Semi-Finals 1: France v Belgium, 10th July, 7pm(GMT)

[AFCB_Mark]

France have had some chances, let's hope they don't go on to rue missing them.

 

[Skinner]

Fascinating match up so far. Mbappe is the most unselfish attacker I've ever seen

 

[Renegade]

Quality game from two quality teams with Hazard a level above everyone else. I have a hard time seeing the winner of this game not lifting the tournament. Hope we get extra time.

 

[JJ1532]

Set pieces. The weapon of choice at this tournament.

 

[rudebwoyben]

There’s not been one dive by either side so far..

 

[Renegade]

Clinical.

Fantastic second half from France, completely nullified Belgium after they went ahead, De Bruyne was made to look average. Varane, Umtiti, Pogba, Mbappe all fantastic. Will be huge favourites in the final.

Hazard should be in the team of the tournament.

 

[rudebwoyben]

France do look the complete side and will rightly be the favourites against whoever they play on Sunday.

 

[JJ1532]

Tight cagey game, decided by one decent set piece and one mistake from Belgium. France showed flashes of brilliance, but plenty of nervy moments.

Feel like Belgium messed up altering the tactics, switching to a back 4, moving De Bruyne out of that attacking trio role. Lukaku was anonymous, Chadli was shocking. De Bruyne was wasted. Not sure why Martinez didn't thrown the kitchen sink at it earlier and only made his final sub in injury time.

Belgium just lacking in that little bit of quality. France once again win whilst not looking all that great.

 

[Bilo]

Like Argentina have already showed, it's nigh on impossible to win without any decent wide players. Hazard likes to cut inside and Chadli is comfortably the least talented player in both 11's.

Could have played for hours and they wouldn't have scored.

 

[Skinner]

The way France closed that game out was damn impressive, especially in added time

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Nothing to fear, 0-0 was it as set pieces don't count? Or is that just for England?

 

[Benji]

Nothing to fear, 0-0 was it as set pieces don't count? Or is that just for England?

Hard to compare France to England because they've actually beaten good teams.

 

[Dirk]

Congrats France for reaching the 3rd World Cup Final in the last 20 years. Win one-lose one, now it's win one again?

A bit sad for Belgium.Would've been nice to see them in their first ever World Cup Final. but today wasn't their day.

 

[Carver]

Meh!

What a shit tournament this has been, more so since the quarter finals.

It just feels so lacklustre in terms of atmosphere and it is lacking a buzz especially since the South American nations went out, it really hasn't felt like a real world cup but more like some insignificant tournament.

World Cup semi final between France and Belgium tonight and the lack atmosphere in the stadium was shocking!

I mean even England only started getting any proper attention from the nation after we beat Colombia and in all honesty it is hard to get excited with England when we've been lucky that most of the usual bigger nations were shit and got knocked out and we all know that we are just a workman like team with no real quality apart from Harry Kane who has only got most of his goals from penalties.

So how exciting, for France to more or less already be world cup winners before they even know which of the two average teams they are going to be up against. lol

 

[T.A]

Hard to compare France to England because they've actually beaten good teams.

I dunno the goalkeeper literally threw the ball in the net for Uruguay and they only just beat Argentina who are let's be honest a poor team. Croatia will beat France if they get to the final.

 

[Carver]

I dunno the goalkeeper literally threw the ball in the net for Uruguay and they only just beat Argentina who are let's be honest a poor team. Croatia will beat France if they get to the final.

France just beat Belgium who had just beaten Brazil.

So yeah if England get to the final we needn't have bothered because France will blow us away and it could be the most embarrassing defeat in a final, probably something like 5-0 to France.

 

[SMH]

For me the difference was that France have a top class player in every position and Belgium have them in about 7 or 8 but not all 11 positions and it showed. Was just too big a game for the likes of Chadli and Dembele to hang in. Felt sorry for Martinez although I’m obviously bias. Don’t think he could have done much else, they matched France pretty much all game, should have scored first and lost to an OG. No Meunier meant someone unorthodox had to play RB and Dembele showed tonight why Martinez had been playing Witsel over him to the dismay of the social media experts who think they know better. Lukaku was dealt scraps thanks to an outstanding French defence. If Belgium can find a specialist LWB and another top class CM in two years then they’ll be a good bet for the Euros. France look unbeatable but in a final anything can happen and they bottled it two years ago...

 

[SALTIRE]

The way France closed that game out was damn impressive, especially in added time

Agreed, against De Bruyne, Hazard, and that lump Fellaini bashing his way through; they held well and were - just about - deserved victors.

Finish the job boys.

 

[valefan16]

France adapt their game well, possibly learnt a lesson from the Argentina game not to be so open as you don’t want to be scoring 4 to win games at this level.

They looked very functional against a decent Belgian side, will be interesting how Belgian football progresses now, obviously have a chance in two years but as this golden generation ages they may have missed their big chance for a World Cup trophy/final.

See which of these England play at the weekend but will be a good test regardless. (Could end up with England B v Belgium B again if we lose!)

 

[Carver]

The only way anyone can beat France in the final is by doing what Portugal did to them two years ago.

Nick a goal against the run of play!

 

[Abertawe]

Poor Belgium, poor pre tournament bet

 

[Super_horns]

France seem to be getting the job done without being that great .

Like in 2016 until the final .

 

[Carver]

France seem to be getting the job done without being that great .

Like in 2016 until the final .

Yes and that is what's required in tournament football if you want to win it. It's not always the best footballing side that wins, but usually the most organised team with enough quality who take their chances will succeed.

That team is France.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Hard to compare France to England because they've actually beaten good teams.

I was talking about set pieces so don't really see the relevance of your comments.

Any way you say good teams plural, who other than Belgium, I can only think you are going off name and reputation because Argentina were terrible and the team we play tonight smacked them 3-0 with ease. Or Uruguay who's game revolves around the Cavani, Suarez partnership which was broken up, not sure how they are much better than Colombia.

So if we beat Croatia tonight, will we have beaten a good team? Then France? I make that 2-1 on good teams, it's coming home!

Look at some of the previous winners, some routes have been easier, but hey you can only beat what's in front of you, it's just other nations don't usually get criticized for luck of the draw.

 

[SF_]

Superb defensive performance that.

Pogba showing what a beast he can be and Varane was unbelievable.

Can't see us breaking that lot down if we got there.

 

[Railway Blue]

Agreed, against De Bruyne, Hazard, and that lump Fellaini bashing his way through; they held well and were - just about - deserved victors.

Finish the job boys.

I heard Alan Brazil backing us on TalkSport this morning!

 

[Carver]

I was talking about set pieces so don't really see the relevance of your comments.

Any way you say good teams plural, who other than Belgium, I can only think you are going off name and reputation because Argentina were terrible and the team we play tonight smacked them 3-0 with ease. Or Uruguay who's game revolves around the Cavani, Suarez partnership which was broken up, not sure how they are much better than Colombia.

So if we beat Croatia tonight, will we have beaten a good team? Then France? I make that 2-1 on good teams, it's coming home!

Look at some of the previous winners, some routes have been easier, but hey you can only beat what's in front of you, it's just other nations don't usually get criticized for luck of the draw.

Assuming we get to the final, have you forgot that only a year ago we played a down to 10 men France in a friendly and still got absolutely battered and outclassed off them?

Mbappe tore our defence to pieces.

They are technically miles better than us and more or less better than us in every department.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Assuming we get to the final, have you forgot that only a year ago we played a down to 10 men France in a friendly and still got absolutely battered and outclassed off them?

Mbappe tore our defence to pieces.

They are technically miles better than us and more or less better than us in every department.

I don't remember no as I don't watch pointless friendlies, I've got better things to do like watch Emmerdale.

If you think that matters a jot then you can't have watched much football before.

I did see France struggle against a garbage Australia though this tournament, only to have to be handed the game. For how "amazing" they were against a crap Argentina they only one by one, and looked very suspect at the back.

 

[Abertawe]

Assuming we get to the final, have you forgot that only a year ago we played a down to 10 men France in a friendly and still got absolutely battered and outclassed off them?

Mbappe tore our defence to pieces.

They are technically miles better than us and more or less better than us in every department.

We'll see how good Mbappe is when Walker sticks to him like glue and matches him stride for stride.

If it comes down to a one off game it's on. There's enough winners and scrappers in the team to come away the winner. That's why tonight is so crucial. Southgate should not fuck up this opportunity. Put legs in midfield and sap Croatia's energy levels, don't let them play.

 

[rudebwoyben]

It is funny that when England do well in international friendlies against top-tier nations, the performances and results are derided as worthless yet Carver cites a friendly between France and England a year ago (with a totally different England team which has evolved a lot since then) as evidence that England would struggle to be in the game if they play France on Sunday.