I've no issue with Modric winning it, think Mbappe would have been more than justified though. Both had a good final too.
Game by game for France: Australia - poor performance and lucky to win, a VAR pen and freak own goal. Peru - mediocre but nicked it 1-0. Peru couldn't put their chances away but played the better football Denmark - worst game of the tournament and I think the only 0-0 Argentina - the one game really stepped it up and played on the front foot. I think they knew Argentina were there for the taking and they got the ball to Mbappe as much as possible Uruguay - a nothing game and then a set piece goal and then Uruguay's keeper threw one in. Did enough, managed the game well, but Uruguay badly missing Cavani Belgium - second best first half but a set piece just after half time and then they managed the game very well to see it out at 1-0. Croatia - second best first half but another 2 set pieces including another dodgy VAR pen. Were then able to pick Croatia off in second half. To be fair that's the nature of World Cups. You have to grind games out to win them. I don't think France have displayed the attacking flair of Brazil in 2002, the dominance of Spain in 2010 in terms of play or the stand out performance of Germany in 2014 (Brazil 7-1 aside Germany were actually very laboured in the tournament).. I'd put France more in the Italy 2006 category and arguably France 98 as well. France stumbled into the final there (Zidane hadn't even played well) and got a big break the with Ronaldo disruption which left Brazil beaten before kick off. One thing France had to do was come from behind ironically against Croatia in the semi final and dig deep. I'd liked to have seen Croatia or Belgium get in front and then have France come out and see what they're made of. Difference was France then elevated themselves as a team at Euro 2000. France have the chance as a young team to kick on more.
A classic World Cup but maybe not winners who will be remembered as a great team save for two or three. Got the job done and fair play to them. Bit of a shame the final had to be decided on a contentious decision.
Despite doing his best to give it to Croatia 3 best players this tournament imo. They all had sensational world cups
Think Belgium were undoubtedly the best team in the tournament, at times their football was mesmerizing. But France have found a way through and with that much young talent you just wonder if we might be seeing another Spain-esque few years of dominance. Just so much depth in all areas, something Croatia lacked when they needed the game changing and with all the extra time racking up in their legs. No doubt at all about the award winners, but thought Hazard should've been in the conversation for the Golden Ball. I felt the commentators/pundits all forgot about him when doing their blurb. Well done France [Edit] Turns out Hazard came 2nd.
Belgium were undoubtedly the best side we faced, but they werent better than France. They barely threatened the French in their game.
I wonder if bitter people from Luxembourg are trolling French football forums, telling them they got lucky with the first two goals and didn’t deserve to win.
Don't think they were taking it easy. They just defended well as a team and the two central defenders were probably their most important players. If they tried to take it up a gear they would have been more open and might not have gotten so far. Much rather see a team who are mostly on the front foot like Croatia were today win it
Just scrapped past the mighty Peru and the Aussies thanks to a contentious penalty and Pogba shot which hit the bar and bounced in.
"Undoubtedly the best"? Not too sure about that one mate. "Undoubtedly the luckiest"? Fook yes. A fluke header got them back into it after Japan had gone 2 up, then for the winner Japan's wonderful naivete gifted Belgium an offer they couldn't refuse in the 94th minute. And Brazil created enough genuine scoring opportunities to score 5 or 6 in the QF, tearing hole after hole through the Belgium midfield and defence only to either scuff it or draw an outstanding save from a Courtois having the game of his life. When they finally got booted by France it felt more like a run of extraordinary luck running out than a superior team going down. (All that makes it sound like I was hating on Belgium. I wasn't. I always like to see the smaller nations do well and I love Lukaku and De Bruyne and even that goon Fellaini, and was rooting for Martinez success after all the shit he caught.)
Congratulations France, another terrific achievement. Seems like yesterday you won your first World Cup, and now the second is in the bag playing some lovely stuff, despite that idiot keeper Hugo Lloris doing his best to **** it up for you. Well done, enjoy it.
Wp France. Croatia such an easy run to final, Nigeria, Iceland, an under par Argentina, Denmark, Russia and a Lucky as **** England side.
Was there a team at the world cup that didn't get a lucky run? Why can't anyone just give a bit of praise?
To be honest a lot of the teams were so close in standard that pretty much everyone had their unconvincing moments (which is in part what made the tournament so enjoyable). I think you could pick holes in any of the top teams if you're so inclined.
