Here are the starting lineups for France & Argentina. Shocked that Aguero, Dybala & Higuian are all on the bench. Even more shocked that Di Maria is starting since he's had a terrible World Cup.
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France XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, L. Hernandez, Kanté, Pogba, Matuidi, Mbappé, Griezmann, Giroud.
Argentina XI: Armani, Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico, Mascherano, Enzo Pérez, Banega, Pavón, Messi, Di María.
Been going back and forth with a buddy of mine. He's trying to tell me Alisson (Roma /Brazil) is better then Courtois. Which to me is just absurd. Alisson is good. Just not anywhere near Courtois IMO.
Courtois has dominated both Spain & England for 7 years winning a bunch of trophies and just turned 26.
Alisson is only 5 months younger yet he's played 1 season in a top 5 league. Hasn't won any trophies.
Allison is pretty damn good and he's been solid in Group play
I guess that's as clean shaven as Mascherano gets, a permanent, DEEP 5 o'clock shadow
And Messi looks years younger and more upbeat than at the player closeups before the Iceland match: a weight of the World off his shoulders it would seem with that moment of perfection.
with Courtois, he’s an excellent shot stopper but he’s very poor with the ball at his feet and hasn’t really improved at all in this regard. Of course if it’s going to be one or the other, you’d prefer the shot stopper. But Chelsea just isn’t able to build attacks from the back consistently.
It’s close between him and Alisson. Close enough where if Chelsea can sell Courtois, line up Alisson, and turn a profit, they should absolutely do it. Courtois’ heart seems to be in Madrid anyway
Difficult call. Alisson does not have Courtois's experience, but Courtois's reputation isn't as high after his PL showing with Chelsea. The rumors about Chelsea going over 70 million pounds to get Alisson to replace Courtois don't help, either...they see Courtois every day, and if they though he was clearly superior, they'd keep him. A good showing by Alisson this World Cup could make this interesting.
Good lord, Mbappe is lightning fast today. That was an incredible run early in the game!
this WC and had completely blanked on Kantés presence...if he can patrol the MF as a sniper of opponents' passes and create the occasional well placed long ball as he is want to do with his Club teams, beg. with Leicester City and now Chelsea, France could be a very tough out...never mind all their stellar attacking talent.
this WC and had completely blanked on Kantés presence...if he can patrol the MF as a sniper of opponents' passes and create the occasional well placed long ball as he is want to do with his Club teams, beg. with Leicester City and now Chelsea, France could be a very tough out...never mind all their stellar attacking talent.
Yep this was my point pre-tournament. Kante just makes life easier for everybody else in his team. The French attack lacked some it’s in the group stage but they really haven’t conceded much at all. Kante with Umtitti/Varane in central defense is top notch
They don't know what they're doing game to game. That this is even close doesn't reflect well on France.
As for the keeper question, I'm not a huge fan of either. I guess I'd go with Courtois on the body of work, but I prefer a keeper that is strong in distribution and does more than simply be a shot stopper.
with Courtois, he’s an excellent shot stopper but he’s very poor with the ball at his feet and hasn’t really improved at all in this regard. Of course if it’s going to be one or the other, you’d prefer the shot stopper. But Chelsea just isn’t able to build attacks from the back consistently.
It’s close between him and Alisson. Close enough where if Chelsea can sell Courtois, line up Alisson, and turn a profit, they should absolutely do it. Courtois’ heart seems to be in Madrid anyway
Well that's the thing. Alisson is supposedly going to fetch a higher transfer fee. By a good margin. I guess that's because Courtois isn't going to renew and they don't want him to leave on a free.
Chelsea's entire season was a disaster so I can't blame one player. I was just watching some Chelsea videos last night and Courtois was under seige constantly.
They had the same number of clean sheets. Courtois conceded 4 more goals. Courtois pass accuracy was 7 points lower, but his average distrubition length was longer.
Like I said Alisson is very very good. I like him a lot, but to me one season in Serie A doesn't compare to 7 in the PL & La Liga. Thanks for your input guys!!
They don't know what they're doing game to game. That this is even close doesn't reflect well on France.
Yes Argentina doesn't look good. France has looked better, but they can't finish their chances. I don't think Benzema is a top Striker anymore, but he's a better player overall then Giroud. His link up play and ability to start a counter would really be helping France right now.
with Courtois, he’s an excellent shot stopper but he’s very poor with the ball at his feet and hasn’t really improved at all in this regard. Of course if it’s going to be one or the other, you’d prefer the shot stopper. But Chelsea just isn’t able to build attacks from the back consistently.
It’s close between him and Alisson. Close enough where if Chelsea can sell Courtois, line up Alisson, and turn a profit, they should absolutely do it. Courtois’ heart seems to be in Madrid anyway
Well that's the thing. Alisson is supposedly going to fetch a higher transfer fee. By a good margin. I guess that's because Courtois isn't going to renew and they don't want him to leave on a free.
Chelsea's entire season was a disaster so I can't blame one player. I was just watching some Chelsea videos last night and Courtois was under seige constantly.
They had the same number of clean sheets. Courtois conceded 4 more goals. Courtois pass accuracy was 7 points lower, but his average distrubition length was longer.
Like I said Alisson is very very good. I like him a lot, but to me one season in Serie A doesn't compare to 7 in the PL & La Liga. Thanks for your input guys!!
He was not under siege constantly. Chelsea couldn’t score this season
Chelsea allowed the 2nd most shots and shots on target of the top 6 teams. Behind United. I was watching mostly champions League games.
Both Roma games. The Barca 2nd leg and the 2nd Watford game. I forget the numbers, but it was like 60 shots total and 35 on target. I know it was a lot. So I can't speak on the entire season. Just the handful of games I watched the last few days.
a deft but critical mark there to avert danger, he's been stellar; I believe it was his ball from just outside his own PA to Pogba (?) at half way line that set up Mbappe's second goal
should cash in on Neymar, buy 3-4 players with the money, and build everything around Mbappe. He’s 19. That’s nuts
They don't even need to sell Neymar lol they can keep him and buy whoever they want without repercussions. Somehow they didn't breach Financial fair play after spending 400 million on 2 players. They've spent 556 million the last 3 transfer windows (Including this year that hasn't really started) while only making like 155 million in sales.
a deft but critical mark there to avert danger, he's been stellar; I believe it was his ball from just outside his own PA to Pogba (?) at half way line that set up Mbappe's second goal
One of my favorite non Madrid players. Can't believe Leicester sold him for so cheap. Probably the best DM in the World. Definitely top 3.
a deft but critical mark there to avert danger, he's been stellar; I believe it was his ball from just outside his own PA to Pogba (?) at half way line that set up Mbappe's second goal
Sure was. He’s the best ball winner in the world IMO and he’s improving his passing. I know I’m like a broken record but he’s really fantastic.
Otamendi is an absolute clown. His team has a chance to equalize and kicking the ball at the other team
We saw the starters today, but then they have Nabil Fekir, Areola, Lemar, Dembele, Benjamin Mendy, N'Zonzi, Tolisso, Thauvin & Sidibe on the bench. Anthony Martial didn't even make the World Cup squad. Good lord. They are stacked.
how does Sampaoli, or whoever called the shots for this WC, have Agüero sitting on the bench, coming in seemingly as an afterthought throughout Group play? He had almost immediate impact this afternoon. He's one of the most effective strikers/wings in the world.
Not fun for their fans. US soccer fans know how it feels, we're sitting home, thank you USSF.
Courtois has dominated both Spain & England for 7 years winning a bunch of trophies and just turned 26.
Alisson is only 5 months younger yet he's played 1 season in a top 5 league. Hasn't won any trophies.
What say you BBI? What GK would you rather have?
I guess that's as clean shaven as Mascherano gets, a permanent, DEEP 5 o'clock shadow
And Messi looks years younger and more upbeat than at the player closeups before the Iceland match: a weight of the World off his shoulders it would seem with that moment of perfection.
God damn Mbappe is a stud.
really like Meola and Ali Wagner, best color folks and jp is not bad as pbp
It’s close between him and Alisson. Close enough where if Chelsea can sell Courtois, line up Alisson, and turn a profit, they should absolutely do it. Courtois’ heart seems to be in Madrid anyway
Good lord, Mbappe is lightning fast today. That was an incredible run early in the game!
Yep this was my point pre-tournament. Kante just makes life easier for everybody else in his team. The French attack lacked some it’s in the group stage but they really haven’t conceded much at all. Kante with Umtitti/Varane in central defense is top notch
How is Mascherano still in the game? He's had 3 fouls that should have been yellow.
As for the keeper question, I'm not a huge fan of either. I guess I'd go with Courtois on the body of work, but I prefer a keeper that is strong in distribution and does more than simply be a shot stopper.
It’s close between him and Alisson. Close enough where if Chelsea can sell Courtois, line up Alisson, and turn a profit, they should absolutely do it. Courtois’ heart seems to be in Madrid anyway
Well that's the thing. Alisson is supposedly going to fetch a higher transfer fee. By a good margin. I guess that's because Courtois isn't going to renew and they don't want him to leave on a free.
Chelsea's entire season was a disaster so I can't blame one player. I was just watching some Chelsea videos last night and Courtois was under seige constantly.
They had the same number of clean sheets. Courtois conceded 4 more goals. Courtois pass accuracy was 7 points lower, but his average distrubition length was longer.
Like I said Alisson is very very good. I like him a lot, but to me one season in Serie A doesn't compare to 7 in the PL & La Liga. Thanks for your input guys!!
Yes Argentina doesn't look good. France has looked better, but they can't finish their chances. I don't think Benzema is a top Striker anymore, but he's a better player overall then Giroud. His link up play and ability to start a counter would really be helping France right now.
Quote:
with Courtois, he’s an excellent shot stopper but he’s very poor with the ball at his feet and hasn’t really improved at all in this regard. Of course if it’s going to be one or the other, you’d prefer the shot stopper. But Chelsea just isn’t able to build attacks from the back consistently.
It’s close between him and Alisson. Close enough where if Chelsea can sell Courtois, line up Alisson, and turn a profit, they should absolutely do it. Courtois’ heart seems to be in Madrid anyway
Well that's the thing. Alisson is supposedly going to fetch a higher transfer fee. By a good margin. I guess that's because Courtois isn't going to renew and they don't want him to leave on a free.
Chelsea's entire season was a disaster so I can't blame one player. I was just watching some Chelsea videos last night and Courtois was under seige constantly.
They had the same number of clean sheets. Courtois conceded 4 more goals. Courtois pass accuracy was 7 points lower, but his average distrubition length was longer.
Like I said Alisson is very very good. I like him a lot, but to me one season in Serie A doesn't compare to 7 in the PL & La Liga. Thanks for your input guys!!
He was not under siege constantly. Chelsea couldn’t score this season
Both Roma games. The Barca 2nd leg and the 2nd Watford game. I forget the numbers, but it was like 60 shots total and 35 on target. I know it was a lot. So I can't speak on the entire season. Just the handful of games I watched the last few days.
They don't even need to sell Neymar lol they can keep him and buy whoever they want without repercussions. Somehow they didn't breach Financial fair play after spending 400 million on 2 players. They've spent 556 million the last 3 transfer windows (Including this year that hasn't really started) while only making like 155 million in sales.
One of my favorite non Madrid players. Can't believe Leicester sold him for so cheap. Probably the best DM in the World. Definitely top 3.
Sure was. He’s the best ball winner in the world IMO and he’s improving his passing. I know I’m like a broken record but he’s really fantastic.
Otamendi is an absolute clown. His team has a chance to equalize and kicking the ball at the other team
If they don’t get it together I could see Messi retiring from international duties. And that’d be a damn shame
Merci Le Bleu, Merci Le Bleu
do not jinx it Rick or I will find you.
Not fun for their fans. US soccer fans know how it feels, we're sitting home, thank you USSF.
Mascherano retired from international football.
It's probably going to be miserable lol like 1 nil. Hopefully I'm wrong though.