World Cup: National Team threads #2

[Adele Dazeem]

Argentina wasn't the closest team to beat France.
They scored their last way too late.
They basically got torched 4-2.
Frznce had a tight game with Uruguay and Belgium.

Ridiculous. That game was 50/50 at best. Pavard scored a screamer and it changed the whole mood of the game.

 

[Evilo]

Not true. France dominated the game and Argentina lead against the tide.
France was the better team and again, the last goal was at 90+3 to make it closer than it was.

It was tighter against Uruguay (such an incredible save by Lloris) and Belgium.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Colombian FA sack Queiroz

 

[robertmac43]

Akinola in the US squad for their next set of games, if he does not get capped Canada will hope to include him in January.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Akinola in the US squad for their next set of games, if he does not get capped Canada will hope to include him in January.

We are also having a camp in January. He’s already provisionally cap-tied, and this isn’t a competitive game, so the only bearing this has is on how he feels. He can still switch to Canada the day after playing in this game.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Akinola in the US squad for their next set of games, if he does not get capped Canada will hope to include him in January.

Been through this so many times with Canadian dual nationals. Make a choice and get on with it.

 

[Gecklund]

Akinola in the US squad for their next set of games, if he does not get capped Canada will hope to include him in January.

I think even if he does play he can play for Canada still since it’s just a friendly

 

[robertmac43]

More games being crammed into CONCACAF International breaks:

 

[robertmac43]

Draw going on!

 

[Savi]

Wales AGAIN we've played them so many times already over the last 5 or 6 years

 

[koyvoo]

Groups look pretty straightforward so far for the seeded teams. Maybe Holland’s group a bit tougher.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Croatia got Russia from Pot 3 which isn’t ideal but they got one of the weakest Pot 2 teams so it balances out, though Malta away is always a struggle for some reason, remember drawing there in 2005 and a riot nearly started

 

[filip85]

Mickey mouse group...10 easy steamroller wins.

 

[Jussi]

Well we won't be qualifying for the World Cup this time either...

 

[spintheblackcircle]

England defender Kieran Trippier is handed a worldwide TEN-WEEK BAN and fined £70,000 | Daily Mail Online

 

[Evilo]

This is a fascinating clip at the hafltime of France/Croatia in WC98.
Jacquet starts about the team not playing as a block.
Then what's particularly interesting is seeing Deschamps speaking out. Every word is tactically very sound, including the impressive dialog with Thuram asking him to take part in the offense because he's often alone (he'll score his only 2 career goals in the following 45 minutes).
Also worth noting the only other player speaking is Blanc, asking for more pressing (which ironically fits his coaching priority).

Right at the end, you see Roger Lemerre, who was Jacquet's assistant coach, asking the players to play with short precise passes. He'll be the coach of that incredible Euro 00 team.

 

[Evilo]

Equally interesting is Pogba's leadership during the 18 WC.


Those moments are incredible. The choice of words, the call to friendship, to responsibility, to their families, to the history of the game.
Pogba was always a natural leader but he reached his peak in that WC.
Easily MVP to me.

 

[Evilo]

Last one is not a NT speech, but I'm not sure where to put it.

This is a speech by Dupraz, who's a really average coach, but one thing he did in his whole career was this speech. Basically, Toulouse was dead last and he made them grab point after point in the last 10 games and before the last game they needed a win to stay in L1. A win at Angers was what it would take.

Before the game, Dupraz made this incredible speech. Calling to feelings, and closing it with a movie from players' wives, kids and families. Plenty of players cried during the movie.
Game was close and at one point you can hear Dupraz saying "I don't know why but I'm thinking Bodiger with his left foot". Bodiger was an average youngster and he's still to this day an average footballer (now in Cadiz).
He came into the game and scored the winner with his.. left foot.

 

[Evilo]

This is Julien Stephan at the halftime of the Cup final between PSG and Rennes.
PSG was leading 2-0 after 20 minutes. Rennes scored by chance to get back to 1-2 right before the half.
And then Stephan delivered this speech to motivate his team : "can't you see the doubt in their eyes?".

 

[Evilo]

Final video :
Didier Deschamps before the 2004 Monaco/Real CL return game.
First leg saw a 4-2 win by los galacticos.
Nobody believed in Monaco for the return leg.

Deschamps made that speech :


He even talked about the fact Real might score 1st. And that would mean nothing. That they would score anyway. That everything was possible. That the Real team was not as prepared as them because they were overconfident.
Real scored early (Raul, pass by Ronaldo IIRC), then Giuly, Morientes and Giuly scored for a 3-1 win that would put Monaco in the semis (where they will beat Chelsea).

 

[Savant]

 

[Evilo]

Haha, but that's not a real one !!!

 

[Savant]

Haha, but that's not a real one !!!

Un classique

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

USA is absolutely rising in the sport. You'll continue to see this over the upcoming years.

 

[Savant]

De Boer wants Virgil Van Dijk back for the Euros which is the most stupid thing ever. When has a national team ever rushing back a player from a serious injury to play in a tournament ever worked out long term. Ruined guys like Torres and Falcao.