I had a Uruguay/Croatia final so ill stick with half of that and go France/Croatia. I'll be rooting for Belgium but something is telling me France pulls it out.
Japan opened Belgium up easily. Japan has some good technical players (I'm excited to see Inui at Betis this season - great fit there), but they're obviously a notch or two below what France offers. France also doesn't have Brazil's problem of needing to placate and go through an overrated and unfit diva like Neymar.
I'm rooting for Belgium today because I've always liked Roberto Martinez and feel he gets a bad rap, but this feels like a good matchup for France. The speed of Mbappe and Griezmann could be a problem for them today. I wonder also if they'd consider swapping Giroud for Dembele. I doubt it as Giroud has been the reference point for them, but if Belgium wants to replicate what Japan did I wonder if Dembele's speed should be the answer over Giroud's power.
Tomorrow should be good too. I'm looking for Sterling to have a big day. His movement against Sweden was superb, and against a potentially gassed and already suspect Croatian back line he might enjoy himself.
before the Brazil game, I'm not sure how much can be made of Belgium-Japan.
Each World Cup we see a team that has a match where they struggle and then they survive.
Belgium conceded two goals, but they roared back to win the game, even before it could go to extra time.
Japan played a very technically sound game.
But after watching it, you could make the case Belgium took them too lightly until they saw they truly were in trouble. That can be the sign of a problem, but they appeared to be completely focused vs. Brazil.
I think it will be a Belgium-Croatia final, but I've got as many wrong as I've gotten right so far.
to an English buddy and a French buddy arguing their countries' causes (and it drew a funny retort from one D Hirshey]:
Quote:
Alas, me lads, it shall be told,
Yea, the Three Lions playing so bold, well may reach Luzhniki,
a nod to welcoming Swedes, playing passive and playing deep,
And to savant Sir Hirshey, it must be said, his (at long last)
Wenger-less Gunners come up small, being Tottenham’s Spurs made Colombia weep,
Gallant Kane will lead them, Lingard, fiery Pickford, workman Henderson too,
All EPLs Trippier, Walker, mallet head Maguire, elegant Dele Alli,
Yet in this lesser borough was the Russian bear laid Croatia low, fair Modrić their best,
Rebic, the one-legged Subasić, all spent, on the morrow give England the talley,
Mon France, mon France
Electric Mbappe, rock Griezemann, humble Hugo and Pogba the Enigmatic,
Still, in Duchamps’ telling it's nimble, energetic Kanté, the poacher, the fixer,
Who holds the key to unseating mighty Belgium et le grand Courtois,
the scintillating Hazard, DeBruyne, Lukaku and their magic elixir,
In the end, in Red Square, where oligarchs, thieves, and traitors connive,
It is Légion d’honneur Thierry Henry aids Belgium's reign supreme,
They will hoist the Cup and shatter your dreams
[Verily suckitude disgrace to iambic pentameter, but you get the idea]
that's a great suggestion. At the arena I usually would attend in Germany, the stands are only on either side of the pitch.
I went to a match between Juventus and Bayern in Charlotte and sat in the end zone. Awesome view! You could see the plays develop and the strategy much better from that vantage point. Transformed the way I want to watch the action.
You'll get a good view either way - at that point it's a matter of personal preference. What match are you planning to see? I had season tickets for a couple years in the lower level (about 10 rows) behind a goal, and that was really cool. I got a real appreciation for Thierry Henry's technique - man could that guy hit the ball clean. If that's the kind of thing you're looking for, sit down low.
But if you prefer to see the whole game develop, sit up high behind a goal. The arena is still tight enough that you can see the expressions on players' faces, but you also get the "All 22" view.
I can't stress enough wait a great venue it is. Not a bad seat in the place.
Great save. Belgium definitely with the better chances but I feel like France has missed atleast 2 passes that could have led to breakaways. They are very close to scoring as well.
I think it's a mistake to read Belgium's lineup as uncreative Â
any team with DeBruyne and Hazard on the field is not that. They're just funnelling chance creation to the wings with a stronger center to recycle posession/mitigate Pogba. I like their structure.
Both De Bruyne and Hazard have been pulled away from Kante, and Fellaini is providing an ongoing Plan B drifting forward when Belgium is in possession.
- both sides showing respect for the game, minimum of fouls, no flopping, though thought Vertonghen on Griezemann and Dembele could have earned cautions, ref saving cards
- Pavard looked nervous early on, poor touches, and Hazard had his way with him, Duchamps needs to figure that out, fast, and Pavard and Varane on a miscommunication at ~ 25 minutes almost let Hazard walk through
- as predicted Kanté so critical in MF
- Griezemann has been poor with his FKs this tournament
Both De Bruyne and Hazard have been pulled away from Kante, and Fellaini is providing an ongoing Plan B drifting forward when Belgium is in possession.
Don't underestimate the role Henry is playing, one of the masters of off-ball movement and runs.
GT: can you post again when you have the chance that link to the in-depth tearing apart of USSF, excellent article, but can't track it down.
by both sides in the first half, there were a lot of excellent chances and plays by both teams. What a save by Lloris, some great runs by Hazard, and Mbappe flashing that Randy Moss like game-breaking ability over the top.
that always stands out for me as a difference between the US and the top teams is how solid some of these defenders are. Vertongen has been so strong 1 v 1 and there is a strong team D cohesion for almost every one of these squads
rightly and richly deserved, but Matuidi and Giroux, tracking back, repeatedly, Rick Nash like playing a two-way game and not being able to buy a goal smh
just earned Vertongen a yellow card.
It's embarrassing that flops get rewarded
And it's a shame that the game was virtually devoid of that until the last minutes. Don't know why it is so often the brightest lights who feel the need. So unnecessary.
I'm rooting for Belgium today because I've always liked Roberto Martinez and feel he gets a bad rap, but this feels like a good matchup for France. The speed of Mbappe and Griezmann could be a problem for them today. I wonder also if they'd consider swapping Giroud for Dembele. I doubt it as Giroud has been the reference point for them, but if Belgium wants to replicate what Japan did I wonder if Dembele's speed should be the answer over Giroud's power.
Tomorrow should be good too. I'm looking for Sterling to have a big day. His movement against Sweden was superb, and against a potentially gassed and already suspect Croatian back line he might enjoy himself.
Each World Cup we see a team that has a match where they struggle and then they survive.
Belgium conceded two goals, but they roared back to win the game, even before it could go to extra time.
Japan played a very technically sound game.
But after watching it, you could make the case Belgium took them too lightly until they saw they truly were in trouble. That can be the sign of a problem, but they appeared to be completely focused vs. Brazil.
I think it will be a Belgium-Croatia final, but I've got as many wrong as I've gotten right so far.
Yea, the Three Lions playing so bold, well may reach Luzhniki,
a nod to welcoming Swedes, playing passive and playing deep,
And to savant Sir Hirshey, it must be said, his (at long last)
Wenger-less Gunners come up small, being Tottenham’s Spurs made Colombia weep,
Gallant Kane will lead them, Lingard, fiery Pickford, workman Henderson too,
All EPLs Trippier, Walker, mallet head Maguire, elegant Dele Alli,
Yet in this lesser borough was the Russian bear laid Croatia low, fair Modrić their best,
Rebic, the one-legged Subasić, all spent, on the morrow give England the talley,
Mon France, mon France
Electric Mbappe, rock Griezemann, humble Hugo and Pogba the Enigmatic,
Still, in Duchamps’ telling it's nimble, energetic Kanté, the poacher, the fixer,
Who holds the key to unseating mighty Belgium et le grand Courtois,
the scintillating Hazard, DeBruyne, Lukaku and their magic elixir,
In the end, in Red Square, where oligarchs, thieves, and traitors connive,
It is Légion d’honneur Thierry Henry aids Belgium's reign supreme,
They will hoist the Cup and shatter your dreams
[Verily suckitude disgrace to iambic pentameter, but you get the idea]
France XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez, Pogba, Kanté, Mbappé, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud.
France XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez, Pogba, Kanté, Mbappé, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud.
Oh Dembele.... Martinez rolling the dice.
This is not a creative midfield. I expect France to dominate possession.
Chadli seems to be creating more than I thought he would and has put some very good deliveries into the box
Upstairs in the 200s or say 10-12 rows back in the lower bowl? Thanks!
I went to a match between Juventus and Bayern in Charlotte and sat in the end zone. Awesome view! You could see the plays develop and the strategy much better from that vantage point. Transformed the way I want to watch the action.
But if you prefer to see the whole game develop, sit up high behind a goal. The arena is still tight enough that you can see the expressions on players' faces, but you also get the "All 22" view.
I can't stress enough wait a great venue it is. Not a bad seat in the place.
Great save. Belgium definitely with the better chances but I feel like France has missed atleast 2 passes that could have led to breakaways. They are very close to scoring as well.
What a save just there from Courtois.
It's smart to keep the creative players away from Kante, but I think De Bruyne would be more effective centrally
- Pavard looked nervous early on, poor touches, and Hazard had his way with him, Duchamps needs to figure that out, fast, and Pavard and Varane on a miscommunication at ~ 25 minutes almost let Hazard walk through
- as predicted Kanté so critical in MF
- Griezemann has been poor with his FKs this tournament
- humble Hugo, holding his own and then some
GT: can you post again when you have the chance that link to the in-depth tearing apart of USSF, excellent article, but can't track it down.
He does what he needs to for this team, but man he is wasteful for both club and country.
No idea.
the Carmelo Anthony dilemma.
It's embarrassing that flops get rewarded
I'm old enough to remember a Puma commercial with Deschamps to Korn's Make Me Bad.
It's embarrassing that flops get rewarded
like The Producers
It's embarrassing that flops get rewarded