Quarterfinals: Russia vs Croatia

[Big Fat Sam]

If Croatia win this one they'll sweep England aside. They are a level up from England.

If Russia win then you can put England down as favourites to get to the final.

All academic though. France will win this tournament. They are head and shoulders above all teams left in it.

Yep, all of that is pretty obvious. Only way we could beat Croatia is get a dodgy penalty against them, or if they suffered an injury to Modric or have him or Rakitic sent off today, etc.

 

[Goat]

Hold on, you were agreeing with me two weeks ago that France were the team to beat.

Lolling at you for your inconsistency...and Lolling at you for desperatley seeking a bit of football glory by following England...conveniently now they have half a chance.

France are the team to beat, but man for man, theres not a massive difference between them and the French.

I thought Mbappe would be the difference, but he was quite poor the other day and Hazard played out of his skin last night.

Ive always said the Belgium squad is the best by far, theres a difference between best squad and best team, its a coin flip, it will all depend on which players turn up and which 1s dont.

And its not inconsistency, I declared my support for England before the whole thing started.



https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/threads/to-ingerlund-or-not-to-ingerlund.104126/#post-6369530

 

[davek]

Yep, all of that is pretty obvious. Only way we could beat Croatia is get a dodgy penalty against them, or if they suffered an injury to Modric or have him or Rakitic sent off today, etc.

The players they have are top top quality...Lovren aside.

If they win tonight and avoid suspensions and key player injuries then they start as hot favoutites to sweep past England. England have faced f.a. yet. They will face a real team if Croatia get through. That's when England's run ends.

 

[davek]

France are the team to beat, but man for man, theres not a massive difference between them and the French.

I thought Mbappe would be the difference, but he was quite poor the other day and Hazard played out of his skin last night.

Ive always said the Belgium squad is the best by far, theres a difference between best squad and best team, its a coin flip, it will all depend on which players turn up and which 1s dont.

And its not inconsistency, I declared my support for England before the whole thing started.



https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/threads/to-ingerlund-or-not-to-ingerlund.104126/#post-6369530

It's tight, but France have Mbappe and Pogba and Kante and Matuidi who are all world class players at what they do. Belgium have great quality like Hazard and De Bruyne, but it's all on the attacking side of the game whereas French quality is in all departments. The Belgians do have the more astute manager though, so maybe that will even matters out.

 

[Eggs]

...bit like France against Uruguay and England against the Swedes, I just think Croatia will have too much quality for Russia.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

The players they have are top top quality...Lovren aside.

If they win tonight and avoid suspensions and key player injuries then they start as hot favoutites to sweep past England. England have faced f.a. yet. They will face a real team if Croatia get through. That's when England's run ends.

100% agreed on all points.

 

[davek]

...bit like France against Uruguay and England against the Swedes, I just think Croatia will have too much quality for Russia.

Tough game atmosphere-wise. Man for man it's a mismatch though.

 

[ilikecheese]

It's tight, but France have Mbappe and Pogba and Kante and Matuidi who are all world class players at what they do. Belgium have great quality like Hazard and De Bruyne, but it's all on the attacking side of the game whereas French quality is in all departments. The Belgians do have the more astute manager though, so maybe that will even matters out.

My god Dave's got game.

 

[TheBlueGibbon]

...bit like France against Uruguay and England against the Swedes, I just think Croatia will have too much quality for Russia.

They should have, it's the home advantage that might do it for the Russians though.

 

[heatmeiser]

8 or 9 of the Croatian lads on a yellow. Could do with a card happy ref here to do England a few favours.

 

[Goat]

It's tight, but France have Mbappe and Pogba and Kante and Matuidi who are all world class players at what they do. Belgium have great quality like Hazard and De Bruyne, but it's all on the attacking side of the game whereas French quality is in all departments. The Belgians do ahve the more astute manager thoiugh, so maybe that will even matters out.

Hmmm, I think Didier has the edge with his multiple trophies compared to Bobbys 1 FA Cup.

We all know where the Lukaku on the wing came from, his greatest day as Everton manager, he didnt try something new the other night.............................

Hmmm I dunno, the French arent amazing at the back, the boy Toby is no crapper either.

Lets see :

1Lloris
2Pavard
4Varane
5Umtiti
21Hernández
6Pogba
13Kanté
10Mbappé
7Griezmann
12Tolisso
9Giroud

1Courtois
15Meunier
2Alderweireld
4Kompany
5Vertonghen
8Fellaini
6Witsel
22Chadli
9Lukaku
7De Bruyne
10E Hazard

GK Draw
RB Belg
LB Belg
CBs Belg
CMs Draw
ACMs Belg
ST Belg

Yep, if Belgium dont manage to win, well I dunno what to say.

 

[davek]

My god Dave's got game.

He's the best manager left in the competition.

 

[Goat]

8 or 9 of the Croatian lads on a yellow. Could do with a card happy ref here to do England a few favours.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandro_Ricci

Brazilian fella, prolly a bit angry his team have gone out.

ITS COMING HOME

 

[roydo]

He's the best manager left in the competition.

I would laugh my backside off if Klopp gets sacked and he ends up there.

 

[Goat]

I would laugh my backside off if Klopp gets sacked and he ends up there.