**** 2018 WORLD CUP THREAD ***

El Keniano wrote:

The game wasn't a classic. No wonder it's being overshadowed by the Cristiano transfer in most of the morning press and TV shows.

Actually, the more I think about that game, France park the bus, and didn't really come to play the game. They sat in a low block with only Mbappe up top. Everyone else clogged the box and kept the middle tight. They basically sat back and stopped all service into the box, especially after they went up a goal. They didn't care about possession, and even Pogba stayed off the ball.

Yes, france attacked, but it was only on the counter after they intercepted balls. Brasil came to play, and so did Japan.

That is why hazard stated: “Would I want to win as a part of the France team? France are the winners, and as a player you want to win," Hazard told Belgium sports network Sporza.

"But I prefer to lose for Belgium, rather than win for France. We play better football, in a style that suits me."

“France played anti-football. It’s their right to play this way because they know it’s not easy for us to deal with something like that, but it was not pleasant to watch," Courtois said

"They did not play better than us. They defended well, and that’s it. The (outcome of the match) was defined by details."

El Keniano wrote:

For the first time this World Cup I'm torn. Both so important to my childhood ...

https://twitter.com/admallya/status/1016551401428791297

Snowy or Dogmatix? Obelix or Captain Haddock? Professor Calculus or Getafix? Thomson and Thompson or Fulliautomatix and Unhygienix?

Tiebreak: I like Cacofonix but prefer Bianca Castafiore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mYKC7CjvdEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGNHjgWsA04

Well for starters France had Getafix's "magic potion," that's state sponsored cheating.

I bet you haven't read "Tintin In The Land of The Soviets" it's forbidden in Marxist establishments.

Watch the game wrote:

And yet, with Giroud they keep winning. With him, they reached the Euro 16 final match. It's almost as if the coach sees him as a valuable part of the team.

Giroud had a part in a goal with Peru and the build up to one of Mbappé's goals vs Argentina. And in the last game with Uruguay, he won in the air, have it to Varane who lost it trying to head it back to Giroud, Giroud still pressured the Uruguay player and Pogba made a tackle and got it to

He's a big target. Good for set pieces and defending corners. Without big guys like him, Pogba, Varane, you become like Japan.

As I said in a previous post, if you know the game (and you apparently know the game), you see the value of having Giroud on the pitch. He is a target forward who can hold the ball and is good in the air. That's why he's in there. The ball comes to him via pass, he collects it and he is good enough to where he CAN go to goal OR hold it up and wait for the others to push up/support. His being there opens up the opportunities that Griezman and Mbappe (and others) get.

Remember the last time the French won the WC, a certain player by the name of Zinedine Zidane scored exactly 0 goals as well in the World Cup....until the final where he scored twice en route to the 3-0 thrasing of Brazil.

I sort of could care less about whether a team decides to play ugly football in order to win the game. They play to win and employ whatever strategy works best. It's part of the game.

What bothers me more is when the game gets dirty and ugly with hard fouls, injury delays, cards, and ridiculous time wasting. The last 15 minutes of France-Belgium was almost unwatchable. I hope we get something better from England-Croatia later today.

As if sports riots are unique to France...

I would like to Croatia win today and then take the final against France. There are few things more satisfying in football than seeing the big nations/clubs going home devastated. It's my favorite part of the tournament.

agip wrote:

every time I watch a soccer game I am shocked by the institutionalized poor sportsmanship

or rather cheating.

every time I watch an NBA basketball game I am shocked by the institutionalized poor sportsmanship or rather cheating.

It would be a bit funny if Croatia were to win it all. Nobody gave them a chance coming into the semis.

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

return to index wrote:

I was so relieved when Giroud left the pitch. I don't understand why Deschamps keeps him in the team considering his performance in this WC.

He is a target forward who can hold the ball and is good in the air. That's why he's in there. The ball comes to him via pass, he collects it and he is good enough to either go to goal OR hold it up and wait for the others to push up/support. His being there opens up the opportunities that Griezman and Mbappe get.

When was the last time Giroud scored a goal for his country? Exactly, it's been like over 7 hours of games. He's not producing goals.

notaserb wrote:

It would be a bit funny if Croatia were to win it all. Nobody gave them a chance coming into the semis.

I actually filled out a knockout bracket with Croatia in the finals losing to Brasil. That win against Argentina showed they can compete with any team. I picked Brasil, France, England, and Croatia for the semis. 3 out of 4 ain't bad. If I didn't pick Brasil to win, I would have picked France. I also think Colombia with a healthy James Rodriguez could have made a deep run to the finals. Colombia just had trouble scoring without James.

Ladbrokes have Croatia 11/4 and England 6/5

The Scot wrote:

Ladbrokes have Croatia 11/4 and England 6/5

Will be pulling for Croatia today. I just don’t think England can beat France.

Hopefully we see a better match than yesterday.

vivalarepublica wrote:

I would like to Croatia win today and then take the final against France. There are few things more satisfying in football than seeing the big nations/clubs going home devastated. It's my favorite part of the tournament.

Except nobody thought or expected England would go this far. If they lose to Croatia today they won't be going home devastated. On the other hand, Croatian fans will be devastated if they lose today. I have a lot of Croatian friends, so I am also cheering for Croatia, but Croatians are very nationalistic, and it's like their very life depends on Croatia winning.

If you take pleasure in people being devastated, then you will actually want England to win.

It all doesn't matter as France will beat either team.

Great start by England. Three Lions. Lets go.

Croatia equalize!!

The Scot wrote:

Croatia equalize!!

I love this ref. He is letting them play and is consistent with no calling fouls. grown men out their, not a high school match ...quit looking to get bailed out with a foul.

freaking southgate and his sit back on a 1 goal lead. A team loses energy that way, and Croatia kept applying pressure.

Now England wants to attack after giving up a goal. When you score you should keep going forward to get more goals.

France is obviously the best team. End of story.

England are hanging in there by the skin of their teeth. They are not stitching together as many moves as Croatia. Croatia are beginning to look tired though and this may very well go against them.