David vs Goliath. France is the far superior team talent wise, but Croatia has the bigger heart. Three straight extra time games for Croatia. It hasn't taken a toll on them yet. They don't seem to get tired, but their injury report this week has been pretty rough.
Who you guys got today? How about the Golden Ball & Golden Glove?
My head says France. My heart wants Croatia. I don't see how they pull it off though. With the way the French defense has played Croatia might be lucky to score 1 goal.
Golden Ball I'm going with Luka. I think he's been by far the best player of the tournament. If not him I think N'Golo Kante should win it, but I can't see FIFA allowing a DM to win it. So if it isn't Modric I'm going with Mbappe.
Golden Glove is a little bit tougher. Courtois has been the best GK of the tournament, but his team came in 3rd place. Hugo Lloris has played very well, but due to the defense in front of him he's had a lot easier tournament then Courtois, Pickford & Subasic. If France win I think Lloris wins the award. If Croatia win I think Courtois will win it.
Final predictions
France 2 Croatia 0
Golden Ball - Modric
Golden Glove - Lloris
Big Blue '56 : 9:12 am : link : reply
but am I allowed to root for Croatia? I mean I think Macron is kinda cool and all, but have to go with the little guy
Jon in NYC : 9:18 am : link : reply
the OP underestimates Croatia's talent. Not really a fluke that they're here. They may have the best midfield in the tournament. Almost their entire XI plays for top level teams.
The thing that I think will doom them today is tired legs. They've just had a much more strenuous journey so far, both physically and emotionally. I say France 3-1.
Bobby Humphrey's Earpad : 9:21 am : link : reply
There's a thread going on Twitter about the recent history of Croatian football, the fans trying to get the team kicked out of qualifying, and the court charges that may get Modric convicted of perjury, and it's insane. But they are here with one game left.
France is grinding along, and they have the ultimate Modric-stopper in Kante. The only ways I see Croatia scoring is if they start getting Perisic out wide against the weak French fullbacks, like he did against England. And set pieces/free kicks.
France 2-1.
Sec 103 : 9:26 am : link : reply
Heart bleeds Croatia...
Croatia 2-1 in two OTs...
Why I cannot root for Croatia. - ( New Window )
Why I cannot root for Croatia. - ( New Window )
Why even post that then, come on...
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veer into the political.
Why I cannot root for Croatia. - ( New Window )
Why even post that then, come on...
Exactly.
Golden Glove - Pickford
I agree, France is top to bottom a better team.
I've just heard a bunch of the "Croatia is a scrappy underdog" narrative -- not from you, but from a lot of place this week -- and it doesn't resonate. Their starting CM pair plays for Barca and Madrid for crying out loud.
I'd have loved to see France with Benzema starting. He's a shell of his former self, but he's still superior to Giroud in just about every category.
Go Croatia for Diehl and of course f*ck France.
Go Croatia for Diehl and of course f*ck France.
You are definitely a tough guy.
3-1 Croatia.
3-1 Croatia.
He hasn't seen anything like this France defense. Probably the best CB pairing in the World with maybe the best CB in the World. Croatia scoring 3 would be an absolute shocker.
Either way, hoping for a Croatia victory, but just looking forward to a competitive game.
Either way, hoping for a Croatia victory, but just looking forward to a competitive game.
I never said it was logical. Lol. I think we are due for a shocker
Definitely looked like a dive to me. He sold it well and the ref bought it.
Agreed.
It doesn't appear to have shaken them up or knocked them off their game though.
1-1
Pogba's pull down of Mandzukic was more convincing.
Perisic! Great set piece
Zagreb - ( New Window )
Holden gets about 1/3 of his calls wrong, even w/ advantage of replay (and the master of the obvious and the mistakes dpin piles on), a clear foul vs. Griezemann that led to FK and own goal
early on, France has been playing too methodically, too slow, and Croatia MFs have been able to cut off the channels easily
Holden gets about 1/3 of his calls wrong, even w/ advantage of replay (and the master of the obvious and the mistakes dpin piles on), a clear foul vs. Griezemann that led to FK and own goal
early on, France has been playing too methodically, too slow, and Croatia MFs have been able to cut off the channels easily
Perisic plays for Inter so he definitely has some quality
Exactly. They have done next to nothing. A questionable free kick with a lucky break on the Mandzukic own goal and a handball off a corner. They've literally had 2 attacks the entire game so far...2 goals
Seriously, i dont blame the players when it obviously gets rewarded. Legit fouls and the ref tells them to play on.
Until this changes, its tough to take the game seriously.
Kante is too good. I would trust him to play with the yellow
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but they can’t risk it with the yellow card
Kante is too good. I would trust him to play with the yellow
Honestly I probably would too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him be subbed out
He has had a great tournament and up until this moment, in ways that
would not necessarily have been expected to stand out
He has had a great tournament and up until this moment, in ways that
would not necessarily have been expected to stand out
I don’t often get em right, but Pogba and France have made me look good in this tourney.
And Mbappe fittingly to put it away! Not long before that kid is the best attacker in the world. Hell, he might already be
And now a gift from Lloris for Croatia.
They’ve had their chances, France’s defense holding so far
They were all in uniform. Military? Do they wimd up in gulag?
Where is Fatman to spell this out for us from a Russian standpoint?
Such a wonderful tournament all around, a pleasure to watch
The last year I think he's solidified himself as the best CB in the World. He's awesome and he just turned 25. He will be Madrid's captain one day.
Hopefully soon all 3 of those guys are playing for Madrid.
- 6'3", he doesn't look that big but he plays bigger
- dad from Martinique
- turned professional at 17 (Lens, FR league) and w/i a year transfer to RM
- competitive appearances at 18, and by 19-20 years old a virtual starter and by 20 had displaced Pepe and was voted as one of the outstanding foreign born 11s for RM
It's a pity Mbappe found his dark side late in the match v Belgium, where he flopped and time wasted--was one black mark in an otherwise very impressive tournament. Though not close to Pogba's level in two-way play, he tracked back often to MF and his defensive third to make plays. Hope he keeps his head straight for country, for Club. Neymar who?
It's going to be some pretty serious withdrawal symptoms the next few weeks w/o WC. Guess I'll try to play a tiny bit of catch-up to Jon and begin watching more MLS
Now, my focus shifts to how the US will qualify for 2022 and compete in the shitshow of Qatar.
What this tourney put a highlight on was the importance of strong central defenders, backs on the wings who could stretch a D and send in crosses, and steady, creative play from the midfield. Then finishing on set pieces.
We'll need to have a steady midfielder to be able to get Pulisic scoring chances and wings that can serve up quality balls in the box.
We'll need to have a steady midfielder to be able to get Pulisic scoring chances and wings that can serve up quality balls in the box.
We'll need a coach too.
Now, my focus shifts to how the US will qualify for 2022 and compete in the shitshow of Qatar.
What this tourney put a highlight on was the importance of strong central defenders, backs on the wings who could stretch a D and send in crosses, and steady, creative play from the midfield. Then finishing on set pieces.
We'll need to have a steady midfielder to be able to get Pulisic scoring chances and wings that can serve up quality balls in the box.
Im an external sports optimist, even with the Knicks, but there's reason to believe the USMNT is in great hands moving forward if they can get the coach right.
Pulisic, McKennie, Brooks, Miazga, Steffen, Yedlin, Adams, Sargent.
That's an amazing core to have, with Brooks/Yedlin being the "vets" at a whopping 25 years old.
Then factor in guys like Saief, Wood, Acosta, CCV, Trapp, Delgado, etc, and you are working with a really solid squad.
What I feel is that we've trading recent strengths at GK and central midfielder to places where those are now question marks. And a lot of the young core is still unproven.
Brooks, Yedlin, Pulisic and Wood all give a lot of hope, but I still don't know if we're stronger than we were 10 years ago with Dempsey, Howard, Donovan and Bradley.
Still lots of question marks and development that has to happen.
FatManinCharlotte: good summary of what USMNT needs, like all the critical elements. Our back 4 has long been in search of an identity
after Klinsmann gutted the incumbents, especially the two CDs, where it's been more or less of a shitshow. Yedlin seems set at outside, and I think it's doable. That steady, creative midfield you mention, I think that's going to be the toughest challenge, the smarts, experience, and football intuition to knit backs, MF, and forwards...haven't seen that in a long time.
FatManinCharlotte: good summary of what USMNT needs, like all the critical elements. Our back 4 has long been in search of an identity
after Klinsmann gutted the incumbents, especially the two CDs, where it's been more or less of a shitshow. Yedlin seems set at outside, and I think it's doable. That steady, creative midfield you mention, I think that's going to be the toughest challenge, the smarts, experience, and football intuition to knit backs, MF, and forwards...haven't seen that in a long time.
Agreed with the Colonel in that the US needs to reestablish its spine. Last two French winners were not built on attack but on world-class CB pairings (Desailly/Blanc & Vrane/Umtiti) and CM (Deschamps/Zidane and Pogba/Kante). with that you can cover for so-so goalies like Barthez and Lloris and wasteful forwards like Giroud.
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good names, Jon, though my strongest reservation would be Brooks: size and presence in the PA, yes, I'm just not sure he has the movement to be a consistent player at the int'l level.
FatManinCharlotte: good summary of what USMNT needs, like all the critical elements. Our back 4 has long been in search of an identity
after Klinsmann gutted the incumbents, especially the two CDs, where it's been more or less of a shitshow. Yedlin seems set at outside, and I think it's doable. That steady, creative midfield you mention, I think that's going to be the toughest challenge, the smarts, experience, and football intuition to knit backs, MF, and forwards...haven't seen that in a long time.
Agreed with the Colonel in that the US needs to reestablish its spine. Last two French winners were not built on attack but on world-class CB pairings (Desailly/Blanc & Vrane/Umtiti) and CM (Deschamps/Zidane and Pogba/Kante). with that you can cover for so-so goalies like Barthez and Lloris and wasteful forwards like Giroud.
Barthez was not a so-so keeper (and neither is Hugo Lloris) but everything else is pretty much true
Build up the team thru offensive play...
This sucks, I’m going to go through World Cup withdrawal now. Will try to pay more attention to MLS for my soccer fix. Also have a trip planned to Amsterdam and Belgium in October and will try to find a match there.
That said - the guys on this Croatia team will be heroes in that country for generations for what they did, even though they lost in the final, and good for them.
That said - the guys on this Croatia team will be heroes in that country for generations for what they did, even though they lost in the final, and good for them.
Subasic isn't really at fault for the third goal. He never saw that shot as there were about a half-dozen players in front of him. Once he saw it the ball was going into the net
compete at this high international level. Back 4 defense at this time is very weak.Goalie at one time a USMNT strength very unsettled and midfielders are also weak.
Pulisic is an outstanding international player.
The hiring of the next USMNT coach is a very important next move to start our rebuild.
It will be a long hard road back to qualify for 2022 IMHO.
We are coming off of the Klinsmann Era where you had player's confidences shaken, not knowing where they would play or what their roles would be, which resulted in a near mutiny.
It was the worst-case scenario for the US.
I have a very high degree of certainty we will qualify for the World Cup. what I'm very much uncertain about is how competitive we'll be. Mexico was a very strong side and they were out in the round of 16, a threshold that has become our absolute ceiling in recent years.
US soccer have a ton of next generation talent coming up
Christian Pulisic
Weston McKennie
Tyler Adams
Josh Sargent
Tim Weah
- they have grown up with a US professional soccer league and are not intimidated by players from rest of the world and do not have imposter syndrome that previous players from US have had.
I don't know about "imposter syndrome", but I'm a big proponent of having US players get significant experience abroad.
I don't think growing up with the MLS here has any impact on the psyche of players when they face Int'l opponents
Is that the record for a goalkeeper?
Goal keeping cost Liverpool the Champions League Final and is a major factor impacting their chase of the Premier League this season. It is crazy money, but I get it.
Most likely was just trying to serve it back into the box. Sometimes the best hots are mis-hit crosses/services into he box
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62 million pounds / 70 million Euro.
Is that the record for a goalkeeper?
According to the Guardian, the bid - now improved to around 75M EUR, is the record. Roma will make something like a 67M EUR profit. I didn't even realize until last week that they sold Naingolaan to Inter. That's going to be 110M Euros in transfer money.
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In comment 14014785 Bobby Humphrey's Earpad said:
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62 million pounds / 70 million Euro.
Is that the record for a goalkeeper?
According to the Guardian, the bid - now improved to around 75M EUR, is the record. Roma will make something like a 67M EUR profit. I didn't even realize until last week that they sold Naingolaan to Inter. That's going to be 110M Euros in transfer money.
The amazing thing is Liverpool is still spending within their means. All these transfers (Keita, Fabinho, Shaqiri, now Alisson) are basically financed by Coutinho + Sakho + CL prize money. They could also sell Origi or Sturridge and have enough to get Fekir from Lyon while still largely balancing their books