buster.

Obscure fact:.......Davor Sukor, top scorer in the 1998 WC started his career with Osijek

Messi has had an outstanding career and has been a consistently brilliant for many seasons but performance in WC Finals has a disproportionate effect on the old 'best ever' argument, whether that be right or not. Messi would have been better staying retired from the national team and not going to the WC because by going and leaving such a relatively poor image, it has left an indelible mark on his legacy. That may seem unfair given we are talking 4 football matches but thet is the WC for you.

Sometimes we talk about younger players, eg. like Ryan Hardie and wonder if he'll develop physically and into a better player. Ryan Hardie is nearly 2 years older than the French lad who took centre stage today, Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe, DiMaria and now Cavani. Is it a PSG day ?

I've went Full Monty and predicteda goalless 120 minutes so you'd probably best to have a sly fiver on over 5 goals

I predict muchos 'Square Goes' int the Tony Macaroni Arena dressing room

For a bit of fun, put a quid on a 8 match accumulator with my result predictions on here. I got 277/1 With the first result in the bag, I'm being offered 1.18 cash back

I feel a bit guilty taking a point for that after predicting a dour game

Can't see them playing with two up top. Does he pick himself, Ryan Hardie or other to start ?

Oh well then,...I'll take two please !

Great game, both sides played their part.

Seems so according to soccerway. Osijek already have 2 friendlies plus today under the belt this new season. Sat 23/06/18 CLF Osijek 2 - 1 Videoton Wed 27/06/18 CLF Osijek 1 - 3 Shkendija Sat 30/06/18 CLF Osijek 13 : 00 St. Johnstone https://us.soccerway.com/teams/croatia/nk-osijek/481/

A decade ago we were in the UEFA Cup Final. If this squad manage to get to the third round of qualifiers, they'll be doing well.

Spending 2M on that machine (if that is what it costs) might be an easier decision for richer clubs in more lucrative leagues but I'd agree with Les, that there are other much cheaper ways of doing very similar.

France 1 - 0 Argentina Uruguay 0 - 0 Portugal Spain 1 - 0 Russia Croatia 1 - 0 Denmark Brazil 1 - 0 Mexico Belgium 2 - 0 Japan Sweden 1 - 1 Switzerland Colombia 0 - 2 England

You think back to games like in '82 when Italy beat Brazil 3-2 or France drew with Germany 3-3 but went out on penalties and you hope for a repeat but I tend to agree with you.

Looking forward to the France v Argentina game but not really expecting a ripper of a game. An early goal for either would help things but I doubt there will be any goals in the first half. Uruguay v Portugal looks like a dour and attritional struggle but the team that comes out of it will be a difficult one to beat for France or Argentina.

Yes, you're right but it's generally how fans will see things. Herrera and Cardoso were basically a consequence of what was termed by AJ as 'institutional failure'. This is still costing the club a lot of money every week. Cummings couldn't get any momentum. He didn't really fit into the way we played so tbh you have to ask questions about why we signed him. Not such a huge deal given it was a 6 month loan.

From a supporters POV, it's squeezing money out of a club you aren't giving anything back in return, especially when we get to pay-off time.

You should rename yourself 'Gonzo Petraeus',...all these hopeful surges but not really getting anywhere

Roll on the matches to see the team in action.............

He and his agent(s) were never going to leave without squeezing as much money out of us as they can. Awful buy and we might consider him gone but the relatively lucrative contract still has a way to go.

He came through before Auchenhowie was opened and we haven't produced a player as good since....but yes, tendency to be an arsehole didn't help his career.

Very stylish