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FIFA World Cup 2018 | July 10 | Day 25 | Discussion Thread

FIFA World Cup 2018 | July 10 | Day 25 | Discussion Thread (1 match)

Although I was throughout the tournament yearning for a Brazil-France encounter, but this too promises to be a cracker. I just hope the match lives up to its expectations. Very undecided on which team to support.
 
hoping for it to go to ET so that the team that makes it to the final are more tired than England will be when we win a 1-0 vs Croatia :smith:
 
idrizzy said:
hoping for it to go to ET so that the team that makes it to the final are more tired than England will be when we win a 1-0 vs Croatia :smith:
Click to expand...

That's a good point.

Will be some club team mates against each other today. For example, Pogba vs Fellaini.

Another interesting sub plot is Thierry Henry is assistant coach for Belgium...Wonder if deep down he wants France to win...
 
hadi123 said:
That's a good point.

Will be some club team mates against each other today. For example, Pogba vs Fellaini.

Another interesting sub plot is Thierry Henry is assistant coach for Belgium...Wonder if deep down he wants France to win...
Click to expand...

Professionalism over your emotions. Just how Moeen Ali (British Pakistani) wouldn't purposefully play bad because he's vsing Pakistan.
 
The two best teams so far, winning most of their matches in normal time and undefeated.

Whoever makes the no mistakes or produces moments of genius will win this.

Belgium for me.
 
Belgium playing a back 3 and Dembele is in at midfield.

Kante and Pogba will look to take control of the game but Belgium will counter attack fast and hard.

Should be a cracker!
 
Going to be the game of 2018.

I am a bit split is loyalty - as a French fan would expect them to win; but this is a golden generation of Belgium, deserves something. France might come back again in 2022 among favorites, but if not this time, Belgium might have to wait for another couple of decades to have a shot at WC. Hazard is 27, Vermaelen & Kompany 32, Vertonghen 31, Alderweild 29, Witsel 29, Fellaini 30, Mertens 31, Dembele 30 ..... if not this time, most of them won't be there in 2022.

Good luck to both teams - may the better team of the team wins.
 
idrizzy said:
Professionalism over your emotions. Just how Moeen Ali (British Pakistani) wouldn't purposefully play bad because he's vsing Pakistan.
Click to expand...

That's different though. Moeen Ali wasn't even born in Pakistan whereas Thierry Henry was born in France and played for France.
 
Belgium start aggressively, but I expect France to weather the storm and pick off the Belgians as the game opens up.
 
Both teams sizing each other up atm.

Hazard and Kevin DB look very dangerous but so do Pogba and Mpbappe
 
The Chelsea keeper has been outstanding, esp against Brazil.

Good luck getting the ball in the net against him.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan flag at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup</a> Semi-final between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BEL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BEL</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FRA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FRA</a> <a href="https://t.co/XLQhCWAPJk">pic.twitter.com/XLQhCWAPJk</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1016751345813114880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SAVE! Courtois denies Pavard! France are growing into the game. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FRABEL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FRABEL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/EPKtGIs1gi">pic.twitter.com/EPKtGIs1gi</a></p>— PakPassion Sport (@PakPassionSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPassionSport/status/1016754151055941632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Fascinating first half, suprising no goals with plenty of chances created.

France are looking better but it will take one moment of genius from either team.
 
France running riot in the second half. A long way to go, Belgium need to calm things down and start playing football.
 
France leading and threatening to take the game away from Belgium now, they look dangerous on every break.
 
Nice to see the Pakistani flag on the left side of French goal.
 
Tactical battle today with the French midfield and defence rock solid.

The French big names turned up today and were ready to battle it out.
 
The talent France have is unbelievable. Deschsmps isn't even selecting the best 11 and their in the final LOL. Well deserved. They'll be massive favourites to win the final.

A win on Sunday will start a golden generation.
 
Congratulations to France, they played brilliantly.

Unlucky Belgium, they were superb too.

France look unstoppable now.
 
Great game - it's almost Lukaku lost it for Belg. after his stunning 1st half against Brazil.

End of a great generation - they might even struggle to qualify next time, if the grouping draw goes against their luck.

Won't say better team won, but definitely tactically much astute team edged past.

So far hardly missed predictions in KO rounds - Poms beat Sweden (& Russia won a Shoot out). Let's see if they can make it two against the Croats.
 
Hasan123 said:
The talent France have is unbelievable. Deschsmps isn't even selecting the best 11 and their in the final LOL. Well deserved. They'll be massive favourites to win the final.

A win on Sunday will start a golden generation.
Click to expand...

He is playing a little bit of basketball as well with a centre.
 
The better team is going home. Such is life.
 
The more I see, I actually feel Argentina was a far better team than missing out at 16. They scored 3 from open play against this French back 5, who haven't conceded any other goal from open play.
 
Lukaku was totally useless. Don't think he even touched the ball tonight.
 
Lukaku had to peak against Brazil and spoil the fun, totally useless today :100:
 
Syed1 said:
There has been a Pak flag spotted in most games... :yk2
Click to expand...

This is the first time I spotted it myself and it was right behind the goal so felt extra proud.

Besides the fact that the ball used is from Pakistan as well.
 
I am not a regular football follower. But this match made me realized how football can be very boring and one sided. Score a goal and then have 10 men play defense.

At least with cricket you have events happening on ball to ball basis.
 
Sirris said:
I am not a regular football follower. But this match made me realized how football can be very boring and one sided. Score a goal and then have 10 men play defense.

At least with cricket you have events happening on ball to ball basis.
Click to expand...

There was no single min of boring football in this game, it was a tactical battle. Just as in test cricket if the new ball is swinging but the batsmen is defending or leaving , you will still find it interesting because there is a dual of skill and mental strength on going.
 
Sirris said:
I am not a regular football follower. But this match made me realized how football can be very boring and one sided. Score a goal and then have 10 men play defense.

At least with cricket you have events happening on ball to ball basis.
Click to expand...

The first half was arguably one of the most entertaining of the tournament, you're right about the safety first approach though when someone gets on top but it is hard to blame them when you look at the stakes
 
Lukaku's ineffectiveness was expected actually, I wrote it in match prediction thread. He is like a Basketball centre, who rams through the CBs. Against lightweight, ball playing Brazilian CBs he out muscled them in 1st half, but even then in 2nd half he wasn't that effective. Before that, he had Panama, Tunisia and Japan - it's like super heavy weight boxer in Walter weight category. Against Umtiti & Varane, he had absolutely no chance, later they brought N'Zongi.

Lukaku is like 191cm and 95kg; Varane is 193cm & Umtiti 188cm and equally matching in size (N'Zonzi
as well - 196cm); and I must say at least Varane is far better ball player than Lukaku. Today, Hazard was marked by the best in world - his Chelsea team mate Kante, and got him booked. Also, only questionable refereeing decision was a foul on Hazard, at a critical free kick spot.

Forlan got the Golden Ball in 2010, after Uruguay finishing 4th; I hope FIFA gives Hazard Golden Ball and Mbappe may be the best young player. If Griezzmann has another game like this one, he'll also be in contention for Golden ball; if Croatia wins, Modric also comes in contention. Kane is almost certain for Golden Boot ..... for his 3 Penalties, 1 deflection and couple of tap ins against Panama & Tunisia.
 
KingKhanWC said:
There was no single min of boring football in this game, it was a tactical battle. Just as in test cricket if the new ball is swinging but the batsmen is defending or leaving , you will still find it interesting because there is a dual of skill and mental strength on going.
Click to expand...

International soccer is like that - Belgium played same game against Brazil. France just kept things tight, even didn't try to hit back on break, otherwise they had 3 of the fastest players in game on bench - Dembele, Fekir & Lemar. France played a brilliant tactical game, and I can't recall apart from one long shot from Witsel, Lloris had anything coming to him on target in 2nd half; Courtois kept the score line decent.
 
Chadli could not run; Lukaku was late; why Adnan stayed on bench? disappointed by Belgium
 
Last edited:
shaz619 said:
The first half was arguably one of the most entertaining of the tournament, you're right about the safety first approach though when someone gets on top but it is hard to blame them when you look at the stakes
Click to expand...

LOL, I missed the first half and exactly when I tuned in France scored.
 
KingKhanWC said:
There was no single min of boring football in this game, it was a tactical battle. Just as in test cricket if the new ball is swinging but the batsmen is defending or leaving , you will still find it interesting because there is a dual of skill and mental strength on going.
Click to expand...

I would have enjoyed it more if Belgium had came closer to scoring a goal. However there chance was nowhere to be seen. There were some instances of counter attack by France which had me feel edgy but not all too much.

I am saying it was boring with regards to how popular football is worldwide and how the fans cheer on the thrill of a good football match. When my non Pakistani friends ignorant of cricket talk about what a good game it was all I can think about is how they are missing out.

Cricket can be far more boring to death but from my experience the emotions I have had while watching some of the cricket matches have yet to be outdone by any other form of sport entertainment. Perhaps it is the Pakistani cricket team factor.
 
MMHS said:
The more I see, I actually feel Argentina was a far better team than missing out at 16. They scored 3 from open play against this French back 5, who haven't conceded any other goal from open play.
Click to expand...

Very true, their defense led them down though. If they played Belgium in the semis it could very well have ended up 4-3 to either side.

You can add Peru to that list as well. They were unlucky to be in a group with France/Denmark. In some other groups, they would have come 1st
 
Very compelling match and extremely interesting to watch from a tactical point of view. France deserved to win.

Belgium played well. Hazard and De Bruyne did their best, but the finishing was not there - after a flash in the pan first half against Brazil, Lukaku was awful. Meanwhile given how mindblowingly good Mbappe seems to be, many of the more experienced forwards really do have no excuse for their ineffectiveness in this tournament.

France showed that they are the more versatile team. When they realised that Belgium were going to control possession, they switched to a defensive / counter-attacking strategy with ease. Whereas Belgium seemed to have no width and no Plan B - they eventually hit a wall (Spain-style) and kept trying to pass the ball into the net, but the French defending was far too strong to allow that.


Sirris said:
I am not a regular football follower. But this match made me realized how football can be very boring and one sided. Score a goal and then have 10 men play defense.
Click to expand...

:facepalm:
 
I thought it was quite a cracking game, very interesting and engaging. Maybe, maybe not the most thrilling match of the tournament due to the number of goals scored, but it was still very entertaining in the sense that chances were created every other minute by both the teams throughout the match. You couldn´t take your eyes off the game even for a second. As I type, him being completely unaware of what I´m writing about over here, my father says, "Barrha match hoya vey raati!" So he agrees. :)

But how I wish that Belgium had used one of those many opportunities created. Lukkaku was a bit disappointed, had bit of an off day. The thing here is, for a country like Belgium which has never won anything (?) in in the game, it becomes almost a must for them that if they´ve a few years of a golden generation of players playing in the team, that they win a title, that they win something of note. Whether it be a world cup of the Euro Cup. As sad as it is to be saying this, the world of sports is a harsh one and in years´ time nobody would remember that in that or this decade you had a very good team or a team that used to perform well in big tournaments. All that people remember is a title victory. The German team is an example. All their semi-final exists and losses in the finals, good performances in big tournaments were slowly beginning to mean nothing, and they were slowly getting to be known with the status of "chokers" had they not won the last world cup.

I hope Belgium win something soon. No, I´m in fact far from being a supporter of theirs, but still I felt for their fans yesterday.
 
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