Everyone of the players that made it on the field for Croatia today apart from Ante Budimir have come through or play for 2 clubs ,Dinamo Zagreb and Hadjuk Split,amazing…….
Irish by birth ,Harps by the grace of god.
Looking at the game tonight - the Dutch keeper is making his 50th career appearance between senior league and international games.
That's not this season - that's in his career. He's 28.
34 of those games have been this calendar year. He made his international debut in the opening group game and has kept his place. Before this year, 13 of his 16 senior games were in the Dutch or Italian second divisions.
That's amazing stuff. Gives Kelleher hope!
Absolutely Stu, never stop keepering hope.
Fairly dull affair in the next quarter. Amusing myself by keeping an eye on Messi and seeing how he measures his movements to avoid burning out. Neat moment just now where he started making a matching run with the ball on the flank, then you could see him check himself and go back to a walking pace. The guy could play for a while yet.
Anyway, that's all I got.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
What a Messi for Holland a loss would be.
Argentina look a more solid side than in previous tournaments. And the defeat to the Saudis may have been that best way to start.
Wouldn't rule them out. Modric v Messi in the semis?
(Says I just as Holland pull one back with their first shot on target I think)
This ref has lost control of this one big time. Paredes should have got a yellow for that challenge, then another for kicking the ball at the Dutch bench, and van Djik could have got a red for body blocking him after if the rules were applied strictly.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
He also booked Moreno for deliberate handball in the first half but chickened out of booking Messi for the exact same thing in the second
But he booked three guys on the bench, one for leaving the technical area I think
It's also interesting to see how well Holland have done since sticking the big centre-half up front and going route 1.
Certainly created more than Spain with their tiki taka.
You wonder if it's due a comeback as a legitimate 90-minute strategy?
I'm not sure what it is exactly the Argentinians are mobbing the ref for? If anything he's been incompetently lenient with them.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Timber, already booked, gets a final warning, or so it looks like, for fouling Messi. A few minutes later he's deemed to have fouled someone else, and gets a super duper serial final warning.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Paredes was on a yellow too when he clattered into the back of a Dutch player. Free kick, but no booking
Just the 12 bookings so far, though it should be more. And some were soft too
Edit - 13 yellows now. Isn't 14 the record? Portugal v Holland?
Edit edit - we have 14 yellows, but 16 is the record from that Portugal v Holland game. Time yet though!
Last edited by pineapple stu; 09/12/2022 at 8:35 PM.
Is Tim Krul available for a late call-up?
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
A 15th yellow during the shootout
A 140-minute marathon - the first 70 weren't great, but then second 70 was super entertainment. Cracking game. Delighted for Messi, but the Dutch really made a great battle out of it
Two unexpected results arguably. More upsets tomorrow?
The amount of yellows Argentina have amassed will be a big problem for them in the semi. Croatia will be looking forward to running at them, and provoking them as much as possible.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Two yellows in the shoot-out actually, so it does equal the record
Isn't there something about yellows getting scrubbed after the quarters? Or before it?
Edit - wiki reporting Acuna and Montiel suspended for the semi but everyone else now has the slate rubbed clean
Last edited by pineapple stu; 09/12/2022 at 9:08 PM.
Incredible drama,Argentina fortunate to get out after thinking they had it won,still wouldn’t trust them to win it,France or Portugal I would trust more….
Irish by birth ,Harps by the grace of god.
I thought the amnesty was at the quarter final stage, but maybe I'm wrong?
A denied bit of trivia, if the Dutch had won they would have beaten four continental champions at this tournament.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Seems Dumfries - booked in the shoot-out - was booked again after the final whistle. So that's 17 yellows and a new record.
Great stat - and the European champions didn't qualify of course, so they couldn't have beaten themOriginally Posted by NeverFeltBetter
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