SEE YOU! A brand spanking new modern fitba thread 2022/23

When isn't there a sense of a missed opportunity when the score is close though? Every little thing is scrutinized (and only from the loser's perspective) . The tactics, the officiating, the substitutions, the pitch, the "bad luck" and so on. They should have this, they should have that, if this, if that, if ...

 

I get modern fitbaw is a possession game but nobody ever scored a goal from a sideways pass across their own D & ive never seen so much of that in my puff. MaGuire was responsible for about 70% of the line breaking forward passes from deep and alot of those were hail mary long balls: thats the guy you're relying on for ball progression? Part of it must've been Southgates instructions & part of it mustve been France's shape but Henderson & Rice were nowhere as outlets/pivots- every time it came to them from the centre backs it was backwards or sideways again. Boo!

 

I've no idea why Maddison got zero minutes. Even when we were already through, for all intents and purposes, against Wales. Unless he was injured or something and I missed it.

 

Swear I had assumed he was injured. If not, then what the fuck?

Southgate sure loves that Mount though.

 

Yep just checked and Maddison wasn't injured. Chasing a quarter final game against the World Champions and he brings on Mount for Foden.

 

Joey Barton knows:



MTF

 

This is proof that the UK needs more gun violence.

 

Much fucking more.

MTF

 

Deary me. In 1995 black dudes talked like average cockneys now every kid south of stoke thinks dey iz jamaican bruv including lads like this who havent been ethnic since the Angles met the Saxons

 

This aged well...

 

Ali G was ahead of his time.

 

Get Brendan Rodgers in.

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO lmaooooooo

 

Someone in the comments called Kane "The Satellite Sniper"

 

Should have taken him.

 

Has football always had the rule that when a penalty occurs anybody on the side can take it? I've never actually looked into the history of how the rules have (or haven't) changed over the years.

In hockey penalty shots are extremely rare. When they do happen it has to be the player who was fouled who takes it. The star of the team or a "specialist" can't step up. For hockey it really makes no difference because it's such a rare occurrence. I do wonder what it would be like if the rule was the same in football.

 

Yeah it's always been that way as far as I know. For example Chilavert was his club and Paraguay's penalty taker despite being a goalkeeper.

 

If the fouled player had to take the pen I think tactics would change, but I'm not sure if it would drastically so. When it comes down to it the shooter has a huge advantage and any pro should be able to put it in the net. Rifle it hard enough into a corner and the keeper has little to no chance at saving it. That's if they go the right way. If they don't it can be side footed in like you're passing the ball to a child.

Yeah obviously it's much much easier said than done, but that's the technical reality.

I wonder if the prima donna types that usually take the penalties would object less intensely when a possible foul occurs if it wasn't them to get the likely goal.

 

I don't get why the strikers get to do fakes and stutters steps during the run up. The keeper already has a rough job without that bullshit.

 

2-nil Argentina, Messi is still not washed enough to go to MLS

 

Argentina got this

 

Argentina did their thing. They’ll need to be even better to beat France, though.

 

Too good for the Croatian old timers. Messi still very, very good at fitba.

MTF

 

@Slice N Dice we talked about this a few weeks ago. The sport's popularity in the U.S. is definitely up, as backed by this article:

The US may have lost in the World Cup, but soccer is more popular than ever in America | CNN

 

Indeed. In fact, if I were to make a list of players that were good at the playing of football I would have him on said list.

 

That was a great read, cheers! Yes it definitely seems to be growing substantially amongst the younger generations in the US, and could be solidified with having a home WC in 2026, especially if the US has a good tournament. A lot of my friends over in the States got really into this tournament too. Although they were already kind of into the sport as I took them to some matches the last few times they were in London.

 

I've watched way more than in years. France Argentina should be interesting if it materializes

 

I think Morocco’s run ends today. I can’t see them keeping France off the score sheet for 90 minutes.

 

Tonight is basically the best attack vs the best defence. France are so blessed with attacking talent that you have to think if they score first and force Morocco to take risks going forward, they'll counter them to death. It will be interesting if Morocco get the first goal though. Like you say, I can't see them holding out for the full 90 but if anyone can it will be them.