France v Belgium, 19:00 BST, BBC.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Henry in the dugout against his national team. :popcorn:

I still can't help but feel Deschamps is going to mess it up somehow.

Presumably Martinez will have the same XI as against Brazil.

[Marc Overmars]

Come on Belgium!

[SMatthews]

If Belgium and England get through I think there would be around 19 or 20 players from the PL playing in the final.

[Marc Overmars]

Some would say it's the best league in the world.

[Globalgunner]

Some would say it's the best league in the world.

Some would be wrong, but it is exciting no doubt. No gimmes, no Bayern thumping even 2nd place teams 5-0 home and away. Not as technically entertaining as the LaLiga but miles ahead of Serie A

It sure has the worst pundits and the worst refs....and it has Letters of course.

[Letters]

Letters :pal:




<_<

[SMatthews]

Some would be wrong, but it is exciting no doubt. No gimmes, no Bayern thumping even 2nd place teams 5-0 home and away. Not as technically entertaining as the LaLiga but miles ahead of Serie A

It sure has the worst pundits and the worst refs....and it has Letters of course.

It’s the most competitive, that’s for sure. Unless we saw season after season of all the refs in other leagues there’s no way to compare. Same for the pundits. I bet fans abroad think both are as shite as we do about our own.

[Globalgunner]

Ive always felt that the PL should have a junior league made up of under 23s of each team. This junior league would be mandated to have at least 60% home based players and each team should have at least 6 home based players on the pitch at any time. The junior league would play the same fixtures as the senior team, only that these fixtures would be played either 24 hrs before or 24 hrs after the senior team fixture. A bit like the junior CL
The cinch would be that at the end of each season the league points of the senior team ie the EPL would be made of 90% the teams points and 10% the junior teams points to determine the final league positions. So Arsenal seniors league points would be say 90% of 85 plus 10% of 72=83.7

This would ensure that the junior teams are taken much more seriously by each club

Improve home grown teams quality ergo British players too.

Increase attendance and publicity of the junior league.

[Özim]

You can't really say it's the most competitive when Man City have just won the league by 19 points to be honest.

[Letters]

You can't really say it's the most competitive when Man City have just won the league by 19 points to be honest.

That's a bit of an outlier though. Back in the day it was Utd or us (Wenger :bow:) every year.
Since then others have bought their way in and while you still need to be in a select group to play (Leicester were an outlier in that regard, what they did was almost literally unbelievable but it's no surprise it was very much a one off), but there are 4 or 5 teams who have a credible change. In many leagues it's only really one or two and they are miles ahead of the rest. It's not quite so bad here.

[SMatthews]

You can't really say it's the most competitive when Man City have just won the league by 19 points to be honest.

As Letter’s said above and you don’t get teams like Lyon, PSG, Bayern and Juventus winning the title 5, 6, 7 times in a row. You’re lucky a team defends it the following year. Man Utd and Chelsea are the only ones to do that since the PL began I think.

[Globalgunner]

The difference with City is that they are good enough to beat anyone on their day, they beat small teams and they beat the big teams. Not by huge margins but by enough to win the points. The reason why the EPL is considered competitive is because they do sometimes lose. The reason the other "big" teams were so far behind is that they lost even to teams that they shouldn't lose against on paper. City didn't do that much. They beat everyone they should beat and more than held their own against everyone else. Either through superiority of players, or manager or squad.

In Italy its a shock whenever Juve lose to anyone, same with Bayern. Thats why those leagues are horrid. la Liga is a 2 horse race, that's why Atletico deserve team of the year anytime they dont come 3rd.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

France: Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Pogba, Matuidi, Kante; Griezmann, Giroud, Mbappe.

Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen; Dembele, Fellaini, Witsel, Chadli; De Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BBC's programme is on now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Shearer, Klinsmann and Rio are in the studio.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Asking the questions over "coffee".

Of course Rio. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pace and the power and the guile and the technique.

Shearer is evolving!

[Mac76]

Special feature on Bif :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

La Marseillaise. :bow:

[Özim]

Allez les bleus!

[Letters]

La Marseillaise. :bow:

Correct. Belgium one not bad either.

Should be a good game tonight :popcorn:

[Goonermerree]

Which team do we all ant to win? I'm fairly neutral, both have good players.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think I want Belgium to win and I still don't really know why.

Maybe it's because I'll have to do a:

Me. :haha:

If Deschamps goes on to win it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mbappe showing, pace, power, movement, technique, speed, motion, pace and power early on.

[Marc Overmars]

Which team do we all ant to win? I'm fairly neutral, both have good players.

Belgium.

Potential new name on the trophy and they’ve played the best football.

[Letters]

Which team do we all ant to win? I'm fairly neutral, both have good players.

Playing for the right to lose to England in the final ;)

I think I'm a bit more scared of Belgium so I guess France, but they're both good sides. I think whoever wins this will win the final.

[Letters]

Belgium.

Potential new name on the trophy and they’ve played the best football.

Yes. If England aren't to win it (and let' face it...) then I'd like them to.

[Mac76]

De bruyne cross into the box and only Fellaini was in there... :lol:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Think Belgium will be easier for England/Croatia to face in the final so them.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chadli's corner. :haha:

[Mac76]

Think Belgium will be easier for England/Croatia to face in the final so them.

Avtually i think Belgium would be more dangerous, Hazard knows just how to give all our PL defenders the run-around

Of course if some of our narrow-minded lot played abroad...

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Avtually i think Belgium would be more dangerous, Hazard knows just how to give all our PL defenders the run-around

Of course if some of our narrow-minded lot played abroad...

Belgium haven't won it before and I think the pressure of that would get to them. Plus they have Martinez.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fellaini looking to play a thorough ball. :lol:

[Mac76]

Belgium haven't won it before and I think the pressure of that would get to them. Plus they have Martinez.

The first point ia irrelevant i think, these are big playes who've had a lot of pressure situations man-for-man than our team, who themselves haven't won one either...

And the second is arguable as he's got them this far

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mbappe nearly set through but Courtois clears it up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Vertonghen. :haha:

[Mac76]

Is Chavli really the best they could get to be on the right?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

De Bruyne forgot to pass it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hazard shoot, drifts wide!

Poor from France.

[Letters]

Hazard drags one wide.

[Letters]

Bif :bow:

[Goonermerree]

Actually from a maybe playing against England point of view, they both scare me when they go on attack.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Matuidi caught that one. :blink:

Courtois saves it ISS style.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hazard cuts inside, Varane heads it over.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

De Bruyne dinks it in, Lloris goes flying to push it away.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a save from Lloris to deny Alderweireld!

[Letters]

Great save by Lloris!

[Marc Overmars]

What a save from Lloris!

Belgium dominating.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Hazard heard that Ronaldo just left Real so playing really well in the hopes of a transfer. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bif made the run, still stays at one shot on target this tournament.

[Letters]

Bif tries to do a Bergkamp. Not quite!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Umtiti does well.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Fully expect Belgium to go on and lose this after not making their domination count.

[Mac76]

Vertongen reverts to spuds type with bad tackle

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BIf header, still not got another on target.

[Letters]

Clever header by Bif, wide.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hazard didn't dive for once and didn't get a foul.

[Letters]

MrsL is giving a running commentary which is making me want to choke her to death :ilt:

[Marc Overmars]

Hazard’s dribbling is ridiculous.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Griezmann skies it!

[Mac76]

Greizman :haha:

[Letters]

Griezman (sp?) sends one to the moon.

[Letters]

Oh Bif :lol: :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bif. :haha:

WTF?

[Mac76]

Giroud :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

Giroud :haha:

[Letters]

Sell him, he's sh...oh, right.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Can't blame Bif tbh. :bow:

[Mac76]

Total waste by greizman

[Letters]

Great run by Griezman...then back passes it to the 'keeper :doh:

[Marc Overmars]

Greaseman does the hard work then doesn’t make a pass :doh:

[Globalgunner]

Hope Bif goes off. Hes crap

[Letters]

Tell you what, I think either of these would tear us a new one if we did get to the final...

[Cripps]

Giroud the pussy :lol:

What a flimsy Wengerised player :lol:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Tell you what, I think either of these would tear us a new one if we did get to the final...

Don't think we'd play as openly as either are tbh.

[Cripps]

:doh:

[Letters]

Good save by Cortois (sp!) but really should have scored.

[Marc Overmars]

Tell you what, I think either of these would tear us a new one if we did get to the final...

The kind of quality we can only dream of having.

[Mac76]

Chavli is total sh*te

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pogba goes down, freekick in a dangerous area.

[Letters]

MrsL: "This hasn't been very eventful"

Me: "Yes it has!"

MrsL: "There have been quite a few near-goals but no goals. I like it when there are goals, then the audience all cheer"

:ilt:


She's qualified to be a BBC pundit, I suppose...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Awful pass from Griezmann after a rancid freekick.

[Mac76]

Griezman :haha:

[Globalgunner]

Tyldesley is the most irritating ponce on commentary. Wish he would just shut it

[Globalgunner]

MrsL: "This hasn't been very eventful"

Me: "Yes it has!"

MrsL: "There have been quite a few near-goals but no goals. I like it when there are goals, then the audience all cheer"

:ilt:


She's qualified to be a BBC pundit, I suppose...

Better than Tyldesley

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lukaku didn't anticipate it coming to him even though he made the run!

0-0 HT.

[Letters]

Lukaku :doh:

Took him by surprise

[Letters]

Better than Tyldesley

:gp:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Tyldesley is the most irritating ponce on commentary. Wish he would just shut it

https://i.imgur.com/VmhBzqu.jpg

[Mac76]

Tyldesley is the most irritating ponce on commentary. Wish he would just shut it

It's not tyldesly is it, unless he's got a sore throat or something?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's not tyldesly is it, unless he's got a sore throat or something?

Globalgunner is overseas.

[Mac76]

Shearer keeps muddling his words up, reckon he's been overdoing the sauce :beer:

[Mac76]

Globalgunner is overseas.

Ah, kk :)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Giroud definitely is in the game, unluckily for France on one of these days for him.

[Master Splinter]

Shearer keeps muddling his words up, reckon he's been overdoing the sauce :beer:

He moved on to the 6 years and over thesaurus.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Welbz there geeing up the lads. :bow:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Can't be hating on Giroud tbh.

Always tries his hardest despite his limitations.

[Letters]

Interviewer: "How many McGuires are over in Russia at the moment?"
Harry McGuire: "Too many to count...I think there's about 5 or 6 at the moment"

*sigh*...

[Mac76]

Interviewer: "How many McGuires are over in Russia at the moment?"
Harry McGuire: "Too many to count...I think there's about 5 or 6 at the moment"

*sigh*...

:haha:

[Marc Overmars]

Welbz there geeing up the lads. :bow:

Best cheerleader in the business. England couldn’t have done it without him.

[Globalgunner]

Interviewer: "How many McGuires are over in Russia at the moment?"
Harry McGuire: "Too many to count...I think there's about 5 or 6 at the moment"

*sigh*...

Legendary repartee

[Marc Overmars]

Henry :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lukaku clears it!

[Mac76]

Lumpkaku :haha:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Interviewer: "How many McGuires are over in Russia at the moment?"
Harry McGuire: "Too many to count...I think there's about 5 or 6 at the moment"

*sigh*...

Not sure what's wrong with that tbh. It's a standard expression.

Anyway McGuire's meant to be a smart one tbh .... got some GCSE's and was going to go to Uni before his footballing career took off.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bif turn and shot, charged down by Kompany and goes out for a corner.

[Letters]

Umtiti! 1-0!

[Mac76]

Wow, france one uo

[Marc Overmars]

UMTITI!!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

France 1-0 Belgium, UMTITI!!!

[Cripps]

Fellaini :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ran off the back of bogbrush.

[Letters]

Might have flicked off Fellaini's hair!

[Mac76]

Good header from fellaini :haha:

[Mac76]

Dembele's a disaster area

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mick Jagger. :lol:

[Letters]

Mick Jagger there with his carer.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Up to England to save football.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Matuidi. :lol:

Mbappe. :bow:

Bif. :haha:

[Cripps]

Why did we not sign Mbappe?

[Letters]

What a break!

Oh Bif! Come ON! Great defence tbf.

[Marc Overmars]

Mbappe :bow:

Giroud moving like a tank as usual

[Goonermerree]

We need extra time and penalties in the match, then if we get to the final they'll be tired. As long as we don't get extra time and pens.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Mbappe :bow:

Seems like he's gonna be the one to define the next generation of players.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alderweireld's effort off to the final early.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Courtois. :haha:

Did it on purpose for the sub I am sure.

Dembele rightly hauled off, he was terrible. Mertens on.

[Cripps]

Mbappe is insane. Messi to drop down to 5th best player in the world?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

De Bruyne with a complete scuffer on the volley!

[Letters]

De Bruyne :doh:

[Marc Overmars]

Real Madrid have to go for Mbappe really. The natural Ronaldo replacement.

Even if he costs 200m that will look like a bargain in 5 years time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hazard booked for being a cynical scrote.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fellaini header, just wide!

[Mac76]

Mertens really good since he came on

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mbappe is ridiculous.

Bif is too, in a different way.

[Letters]

Giroud :haha:


What a move before that though.

[Goonermerree]

Great move then Bif fluffed his lines and skied it.

[Mac76]

Mbappe to greizman to giroud... who fluffs it again :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

Giroud bringing down the level again.

[Cripps]

:rose:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Giroud :bow::bow:

Shades of that Monaco game for us.

[Goonermerree]

Good defending from Bif there. He moved and everything.

[Letters]

Bif :bow:

See? He should have just been a defender.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alderweireld booked.

Spud with their Spud tactics. :faint:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bif :bow:

See? He should have just been a defender.

He is.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Umtiti sorting out his cheekbones.

[Letters]

Umtiti decides he needs to have a bit of a lie down.

[Goonermerree]

Umtiti decides he needs to have a bit of a lie down.

That would have been a bit painful tbf.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Witsel wipes Griezmann out.

[Letters]

That would have been a bit painful tbf.

True, but he managed to play on before deciding to crumple.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

De Bruyne. :haha:

[Letters]

De Bruyne :pal:

[Marc Overmars]

Looks like Belgium have run out of ideas.

[Mac76]

Debruyne really off his game

[Master Splinter]

Kyle Edmund's brother having a crap game so far.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Always said that Martinez was a hack.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fellaini couldn't be more blatant on Mbappe.

No booking. :wacko:

[Mac76]

True, but he managed to play on before deciding to crumple.

There's nothing odd about that, he carried on in the moment to try and gwt the ball away but then after had to guve in to the pain

[Globalgunner]

What really is the point of Fellliani?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bif hacks Hazard down, no foul. :bow:

[Letters]

See, I thought that was a dive because it's Hazard but yeah, that's a foul :lol:

[Mac76]

Bif chops down azzaar

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fellaini hauled off, Carrasco on.

[Marc Overmars]

How has the ref not given that? :haha:

Blatant foul on Hazard

[The Emirates Gallactico]

What really is the point of Fellliani?

Battering ram for the last 15 mins.

Trust Martinez to be the idiot that actually tries to play him as a MF from the start.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Courtois saves from Witsel!

[Letters]

good save Lloris.

[Goonermerree]

Come on Belgium, we need extra time.

[Letters]

Courtois saves from Witsel!

Oh yeah, not Lloris :lol:

Me :pal:

[Cripps]

Why did we not sign Varane?

[Letters]

Come on Belgium, we need extra time.

We need a bloody miracle if we win tomorrow and play France.
They have so much quality and...well, we don't.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Oh yeah, not Lloris :lol:

Me :pal:

No that's a Me. :haha:

[Globalgunner]

Nzonzi is a unit

[Mac76]

Battering ram for the last 15 mins.

Trust Martinez to be the idiot that actually tries to play him as a MF from the start.

Yeah you werw right about martinez :) starting with dembele and mophead really has backfired

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Poor from Mertens.

[Marc Overmars]

Arsenal legend N’Zonzi coming on.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Does everyone do the Poznan now?

[Letters]

No that's a Me. :haha:

:lol:

Us :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Agent Bif has been rumbled, Nzonzi on.

[Cripps]

Arsenal's N'Zonzi coming on :bow:

[Goonermerree]

We need a bloody miracle if we win tomorrow and play France.
They have so much quality and...well, we don't.

Extra time would be a start, but I don't think that will affect Mbappi at all.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Matuidi off, Tolisso on.

[Master Splinter]

Yeah you werw right about martinez :) starting with dembele and mophead really has backfired

And Chad Lee.

Too much PL dross.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Should have had both Varanen and Kompany once upon a time!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hazard gets a freekick this time.

Kante booked.

[Letters]

Extra time would be a start, but I don't think that will affect Mbappi at all.

I thought it would be France vs Brazil semi-final and the winner of that would win the thing. Belgium surprised me by beating Brazil but I stand by the rest.
I hope we get to the final and it is all on the day but we'd be massive underdogs against either of these two.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I love Dembele but he's been horrible today.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lukaku isn't exactly instinctive.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

I love Dembele but he's been horrible today.

Same. Think he's an awesome player but he's had a shocker.

Trust Martinez to fuck him up.

[Goonermerree]

I thought it would be France vs Brazil semi-final and the winner of that would win the thing. Belgium surprised me by beating Brazil but I stand by the rest.
I hope we get to the final and it is all on the day but we'd be massive underdogs against either of these two.

Absolutely, both have very strong players.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Six added minutes.

[Master Splinter]

Kante, N'Zonzi, Tolisso and Pogba all playing now.

Almost as exceptional as when Song, Denilson and Diaby all played together.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chadli off, Batshit on!

[Mac76]

Chavli off, batshit on

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Wouldn't mind seeing ET tbh. So come on Belgium. :sick:

[Letters]

Absolutely, both have very strong players.

Just have to hope Agent Giroud starts in the final, then we have a chance :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kompany manhandling Mbappe.

[Marc Overmars]

Mbappe the troll :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Griezmann just dropped the Ashes.

[Letters]

Good save by Lloris #Maccy ##

[Goonermerree]

Just have to hope Agent Giroud starts in the final, then we have a chance :lol:

Let's hope he takes out Mbappi accidentally, not for a bad injury, but enough. I'm cringing now at the thought of Mbappi running at us. If we get there of course.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mbappe gets clattered by Vertonghen.

Spuds gonna Spud.

[Mac76]

More spuds- type thuggery from vertongen

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Let's hope he takes out Mbappi accidentally, not for a bad injury, but enough. I'm cringing now at the thought of Mbappi running at us. If we get there of course.

:blink:

[Goonermerree]

More spuds- type thuggery from vertongen

We might needs Spuds to be doing spuds stuff if we get to the final.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Courtois saves from Tolisso.

[Letters]

Good save but France corner which will probably be the last action of the game.

[Goonermerree]

:blink:

Well, he could do one of his long range shots and hit Mbappi on the back of the head or something.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

France 1-0 Belgium, FT!!!

France in to their second tournament final in a row, third World Cup final.

Belgium on to the Third Place play-off.

Bif. :bow:

All part of the plan.

Mbappe. :bow:

What a man.

[Letters]

Wonder if Henry is going to secretly join the celebrations.
Best team won and, spoiler alert, they're going to win the final. Massive favourites, certainly.

[Goonermerree]

Ah well, well done France, hard luck Belgium. We have to play one of these teams at the weekend, which one will it be?

[Master Splinter]

Premier League All Stars XI out.

France :bow:.

Dids :bow:.

Bif MOTM.

[Letters]

Poirot :haha:

Mussels :haha:

Frites :haha:

Mayonnaise :haha:

[Mac76]

Belgium :haha:

Martinez :haha:

Lumpkaku :haha:

Henry :haha:

Chavli :haha:

Vertongen :haha:

Mophead :haha:

Alderweiweld :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

Well done to France. They’ve lived up to the pre-tournament favourites tag.

Top, top generation of talent and after cocking it up at Euro 2016, I don’t see them making the same mistake twice.

[Cripps]

Pretty average managers doing well at the world cup.

:gp:

[Master Splinter]

Varane should be player of the tournament if France win it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pretty average managers doing well at the world cup.


:gp:

Wrong account?

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Well, he could do one of his long range shots and hit Mbappi on the back of the head or something.

Why do you keep calling him Mbappi....LOL

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Yeah, France's to lose you'd think.

I can't see how England or Croatia will be able to contain them and provide enough of a threat to them.

Fair play, I thought they'd comparatively flop; fantastic players but not necessarily a functioning team.... that's why I don't bet.

[Goonermerree]

Why do you keep calling him Mbappi....LOL

Why don't you shut up lol

[Mac76]

Bit of a cagey game in some ways, but france definitely earned the win, and the best team left now by a mile...

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Why don't you shut up lol

I was looking at my twin bro and mum literally laughing out loud at you repeating this. They thought I was laughing at Belgium going out!

[Goonermerree]

I was looking at my twin bro and mum literally laughing out loud at you repeating this. They thought I was laughing at Belgium going out!

I look at poor spellings and grammar by people on this board, biting my tongue and holding my fingers back from responding. He's a foreigner innit, and it sounds like Mbapp'I'.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Why not educate us all?

[Goonermerree]

Why not educate us all?
That would be an impossible task.