2018 FIFA World Cup

[Meta not Meta]

Jalimon, with all their offensive talent I thought that would be their area of concentration, when in fact France have played a superb defensive game (notwithstanding Argentina) all along.

Basically, France have played like a superior version of Russia, lol ... giving up possession by a 2 to 1 factor, etc. ... so today you might say they just defeated the Belgian version of Spain!

My God, Mbappe on the ball !!!!

And kudos to Deschamps !!!

 

[sharkman]

I agree EB, we need a France / England final...the ratings will be off the charts!

The sports betting bookmakers in England never had it so good!

 

[EagerBeaver]

France have played a superb defensive game (notwithstanding Argentina) all along.

Due to having superior athletes. The Argentina game was sort of their mulligan for the tournament. I don't see England or Croatia beating France, although I give England a puncher's chance due to the right foot of Harry Kane. I don't know if they measure exit velocities on kicked balls in soccer like they do on batted balls in baseball, but Kane has one of the hardest shots I have seen and I would not want to be tasked with having to save kicks off his foot.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Highlights of France-Belgium

The goal by Umtiti was a very strong, athletic move in which he got good elevation and position (scroll down to 90 in 90 video):

https://www.foxsports.com/

Mbappe had some serious moves, he could break out for 2 goals in the final, maybe even a hat trick. He looks ready to explode on someone.

 

[Meta not Meta]

Who's winning our little competition, anyway?

Sam21?
Sharkman?
Versaute?

Definitely not me, lol ....

 

[Versaute]

....Belgium proved to be a “Flavor of The Week” team as I suspected....

That's laughable. Belgium national team had won 24 straight matches in all competitions prior to today dating back to 2016. I wouldn't call this team "Flavor of the Week". Today's match could've gone either way. Eden Hazard and KdB had their chances. Set pieces are the most unpredictable goals. Sometimes a little bit of luck helps. Congrats to France.

 

[Versaute]

Who's winning our little competition, anyway?

Sam21?
Sharkman?
Versaute?

Definitely not me, lol ....

I haven't tallied mine but I believe I'm out of it even though I picked the correct teams to win the quarters.

 

[jalimon]

Who's winning our little competition, anyway?

Sam21?
Sharkman?
Versaute?

Definitely not me, lol ....

Sharkman is kicking our ass because of his pick in the round of 8!!! He must work with numbers or something

 

[EagerBeaver]

That's laughable. Belgium national team had won 24 straight matches in all little

They were 100% Flavor of the Week as noted by the Sid:

https://mobile.twitter.com/sid_seixeiro/status/1016772985078730752

“I’m shocked Belgium’s 24-game winning streak is over. During that streak, they beat Estonia twice, Cyprus twice and Gilbraltar twice. What a run.“

France wasn’t lucky, they were better. Belgium didn’t score because they were stopped by superior defenders. Best team won fair and square.

 

[Versaute]

I penciled in France to beat Belgium...France has just too many weapons. They are well coached and the players showed they would die for coach Deschamps!

Belgium's big mistake was not to start Mertens and play him in an attacking mode rather than just have him cross the ball towards the box. Huge Huge mistake!

Well done France! Allez les Bleus!!!

I think Mertens was inserted late in the second half as a last ditch attempt to have more scoring chances. For me, the key was the positioning of Lukaku upfront. They didn't get the ball to him often enough. Martinez should have used Lukaku in the same manner he did for the Brazil game, e.g. have him take the ball in midfield and have him dish to Hazard and KdB. It would've been much more unpredictable that way. I think Martinez got too cute and changed things up too much game to game. But hey, he's the coach and I'm just a fan, lol. Didier Deschamps was the master today. Great for France.

 

[DalilaD]

WoW Bravo la France ! You are Hot my DD Guy

 

[Versaute]

They were 100% Flavor of the Week as noted by the Sid:

https://mobile.twitter.com/sid_seixeiro/status/1016772985078730752

“I’m shocked Belgium’s 24-game winning streak is over. During that streak, they beat Estonia twice, Cyprus twice and Gilbraltar twice. What a run.“

You also forgot to quote that Sid is also a troll and a douchebag.

 

[sharkman]

Who's winning our little competition, anyway?

Sam21?
Sharkman?
Versaute?

Definitely not me, lol ....

I am at 26 points (4 + 15 + 6 + 1)...including the 1 point today for France's win.

 

[jalimon]

I am at 26 points (4 + 15 + 6 + 1)...including the 1 point today for France's win.

Before the round of 16 it was:
Meta: 8
Jalimon: 6
Sam21: 5
Sharkman 4

Then for me:
+ 7 + 6 and today 1 = 20

I am in second place?

 

[sharkman]

Well said Sam21...Belgium has a very good team that could have gone all the way...however, they were beaten by a better team. "Allez les Bleus"!

Before today's loss, Belgium was unbeaten in their last 24 games! Not a small feat by any measure!

This could have very easily have been the Finals game had the draw been different!

 

[EagerBeaver]

Before today's loss, Belgium had won 24 consecutive games! Not a small feat by any measure!!

Against Estonia, Cyprus, Gibraltar, etc., running up big scores and Goals Against Differentials. They were running up stats. I didn’t expect them to beat Brazil, which played a sloppy game against them and didn’t start playing with urgency until it was too late. They were probably a top 6 or 7 team in this competition but the fawning over their offensive prowess was absurd. All they needed was to play a couple of top teams to have that exposed. England or Croatia could very well take them in the 3rd place game.

 

[A12B]

OK, did France win today or the African continent won ? If it is France, then why can’t Canada or USA scout some fine African players and make them Canadian quick ?
Is it because we don’t have good coach ? Or the Africans prefer Europe over North America ? Kinda puzzled ... the Michel Platini, Alain Giresse, Dominique Rocheteau etc years had more ‘français de souche’ or White French. If Canadians (White) are not interested in playing foot, let’s import !!! May be our programs aren’t as deep as europeans or South Americans ?

Why can’t Canada learn from them ? Look at Iceland for fuck sake !!!! They have a team, they have iced winters and less population than Canada !! I just don’t understand ...

 

[EagerBeaver]

Umtiti is Cameroonian, but Mbappé is legitimately French. In any event Germany has been a much worse offender than France at poaching talented players from other countries. Germany are the masters at doing this, and it’s rather ironic for a country which at one time attempted to foist upon the world the myth of the supremacy of the so called Aryan race.

 

[jalimon]

A12B look at the NFL or NBA. It's 80% afro-american playing. Same thing in France and many European team.

 

[EagerBeaver]

In the USA and Canada, physical and violent sports like football and hockey have wide popularity. Soccer stands behind football, hockey, and baseball and basketball, for many young American athletes and their Canadian counterparts. It would be nice to see the USA and Canada field teams that could make noise at the World Cup, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. It’s going to continue to be European nations playing for these championships.