Thought Varane was massively overlooked by all pundits for player of the tournament. Absolute class.
He was superb but attacking players who can provide moments of magic will always capture the awards. Negating skill with great tackles and interceptions are a fantastic part of the game but in a way it's right that creating skill should win over destroying skill even when done in a fair and proper way.
Bobby Moore against Brazil was a great example of superb timing but the attacking skills of Pele and co will always take the ultimate plaudits.
Thought Varane was massively overlooked by all pundits for player of the tournament. Absolute class.
He was superb but attacking players who can provide moments of magic will always capture the awards. Negating skill with great tackles and interceptions are a fantastic part of the game but in a way it's right that creating skill should win over destroying skill even when done in a fair and proper way.
Bobby Moore against Brazil was a great example of superb timing but the attacking skills of Pele and co will always take the ultimate plaudits.
Oliver Khan won it over Ronaldo in 2002.
The bigger problem is that it’s picked before the final. Zidane got it over Cannavaro (who ended up winning the Ballon D’or) in 2006 and look what happened to ZZ in that game.
Thought Varane was massively overlooked by all pundits for player of the tournament. Absolute class.
He was superb but attacking players who can provide moments of magic will always capture the awards. Negating skill with great tackles and interceptions are a fantastic part of the game but in a way it's right that creating skill should win over destroying skill even when done in a fair and proper way.
Bobby Moore against Brazil was a great example of superb timing but the attacking skills of Pele and co will always take the ultimate plaudits.
Oliver Khan won it over Ronaldo in 2002.
The bigger problem is that it’s picked before the final. Zidane got it over Cannavaro (who ended up winning the Ballon D’or) in 2006 and look what happened to ZZ in that game.
Diving through Brive today, you honestly wouldn't know that it was the day after France winning the World Cup. See one bloke in the France top, a couple of houses with a flag outside (which is usual for France anyway) and a couple of cars with tri-colour mirror covers and small flags, but that is it. Got served in 3 places and all looked miserable as sin.
Thought Varane was massively overlooked by all pundits for player of the tournament. Absolute class.
He was superb but attacking players who can provide moments of magic will always capture the awards. Negating skill with great tackles and interceptions are a fantastic part of the game but in a way it's right that creating skill should win over destroying skill even when done in a fair and proper way.
Bobby Moore against Brazil was a great example of superb timing but the attacking skills of Pele and co will always take the ultimate plaudits.
Oliver Khan won it over Ronaldo in 2002.
The bigger problem is that it’s picked before the final. Zidane got it over Cannavaro (who ended up winning the Ballon D’or) in 2006 and look what happened to ZZ in that game.
Picking the winner before the final game is like picking the MOM in the 80 minute before the business end of a match.
Diving through Brive today, you honestly wouldn't know that it was the day after France winning the World Cup. See one bloke in the France top, a couple of houses with a flag outside (which is usual for France anyway) and a couple of cars with tri-colour mirror covers and small flags, but that is it. Got served in 3 places and all looked miserable as sin.
What a fuckin waste
At least they're smashing Paris up I spose
Should have gone to Tulle. Koscielny's from there. Brive is rugby country innit.
9th Colombia 10th Spain 11th Denmark 12th Mexico 13th Portugal 14th Switzerland 15th Japan 16th Argentina
17th Senegal 18th Iran 19th South Korea 20th Peru 21st Nigeria 22nd Germany 23rd Serbia 24th Tunisia
25th Poland 26th Saudi Arabia 27th Morocco 28th Iceland 29th Costa Rica 30th Australia 31st Egypt 32nd Panama
so we played the 2nd, 3rd, 3rd (Belgium twice), 7th and 9th ranked teams. Not quite such an easy ride perhaps.
Of course we did. By being in semi final guaranteed to have played 1st or 2nd (the finalists) plus 3rd or 4th (whichever rank we were not - in 3rd place playoff plus one of 5-8 (losing quarter finalists) The only tough one there was the highest ranked round of 16 losers.
Diving through Brive today, you honestly wouldn't know that it was the day after France winning the World Cup. See one bloke in the France top, a couple of houses with a flag outside (which is usual for France anyway) and a couple of cars with tri-colour mirror covers and small flags, but that is it. Got served in 3 places and all looked miserable as sin.
9th Colombia 10th Spain 11th Denmark 12th Mexico 13th Portugal 14th Switzerland 15th Japan 16th Argentina
17th Senegal 18th Iran 19th South Korea 20th Peru 21st Nigeria 22nd Germany 23rd Serbia 24th Tunisia
25th Poland 26th Saudi Arabia 27th Morocco 28th Iceland 29th Costa Rica 30th Australia 31st Egypt 32nd Panama
so we played the 2nd, 3rd, 3rd (Belgium twice), 7th and 9th ranked teams. Not quite such an easy ride perhaps.
Of course we did. By being in semi final guaranteed to have played 1st or 2nd (the finalists) plus 3rd or 4th (whichever rank we were not - in 3rd place playoff plus one of 5-8 (losing quarter finalists) The only tough one there was the highest ranked round of 16 losers.
So in our group we beat the two worse possible teams in the 3rd and 4th pot Lost to the 3rd best team
We then knocked out the what was considered the hardest team in round of 16 before knocking out the whatnwas considered the 2nd weakest team in the quarters .
In fact what a load of waffle , the draw was beyond kind and we did ok with that pile of crap we were pitted against, definitely a once in a lifetime draw for us and an opportunity missed out , don’t believe the hype ! Yes of course it was the most enjoyable tourney since 1990 but then we’ve never had it open up like that !
In 1990, England reached the semifinal, then in 1992, the FA created the premier league. One of the reasons given, was that it would improve the England team. So after 26 years, the team is back to the level it was before the premier league.
Diving through Brive today, you honestly wouldn't know that it was the day after France winning the World Cup. See one bloke in the France top, a couple of houses with a flag outside (which is usual for France anyway) and a couple of cars with tri-colour mirror covers and small flags, but that is it. Got served in 3 places and all looked miserable as sin.
What a fuckin waste
At least they're smashing Paris up I spose
The French care more about cycling than football
Football is probably the 3rd most popular sport - behind rugby and cycling in certain areas.
Comments
Negating skill with great tackles and interceptions are a fantastic part of the game but in a way it's right that creating skill should win over destroying skill even when done in a fair and proper way.
Bobby Moore against Brazil was a great example of superb timing but the attacking skills of Pele and co will always take the ultimate plaudits.
The bigger problem is that it’s picked before the final. Zidane got it over Cannavaro (who ended up winning the Ballon D’or) in 2006 and look what happened to ZZ in that game.
What a fuckin waste
At least they're smashing Paris up I spose
1st France
2nd Croatia
3rd Belgium
4th England
5th Uruguay
6th Brazil
7th Sweden
8th Russia
9th Colombia
10th Spain
11th Denmark
12th Mexico
13th Portugal
14th Switzerland
15th Japan
16th Argentina
17th Senegal
18th Iran
19th South Korea
20th Peru
21st Nigeria
22nd Germany
23rd Serbia
24th Tunisia
25th Poland
26th Saudi Arabia
27th Morocco
28th Iceland
29th Costa Rica
30th Australia
31st Egypt
32nd Panama
The only tough one there was the highest ranked round of 16 losers.
Lost to the 3rd best team
We then knocked out the what was considered the hardest team in round of 16 before knocking out the whatnwas considered the 2nd weakest team in the quarters .
In fact what a load of waffle , the draw was beyond kind and we did ok with that pile of crap we were pitted against, definitely a once in a lifetime draw for us and an opportunity missed out , don’t believe the hype !
Yes of course it was the most enjoyable tourney since 1990 but then we’ve never had it open up like that !