FIFA World Cup 2022

[Durhamfootman]

If this is France,

If England get past Senegal, then it almost certainly will be....... and judging by the way the two teams are playing that should be that for another cycle.

To some extent, France look a more settled side for the absence of Pogba and Benzema. Pogba was a *modded* nightmare 4 years ago, seemingly. About as disruptive in the camp as it's possible for anyone to be, by all accounts. Benzema may not have the ego of Pogba, but it's still massive. Deschamps has a much easier life without either. His big advantage is that the best player in the world atm seems to have no ego whatsoever, and that's probably the way it should be

That being said, I watched their first game against Australia and they were much less impressive in defence than they were going forward, so there may be chances on offer if any team can keep Mbappe out

[sussexpob]

Well done to the Aussies! Great achievement.... was a tough group

[yuppie]

An amazing achievement considering the playing group. Arnold has moulded a tough team and credit where it is due. Helped by a poor Denmark today but who would have thought Australia would double their amount of WC wins in this tournament. I was more worried they might end up being one of the worse teams.

The French game showed hope early on and since then they have looked solid. Scored in every game as well. Lets just hope it gives Football the boost it needs in Australia.

[mikesiva]

Australia 1-0 Denmark
Tunisia 1-0 France

That said, France rested a lot of their key players. And France still topped the group, with Australia second.

[sussexpob]

Denmark have been by far the most disappointing team. Euro Sem-finalists to 1 point from a group including Australia and Tunisia is quite a fall from grace for them. Played very poorly too, not like they didnt get what they deserved

[sussexpob]

That said, France rested a lot of their key players. A

And then weirdly brought them all on in the second half, despite Australia at that point needing 3-4 goals to overtake them. Not sure that was sensible

[Durhamfootman]

optics, I think

If, as manager, you choose to rest almost your entire first XI, then you'd better win that game, because you risk being monstered by your home press. It just shines an unnecessary spotlight on the team if you lose it...... and against a former french colony, who you've never lost to before, just makes it worse

In the end they did lose it and it will surely put the pressure on Deschamps

[Durhamfootman]

Am I right in thinking the Tunisia goal scorer is an ex Sunderland player?

they'll have been devastated to beat France and still go out. Still... if you're going to go home, you might as well go home as heroes

[yuppie]

Seeing the penalties that are being given to Ronaldos Portugal and Messi's Argentina i just cant help but think that FiFA wants both those players to progress further in this tournament. Just a joke at present and it makes me think of the NBL in the US where they build their brand around certain players and those players teams seem to have different rules around them.

VAR is there for obvious mistakes and I think back to Englands Iran game. VAR has no consistency and it seems to be used to favour certain teams at present. If anything it can give FIFA more control over the outcome of a game.

You can see why decisions like this will just make more people think the game is corrupt.

[Durhamfootman]

The penalty save was justice, really. Shocking decision to call the ref over and even worse that the ref then didn't have the stones to tell them to stop being stupid. I've only seen one ref stick with his original (correct) decision. I think they feel they'll be open to criticism and going with VAR is the safe option if they don't want to be sent home


goal

Poland will have to start playing some actual football now

[Durhamfootman]

Poland playing like England atm. Dob the ball around at the back and then lump it forward hoping that someone can get on the end of it

well it won't do. I have a feeling that if Poland don't score (and they still look as though they are trying to hang onto their GD) then, even if they limit Argentina to 1-0, Mexico will score a third goal and put Poland out anyway

Poland have approached this game in the kind of negative way that would have Sir Gareth tugging on his todger

[Durhamfootman]

2-0

Poland are going home, as it stands.

Hey, you never know, they might play some actual football now

or they may try not to concede another and hope that KSA pull a goal back........ it's what Gareth would do

[Durhamfootman]

turns out that Poland are still second on least number of yellow cards, so they won't change a thing

[Durhamfootman]

and end up getting away with it

one of the worst football performances I've seen. No attacking intent, they just backed themselves not to suffer a 4 goal turnaround in GD

They face France next and will already be hoping and planning to take it to pens 0-0 AET

I must have watched the wrong match, because it sounds as though the other game was a cracker in the second half

[bigfluffylemon]

Australia

Well played lads.