GWT: World Cup - Semifinals - France v. Morocco

[Evilo]

Yeah Griez has been better than Mbappe.
Mbappe has been subpar, like he has this year, but he still scores goals because he's that good.
To be fair, he's played injured all this tournament.

Congrats to Morocco. Wonderful tournament and they clearly showed they belong.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Terrible finishing and touches as always been what has plagued African teams from taking the next step. Morocco made it this far thanks to incredible organized defense.

Football is incredibly taxing over a tournament. I found myself incredibly gassed after playing 3 games in 8 days and would eventually lose my mental focus and ability to process the play well. It's really incredible how your brain can sometimes go before your legs.

Morocco had a ton of injuries and barely anything in the way of bench options. They were incredibly gassed and nothing about their build up was crisp...too many mental errors chalked up to fatigue.

You need a good XI and many bench options and sadly, many of the CAF/AFC and CONCACAF teams don't have the depth that Argentina/Brazil along with the UEFA teams have. A team can have a Cinderella-type run to a QF or SF but will often succumb to fatigue.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Just hoping for no deaths/serious injuries and moderate material damage from Morocco "fans" in France tonight, but I'm afraid being seriously wrong.

It would have happened regardless of the result, just hope it’s not worse than it otherwise would have been.

 

[Oberyn Martell]

I don’t understand how you can watch the same games and say Greizmann is “clearly” the MVP of that team over Mbappe lol

If you think Mbappe was more valuable to this team than Griezmann than you probably should rewatch the games. Especially the last two games showed it

 

[Evilo]

In 34 seconds, Kolo Muani has managed to do something Ronaldo hasn't been able to do in 5 WC : score a KO goal.
Ouch.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

In 34 seconds, Kolo Muani has managed to do something Ronaldo hasn't been able to do in 5 WC : score a KO goal.
Ouch.

Your boy Messi had not either before this year.

 

[Savi]

Morocco played very well tonight, didn't expect them to push France back like that. France did have some good chances but overall left me wanting more as they usually do. Think if they would play like Morocco tonight they would just run over teams but okay, DD likes his football cynical, and he wins with it.
At the very least Morocco deserved a goal but it just wouldn't go in.

 

[Evilo]

Your boy Messi had not either before this year.

But he has now.

Also, I haven't talked about the fact Luis Enrique commented after his team's loss that he was impressed with the #8 (Ounahi). He asked "where does this guy come from".
See, the arrogance and the lack of professionalism should never happen at that level.
There's not a single opponent Deschamps and his crew don't know about. And we're not even talking about some low level pros in a low level league. Ounahi is playing in a top 5 league.
THAT is exactly the arrogance DD doesn't have. He never underrates anyone.
In 24 years, France has reached 4 WC finals and 2 Euro finals. DD was captain or coach of 5 of these 6 events.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Tough for Morocco as a person who grew up in a muslim household seeing a team like that represent our causes at the top level of sports would have been big

 

[Panteras]

If you think Mbappe was more valuable to this team than Griezmann than you probably should rewatch the games. Especially the last two games showed it

Greizmann was good against England, Mbappe owned Poland. This game against Morocco Mbappe is the reason why both goals happened… again, I still don’t see how Greizmann is “clearly” the MVP of this French team in this tournament which is what you’re stating. Clearly? Nope.

 

[gritdash60]

Great fight by Morocco, they had some periods of real pressure and couple good chances as well. Not only the parked bus that people predicted. Ofc can't park the bus when you get scored on early, but a solid showing by Morocco imo.

 

[Evilo]

Greizmann was good against England, Mbappe owned Poland. This game against Morocco Mbappe is the reason why both goals happened… again, I still don’t see how Greizmann is “clearly” the MVP of this French team in this tournament which is what you’re stating. Clearly? Nope.

Mbappe made some games really look easier than they should have been, agreed. Poland is a prime example (2G, 1A).
But Griez has been consistantly good in every single game and made huge work defensively and offensively.
It's tough to compare because they're playing different positions and different things are expected of them.
But Griez has surpassed every single expectation.

BTW, Griez beat the NT assist record (28 assists) last game, and he jokingly (but half seriously) said his record won't last long because Mbappe is only 10 behind.
Mbappe is also closing in in the scorer's department.
If healthy, I expect him to get both records in a few years.

 

[Panteras]

Mbappe made some games really look easier than they should have been, agreed. Poland is a prime example (2G, 1A).
But Griez has been consistantly good in every single game and made huge work defensively and offensively.
It's tough to compare because they're playing different positions and different things are expected of them.
But Griez has surpassed every single expectation.

BTW, Griez beat the NT assist record (28 assists) last game, and he jokingly (but half seriously) said his record won't last long because Mbappe is only 10 behind.
Mbappe is also closing in in the scorer's department.
If healthy, I expect him to get both records in a few years.

I was going to ask you, if Mbappe wins this WC, equals those records, and goes on to maybe win a CL. Where would he stand compared to a guy like Maradona?

 

[nickp91]

All my respect to Morocco and their magnificent journey through the tournament

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Konate is France’s second best player, and I think he’s closer to best than third best. Can put that in the hot take thread. I don’t care. It’s true.

 

[Evilo]

I was going to ask you, if Mbappe wins this WC, equals those records, and goes on to maybe win a CL. Where would he stand compared to a guy like Maradona?

Tough to compare this early. We'll have to see when all is said and done, but Mbappe is heading towards one of the best careers of all time.

 

[bluesfan94]

Konate is France’s second best player, and I think he’s closer to best than third best. Can put that in the hot take thread. I don’t care. It’s true.

He's not even their best CB.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He's not even their best CB.

Sorry, no way.

 

[bluesfan94]

Sorry, no way.

I agree. No way he's their best CB

 

[cgf]

But he has now.

Also, I haven't talked about the fact Luis Enrique commented after his team's loss that he was impressed with the #8 (Ounahi). He asked "where does this guy come from".
See, the arrogance and the lack of professionalism should never happen at that level.
There's not a single opponent Deschamps and his crew don't know about. And we're not even talking about some low level pros in a low level league. Ounahi is playing in a top 5 league.
THAT is exactly the arrogance DD doesn't have. He never underrates anyone.
In 24 years, France has reached 4 WC finals and 2 Euro finals. DD was captain or coach of 5 of these 6 events.

That is something I do give him props for, as well as his man management, and it's something Jogi succumbed too badly. By the end his staff were doing the absolute bare minimum.

Still wish he weren't so naturally conservative tactically...because with your talent you could play more open, attacking football than you have...but as a german fan I can't criticize anyone for winning pragmatically

 

[cgf]

Tough to compare this early. We'll have to see when all is said and done, but Mbappe is heading towards one of the best careers of all time.

At this point if he doesn't end up a better version of CR7, I'll be a little disappointed

It is wild that with Messi eventually fading away, we'll have Mbappe & Haaland to pick up the slack.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

At this point if he doesn't end up a better version of CR7, I'll be a little disappointed

It is wild that with Messi eventually fading away, we'll have Mbappe & Haaland to pick up the slack.

Don't see it tbh.

 

[cgf]

Don't see it tbh.

Not saying either of them will reach Messi's level, just that the new gen will be a ton of fun as well.

 

[GKJ]

Messi has to go through the defending champions. Feels like the way it should be.

 

[Evilo]

No contact someone wrote.