2026 WC USA (et al): Worldwide Opponents Watch [all R's]

Agree. They frankly already look done -- Messi was barely there last game. I'm just saying if Argentina would compete ... it would require some physical play.

One of the things that surprised me was that France played too calm, too unwilling to try to force situations with Spain. Perhaps it wouldn't have worked, but France's edge over Spain at times is pure physicality; aside from a few Mbappe runs, there was no going at them.

They should have learned something from Paraguay.

 

I would say I think France had its chances today -- I think this game looks a LOT different if that penalty doesn't exist. And while it was a penalty ... it wasn't exactly something likely to lead to a goal otherwise.

This game goes into the second half 0-0, it's different. And I think that helps either Argentina or England because Spain still can leave an opponent in the game. They danced quite a bit this time with some lucky bounces. Simon was great but France should have scored on a couple of the mistakes.

 

Just watching the recording of France/Spain now, and I wouldn't say France look terrible, but they look ordinary. Defensive miscues and a lack of that irresistible attacking verve they had in previous games.

 

I think that’s right but they’d be underdogs against Spain too.

 

Spain dominated the midfield and that was it. And Spain’s midfield is their strength and they have a ton of depth there. Whereas it’s not a strength for France and they were also out nj need 2 versus 3.

Spain is also just such a good counter pressing team.

 

Rodri. My god

 

He hadn’t really looked like himself post injury but he definitely did today. In form and healthy Rodri is one of the best players in the world.

 

Both Spain goals come from amateurish blunders in set defense.It should have been scoreless at 85 minutes

 

Rodri and Ruiz completely controlled that match.

 

Spain looked like the were having a kick around. Play like that and they will win it all.

which is better memes? England lose to Argentina or England get close only to be executed by Spain? Hmmmm.

 

This right here. Spain's midfield was just a boa constrictor. Once they got their noses out in front after the penalty, they just choked the life out of France. Dembele was completely invisible.

 

As a USMNT fan, I’ve frankly never understood why I’m supposed to hate England

 

If I had to guess it's because we share a language and some of our soccer culture with them, so we're more exposed to their patronizing attitude towards us. There's just also the fact that they always overhype themselves in spite of their long title drought. It's kind of like rooting against the Dallas Cowboys or Toronto Maple Leafs because of their annoying self important fans.

 

oh, I’m not trying to downplay him as a player, no doubt France misses his younger self, but he’s been extremely “meh” over the last couple seasons. Must be a hell of a locker room guy to get selected this time around.

 

I have no idea what happened to France. No juice.

Deschamps, of course, attacked the referees. Aren't we all tired of teams looking like garbage, and then the coach talking about the referees?

Is it a surprise that Spain beat France? Not really. They had in the last couple of events.
But with the way France was making good teams seem extremely ordinary at this event, we weren't expecting it to go down like that. We weren't expecting a wimper from France.

 

It's fairly simple. Spain is an elite defensive team. France gave up a stupid PK that wasn't even from a dangerous situation. Once Spain went up a goal, they could compress their defense even more, and take fewer chances, strangling the French attack. It would have been more interesting to see how the game would have played out minus the PK (which was clearly the right call based on the rules, but I think the rules are bad).

 

.....................to add to the above post. Spain won because they won the central midfield battle. Rodri and friends were monsters. Ruiz played really well.

...............................Spain didn't even both bringing on Zubimendi or Gavi yesterday.

 

I still think leaving Camavinga at home was a big mistake.

 

I think Cherki said it well after the game. Succinct and accurate.

To paraphrase. "Spain played the way they wanted to play. We didn't play the way we wanted to play."

He didn't give Spain credit for that in his comments, but whatever.

 

The special players had better be in central defense and in goal. We were weak in the back, which we managed to hide until we came up against an elite team. Our midfield looks very good, with more players in the pipeline. Our attackers are young, talented and will improve

 

Even France has their version of Christian Roldan. They could have taken Bouaddi instead also who switched because they wouldn’t.

 

When push comes to shove, the margin for error at this highest level can be extremely small.

France has a lot of alternatives in their pool that they could have picked.

France-born players are the second highest nationality in the Premier League, Bundesliga, and Serie A following the home nation.
Third in La Liga after Argentina. [From the last data I saw anyway.]

And yes, as a "melting pot" nation, they lose a lot of players to other nations. By definition they have to make very difficult decisions.
Those decisions are often made at young ages, which have lasting effects. Players don't tend to choose Morocco or Algeria or Senegal when they're 28.

How old was Bouaddi when he choose Morocco? 18?

Camavinga of Real Madrid didn't get into the France squad, much less Bouaddi.

 

For me, it's mostly English fans.

 

Look, I'll take any chance I have to attack Barton, but I don't know what he was complaining about.

He didn't pull a Barton -- the early cards plus general UEFA play meant it didn't degenerate into shot. Yes, there were a couple of cards that could have been given later ... but as many on France as on Spain.

And the pen, while not exactly the most dangerous play, is a penalty by rule.

 

Bouaddi though is very much seen as a loss to the French program. They really didn’t want to lose him. And he was on the fringes of the team and Morocco was willing to give him the chance right now.

It would have made more sense if he didn’t make it for Camavinga as opposed to Kante but Bouaddi is the sort of player Man City is going to maybe 100 million for this summer. He’s a really highly touted guy.