2022 FIFA World Cup - Qatar

[Atithee]

Poor English folks. Reminds me of these classic Pink Floyd lyrics:

Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time

Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines

Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way

The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say

[jayakris]

^^^ Nah, I think Portugal will find out that Morocco knows defense. It will be like nothing Portugal expects. They may end up not possessing the ball as much as Spain did, and so could concede some goals to Morocco too. I am rooting for a Morocco upset and an African nation making the semifinal for the first time.

Yeah, baby... Do I know my football or what? Give me a candy. Called it perfectly (for a change )

They have got lucky here and there, but I have not enjoyed defense from any team like I enjoy it when I see what those Moroccans do in front of their goal. Such perfect positioning, covering the angles so well, and then such calm, sure-footed and clear-headed clearances.

I am surprised that people have generally not noticed that these guys have not allowed a single goal by an opponent in NINE matches, 7 of them against top-50 teams and 3 against the top-10 including the current FIFA #2... The sequence of countries who have laid an egg against them: #150 Liberia, #29 Chile, #50 Paraguay, #82 Georgia, #15 Croatia, #2 Belgium, #43 Canada, #6 Spain, #9 Portugal.

Anybody confident that Mbappe and gang can finally break that Arab fort that has held up for over 15 hours of football against all those above teams? I am not. I will enjoy Mbappe crying too, like they made Ronaldo do today. But then again, if anybody can break the fort, it must be the best in the business right now. Mr. Mbappe. I can't wait for that match. If he fails and cries too, then maybe the old man in blue will get a chance!

[Atithee]

Still sticking with France all the way.

[PKBasu]

^^^ Nah, I think Portugal will find out that Morocco knows defense. It will be like nothing Portugal expects. They may end up not possessing the ball as much as Spain did, and so could concede some goals to Morocco too. I am rooting for a Morocco upset and an African nation making the semifinal for the first time.

Yeah, baby... Do I know my football or what? Give me a candy. Called it perfectly (for a change )

They have got lucky here and there, but I have not enjoyed defense from any team like I enjoy it when I see what those Moroccans do in front of their goal. Such perfect positioning, covering the angles so well, and then such calm, sure-footed and clear-headed clearances.

I am surprised that people have generally not noticed that these guys have not allowed a single goal by an opponent in NINE matches, 7 of them against top-50 teams and 3 against the top-10 including the current FIFA #2... The sequence of countries who have laid an egg against them: #150 Liberia, #29 Chile, #50 Paraguay, #82 Georgia, #15 Croatia, #2 Belgium, #43 Canada, #6 Spain, #9 Portugal.

Anybody confident that Mbappe and gang can finally break that Arab fort that has held up for over 15 hours of football against all those above teams? I am not. I will enjoy Mbappe crying too, like they made Ronaldo do today. But then again, if anybody can break the fort, it must be the best in the business right now. Mr. Mbappe. I can't wait for that match. If he fails and cries too, then maybe the old man in blue will get a chance!

Morocco did let one goal in against Canada. While it involved a slight deflection off a Moroccan defender, it was a legitimate shot at goal by a Canadian striker (Davis, I think), so it was only marginally an "own goal". And Canada came within half a ball of scoring another (the ball bounced inside the line after hitting the top bar, but was adjudged not to have fallen fully behind the goal line).

[PKBasu]

Morocco completes the footballing reconquest of al-Andalus. Portugal was called Andalus al-Gharb by the Moors, and tourists still flock to the beaches of the Algarve in southwestern Portugal. Ramos, the hat-trick man in the 6-1 triumph over Switzerland, was in fact born in the Algarve. Nesyri, the goal-scorer for Morocco tonight, plays for Seville, the capital of today’s Andalusia (and the heart of the Almovarid and Almohad kingdoms that ruled southern Spain and Portugal from Morocco).

Yassine Bounou was again the star of the day for Morocco, saving shot after brilliant shot by the Portuguese forwards. The Moroccan style of play is reminiscent of Italy’s in 1982, built around rock-solid defence — and scoring off breakaway counterattacks. What Dino Zoff was to that Italian side, Bounou is to Morocco.

So Africa (and the Arab/Berber world) has its first World Cup semifinalist. Congratulations to Morocco!

The France-Morocco semifinal would be a delicious prospect too — especially from the standpoint of history. In 732, the Franks led by Charles Martel defeated the Muslims (Moors/Arabs) at the Battle of Tours. Martel’s grandson was Charlemagne, whose statue still adorns the square in front of the Notre Dame cathedral, the ultimate emblem of French nationhood in the heart of Paris. When France first won the World Cup, their talisman was Zinedine Zidane, whose parents were Berber (Algerian Kabyle), as is the mother of Mbappé, France’s current star (whose father is Cameroonian, giving Mbappé his Christian identity). The French are arguably a majority-African-emigre side since at least 1998.

[PKBasu]

The France-England match was a compelling spectacle. England dominated the second half, but Harry Kane's missed penalty did them in (after he had converted a previous penalty quite expertly against his Spurs teammate, Lloris). France were much the better attacking side, but their defence was asinine, conceding two penalties during regular time, neither of which was necessary to prevent England from scoring (on neither occasion was there real danger of England scoring from the move, especially the first one at the edge of the D).

France could be in trouble against Morocco if the French defence proves as fragile in the SF. The French goalie is brilliant, but how often can he save his side? I suspect Croatia will surprise Argentina, as the Croatian defence is impeccable too.

[jayakris]

Morocco did let one goal in against Canada. While it involved a slight deflection off a Moroccan defender, it was a legitimate shot at goal by a Canadian striker (Davis, I think), so it was only marginally an "own goal". And Canada came within half a ball of scoring another (the ball bounced inside the line after hitting the top bar, but was adjudged not to have fallen fully behind the goal line).

Well, I also remembered it as a deflection of what could have been a goal, but I went back and checked the goal in the FOX highlights (Morocco-Canada). Not so. It was only a cross, and a second Moroccan defender was perfectly in place behind the guy who deflected it off the goalie's hand into the goal. Canada wouldn't have scored there. In fact, way ahead when the Canadian was going up the left flank, we can see Bono doing his job calling the defenders in to handle that cross. This was actually a straight own-goal. The commentators immediately said it was, too. Actually I don't know how the VAR found Morocco's third goal in the match to be of an offside though.

But the bar has indeed helped them in at least 2 other goals that could have gone in. Some 4 shots that hit the bar and would somehow go out, including in the one in the Canada game (which was clearly not a goal, as the entire ball had not fallen inside the line). Portugal had that last minute shot from the right that hit the left post and would have ricocheted in if the shot was even half a foot more in. There was one off the post in the Spain game (and then another one in the penalty shootout as well). That is why I said that Morocco had been lucky too. But how few mistakes they make in defense, is something that strikes me whenever they play. The coordination, communication, and the diehard determination to do whatever it takes to put your foot in the way of the ball, is beautiful to see.

[jayakris]

Meanwhile, I read that some Portuguese players were mad that they had an Argentinian referee in the game against Morocco ("Why don't they just give the cup to Argentina" and all that). Have they no shame? You lost, you colonial thieves. Go home and cry. How disrespectful of Morocco (and I guess France too) to say that. These Europeans!

[Rajiv]

5 goals and 3 or 4 assists

Messi the Great, the last assist today was Maradonaesque

[Atithee]

Even though I predicted France will win, I love Argentina’s team. It’d be great if they could win it all.

[jayakris]

Even though I predicted France will win, I love Argentina’s team. It’d be great if they could win it all.

Compare them to Morocco too though - as Morocco may even beat France. I think Argentina has the kind of defensive discipline that Morocco shows (though they have had a couple of breakdowns like against Netherlands at the end of regulation - and against S.Arabia earlier). But they have held a lot of good teams to no scores recently. So Morocco may not be able to break them and ARG may not underestimate them like the Europeans did. But if Morocco needs to win this, they will have to stop Mbappe first tomorrow, and then Messi. Not an easy task. I can't wait for FRA vs MAR tomorrow. I had written off today's game to ARG already and it went exactly as I thought. Actually I didn't expect to see this much of Messi magic. That third goal assist was unbelievable. He took on one of the best young defensive talents out there, who did everything he could to cover him, but the legend danced around him and gave the football on a platter for Juliano to score with. We are all going to miss Messi after this world cup if he retires

[arjun2761]

France was my 2nd best team after Brazil, so expecting them to win tomorrow comfortably and being slight favorites in the final because of Messi’s magic. Of course the games are played on the field and the lesser teams have won their fair share so far…

[Atithee]

Morocco will NOT beat France. What are the betting odds?

[jayakris]

Morocco will NOT beat France. What are the betting odds?

Maybe you are right. But betting odds have not worked out in Morocco's case so far. Here is what I find as the latest odds before the matches from Caesar's sportsbook. I don't know much about betting, so I will just quote

--"Caesars Sportsbook lists Croatia vs. Morocco money line: Croatia +114, Morocco +270, Draw +210."
--"Caesars Sportsbook lists Belgium as -101 favorites (risk $101 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Belgium vs. Morocco odds. Morocco are +295 underdogs, a draw is priced at +230, and the over/under for total match goals is 2.5."
--"Caesars Sportsbook lists Morocco as the -125 favorites on the money line (risk $125 to win $110) in its latest Canada vs. Morocco odds. Morocco +118"
--"The Spaniards are -175 favorites (risk $175 to win $100) in the latest Spain vs. Morocco odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the Moroccans are +525 underdogs. A draw is priced at +275 and the over/under for total goals is set at 2.5."
--"Caesars Sportsbook lists Portugal as -145 favorites (risk $145 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in its latest Morocco vs. Portugal odds. Morocco are +450 underdogs, a draw is priced at +245, and the over/under for total goals scored is set at 2.5. Portugal are -333 to advance, while Morocco are +240."
--"France are the -190 favorite (risk $190 to win $100) in the latest France vs. Morocco odds from Caesars Sportsbook, with Morocco the +575 underdog. A draw is priced at +285 and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5."

So the question is - what are the odds that betting odds have been wrong 5 times in a row? You could have put down $100 each on Morocco in those 5 matches and got back around $2150 total for the 5 matches for which they were heavy underdogs! I am not betting on France either!

[Atithee]

All set for the final. France vs. Argentina.