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...
Quote:
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