World Cup: National Team threads #2

[Islesfan22]

Finland giving France the business at the Stade de France

Means nothing really. I am a bit surprised that Finland has more possession then France. France is still the best in the world and if there motivated they will be really difficult to beat in Euros.

 

[karhukissa]

Means nothing really. I am a bit surprised that Finland has more possession then France. France is still the best in the world and if there motivated they will be really difficult to beat in Euros.

Yeah discredit young guys playing mostly in either finnish league or other scandinavian leagues, that's complete Finland B-team. Obviously it won't change a thing and France is obviously big favourite to win Euros but it's still humiliation. In professional, especially national team football at your home ground this should never happen.

 

[Jussi]

Farmers clearly no match for Finland.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Vida played a half while positive for COVID-19, apparently the test results didn’t come in until the game started

Anyway no real surprises in the Euro friendly matches today other than Finland winning in France but most of these teams played with reserve sides

 

[Islesfan22]

Yeah discredit young guys playing mostly in either finnish league or other scandinavian leagues, that's complete Finland B-team. Obviously it won't change a thing and France is obviously big favourite to win Euros but it's still humiliation. In professional, especially national team football at your home ground this should never happen.

Lol nobody cares about friendly results. Good for the Finns and there young players. Remember France lost to USA in a friendly right before the World Cup. Media started panicking France is in big trouble. Yup really big trouble as they went on to win the World Cup.

 

[Jussi]

Vida played a half while positive for COVID-19, apparently the test results didn’t come in until the game started

Anyway no real surprises in the Euro friendly matches today other than Finland winning in France but most of these teams played with reserve sides

Not a surprise, it was expected.

 

[karhukissa]

Lol nobody cares about friendly results. Good for the Finns and there young players. Remember France lost to USA in a friendly right before the World Cup. Media started panicking France is in big trouble. Yup really big trouble as they went on to win the World Cup.

Nobody cares yet it's on the front page of L'equipe, BBC and many others. Obviously it won't change a thing, but France hasn't lost at their home ground in years and now Finland B-team is about to break that. My guess is that France wins Euros, but still it's humiliating and don't say that they will just laugh this one off.

 

[Jussi]

FIN will be the fin of FRA in the World Cup.

Euro.

 

[Jussi]

Was there ever any doubt.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Vida played a half while positive for COVID-19, apparently the test results didn’t come in until the game started

Anyway no real surprises in the Euro friendly matches today other than Finland winning in France but most of these teams played with reserve sides

Um how the f*** was he allowed on the pitch with test results still TBD

 

[Ben Grimm]

Euro.

Juicy, I meant the 2022 WC.

 

[Jussi]

Juicy, I meant the 2022 WC.

Oh, we're not qualifying for that. Unless they expand it to a 64 team tournament.

 

[Jussi]

I guess Evilo drank himself to sleep/death.

 

[cgf]

Atm 0-2 against defending world champions on their home ground with 2nd team, not bad. France will probably score a goal or two, but nonetheless pretty good effort from finnish youngsters.

21 year old Brentford striker Marcus Forss, who's highly scouted by Dortmund scored a goal also, great debut so far.

Who cares about those corporate sellouts? He's also been scouted by Union, where he could learn from the legendary Max Kruse!

 

[Bures Elbow]

Fernando Santos when asked if he'll start Jota/Felix (whose been in incredible form for Atletico to start the season in both the league and CL)/Bernardo/Bruno Fernandes/Ronaldo all together.

His response:

"Only 4 of the 5 can ever play at the same time"

Conservative to the max.

We'll be playing that Danilo-William midfield with no pure striker/forward unless we play weak teams until the heat death of the universe.

 

[Islesfan22]

Nobody cares yet it's on the front page of L'equipe, BBC and many others. Obviously it won't change a thing, but France hasn't lost at their home ground in years and now Finland B-team is about to break that. My guess is that France wins Euros, but still it's humiliating and don't say that they will just laugh this one off.

Lol ye I’m sure France is really worried. The same L equippe that said France was in trouble after losing to USA in a friendly. Again nobody cares about friendly results as these games are about experimenting with tactics and trying second team or young players . Senior players are not giving 100 percent in duels as they don’t want to get hurt. I’ll be interested in the games tomorrow especially Serbia vs Scotland.

 

[Albatros]

Lol ye I’m sure France is really worried. The same L equippe that said France was in trouble after losing to USA in a friendly. Again nobody cares about friendly results as these games are about experimenting with tactics and trying second team or young players . Senior players are not giving 100 percent in duels as they don’t want to get hurt. I’ll be interested in the games tomorrow especially Serbia vs Scotland.

I don't know where this sentiment is supposed to come from. Only select few players get to represent their national team more than a few dozen times, Ben Yedder is the Ligue 1 top scorer, age 30, and that was his 11th cap. Even fewer can count on being called up regardless of their performances. For most it's still a special privilege every single time.

 

[Islesfan22]

I don't know where this sentiment is supposed to come from. Only select few players get to represent their national team more than a few dozen times, Ben Yedder is the Ligue 1 top scorer, age 30, and that was his 11th cap. Even fewer can count on being called up regardless of their performances. For most it's still a special privilege every single time.

You would think Pogba would give an effort at least since he doesn’t really for Manchester United. Of course Yedder is gonna play hard as odds are he won’t play in any important games. Thanks for proving my point!

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Fernando Santos when asked if he'll start Jota/Felix (whose been in incredible form for Atletico to start the season in both the league and CL)/Bernardo/Bruno Fernandes/Ronaldo all together.

His response:

"Only 4 of the 5 can ever play at the same time"

Conservative to the max.

We'll be playing that Danilo-William midfield with no pure striker/forward unless we play weak teams until the heat death of the universe.

Well, it's true. I would actually like a R. Sanches-Danilo-William midfield with Fernandes playing in front of them.

Renato has been developing very nicely since his move to France. Finally getting his confidence back.

 

[cgf]

Well, it's true. I would actually like a R. Sanches-Danilo-William midfield with Fernandes playing in front of them.

Renato has been developing very nicely since his move to France. Finally getting his confidence back.

It might be true because of the limited time NT coaches have to work with their rosters, but from a talent perspective, I don't see why you couldn't play all 5 at once. Silva & Fernandes creating for a front three of Jota, Felix & skinny-Ronaldo, seems like it would be terrifying to face if they were properly supported...which portugal has the talent to provide...and got comfortable playing together in a free-flowing attack.

The biggest tactical issue that I see with that would be that your fullbacks would need to be used more conservatively to compensate for the more aggressively aligned midfield like Pep has had to do in Manchester, and that's not exactly a crippling downside. So the question to me isn't can it work, but can your coach make it work with the time he has to get those guys to gel.

 

[Savant]

I guess Sebastian Haller switched to Ivory Coast? Missed that.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

It might be true because of the limited time NT coaches have to work with their rosters, but from a talent perspective, I don't see why you couldn't play all 5 at once. Silva & Fernandes creating for a front three of Jota, Felix & skinny-Ronaldo, seems like it would be terrifying to face if they were properly supported...which portugal has the talent to provide...and got comfortable playing together in a free-flowing attack.

The biggest tactical issue that I see with that would be that your fullbacks would need to be used more conservatively to compensate for the more aggressively aligned midfield like Pep has had to do in Manchester, and that's not exactly a crippling downside. So the question to me isn't can it work, but can your coach make it work with the time he has to get those guys to gel.

I understand where you're coming from. I would love a formation like that; 4-2-3-1. My problem is, Portugal has offensive minded fullbacks that are questionably defensively. I'm probably the only Portuguese supporter that would rather see a defensive Mario Rui with limited offensive ability vs an offensive Rapheal Guerreiro (who I believe has been on a decline).

But then again, I can't see Santos doing that. He likes to beef up that midfield with Danilo, William, or now even Renato.

 

[cgf]

I understand where you're coming from. I would love a formation like that; 4-2-3-1. My problem is, Portugal has offensive minded fullbacks that are questionably defensively. I'm probably the only Portuguese supporter that would rather see a defensive Mario Rui with limited offensive ability vs an offensive Rapheal Guerreiro (who I believe has been on a decline).

But then again, I can't see Santos doing that. He likes to beef up that midfield with Danilo, William, or now even Renato.

Like I said, not letting the FBs bomb forward was the one clear downside...however, your FBs being so skilled should be a benefit if you did try a Pep-style 4-1-4-1 to get all 5 of your top attackers on the pitch together.

Raphael's versatility would (in theory) be hugely useful when shifting in next to the 6 as you moved into a WW shape in possession. Having two skilled FBs tucking in to join him behind the creative 5, would alleviate the pressure on Danilo to progress the ball...which would otherwise be a big downside to trying to utilize that kind of shape.

Not saying your coach would ever do such a thing, just that if he did & had the time to implement it, the talent should fit it wonderfully.

 

[Jussi]

Wissam Ben Yedder tested positive for Corona.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Disgusting lineup by Scaloni. Shameful