What are we saying?

France for me, front line far superior

Spain for me. Deny France much ball.

I'd be surprised if France didn't manage to break them down, but you never know. Spain, so far, have been very pragmatic, and done just what needs doing. They remind me of the old German sides, not much flare, but difficult to breakdown, and doing just enough to get through

I really hope that Spain do them, as I'd worry about our defence against that French forward line

I also have Spain in a sweepstake 🙂 (and England in the one at work)

Hope Mbappe and Lamal have a freak collision and poke each others eyes out, then it goes to a record-breaking penalty shoot out with Spain eventually winning 148-147.

3 hours ago, bolty58 said:

Spain for me. Deny France much ball.

Yep. 1 nil win and 70% possession with the French team going into meltdown mode

I have been amazed at how much assumed superstardom is being hurled around abour Lamine Yamal.

The commentators seem to have arrived with praise lists & use it all, even pointing out how close he came to being fantastic if he'd been a tad more fortunate.

He was voted 'PoM' v Belgium despite losing the ball 23 times.

I'm not saying he won't go on to be a superstar, but he's some way short at the moment.

Tough one to call, France are better, Spain not a the heights of Euro 2024, but still so difficult to play against, can't see France losing back to back World Cup's so I'm hoping for a Spain win, because I think there's a revenge job that could happen, I don't see anything bar the Bellingham and Kane factor that suggests we beat this France, they would have to be off it far more than they were vs Argentina (before Mbappe's first penalty)

Like so many players in recent times, the Spanish work so hard off the ball to get it back, without necessarily having "ball winners" in midfield.

You see it in the best prem teams- City and Arsenal too.

Watching them the other day, I was struck how often they would close an opponent out and manage to get a foot in which wasn't just a tackle but was a little pass to a teammate. Turnover complete.

France clearly pace and quality to open any team up, but have shown they can be got at.

Probably a close game, either way.

France favourites I would imagine, but I have a feeling that Spain will nick it.

0-0

France on pens

Hoping for a France win and England-France final.

4 hours ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

I'm not saying he won't go on to be a superstar, but he's some way short at the moment.

No doubt he'll be a superstar, he's played something like 150 times for Barcelona and just won player of the season in Spain, as well as playing 30 odd times for his country, and he only turned 19 yesterday. Clearly a great talent, but I agree, largely anonymous so far this tournament, which definitely is upsetting the commentators, as they're just waiting to wax lyrical about him. The pressure on him is also no doubt absolutely immense.

Hopefully tonight he shows his class, and puts France to the sword

Not sure Spains style of play lends itself much to dynamic shit off a shovel winger type attackers.

He has to wait half an hour for Rodri to pass it to his mare and back before he can get a run off.

France are the best team I have seen at this World Cup. However it has been pretty much plain sailing for them - they found Paraguay tough but kept a clean sheet and negotiated it. Teams who look serene game after game at a World Cup can come unstuck.

Having watched both in nearly all their games I'd sooner us play Spain than France.

France

Great penalty

Big test now for France vs this defence

and now lose Saliba

almost an all time great goal by Spain

France look rattled

Didn't know they could reverse free kick decisions. Even if it shouldn't have been awarded in the first place.

Just now, Marc505 said:

Didn't know they could reverse free kick decisions. Even if it shouldn't have been awarded in the first place.

El juego se fue

2 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

El juego se fue

Mange tout mange tout

Well, France are going to have to massively improve to get anything here.

They were 2nd best by a long way in that half.

Vamos Espana.