World Cup 2022 - Semi Finals

German thread

I think France will beat Morocco. Morocco parks a mean bus, but aside from Leao who came on as a substitute, they didn't face any team with wingers who can break their defensive shape more easily.

France has two of the best when it comes to doing that with Mbappe and Dembele. Aerial threat in Giroud, and long distance shooting threats in Theo, Tchouameni, and Griezmann. You can't forget France's set piece threat either. I have France winning in regular time.

Argentina-Croatia will be a lot tighter. Both teams will want to sit back, but Croatia actually has the technical quality to hold onto the ball so they're able to relieve pressure more effectively. They'll play to get to penalties, and I see that happening unless Messi magic bails Argentina out, again.

But knowing this WC we'll probably get a Croatia-Morocco final lmfao. I hope that isn't the case because the actual quality of that match would be dire. Hopefully it's Argentina-France. Messi-Mbappe legacy showdown is a great story.

I may eat my words but I am not very scared of Croatia. I was more concerned about Netherlands. Croatia is essentially a worse version of Argentina -- they are very good at keeping games tight and not conceding goals even against better teams. The difference is that Argentina is better offensively. So I would expect them to win.

I also think Argentina has the edge if it goes to penalties. Croatia has now won 4 WC shootouts in a row (between '22 and '18). Their luck has to run out at some point. They are also facing one of the best shootout keepers in the world.

As for France vs Morocco, I would love for Morocco to win but sadly I can't see it. They really rode their luck in the second half against Portugal. France is a better team offensively and should find a way to score.

I don’t think anyone will stop France. I look to them to repeat. With the other semi final, I look for. 2-0 Argentina lead and then they blow it, setting up a repeat final. Think that would be a first!

Yeah I don't see either Croatia or Argentina sitting back in this one. Both teams are more comfortable with the ball. I think Croatia will win control though, as they have the better midfield.

France will end Morocco's run, which will give us a chance at the first repeat winner since France 62.

Cruijf wrote:I may eat my words but I am not very scared of Croatia. I was more concerned about Netherlands. Croatia is essentially a worse version of Argentina -- they are very good at keeping games tight and not conceding goals even against better teams. The difference is that Argentina is better offensively. So I would expect them to win.

I also think Argentina has the edge if it goes to penalties. Croatia has now won 4 WC shootouts in a row (between '22 and '18). Their luck has to run out at some point. They are also facing one of the best shootout keepers in the world.

As for France vs Morocco, I would love for Morocco to win but sadly I can't see it. They really rode their luck in the second half against Portugal. France is a better team offensively and should find a way to score.

+1 on everything you said here

France has got to be the favs still. There is only so much u can rely on to make up for just pure football quality as a team. Arg got Messi n mentality, Croatia got similar in Modric/Perisic n mentality, Morocco even less

France seems humble n determined to make up for the last Euros embarrassment, especially Mbappe. Also I keep praising the big team coaches in this WC willing to play positive attacking football including Deschamps playing Dembele has been a big shock. At times vs England France's midfield looked thin with just Tucha n Rabiot trying to stop attacks who had Luka Shaw bombing forward. Hard to imagine that with France in the past. Guessing Deschamps just thought they would outscore anyone

Can only imagine France be stopped if Messi has an insane match n at least score a couple of goals... so hopefully Di Maria starts or Alveraz/one of the MF also has an insane performance n helps to score. Have to get past Croatia which should be the case, n no more pens do decide hopefully, just too cruel...

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Yeah I don't see either Croatia or Argentina sitting back in this one. Both teams are more comfortable with the ball. I think Croatia will win control though, as they have the better midfield.

France will end Morocco's run, which will give us a chance at the first repeat winner since France 62.

These games come down to a handful of plays and the team that executes on those wins...  no guaranteed outcome in any of them. When you get to this kind of pressure, preconceptions about quality go out the window.  it's all about mental fortitude and luck frankly. Whoever takes their chances better will win.

sportsczy wrote:

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Yeah I don't see either Croatia or Argentina sitting back in this one. Both teams are more comfortable with the ball. I think Croatia will win control though, as they have the better midfield.

France will end Morocco's run, which will give us a chance at the first repeat winner since France 62.

These games come down to a handful of plays and the team that executes on those wins...  no guaranteed outcome in any of them. When you get to this kind of pressure, preconceptions about quality go out the window.  it's all about mental fortitude and luck frankly. Whoever takes their chances better will win.

Yup. Aside from Germany 7-1 Brazil, every WC semi finals since 1990 has been decided on less than a 1 goal differential.

There was Italy 2-0 Germany in 2006, but those two goals came in the last minutes of extra time. The WC semi finals are the tightest games in football.

sportsczy wrote:

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Yeah I don't see either Croatia or Argentina sitting back in this one. Both teams are more comfortable with the ball. I think Croatia will win control though, as they have the better midfield.

France will end Morocco's run, which will give us a chance at the first repeat winner since France 62.

These games come down to a handful of plays and the team that executes on those wins...  no guaranteed outcome in any of them. When you get to this kind of pressure, preconceptions about quality go out the window.  it's all about mental fortitude and luck frankly. Whoever takes their chances better will win.

+1

I’ll add that Upamecano hasn’t had a complete meltdown yet in this World Cup and that worries me. He’s usually good for a shocker every 4-5 games.

sportsczy wrote:I’ll add that Upamecano hasn’t had a complete meltdown yet in this World Cup and that worries me. He’s usually good for a shocker every 4-5 games.

I thought it was going to be vs Kane as Kane had his number for a bit but he recovered nicely. Sooo, the meltdown is there, bubbling on the surface lol.

sportsczy wrote:I’ll add that Upamecano hasn’t had a complete meltdown yet in this World Cup and that worries me. He’s usually good for a shocker every 4-5 games.

He had a number of sloppy challenges tbh but was lucky to get away with them

International play is much less organized and the play is physical and gritty. I just think France is a bad match up for Morocco. But we’ll see. Crazier things have happened

This World Cup is France to lose , they got one hand on it. It will be legendary if we get to see Argentina ce France and Messi doing some crazy heroics to win the title … but I doubt it . Match is just a tough tough matchup for any of the remaining teams

I agree and so I was furious when I saw Kane missing the penalty. Not that england would have defeated France in regular time but in penalty anything could have happened.
Anyway, Argentina in final is not guaranteed. Croatia looks very confident. This makes sense because they played final last time too and defeated on paper a better team already. But one thing is clear Messi's emotional setup of legacy is not gonna happen on a red carpet. They need to beat two finalists of last time in the remaining two games.

Argentina are not winning. And Messi is not doing shit. Croatia has better Defence and Midfield, even GK. if somehow they can score the first goal, game over. Argentina will chase shadows all game. Even if the game is leveled after 120 minutes, Croatia will win the PK shotout as they have better GK and better Penalty takers.This Argentina team is nothing special.

Imo England showed that France can be beat. Looking at that match I would say Brazil would have been the perfect team to beat them.

Tchuameni, goal aside, was not able to build from the back. Him and the CBs were not good enough with the ball which France had problems bringing the ball forward cleanly. England's midfield controlled the center of the field. Theo was also not able to be an outlet vs Saka and Walker.

Argentina and Croatia both have better midfields. There is a good chance for either of them imo. The winning card that France has in this sense is Griezmann. His movement was amazing, popping up everywhere. I think Croatia can deal with him if they pair up Modric and Brozovic all the way at the back like against Brazil, but then they probably won't be able to score vs France.

For Argentina the biggest problem would be dealing with Mbappe. I can see everyone getting yellows trying to bring him down for 90 minutes.

Beautiful Football wrote:Argentina are not winning. And Messi is not doing shit. Croatia has better Defence and Midfield, even GK. if somehow they can score the first goal, game over. Argentina will chase shadows all game. Even if the game is leveled after 120 minutes, Croatia will win the PK shotout as they have better GK and better Penalty takers.This Argentina team is nothing special.

at this point i honestly think Beautiful Football is on a reverse-jinx rampage

El Gunner wrote:

Beautiful Football wrote:Argentina are not winning. And Messi is not doing shit. Croatia has better Defence and Midfield, even GK. if somehow they can score the first goal, game over. Argentina will chase shadows all game. Even if the game is leveled after 120 minutes, Croatia will win the PK shotout as they have better GK and better Penalty takers.This Argentina team is nothing special.

at this point i honestly think Beautiful Football is on a reverse-jinx rampage

Only reasonable explanation for hos posts

WAtching the game in person must give u an extra better perspective rincon, and u r right, France's midfield is vastly different from the last few yrs when they had 3 behind Griezmann, which is why I keep praising Deschamps who traditionally has been so negative have been the most positive in this WC, playing Griezmann in the midfield with young Tucha n Rabiot. I think hes just believing his side will outscore opponents n his defense is good enough to concede too many in a game. Definitely a small weakness the French side have n England really took advantage especially with Walker n co. on the right managed to keep Mbappe quite n Shaw able to get forward a lot since Dembele is also weak defensively, no matter how much work Griezmann does hes not a true midfielder, so Tucha n Rabiot were often outnumbered n stretched.

England have much better players than the other 3 semi finalist though throughout the team, n prolly right as some mentioned above if Croatia might be better able to take advantage due to their elite midfield.

Beautiful Football wrote:Argentina are not winning. And Messi is not doing shit. Croatia has better Defence and Midfield, even GK. if somehow they can score the first goal, game over. Argentina will chase shadows all game. Even if the game is leveled after 120 minutes, Croatia will win the PK shotout as they have better GK and better Penalty takers.This Argentina team is nothing special.

Messi's hold up play has been so good in these last two games.

Alvarez's hustle is unreal.

Alvarez said fuck it im going Road Runner mode

my challenge to Argentina now... keep a clean sheet.