World Cup Final: France vs Croatia, July 15 [R]

Shit I missed the penalty.

 

Croatia is lucky that PI isnt really a thing in this tournament

 

The way the rule is enforced right now.

But it is destroying football as I said.

At least for those if us who don't like randomly distributed goals.

I would love to see the same logical rules as there are in ice hockey coming to football.

Where the penalty is always in proportion to the crime.

But I'm beginning to feel this will never happen.

Many people just automatically think hands is penalty and ther tradition is so strong that it will probably take 20 years.

 

Don't let the referee's decide the game, let the players decide the game!!

 

Disagree. Belgium was quite dangerous in open play on the counterattack in the first half of that match. France does not look dangerous in open play AT ALL. They’ve legitimately created nothing and gotten goals off of set pieces that either obviously should not have been given (first goal) or were debateable (the penalty). This is perhaps more like the second half of the Brazil Belgium game, but Belgium was up two goals at that point so it was understandable. And Belgium didn’t outscore Brazil in that half, like France did in this half. Unless they step it up in the second half, France will not be deserved winners IMO.

 

Rob Stone of FOX Sports is basically saying that this is Frances's win already.

France has never lost when Griezmann has scored a goal.
A European team has never lost a Word Cup while being in the lead at halftime.

Will the trends continue? Tune in to the second half to find out!

 

Pogba Elbowed mandzukic in the back on that first goal AND he was offside , No VAR whatsoever was involved , seriously if they didn't check for offside they should a at least check for an obvious foul against the player who caused the own goal

Also the handball wasn't deliberate and from close range , VAR shouldn't have even considered it for a pk let alone the ref who had to waste 5 minutes to see the replay 10 times then finally get ti wrong ...

If Croatia score again in the second half expect another BS call against them

 

Rob for the president!

 

So, you think we should go Gaelic rules and let defenders bat the ball down in air? I don't see how you don't call that. A dangerous ball is coming through and the defender bats it down. If we allow that, THAT would destroy the game.

 

Every hand ball for pk in the WC decision makes me salty. 2002 still feels like yesterday.

 

I said it in an earlier thread. IMO penalty kicks are destroying the game.

I would like to see the following rule changes.

any foul in the box is only a penalty IF a legitimate goal scoring chance is stopped.

If it is a foul in the box without a scoring chance, it should be an indirect free kick.

Also the player who is fouled should have to take the penalty or free kick. This stops players from strategically diving only for Penalty or free kick specialists to take advantage.

Imagine Harry Kane the golden boot winner just from scoring penalty kicks. I think it is ridiculous.

 

My view of the game today. I really really hope France don't win on an OG + penalty

 

Though the goals have come from set pieces it has been an exciting first half of the final. I thought this would be a cagey and boring one. As the tournament has progressed VAR has shown it's inconsistency.

Penalty for handball in the box is a bit complicated rule but I think it mostly works. You can almost always see defenders keeping their hands behind them in the penalty box to avoid the handball situation. But at the same time in the case of Perisic handball, I thought it was a bit harsh considering he was jumping for the ball and didn't had anytime to react to take this hand out of the way as the ball was flicked by Matuidi. I hope Croatia get a goal early in the second, they have looked good in the attack and may be they should get a bit of good luck.

 

Well if the Croatians were able to defend without making mistakes, france would not score. An auto-goal under pressure + a penalty for a hand in the surface are the result of Croatian febrility when dealing with france's attack. You cannot blame the french for that !

What is more interesting is the tactical choice that both team will soon have to do. So far France sticks with its habit of a rather passive first half of observation which is risky against a team like Croatia that has now to equalize. It make sense if you hope that the Croatian might loose their momentum or focus and be more susceptible to counters, but England made this mistake already. France should go all in like against Argentina they would probably come on top although by a small margin, but the trauma of last euro final against a "bunkerish" Portugal is probably to fresh.

French players, are clearly dealing with so much more pressure right know. They need to stop thinking so much or they will regret it. Deshamps prudent choice might also resulted in to much defensive fouls and could have huge consequences at the end of the game. If they played a bit higher and more confidently, it would be easier for France to control the game like they did against Belgium while keeping some scoring opportunities. The inexperience of some of french players and their stress is showing right now in their tactical choice no one wants to take risks and be seen as making a mistake. On Croatia side, the experienced middle field and attackers are doing the job, but their weakness are showing as soon as we are in the surface.

If France were to really push we could end up with something like an interesting 4-3 or 3-4.
If not I would bet on two more goals tops, with a french expulsion within the next 45 minutes.

 

Game is back on...

 

I'm crying already. Don't mind me, girl here. I'm crying already, I think Croatia going to lose.

It clear that they work very hard and play better in the first half. But I think this is it, they going to lose.

 

I will say this, I disagree sharply with the notion that this has been a great cup, and frankly, a game with PKs and own goals are automatically out of the running for great games for me. As others have said, I'd rather have actual player skill determine the game. This tournament has blasted the record for own goals, so it's fitting this final have that.

 

Belgium took a first own goal by Brazil, that made they open even more (Brazil is already a team that plays totally in attack).

Second half, Belgium couldn't barely touch the ball.
So yeah, of course Belgium was more dangerous than France is being now, but, the situation is kinda the same. The team who is actually.playing football is losing.

 

If only they called handballs that tightly back during the 2002 quarterfinal between USA and Germany.

I want Croatia to win so badly. Just couldn’t stomach a title by those bleu cheesers.

 

In this situation I would much prefer a indirect free kick or no call.
The swedish studio expert said no penalty and the pro ref in the studio said 50-50 call.

 

Jesus Croatia know how to take shots at the goal.

 

That play from Rakitic. This guy has been on another level this season.