FIFA World Cup 2022

Winner?

  • Brazil

    Votes: 8 20.0%

  • Germany

    Votes: 2 5.0%

  • France

    Votes: 10 25.0%

  • Spain

    Votes: 2 5.0%

  • Argentina

    Votes: 7 17.5%

  • England

    Votes: 5 12.5%

  • Netherlands

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other

    Votes: 6 15.0%
  • Total voters
    40
  • Poll closed .
Kralingen

Kralingen

G.O.A.T.
RS said:
Benzema maybe before last year or so.

Kane has the British behind him but his trophy count is not flattering since he left Chelsea and prem fans can be brutal.
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Lewandowski is excellent and fully deserved that ballon d’or, I’m upset he got robbed.

But man, he just doesn’t show up enough in big matches for me. Seriously, can you name one big match since 2012 that he truly took over? Is he probably the best finisher in the world? Yes. Can he bag hat tricks against the 12th best team in the league all day long? Of course.

Best striker of his generation?

no. He’s not the all around impactful player that other guys from his generation are. Vast majority of his goals are made for him on a plate. So no, I don’t think he’s overall as good as Suarez, Zlatan, Kane, Benzema, or Henry, although his goal scoring record speaks for itself. I think all of those players could’ve been just as successful for Bayern, but put Lewa in a mid 2010s Spurs or Suarez era Liverpool in place of Bale, Kane or Suarez, and Lewa couldn’t do what they did.
 
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I

insideguy

Legend
Kralingen said:
Lewandowski is excellent and fully deserved that ballon d’or, I’m upset he got robbed.

But man, he just doesn’t show up enough in big matches for me. Seriously, can you name one big match since 2012 that he truly took over? Is he probably the best finisher in the world? Yes. Can he bag hat tricks against the 12th best team in the league all day long? Of course.

Best striker of his generation?

no. He’s not the all around impactful player that other guys from his generation are. Vast majority of his goals are made for him on a plate. So no, I don’t think he’s overall as good as Suarez, Zlatan, Kane, Benzema, or Henry, although his goal scoring record speaks for itself. I think all of those players could’ve been just as successful for Bayern, but put Lewa in a mid 2010s Spurs or Suarez era Liverpool in place of Bale, Kane or Suarez, and Lewa couldn’t do what they did.
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Personally its hard to rip on Lewandowski based on international success. I know many dont follow baseball. But to me its like ripping on Mike Trout because the Angles stink every year. He is one dude on a team. That doesn't make him not great.
 
RS

RS

Talk Tennis Guru
Kralingen said:
Lewandowski is excellent and fully deserved that ballon d’or, I’m upset he got robbed.

But man, he just doesn’t show up enough in big matches for me. Seriously, can you name one big match since 2012 that he truly took over? Is he probably the best finisher in the world? Yes. Can he bag hat tricks against the 12th best team in the league all day long? Of course.

Best striker of his generation?

no. He’s not the all around impactful player that other guys from his generation are. Vast majority of his goals are made for him on a plate. So no, I don’t think he’s overall as good as Suarez, Zlatan, Kane, Benzema, or Henry, although his goal scoring record speaks for itself. I think all of those players could’ve been just as successful for Bayern, but put Lewa in a mid 2010s Spurs or Suarez era Liverpool in place of Bale, Kane or Suarez, and Lewa couldn’t do what they did.
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All great forwards.

Speaking of Lewandowski vs the big teams I think his BD CL run in 12-13 was big for him. He was the reason they reached the final but we will see how he fares vs the bigger teams during his time in Barca as he has just started.

Suarez was another deadly one. Felt like he was a greater player maker than Lewa as well as a deadly scorer. Lewa seems a bit less the creative type but as you said he bangs in the goals.

Bale has been unlucky with injury a lot but his last season at Spurs and his first season at Madrid were probably the days he was among the world's best.
 
Sudacafan

Sudacafan

Bionic Poster
Hamnavoe said:
Poland aren't the worst team out there, just always so dull. Poor teams are OK if you can laugh at them or if they've got spirit, like Wales. Poland go down in the groups without a whimper practically every time. I'd rather someone different had a turn to not be any good.
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I thought it was Saudi Arabia.
 
Poisoned Slice

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
RS said:
Hazard and Neymar didn't strike me as underrated.

Sorry for this comment spamming I have no life.

Hazard has fallen off since he left Chelsea. He was ranked high in Chelsea.
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I'm happy Messi got me those penalty fantasy points. Everything else doesn't matter.
 
Legend of Borg

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
Kralingen said:
i was joking with the whole Fraud thing, but there are some legitimate questions about his international performances that aren’t easily answered. I do think he’s better than Ronaldo overall, but that begs the question, why doesn’t he show it in the biggest moments?

Reading the above perspective from @Sudacafan, an Argentine, brings up one of the interesting parts of the debate. In literally every other single international GOAT debate, a player’s country always stands totally United behind them; Portuguese for Ronaldo, Spanish for Nadal, Swiss for Federer, Serbia for Djokovic.

but in Argentina, his home country, that is not the case for Mr. Lionel Messi. In fact he’s widely criticized, a large number of people believe Maradona is greater and in fact actively argue against Messi. How do we explain that?
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Probably because he's being judged mostly on his international success.

Fans at home overlook the rest of his resume and look at how many world cups he's won for them.

If he under-performs for the national team it's a blow to the national pride/ego, even if he's statistically one of the greatest player to ever play football.
 
Poisoned Slice

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
I've exposed myself a bit as well. 2 defenders in my lineup that have not started. Just glad goat Messi was there to pick up the pieces for me today.
 
Im(moral) Winner

Im(moral) Winner

G.O.A.T.
Legend of Borg said:
Probably because he's being judged mostly on his international success.

Fans at home overlook the rest of his resume and look at how many world cups he's won for them.

If he under-performs for the national team it's a blow to the national pride/ego, even if he's statistically one of the greatest player to ever play football.
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It's very impressive to score hat tricks against Real Betis
 
H

Hamnavoe

Hall of Fame
Saw someone mention Giroud online and thought the BBC must have called him up to be a pundit. Good on him keeping going at the advanced age of 46.

Australia starting to look a lot more as expected now.
 
H

Hamnavoe

Hall of Fame
The Australian full-backs, Atkinson and Behich, play for Hearts and Dundee United and aren't thought of as defensively good even by Scottish Premiership standards. The fact that they've been played in a four up against Mbappe and Dembele on the wings is astonishing.
 
Poisoned Slice

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
Tokyo Vice looks worth a watch. 8-B

Showing the goals from the Argentina vs Saudi Arabia game. Sad that I didn't draft in ''the golden boy of Saudi Arabian football.'' Maybe next round.
 
Poisoned Slice

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
Where does Mbappé rank on the world level? A solid division 3 player, I imagine.

Giroud with another. 4-1. France are looking sweet now. My Mum's prediction vs my Brazil prediction. Winner to get dinner.

Looks like he is making the most of it. I guess he wouldn't have been in if Benzema was fit.
 
Kralingen

Kralingen

G.O.A.T.
Viva La France.

can’t believe people were so low on them coming in… even without Kante and Benzema they look like a machine.
 
Federer and Del Potro

Federer and Del Potro

Talk Tennis Guru
Poisoned Slice said:
Where does Mbappé rank on the world level? A solid division 3 player, I imagine.

Giroud with another. 4-1. France are looking sweet now. My Mum's prediction vs my Brazil prediction. Winner to get dinner.

Looks like he is making the most of it. I guess he wouldn't have been in if Benzema was fit.
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Division 3 sounds about right. Easy to score hat tricks against Toulouse.
 
3loudboys

3loudboys

G.O.A.T.
Griezeman has been very effective - oozes quality every touch. Mbappe will grab the headlines but Antoine has been top notch as well.
 
Poisoned Slice

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
Feña14 said:
Mbappe says hold my beer ;)
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Mbappé is a crackin little Vauxhall conference player. Yeah, he stepped up again tonight. I'm usually ok with my defenders getting no points, but not even having them in the starting lineup is a bit of a disaster. It's like you said, you can never really tell what is going to happen with the international selections. Perhaps Timber and Kounde will start game 2, when I've decided to leave them out because that's just what happens in my world. :p
 
Kralingen

Kralingen

G.O.A.T.
Feña14 said:
Mbappe says hold my beer ;)



Still can’t believe we decided against him for £25 Million last summer in favour of signing Saul on loan.
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Even though Conte had been gone for 3 years and Mourinho for 7, that “need experienced winners” thing is quite pervasive. Tchoua though was already outperforming almost every non-Rodri DM in the world in 2020 though.
 
Feña14

Feña14

Legend
Poisoned Slice said:
Mbappé is a crackin little Vauxhall conference player. Yeah, he stepped up again tonight. I'm usually ok with my defenders getting no points, but not even having them in the starting lineup is a bit of a disaster. It's like you said, you can never really tell what is going to happen with the international selections. Perhaps Timber and Kounde will start game 2, when I've decided to leave them out because that's just what happens in my world. :p
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Yeah I was shocked when doing some research. Martinez doesn’t start for Argentina? Crazy. I was caught out by France tonight, Theo Hernandez is top 5 in the world when it comes to LB’s.. Ferland Mendy is in there too. Turns out Theo didn’t start and Mendy didn’t even make the squad! Feel bad for Lucas Hernandez, but it seemed a strange choice having a centre back at LB. Konate over Saliba too. Not that our fantasy teams really matter, worked out pretty well for France which is what matters.

Great shout on that Tokyo Vice btw, I caught it half way through when he was taking that exam. Looks good. I’ve turned over and I’ll watch from the start when I get the chance.
 
Poisoned Slice

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
Feña14 said:
Yeah I was shocked when doing some research. Martinez doesn’t start for Argentina? Crazy. I was caught out by France tonight, Theo Hernandez is top 5 in the world when it comes to LB’s.. Ferland Mendy is in there too. Turns out Theo didn’t start and Mendy didn’t even make the squad! Feel bad for Lucas Hernandez, but it seemed a strange choice having a centre back at LB. Konate over Saliba too. Not that our fantasy teams really matter, worked out pretty well for France which is what matters.

Great shout on that Tokyo Vice btw, I caught it half way through when he was taking that exam. Looks good. I’ve turned over and I’ll watch from the start when I get the chance.
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Same with me, I remember hearing about it when people were wondering when it would come to our TV. Then it took me by surprise tonight. Japan criminal underground is always fascinating, mainly due to playing the Yakuza videogames. I now consider myself a loyal viewer.

Glad you did your homework. I failed miserably, this isn't my usual hyperbole either. I just went with the names for my selections. Nobody to blame but myself. lol
 
Poisoned Slice

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
Can only hope Brazil step up. Can their defense handle the rough, ready Euro action? hmm Starting to think of some exotic European studios but never mind about that. Samba style all the way. Mon!!!!!
 
Poisoned Slice

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
In the end, I guess Marky said it best.

We were all looking forward to watching Martinez, but you have to remember we live in a world where Otamendi is in before Martinez. Welcome to international football, mate. It's just full of little quirks. We've got Harry Maguire on over here.

 
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