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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 7, 2018 19:22:44 GMT
Croatia should be a much sterner test Their game against Russia is 1-1 right now, but regardless of the outcome, I think Argentina made Croatia look better than they really are. They didn't look good anymore since that game, not even against opposition which is considered inferior to them like Iceland, Denmark and Russia. England is having a luck that I've never seen before in a WC, not even during last World Cup when Argentina got an incredibly easy draw and bracket which allowed us to make it to the final. At least Argentina had to get past Belgium and Holland on their way to the final. England has everything to make it to the final without beating a single really good team.
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Post by Horacewimp on Jul 7, 2018 19:26:46 GMT
As Alan Shearer said on the BBC if you win the final no one remembers how you got there, just that you won the competition.
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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 7, 2018 20:04:52 GMT
That's right. A championship is worth a championship; as valuable as any other, no matter whom you get past on the way. That's why this is a unique opportunity for England to win another World Cup (on top of everything, Russia and Croatia have gone to their 2nd extra time in a row).
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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 7, 2018 21:42:07 GMT
France vs Belgium
England vs Croatia
We already know we have an unprecedented final.
Also, the dominance of European teams has come to be worrying for teams of other confederations. This was almost an Euro Cup.
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Post by dillwyn on Jul 8, 2018 8:10:20 GMT
My son gave me a brilliant fact ... Since 1982 EVERY WC final has had player(s) representing from both INTER MILAN and BAYERN MUNICH. It could happen again this year with a France v Croatia Final the dominance of the euro teams IMHO is purely a money thing...they spend more than any other confederation and have a really well developed infrastructure and attract players from all over the world to their leagues... it kind of helps when russia allow brazilians to play for them
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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 8, 2018 8:48:39 GMT
Interesting fact. I wonder who checks out those things, how they come up with the idea of looking for those stats. it kind of helps when russia allow brazilians to play for them But Russia is far from a unique case. France, England and Belgium's squads are made mostly of foreigners, immigrants and sons of immigrants. If they had to compete with their original population they would be far weaker. The only team remaining that doesn't import players is Croatia.
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Post by Buttler on Jul 8, 2018 10:01:17 GMT
The more I watch Sweden playing football the more I wonder how it was possible we failed to qualify for WC. Pretty unbelievable... That said, I hope this will serve as a lesson for coach Jan Andersson. Maybe he will understand the meaning of "Humble". My mother was born in Belgium, I have been there lots of times, and this is the reason why I'm a Belgium supporter since I was a child. My wife's relatives are from Croatia, I have been there two times over the last four years. So, if I have to follow my heart, I'd say Belgium vs Croatia. Croatia players are really tired, and as my friend Helmut83 said before, they're not the superb team that seemed to be at the beginning of this tournament. Someone even said that they could won the WC, I don't agree at all. A good team, nothing more. Belgium defense is not as good as their center field/attack. I'm a bit worried because France has got a wonderful team, and Mbappé is on fire. The final will probably be England vs France. This is my prediction. May the best team win. P.S. It's true that this WC has turned into a EC, but if we take a look to all the teams, we'll notice that Europa has become a sort of Africa "Branch". I'm not saying this is wrong, don't misunderstand me. Just to give you an idea, try to imagine teams like England or France, just to name a few, without immigration.
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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 8, 2018 19:58:10 GMT
That said, I hope this will serve as a lesson for coach Jan Andersson. Maybe he will understand the meaning of "Humble". What did he say? I'm not so sure France are candidates against Belgium (maybe you don't want to jinx Belgium by saying so? ). I'd say it's a 50%-50% game. For me the best team in the world right now is Brazil, and if Belgium could beat Brazil they could beat anyone, France included. I'm expecting this to be the game of the tournament or in the least of cases a great game. Also, in terms of quality I'd say out of this game should come out the champion (as I see it, both Belgium and France are better than England and Croatia), but the way things have been unfolding, I've got a feeling England will be champions.
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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 10, 2018 20:02:33 GMT
France finalist. What a pity, I wanted Belgium to win. Hazard deserved to play the final, he played his heart out today like a true captain. Some of his teammates didn't help him much though: De Bruyne was disappointing, same as Dembele, and Lukaku did nothing (the French centerbacks are great and ate him alive). Belgium will never be champions, this was their best opportunity ever and they couldn't do it.
It stood out clearly today that diving and time wasting antics aren't exclusive property of South American teams: France did a lot of that. From minute 78 to 85 the ball was barely played, as French players were lying on the ground at every minute. Same as with the added time, the referee should have added one more minute after all that time wasting by France.
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Post by dillwyn on Jul 10, 2018 20:32:29 GMT
the best team won today I think. makes tomorrow very interesting ... loved the things that were;t invented when England were last in the wc semi-final
Facebook, iPhones, google, friends (tv programme), fresh prince of bel-air, harry potter, harry kane and most importantly CROATIA
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Post by dillwyn on Jul 10, 2018 21:09:04 GMT
actually i know this is an advert but given all those preaching to divide people ... maybe should look at this footballdna.myheritage.com
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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 10, 2018 21:26:41 GMT
Apparently Mick Jagger will attend England vs Croatia! You are doomed, my English friends! (in case you aren't aware, he is said to be bad luck, and his record regarding teams he has cheered for in WCs is atrocious)
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Post by tremblinwilbury on Jul 11, 2018 14:12:20 GMT
I might not watch the match tonight. It'll be far more entertaining listening to my neighbour's "Ooh's!" and "Ahhh's!", than it will be watching it
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Post by queenofthehours on Jul 11, 2018 16:29:04 GMT
Even if we lose tonight I hope Southgate carries on because he's new on the job and surely we can use this cup run as training for 2022?
I still don't know if I'm going to watch the match. I'm too old to go through all the stress and anxiety of 1996 and 1990 again. The weather's too hot for strong emotions as well. I was younger in the 90s, full childish enthusiasm and now that positivity has changed into adult cynicism - how CAN we really get to a WC final?
On the other hand I actually do feel excited and feel just like I'm 13 all over again. My biggest worry over the match tonight isn't that we'll lose, it's that the whole country and the team will be disappointed because they've invested too much emotionally. I'm sure someone on that pitch is going to cry, Gazza-style, but I'm not sure who.
No matter what happens tonight, Gareth Southgate will never have to wear a paper bag ever again -
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Post by Buttler on Jul 11, 2018 16:58:52 GMT
When Portugal won the UEFA Euro 2016 they said: "Underdogs and catenaccio". Yesterday France played a wonderful catenaccio, and it's the result that counts. They reached EC final, and after two years the WC final, so congrats to France.
Regarding Belgium team, I agree with Helmut83 : Dembélé, Lukaku, De Bruye, they failed, there's nothing more to add. But we can put our hands together for Mr. Hazard, he's an amazing player. This probably wouldn't have changed the final result, but it's a shame the referee didn't see THIS: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/8xsjlo/hazard_not_getting_the_foul_call/
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