World Cup: FINAL: France vs. Croatia, 7/15/2018

[Live in the Now]

Ronaldo was also better 2 years ago.

This makes so much sense... and probably the majority of this board is in the same boat. He's been the best player in Madrid for 2ish years now.

Yes, they are. Very clearly. People are wondering why Rakitic looks tired when he played almost literally every game this season.

 

[Kyle McMahon]

What would you guys do in this situation?
I was in Vegas back in May and placed a futures bet on France to win it all at 7-1. I put down 500.
So the potential return is decent.
I’ve been holding off on hedging till now. Would you guys hedge the bet and put an online bet on Croatia to win on Sunday? If so at what amount?

Given that Croatia has opened at around 2 to 1, this is a very favourable situation to hedge. Personally I'd throw an equivalent $500 on Croatia. You guarantee yourself a profit of close to $500 if they pull off the upset, while only sacrificing around 15% of your profit when France likely wins.

If you're really feeling brave, let France go ahead 1-0 and then throw a live bet on Croatia...their odds would probably shift to around 5 to 1 if they're down a goal at halftime.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

As good as he is now, Modric was noticeably more dynamic and better 2+ years ago. I'm glad to see the narrative slowly catch up to his play though. As I said:

Agreed. and to think he was benched under Mourinho the special one. Makes me wonder about Pogba TBH.

 

[Bondurant]

France bested the strongest team. Before that they topped Uruguay. Croatia had an easier road to the final and fought doggedly for every win. I have to wonder how much they'll have left in the tank. France, I believe, is a superior team and Mbappe is the coming of something special. Forced to pick I'd roll with France but I want Croatia to win. The underdog story is great and their still impressive. Amazing how such a small country can produce the talent they have.

 

[kovacro]

I’d love some revenge for France 98’ but whatever happens on Sunday, this last month has been amazing.

This is something I will never forget it. I still can’t believe we will be playing in a World Cup Final.

Very proud of this group of players. They have persevered through some mental hurdles and have rid the ghosts of tournaments past.

Let’s do it one more time!

 

[Hadoop]

France 60/40 for me. Team chemistry are a wash, but they have the horses to mitigate Croatia's advantage in midfield and assuming a cagey affair they have more players capable of a capitalizing on half-chances.

 

[cgf]

Time to start my own island nation of 11 and get FIFA recognition???

I’ll be your national coach & verify your credentials

 

[Deficient Mode]

Agreed. and to think he was benched under Mourinho the special one. Makes me wonder about Pogba TBH.

Mourinho also benched Mkhitaryan. He is clearly allergic to Ballon d'Or level talents.

 

[Deficient Mode]

I’ll be your national coach & verify your credentials

People are going to be awfully confused when they see Raffael, Lars Stindl, and Netzer received Ballon d'Or votes.

 

[cgf]

Mourinho also benched Mkhitaryan. He is clearly allergic to Ballon d'Or level talents.

Thank god he never got his hands on Raffa

 

[cgf]

People are going to be awfully confused when they see Raffael, Lars Stindl, and Netzer received Ballon d'Or votes.

I mean, can anyone here make a convincing case that Netzer doesn’t deserve to win the BdO?

 

[Deficient Mode]

I mean, can anyone here make a convincing case that Netzer doesn’t deserve to win the BdO?

He hasn't set a wrong foot on a field all year. I dare any of you to prove otherwise.

 

[cgf]

He hasn't set a wrong foot on a field all year. I dare any of you to prove otherwise.

It has literally (in the archaic sense of the word) been years since even a single decision or pass he’s made on the pitch has not been perfect.

And nobody has been responsible for a higher proportion of his team’s goals this century

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

I’ll be your national coach & verify your credentials

Why in the world would we pick you when there's a guy here with multiple coaching licenses? Pfft.

Reject him @Deficient Mode

 

[Deficient Mode]

Why in the world would we pick you when there's a guy here with multiple coaching licenses? Pfft.

Reject him @Deficient Mode

We'll institute a mandatory oath that Dybala is the best support striker in the world for any prospective citizens. That oughta weed out cgf.

 

[cgf]

We'll institute a mandatory oath that Dybala is the best support striker in the world for any prospective citizens. That oughta weed out cgf.

Consider my application withdrawn. I would never represent a nation of liars.

 

[cgf]

Why in the world would we pick you when there's a guy here with multiple coaching licenses? Pfft.

Reject him @Deficient Mode

I feel like I missed something amazing

 

[S E P H]

Seems I was right like I always am and Europe pretty much dominated this entire competition.

I am going for Croatia, but I will also admit that they had a very easy bracket making it this far and to the finals. However, if they do win the World Cup then Modric is the best player in the world and surpasses Xavi.

 

[S E P H]

Can France sub in Zidane?

This is not an MMA match we're talking about here...

This makes so much sense... and probably the majority of this board is in the same boat. He's been the best player in Madrid for 2ish years now.

Marcelo has something to say about that...

 

[Deficient Mode]

Seems I was right like I always am and Europe pretty much dominated this entire competition.

I am going for Croatia, but I will also admit that they had a very easy bracket making it this far and to the finals. However, if they do win the World Cup then Modric is the best player in the world and surpasses Xavi.

Mate, you were literally talking about Croatia's fall as a footballing nation a few weeks ago

 

[S E P H]

Mate, you were literally talking about Croatia's fall as a footballing nation a few weeks ago

I did say that which I won't argue against, but history said they always choked though. I always had them as one of those underrated almost top-tier nations in the past because I valued their footballers and their development, but they never showed the results. Perhaps this is a fluke run as Chelsea's CL win or Vegas's run to the Cup Finals, but I am enjoying it even if it makes me look wrong.

Also the Croatian manager looks like Peter Budaj, I hope I am not the only one who see's this.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Seems I was right like I always am and Europe pretty much dominated this entire competition.

I am going for Croatia, but I will also admit that they had a very easy bracket making it this far and to the finals. However, if they do win the World Cup then Modric is the best player in the world and surpasses Xavi.

How did Poland do?

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

I feel like I missed something amazing

It was legendary stuff. I think it was Pep incognito tbh. Either that or Bielsa considering his temperament and his coaching license from multiple countries.

 

[S E P H]

How did Poland do?

How did a World Cup favourites Argentina do? I would have considered Poland making the quarterfinals a huge success.

 

[Ivan13]

Marcelo better than Modric?