What a football fan wants most from the World Cup final is a clear and worthy winner. Instead, there is a feeling that everything that could have gone wrong for Croatia, did so. They attacked more, were on the receiving end of a very unfortunate penalty, put the ball into their own net and will forever live with the sense of what could have been.
France eased their way to the trophy throughout the tournament without being spectacular. Their 2-0 quarter-final win over Uruguay and yesterdays’ final were the only occasions they won a game by more than a single goal.
The more interesting element of France’s development as a football powerhouse is what didn’t happen at Russia. The legacy of Guy Roux, who educated the nation on how to develop natural young talent into tier one achievers, fills every top league in Europe today. Celtic’s young Les Bleus are a remarkable example of this.
The win will turn the spotlight onto French football, as a consequence, following up on the signing of Dembele, Ntcham and Eduard will be more difficult. Let’s hope that the wealthy in England are fully focussed on taking advantage of the obvious superiority of the English academy system.
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ROCK TREE BHOY
yes
no
and
no
WEEBOBBY
Grrrrhhhhh
Again…any team comes to Celtic Park and tries to ‘park the bus’..this is what will happen…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw-IeqBylDk
Ronaldo unveiled at Rubentus
Sandman
Hankray asked me yesterday if I was watching the same game as everyone else. But I think you and I were watching a different game from a lot of the others on here.
Croatia had one outstanding player, and France decided that stopping Modric meant that France would have the best chance to win. So, they set up to stop Modric from dominating in the middle, and in doing so, they stopped Croatia.
But, like you, I had the feeling that, if they needed to, France knew that, if they had to, they could have reverted to the old French style of, we dont care if Modric scores 5, because we can score 6 . And, had France decided to open the game up, Croatia would have scored a few, but France would have scored more.
But, as it was, the defending from the front, and particularly, the job done by Pogba and Kante in the middle was exceptional. Not flashy or necessarily fun to watch… but remarkably professional in its execution.
I know they didn’t have the greatest semifinal … but I think that Belgium starting 11 does have the talent to run France close … but, as soon else pointed out, the depth of young talent coming ouf of France right now is remarkable …
MIKE IN TORONTO, you do talk sense sometimes.hh.
mahe where are you.
WBC and BSR
Thanks for the replies guys,
Great, so Jock Stein is the only Scottish Football Manager to manage a club to 9 in a row,
Quite unique – and it gets me a free pint!
BBC “national” news reporting on celebrations in Paris. “Makes you wonder what it would be like if it was US” ! Plus ca change!
me mam was at this today – said it was very good – great to see the diaspora and exodus being celebrated/acknowledged
https://www.visitdublin.com/see-do/details/epic-the-irish-emigration-museum#53.348294|-6.248112|13
mike in toronto on 16th July 2018 6:08 pm
Sandman
Hankray asked me yesterday if I was watching the same game as everyone else. But I think you and I were watching a different game from a lot of the others on here.
Croatia had one outstanding player, and France decided that stopping Modric meant that France would have the best chance to win. So, they set up to stop Modric from dominating in the middle, and in doing so, they stopped Croatia.
==========================================
Yup, meant to mention that one – by the end of the game they had Modric – truly brilliant, gifted wee pure footballer and player of the tournament – moping about like a frustrated wee boy trying to get a touch of the ball in a position where he could assert any influence.
And the French stifled him, seemingly with ease. But in reality a cynical, effective combination of their midfield’s positional play and consistent disciplined movement. When they needed to let loose, just check that spectacular third goal.
In years to come their tactical nous will be revered for a bunch of players so young. Remarkable consistency and focus.
BP,
The wee one has me shattered these days so only on sometimes and might well be odd hours , for you that is.
Actually had a quiz prepared for Friday there and crashed big time after she woke at 2am that day.
Anyway what’s up?
Hail Hail
After a mad night with 50 knots of wind……………………..
normal service has resumed …………………………..
BBQandsingleMalts
Oh………………………. and bytheway
It wazzzzzz a PK
alldaylong
MAHE THE MADMAN, just worried cos you aint been on lately, now I know why, just get posting when your ready.hh.
MIKE IN TORONTO, was only joking get back on or let seamus on,
You put the storm out, that’s up in my head
You put the call out
Beside of me, kick up inside of me
And you steal the world and live to survive
And shake out the ghosts and then you turn around
In spite of me, kick up inside of me
COME ON CELTIC!
Bada
No pribs
Did Sevco jet out on Easy Jet……???
Pribs = probs
Rock Tree Bhoy 5.44pm
I think you will find Gavin Masterton ? Had more influence to the Bank of Scotland sponsored 9@row than the cardigan :-)
MIKE IN TORONTO, your to young to remember this,but Ronnie simpson always wore a green jersey unlike the tohg and frank haffey, who wore yellow, might be my old bonce but that is what I remember.hh.
For the java scripters Email protected is just “9 in a row” (the cheating one :-)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DiPNYf1UwAEvh2a.jpg
Braw.
ps TET good man …I can see the smile from middle earth Hessen
smiley regards to the smile thing
Braw
I was thinking of going to the South Pole for a few weeks…anyone know any pubs that might be showing the game? Naw? Och well! I’m no gaun then…
…. . …. √
Auldheid @ 12:33pm,
”It’s been nearly 3 weeks since the JPDT met to consider the non compliance charges levelled at Rangers.
E Tims are suggesting why at
http://etims.net/?p=13151
Excellent piece by E-Tims, I hope they are correct. The SFA obviously have a situation they’re trying to fix…
Maybe this time it’s just not fixable for the SFA and Rangers – too much baggage, too much scrutiny, too much information and knowledge in the public domain.
We’ve had Peter Lawwell asking and Stewart Regan agreeing the need to build trust and transparency
Now we even have Dave King asking for probity and transparency
So as we seek to build up trust, require open and transparent governance and the highest probity. It falls upon the SFA to deliver and if they won’t it’s great to see they’re proactive ghuys with the evidence to ensure that they will; either avoid the jiggery pokery or they’ll be exposed for what they clearly are…
Keep-on, keeping on…
Hail Hail
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/16/russia-2018-claustrophobic-football-crowded-tiki-taka-world-cup
A very balanced article from Jorge Valdano in today´s guardian on where the game is at, on the world´s stage.
That Paris place looks like a disorderly, chaotic hell hole.
Remind me never to visit that Godforsaken midden.
HH. ?
Paris
The greatest city on Earth
I’ll take your word for it WITS, but the place looked dreadfully uncivilised in the news footage.
HH. ?
WITS – Been to Paris twice, found it dull, colourless and no atmosphere, unfriendly people, maybe went to the wrong areas HH
The French and Paris deserve a huge hit of joy, hope all passes off well
Bada Bing
Maybe you were just unlucky.
Which is a pity
Its really a wonderful city, bars and restaurants, museums art gallerys parks
I have had some of the happiest times of my life there.
Went to Paris years ago…..memories……ignorent & rude taxi drivers….& a restaurant owner skelpin his wife around the head as we sat down……
All of a sudden….tres malade…& sharp exit for us.
Pizza takeaway standing at the entrance to the metro on Champs Elysees.
Romantic…
Ignorant..
Jaysus
Whats this…bash Paris hour
“Is it now [FFin’] time for Mr King to expose the hate filled bias of BBC Pacific Quay?”
Ah, “Mr KIng”:
“Southwood said the court had seen King testify for four days and ‘are unanimous [that’ll be the three of them then] in finding that he is a mendacious witness whose evidence should not be accepted on any issue unless it is support by documents and other objective evidence…It was remarkable that King showed no sign of embarrassment or any emotion when he conceded that he had lied to the (Sars) commissioner in a number of his income tax returns. In our assessment, he is a glib and shameless liar.”
————
“The BBC in Scotland.
The Daily Record.
Bot hate filled and infested organisations. This didn’t happen overnight. Its been a sectarian recruitment policy that has been in place for at least 2 decades.
I wonder if we can do an FOI on the percentage of caffliks to non-caffliks in both organisations? It would confirm what we already know.”
————
“The Rhecord is not subject to FOI requests.
The BBC is, as it is publicly funded.
Their answer to this request was that they do not keep a record of employees religious affiliations.
I am sure that employee CVs will contain education information, including names of schools attended.
This would actually be more informative anyway, since the tarriers would all answer that religiously, they were atheists or agnostics so as not to blow their cover. How many BBC Scotland employees primary schools name started with the letter S?, would be very revealing.”
————
“That’s more than two whole years where the national broadcaster has voluntarily boycotted one of the biggest sporting institutions in the UK.”
————
“A report about an arrest described Protestant paraphernalia while showing a Rangers cowboy hat and a NI flag”
————
“We should be supporting our Board …. they’ve plenty to keep them occupied. They’re trying to clean up Scottish Football and rid it of corruption – with no support from any other club.
Our Board strike a solitary figure for good in this country – we should be supporting them in every way we can.”
————
“I think the fans could do something too. It would be great to see 50,000 bears protest in the BBC carpark before marching to a home game in the coming weeks. We could get some flute bands involved too.”
————
And a couple of randoms:
“I really want this [chap] Rodgers to stay as he is in for a f****** showing up sooner rather or later
As they thick FENNIAN [b’s] really believe in his sh***
We are coming and theses thick FENNIAN [fellows] are about to be put in a f[lippin’] corner for life”
————
“Well said mate.”
————
“Flicking through the football channels while waiting for the France v Belgium game and saw the Alakshert keeper has 55 on his top, just wondered if he was at the wind up…..”
————
“He knows”