) GOAL! Portugal 4-1 Switzerland (Akanji 58)
Manuel Akanji scores Switzerland’s first goal in a World Cup knockout game since 1954.

Shaqiri’s nasty inswinging corner flicked off the head of Ramos – another assist for him – and Akanji volleyed into an empty net at the far post.

 

[PGen98]

At least they got one

 

[Webster]

(BBC Sport) Luka Modric is more than just a playmaker for Croatia.

The Real Madrid midfielder led his country to the World Cup final in 2018 and now, with a quarter-final against favourites Brazil looming on Friday, there is an ambition to emulate that achievement - and it might not even be his last try at a major international trophy.

At the age of 37, he remains as important for Croatia as ever. The brain behind his team's attacking approach, his influence is just as key off the pitch, acting as a father figure to the new generation of young players.

In Fifa's documentary series Captains, he is shown motivating Dinamo Zagreb and Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. "Why can't you make a mistake?" Croatia skipper Modric asks Livakovic in a hotel lobby. "Everybody makes them. I feel that your problem is you're afraid to make them."

Fast forward to Monday's last-16 game against Japan and it was Livakovic who became the hero when, after a starring role throughout, he saved three penalties during the shootout to send Croatia to the quarter-finals.

 

[PGen98]

Modric has always been a beast, glad he's a good person off the pitch, too!

 

[Webster]

Modric has always been a beast, glad he's a good person off the pitch, too!

(The Guardian) RESULT: Croatia 1-1 Brazil (Croatia win 4-2 on pens)
… and Neymar didn’t even get to take a penalty. The 2018 runners-up make the last four again! Brazil fall to European opposition again!

Croatia cavort in delight! They’ve done a number on the pre-tournament favourites. Luka Modric smiles beatifically. Neymar stares at a point approximately one thousand yards into the distance. What a goal he scored! One that so nearly took his country one step closer to that elusive sixth title! But Brazil will have to wait at least another four years to slake a thirst that stretches back to 2002. The Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan falls quiet, the Croatian fans apart. The majority within had wanted Brazil to win … but they haven’t got their way. On the BBC, Mark Chapman observes that the “air has gone out of this stadium big time.” A lot of footage of Brazilian fans in tears. You’ll be seeing that replayed over and over again for the next four years at least.

 

[Webster]

Modric has always been a beast

He's football's version of the Spy from Team Fortress 2....

 

[PGen98]

I'm shocked, I thought Brazil would win, and in regular time. It went to pens and they've crashed out again. Incredible job by Croatia!

 

[Webster]

*continues thought* Dejan Lovren, by contrast, is akin to the Medic on TF2....

 

[Webster]

I'm shocked, I thought Brazil would win, and in regular time. It went to pens and they've crashed out again. Incredible job by Croatia!

 

[PGen98]

Poor guy, he was 30 and thriving in 2014, this is what they've done to him!

 

[Webster]

this is what they've done to him!

Just like England post-66', huh?

 

[PGen98]

Just like England post-66', huh?

Ouch. But yeah lol

 

[Webster]

Ouch. But yeah lol

Maybe one day there'll be an England-Argentina final.
A battle of the Beeteaters.....

 

[PGen98]

Maybe one day there'll be an England-Argentina final.
A battle of the Beeteaters.....

That will be quite a battle. The match will be decent, too!

 

[Webster]

The aftermath of England-Argentina....

 

[PGen98]

The aftermath of England-Argentina....

Never! That one is to the end!

 

[Webster]

Never! That one is to the end!

 

[PGen98]

Eh, I get called that regularly, so yeah