Cybereagles

This team never really got out of second gear. They scored almost at will. Just look at how they poured in three goals against Argentina in 15 minutes and almost did the same to Croatia.

They left a deep pool of attacking talent either on the bench or away. Martial, dembele, lacazette, coman. With their core team all under 25 except griezemann France may repeat in 2022.

This is the same crap we heard after Germany won Brazil 2014

kali wrote:This team never really got out of second gear. They scored almost at will. Just look at how they poured in three goals against Argentina in 15 minutes and almost did the same to Croatia.

They left a deep pool of attacking talent either on the bench or away. Martial, dembele, lacazette, coman. With their core team all under 25 except griezemann France may repeat in 2022.

Add Benzema

I am not convinced. There are a few weak links in the team.

Start with that donkey Giroud. I am also not sold on Hernandez and Pavan, despite his wonder goal against Argentina. When you add Lloris’s erratic behaviour to the equation, this team is vulnerable.

Rawlings wrote:This is the same crap we heard after Germany won Brazil 2014

France also exited at the group stage in the following World Cup after their 98 win.

Ayo Akinfe wrote:I am not convinced. There are a few weak links in the team.

Start with that donkey Giroud. I am also not sold on Hernandez and Pavan, despite his wonder goal against Argentina. When you add Lloris’s erratic behaviour to the equation, this team is vulnerable.

After they fix the weak links nko? That's what's scary. Deschamps surely will struggle if he were coaching an average team, but this team is barely breaking a sweat in spite of all these limitations

Ayo Akinfe wrote:I am not convinced. There are a few weak links in the team.

Start with that donkey Giroud. I am also not sold on Hernandez and Pavan, despite his wonder goal against Argentina. When you add Lloris’s erratic behaviour to the equation, this team is vulnerable.

This is probably the end of the road for Giroud. Nabil Fekir who came in the last 15 minutes was much better. I wondered why Deschamps kept him on the bench. The France team this time reminded of Germany 2010. They were young and won the next time.

France is what Nigeria can become if we have good leadership.

I always laugh at critics of Giroud. Gernot Rohr will probably give his right arm to have a Giroud as our pointman.

Yes France deservedly won but I do not see any domineering team at this World Cup and that includes France. In fact Germany, in spite of losing at the group stage could possibly beat France at the next meeting. The closest to a dominating team in this tournament was Belgium but yet the team lost a critical game to France.

greg wrote:

Rawlings wrote:This is the same crap we heard after Germany won Brazil 2014

France also exited at the group stage in the following World Cup after their 98 win.

Add Spain too

They poured 4 goals in against Croatia in the final. They'll win the next Euro Cup but not the next world Cup.4 years is too long for any prediction.

Brazil will win the next World Cup, I would bet on it but the odds aren't good.

Rawlings wrote:This is the same crap we heard after Germany won Brazil 2014

Thanks you - Professor Rawlings! Exactly what I was going to say

Rawlings wrote:This is the same crap we heard after Germany won Brazil 2014

Please remind the lazy pundits who simply jump on what's momentarily popular.
For starters, when was the last time a team repeated as WC champion?

Deputy Igwe.

Ayo Akinfe wrote:I am not convinced. There are a few weak links in the team.

Start with that donkey Giroud. I am also not sold on Hernandez and Pavan, despite his wonder goal against Argentina. When you add Lloris’s erratic behaviour to the equation, this team is vulnerable.

I doubt Giroud will play for France in 2022.

Besides I doubt was all France's best today. Add to that the seemingly endless conveyor belt of young players coming through. It's not just a golden generation.

I would say it is a golden age and can be a dynasty.

Griezman impressed in a withdrawn forward role, surprised by his workrate and willingness to drop into midfield. Imagine he were playing further forward with Payet pulling the strings in the hole...it could’ve been very serious. Even Karim Abdul Jabba the Hut could’ve dropped it like Chris Wallace on Flava in Ur Ear remix. Deputy certainly had plenty in the garrison but expect Igwe I to return, red cap glowing like he ran over a invincibility star on Mario Kart.

If they can keep their egos in check, sky is the limit, remember they have some players who could not make the squad, for example Anthony Martial, what a talent

Abeg the spine of the team is solid. From the CD of Umtiti/Ven to the midfield anchored by Pogba and an attack led by Mbappe this teal is loaded. Wont be surprised if they retain the cup in 2022 when you considered that their key players in this world cup are yet to mature and reach their peak.

They'll be favourites to win Euro 2020. They have the tools to be a dominant force in the years to come but the key issue will be maintaining the motivation required to win big tournaments. Also, a lot of the big guns have done very poorly over the last year including teams like Italy and Holland that didn't qualify for this WC so they will be doing serious soul searching which will lead to stiffer competition in future tournaments.

This French B team would have made the semi-final

Costil (Bordeux)

Sakho (Crystal Palace)
Zouma (Chelsea)
Koscielny (Arsenal)
Debuchy

Riberry (Bayern Muninch)
Sissoko (Tottenham)
Coman (Bayern Munich)
Rabiot (PSG)

Lacazette (Arsenal)
Benzema (Real Madrid)
Martial (Man Utd)

Subs
Laporte (Man City)
Mangala (Everton)
Payet (Marseille)
Digne (Barcelona)

Deschamps really understood this team better than anyone. France is at its best, when they counter attack, because they have better athletes at most key positions.
Deschamps' main objective was to beat up his opponents physically. Then eventually outrun them. That's why Giroud played most of the game over Dembele.
France lacks true playmakers and decision makers, who can actually dictate the game tactically.
They struggle a lot, if they are asked to dictate the game offensively. They struggled to break down Australia, and even Peru. They couldn't break down a defensive Portugal team 2 years ago at the Euros.
The good thing going for France is, they have lots of young players in their pipeline. Competition for places is fierce. But, Italy, Holland and even Germany will be better in a couple of years after disappointing years.