I generally hate when people do stuff like that, but then read about what was going on during the game because I’ve never seen Messi that pissed at another team (lije the entire team & coaches).
Evidently the Netherlands bench was taking shit the entire game & saying things over the line to the Argentinians on the field. And even the players on the field were talking shit about them. The coaches mouthed up before the game, including saying Messi really didn’t do much, & at some point during the game the 4th official had the ref yellow card players on the Netherlands bench for comments they made to a player during a throw in.
So it seems like what we saw on TV was a result of what we couldn’t see or hear on the field.
That's all well and good, but trash talking is one thing. Rocketing a ball into the bench and potentially injuring someone isn't the best response to that.
At any rate, it made for some entertainment on top of the Croatia v Brazil match.
My takeaways from this World Cup so far:
1. Grant Wahl's impact on the sport in North America is going to be missed. Other voices will step up and new ones will emerge. Particularly when it comes to watching over FIFA and holding them accountable, which Wahl did from 2010 up until the present.
2. Five subs is probably here to stay and that is good.
3. Time wasting and how extra time is awarded at the end of halves in something to be looking at in the future.
4. USMNT has some upside going ahead.
5. 48 teams is going to be way too many, but the revenue projections speak for themselves.