FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 - DISCUSSION AND WATCHALONG THREAD ⚽️. Part 8

[placemats]

Let's continue the discussion.

That is really sad.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5yv3e5y0w4o

Two goal removal
England back in it?

Yes it is and what a lovely tribute.

That is very sad about Micah's father. Salute to Micah for his professionalism last night.

They've done it before with the same message in 2014 and were fined £20,000 - that's nothing in football terms, so hardly a deterrent.

I hope that @Goldenbear's arse has recovered from being stuck in the "lucky" garden chair all night. That was supreme dedication Golden. Respect!

That banner is pathetic, the people that live there don't wanna be Argentinian babes, we tried to give the bloody place away to you before the war and they were having none of it.

Embarassing.

Shall be watching the final with a Spanish theme for food and drinks! 6 year old granddaughter has Spain for her sweepstake 🇪🇸

Tomasz doing the weather report is the only thing that is cheering me up this morning!

The problem is, they keep winning. But a thoroughly unlikeable team. I had some hope before the game after seeing their coach's message about this being just a football game. I thought he was quite classy. But, no, the players ruin it.

And Messi is a tax dodger.

BBC News - Lionel Messi tax fraud prison sentence reduced to fine - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40534761?app-referrer=deep-link

Might do a paella for Sunday.

Downing Street on who Keir Starmer will be supporting on Sunday: “He wishes both teams well in the final, but especially Spain.”

😂

Agreed

Yes, I said something similar enough. For a wealthy federation like Argentina, that's peanuts.

A real deterrant would be deduction of points or goals, but it's very hard to see how it could be enforced and would never happen to precious Argentina anyway.

It's not just this team though. Previous Argentinian teams have been similar.

Those players and their attitudes didn't spring up out of nowhere. There is clearly something in Argentinian society which gives rise to this obnoxious behaviour.

Having said that, I guess I should add that all the Argentinians I have dealt with in real life have been very pleasant and decent people.

In August 2024 Rodri and Álvaro Morata were banned for one match for singing “Gibraltar is Spain”.

Won't happen with Argentina, and definitely not before the final.

FIFA wants Argentina/Messi in the final

yeah messi makes them money

@DuncinToffee They seem to like poking their noses into other countries' business!

Other countries business? gibraltar is physically attached to Spain

@mindymoo11 Why are Argentinians expressing an opinion though? Surely it's Spain's business.

Rodri and Alvaro Morota were Spanish footballers, not Argentinian footballers.

I think you're getting mixed up

It was when Spain beat England in the Euros in 2024.

After the game, two Spanish players chanted that Gibraltar belongs to Spain.

@mindymoo11 Oh, I am. I assumed everyone on the thread was talking about Argentina. Fair enough then.

I feel sad that they couldn’t do it. There was a lot of happiness around and the pubs cleaned up ( and need the trade ) and it would have been a bit of good news for a change. Felt a bit down today and I don’t like football and don’t follow any teams.

The song isn't about bring the cup home, it's because the Euro 96 was hosted in England, thats the "coming home" bit, I wish people would get this right

Ever since the ‘three lions’ song was penned and sung , it’s been a bit of a rum
do ( unless your the writers , who must love football tournaments for the royalties)
I’m glad they used Wonderwall , made a change !
Not too much of sweet Caroline
They should write a new song.

I know, and ofcourse the Euros are at home in '28, but as you say most people don't realise.

Maybe that is what annoys me rather than the song itself.

I happily sing along though