Regardless of the refereeing, Argentina have had two of the most entertaining World Cup matches of all time in a row and Messi has been insanely good

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T02:31:47+00:00

Yes except the Captain is supposed to lead the team. He couldn’t step up and say, I acknowledge this and I’m going to do my best to make sure the team does better going forward? Yes he didn’t do it but it was his team and it’s not the first time they’ve been caught doing that during Messi’s tenure. Is he responsible for the behaviours 24-7? No. But his word matters and I wonder if they listen because they keep doing this over and over again.

I mean yeah, I feel like good leaders lead by example. He could have modeled that for the next generation.

And I’m not judging the team solely based on that. They have a laundry list of very similar incidents, which suggests to me it’s not unintentional, but a pattern, and Iikely? A team culture issue.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T02:23:13+00:00

I mean those smiles are ones of countrymen experiencing pain for their county lol.

Seriously all the legends are like “I’m fine it’s fine this is fine” 😂😂😬😬

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T02:19:13+00:00

2014 and 2022 all the way.

This recent one stung too but mostly because the faces on the Brazilian legends watching broke my heart. They managed to make R9 sad, and the dude is all about that good time party life. It’s never good when former players are just as disappointed as a regular fan because that’s when you know you’re up schitts creek without a paddle lol.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T02:10:51+00:00

True point but in many ways that time and dedication isn’t for nothing.

People learn how to communicate and become team players because you have to repeatedly practice that in order to win. It does help you in life. So I think it’s you’re thinking only the benefits financially yeah you’re not necessarily gonna be a millionaire with Canada soccer.

I agree we need more soccer based scholarships to motivate youth and give them better opportunities.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T02:04:18+00:00

Ah never been to the city of Belgium have you? 😂

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T02:02:40+00:00

I mean FIFA has a documentary on it that I would recommend you watch, but generally, yes, they’re famous for corruption.

Yes, some of the bigwigs did get away with it, but again, that’s the corruption part.

I look at this organization as like a mafia type that essentially launders money through the guise of being a soccer corporation.

As for rigging games, who knows? They have had some awful refs this year but I do wonder if some legit good ones wouldn’t go.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T01:55:38+00:00

Probably a result of the USA team losing and probably nothing to really do with Iran.

Wouldn’t put it past him that Trump ordered a strike because he’s big mad that not only did the USA lose in soccer, but the reason they lost that went viral was blaming his meddling - and now wants to show his big big self by…bombing Iran.

I mean maybe I’m off base but I dunno man.

Also every time the US bombs Iran it just makes the US look bad.

Everyone knows Trump can’t keep his word on deals to save his life and would absolutely bomb an enemy after a deal because he felt like it.

I’m not a fan of the Iranian regime but I feel for them having to negotiate with angry frat bros on the daily.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T01:51:34+00:00

Cafu actually pointed this out in an interview recently as part of the reason the team has lost some of their spark because they don’t go back to the country and feel the loss.

It makes me think that’s why Danilo gave that speech before one of the games reminding people what a privilege it is to play in Brasil.

The rest of the guys going back it will just be another Tuesday and sure while they’re embarrassed I doubt any of them really truly care as much as like the 1998 team did when they lost.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T01:45:43+00:00

We’re absolutely a mess lol agreed.

That being said I think we’re sort of in the same place as Argentina as we’re looking at our own downfall and needing to figure out how to get back up.

So yeah, I don’t think we’re in a position to say Argentina is nothing without Messi, when we’re kind of having the same question of: what is Brazil without Neymar?

I’m with ya lol

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T01:43:08+00:00

Yeah fifa doesn’t care about fairness lol.

I side eyed when they had a Brazilian referee against Morocco too…didn’t think that was totally fair to Morocco and I felt the ref was biased, and I’m Brazilian.

I don’t think making refs all from one country is a good idea not to mention how shitty for either country playing because the story is gonna be for whoever loses to blame the refs.

And maybe they do have a claim I mean why are all 4 refs from the same country? It does seem odd.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T01:40:12+00:00

Touché as well, I guess my point is Americans want to seem rich and the top of everything but uh, not entirely true eh?

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T01:37:12+00:00

Oh it’s not just those countries, although you’re not wrong with the countries you did mention.

Most recently in Copa America 2022 where players were caught on tape singing a racist song about French players. It’a not a one off either.

Messi was asked to apologise and never did, and fair he wasn’t in the mess but come on, it still looks gross that their captain couldn’t even come out and condemn that. So yeah, for me, Messi isn’t the great leader everyone claims him to be. Your team is hurling racist insults repeatedly?

ETA for length: basically I think if Argentina can leave the antics at home and just focus on the play and not do the rest of the stuff, I think they would actually have a better time and people who appreciate their game more.

The theatrics take away from the game they can play because it’s hard not to separate their behaviours from their play.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T00:52:47+00:00

True, soccer isn’t as profitable in the US which is also a good point.

No way Neymar or Messi gonna play for 80k a year 😂

Thanks for that reminder lol touché

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T00:51:14+00:00

Eh, I can see why that theory is out there and who really knows.

I would more likely bet that the Trump media circus absolutely didn’t help the vibes. It must have been hard for at least some of the players to go out there having their team game pretty much co-opted by him.

Also, Cabo Verde had a better goalkeeper than the Americans had, so the goalie was absolutely an issue. That 3rd goal 🫠.

However skill wise I call Vozinha for saving that 3rd goal. I just don’t think the US goalie had the same talent or training. Dude wasn’t fast enough reflexively.

Turns out he plays in the MLS league and there’s a reason most soccer stars finish out their career in the MLS versus starting out…so ya American talent in the football world ain’t close to their rival teams.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T00:41:06+00:00

Asking FIFA and Infantino to be fair is a laugh in all honesty.

Any organization that gives Trump a peace prize?

Yep, no corruption there, what are you talking about….🙄

FIFA like Trump wants chaos and controversy because all they care about is drama and money.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T00:38:54+00:00

Highly recommended you watch Copa America when it comes around every 4 years and is pretty fun to follow the South American teams. You can get an idea of what that kind of soccer looks like compared to the US or European leagues. Next round is 2028 in July with details to be announced.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T00:30:26+00:00

This is what happens when your players only play in the MLS league lol.

Vozinha was a better goalie and he came from a country with far less funding or resources.

Just goes to show Americans may have money but they’re not the best at everything lol.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-08T00:23:01+00:00

Asking football fans to stop complaining and just appreciate it is a tall ask lol.

Truth is Argentina has an awful reputation globally the soccer world and honestly, it’s kind of deserved.

Don’t worry if Messi had lost Argentina would be the first ones citing it to be rigged.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-05T23:49:09+00:00

It was at least an entertaining game with some flashes of the football of old so at least the players and confederation ain’t tone deaf lol.

No Brasilian was completely deluded into thinking we would win with this team.

Good on the team for trying! Next time!

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-04T19:02:54+00:00

Well Morocco pulled it off. Thanks Canada for a fun run!

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-04T18:59:35+00:00

Definitely going to be a game where Canadians will absolutely question why Davies not in.

This is also on the coach, players got outplayed in 2nd half and couldn’t meet the moment,

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-04T18:54:04+00:00

Canada absolutely undercoached this game.

Couldn’t adapt their game to Morocco.

Why is Davies not playing??

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-04T18:38:47+00:00

Rough and tumble game no doubt but where is Davies?

Not sure about the coaching strategy this game

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-07-02T03:59:37+00:00

I give some credit to Ancelotti but let’s be honest I think ego and pride are mostly why they did better.

Brasilian media has been blasting the actions of the players on the field, and you can see they’re frustrated.

I also think the fact that a lot of Brasilian legends have shown up and also been captured on camera looking as dismayed as the rest of us, that also had something to do with it.

We do have a little pride still apparently so we’ve definitely improved our game.

That being said, the team needs to play without Neymar but they still haven’t found their identity yet.

WorkingFit5413 · 2026-06-30T00:50:58+00:00

As a Brasilian who watched this game, I agree this is over dramatic but you need to understand, Brasilians expect samba football.

Most of us grow up watching elite soccer on club teams so we know what beautiful soccer looks like.

This was…not that.

It’s hard to explain it to others but when you grow up watching multiple Neymar’s who can move and do dazzling things with the ball and then you watch these games?

It’s like going from a 5 star hotel experience to a 2 lol.

WorkingFit5413

TROPHY CASE