BS: FIFA World Cup 2022 unlike any other

Subject: RE: BS: FIFA World Cup 2022 unlike any other
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 Dec 22 - 05:36 AM

Dunno about that, Bill. Think Gianluigi Buffon, Stanley Matthews, Roger Milla, Teddy Sheringham... Messi's role in matches as he ages has evolved into one of conserving energy, drawing opponents away from the action to leave spaces for others to exploit and producing those occasional moments of magic that elude all (almost) other players. I think a fit 39-year-old could still do most of that...

Subject: RE: BS: FIFA World Cup 2022 unlike any other
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Dec 22 - 03:56 PM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001f4xs

Subject: RE: BS: FIFA World Cup 2022 unlike any other
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Dec 22 - 07:07 PM

I'll confess that I am mostly responding to various sports pundits about Messi. There seems to be divergent opinions about his legacy after his problems the last several years. Even he intimated he would retire after this WC. I am not that familiar with most of the soccer/football stars.

Pele did **okay** in several years in the U.S., against non-world class teams. Beckham had a quite lackluster run in the U.S. which earned him a lot of money, but not exactly accolades.

So... like many sports stars who hate to give up the limelight, Messi is tempted. I hope he does well... I just won't bet on it.

Subject: RE: BS: FIFA World Cup 2022 unlike any other
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 27 Dec 22 - 07:48 PM

I agree that the European or South American greats who go off to play out their sunset years in the US, China or other far-from-home places seldom seem to thrive. They seem to do it for the money on offer, though they're already multimillionaires. It's easy to forget that they're young men who've lived in a bubble of footballing elites for most of their adult lives... Yeah, I don't think I get it...

Even with their millions, it could be that they see a future ahead of them with nothing much in it apart from big houses, divorces and things, and are thinking of how they can't put off the evil hour...

When I was a lad and even the best footballers didn't get paid much more than shop managers, as soon as their careers ended they went back to being builders or plumbers or they opened a sports shop...

Subject: RE: BS: FIFA World Cup 2022 unlike any other
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 27 Dec 22 - 07:50 PM

Can, not can't!

Subject: RE: BS: FIFA World Cup 2022 unlike any other
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Dec 22 - 07:31 PM

Pelé, gone. I'm in bits.

Pelé, Maradona, Messi. Please don't make me choose. They all graced our planet.

Subject: RE: BS: FIFA World Cup 2022 unlike any other
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Dec 22 - 03:04 PM

A dear friend of ours, a football fanatic just like me, passed away the day before yesterday. He was my son's form teacher at secondary school over 25 years ago. Mrs Steve and I, as well as our lad, all revered him. Sad times.