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World Cup 2026: Mexico, USA and Canada

Robbo said:
We've had several red cards for far less than that - then again, from the top of my head, both Liverpool and City players have gotten away with worse stamps.

I thought I saw Romero getting away with a pretty rough challenge too, BTW, although there were no replays and on my mobile I couldn't be 100% sure it was him either.
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I think it was Romero too. But again I was watching on my phone. It seems that the referees don’t really want to issue bookings. Very few have been issued recently.

Messi was never going to get sent off as he is a World Cup icon but yes he could have been for his challenge. I think it merited at least a booking.
 
MartyFunkhouser said:
When you look at players like Messi, you realise we are likely seeing the last of his type for a long long time. People going crazy over a Declan Rice season shows the drop off.
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I don’t know about that. There are still highly skilled players playing. I was impressed by Maza. And yes, he’s no Messi, no one is, but he was also no Declan Rice sideways and backwards passer. Maza was the type of player that can ignite matches.

Messi makes everything look effortless. He can do whatever he wants with the ball. So he’s a level ahead but there will be similarly skilled technical players a rung below that will excite audiences.
 
El Dante said:
I don’t know about that. There are still highly skilled players playing. I was impressed by Maza. And yes, he’s no Messi, no one is, but he was also no Declan Rice sideways and backwards passer. Maza was the type of player that can ignite matches.

Messi makes everything look effortless. He can do whatever he wants with the ball. So he’s a level ahead but there will be similarly skilled technical players a rung below that will excite audiences.
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Of course, and maybe I was being a tad dramatic, but also he came at a time with Ronaldo et all.

I don't think the numbers are there in quality, yes the game has changed but the days of having star quality in numbers in all teams, that seems to have gone.

Saying that I have watched about the grand total of 2 games so far
 
MartyFunkhouser said:
Of course, and maybe I was being a tad dramatic, but also he came at a time with Ronaldo et all.

I don't think the numbers are there in quality, yes the game has changed but the days of having star quality in numbers in all teams, that seems to have gone.

Saying that I have watched about the grand total of 2 games so far
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It definitely feels like the game has changed. It’s now feels a lot more calculated and mechanical. There are fewer flair players, I don’t disagree with that. It’s now about work rate, about playing a set way BUT there are individuals that can still excite. And there always will be and those players will shine.

Football always evolves. Look at the horrible throw in tactic that’s used at the start of every match it seems. I can’t stand it. It’s not the way that football should be played but it seems like a tactic that teams feel offers a higher percentage chance of winning by earning high pressure and possession early on.

That tactical evolution will only last so long until teams find a way to combat it and then we move on to another tactical play. That’s the way football is.

I think we may find similar with the individual brilliance of players who can turn the game around with a flash of ingenuity being recognised again. And then each team will desperately want a couple of these players.

Those players then may not be at the Messi level but it will bring more joy back to the game.
 
What’s this nonsense about Kane in the build up? Vincent Kompany changed his game to improve him? It’s like he wasn’t watched before he left us
 
clownfoot said:
What’s this nonsense about Kane in the build up? Vincent Kompany changed his game to improve him? It’s like he wasn’t watched before he left us
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It's a massive problem with modern sports coverage; player quality is largely determined not by performance, but club affiliation.

Edit: Norwegian commentators are at it as well. It is as if he emerged from thin air when he joined Bayern.
 
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I lament just how much the over-saturated media coverage of the beautiful game seems to be obliterating/have obliterated the eye test and facts in so many ways...
 
Think you've all got short memories, Kane was a donkey when he played for us, only scored tap-in and penalties according to most clubs fans, never in the same class as Vardy and Abraham's and was even worse with England, he never stayed in the middle where he would have got lots of chances from all the big club players passes he would get.
 
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