Nobody can criticise Portugal, they defended brilliantly when it mattered, they played to their strengths and kept their shape in every game apart from Hungary game. When it's your year it's your year.
Germany had never beaten Italy in a major tournament and they did it, Germany had knocked France out in every tournament game they had played but France beat them and France had won every tournament on home soil but Portugal won, it's football
By the way, I could not get my head around that sub Gignac for Giroud......he almost decided the game in the last minute. But he has been **** every time he came on IMHO. I would have brought Martial on instead in the centre....or Lacazette....oh wait.
Congrats to Portugal. It's really nice for Ronaldo.
Deschamps really hasn't made the best decisions this tournament. Sissoko made some good driving runs but never should have started, none of his runs created any end product. Griezeman should have come off instead of Payet, Pogba should have come off within the 90 as well.
Not having a viable option of Giroud up front is baffling. Gignac is well off the pace of international football now.
For all Umiti has looked good he needed to close down Eder's shot. Stood off far to far for a CB with his pace. Thought dropping both Rami and Kante was very harsh.
Sad for Payet, wanted to see him get a medal. If France get rid of Deschamps they have a great shot at Russia.
Last edited by kalashnikov on Sun Jul 10, 2016 10:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
smuts wrote:
He was about the only french midfielder who wasn't a kick and run merchant.
Pogba 100 million? So he's worth about 85 million more than Kouyate?
Payet was nowhere near as effective after the Group Stages. He was outshone by other French Players, and his withdrawal, while dubious, was certainly not a game losing decision. Some of France's best chances on the day were created without him.
Essentially, I'm glad that the spotlight may be off him, especially as I want him with us in the new season. But that doesn't mean I have to fawn over him at these Championships because I should as a WHU fan. It is just an objective assertion.
Kante is a much better central midfielder than Pogba for me, closing down tirelessly and wins the ball back high, Pogba rarely dominates a game.
I also don't agree with shearer than Lloris had no chance. He was too far to his left and that's why he couldn't get back to the right and as someone mentioned, Umtiti should have closed down Eder as he got past koscielny
Pogba never brings his A game for France, complete different player for Juventus. Very similar to criticisms leveled at both Cavani and to a lesser extent, Messi.
well done Portugal, underdog, against the home team, losing their best player within the first 20 minutes. and still winning it!
overchuffed.
it's crazy in the streets right now
eder man of the match, changed the game, gave Portugal chances to breath and scored the winner.
smuts wrote:Pogba 100 million? So he's worth about 85 million more than Kouyate?
France weren't at their best, but Portugal showed again that in the modern game a solid defence and organisation whilst looking to score on the break and/or via set pieces is more effective than nicey nicey tippy tappy football.
kalashnikov wrote:
Not having a viable option of Giroud up front is baffling. Gignac is well off the pace of international football now. .
Supposedly he's been off the pace and overweight for a while and the French fans are known to take the piss out of him with the chant "une Big Mac pour Gignac" no translation needed
Portugal deserved, did a Greece - but it won't be portrayed that way in the media as they're a 'real' footballing nation.
I actually gained a lot of respect for Ronaldo in this tournament, showed himself to be a real leader - the Moutinho penalty and basically replacing the manager last night, really enjoyed it. When he hangs up his boots I reckon Portugal should make him manager with someone more tactical as assistant.
Deschamps clearly said two words to Sissoko before the game - 'shop window'. Despite that the midfield three was unbalanced. There was no one there in the Carrick mould to just keep it ticking over, too many athletes without enough finesse. Even worse with Coman on for Dimitri, as Griezmann was then the only player comfortable at short passes.
Umtiti looks very good, but was partly at fault for the goal, as he should have closed him down, while Koscielny went too tight too early, and Lloris maybe should have got there.