They can feck off
Semi Finals: Argentina vs Croatia | Eng... France vs Morocco
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
Argentina have been in a lot of games. If the Croatian manager picks the right attacking 3 they can absolutely win the game. I'm not sure I know who that is. Petkovic up top and hope he can bully them a bit like Weghorst did? Zero idea who should play out wide. The subs all looked reasonably handy and Perisic looked better suited to 30 minutes off the bench and maybe extra time rather than running against an exclusively fresh set of fullbacks. I'd be tempted to bring him on at halftime or around 50-55 minutes in for whoever isn't cutting it between whichever 2 of Pasilic/Majer/Orsic/Vlasic aren't causing problems for Argentina, and hope he can make a telling play before the fullbacks get subbed.
I'm assuming Argentina will go back to 4-3-3 as their manager sticks with "match the other team's formation and hope Messi is the tiebreaker" tactics.
I'm assuming Argentina will go back to 4-3-3 as their manager sticks with "match the other team's formation and hope Messi is the tiebreaker" tactics.
Hoping for a Croatia vs Morocco final so we can have Martinez and Varane back in time for the next PL game.
I do agree with that. And it's the main reason why I'm sceptical they can win it, can't close the games properly which is big issue for a team that wants to go all the way.
I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Croatia beating Argentina on pens. This Argie squad lacks firepower to truly kill off the opponent, and Croatia have a solid back 5 including a top talent in Gvardiol. Think Croatia can take the 120 minutes again and go through on pens.
Are both BBC and ITV showing the first semi? It's in both their TV guides. Just not decided yet so down as a placeholder for both?
From my personal tastes in football styles a nightmare final would be Morocco vs Croatia. Their almost Drillo-esque anti attack football is extremely boring to me.
Argentina vs France has the potential to be an alltime great final.
Argentina vs France has the potential to be an alltime great final.
Argentina are bang average, Croatia have unshakable mentality but no cutting edge up top and Morocco have been brilliant but have so many injuries and the tank must be low. Out of the four I want them to win the least but can’t see anything other than a France win from here.
I think another Croatia v France final
I have to give credits to France. Even with a high number of injuries (Kimpembe, Nkunku, Benzema, Kante, Pogba, Hernandez), they manage to get in semi finals. This team seems immune to choke, that's quite amazing.
But i don't know why they stopped playing once they had the lead yesterday. They started the game well, 15 minutes of pressure, scored a goal, than let England set up their plays. Once Kane equalized, they put a 2nd big pressure on England and scored another goal. They seem invincible.
But i don't know why they stopped playing once they had the lead yesterday. They started the game well, 15 minutes of pressure, scored a goal, than let England set up their plays. Once Kane equalized, they put a 2nd big pressure on England and scored another goal. They seem invincible.
Did you see how Theo Hernandez and Upamecano played? They play so recklessly that they should have given away three penalties. Are you aware of how Lloris typically has a blunder in him?
France are by far the favourites of the tournament, but they're capable of an implosion too. England could have buried them, France weren't that impressive yesterday.
If Morocco were fully fit I'd expect a difficult game for France but now its in Frances favour.
My personal opinion on France is they should win the WC, and I hate France honestly I'd rather Germany win.
But the French squad lacks discipline. Dembele and Mbappe don't have a defensive bone in their body. Giroud has no legs to get back.
France will have 7 people back at best in the defensive phases which would cause them problems against big opponents (if there were any left in the WC)
They're relying on Tchouameni and Griezmann to get back and fill into a shape to help. Against top teams, if they faced a Brazil or a top team they'd really struggle.
Griezmann resorted to hacking down players yesterday and should have got booked much earlier, the yellow card is wiped now so he's free to get another yellow in the semi but if players like that get booked early in finals it gets much harder for them to win the midfield battle.
Luckily for them Argentina has a very weak team, they'll graft to shut them down but they don't have enough going forward to beat France in my opinion.
This is a very very weak France side, with a make shift midfield, and a terrible defence. I think if Portugal faced them instead of Morocco last game, the game would be much more open and even Portugal may have caused big problems for France.
France are quite lucky that other teams have just shit the bed at this point, because they're the best side left.
They're relying on Mbappe magic or Giroud to win something in the box, but they're not the same side they were in 2018 (because of injuries)
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Just no Argentina. Of course that i want to Croatia win it. If not; i admire how France team looks like a winning maschine so no problem if they take it. Morocco winning it would be a hell of a story.
Argentina; zero sportsmanship and shit behaviour during and after the games. I simply can't support that.
Probably it will be France- Argentina finals with France 2:0 win.
Argentina; zero sportsmanship and shit behaviour during and after the games. I simply can't support that.
Probably it will be France- Argentina finals with France 2:0 win.
Netherlands didn't help things in the game or the build up to the game, that's what the reaction was for.
If you look at the Argentina NT thread you'll see why they reacted the way they did.
Argentina have done the typical handshaking at the end and going to the fans to celebrate it's been fine.
They're a typical south american side on the field.
I agree, France seems shaky in defense, they never had a clean sheet for the entire tournament. The attack is their main strenght. Its the exact opposite of their 2018 campaign.
I don't agree with you about Dembele, he did an amazing defensive job since the beginning of the competition. And Griezmann too (engine of this team imo). They are quite balanced.
It's very funny when you say France is a very weak side, it's exactly the opposite. They never panic, even when they are under high pressure. And you say they're lucky that other team shits the bed, well France never does, credit to them.
England was the best team remaining. Now they should make an historical back to back.
I don't agree with you about Dembele, he did an amazing defensive job since the beginning of the competition. And Griezmann too (engine of this team imo). They are quite balanced.
It's very funny when you say France is a very weak side, it's exactly the opposite. They never panic, even when they are under high pressure. And you say they're lucky that other team shits the bed, well France never does, credit to them.
England was the best team remaining. Now they should make an historical back to back.
I really don't want to see Croatia vs France again, from a football purist point of view you would want to see France vs Argentina
I'm glad you've gone with Organic..Classy !!
Netherlands were as dirty and had as little sportsmanship. They have history and there's bad blood between them. I fully expect any game with those two to turn ugly.
OT when you're in the semis, there's no weak team anymore and it's 50/50 for everyone. It's also a mental thing.
Croatia have largely the means to muzzle Argentina, but lack quality upfront. Argentina are a good team, although not really impressive, and have a man who can make the difference at any time.
France have yet to succeed where any other team has failed until now, however they're experienced and have enough talent to do so. Morocco's big concerns are injuries and fitness but if they score first, they've got a chance to make it to the final.
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They chocked badly against switzerland in the Euro 2 years ago and it was mostly the sames players
Anyone give croatia and morocco a chance?
Croatia and France in the final, France making history as only the second repeat winner.
Maybe they should try and go 3 up
It's 50/50 in the Croatia Argentina game.
Morocco have too many injuries. But I think they can fight it out against France.
Croatia being described as a Test Cricket team is a beautiful comparison
I was just hearing about all the players they’ll miss for the final. It’s changed how I feel and now think France will do them. The stadium noise may bother France but they should be prepared for that.
So, for me it’s looking more like an Arg/France final. But Cro/Fra wouldn’t be a surprise either.
What is test cricket team?
(I have absolutely no clue about cricket).
So Test Cricket is basically the longest format of the game - it takes place over 5 days and both sides get two full turns (known as 'innings') each where they can score runs to amass a total score. (So Team A bat first, then Team B will bat, then back to Team A then Team B again)
So in very basic terms - your side is trying to stay in their innings (or game) for as long as possible - not doing anything too adventurous (like slogging 4s and 6s about the place) - but taking your quick singles here and there and picking your moments, all whilst staying in the game and, obviously, not getting out! It's very disciplined, controlled, relies on strong mental strength.... and basically just makes me want to see Luka Modric padded up and out there taking perfectly placed singles for a full day.
They will be playing the 3rd/4th playoff either way. Especially Martinez if they lose.
Plus why would anyone want your players to come back after such a terrible heartbreak. It would be great for one of them to win it.
It will be tough. And France are heavy favourites. But football is football. I hope they win.
Beautiful indeed.
Last WC Croatia got to the final without a single win in the ko stages in 90 minutes. Same this year. Croatia in the final via penalties. But France will win.
With Messi being the goat that he is it’s only right he gets to have his picture holding the World Cup.
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biggest fake news there is. There wasn't anything in the build up and the Dutch NT didn't start it in the match. The Argentinians did and the ref let it happen, leading to the Dutch team to participate. But it all kicked off when Paredes booted the ball into the Dutch bench and not getting a second yellow, even though booting the ball alone is a yellow worthy offense. Sure, if you've only watched the penalty series, you'd think that the Dutch started it. But they didn't.
So i really really hope that Croatia will win, can't wait to see Messi crying
Hopefully France (or Morocco) wins it. The Messi wan*fest will be unbearable if Argentina wins, and as a neighboring country I'd also hate it if Croatia wins.
2 countries 1 cup
Your history with Argentina goes back to '78. There's rarely been a game between both teams without them turning ugly. I've watched your team for a very, very long time. You are as able to play wonderful football as being outright arrogant cnuts with a healthy dose of unsportsmanlike behavior. Do I think Argentina are saints? No, of course not. Their reputation precedes them and they show it in any given tournament.
But let's not make it as if the Dutch are the victims here. Both teams acted cnutish and one is the semis, the other went home. Fair play to Van Gaal for carrying this poor version of Netherlands to the quarter-finals and pushing Argentina to the pens.
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Also hoping for an Argentina v France final. I love an underdog as much as anyone but prefer game like that for a World Cup Final.
A repeat of 2018 will do nicely
I backed Morocco early, got them at 90/1,I don’t think they will win it but for those odds it was worth a bet.