For me, this world cup has been a complete bust. Why should I give two shits about some kids from France, who are currently nobodies on the world stage, and some tiny country that will never get there again, and have to relevance on the world stage? This is the NBA Summer League of World Cups. One of these two teams will win, but why should anyone give a shit?
France are not nobodies on the world stage. They have been very successful over the past 20 years. They have a tournament record England can only dream of.
With two games to go, then... This part has worked out reasonably well so far. I remain unconvinced about VAR but it hasn't been a complete disaster and I can't immediately recall a game being decided by a refereeing / officiating error. I hope that will remain the case. I couldn't be happier to have been wrong about this. Indeed, it was pretty stupid of me to conflate the repulsive policies of Russia's government with the attitudes of ordinary Russians. It seems to have been an incident-free event so far and that's brilliant. Not the final I'd imagined but that's tournament football. I'd like to see Croatia win - small nation, new name on the trophy, tremendous player like Modrić achieving such a goal (especially in the circumstances) - but it won't surprise if France are too good. The talent in that team is just ridiculous and they seem to be on a mission after the result of the Euro 2016 final. Hopefully it'll be a good game.
It's quite incredible that anyone could imagine either Croatia or France is a footballing nonentity, or that no one will care which of them wins the World Cup. Ridiculous stuff.
As for Croatia, that remains to be seen. They narrowly missed out on the finals in 1998, and proceeded to win 3rd place then. So this is at least the 2nd generation of talented Kroatian players (haven't even looked into Yugoslavia's history), and it shows it's probably more than a bizarre one-time fluke. As for the France team … if they are 'nobodies', I think there are very, very few candidates left who aren't.
Actual football fans give a shit. France is a footballing MAJOR POWER and this will be there 3rd final in 6 World Cups and they finished runners up in the previous EURO. France have a mix of experience and youth and Mbappé may be young but his talent is without question. Croatia are hardly nobodies too, the team contains easily two of the top midfielders in the world who play for arguably the two biggest club teams in the world. This is nation that finished 3rd in France 98, had an awesome team in Euro 2008 and screwed up in the last minute of Extra Time before pens dumped them out and now are in their first WC final. Relevance on the world stage??? Geo politics don't dictate football, how you play football does and by reaching the final they are very relevant.
^I suspect the actual function of the England-Croatia match was to decide who gets to be 2nd and 4th, respectively, but we'll see.
Strong teams from both though with Dier & Delph both starting then I suspect Belgium will finish 3rd. It also helps that Hazard & Lukaku can actually move, while Kane looks like a stiff breeze will finish him off and the less said about Sterling the better.
The Belgians where being sore losers and complained about the way the french team played against them and now they are playing the same way
^ The lack of cards given out as this World Cup progressed has been farcical, they have let players kick, kick & kick their opponents and with Neymar, allowed to dive over and over. Least I got 4 points from my World Cup pool as I had BEL 2-0 ENG.
It's clear for me who needs to be left behind after the World Cup for England but I doubt Southgate will do it... Rose - His career has been going steadily backwards since 2016 due to injuries but also poor performances and Bertrand should of gone ahead of him. Ryan Sessegnon & Ben Chilwell should get game time because we need faster, younger players in the Wing Back roles. Jones - Was born flat footed and clearly will never progress to the level we thought he could from his Blackburn Rovers days. Too slow and unsure of himself to play in the big games at International level. Gomez, Tarkowski & Lascelles should be allowed to compete with Walker, Stones & Maguire. Dier - Yeh he nearly scored but he's too slow, too clumsy on the ball and simply is not a World Class ball winner like Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick or Paul Ince were in times gone by. CDM is the position ENG have almost ZERO depth in with the only option being Chalobah who hopefully will be fit to compete with Henderson. Sterling - Can't hold up the ball, can't pass, can't shoot, can barley dribble or cross. If Running is your only talent then I suggest you become a 100m sprinter NOT a footballer, which requires more. Rashford - since 2016 his performances have gone backwards and his goal/assist record for ENG is crap. He was allowed to skip the U21's and not made to earn his place. Should go back to them and told to start from scratch. Also you'd imagine Vardy & Young due to their ages in 2 years won't be at the Euro's due to younger players coming through.
For those who have been following this thread, you know that i have been supporting France for this World Cup. But now i admire the Croatians for their teamwork, fitness and power. I don't mind who wins now. I will be happy regardless.
I think I will be rooting for the Croatians. Not that I have anything against France, it's just the 'small country / underdog sympathy factor' at work. Though I expect the French to win.
The Belgian players seem to be happy about their Bronze medal.... And everybody is happy with them, including me
Croatia is definitely playing like a team that deserves to be in the final. But France took full advantage of a great set piece.