2014 FIFA World Cup: Group E (SUI/ECU/FRA/HON)

JayGEE · Post #501 » by **JayGEE** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:28 pm

GK holding his head but got hit in his arm. :lol:

Man of Steel · Post #502 » by **Man of Steel** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 12:56 am

France look so fluid without Ribéry. Whether it's Griezmann playing that wing or Benzema shifting out to make way for Giroud, they look a lot better without their star player. Benz is taking that role now

Their counter is fun to watch.

b-ball forever · Post #503 » by **b-ball forever** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 2:48 am

No_20 wrote:Imagine how pissed C.R would be if he was in Benzema's situation.

One thing I don't get is how most peeps view Benzema as some arrogant prick, while in reality (and unlike the other French 1987 born former wonderkids, aka wannabe superstar divas Nasri/Ben Arfa/Menez), Benzema actually doesn't act like a bitch.
For example, when he scored his first goal against Olympique Lyonnais with Real at Lyon, he didn't celebrate after scoring outta respect for his former team's fans. Or when he got booed at the Stade de France when he entered the pitch during a stetch where he was playing like crap, he just smilled and went to work, without making a big deal out it (as opposed to Nasri insulting jounalists and shushing after scoring a goal). Benzema also went thru several stretches at Real Madrid and on the French team when he got benched, but he accepted his role when it came to that.

It isn't a difficult group, but France is still looking great and doing better than expected so far. Deschamps deserves credit for finally getting the players to play as a team and building a cohesive group. Other highly talented guys who got left off the world cup team like Nasri, Ben Arfa, or M'Vila should get the message that the team always comes first. U can be sure that Evra would never even begin to think of starting a player strike with Deschamps coaching, no matter how bad the team is doing.
Putting Griezmann and Pogba on the bench was a risk, but their repalcements Giroud and Sissoko both played great.

Hopefully Sakho will be OK. Koscielny is a very good CB too, but France was doing better with Sakho on the field, and Kos was responsible for the 2nd Swiss goal, plus Sakho's been on a tear of great performances recently. Depth and defense are the team's main assets, so since the offense is clicking as well now, could make a nice run.

Overall, I'd say we prolly still lack the experience needed to get past Brazil at home or Germany, and could lose against a few other teams like Netherlands or Columbia too, but this is a young team gathering much needed experience.

MaliBrah · Post #504 » by **MaliBrah** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:03 am

kos had some blame in the 2nd goal but really evra let his runner go into the box and didn't track him , and varane and kos pushed up to evra to play the man offside but debuchy fell asleep on the other side and kept him on. France was doing better before kos was on because they popped in 5 goals and the midfield was competing , after that intensity went down when they saw sakho hurt and realized the game was won. But yeah france has great depth there.

ardee · Post #505 » by **ardee** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:10 am

I predicted this.

ardee wrote:Do people think France is a bit of a dark horse?

They have a terrific midfield headlined by Pogba, Matuidi and Cabaye. Ribery is a given, Nasri has been in great form this year. Up front you have Benzema who has finally shown people what he can really do at Madrid, Valbuena also shows up for France a lot. Not to mention Griezman.

Suspect at the back, left back is a big hole and Varane does not seem ready in the middle, but it's a talented team overall with an embarrassment of riches in the front six and a nice core already playing together at PSG.

What do you guys think?

Benzema is a good bet to win the Golden Boot.

b-ball forever · Post #506 » by **b-ball forever** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:32 am

It's not the size, it's how you use it

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Arsenal_Supremo/status/480079375661281282[/tweet]

DD12 · Post #507 » by **DD12** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 2:15 pm

First Grant Hill now cgf.. Smh..

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Boognish · Post #508 » by **Boognish** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 2:18 pm

I'm right here Massimo, come at me bro

truth18 · Post #509 » by **truth18** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 4:03 pm

Clincher wrote:
Martin87 wrote:
Clincher wrote:You guys think if Honduras and USA switched groups that USA could come out of this group?

Absolutely.
Germany > France
Portugal > Switzerland
Ghana > Honduras or Ecuador

Wonder why they didn't put USA in this group to try and get the 16 best possible squads through. Hate the unevenness.

Started watching football recently I take it?

Clincher · Post #510 » by **Clincher** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 6:34 pm

truth18 wrote:
Clincher wrote:
Martin87 wrote:
Absolutely.
Germany > France
Portugal > Switzerland
Ghana > Honduras or Ecuador

Wonder why they didn't put USA in this group to try and get the 16 best possible squads through. Hate the unevenness.

Started watching football recently I take it?

Nope, been watching for a long time now, even dating back to the 06 World Cup.

MaliBrah · Post #511 » by **MaliBrah** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 7:43 pm

glad schneiderlein gets the start , lets see what he can do on this stage

MaliBrah · Post #512 » by **MaliBrah** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 7:55 pm

these french warmup sweaters are beautiful , France has the best gear at the world cup

truth18 · Post #513 » by **truth18** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:04 pm

MaliBrah wrote:these french warmup sweaters are beautiful , France has the best gear at the world cup

Not a fan of the French gear, but I think we can all agree Honduras has the worst kits.

DD12 · Post #514 » by **DD12** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:06 pm

When did sissoko become a striker? I thought he was a dmc

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El Turco · Post #515 » by **El Turco** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:06 pm

great goal by united nations

MaliBrah · Post #516 » by **MaliBrah** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:07 pm

truth18 wrote:
MaliBrah wrote:these french warmup sweaters are beautiful , France has the best gear at the world cup

Not a fan of the French gear, but I think we can all agree Hoduras has the worst kits.

oh for sure honduras has terrible kits lool. How can you hate the french kits man? everything they have is class

truth18 · Post #517 » by **truth18** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:07 pm

Crazy goal

MaliBrah · Post #518 » by **MaliBrah** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:08 pm

DD12 wrote:When did sissoko become a striker? I thought he was a dmc

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he is a central mid , just pushing far far up aha

Post #519 » by **LittleOzzy** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:08 pm

Looks like the Swiss want into the 16.

truth18 · Post #520 » by **truth18** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:08 pm

MaliBrah wrote:
truth18 wrote:
MaliBrah wrote:these french warmup sweaters are beautiful , France has the best gear at the world cup

Not a fan of the French gear, but I think we can all agree Hoduras has the worst kits.

oh for sure honduras has terrible kits lool. How can you hate the french kits man? everything they have is class

Idk. Don't hate them just find them boring. Probably just personal taste

Who advances from Group E?