PBP Thread: Match #5, France vs Australia, 16 June 2018 [R]

You are sounding like the NASA conspiracy theorists who say that since all the planet imagary stuff we have is CGI it is all fake.

 

Please man, I worked for NASA.

It is impressive how today's football audience is convinced that a goal is valid just because a stock image is replayed on every Hawkeye decision.

Why not show real video? After all, real images were used to reach the decision in the first place.

Edit: Forgot the winking smiley after "NASA".... Iceland almost scored against Argentina, just now. Laters.

 

Maybe because it is easier for people to see in the stadium using the cartoon imagery on the big screen.

 

Thanks. I understand that, I'm terrible at acronyms.

 

I would have absolutely hated playing Australia first.

 

They controlled the ball alot better than I thought they would. This should be a concern for France. They didn't seem too comfortable with the Aussie press.

 

If Germany, Spain, Brazil or any of the so said "favorites" want to get another star on their jerseys, the time is now.
If nothing unexpected happens in the next 4 years, the next WC has already a winner.
I have the impression this french youth won't be easy at all to beat when they're more experienced and when they melt into a team. And they'll have time for this.
Anyway everything I don't want is Brazil meeting them during this WC. If they start playing together, our fate is signed with our bestia negra.

 

I would actually be hyped as hell for a semi France vs Brazil
But we are very far from being there at the moment lol

 

Based on what exactly ? ... Denmark have a 15 game in a row unbeaten streak, while Peru had a 15 game unbeaten streak, that just came to an end with their loss to Denmark ... but Peru are still better than Australia ... in fact I think Peru have a very good chance of beating a French team that does not seem to have much if any game plan at all ...

 

When an underdog plays decent against a hot favourite they are suddenly over hyped. Australia isn’t better than Peru or Denmark. They will really struggle against Peru especially with their ball movement, individual skill and their press.

 

This is about correct. Australia played about as well as expected by Australian fans, which was better than most of the rest of the world expected, but they were made to look better by a worse than expected France. I think the Aussies will actually struggle more against the Danish tactics than Peru’s, but I’m confident they will grab at least a point from one of those remaining games.

 

Possibly, it depends how they play against Peru. If they come out to attack and leave space for Peru to counter they will struggle. The Aussie defenders really aren't that good. If they're left exposed they can be very shaky. Having said that though, they will still be very difficult to defeat for both Denmark and Peru as they are a tough team to play against.

 

They got it wrong, he toed the ball which the ref didn't get to see this angle.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=650415131976500

 

The main problem that Australia now face is that they are in desperate need of a win against Denmark ... and they have said themselves that they will go all in against Denmark, meaning that they can not be playing as defensively solid as against France, because they need to do more in attack ... Ireland did exactly the same at home against Denmark in the WC play-off's and got totally run over ... just as Poland that faced Denmark in an open batle in the away qualifier and lost 4-0 ..

Denmark often struggle against teams that bunker (like Iceland did against Argentina), but not really against European-style teams that face them in an open battle, because it then leave too much room for an Eriksen to shine ...He had a bit of an off-day against Peru, though he did make the assist, but i would not count on him also having an off-day against Australia ..

 

We can still play compact and have a chance to win the match 2-0. The most important thing will be us scoring first so we can counter.

 

I think your tactical analysis here is based more on supporting your nation rather than anything else. I actually hope your team shares your attitude towards your opponent, but I know they don't.

 

Hope you understand that Denmark has not let in 2 goals in their past 17 games in a row ... in fact, no goals have been scored against Denmark in 2018 and Schmeichel just beat his fathers old clean sheets record from the early 90's ..

 

Actually it's the other way around ... I believe it to be better to have a look at the facts and figures rather than base my tactical analysis on wishful thinking ...

 

I also know we haven't kept a clean sheet in a world cup finals match since a 0-0 draw in 1974, so obviously we are due to concede none and you are due to concede 3, but historical stuff isn't where I differ in your analysis. First of all, in terms of qualifying we aren't desperate to win as you said, we are desperate not to lose. A win would be nice, but a draw keeps us alive regardless of what happens in the other game. I wouldn't expect us to be throwing caution to the wind. I would expect us to play a bit more defensively than against France. I also don't think Denmark are as talented a team as France individually, so its a bit easier to keep a solid defensive format against Denmark than France as France can be a bit more unpredictable. Of course, early goals can change the match tactics, but if the game is still tied at the three quarter mark I think it will be Denmark who will want to go all out for a win rather than the other way around. The last thing Denmark will want is to need a result against France to qualify, and if Peru can get points off France and Denmark don't get all three against Australia then things go down to the wire, and Denmark has the hardest last game.

 

I don't think France has a team ... they have some good individual players but no actual game plan... so personally I think Peru probably was the most difficult opponent for Denmark in this group .... based on their performance against Australia, I won't be surprise if France lose both their last two games...

 

Well based on Denmark performance against Peru, this holds true for the Danes too. From what I saw, France beating Denmark (who may not have the possiblity to bunker in their encounter) is more likely than the reverse.

 

Denmark do not look like they have a team or game plan ? ... that is news to me ... if there is something Denmark do have, then it's both a game plan and an excellent team work .. and if not for a game plan Denmark would surely have lost to Peru ...

The match against Peru show that even on a day where Eriksen had a bit of an off-day, where his corners and set pieces were pretty bad all the way through the match, though he did make the assist, and only the keeper and defense were doing well, the game plan still saved the day against a strong looking Peru that had not lost a match 15 games in a row ..... as for the "bunkering" then the possession was 52% v 48% in favor of Peru, but is was actually Denmark having most possession up until the 1-0 goal, then they chose to defend the result ... it's not like Denmark only have one tool in the toolbox, then can play either way, depending on how a match progress ...

 

You are definitely overrating your team and underestimating all the others from what I can read from your posts since weeks lol.
France always struggle in their first match, its nothing new, I don’t say we will rape Peru and Denmark at all, but don’t expect us to give you the same gifts we did to Australia.

 

No ... I'm just pointing out that France have good players but do not look like a team with a game plan ... both Peru and Denmark are mainly about team-work and game plan ...

 

Whatever Denmarks game plan was yesterday it was poorly constructed and even worse executed. It was basically 11 players in panic mode for 90 minutes with almost no consecutive passes. The only thing that kept Denmark alive in that match was outstanding individual performances. Especially from Schmeicel and Christensen. As a collective even the defense looked extremely shaky and without a plan.

I wouldn't be too confident in the team. They need to step up big time if they want to get a result against Australia. I hope it was just nerves that got the best of them as I know they can play much better than they did yesterday. But I have my fears.