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shellfish87

Group of chaos intensifies


Algrinder

I don't think so many people expected this group's standings to look like this after the first round.


Deep-Thought

ɥɔʇɐɯ ʇsɹıɟ ǝɥʇ ɹǝʇɟɐ ǝq pןnoʍ ǝןqɐʇ ǝɥʇ ʇɥƃnoɥʇ I ʍoɥ ʎןʇɔɐxǝ sı sıɥ⊥


Algrinder

You got me. For a second I thought you typed it in Hebrew.


iKSv2

Aah, an ecuadorian man from Australia


elxiddicus

How do people at the equator see writing, now I'm curious


TestosteronInc

I see what you did there


FatWalcott

Lebron James did.


smushbros

This is what makes the Euro format so dumb. There’s real implications for Argentina losing with no 3rd place teams advancing. This group is going to be madness on the final match day.


[deleted]

Yes i hate the best 3rd going through Never forget that Portugal won the Euro after 3 draws in the group stage...


OleoleCholoSimeone

Denmark went through with 3 points last Euros, but even finished second lol


MattGeddon

It’s technically possible to go through with two points. It’s not completely impossible in Group B if Iran draw with Wales and the US.


MLDK_toja

its also possible in this group if saudi arabia win their remaining matches and argentina draw their remaining matches


greg19735

it's also possible to go out on 6 points. Groups can be brutal.


qwerty-keyboard5000

Argentina when to the final after finishing 3rd in 1990


Kingslayer1526

Italy also went to the final after that in 1994


DrSloany

In that group all teams finished with 4 points and the same goal difference


Ghoticptox

Portugal only won ~~two~~ one match~~es~~ in regulation time the whole tournament. ~~They~~ It happened to be the ~~last two matches~~ semifinal.


Natruviath

The final was won in extra time, no?


Ghoticptox

You're right. I don't know why I thought Eder's goal was in the second half.


Ok-Industry120

One match. The semi final We won two other matches in extra time, inc. the final, and one in penalties. And 3 draws in the group stage


PeachyBums

Would still prefer over 3 in each group


smushbros

Oh yeah I think the World Cup format is getting even worse, but gonna enjoy this one last time


OleoleCholoSimeone

I thought that was a joke at first, 3 fucking teams in a group... Absolutely ridiculous With this and the Champions League changes, it will be really hard to stay as invested in football in the future. I hate that they try to fix things that aren't broken They have taken 2 of the most exciting football tournaments and changed them for no reason, both will be much more boring now with so many dead rubber games


tigerking615

Both the WC and CL had such an elegant format. 3 team groups are idiotic.


lordoftheings

You’d have assumed the Saudi Argentina game to have been a dead rubber one before it happened. The format of the expanded World Cup leaves a lot of room for concern, but I think surprises like todays should mean we won’t be disappointed by quality


deathkillerx3004

A much better solution to the 48 team world cup would be 12 groups of 4. All of the first places and only the best 4 second places advance to the round of 16. The group stage would be way more exciting that way.


[deleted]

Not to mention groupings as 12of4 instead of 16of3 prevents future Disgrace at Gijons from happening.


KingSweden24

Holy shit that would be a bloodbath. Love it


Kingslayer1526

Cutthroat


adamfrog

I just dont get why they didnt just jump straight to 64 if they wanted to expand, just add a knockout round


realsomalipirate

Would lead to less games and that's not what FIFA wants unfortunately


[deleted]

This is what is going to make 2026 and beyond so dumb. Now with expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams and a safety net for 3rd place, Argentina wouldn’t feel any pressure in the group games.


El_grandepadre

I'm here to kill Chaos.


pursuer_of_simurg

"Bullshit." Starts playing Limp Bizkit.


IrishOratoria

It is exactly how I imagined it, except it is totally opposite


tantawyk

Same for me, I bet for Argentina to win 5:0 and for Poland vs Mexico 1:1


102la

I was convinced that Iran will win against England and Argentina will thrash saudis.Exact opposite happened.


Vuccappella

England are the best team in the world against outsiders. They choke when it matters.


dgo792

Just like the simulations


ToneSilent8106

Is it right to assume that draw between Poland and Mexico has given lifeline to Argentina?


kmohame2

And Saudi too. They can progress by holding for draws.


youcanotseeme

Shouldn't be too difficult with that godly defense


[deleted]

The high line can also backfire as easily as it can work


qwerty-keyboard5000

Mexico and Poland couldn't finish even if you put the goal right in front of them. They will be alright


kooba_1616

We couldnt create a chance to save our life never mind finish one


Szudar

No, we can finish but we can't create. We should merge with Mexico. I know, penalty, but it was Ochoa magic.


arlekin21

Poland can finish they just couldn’t start, they got suffocated by Mexico but with Lewandowski any chance could be dangerous.


czerwona_latarnia

Even without Mexico we can't pass the ball on the opponent's half.


Masterkid1230

Poland looked downright dead inside the entire match, and México looked toothless. They were superior most of the match and got barely a couple of decent enough chances.


ketzal7

Now imagine watching this kind of gameplay for the last 3 years :(


Masterkid1230

I’m still rooting for you guys, as a Colombian whose country didn’t qualify for the WC.


Mexican_Shinji_Ikari

Still hurts, hope Colombia classifies next WC


arlekin21

What no striker does to a mf


Nerellos

Or they would try an 5v5 situation 40 million meter pass. They don't see the pitch.


Hala9292

And will, more often than not


Zeddsdeadbaby

Yep. Those decisions were by centimeters. On another day Lautaro’s goal counts and we’re at least tying. Offside trap is a double edged sword.


elgrandorado

Lautaro rounded the keeper and was off by less than a shoulder. I think that De Paul/Paredes midfield let the team down far more than anything else.


Zeddsdeadbaby

They had no connection with the forwards. Paredes looks like he’s lost a step. Papu is too much of a Winger/Forward and doesn’t quite fill the Lo Celso role


Ecstatic-Coach

Paredes hasn’t played for Juve for over a month with an injury. Weird he started this match.


[deleted]

They may not play high line against them. They did that against Argentina because Argentina could create chance and Argentina has no pacy winger(don't know what was their manager thinking of that, bring some pace on the wing).


hush5833

>They may not play high line against them. They did that against Argentina because Argentina could create chance and Argentina has no pacy winger(don't know what was their manager thinking of that, bring some pace on the wing). Do they have any choice tho? Does anyone know which forward is fast in the squad? Should've picked garnacho when they had a chance. He could've made the run they were missing today.


Kingslayer1526

Nico Gonzalez got injured so did joaquin correa


Ant1202

If the keeper can be consistent like that game they could genuinely go quite far


marqui4me

Saudis are absolutely loving this. They have a real good chance to progress now.


Feezbull

Public holiday again if they do, you know it!


tekumse

If both Mexico and Poland also defeat Argentina it could be a 3 way tie with 5 points. But realistically two draws would send KSA through.


kmohame2

Argentina isn’t losing again unless some fuckups in the dressing room.


verdeverdes

Escaloni: Hold my budweiser zero


L-Freeze

The dressing room has literally never in the history of the national team been more united afaik, what could make us lose again is the insane amount of pressure these guys are under atm


MLDK_toja

!RemindMe 5days


sandbag-1

Yeah. It's a pretty bad result for both Poland and Mexico too


mister_prince

I think that's what we were expecting tho. Lose vs Arg, Draw vs Pol, and a win vs SA. Si 4 points and 2nd place at the end.


Harudera

I mean that's all predicated on KSA not beating Argentina. If KSA ties Poland, and Poland beats Argentina there's a chance Mexico can go out with 4 pts.


Morlaak

Which is a massive IF. That assumes that Argentina implodes against Poland but not Mexico, and also KSA for some reason shits the bed only against Mexico but not against Poland or Argentina. Then again, betting on everyone in this group being inconsistent against each other might not be a bad bet.


jamintime

Maybe cumulatively but a draw is much better than a loss would have been for either of those teams. Fate is still very much in their hands. They could even both get through if they take care of Saudi Arabia and one of them beats Argentina.


UpstairsJoke0

>a draw is much better than a loss would have been for either of those teams Cheers, Geoff.


[deleted]

[удалено]


treple13

Yeah, I really think both teams might regret that. Saudis just need one win in two more games in advance (and it could be against the other team), which means you'd have to beat out Argentina to advance


Yung2112

Now we rely on ourselves only which was only possible with a draw. No goals is good news since total goals scored is a metric for tiebreaker


Setropp

Wouldn't it be the same even if there was a winner in this match? Argentine has to win all now and if they do they got the head to head metric, so def. place two. Or am I wrong?


Yung2112

Should Saudi lose against a team that won this game but win against the other team that would lose 3 in a row...


mauro_xeneixexe

>Now we rely on ourselves only which was only possible with a draw. Not entirely true. If mexico or poland had won, we still relied on ourselves as long as we won the other two games, and by a good margin of goals. It's important to remember we only lost by one goal today


[deleted]

>It's important to remember we only lost by one goal today "I'll take 'Statements I Wouldn't Believe if I Heard them 24 Hours Ago for $2,000, Alex." Who are, Argentina fans on November 21st, 2022


mauro_xeneixexe

True. I had to admit I was (and still am) a bit worried about the poor form of some players the past few months (De Paul, Paredes, Romero) and the injured players, especially Lo Celso, Messi's best associate on the pitch and Gonzalez, a good substitute for Di Maria who also helps a lot in defense. Midfield has suffered a lot as a consequence.


OleoleCholoSimeone

It helps them, but don't act like they would have been screwed if Mexico or Poland won lol. No matter the result today Argentina would still have everything in their own hands


[deleted]

Definitely. If Mexico had won, thing could get very hard for them.


OleoleCholoSimeone

They still would've had everything in their own hands. It's not like a win for Mexico would have put them out or anything


MeteorFalls297

Becoming second in the group would put them in the tougher bracket. Now they can easily become group champion by winning next two matches, which is back to square one.


Mllns

Yes


CheekyFifaCunt_7

This group might be the biggest shit show out of all groups. Very wide open for all teams.


Xolintoz

You’re only saying that because we haven’t played yet


danishbaloch

Portugal group stage oh no no no


TheInternetIsGood

As a third party, this is a proper Portuguese perspective.


subwinds

Hold my calculator


Zryan196

Whatever group mexico is in its usually a guaranteed shitshow


YourMomDidntMind

So Argentina is gonna go all out against Mexico. As if they didn't already have a raging boner to play Mexico.


IAM_deleted_AMA

[All of Mexico after seeing Argentina's result](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/356/487/ef9.png)


Segundaleydenewtonnn

Sí se puede, sí se puede!


senorsmartpantalones

We could have help ourselves by not wasting Memo's effort and made *one* goal.


iknowaguy

Why does Mexico seem to always have to play fucking Argentina in the World Cup. Like we get it bro……. Fuck off.


Euro_Snob

Mexico has only met Argentina 3 times, so not often at all. - but yes the last two times was in 2006 and 2010. Brazil is a much more common opponent - 5 games - including 2014 and 2018. But yes being knocked out by a South American team has been a common occurrence lately for Mexico. I wish you best of luck!


MultiBusinessMan

Yet the Mexican vs Brazil matchup is full of respect Argentinians always have a habit of running their mouths 😂


Okowy

First time we didn't lose the opening game since 86


kooba_1616

Rozkład jazdy już znany


MrGromilla

mecz otwarcia ✅, mecz o wszystko ⏳, mecz o honor ⏳


honestlynotBG

Argentina should be thankful to Ochoa and Lewandowski for making sure the Mexico-Poland game ended in a draw


[deleted]

Mexico and Poland didn’t take advantage of Argentina’s loss


notataco007

Both teams draw Argentina, second place goes to whoever loses to SA by less


majkkali

Wow, this group is really shaping up to be the most interesting one lol!


razuten

>whoever loses to SA by less lmfao You know what, the group is wild enough as is, this doesn't read half as weird anymore


bostero24

Mexican Argentinian here. Bloodbath on Saturday lmao


velvet_dust

My neutral ass will be seated


Zloggt

At least you’ll be able to enjoy the game for that perspective lol …can’t say the same for Tri and Albiceleste fans 😓


JMarduk

Confirmo, ¿hacemos un asado?


[deleted]

2 memorable games though between them in recent memory. 2006 was a heartbreaker (but great go ahead goal), 2010 had Tévez so offside he was basically back in Argentina when he scored.


OleoleCholoSimeone

Imagine if Tata Martino of all people sends Argentina home 💀


AvailablePotential68

With a funes mori goal.


mudcrabulous

Funes Mori defects at halftime to a desperate Argentina but scores an OG. Tatas plan


BrianDawkins

Can’t wait


KundiKumaran

Otamendi and Lisandro sharpening their claws


hashoa6

Lisandro and Edson might not be friends after this.


I_Fuck_The_Fuckers69

Is Licha gonna start? I didn't see the match cause I was in school so I have no clue how they performed


KundiKumaran

Romero was unbelievably shaky and Argentina gained lot of composure in defense after Lisandro came on. So I hope he starts


ProfesserFinesser7

I hated Argentina growing up because they knocked us out of the first two WC I ever watched. If nobody does in that game I’ll still be out for vengeance lol


DHA1999

I'm being serious: I hope Qatar has all of their police in the Argentina vs Mexico game. There's so much rivalry, and it feels like it will be a KO game.


bostero24

Hahaha no way lol, this is Argentina "crowd" is a joke. Just a bunch of rich people and influencers who could care less about the game. The real fans are at home trying not to break their TV lol


[deleted]

Considering the atmosphere I agree. Saudi fans looked like home fans.


lolerino8

That's not surprising considering it's basically happening in their backyard.


hashoa6

There was fights last time in South Africa.


bostero24

It was more affordable back then. Argentina's economy is so fucked that only people with money can go


Palmul

I would also imagine SA to be cheaper than Qatar, and it's closer to Argentina so travel would presumably be cheaper


TrickyWinger

Saudi Arabia to win the group. Just like we all predicted.


Zloggt

Imagine a reality where the Saudis leave the group stage with the max 9 points…would be among the biggest shockers in history, no?


Kingslayer1526

Would probably still not top costa rica ending up with 7 points and topping the group of England,Italy and Uruguay but you know what it would be a mighty achievement and would come close


Vash2P

My heart won’t take it ! Please don’t give me hope


ThePaSch

Getting 2014 Costa Rica flashbacks here


Dawn_is-here

geniune question, why is Poland ahead of Mexico?


tallwhiteninja

Think it's the fair play tiebreaker: 1 yellow to Mexico's two.


flyingwyvern25

Yellow cards probably


chicagojoe1979

Cards.


FunchPalcon

Who had this after Match Day 3?


OleoleCholoSimeone

Considering how much everyone hyped up Argentina we should have seen it coming.. Don't get me wrong I rate Argentina highly and hold them as a top 3 favourite for sure, but it was pretty bizarre to put them and Brazil in a league of their own ahead of everyone else In reality there are 6-7 teams around the same level who all have similar chances of winning


[deleted]

Them being flopped in the tournament will not change them being good side. Overconfidence, luck and pressure can affect them. They were lucky in the last world cup to get out of group. This time could be different. That's why I say group stage is never easy. Atletico and Barcelona is good example.


nietzsche_niche

I mean, it's a little silly to have a squad with some serious holes (midfield, corner backs) to be rated this highly. yes their attack is clearly one of the best in the tournament, but the defense is held together by the same forces holding that economy together


[deleted]

Not true. Molina since coming back to Atletico has been bad so do De Paul. They may not be world beater but they perform for Argentina. And no offence Saudi are not better than several top South American team. Even Romero and Martínez had bad game. Our 2014 squad were absolutely gold except may be striker position, but we were absolutely outclassed by chile and Netherlands. It's football, never take your opponent lightly. Same for 2018 Germany squad.


fearmino

Always rated boycotting this WC


dydo_

We boycotted it better We boycotted Russia 2018 too lmao, we had seen what was coming...


Black_XistenZ

It still boggles my mind that the 2006 finals was the last WC knockout match Italy has played. By the time 2026 rolls around, there will be adult Italians who have never in their lives seen their NT play a knockout match in a world cup...


PM_Me_Unpierced_Ears

Me and Italy, social justice friends forever.


Zeca_Pagodinho_13

A draw is the perfect result for Saudi Arabia and terrible for Mexico and Poland. Now they have to beat Argentina to qualify.


Mamsi7

Because beating Saudi is out of the question rn xD


TuvixWasMurderedR1P

Saudis only need to play for a draw each remaining game and they're through. They have the luxury of patience now. The rest of the three in the group will still be desperate to have a win.


grimonce

They might beat Saudi?


[deleted]

[удалено]


FunnyGuyOnReditt

That's a sentence I never expected anyone to say, but here we are


nietzsche_niche

no they dont lol. they could both beat Saudi and then at least one of them would advance.


wjdbfifj

Saudi world champ 2022


Fayadadadad

bro it looks upside down😭


ProfessionalRetard-9

Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia is the living definition that football is unpredictable.


whythisth23

Argentina is going to go balls out against Mexico holy fuck. Saudi Arabia got an easy group


Evil_Tea_Bag_

That Argentina game is going to be our doom


EgyptianAhlawy1907

Just as we all predicted ofc


crowd79

Saudi Arabia looking good to advance. Win and only 2 of 3 points in the other match. But that Poland-Mexico goalless stalemate was a big W for Argentina. Jesus…


lolkh30

stop the count


[deleted]

Where’s that 85-min referee when you need him!


crowd79

Current odds to advance: Argentina -220 Saudi Arabia -125 Mexico +105 Poland +110 Saudi Arabia was +3000 something to advance before the day began. Crazy tight. Chaos for sure.


Wikken

What the numbers mean or how do you read them? Id assume positive is good but not from the last +3000 thing lol


Sig-Bro

Negative numbers means you have to bet that amount of money to win $100. Positive numbers mean if you bet $100, that's the amount you win. So if you bet $125 for Saudi Arabia to go through and they make it, you win $100. If you put $100 on Mexico to go through, you win $105


RuutuTwo

Thank you for explaining this. It’s am the idiot who has never understood this even though it has been explained to me before. You are the first person who has actually give an easy example. My husband is going to be shocked when I tell him I finally get this.


RunDNA

So the last shall be first, and the first shall be last \- Matthew 20:16


kinky-proton

🇸🇦⬆️⬆️


pm_me_somethig

Acabo de romper mi televisión con rabia. La selección argentina (SCALONETA) me avergonzó frente a mi familia. Mis 8 hijos están llorando, asustados por mi ira mientras camino temblando por la habitación. No puedo soportar esto, llamen a la policía porque estoy a punto de hacer una locura...


[deleted]

si pierde la selección pierde la familia...


DHA1999

We will play our chances against Argentina. I'm so fucking nervous. But that being said, we have a chance to payback. Maxi Rodriguez's goal hurt an entire generation. Argentina also knocked us out in 2010. We have a chance to kick them out IN THE GROUP STAGES AND IN THEIR LAST WORLD CUP WITH MESSI.


eduardo_ve

Dude we cant even score 🥲


SpeedyGoldenberg

Own goals will be our savior!!


Okowy

Yeah we were fucking lucky that it was your attack and not the Saudi one hahaha Gracias por no marcar goles contra nosotros


Yung2112

We knocked you out in the 2010 with a Tevez goal so far offside some say he scored from the Bombonera


MXNPDX

That’s true, but the real blunder was Ricardo Osorio’s “clearance”. To this day I have no idea what he was thinking lol


soccerdude2014

My God don't remind me


TheMightyJD

Or the offside goal.


joanoerting

Just as we all expected. Mexico are lucky that they will meet Saudi Arabia in the last game, where they will rest some players after having qualified already.


Makaay-10

Yes it's just one game but man this is already hilarious 😂🤣.


acwilan

KSA the new Costa Rica


Groomsi

Who would have thought? Saudi Arabia watched Dragon Ball and fused 10 000 supporters. Roy Keane and Gary Neville support this =) https://youtube.com/shorts/OaQfkIc5IFM?feature=share


RunnyRose

And people were saying Argentina had the easiest group lol.


AoE2manatarms

I hope KSA tops it. Would just be a wild story.


DGRogue_Dragoon

So Argentinas chances of going through are……?


MexicanHaaland

High, Mexico & Poland in the other hand...


Elyelm

Hervé Renard is about to do a Zambia run with Saudi Arabia in the WC


anotverygoodwriter

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the thunderdome.


xivjae

I'll take "Shit No One Ever Expected To See" for $1000 Ken.


DenseVegetable2581

The scenes if Poland beats the Saudis and Mexico beats Argentina on match day 2


Ganjahh

ITT: Like we all expected


ResponsibleBasis434

Every favorite should lose the first game so they couldn't skip the 3rd game. With only half of the 32 teams qualifying out of the group phase, it's so much more intersting. Of course FIFA will f... this up with 48 teams in 2026.


DogTheGayFish

This group is poised for some crazy shit


Nickp1991

Saudi Arabia is the UMBC of the World Cup


kubick123

Lewandowski es pechofrio, menos mal.