All things Football (soccer) related

[warspite1]

Will the final be a re-run of the infamous semi-final of 1998 when Slaven Bilic's pathetic cheating robbed Laurent Blanc of a final place, or will it be a re-run of Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, Poitiers, Trafalgar, Aboukir Bay et al?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

I'd like to amend my previous pick if I may?

I don't know my European geography very well, but in the match between France and "TBD" (wherever that is?), I'll pick the latter. TBD is due for a victory, having been eliminated every step of the way along the playoff chart line.

warspite1

Well you are a Yank so we'll let you off [;)]

I'd go with TBD. Mbappe is fast down the wing and the Devastator is a little obsolete now but I'd still back the TBD in a straight fight.

[rico21]

My Gallic ancestors must be sad.[:(]
They no longer play with the "Furia Francese".
They play like the Romans.[8D]
Good luck to Carthage.[:D]

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Will the final be a re-run of the infamous semi-final of 1998 when Slaven Bilic's pathetic cheating robbed Laurent Blanc of a final place, or will it be a re-run of Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, Poitiers, Trafalgar, Aboukir Bay et al?

I would prefer England... except for the 2 last centuries, it's our best ennemy...

And it could be Fleurus, Castillon, Orléans, Hastings... [;)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: STEF78

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Will the final be a re-run of the infamous semi-final of 1998 when Slaven Bilic's pathetic cheating robbed Laurent Blanc of a final place, or will it be a re-run of Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, Poitiers, Trafalgar, Aboukir Bay et al?

I would prefer England... except for the 2 last centuries, it's our best ennemy...

And it could be Fleurus, Castillon, Orléans, Hastings... [;)]

warspite1

[:)] - indeed it could.

However, whilst I fully understand why you would prefer England in the final, sadly I don't think you will get your wish. England are England and the omens are not good. Apart from the fact that Croatia have better players*, there is the small matter of England's record in World Cup/European Championship semi-finals - we won our first (all the way back in 1966) but then lost the next three. We also haven't won a World Cup match wearing an all white strip since 1970! Oh and Jamie Redknapp thinks England will win - and he's always wrong....

Ho hum......

* Actually I don't think Croatia - Modric and Rakitic aside - have necessarily better players, but that doesn't seem to matter with England...

[Jagdtiger14]

England inspired by US sports:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nfl-nba-he ... 43703.html

[rico21]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: STEF78

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Will the final be a re-run of the infamous semi-final of 1998 when Slaven Bilic's pathetic cheating robbed Laurent Blanc of a final place, or will it be a re-run of Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, Poitiers, Trafalgar, Aboukir Bay et al?

I would prefer England... except for the 2 last centuries, it's our best ennemy...

And it could be Fleurus, Castillon, Orléans, Hastings... [;)]

warspite1

[:)] - indeed it could.

However, whilst I fully understand why you would prefer England in the final, sadly I don't think you will get your wish. England are England and the omens are not good. Apart from the fact that Croatia have better players*, there is the small matter of England's record in World Cup/European Championship semi-finals - we won our first (all the way back in 1966) but then lost the next three. We also haven't won a World Cup match wearing an all white strip since 1970! Oh and Jamie Redknapp thinks England will win - and he's always wrong....

Ho hum......

* Actually I don't think Croatia - Modric and Rakitic aside - have necessarily better players, but that doesn't seem to matter with England...

England will win the semi-finals because they do not trust Croatia to beat France in the final.[:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

I suspect France is going to annihilate the poor devils that will make it to the final this evening

Not a Brazil 1 - 7 Germany Redux but you get the picture...

[warspite1]

According to Eric Cantona England will win the World Cup [:D]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... d-Cup.html

[rico21]

Possible, but Thierry Henry had said the same thing to the Belgians.
I admit that to see Putin handing the world cup to the English would be, ...
So British.[:D]

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: rico21

Possible, but Thierry Henry had said the same thing to the Belgians.
I admit that to see Putin handing the world cup to the English would be, ...
So British.[:D]

Putin would be wearing rubber gloves and a gas mask.

[Piteas]

In Spain, we hope that Croatia will win to England and then to France... The two old enemies [;)]

Well, we´re already happy. Portugal didn´t go further than Spain this time [:D]

[warspite1]

So, just over 30 mins to go. The nerves are already jangling. Watching England is excruciating at the best of times (except vs Holland in 1996 and Germany in 2001) - two games in almost 50 years is a pretty poor return....

But hope springs eternal Baldrick and so let's just hope England don't stink the place out as we have so often in the past.....but I have my gas mask at the ready just in case....

[warspite1]

C'Mon England!

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

So, just over 30 mins to go.

What's all this then? A game on or something? [&:]

[rico21]

ORIGINAL: Piteas

In Spain, we hope that Croatia will win to England and then to France... The two old enemies [;)]

Well, we´re already happy. Portugal didn´t go further than Spain this time [:D]

That's why the last square of the World Cup is European, we love small goals between friends.[:D]

[warspite1]

Same. Old. England [:(]

[Lecivius]

And down goes the lion...

[warspite1]

Yep. Same story. 1-0 up at half time and then simply couldn't be arsed to come out in the second half. Simply couldn't be bothered*. Invited pressure that was always going to lead to a goal. Created nothing. Absolutely nothing. And when you need a goal to save the semi-final it really helps to actually put the ball in the opposition box. Totally got what we deserved.

Well done Croatia. Would like to see France win it for Hugo.


*Of course that is unfair - they very much could be bothered - but I can only put it down to a mental thing. Its always the same. Having only got one goal at half time one just knew what was going to happen next. Frustration city.

[TulliusDetritus]

Croatia population: 4,1 million.

And yet they produced what matters: talent.

Delighted [:D]