So, who's looking forward to the 3/4 playoff then!
WTF does it even exist....Belgium 2XI vs England 2XI was poor first time, do we need to see it again? Do the players* really need to go through another 90 mins even if it is at 80% effort, with no-one wanting to injure themselves before the regular season starts again?
* few remaining ones that aren't currently carrying some sort of injury
I wonder if Harry Kane will play to cement his chance of a golden boot.
Doubt I’ll be watching the 3/4ters, not 100% sure what it will achieve unless it’s a party atmosphere and they’re all dressed in tutus and carrying fluffy unicorns and glittery wands...
Stay upright 😷
I think there was a collective misunderstanding about just how stuffed with talent the Croatian team actually is by many people who should have know better (I'm looking at you Rio)
Modric, Ratikic, Mandzukic Lovren...they have between them more winners medals than probably the entire England team
Not a massive surprise they beat a relatively young and inexperienced bunch of lads really.
So, who’s looking forward to the 3/4 playoff then!
Don't think I've ever watched it, not about to start now!
I see the deserting of the ship has started,nevermind next time England do well you will see it on the news and you can run back.
I like the playoffs. I see it as a free bonus game for entertainment. Call me strange, but I just enjoy international football, even if we aren't definitely going to win the world cup.
The only game more pointless than a mid-season international friendly against Liechtenstein
@binners - not always. I know it's not the final but some countries take it seriously. Being 3rd in the world is an achievement if you are not Brazil/Germany/Argentina etc. Sweden thrashing Bulgaria in '94 was a good game,
I see the deserting of the ship has started,nevermind next time England do well you will see it on the news and you can run back.
We was robbed!
Joking aside, I think most people appreciate that England did well with a young, likeable team. They benefitted from a slightly fortunate draw and maybe lacked a plan B, but basically played well and are still learning. Croatia have two genuinely world class midfielders and more experience than us, but if we'd taken one more of the chances we had in the first half, it might have ended differently.
What's actually refreshing has been the general lack of mindless jingoism and knee-jerk excessive expectation. It's possible to support a team without being blind to its limitations, no?
Well that want actually a bad match. Woeful first half performance but we looked better (as always) when he took Sterling off.
Hes consistent, I’ll give him that. His performance has got progressively worse with every game. He was particularly useless today. Never ever a final ball. Couldn’t hit a barn door with a shovel. He very nearly hit the corner flag with a shot today
Tomorrow should be a belter! I’ve topped off my shocking betting record with chucking a fiver on Croatia at 5/1. I think France might be in for a bit of a surprise. Then again, me putting money on them is usually the kiss of death
I decided to have a change today so instead of watching England I sat down and watched the Belgium game, decent team that, got it sorted good manager and fairly sound tactics. They could go a long way 😉
So last game of the tournament, just the small matter of the winners to decide.
Classic or ground out?
Will we see another headbutt?
Has there ever been a less deserving winner of golden boot than kane. 2 headers against Tunisia,'3 penalties, a deflection, and nothing against the only 3 decent sides he played against.
2006 – Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 5 Goals
The most prolific World Cup goal-scorer ever topped the chart in 2006 with five goals. He scored twice against Costa Rica and Ecuador during the group stages and then once against Argentina during the quarter-finals. Germany would come third overall.
Read more at https://www.worldsoccer.com/world-cup/world-cup-golden-boot-401078#ET4pIstzOqMJY5kM.99
I'll go with Klose 😉
As for this tournament no striker has got close to being in the right place at the right time. The penalties really for me showed England working out how play teams that didn't want to play football.
Anyway France can't sit back for this one, the same niggling little fouls from Croatia though which might get worse depending on how it goes
France have been the more cynical side so far. Griezman continuing the fine French tradition of making goals out of blatant cheating.
Should have been a few more French players in the book before Kante eventually got one.
Good game so far though.
Beautiful.
Whoa!! That is probably a step too far for VAR there, was it anything other than accidental?
The French really are stuffy gits! There’s no way that was a penalty. They’ve got two goals with the only two times they’ve got out of their own half
More worryingly, they now know the ref is a bottler, so I expect they’ll be up to all kind of shenanigans now
https://www.accuweather.com/en/ru/moscow/294021/satellite/294021
Could be a storm coming there!!
And can we get a stopped clock system for football please.
That was a pen IMO, but Croatia are unlucky to be behind, all the quality coming from the Croatians so far.
The French are two up having had one shot on goal. There’s no way they should be in front.
COME ON CROATIA!!!!
Griezemann is a cheat. He should be ashamed of himself.
it was a pen for me, the defender misjudges the flight of the ball realizes the ball is going to pass him (doesn't know who's behind him) so uses his hand to prevent it.
Oh dear, somebody is going to have a rough evening and it's not the lad marking Mbappe!!
Well, they didn't deserve to be 2 up but the management of the game once they got there has been supurb, though having Mbappe to terrorise you if you commit too many forward.
Pogba's brother looks quite handy though, think Jose signed the wrong one.
Is Pogba Carlton Palmer's son?
You do wonder why Giroud is on the pitch!
Yes he is. Luckily his mom was a really good player...
what at an amazing game for a WC final.
Tip top game of fitba for the final this.
Great world cup!
Giroud has to fly back to the U.K. tonight to get his teeth whitened in time for his slot on This Morning tomorrow
Well Croatia have given everything, and should have got a lot more from this, maybe the extra game they played is telling in there.
Oh well ... that goes my prediction ...
On the bright side me mate just won 5k for betting 4-2 win to France. 😀
Only caught the second half and what a showing by France, think the best team won.
What a great World Cup lads.
Whilst I won’t be watching the English premiership, the World Cup is certainly entertaining and full of passion.
Excellent performance by all involved, from the bog cleaners to the teams.
Just had a great afternoon. TdF followed by watching the final with a bunch of French mates in the roughest pub in town. Win win win!
Only caught the second half and what a showing by France, think the best team won.
They were certainly not the best team in the 1st half, 2 goals that were questionable/lucky to get
Croatia a little hard done by I think. Easily the best team in the 1st half, but France go into half time 2-1 up with 1 shot on goal. Never a penalty and a soft free kick leading to a goal. France much better the 2nd half, but I still really feel for them. France have been clinical if not too inspiring.
and brilliant nobody let Putin have his hands on the trophy!!
What an absolutely bloody brilliant World Cup from start to finish! It’s been amazing! Some absolutely top notch games, including that one!
The pesky French.
My Croatian mate is a bit peeved, understandably.
It has been good ,hasn’t it?
And can we get a stopped clock system for football please.
+1
Griezemann is a cheat. He should be ashamed of himself.
Replace Griezmann with just about any footballer who rolls around feigning a foul or injury.
Missed the first half but thought Croatia were the best side in the second as well, controlling most of the game.
Great display of counterattacking by the French though with a solid backline for such a young side.
The Euro's should be good!
Very happy tonight.
Tactics were spot on !
This is how politicians should celebrate. Like fans.
Entertaining final that was.
Came here to say that I've just seen on FB that the 2nd half pitch invasion was by Pussy Riot.
We've all conveniently forgotten (me included) what a shit place Russia can be, so it's good to have them publicise it in some way again.
Still, excellent win by France. Deserved winners 🙂
