The Big Match.....

[niemeyjt]

kane.jpg

[Liz]

Saturday night the menu in our café for the match was fish n chips or boeuf bourguignon & frites
For the Morocco game they are doing couscous

[Loup-garou]

I'm not quite sure why L-g. England's joint top scorer and who would you play instead? I presume you're not a Spurs supporter

Thank you for asking Wilbro.

For several years now Kane has not carried out the full responsibilities of a striker/line leader/most forward player (call it what you will). The game has evolved over the last 5 years in particular - unless under immediate pressure, we rarely see goalkeepers sending the ball the length of the pitch only for the opposition to recover possession.

Today, the ball is "played out from the back" and, as a consequence, the defending team adopt the tactic of a "high press" to restrict the choices of the team in possession and endeavour to exert sufficient pressure to bring about an error of judgement, poor pass or interception. For this to work, strikers and attacking midfielders need to challenge back line defenders and goalkeepers and try to get as up-close-and-personal as possible. Kane does not do this - he gives a token gesture to this integral part of his responsibilities, plodding somewhere between the center circle and the opposition back line. He never gets closer that 15 - 20 meters to a defender/goalkeeper, consequently, putting them under no pressure whatsoever and devaluing the efforts of his teammates either side of him. In this respect of his game, Kane is a passenger and a weakness to the effectiveness of the team. Look at the majority of current strikers - out of possession, they are generally very active around and in front of the box and press/challenge right up to the feet of the opposition players often forcing errors or winning throw-in.

On another note, Kane will drift back to the back 4 to take the ball when things do not go to his liking. With respect to him, he is not Messi who is capable of creating something from that far back. If I was an opposing team player and saw the oppositions star striker alongside or just in front of his/her own back line I would be well pleased with how things are going. More time to play the ball out due to an ineffective press across the pitch, a reduced threat to our goal and defenders freed to push further up the pitch.

True, I am not a Spurs supporter but neither an I anti. For example, Spurs have had or have some of the best players in the Premier League. Despite some recent blunders Hugo Lloris is an excellent goalkeeper and has been an example throughout his career, Heung-Min Son is an outstanding, dangerous player and, I was sceptical when Spurs signed Richarlison from Everton but they clearly saw something I didn't as he has proved an important player for them.

Apologies for the long post!

[niemeyjt]

I fear Morocco v France has the potential for fan conflicts off the pitch in places like Paris etc.

[MAD87]

I fear Morocco v France has the potential for fan conflicts off the pitch in places like Paris etc.

Which is why they plan a big police presence, whatever the result!

[Blaze]

Looks like it's going to be complicated for Morocco fans ...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-63973938

[DaveW]

Should be a good final.

[Wilbro]

@Loup-garou
An interesting post but I think you over emphasise the harrassing of the keeper as being a duty of attacking players. It's generally used by teams chasing the game usually towards the end of the match. As an ex goalkeeper at a reasonable amateur level being blocked by players was never a problem but I did have the advantage of being able to pick up the ball from back passes. Drawing the forwards onto you created space that they had left allowing team metes to take advantage and a quick throw gave them possession.

For a big player like Kane all he will do is wear himself out and lose effectiveness for chasing and/or holding possession as the game progresses. I don't think he is the greatest but as I said, who else is there?

[niemeyjt]

who else is there?

Jordan Hugill

[Wilbro]

Really! A blague l presume.