The stage appears set. Olivier Giroud has guided France to a World Cup final, and now it’s up to England to the make the most of the huge opportunity they have today and make it a weekend to remember.
The France vs Belgium game wasn’t much to write home about yesterday, I think Rory Smith wrote that they the French have appeared to be excellent at doing just enough and not a lot else through this World Cup. Strangely pragmatic considering the breadth of talent they have at their disposal. Imagine the ball they’d be playing under Wenger?
I felt they had a fairly comfortable ride against Belgium. There aren’t many things that give me more joy in life than seeing Fellaini beaten in the air at the near post. I also liked seeing the ref wise as you like to the antics of Eden Hazard. Ultimately, no one bar England fans really wanted to see Belgium in the World Cup final. At least it’ll be a spectacle now.
The England game is so exciting. Croatia has undoubtedly been pedestrian in this World Cup so far. Were it not for a few moments of luck and magic, they’d be sitting out this game. Two penalty shootouts against Denmark and Russisa tells you that midfield hasn’t quite hit Barca/Madrid levels.
That said, England has had a fairly easy ride this whole tournament, and I do think there’s been a lot nonsense about identity and likeability. It’s clouded the reality that we really haven’t created a lot of chances. I read that Harry Kane has had to feed off about 9 chances, where strikers of more creative teams are boasting 20+ chances. That’s a really poor showing, but the press is so tuned into the fact Gareth Southgate is easy to deal with in press conferences, we’ve lost a bit of perspective.
I’m not saying I haven’t enjoyed the pragmatism. I’m not denying the fact you have to deal with the teams that are put in front of you, I do like the creative formation and the results it’s landed us. All I’m saying is you have to be prepared that today could be a very different prospect. Croatia on their day can put on a show, that they haven’t so far is a positive, but it shouldn’t lure fans into a false sense of IT’S COMING HOME security.
That said, having had Three Lions brain wormed into my head for the last 3 weeks, I am starting to believe something magic is about to happen. I’m actually booked on a shoot over the World Cup final. I mean, what England fan could realistically tell someone they couldn’t make Sunday because England might be in the final? It’s written in the stars I’ll be stuck in Oregon without a way of watching the game because that’s just the way the stars align for me.
There was a lot of purring about the French backline yesterday and how young they all are. I think I’m more about the England defenders. Pickford, Mcguire, Stones and Trippier are giving me life. All Northerners, possibly coal miners in another life, just making it happen from the back. They’ve been excellent this tournament, they’ve made themselves household names, and I think they alone deserve to see the next round. I really hope Harry Mcguire is the real deal. He’s been so solid at the back, and such a threat going forward. He looks like a classic thug defender from darkest recesses of a Stoke past, but he’s actually very classy on the ball, and probably one of our most creative players. Trippier has been immense as well, his final ball is something else and his composure is very impressive.
Raheem Sterling may have lacked a bit of end product this tournament, but he’s doing a selfless job creating space and opening up the game for everyone else. It’s a shame he hasn’t scored, but that could happen today. I think the press, bar a few gammon like folk, have taken more time to judge the game he’s been offering up. The foreign press has certainly been far more analytical in his offering.
Harry Kane is another player who has taken a hit to his game. He’s not getting the service he needs to be effective in open play, but his hold up play and movement has been exceptional. Not to mention his nerves of steel under pressure. He’ll still always be a mystery to me, but there’s no doubt, he’s one of the top 5 players in the world now.
So, today is the once in a generation chance for England to make a final. Enjoy the moment, this feeling of hope doesn’t come along that often.
See you in the comments.
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Ramsay £60m??? Lira, yes.
I wonder how long it took to make the connection between Donatello and Mbappe. The semblance is very striking.
The mother is angry that she swam in a river filled with turtles when she was pregnant with the lad.
That said, there’s nothing cosmetic surgery in Dubai and marketing experts like Pedro can’t fix.
Mbappe can look up to Gareth Bale. He had these humongous ears and now they are normal sized.
Never rated Karius but if you’re being fair to the lad you have to mention how he was concussed just before those howlers in the CL Final.
“You know there’s trouble when a Liverpool supporting crappy league two player starts telling a goalie who’s played in the CL final that “you fuc*ing shit”””
The league two player was outta order yet everyone seemed to back him. Karius is going to be targeted all season, even goals that have nothing to do with him he will get blamed for. If he is not buying anyone at least start with Mignolet.
Dream
Don’t know man, I mean Mendy’s a beast and brings a lot forward but he can also forget his defensive duties at times so it’s cool for me
Giroud being Giroud will give us that damn tr4phy hopefully
First round France were awful but it seems like the intention was to be physically ready for the last games, so cannot really complain.
Ideal scenario for me would be for Deschamps to leave after the win so that Zidane can show us what he can do with that generation.
I did say Lloris was my biggest worry at the start of the tournament, what an expert !
Bale still looks like Planet of the Apes. And he is bald as a coot under that ridiculous man bun.
It’s his frontal face that bothers me. Very pronounced and smooth…not quite human. But he is welsh.
If Giroud can be part of a World Cup winning team, perhaps the Middle East has hope.
Receding
It’s because everyone but the Liverpool staff know what needs to be done.
It’s not pretty but there are journalists just waiting with their scripted write-ups, comedians waiting with jokes and lots of laughs from the general public…when the next clanger happens and we know it will.
Lloris is superb at coming off his line.
Think both he and Courtois are overrated.
Both have proven me wrong this tournament
Ramsey should sign a new contract or be sold. It’s really that simple.
We can replace him without even trying.
Did Mbappé act like against Uruguay when he was at Monaco? The embellishment was unnecessary tbh.
Pickford looks like that actor, Thomas Turgoose. From This is England.
GoH
“….but he’s Welsh”
You sneaky bastardo
We used to have a cultured Welsh poster around these parts
…”Tunnygriff” , can’t recall the exact moniker.
He would be pissed if he were here, might even file an anti-Welsh discrimination suit.
Hackney has been very funny recently I have to say
Hi Josip, good luck for Sunday although I know you have a close relationship with France !
“It’s because everyone but the Liverpool staff know what needs to be done.”
They know what needs to be done. They are just trying to carve out this reputation of getting only top class players. They say it’s Allison or Oblak or no one at all.
I will love it if we finish above Liverpool and Spurs next season, they have mouthed off way too much without actually winning anything.
Karim, tr2phy you mean. Would love France to win it, no Arsenal fan wouldn’t. But would also love Croatia as the underdog to win. Wish you and Josip best of luck.
Karim
Agreed. Lloris has had an exceptional WC so far. Much better than 2014 or the 2016 Euros. What impresses me the most about this French team is their solidity (notably in defence), work ethics and discipline. This is all very… unfrench! 😉 My theory is that we’ve got Italy on course to win the WC! (except if Croatia beats France on Sunday 🙂 )
I’m just interested in what the players can do under a new manager. It’s going to take 6 months before we will find out.
mysticleaves
Cheers!
I’d love Croatia to win, but this will be hard. Croatia are underdogs.
I’m just mucking about. The home nations are all targets for ridicule.
However, nothing makes me shiver more than a Manc or scouser.
Karim
You should catch my matinee show…I go blue for that one.
Diss
Yeah it was tunnygriffboy if I’m not mistaken
M’bappe’s not as bad as Neymar but the latter certainly influenced him last year
Bet he doesn’t do it anymore in 1/2 seasons, don’t like it either
Is this the first France squad that haven’t had an Arsenal player a part of it since the late 90s?
Do girls fancy footballers? I thought it was all about One Direction?
depends on the age group. we know girls over 25 look at the common denominator, and that’s money…
Let’s not forget that Deschamps played his best football at Juve and was a Juve coach when they got relegated to Serie B. This is no minor detail to explain the new style and realism of this French team. France are playing like Italy in 2006 or Juve in the 80s.
Spot on Josip
Wenger has taken the French-ness away from Arsenal with his exit.
We aren’t trendy again over there.
We want Wenger back….We want Wenger back
We want Wenger back….We want Wenger back
We want Wenger back….We want Wenger back
Takeaway two pub teams Panama and Tunisia and christian eriksen, Harry kane is just a overrated English toilet shit.
Spot on Gon
Please don’t use the G-word, Pedro. It’s dehumanizing and beneath you.
I use to think that Bob was Lauren Neal or someone connected (Jack’s ex) but the more I think of it..did someone English use to take your lunch money or something?
Why the disdain…doesn’t time heal all wounds?
mario mandzukic made Britain great again
GOH
Yes, Ramsey with 2 years plus on his contract is worth north of £60 million
Thank gawd people like you can’t and will never manage the Arsenal. It would be a comic show
First Finland and now croatia,out you go lol
Surely France can’t lose two finals in two years to lesser opposition?
Croatia’s best two players are Rakitic and Modric who run the midfield like conductors.
They will easily be shut out by Kante ( the world best in that position) and Matuidi.
Without the midfield, what else will Croatia have? They will struggle against flair plyers (not called Leo Messi).
Perisic with his wing play?
It’s France’s World Cup to lose.
I never thought Harry Kane would become the best striker on the planet – Harry Redknapp?lol
He did fuck all for he’s country
Yeah, cannot really hide from the fact I’d be devastated if we didn’t win it this time.
Ok I will say 3/1 France then !
Looks like Arsenal are pushing Maitland Niles this season, made a big deal about him in terms of Gazidis saying Emery ranks him as one of the bright spots of the squad and he’s in a lot of the PR stuff.
Would be really nice if Arsenal started producing some young talent again, we haven’t done for a long while, none that rise and then stick.
I would say Maitland Niles and Nketiah look most likely, not sure on Nelson.
2016 Finland 2-1 English
2018 Croatia 2-English
Can’t see how England have improved
You said England would beat Croatia easily Dissenter…
Bob
Finland?
Easy win for France on Sunday, I think.
Croatia looked good last night because our midfield was so bad. We still carved out a number of good chances and were able to get at their back line with an ineffective midfield and only two forwards.
Imagine what will happen with Mbappe, Griezmann and Giroud there instead and then Kante and Matuidi shutting down Croatia’s midfield instead of Lingard and Henderson.
“Fuck off Mourinho !”
Absolutely unworthy of a school teacher – check Eurosport comments for those who can read French, it’s priceless how he knows best than everyone on earth.
(And how he make sure that we are aware of that fact.)
little concerned as to why we haven’t moved on any of the dross yet.
Perez, Welbeck, J Campbell, Akpom, Jenkinson, Martinez, one of the centre halves…
Only Welly is at the World Cup.
mario mandzukic did keep the streets of England nice and clean last night. If England had won they would go to the pub get drunk start fights make a massive mess and then say we are makein Britain great again.
A 32 years old mario mandzukic is much better then English media made Harry kane.
Highbury
What the heck are you talking about ?
Yeah think Croatia’s only chance really is if Perisic, Rebic, Mandzukic all have the game of their life and Modric-Rakitic-Brozovic win the midfield battle.
France’s forwards will get plenty of joy against Lovren and Vida, expect Strinic too at LB will get cooked by M’Bappe.
Hard to look beyond a France win unless they freeze like they did in the Euro Final.
Eddie Nketiah, if he gets a chance will definitely definitely make it. It won’t even be hard. Boy has talent. Smashes in goals at all levels.
On another note, want to see how Madrid will react. Do they trust Bale enough? Will they make a reaction signing? Can w still get Vasquez (assuming we were ever in for him)
WE
France’s defence was great against Belgium as well, to score against England they had to have a slow build through domination of the midfield and then the second was just tried defending.
I really think it will be the easiest World Cup final anyone has had for a while.
Like you say, unless France bottle it
Neymar or Hazard will be signed by RM.
Former will be difficult to make happen but the latter is a gimme, Hazard will drive himself all the way from London to play for Madrid.
Cesc
You got me super confident until that last comment
Alright guys, talk to you in the week-end !
Madrid will go for Neymar or Mbappe, I think.
Mbappe does have the flavour of the summer tag that Madrid enjoy.
PSG will just have paid about £160 Million for him though, so not sure how that will work or how much he will end up costing. At this rate £250 Million or something.
actually I thought mandukiz was rubbish, he did however do two things right. score the goal and he had a good attempt at goal saved..
England should call him super mario lol
If I was Madrid would look at signing Mbappe and then either Hazard or Sane. Play them with Bale and that is a ridiculous front line.
CA
An early goal like England scored yesterday for France would be the KO blow for Croatia.
Unlike England, France have the quality to punish the Croats and put the game to bed soon after just like they did vs Argentina after going behind with the three goal swing in just over ten minutes.
Kane had a one on one dead centre from ten yards out at one-nil, that was the game right there.
Karim
Just don’t bottle it and you are on easy street.
Just can’t imagine PSG giving up M’Bappe.
He’s nineteen, who knows how great he can become. He’s doing things atm that haven’t been done by a teen in a long long time.
Since Ronaldo.
Rafa Varane is having himself a tournament. When watching him, it always seems he has a mistake due to a minor lapse in concentration. Like John Stones last night. Varane and Miranda are the stand out CBs so far.
So Chelsea looks to bring in Higuaín and Jorginho, but I’m thinking they could lose hazard and kante to the big boys. Willian wasn’t happy at the end of last season. Coaching situation still not sorted.
Looks like we could and should really come away with something out of these first two fixtures. Can you imagine all six points?
Imagine if PSG sell Neymar & Rabiot this summer & buy Pogba, Kante & Dembélé?
Varane is a funny one, remember him as one of the most highly rated CB’s in the world at nineteen/20 only for Ancelotti to prefer Pepe over him. Had a difficult year and a half spell or so before he got back to his best and returned as a starter. Only really getting the recognition that his performances have deserved now as he’s always overlooked for praise at club level for Sergio Ramos. Top class defender. Umtiti has come a long way too, signs of his improvement have been visible all last season at Barcelona after being a bit of… Read more »
Higuain to Chelsea is definitely on, didn’t even factor in that Higuain played his best ever season of footy under Sarri.
What would happen if we put Redtruth and Bob in the same room?
Gambon you can’t say frog
“Neymar or Hazard will be signed by RM.”
Why is everyone forgetting Salah?
I remember, after the Euros in 2000, discussing with some friends the key factors in England falling short when it really matters. We all came to the conclusion that it basically all boiled down to one thing………….Natural technical ability. Desire/Heart/Power/strength/speed/ mental toughness should be prerequisites of any professional sportsmen, but when it comes to the ability to control/pass and ping a ball around effectively, with minimum of effort, we always fall short. This stems from the system and the sporting education of youngsters from an early age. Whatever the sport Football/Rugby/Tennis/Cricket etc, we have always lacked the innate ability to… Read more »
Lol at Mbappe being called Donatello. Hilarious.
I just hope the french dressing room doesnt SPLINTER!
Could be a really boring game on Sunday. Croatia are only put on a performance if they sense weakness and play against a low IQ teams like Argentina and England. They feed off their naivete and noticeably get quicker and more dynamic.
France won’t give them anything to feed off. They will be solid and athletic and Croatia’s flair players will whimper away and go into hibernation.
He’s nineteen, who knows how great he can become. He’s doing things atm that haven’t been done by a teen in a long long time. Since Ronaldo
Better at 19 than Ronaldo was. Pretty sure he’s scoring more and Ronaldo was never this good at a world cup tournament
Come off it…..do you mean Ronaldo Lima?
If so hes not even close.
Why is everyone forgetting Salah?
Just signed a new deal
It’s not surprising, same culture over here. Youth level they have ten year olds playing on full sized pitches which is ridiculous. Hoof it up to the fast, powerful , fifteen year old looking CF is how footy is played at grass roots levels. Same reason that Nigeria always do so brilliantly at underage tournaments but are so average at senior level, except they are literally fielding grown men against kids lol. No emphasis at all is placed on possession, transition or build-up play, or keeping it on the deck. Boggles my mind why they don’t look at what the… Read more »
Mbappe at 19 has 43 goals for club and 7 in 21 for France.
Ronaldo at age 20 was the best player on the planet and scored nearly 50 goals in a season.
M’Bappe ain’t even close, he’s just the closest anyone has come to a young Ronaldo.
Young Ronaldo was nicknamed the Phenomenon was a reason though, one of a kind.
But it has been changed in England, the FA had a real focus on youth football a few years back and have started focusing on smaller pitches and passing as opposed to hoof ball.
Hopefully we see the benefits as our youth teams have been pretty great in recent years.
When you go and play 6-a-side now you see the little kids on quarter sized pitches with tiny goals.
I was talking about Cristiano not fat Ronaldo. Fat Ronaldo as a kid was amazing
Yeah as a point of reference I went with Cristiano not actual striker Ronaldo. Don’t know why
Ronaldo scored 35 in 36 at 19, and went on to win the Ballon D’or at 10.
He had scored 79 in 83 games at that age.
MBappe is good, he isnt the talent that ROnaldo was.
CA
Yeah England look like they’re getting their shit together in that respect.
Unfortunately for us the FAI are corrupt and self-interested wankers so we#re doomed with hoofball for the foreseeable future.
Surprised Liverpool haven’t signed a goalscorer and creative player to lessen the burden on Salah. A Coutinho and prime Sturridge short of being a 90pt PL side
Fair play Marko
C Ronaldo wasnt a stand out as a teenager, he just improved massively between 18 & 22, and the rest is history.
Love MBappe, but just dont think he has what Ronaldo had.
Neymar is a typical millenial who just happens to play football.
Mbappe to his credit allowed his skills to do the talk rather than his antics.
*talking
Firmino and Mane are good sources of goals outside of Salah, the former averaged a goal every other game and got a tonne of assists as well while Mane scored 20 in all comps.
Problem for Liverpool is the stark drop-off in quality past their front three, Ings post-injury and Solanke are Championship level at best.
Wenger Eagle
Spot on. They’ll be playing three of Fabinho/Keita/Henderson/Wijnaldum/Ox
every week. Fortunate that a number of teams in the PL play end to end football.
Sergio Aguero as a teenager was pretty special as well, not to mention Alexandre Pato.
Aguero scored 27 goals in all comps for Atletico Madrid at nineteen, Pato was averaging close to goal every other game for Milan in his teens.
M’Bappe is in that conversation, his international and CL performances take him ahead of Aguero though.
If you’re looking for the next undisputed world class footballer/player of his generation type after Ronaldo and Messi look no further than Mbappe is what I’m getting at. 19 and he’s only getting better and better before ones eyes. Got a couple balon d’ors in him for sure
Dream
I reckon Ox will be pushed forward into a wide role as a deputy for Mane, Fabinho and Keita are nailed on for starting spots with Henderson and Wijnaldum scrapping it out for that third spot.
Unless they wear Lyon down and sign Fekir behind the front three, then Hendo/Georgie will be dropped to the bench.
Cesc
I know things are improving, but we’re still a fair way behind the top teams when it comes to this aspect of the game.
Even the lesser nations sometimes look more comfortable on the ball.
Modric is the perfect example of a skillful, intelligent and focused playmaker, something that England have always lacked.
Yup the Phenomenon was the best I’ve seen a teen ball. Absolutely stunning. He did look like the second coming. Mbappe is not really close but yeah, there haven’t been really exciting players ever since Messi and Ronaldo appeared on the big stage in 2005 or so. Thirteen years where we haven’t been lucky with real generation changing talents. Or maybe football has became more physical than ever, more about working hard in the gym and less favoring flair players.
It was never coming home
https://twitter.com/Asanwilliam/status/1017142973543350272
News just in – there are big changes to Arsenal press conferences starting today.
Arsenal officials have just told us that all press conference quotes are embargoed for an hour after they are said.
———————————–
What’s that about
RR,
What the fudge?
Modric:
“I think we deserve to be there. From the first goal they scored at the beginning, we dominated the game completely. We were much better technically and physically than England.”
“Their journalists and pundits on television were talking prior to this match about us being tired, being the walking dead,”
“Those words from them gave us even more eagerness to prove them wrong. They should be more humble and respectful.”
“The all-round perception was that this is a new-look England who have changed their ways of punting long balls upfield but when we pressed them it turned out that they haven’t,” Vrsaljko said.
Carts The point is that Arsenal were always uncompetitive in wage market under Wenger. His socialist wage structure benefited the lower paid players but not the elite. Arsenal will not of course be able to meet the wages of perhaps three to four top players such as Messi, Neymar and almost certainly Mbappe. That is not because the wealthiest clubs will be able to outbid us, but rather the “egos” of the owners/presidents who run these clubs. Manchester City have mega rich owners, but the highest transfer fees they have paid sofar is around £60 million and the wages they… Read more »