5 hours ago, wakey said:

Hoping for a France win and England-France final.

It's the hope that kills you. I am now hoping for a Spain v England final but fear the Argie dark arts and FIFA 'assistance' might do for us. I hope I am completely wrong and we stuff them.

Thought way before the tournament that there was a big chance the final would be between the reigning world champions and the reigning European champions. I hope I'm wrong about the former.

At least if we are cheated out of it I have some sort of compo with having both backed teams in the final. Would much rather lose the money and England become world champions for the second time in my lifetime. Already dreaming of two stars on my tatt.

2 hours ago, ianofcleveleys said:

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

Amazing how folk can have such differing views. The last team I'd want to play against is Spain. They have let just one goal in. One.

Their ball retention and possibly more importantly their ball recovery is phenomenal.

Fireworks and car horns blaring all around here at the moment. Yet to encounter a checkout chick not wearing a Spain shirt. It will be face paint, bandana's and flag capes for the next few days.

.

Edited July 14Jul 14 by Lt. Aldo Raine

49 minutes ago, Zico said:

before tonight I'd have wanted to face Spain over France in the final

nothing has changed that, we wouldn't be able to contain Them like Spain have

but I think we can better cope with the way Spain play

got to get there first like

You have more confidence than me. I'd rather have played the easily dispirited nancy (Lorraine) boys in the final.

Over rated to the max. A collection of great individuals but not a team. La Roja is a true team.

3 minutes ago, bolty58 said:

I am now hoping for a Spain v England final but fear the Argie dark arts and FIFA 'assistance' might do for us. I hope I am completely wrong and we stuff them.

Exactly what I was just thinking, they aren't that good, have stumbled through it but our two biggest battles will be getting past their dark arts and officiating weakness (kind description, more bias under duress really). They ended up winning that last WC final by turning it into chaos.

40 minutes ago, Zico said:

there's a few in that Spanish team I don't think are all that either - porro, cucerella and oyarzabal

Fucking hell. Have they started growing ganja instead of sugar cane up there?

35 minutes ago, Sweep said:

True, but they won't fancy who ever wins our semi either

If we do get to the final, I still think I'd rather play Spain than France

Unbelievable. All opinions of course. I'd choose the surrender monkeys every time.

35 minutes ago, Zico said:

I reckon saka and Gordon could cause the FBs plenty problems

Hope so but don't see it. They have to get the ball first.

18 minutes ago, bolty58 said:

Amazing how folk can have such differing views. The last team I'd want to play against is Spain. They have let just one goal in. One.

Their ball retention and possibly more importantly their ball recovery is phenomenal.

Fireworks and car horns blaring all around here at the moment. Yet to encounter a checkout chick not wearing a Spain shirt. It will be face paint, bandana's and flag capes for the next few days.

For once we agree

Anything can happen - but I can’t see us beating them if we get through

Again we're falling into the trap of judging teams by the most recent game

In the vast majority of people's eyes France were World Cup winners-elect

Let's beat Argentina first because otherwise this chat will be utterly irrelevant

Edited July 14Jul 14 by jmjhb

34 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

Again we're falling into the trap of judging teams by the most recent game

In the vast majority of people's eyes France were World Cup winners-elect

Let's beat Argentina first because otherwise this chat will be utterly irrelevant

aye

if we lose to Argentina I'm sure we'd have won the final, so will just blame TT for whatever goes wrong

3 hours ago, Zico said:

aye

if we lose to Argentina I'm sure we'd have won the final, so will just blame TT for whatever goes wrong

Should already be awarding him a honorary knighthood and a four year contract extension.

Proper football man instead of a DEI campaigning wanker. Best manager we've had since Bobby Robson.

7 hours ago, bolty58 said:

Amazing how folk can have such differing views. The last team I'd want to play against is Spain. They have let just one goal in. One.

Their ball retention and possibly more importantly their ball recovery is phenomenal.

Fireworks and car horns blaring all around here at the moment. Yet to encounter a checkout chick not wearing a Spain shirt. It will be face paint, bandana's and flag capes for the next few days.

Spain are relentless. Very difficult to get at.

9 hours ago, bolty58 said:

It's the hope that kills you. I am now hoping for a Spain v England final but fear the Argie dark arts and FIFA 'assistance' might do for us. I hope I am completely wrong and we stuff them.

Thought way before the tournament that there was a big chance the final would be between the reigning world champions and the reigning European champions. I hope I'm wrong about the former.

At least if we are cheated out of it I have some sort of compo with having both backed teams in the final. Would much rather lose the money and England become world champions for the second time in my lifetime. Already dreaming of two stars on my tatt.

Is there any team you haven't backed?

I'm sure you've mentioned about 5 teams you've backed so far ha

11 hours ago, bolty58 said:

Unbelievable. All opinions of course. I'd choose the surrender monkeys every time.

Before the tournament I would probably have agreed.

Having seen both play, I just feel that France's pace, especially on the counter attack would be damaging.

Of course Spain's technical ability is arguably superior to ours, but we botb tend to play a possession type game, which we may be more comfortable with.

Mexico hadn't conceded until we played them neither, so the players should have some degree of confidence that they can create and score goals- maybe just not many of them.

6 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Before the tournament I would probably have agreed.

Having seen both play, I just feel that France's pace, especially on the counter attack would be damaging.

Of course Spain's technical ability is arguably superior to ours, but we botb tend to play a possession type game, which we may be more comfortable with.

Mexico hadn't conceded until we played them neither, so the players should have some degree of confidence that they can create and score goals- maybe just not many of them.

I agree, should we get to the final, I think our full backs would have been absolutely terrorised by the French. AI agree with Bolty though, getting the ball off them will be the problem.

They have only conceded 1 goal, which is pretty impressive, but 3 of them games were against 3 poor teams (Cape Verde, Austria & Uruguay), and they did fail to score against Cape Verde over 90 minutes. Spain or France, both would have been very difficult, for very different reasons.

Let's see if we can get past this lot tonight first though, before deciding who we'd prefer to play in the final 🙂

12 hours ago, L/H White said:

Is there any team you haven't backed?

I'm sure you've mentioned about 5 teams you've backed so far ha

I can see either the alcohol or drugs have kicked in. Do a Zico "there's always a post" expose.

Four teams. I do it every time. Usually have the winner.

Four digit collect if Spain or Argentina win the World Cup. Fuck that. Come on England!

10 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Before the tournament I would probably have agreed.

Having seen both play, I just feel that France's pace, especially on the counter attack would be damaging.

Of course Spain's technical ability is arguably superior to ours, but we botb tend to play a possession type game, which we may be more comfortable with.

Mexico hadn't conceded until we played them neither, so the players should have some degree of confidence that they can create and score goals- maybe just not many of them.

I really can't see anyone stopping Spain. They just don't let you have the ball. I hope it's England that prove me wrong.

France just dont have the mentality.