SF1: France 0 - 2 Spain

[Banana]

A boot touching the keepers chest has broken his nose and caused him to writhe around for half an hour. No VAR intervention for "mistaken identity" however.

 

[aawharris]

Hope Simon is OK, looked nasty that, getting hit on the head with a ball.

And somehow getting a freekick/Goalkick out of it

 

[aawharris]

Uh oh, keepers dead again

 

[Rob-BEE]

Hope Simon is OK, looked nasty that, getting hit on the head with a ball.

Down again, this time got tickled on the neck by Mbappe

 

[Untouchable]

The Spanish keeper could have been cautioned twice now for those theatrics.

 

[aawharris]

All of Spains subs standing in the technical area.
What the actual f*ck is going on

 

[Jam Jar]

Really poor effort from France barely laid a glove but got to hand it to Spain who were rock solid at the back and nullified the threat of France. Too many French players had off days

 

[The Pipe]

Master class from Spain and whilst I can’t stand him I think cukeralia ?? Has been outstanding

 

[stomalomalus]

Honestly, the officiating has been so, so poor all tournament. Spain should have had 3 yellow cards… if not 4. Actually 5 as I would yellow card any time a complaining player touches the ref, too.

 

[Beelated]

You can have the all the best players in the world in your team, but if your team doesn’t have the ball it’s very unlikely that you will score enough to win the game. France have come up against a team that are the best with the ball when under pressure: Spain don’t panic they just try the keep the ball alive. Simple, isn’t it?

 

[Chomp]

Master class from Spain and whilst I can’t stand him I think cukeralia ?? Has been outstanding

Bette Midler.

 

[Banana]

Very surprised at France. I thought that they would walk this tournament.

But at least they've had a shot on target in this game.

 

[KenCootesNephew]

Les Frogs groans, wails, and sighs rolling in on the offshore breeze down here on the coast.

 

[Untouchable]

FT
France 0-2 Spain

 

[stomalomalus]

Actually, if I was captain of a team against Spain, as soon as Rodri goes and grabs the ref, as he does every game, I’d go up to the ref and ask him calmly why it’s not a yellow card? And then walk off.

You cannot play football that way

 

[bexleybee]

Happy Bastille Day

 

[aslan]

I'm famous from the Michael Olise piece shown in the build up to the game

Saw a Athletic piece just before the game and wondered "is this the bloke on GPG?", couldn't remember the @ though

 

[jbee]

Great Spain performance. They pressed France assertively and it turns out they are not very good at getting the ball to their front players when you do that. Very pedestrian midfield two and full backs.

 

[LostBee]

Good.

I'd love another crack at Spain.

Tomorrow night is going to be epic.

 

[Rob-BEE]

Probably the two best teams in the world. Not surprised to see Spain get through but was definitely not expecting France to be so poor. Whoever wins tomorrow will obviously be underdogs but no team has been great throughout the tournament so nothing to be feared IMO.

 

[Mr Tree]

Looks like we'll need to score first on Sunday, if it comes to that... you'd have to think fifa would be more interested in a Spain-Argentina match though than a repeat of the euro24 final...

Spain: good performance. Loads of very dislikable characters though, and let themselves down with their antics.

 

[BeeHomeSoon]

Saw a Athletic piece just before the game and wondered "is this the bloke on GPG?", couldn't remember the @ though

Yeah that was me

 

[Jezybee]

French collective on Bastille Day.

 

[TW1Bee]

Olmo must be in contention for player of the tournament. Outstanding and so understated player. Forget your Mbeppie's , Messis's, Bellingham's. Kane's, etc

 

[GlasgowBee]

Mbappe is a sulky little **** isn't he!

 

[cromerbee]

I hate him but Cucarella was outstanding.

 

[Banana]

Looks like we'll need to score first on Sunday

Hasn't been a problem for England so far to not score first.

 

[Gawain]

 

[shaun]

Honestly, the officiating has been so, so poor all tournament. Spain should have had 3 yellow cards… if not 4. Actually 5 as I would yellow card any time a complaining player touches the ref, too.

I heard the ref was from El Salvador. Pathetic really. Totally unprepared.

 

[IslandBee]

Hugely disappointing game. I was expecting a classic but France never left their hotel!

 

[Justin Fisher]

Feel sorry for Deschamps - his team let him down

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Bette Midler.

View attachment 67191

Marc Cucurella

 

[larrysigny]

I hate him but Cucarella was outstanding.

The best in the world - and I read an interview some back that despite everything he’s the joker in any dressing room and a devoted family man. Appearances, eh?

 

[SpiderBee]

Really poor effort from France barely laid a glove but got to hand it to Spain who were rock solid at the back and nullified the threat of France. Too many French players had off days

Was always likely to happen. Big Headed nation!

 

[hanworthbee]

Was always likely to happen. Big Headed nation!

They aren't a football nation! Bet most of the French weren't interested

 

[aawharris]

The best in the world - and I read an interview some back that despite everything he’s the joker in any dressing room and a devoted family man. Appearances, eh?

Just lets himself down by being a complete c*nt and cheat on the pitch

 

[hobbsy]

They aren't a football nation! Bet most of the French weren't interested

I'm sure the Paris riot police will be delighted to hear that.

 

[Stofer]

I see that Spain have only conceded 1 goal in the tournament on route to the final.
Their midfield looked really good yesterday.
With a bit of luck, they will once again be the Kings of the torn betting slips when we beat them on Sunday

 

[davido_i]

No way does Tommy Tuchel sit on his hands, fume but patently refuse to change shape or take any proactive moves after watching his midfield be overrun for the whole 90+ minutes…..

 

[Jezybee]

Watching back this morning, the lack of quality in the French passing was noticeable. Too many easy, and nearly all progressive, passes were bobbly or even bouncy. Came from well organised, but not excessive, pressing by the Spanish. The extra care and time required to control the ball compounds and more often than not leads to moves breaking down.

Have noticed the phenomenon when we’ve played badly (e.g. Fulham away) or against top sides (e.g. Man City). Commented previously how Man City’s passes appear magnetised to the grass whereas even playing around the back ours were taking bunny hops.

Same happened to France last night and it’s nigh on impossible to win a game when these fundamentals let you down.

 

[guilly]

You have to give credit to De la Fuente's plan and the team execution. France biggest asset was a remarkable offensive line, but yesterday they barely have a shot on target. Spain was defending with a high line, Simon was sweeping the few long ball attempts, and the Spanish midfielders were surrounding every single french attempt from the middle.
It's true they went ahead early, and that massively helped their game plan. But still the way the kind of "parked the bus" in the midfield was impressive

 

[longtimeagobee]

Honestly, the officiating has been so, so poor all tournament. Spain should have had 3 yellow cards… if not 4. Actually 5 as I would yellow card any time a complaining player touches the ref, too.

Add finger wagging too please.

 

[Kingston Bee]

At a very high level, the team beat the individuals. I was dissapointed in Deschamps in that he was unable to do anything to make an impact to Spain's stranglehold on the game. He seemed reliant on one of his team producing a world class moment to get him out of trouble. He has been lucky with the group of players available to him, but last night he was beaten by the better team. A great example of what is possible when the team performs better than the sum of parts. Deschsmps imo was well and truly found out.

 

[jlove]

They aren't a football nation! Bet most of the French weren't interested

You’ve clearly never been in France when the team are playing in an International!

 

[hairman]

If he played for us, you’d love him.

Yes, But he doesn't. Hence, he's a turd.

 

[filmyfan]

Add finger wagging too please.

Yep this seems to be very popular - usually done with both hands as player walks away from incident.