Match 52
Sunday 04 December, 15.00 GMT @ Al Thumama Stadium
Round of 16
Match 51
Sunday 04 December, 19.00 GMT @ Al Bayt Stadium
Round of 16
Day 15: France vs Poland | England vs Senegal (Last 16 3&4)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
Match 52
Sunday 04 December, 15.00 GMT @ Al Thumama Stadium
Round of 16
Match 51
Sunday 04 December, 19.00 GMT @ Al Bayt Stadium
Round of 16
Fun games to start the knockoff matches .
I'll doubt we'll see any upsets in this one but it should nice to watch regardless.
I'll doubt we'll see any upsets in this one but it should nice to watch regardless.
Not really seeing a potential upset here. For the sake of entertainment I hope Poland are a bit more adventurous than they were against Argentina and I hope Senegal press England rather than just sit back.
I'd love Poland to have the game of their lives
Easy France win, depends what Southgate tries for England. Should be easy enough IMO.
France will most likely win as Poland showed absolutely nothing and shouldn't even be there. It would take a massive feck-up from England to lose against Senegal.
Out of all the african teams Cameroon and Senegal are the weakest by a distance and have both a dodgy defense.
Out of all the african teams Cameroon and Senegal are the weakest by a distance and have both a dodgy defense.
Can't see any shocks from either game. England are a bit of a match up nightmare for Senegal (rapid fullbacks, physical midfield and superb defending from set pieces) and I think France will just blow Poland away barring a miracle
England/France should be tasty if it happens
England/France should be tasty if it happens
So would I but can't see it in a million years
Who do people feel was more favourable out of Ecuador/Senegal just out of interest
Senegal need to do a Colombia 2018 and take us to ET/Pens in a war of attrition to beat us you would think.
Hopeful of a 2-0 win with Kane getting on the score sheet.
Hopeful of a 2-0 win with Kane getting on the score sheet.
From an English perspective? Ecuador would have probably been the more favourable draw. England should be beating Senegal though, if Mane were fit it might have been a different story.
Would be great to see both Poland and Senegal go through
Agree with first but sorry I am too patriotic to want my own country to lose.
I've been surprised at the times this strategy has failed in this tournament, although there are probably examples to the contrary i'm forgetting. Wales and Poland were obviously trying to keep it tight against England and Argentina and it failed miserably. Obviously they were outplayed by far superior teams but it just ends up looking like a very tame defeat.
It's dangerous but I wonder if pressing England like the USA did would be a better approach for Senegal. I still think it should be pretty comfortable for England though.
England looks more daring and balanced. Fancy them to go through in a very tough tie. Poland are do boring to watch. Can't wait for them to be knocked out today. They can't stand mbappe.
They are playing Sunday afternoon
I’ve got a horrible feeling Senegal are going to knock England out.
France and England qualify then France knocked the shit out of England.
England is destined to be a quarter finalist only.
England is destined to be a quarter finalist only.
Feels like France will beat Poland, might take until the 2nd half but probably not.
England I think will beat Senegal but face a genuine scare. England made Iran and Wales look as lacking in athleticism as they are, but the U.S gave them a game with youth and running in midfield. Don't see why Senegal can't do the same. Might be a game won by whichever of Foden or Saka doesn't start, off the bench.
Will it be Mount, or Henderson in midfield? Senegal's midfield lacks creativity but can tackle, so not sure if the idea will be Henderson to free up Bellingham, or Mount to hopefully create enough movement to force Gueye wider so Kane can drop into the space he occupies and play in Rashford, the LW or even score from outside the box. Typing it out, it seems like you'd start Henderson or even give Phillips 45 to 60 minutes after getting 35 against Wales, to help with counter attacks and distribution and then on Mount, if Henderson was just keeping his seat warm. Everyone in the England team except Maddison has played with him, so Southgate might feel comfortable playing him. Could also just come on if England are up, get another 20-30 minutes under his belt then be given the call to start against France, that's probably Southgate's plan A for that game if Phillips is healthy.
England I think will beat Senegal but face a genuine scare. England made Iran and Wales look as lacking in athleticism as they are, but the U.S gave them a game with youth and running in midfield. Don't see why Senegal can't do the same. Might be a game won by whichever of Foden or Saka doesn't start, off the bench.
Will it be Mount, or Henderson in midfield? Senegal's midfield lacks creativity but can tackle, so not sure if the idea will be Henderson to free up Bellingham, or Mount to hopefully create enough movement to force Gueye wider so Kane can drop into the space he occupies and play in Rashford, the LW or even score from outside the box. Typing it out, it seems like you'd start Henderson or even give Phillips 45 to 60 minutes after getting 35 against Wales, to help with counter attacks and distribution and then on Mount, if Henderson was just keeping his seat warm. Everyone in the England team except Maddison has played with him, so Southgate might feel comfortable playing him. Could also just come on if England are up, get another 20-30 minutes under his belt then be given the call to start against France, that's probably Southgate's plan A for that game if Phillips is healthy.
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According to l'equipe, it will be the same France team as it was versus Denmark in the 2nd game of group stage, as expected given the dire performance of most subs against Tunisia.
Not one of them gave Deschamps a headache that's for sure. I hope for an early goal because I don't expect Poland to play much. Apparently they are preparing for a penalty shootout
You won't be laughing when Lewandowski eliminates France.Not one of them gave Deschamps a headache that's for sure. I hope for an early goal because I don't expect Poland to play much. Apparently they are preparing for a penalty shootout
I would love that to happenYou won't be laughing when Lewandowski eliminates France.
I'm not laughing at Poland but at the idea of facing a penalty shootout vs Chezny.You won't be laughing when Lewandowski eliminates France.
Good for you.
Yea it's an easy decision for Deschamps, the first XI is obvious. I dont expect Poland to play much either but that's what scares me, they're going to sit back and hope for a Lewa miracle, and he's good enough to make it happen. And a pen shootout against Sczezny isnt something I look forward to.Not one of them gave Deschamps a headache that's for sure. I hope for an early goal because I don't expect Poland to play much. Apparently they are preparing for a penalty shootout
They’re not good enough to sit back. They tried it against Argentina and were lucky to not get spanked for 6. And Lewa isn’t good enough to be the only attacking PL player in France’s half, again, tried against Argentina and it failed horribly. This’ll be 3 or 4-0 to France and will be dead as a contest before half time.
If there's anything to be learned from this World Cup then it's making bold predictions about how the big teams are going to demolish the opposition, so far most of those have been horribly wrong
Will be doing a quiz so that can make the dead contest pass a little bit quicker
England and France for the win
It's been too long since we've had a competitive France-England game. Both teams with good squads too could give us a great QF. 
I'm always surprised at all the different techniques that are used for the coin toss. I can't believe that anyone could influence the result and I suppose it doesn't really matter until we get to penalty shoot-outs.
Strange that there is no standardisation of this. Does anyone have any insights or statistics on this?
Strange that there is no standardisation of this. Does anyone have any insights or statistics on this?
Poland’s keeper has been by far their best player this tournament. Tonight he’ll have to border on the divine to keep Poland in this game.
I cannot see a Mane-less Senegal taking out England either. A day for the favourites
I cannot see a Mane-less Senegal taking out England either. A day for the favourites
Poland's "football" is criminal. France will comfortably win that.
Not very exciting these matches. France will demolish Poland and while I think Senegal have slightly better odds to give England a game I don't see them hurting England either.
I wouldn't count any chickens just yet. Every time we are due to play France in the next round, we get knocked out unexpectedly.It's been too long since we've had a competitive France-England game. Both teams with good squads too could give us a great QF.
Croatia in 2018, Iceland in 2016, Portugal in 2006, West Germany/Spain in 1982.
Easy wins for England and France.
Poland will get battered by France, but I wouldn't discount the Senegalese as easily.
Poland need to approach the game very differently to how they did against Argentina. But remember that France needed luck to beat a Denmark who subsequently played their worst game in tournament history. Games live their own life.
Senegal can certainly beat England. They shocked an until then solid and intense Ecuador, and have some very good players in the team.
Senegal can certainly beat England. They shocked an until then solid and intense Ecuador, and have some very good players in the team.
France, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Belgium all have had their upsets.
It's England's time. Let's go Senegal!
It's England's time. Let's go Senegal!