Official Match Thread England v France, Saturday 10 December, 7pm, ITV1

[Leigh_Seasider]

So's scadenfreude.

See it’s not you saying you thought France would win that annoys people, it’s stuff like that.

Are you as quietly confident about France’s chances of beating Morocco, you know, as France are the better team? Or are you only interested when they play England?

 

[kaymac]

That France still managed to win without him playing (or being allowed to play) particularly well.

Haha...great non-answer....

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

While I would agree about the fine margins between wining and losing I suggest you see my previous post for a better explanation of why we lost last night.

But France won

 

[southendkid]

I'm struggling to understand why he's getting grief over it.

It's mainly the "France were the better team" thing, we looked better than them for large portions of the match, much like Southend it was the finishing that let us down. If that was a league match you would have said a draw would have been a fair result, and indeed that's what it would have been if Kane hadn't skied his second penalty.

 

[blueblueblue]

It's mainly the "France were the better team" thing, we looked better than them for large portions of the match, if that was a league match you would have said a draw would have been a fair result, and indeed that's what it would have been if Kane hadn't skied his second penalty.

But we lost.

 

[Benfleet A1]

But we lost.

We!!? A even bigger fraud than I thought.

 

[ozzie]

Once everything settles down, i think most people will agree that we (England) did again underperform.

We were drawn again with a comfortable group which we expected to win,we did.We knew we would play then the second best team from another group and we beat them as expected.
That was when we knew we would/should play one of the better/favourite WC teams.
I like a lot of people wrote/thought/said now this is where we will get problems (like Russia18 when we played the better teams).And so we did.
IMO,even if the ref had added another 15 minutes on,i dont think we would have scored.
We had more possession of the ball...but the French were more officiant and that won the game.
At H/T here in Germany the experts really got into GS tactics and the woman said to him "ive never seen you so annoyed " GS did change it somewhat second half,but sadly not enough.
Different thing..but when i put my radio on this morning to hear the reasons why we got beat (TALKSPORT)....honest...the First thing she said(that i heard) she said to TC..."but dont forget,in two years this team will be better"...i nearly through the thing out of the window....dont we ever learn

 

[pottster]

I really thought we had started to turn a corner, but last night it was the usual england team. Lots of hard work, possession and chances but just couldnt put them away. France had a couple of chances and put them away. Even if kane had put the second pen away I still couldnt see England beating france. Having seen england in last years final and the quality we have I cant believe we put on a lack lustre display. Dont know what the answer is, I think it's just how england will always be.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

No but I'm pleased that the better team won."The truth is that England were beaten here by the better team, which is not to say that France played better on the night."

France overcame England because champion teams win the big moments | Jonathan Liew

England were brave and rose to the occasion but France had no need to – when they had five good minutes, they scored

www.theguardian.com

This is what I'm not getting. I always thought you were English? Either way, by that logic you will be pleased if Wrexham beat Southend.

 

[Chrisb]

Think we should have paid more attention to Griezmann than Mbappe but easy to say after the event. England result aside, I have really enjoyed watching the tournament.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Think we should have paid more attention to Griezmann than Mbappe but easy to say after the event. England result aside, I have really enjoyed watching the tournament.

Agreed.He's been outstanding in a midfield role for France in the games of theirs that I've seen so far in the WC.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

But France won

FYI.I'm a proud British Passport holder.

 

[Chrisb]

Agreed.He's been outstanding in a midfield role for France in the games of theirs that I've seen so far in the WC.

You watch from your toilet - sorry couldn't resist !

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

This is what I'm not getting. I always thought you were English? Either way, by that logic you will be pleased if Wrexham beat Southend.

Would have liked to come over for the home match back in Sept. (I was haviing a couple of implants sorted in France).Would be pleasantly suprised if we manage to get anyting out of the away game.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

You watch from your toilet - sorry couldn't resist !

No in the lounge actually.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

Agreed.He's been outstanding in a midfield role for France in the games of theirs that I've seen so far in the WC.

How do you fancy their chances against Morocco? If they negotiate that one, do you think they can win the final? I thought they’d struggle, without Pogba and Kante.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Would have liked to come over for the home match back in Sept. (I was haviing a couple of implants sorted in France).Would be pleasantly suprised if we manage to get anyting out of the away game.

Yep, the away game. Wrexham are clearly a better team than Southend. The league table doesn't lie. By your logic, you will be pleased if they beat Southend, as the best team would have won.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

How do you fancy their chances against Morocco? If they negotiate that one, do you think they can win the final? I thought they’d struggle, without Pogba and Kante.

One game at a time I think.FWIW.Morocco have proved against Spain and Portugal that they have a marvellous defence.But I'd still back France to beat them .TBH I'm rather more worried about what might happen in many French cities (not just Paris) if they don't.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

FYI.I'm a proud British Passport holder.

I'm trying to understand your anti England stance. Are you Scottish?

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

One game at a time I think.FWIW.Morocco have proved against Spain and Portugal that they have a marvellous defence.But I'd still back France to beat them .TBH I'm rather more worried about what might happen in many French cities (not just Paris) if they don't.

Deschamps seems to be under a lot of pressure. Surely.. you’d think.. they’d have enough firepower to break Morocco down.