The Knockout Stages

First topic message reminder :

Round of 16:

France vs Argentina
Portugal vs Uruguay
Spain vs Russia
Croatia vs Denmark
Brazil vs Mexico
Belgium vs Japan
Sweden vs Switzerland
England vs Colombia

Kane arguably the worst winner of the golden boot in World Cup history. Minnow basher against the hapless teams, bottled it in the big matches. What more can you expect from a mentally weak Spurs player

I’ll offer you Oleg Salenko.

France probably deserved it, even with dodgy decisions. Croatia controlled it without really being in control of the way the game was going. France weren’t uncomfortable so you can’t say Croatia were outplaying them.

Team of the tournament? Difficult choices all over.
Courtois; Trippier, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Kante, Pogba, Modric; Perisic, Griezmann, Hazard.

You’d look at about 4 right backs (Fernandes, Vrsaljko, Pavard, Meunier) 3 other keepers (Lloris, Subasic, Pickford), Mbappe is being Mfapped over, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Mandzukic, Cheryshev all played well.

Personally think Mbappe wasn’t the best player and is being touted cos he’s young, whereas Perisic, Pogba, Kante and Modric have been excellent consistently.

Modric gets player of the tournament and Mbappe young player

Cruel on Croatia who had the best midfield of the tournament and tactically outplayed France for most of the game by cornering Kante and Mbappé . Luck has been Deschamps best friend in this WC maybe a weird WC but I’ll take the 2nd star

In 1998 France won the World Cup, today France have won the World Cup again.

What the bloody hell is going on England????!!!!! 40+ years and still nothing, except the breaking of the penalty curse.

Come on lads...


Congrats to France, commiserations to Croatia who were the most attacking team.

Score was harsh on Croatia. Best final in decades. Massive difference when you have two teams trying to win a game as opposed to two teams trying not to get beat.

Brilliant way to cap of a brilliant tournament.

Riggs wrote:In 1998 France won the World Cup, today France have won the World Cup again.

What the bloody hell is going on England????!!!!! 40+ years and still nothing, except the breaking of the penalty curse.

Come on lads...


Congrats to France, commiserations to Croatia who were the most attacking team.

Don't forget that France also made the 2006 final.


Funny isn't it. Despite all the claims beforehand that Russia shouldn't have been awarded the World Cup and all the talk of racism in Russia, this World Cup has been rated by many as a enjoyable tournament.

Atila wrote:

Riggs wrote:In 1998 France won the World Cup, today France have won the World Cup again.

What the bloody hell is going on England????!!!!! 40+ years and still nothing, except the breaking of the penalty curse.

Come on lads...


Congrats to France, commiserations to Croatia who were the most attacking team.

Don't forget that France also made the 2006 final.


Funny isn't it. Despite all the claims beforehand that Russia shouldn't have been awarded the World Cup and all the talk of racism in Russia, this World Cup has been rated by many as a enjoyable tournament.

I agree with you, this World Cup has been amongst the best I've watched for over 30 years. So many shocks/surprises has made it very interesting indeed.
I'm doubtful any other country can out-do Russia 2018.

Forgot about the 2006 final, woops.

Nathaniel Jacobs wrote:Incredible to see someone hopelessly mediocre as Matuidi getting a winners medal

Was going to leave this alone at little more than a troll attempt but seriously?
Did you see the French side before he came into it, he's not the most glamorous of players but his water carrying duties frees it up for the more adventurous. When they tried to fit in Dembele as well the side was massively overbalanced, his inclusion gave those ahead of him freedom.

Did you see who posted it.

Kinda think Modric won the golden ball by the same criteria Messi did. That said no real standout players, Mbappe being the main counterattacking outlet on a team that rarely was behind is being treated like Brazilian Ronaldo

Agreed that it was a tournament with no real standout players.

Mbappe is being praised not because he was one of the best players in the tournament (which he was), it's because he's played so well at only 19. Massive career ahead of this kid.

Overall I thought it was a good not great world cup.

The most organised side won it with in my opinion the best 2 players of the tournament in Kante and Varane. Croatia were probably the most interesting.

The one thing this tournament showed was that counter attacking and possession wins you tournaments.

Biggest disappointment though was all the insane diving and rolling around and play acting.

FIFA simply HAS to stop this BS now!