France - Albania (R)

I worry for Albania a bit in this one... big teams tend to take it up a notch in the 2nd round of group games. So far the games have all been very close, but something tells me we could see our first blowout tonight.

 

Matuidi and Kante on one team is overkill. Matuidi also should be dropped - massively overrated player, Pogba needs to permanently replace him. Coman isn't ready, while Martial obviously is nowhere near as good as people claim him to be. Giroud is Giroud. And Evra has no place on a self-respecting title-winning French side. Digne in please.

 

Surprisingly, I agree with everything you say.

And also, Griezmann should be an automatic starter, but NOT on the wing.

 

Martial was awful today I think coach Didi underestimated the Albanians!! Although I think France will score a late winner!!

 

I'm sure this will be Evra's last tournament for France, cause you can't take a 37 year old rightback to WC'18!!

 

One moment of brilliance will erase all the frustration for France.

 

um.... is there any way to negative rep yourself?



oh well nevermind... France just scored....

 

And there you have it. Griezmann saves France from embarrassment.

 

I feel your pain Albania.

 

Good header.

 

Payet !

 

The score is widely flattering...

 

France is really not that good. First goal was in the very last minute, and second goal was because Albania was all out attack pushing for an equalizer.

I wouldn't be surprised if Switzerland beat them, and certainly Italy and Germany can really hurt this team. France is way overrated.

 

Yup.
Went from suffering and a possible embarrassment to being the first to clinch a spot in the round of 16 in a matter of minutes.

 

We shall see. Sometimes when a team finds ways to win late it helps them in other tough situations. And the Home field always seems to help them.

 

That Switzerland-France match is gonna be terrible.

 

Yeah your right. But honestly though I don't think home advantage is even a big thing anymore. In this generation tons of teams failed at home, not just in national teams but in club football as well.

The thing is though I might be exaggerating a bit, because France is my rival, but seriously though. They don't look impressive at all. Albania and Romania are teams way below France's level on paper, and are not even that good.

 

Why?

 

They'll shake hands and agree to settle for a draw. Not sure what the permutations are in the group, but they'll do whatever is mutually beneficial.

 

Futbol is also about match-ups and strategy.
Teams like Germany and Spain are not going to play France like Albania did today. They would play them more free flowing and less defensive which could open things up for their skillful players.
But we shall see.

 

Agreed Payet is now the top scorer for the Euros

 

joint top scorer - no?

 

Yeah I am not sure about Spain honestly because of that. Germany though would really press them up the field quite high, and France will have trouble stringing passes together between the high pressing. They are very good at that.

Italy would play similar to Albania with just a bit more pressing in the midfield rather than sitting back so close to the goal. The thing is because France's defense is shaky, Italy would probably make crosses to the wings and use pace there to outpace the defense and then cross into the middle to shoot on goal.

Spain I am not so sure though because they play tiki taka and can't move the ball around nearly as fast as they were able to in 2010, so I think France would give Spain a hard time.

 

Nope!! Blatter and Platini aren't around to influence things!!