The Final Third

Football discussion, tactical breakdowns, and opinions.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

Argentina looked dead and buried against Egypt, but Messi turned the game around by returning to his roots.

A thread 🧵

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

Terrible penalty from Mbappe but I wonder if the long wait played into his mind?

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

@DaniArsenal777 @Ben_f86 @JacobsBen Prior to Balogun’s suspended ban, a tackle like Quansah’s would receive an extra game or 2 but I understand England fan’s frustrations with this. Especially with their current situation at right back.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

@AvaxG1212 @JacobsBen It doesn't matter if you hit the ball first if your follow through looks like this. He came in at speed and caught the player high, it's the definition of a reckless challenge. Intent doesn't matter. He was also unfortunate that his lead leg bounced higher off the ball.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

Michael Olise has to be the key man for France vs Morocco today. 5 assists already, France’s main source of line-breaking passes, and constantly finding Mbappé between the lines. He’s doing everything but score, with 1.89 xG and no goals yet. Is today the day he finally finds the net too?

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

With 17 players having a yellow card going into the quarter finals, it’s almost inevitable that one of them will receive a second yellow that will put them out of the semi finals.

It’ll be interesting to see how FIFA handles this because there will be appeals from the impacted nations who will be referencing the Balogun situation.

Will FIFA fold and suspend the ban or will they stand their ground? It’s a lose-lose situation for FIFA.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

@NealGardner_ Manzambi, Vargas, Lukaku and Trossard also performing well and showing why their countries have made it to the quarter finals. Such a shame Manzambi has picked up an injury.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

@NealGardner_ Switzerland are well organised and will be difficult to breakdown, I expect that game to go to the wire

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

@rajsinghchohan Ashour and Hassan worked tirelessly on the wings all game, frequently tucking in at full back when defending but then breaking forward at speed as soon as Salah/Ziko got on the ball.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

With the clock ticking down, Messi needed a new way into the game. Once Messi moved out wide to the right, it felt like Barcelona Messi was back. Egypt had crowded him out centrally all game, but on the right he could receive in space, take on defenders, and control the tempo from a better angle. The first goal came from his cross on that side, and the second started with him again out on the right before he drifted into the box to finish it himself. He even pulled off that signature Messi dribble from the wing into the box, gliding past multiple defenders and nearly teeing up Lautaro Martínez. That was the turning point: the middle was blocked, but the right side opened the whole match up for him.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

Argentina looked dead and buried against Egypt, but Messi turned the game around by returning to his roots.

A thread 🧵

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

Messi started through the middle like usual today, but Egypt made that area incredibly compact. Their wingers tucked in, their fullbacks stepped inside next to the centre backs, and the centre midfielders dropped deep, so the space in front of the box was packed. Egypt were 2 goals up and still incredibly dangerous on the counterattack through Salah. Messi was struggling to create and even tried taking the ball from deep but Argentina persisted in trying to play it through the middle.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

Messi now has 15 MOTM awards in 31 appearances at the World Cup 🇦🇷🐐

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

Incredible last 10 minutes from Messi, he is dragging Argentina to the Quarter Final by the scruff of their neck. No doubt he will score the winner.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

Messi has now missed two penalties this tournament. Notably, he ditches the stutter step here after using it in his miss vs Austria.

At what point do Argentina consider a new penalty taker?

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

Ibrahim beats Lisandro Martinez in the air to make it 1-0 to Egypt!

Egypt have played without fear and deserve their lead. They have dominated proceedings so far.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

Leandro Trossard is having a fantastic World Cup, it would be a shame if he ends up at Besiktas this summer. He’s playing some of his best football right now.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

FIFA needs reform and Gianni Infantino needs to go. Football needs to be run by a real football person who doesn’t see it as a business. Infantino only cares about political favours and personal gain, he does not care about football.

In the build up to this World Cup and throughout the tournament, FIFA has made itself the main character. From the “peace prize” noise to hydration break debates, suspended red cards, visa issues, insane ticket prices and constant off-pitch controversy.

In past World Cups FIFA was very much in the background pulling the strings but letting football take centre stage. Today there has been more discussion about Trump and Infantino than Ronaldo’s last ever game at a World Cup. Infantino is shown on camera at every game he attends, do you ever remember Sepp Blatter appearing on screen at the 2002 World Cup? Give football back to the fans and remove this egomaniac from his position.

[The Final Third @FinalThird_FC]

If Brandon Mechele gets booked tonight, he’ll be banned for Belgium’s next game