Knockout Stage General Discussion Thread

Morocco will be back for 2030 They played fantastic football

 

Many keepers played at a good level till 40 and even beyond, Schwarzer, Lehmann, Van der Sarr, Ceni, Buffon ...

 

They’ll also be the hosts

 

The fact that Saibari couldn't play today severely hurt Morocco's chances of progressing. The core of the team is a good and can get better. If they want to go to the next level, they need find or develop elite level finishers.

 

There is no way to be safe, the other keepers are responsible for their own improvement with their clubs and the NT just takes the best.
For now Bounou is the best and doesn't show any sign of decline yet so I want him to stay and keep the bar high for the others to aim for.

 

Until today. They stunk out Boston.

 

To be honnest I'm not sure he'd have had any good ball to deal with considering the way we played.
What hurt us more was the way Diaz and Hakimi played today.
Elite finishers are rare in the whole world, not every team has Kane Mbappe or Haaland. And even those who have them would hardly replace them if they are injured.

 

You're right. Guys like Kane, Mbappe, and Haaland are generational talents. You can't just create players of their calibre in an academy -- they are freaks of nature.

Moving forward, Africa should have plenty of representation at World Cups. The goal for African nations has to be to regularly get to the latter stages of the tournament, and to aspire to win it. Realistically, CAF will probably be the first confederation to break up the UEFA/CONMEBOL duopoly on the World Cup trophy. To win the biggest tournaments, you need guys who are used to delivering on the biggest stages. This starts by having a strong core of players on the books of the biggest clubs in Europe. African nations can no longer be content with merely participating at World Cups -- they have to want more.

 

We come from far so as far as I'm concerned Africa did well in this WC.
But there is still a lot of work to do and the hardest part is tied with the economy. It's largly about money, "Le nerf de la guerre", and the local leagues can't develop without that.
Morocco did advance a lot in that part for example 20 years ago the highest wage in the Moroccan league was Aboucherouane who was earning 800 euros per month before moving to Lilles, now Ziyech is earning 80 000 euros with Wydad Casablanca. But it's still too far from the top European standards so it's still difficult to keep the best players let alone attracting high standards foreigners. If only we had oil ...

 

France were good, but it was not the best version of Morocco they've had to beat, far from that. Some key players missing, some leaders playing bad, defense looked relatively shaky ever since Canada game or even earlier and still Morocco were alive for an hour. Overall, not a game after which French stakes to win it all went up, atleast not in my book. They are still the team to beat, but if Spain somehow won't screw up tonight, that FRA-SPA semi will be final before final and it's anyone's game. Spain lately knows how to handle France and that French favorite status might only help Spain

 

When I watch France, it's like watching a NFL team from the 2020's play a NFL team from the 1960's. They're next level. Spain has the coordination to beat them though. France can't score if they don't have the ball . Plus Dembele, Mbappe, and Kounde all played for Spanish teams. The Spanish FA got some good info on them. First Spain vs Belgium tho.

 

I would beg to differ. What makes France so dangerous is they can win matches either by dominating possession or by playing on the counter. If it is Spain in the semi-final, I very much like our chances of getting to the final. Another factor which will be crucial -- France will have an extra day's rest. If today's game goes to extra time, then whomever they play will a serious "freshness deficiency".

 

Both teams will be fairly rested though. When you think about club football, its a luxury to get to play on a Friday before a midweek Champions league match, like Spain are doing.

 

Hay I didn't say France won't be in the final lol. I just said Spain had a chance. More of a chance compared to almost all teams.

Ranking of beating France is probably

1. France
2. Spain
3. Argentina
4. England
5. Norway
6. Belgium
7. Switzerland

I agree they can do it anyway they want. They don't need possession to win. 2018, 2022 loved that counter goal. Breaks the possession teams spirit lol...

Just had to acknowledge the 2024 euro game with Spain. Like that game it might not be the team who scores first who wins the semi.

 

The Euro 2024 semifinal was honestly very close and really could've gone either way. I think Spain had slightly better luck, but I think we can argue that France had the better chances overall. Also Mbappe was struggling and not really fit during that time, and many of France's key players now were still developing during that time and not the players they are now.

Also Nico Williams was in the form of his life that whole tournament, which is a player I wouldn't necessarily call elite or one of the best players in the world. Very different types of players, but Id probably call Nico Williams someone to be compared to a player like Dmitri Payet. Payet had an amazing season prior to Euro 2016 and performed super well in Euro 2016 for France, but he was no Mbappe, Griezmann, or any consistent player long term, and he really didn't get called for France again in any major tournament after Euro 2016. I'd say Nico Williams is probably similar calibre to Payet in terms of level of play.

That France team also didn't have Olise or Doue, and Dembele wasn't the player he is currently. I feel like he really hit his prime and form a bit late like in the 2024-25 season.

 

1-0. Spain.

 

Yamal looking pretty good. Has not scored yet but he is looking very dangerous.

 

Goal Belgium 1-1

 

So, far quarterfinals have been much less competitive than the round of 16 and round of 32.

 

De Ketelaere is going to be picked up by a Premier League or Spanish club if he keeps this up. Has looked great the last few matches.