World Cup 2026

[CreightonWarrior]

Patrick Cantlay appreciates this pace of play.

[tower912]

I can picture a scenario where Argentina never gets a shot on goal and wins on PKs.

[MuggsyB]

It doesn't look Argentina can win this game unless there's a shootout.  Zero shots on goal isn't ideal.

[MuggsyB]

I can picture a scenario where Argentina never gets a shot on goal and wins on PKs.

Touche.  My apologies. 

[MuggsyB]

That was a great save. But Spain will get one in the next 30 mins. 

[jesmu84]

ARG: red cards > shots

[MuggsyB]

Ballgame.

[Uncle Rico]

Ballgame.

What a terrible result.  Spain is a terrible country.

[MuggsyB]

What a terrible result.  Spain is a terrible country.

Have some Paella and calm down. 

[Uncle Rico]

Have some Paella and calm down. 

Pay attention to the news.  Spain is not a good friend.  Need some Messi magic

[MuggsyB]

Pay attention to the news.  Spain is not a good friend.  Need some Messi magic

Fine.

But have some Gazpacho soup.  I make mine with Argentine Shrimp ironically. 

[MuggsyB]

Congrats to 🇪🇸   They were clearly the best team. 

[Uncle Rico]

Congrats to 🇪🇸   They were clearly the best team. 

Simply awful result. 

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

At least it featured Americans like Justin Bieber performing in English, unlike that other halftime show.

Isn't he Canadian?
NM

[jesmu84]

1. Increase the Spain tariffs

2. Fox trying their best to cut the audible boos

3. I want to hear convo between trump and claudia

[MU82]

I was part of a group of 10 that went to a sports bar for the game. We got there 2 hours early to stake out a spot ... and good thing, because the place was packed by game time. It was a big joint and there musta been 500 people in there.

I'm not really a soccer guy but I loved the energy in the crowd, which was decidedly pro-Spain. Full course of boos when the FIFA guy's guest was shown on the screen, but otherwise lots of cheering every time Spain advanced.

The crowd went wild when Spain scored the first goal, only to moan when it was waved off. When they finally scored the goal that counted, I can't imagine the place had been any louder during the Seahawks' Super Bowl win.

All in all, really glad I went. A fun, festive atmosphere.

[Jockey]

What a terrible result.  Spain is a terrible country.

Once they overthrow Franco, they will be all right.

[jesmu84]

Argentina post-whistle behavior was gross

[Uncle Rico]

Once they overthrow Franco, they will be all right.

Franco was misunderstood.  He built roads

[MU82]

And Hitler ... there was a painter. He could paint an entire apartment in one afternoon - two coats!

[JWags85]

Argentina post-whistle behavior was gross

Pretty much typifies that team and their behavior all tournament.  They were relentlessly chippy and dirty, contentious, and almost uniformly disrespectful to everyone.  You saw how poorly they behaved after winning against England, it was blatantly obvious they would be even worse in defeat.

Seemingly the entire team outside of Messi and Martinez is a bunch of sub 5'8 guys who all act like the short guy with a complex at the bar who tries to fight everyone after a few drinks.

[Jockey]

Pretty much typifies that team and their behavior all tournament.  They were relentlessly chippy and dirty, contentious, and almost uniformly disrespectful to everyone.  You saw how poorly they behaved after winning against England, it was blatantly obvious they would be even worse in defeat.

Seemingly the entire team outside of Messi and Martinez is a bunch of sub 5'8 guys who all act like the short guy with a complex at the bar who tries to fight everyone after a few drinks.

Messi, Martinez, and a gang of Muggsies?

Lord help us all.

[MUBurrow]

I feel like I'm shaking my fist at the sky here, but have top strikers always been this detached from the flow of play?  I don't mean to old man this, but watching Haaland and Messi be nonfactors in close losses while they wait for service is really tough. I understand that when you have prolific scorers (especially as large as Haaland or as old as Messi) you can't waste them chasing play. But to some extent, what is the point of being called one of the best players in the world if you're a completely dependent variable who can't influence the biggest game you'll ever play?

Messi gets a pass because I think we saw his age as much as anything, and he has a ton of receipts from earlier in his career.  But once Argentina went down to 10 yesterday, they would have almost been better served taking him off - they were really playing 9.5 v 11 from that point forward.  I'm not saying they should have or dumb enough to suggest you can actually take Messi off in a WC final, but he was exclusively a set piece taker from that point on.

[Pakuni]

I feel like I'm shaking my fist at the sky here, but have top strikers always been this detached from the flow of play?  I don't mean to old man this, but watching Haaland and Messi be nonfactors in close losses while they wait for service is really tough. I understand that when you have prolific scorers (especially as large as Haaland or as old as Messi) you can't waste them chasing play. But to some extent, what is the point of being called one of the best players in the world if you're a completely dependent variable who can't influence the biggest game you'll ever play?

Messi gets a pass because I think we saw his age as much as anything, and he has a ton of receipts from earlier in his career.  But once Argentina went down to 10 yesterday, they would have almost been better served taking him off - they were really playing 9.5 v 11 from that point forward.  I'm not saying they should have or dumb enough to suggest you can actually take Messi off in a WC final, but he was exclusively a set piece taker from that point on.

I think you're being a little unfair to Messi here. His game isn't at all dependent on service and to suggest he doesn't/can't influence the biggest games is completely ignoring the games leading up to Sunday's final. Argentina doesn't beat England without his exquisite passing. They don't beat Egypt without him carrying the team to three late goals in 14 minutes.
It's totally fair to point out that he's not at all active on the pitch, but that's just him being smart at 39 years old and recognizing he's more effective saving his energy for short bursts when he can make an impact rather than chasing the ball for 70 minutes and being gassed. Spain did terrific work limiting him yesterday - just as they did with every opponent throughout - but it's hard to argue with the results for a guy who at 39 was second in goals AND second in assists in the tournament.

[Pakuni]

Good work here.