Kid in the Riot

I made it to Cor for lunch last week and was impressed. Selection of cured meats, oyster, scallop, cannellini beans with a beure blanc, wild sea bass, a "Bristol 75" cocktail and the desserts were all highlights. I had cuttlefish as a main as I'd never had it before, interesting and not unlikeable but I'd probably choose something different next time. Went to The Mint Room for the first time in years too. Still very good, but my god the service was slooooooow. Maybe let them off given the time of year and large parties, but still...

Whilst generally I agree, for balance, Messi was handed a suspended prison sentence for tax fraud, and he has also signed up to be an ambassador for the 2030 Saudi Arabia WC bid, which IMO isn't a great look, not to mention wholly unnecessary on his part given what he earns.

I should've known better.

Superb. What a future he has ahead of him. England surely have to be a little cautious chasing this 166. Talk of them trying to topple this total this evening seems daft.

World Cup winning manager Joachim Low's club management career was hardly impressive either.

Respect Argentina like Millwall. The latter a "proper" football club and Argentina, like England, a football mad nation. Deserved it overall. France a bit passive in too many games. Best thing that happened to Arg was losing that first game. Focused them on knockout football right from the second game.

A pretty dull, predictable contest for the first hour and now one of the best finals in recent memory. Gotta love it

Oh, you mean the poisoning?

Very slow start from France.

Agree, that's generally not a foul.

"Standing still"? The keeper has charged out to play the ball. He has missed the ball, made himself big, and taken the forward out. I just can't see what I'm missing that makes that ok?

But by the rules of the game, it doesn't have to be deliberate. The 'keeper came to play the ball, missed and impeded the player instead. That is a foul.

Not listened to them yet, but could be a couple of late entries from Little Simz and SZA, who've both just released albums...

Before the tournament started I'd assumed he leave at the end of it, no matter what. But given I can't see any obvious alternatives at the moment, it seems sensible for him to stay on till Euro 2024, especially given that tournament is only 18 months away.

France are heading for their fourth world cup final in the past seven tournaments. If that doesn't qualify them as a footballing superpower, then not sure what does.

Don't want another Capello or Sven though. English manager seems to work best (maybe Hodgson aside!) Can't see one available better than Southgate right now.

If we went for a change what are the options? No way we can go foreign again, I don't think. Potter or Cooper? Meh. Howe never leaving Newcastle. So, who? Pearson ??

Well said. Didier Deschamps has managed to make France a very non-emotional team, which isn't typically French. Their efficency is quite German. We kept Mbappe quiet. They scored a great opener. It's a gutter. Score that pen and who knows.

Absolutely devastated. Thought we were the better team and we've been done yet again in a major tournament. Partially of course by our own errors, but also feel the ref / FIFA fancy a bit of France in the finale. I thought Southgate would leave after this tournament, and I still think he probably will. But there's a reality that there's maybe no-one better and he'll stay. France are on the verge of winning three of the last six World Cups I think? Quite incredible

Surely not long ago when we were in League One or Div Two...

I agree, and doubtless Messi has had the opportunity to play in England as the money is here. That said, I don't for a minute think he'd have been anything other than a massive success in the Prem. There is also a case that despite his goals at Juve, Ronaldo actually didn't make them any better and was actually a bit of a burden, as he has been in his second spell at United.

Piss poor from the Argies. At least the GOAT Messi is clean. I get that football is an absolute religion in Argentina (far more than it is here, and we gave them football) but this lacks class.

I agree with you. I'm a huge Messi fan and I enjoy him more than Ronaldo. However, it is a fair criticism that he hasn't "done it" in the best league in the world (of late, that is definitely the Premier League) or Serie A. Ronaldo has conquered more leagues and obviously has more honours at international level too. But ask me who I'd pay £50 to see play and it'd be Messi everytime. Been lucky enough to see him score a hatrick at Camp Nou in fact.

So impressed with Croatia, and Modric is incredible. 37 years old and still a baller. Up there with Xavi and Iniesta for sure.