Thread to discuss the football itself.
This is not a thread to discuss the hosting of the competition in Quatar.
You can discuss the hosting in the relevant thread.
Speed was never a strong part of his game, so any small loss over time is not really important.
Some career though, he was a not of a late bloomer, AFAIK played at every level of the French league before getting a break at the top level with Montpellier. He's been doubted at every turn, every team he's played for it seems (I too would have been a doubter at times) but he's consistently proved people wrong and is still operating at a very high level.
France never got out of second gear to tonight, really at ease here against a game but a poor enough Australia side. One leg in the knockouts, they can look forward now to working the squad and going deep in the competition.
Another 7 minutes injury time, if the likes of Newcastle were playing I shudder to think of how long would be given!
Australia still have everything to play for with the other game being a draw.
Duff and Robben and the two that jump to my mind at club level- Chelsea. Can’t think internationally though.
Satisfactory start for France apart from the injury to Lucas Hernandez. The defensive side needs work but the attack is purring. Those forwards will give any team issues.
France won easy alright in the end. imagine supporting an international team that can come back a goal down - win by a margin of 3 and not look too pushed at all.
Think the clock would just start going backwards if Newcastle were playing.
Morocco and Croatia line-ups both look very good. Fancy Croatia to edge it.
Are we looking at another 0-0 here? Seems to be a bit of a trend in evenly matched games this WC...
Based on this game I think it's fair to say it's unlikely Croatia will make the final again this year
Vast majority of the games so far have been poor. Hopefully things improve.
Its just week 1 cageyness. Next week some teams like Argentina are already in do or die games.
Ya the games where the teams who think they are 2nd and 3rd best are absolute disasters to lose for either.
Make for awful first games.
But even still this game lacked much quality. In or around the box
Yeah both of these teams will be confident they can beat Canada, Croatia will be thinking they can run up a bit of a score and that should be enough to get them through unless they get hammered by Belgium...So it's not worth the risk going all out to win today
Three 0-0 draws in the last 4 matches. Not good.
One 0-0 draw in the entire 2018 World Cup
Junya Ito starts for Japan. He's been very good for Reims this season. Reckon he can cause some problems. Germany should win with that side. Pity Sane not fit to start but Musiala is a super replacement.
I'd say Canada could be handy enough based on their qualification campaign. Think Croatia would take a 1-0 against them.
German penalty. Keeper made sure of the foul there.
Gundogan scores.
What a stupid and soft way to concede a goal.
Germany are really starting to string some nice passes together
Playing like a team with no pressure or expectations on them, probably the first World Cup in decades where that’s been the case for Germany.
It’s only one half of football but they’ve got dark horse written all over them.
Germany well on top and it looks a matter of time before they get a second. Rudiger making it look easy.
Really was a tremendous world cup when you look back at some of the high scoring games and the sensational comebacks/last minute goals.
This has been abysmal so far, hopefully we might see some better performances once we get past the cagey first round of games.
What’s the craic with not starting Minamino and Tomiyasu? Is he resting them for the two games they’ve a better chance in or something?
Minamino was their joint top scorer in qualifying like (and the fella he was joint with is missing the World Cup through fitness/injury).
I was glued to that World Cup. Outside of France winning it was a great tournament for upsets and smaller nations.
My enjoyment was a bit hampered by living and working hospitality in London at the time though. I will forever owe a debt to the Croats.
Minamino has struggled at Monaco, so I can see why he has left him out. Surprised Tomiyasu isn't involved. They're looking really vulnerable at RB.
I see Japan's coach brought on Tomiyasu for Kubo. I thought Kubo looked okay.
Even with his indifferent form at Monaco, he’s still the best goalscorer in their WC squad though… seems a bit mad, given they’re not exactly stacked with accomplished forwards..
Havertz has been frustrating. I'd like to see Füllkrug replace him.
Should be 1-1. Good save from Neuer but the follow-up should have been buried instead of being blazed high and wide.
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