The Big Match.....

[niemeyjt]

Really! A blague l presume.

@Liz will appreciate it.

[Wilbro]

I'm sure she will!

[Loup-garou]

@Wilbro
I think we shall need to differ. My comments were not restricted to "harrassing of the goalkeeper" they were about the modern game and, in particular, the high press. Yesteryear, keepers had two tasks - stopping the ball crossing the goal line and booting the ball up the pitch (good ones could do left, right or middle) and hoping a big Alan Shearer, Duncan Ferguson or John Toshackesque forward could get under it and hold it up. Today is different. The high press is a tactic which involves every member of the team - when deployed even goalkeepers tend to advance in their box in case "The boot" might be used in desperation, of course that latter exploit is not without its dangers . The tactic is certainly not restricted to teams chasing the game and it is seen throughout or for periods in most current games.

"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."
Well it seems we can agree here. If Kane, supported by multiple trainers, sports scientists, physios, dieticians, etc at club and national level, is incapable of running around a 105 x 68 meters football pitch for 90 minutes he should not be picked to lead the National Team - Q.E.D.

[ajm]

Croatia v Maroc should be a cracker

[Wilbro]

@Loup-garou
I played in the 60's/early 70's and I used tactics you mention as being "modern". Not so, I used to see myself as a sweeper at times and when play was in the opposite box I'd be out of my penalty area but ever ready to drop back should the opposition suddenly break unless it was a loose ball which l could return to a team mate.
I had a good relationship with my backs and midfielders and certainly didn't just hoof the ball upfield all the time.
I agree that the modern game is different and the play between keeper and backs is seen more often sometimes with dire results, usually when a defender loses the ball to an opposition attacker. Not usually the keeper.
The modern game is all about running and movement and it's not possible for all the team to keep it up relentlessly. A crafty keeper can frustrate and wear down persistent harriers.

[Headers]

Our village has announced the annual celebration of the Crèche will take place on Sunday afternoon. Direct clash with les bleus on TV. I fear the crèche will have a lower turnout than normal and many will disappear just before KO!

[Liz]

Footie v creche?
No contest.

[Headers]

It was soooo boring, then they all woke up and wow

[ajm]

After 80 boring minutes WOW - hang onto your hats

[Headers]

England and France equally bad at penalty taking