O n May 11 2020, the crypto world experienced the phenomena knows as Bitcoin halving . For those who are still a little looney-toons regarding this phenomena, here's the lowdown . Moral of the story is that, as the Bitcoin supply decreased and it's 21 million market cap slowly approached, it was widely accepted that the low supply and high demand will increase the price of the cryptocurrency back to its previous highs. Basic business right? Wrong! Source: Equity Trust Company BTC prices actually fell and after briefly holding steady, are only just rising above the 10000 USD range. Surprise eh? Well, we are not done yet. Because while the most valuable crypto coin wasn't showing it's expected gains, some other cryptocurrencies shot to outer space. There was no SpaceX rocket nor a Tesla Roadster involved. These "altcoins" bumped up in their market value thanks to the entire underlying system of cryptocurrency: investor speculation. But what exactly are these ...
You really have to wonder how far Argentina has fallen since 2016. That year they made it to the Copa America finals. I remember reading a news article on how Messi hoped to be 'third time lucky'. They had lost the 2014 World Cup finals. Lost to Chile in the 2015 Copa America. The expectation was high. They had beaten Chile on the way to the finals. But in the finals, against Chile, they screwed up. That was the first time I saw Messi win the Miss Penalty award in the finals. Turns out 'third time's the charm' was really never going to work out. But now with their Group Stage exit looming, Argentina need to be 'third time lucky' and hope Iceland or Nigeria decide to pack their bags a little early.
A mini miracle is what they need. They need Iceland to lose to Croatia, and they themselves have to beat Nigeria. Why call this a mini-miracle? Because Iceland could probably lose to Croatia, but worryingly Argentina may not be able to beat the Africans. So bad was their performance.
If the team only contained Lionel Messi and host of other not so well known players, these performances might not look so terrible. There is only so much the GOAT can do. But embarrassingly they have Dybala, Higuain, Aguero, Di Maria, Mascherano. All of these players are well-established names in the football scenes. And Argentina has only scored one goal so far. Shame really.
In the game against Croatia, Argentina played a lot better than against Iceland. They were creating more chances, their passing was a lot better, many of their forwards found acres of space. And yet they missed all of it. Messi missed a nice volley as well as a shot near the post which he hit straight at the defender. Another Argentinian player missed a bloody open goal. Croatia missed chances as well. But you get the feeling that the Croatians were more collected, calm, in control of the game. And then Caballero did a stunt. Wait two actually. Rakitic is probably giggling uncontrollably right now.
In Caballero, Argentina has a player who can compete with Karius for the FIFA Shit-on D'Or. And since Karius has allegedly proven to be 'concussed' you wonder what happened to the Chelsea goalkeeper.
But the defence was always going to be an embarrassment. What is worse, is that the famous forwards failed to find the back of the net. Pep Guardiola believed you could always outscore the opponent. But this squad can barely score a goal. You sense that even if they won against Nigeria, it would be an embarrassing 1-0. And Argentina are ranked 5th according to FIFA.
There are a few scenarios that could take Messi to the last 16 :
1. Iceland and Nigeria draw - This the most favourable scenario as Nigeria would probably know they have no chance of making it, hence Messi and co. could a better job here. Croatia would probably win all 3 matches, but even if they draw against Iceland, Argentina would go through provided they beat Nigeria
2. Iceland beat Nigeria: Iceland will have 4 points, but if Croatia thrash (emphasis on thrash) them and Argentina beat Nigeria, the South Americans would qualify based on goal difference. Croatia will view the match against the Icelandic players as a must-win, as it will determine who will top the group.
3. Nigeria beat Iceland: The scariest scenario. If the Nigerians beat Iceland, they will have added impetus to win against the Argentinians. Even a draw would see the Africans make it through provided Croatia don't lose to Iceland.
A mini-miracle indeed. It's possible, no doubt about it. And with the recent world cup seeing several upsets, you sense that if Argentina buck up and play like they played against Ecuador in their must-win qualifier for the World Cup, they could make it through. But Messi sadly has to hope things go his way as Argentina's future is no longer in his hands.
I still believe Argentina can win the trophy. I'm not Argentinian, but I'm a huge Messi fan and would love to see him hold the trophy. Everyone can agree that Messi sorely needs an international trophy to compete with Ronaldo. Cristiano already won the Euro 2016. But nobody expected them to win. They barely won a game in normal time back then, drawing all 3 group stage matches. Ronaldo was puffing more blanks than a Nerf gun. But they made it to the finals and beat France. Argentina are not the best team in the world cup. Mexico is far more exciting. You get the sense that even Russia could be on to something here. But I still support the country. I want them to win if only to shut up my Madrid and Ronaldo supporting mates. I want them to win, so Messi can finally be accepted in his homeland. He deserves a world cup, more so than Ronaldo. I don't hate Ronaldo. He and Messi are the greatest players right now. And Ronaldo is actually carrying his team. Messi needs to do the same.
Maradona carried a non-favourite team to the finals. He said ( something along these line) 'Guys it's the fucking World Cup'. Messi needs to do the same. I'm not sure if the profanities are needed but the entire squad needs a kick up their South American ass. Messi has too much pressure on his little shoulders. What he needs to do is forget about the pressure and just play like the genius he is. Don't worry about what will happen, can happen, or would happen. He needs to tell himself, 'Hey, that's it. I'm not going to fuck up while Ronaldo takes away the game.' Sampaoli needs to make sure his players are playing the way he wants them. Caballero must go. Two indecent matches are enough. The squad need to up their game and realise 'Hey, we are playing with the greatest player of all time. Let's show him that we will be there with him.'
I'm not saying the squad are bogging Messi down. ( Even if Sampaoli said it). The squad needs to realise this will probably be their Captain's last world cup. And surely they would want to win it themselves. The squad and Messi need to just forget about the last two games. They just have to tell themselves. ' Fuck it, we got this'. They need to make it rain. Otherwise, Messi would be crying. Again. I want them to win. Messi deserves it. 4 final defeats is way too much. But the squad can do it. Belief is 50 % of the way to success. The squad just needs to believe.
Argentina should forget the past two matches. They need to remember the happy times, the thrashing of the big teams. Things will become better. They always do. They need to look at the next game and support their team whether they lose or not. They should stop considering themselves favourites, should stop putting pressure on the already depressed and distraught players. They need to shout, cheer and scream, and clap so loud that the Vikings look like ants. Cuz a team without its fans is no team at all. They need to up the ante here. Every member of the Argentina squad has to up their game. Show they have the desire to win. Even if they win, but don't make it to the last 16 all the fans and players should remind themselves, that they exited with heads held high.
A mini miracle is what they need. They need Iceland to lose to Croatia, and they themselves have to beat Nigeria. Why call this a mini-miracle? Because Iceland could probably lose to Croatia, but worryingly Argentina may not be able to beat the Africans. So bad was their performance.
If the team only contained Lionel Messi and host of other not so well known players, these performances might not look so terrible. There is only so much the GOAT can do. But embarrassingly they have Dybala, Higuain, Aguero, Di Maria, Mascherano. All of these players are well-established names in the football scenes. And Argentina has only scored one goal so far. Shame really.
In the game against Croatia, Argentina played a lot better than against Iceland. They were creating more chances, their passing was a lot better, many of their forwards found acres of space. And yet they missed all of it. Messi missed a nice volley as well as a shot near the post which he hit straight at the defender. Another Argentinian player missed a bloody open goal. Croatia missed chances as well. But you get the feeling that the Croatians were more collected, calm, in control of the game. And then Caballero did a stunt. Wait two actually. Rakitic is probably giggling uncontrollably right now.
In Caballero, Argentina has a player who can compete with Karius for the FIFA Shit-on D'Or. And since Karius has allegedly proven to be 'concussed' you wonder what happened to the Chelsea goalkeeper.
But the defence was always going to be an embarrassment. What is worse, is that the famous forwards failed to find the back of the net. Pep Guardiola believed you could always outscore the opponent. But this squad can barely score a goal. You sense that even if they won against Nigeria, it would be an embarrassing 1-0. And Argentina are ranked 5th according to FIFA.
There are a few scenarios that could take Messi to the last 16 :
1. Iceland and Nigeria draw - This the most favourable scenario as Nigeria would probably know they have no chance of making it, hence Messi and co. could a better job here. Croatia would probably win all 3 matches, but even if they draw against Iceland, Argentina would go through provided they beat Nigeria
2. Iceland beat Nigeria: Iceland will have 4 points, but if Croatia thrash (emphasis on thrash) them and Argentina beat Nigeria, the South Americans would qualify based on goal difference. Croatia will view the match against the Icelandic players as a must-win, as it will determine who will top the group.
3. Nigeria beat Iceland: The scariest scenario. If the Nigerians beat Iceland, they will have added impetus to win against the Argentinians. Even a draw would see the Africans make it through provided Croatia don't lose to Iceland.
A mini-miracle indeed. It's possible, no doubt about it. And with the recent world cup seeing several upsets, you sense that if Argentina buck up and play like they played against Ecuador in their must-win qualifier for the World Cup, they could make it through. But Messi sadly has to hope things go his way as Argentina's future is no longer in his hands.
I still believe Argentina can win the trophy. I'm not Argentinian, but I'm a huge Messi fan and would love to see him hold the trophy. Everyone can agree that Messi sorely needs an international trophy to compete with Ronaldo. Cristiano already won the Euro 2016. But nobody expected them to win. They barely won a game in normal time back then, drawing all 3 group stage matches. Ronaldo was puffing more blanks than a Nerf gun. But they made it to the finals and beat France. Argentina are not the best team in the world cup. Mexico is far more exciting. You get the sense that even Russia could be on to something here. But I still support the country. I want them to win if only to shut up my Madrid and Ronaldo supporting mates. I want them to win, so Messi can finally be accepted in his homeland. He deserves a world cup, more so than Ronaldo. I don't hate Ronaldo. He and Messi are the greatest players right now. And Ronaldo is actually carrying his team. Messi needs to do the same.
Maradona carried a non-favourite team to the finals. He said ( something along these line) 'Guys it's the fucking World Cup'. Messi needs to do the same. I'm not sure if the profanities are needed but the entire squad needs a kick up their South American ass. Messi has too much pressure on his little shoulders. What he needs to do is forget about the pressure and just play like the genius he is. Don't worry about what will happen, can happen, or would happen. He needs to tell himself, 'Hey, that's it. I'm not going to fuck up while Ronaldo takes away the game.' Sampaoli needs to make sure his players are playing the way he wants them. Caballero must go. Two indecent matches are enough. The squad need to up their game and realise 'Hey, we are playing with the greatest player of all time. Let's show him that we will be there with him.'
I'm not saying the squad are bogging Messi down. ( Even if Sampaoli said it). The squad needs to realise this will probably be their Captain's last world cup. And surely they would want to win it themselves. The squad and Messi need to just forget about the last two games. They just have to tell themselves. ' Fuck it, we got this'. They need to make it rain. Otherwise, Messi would be crying. Again. I want them to win. Messi deserves it. 4 final defeats is way too much. But the squad can do it. Belief is 50 % of the way to success. The squad just needs to believe.
Argentina should forget the past two matches. They need to remember the happy times, the thrashing of the big teams. Things will become better. They always do. They need to look at the next game and support their team whether they lose or not. They should stop considering themselves favourites, should stop putting pressure on the already depressed and distraught players. They need to shout, cheer and scream, and clap so loud that the Vikings look like ants. Cuz a team without its fans is no team at all. They need to up the ante here. Every member of the Argentina squad has to up their game. Show they have the desire to win. Even if they win, but don't make it to the last 16 all the fans and players should remind themselves, that they exited with heads held high.
They hit rock bottom. There is only one way to go. Up
You can't change your past. But you can always change your future. VAAAAMOOSSSSSSS
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