The Red and Blue Soccer Chat - 12/22/22

The Red and Blue Soccer Chat

Greetings, soccer fans! Was that the greatest World Cup Final of all time? Seriously, how do we put it into words? Well, that’s our job. From tears of heartbreak for early exits from perennial powerhouses, to tears of joy for Messi and the fulfillment of a crowning achievement, we’ll be digging into as much as possible to remember this wonderful (yet concerning) World Cup. And after just a few days it’s time to return to the Premier League.

Lionel Messi and his Argentina side recovered from an early, shock loss to (checks notes…) Saudi Arabia?!?! in their first match to go on to win the World Cup and officially end the most annoying sports debate in my lifetime (besides, the answer is Zidane, thank you very much). But it was not always smooth sailing. They twice needed penalty kicks to get their hands on the trophy, and the second time came in the Final where Mbappe seemed determined to write his own history. We have certainly not heard the last of him or this talented French side with a great mixture of veterans and young talent. But Messi’s supporting cast were also there to get him over the line, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez especially standing out with big saves during the game and shootout (and his trademark shit-housery along the way).

This tournament will be remembered for many great moments, as well as some unfortunate ones (not least of which, awarding it to Qatar in the first place). But there is no doubting the spectacle that we just witnessed. We’ll be sharing our favorites. Let us know yours. And is it too early to start planning our trips around North America for 2026?

It’s been nearly a month since we last saw Chelsea and Manchester United in action. While Chelsea finished their Champions League group stage by comfortably advancing, their drop-off in performances were reflected in 3 straight losses. Losing to Arsenal, City, and a surprising but sharp Newcastle isn’t all that bad, but the manner of those losses is definitely cause for concern: they were never really in those games. Graham Potter will be hoping for speedy recoveries from his injured players and a new mindset in the new year. Conversely, Erik ten Hag probably feels the World Cup came at exactly the wrong time. Momentum has been building, and aside from a blip away to Villa (which was immediately rectified with a win over them a few days later in the Carabao Cup), he will be asking Santa for healthy returns for all his players that were away on international duty (including a finalist and a medalist). They have already resumed their winning ways with a mostly comfortable if not somewhat uneven win over Burnley in the Carabao Cup.

Sadly, the great soccer sportswriter/journalist Grant Wahl suffered an aortic aneurysm and passed away while attending the Netherlands/Argentina match. He will be missed, as will so many others who have senselessly lost their lives in connection with this World Cup.

We’ll be catching our breath from this amazing tournament and getting amped up for our clubs to return to action. So join us this evening at 8:00 p.m. on Facebook Live or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!

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