Spain - France

Supercell

Really looking forward to this one this evening.

Spain are on fire in the WC this year and hard to see them being beaten by an understrength France, then again France have great pedigree, anyone think France have a chance? (personally would be 70:30 in favour of Spain at the moment).

GrumPy

Spain ftw, France have the players, but there just god damn terrible, and boring.

county

tough one to call,think it will go to ET and maybe penos

fade2black

I fancy both matches today to be Draw/Win. Probably Spain and Brazil

ErinGoBrath

Looking forward to this match. I fancy Spain to get through although ET may happen.

One of the lads was telling me Spain have never beaten France in a competitive match. Mad!

kinaldo

I'm really excited about this one and also slightly nervous as I desperately want Spain to do well. Spain are the better team and should win, but I have this horrible image of them laying seige to the French goal without scoring then Henry nicking it on the break. They've never beaten France competitively, in fact they never seem to beat anyone of note when it counts. I suppose a win tonight could be the turning point for them. Raul and Fabregas are set to start in place of Garcia and Senna, so I'm guessing Raul will be playing out of position and we won't see the best of him.

kinaldo

ErinGoBrath wrote:

One of the lads was telling me Spain have never beaten France in a competitive match. Mad!

taken from the BBC website

Head-to-heads

Spain and France have met 27 times before. Spain have won 11, France 10. Six games have been drawn. This will be their first World Cup encounter. These nations have faced each other three times at the European Championship, with France winning twice (1984 final and 2000 quarter-final) and drawing once (1996 group phase). In fact, Spain have never beaten France in a competitive match.

Their last meeting was a friendly on 28 March 2001, which Spain won 2-1.

The quarter final in Euro 2000 was a classic with Raul missing a penalty in injury time and France winning 2-1. I remember Mendieta had already scored from the spot but unfortunately for Spain he'd been substituted leaving Raul to step up. I'm not sure but I don't think Raul has taken a penalty since.

MonkeyTennis

really looking foward to this. Id love to see Spain win the whole thing. Playing some lovely football at the minute

Lex Luthor

ErinGoBrath wrote:

Looking forward to this match. I fancy Spain to get through although ET may happen.

One of the lads was telling me Spain have never beaten France in a competitive match. Mad!

I'm a firm believer that past results mean a lot going into matches like these...I had Spain originally but didn't know this, so I would have to say France have a chance then.

I think it will go to ET...0-0 in the 90 mins. Maybe pens.

Nalz

if ya can get 7/2 or more for the draw at halftime - Spain fulltime, would be the bet to make here. To win it, France in my opinion would have to score first. I think if Spain have a slight weekness its in defence, and should an on form Henry get space early on its 1-0 France...

gonna stick with Spain though, they deserve it more than France anyways. Undefeated in over 2 years, strongest squad mixed of experience, players at their peek and young raw talent...contenders for the trophy, and my favourites after watching Italy yesterday

Vokes

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Casillas

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Ramos -- Puyol -- Pablo -- Pernia

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Alonso

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Fabregas -- Xavi

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Raul --Torres -- Villa ----

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Barthez

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Sagnol -- Gallas -- Thuram -- Abidal

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Makelele -- Vieira

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Ribery -- Zidane -- Malouda --

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Henry

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Looking forward to this one.

ErinGoBrath

Once it betters last nights match I think we'll all be delighted

Ponster

SofaKing wrote:

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Barthez

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Sagnol -- Gallas -- Thuram -- Abidal

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Makelele -- Vieira

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Ribery -- Zidane -- Malouda --

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Henry

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Looking forward to this one.

As yet unconfirmed I believe but 90% probable. It's the formation that we saw on the training ground Monday evening before they closed it to the press.

Mossin

Am really loking forward to this game. On paper it has the potential to be a classic, but the way France are performing at the minute one has to see Spain as the more likely winners.

Supercell

I'm hoping for Spain, but am increasingly thinking this could be an extra time match, as a neutral thats fine by me!

Pepe LeFrits

Spain have to fix their offside trap or Henry is sending them home tonight. The Saudis and Ukrainians suffered 6 or 7 incorrect offside decisions between them against Spain, and most of the time the player was in on goal, or very near it.

Raul and Fabregas are the form players so in theory Spain could get even better. There should be a terrific battle for dominance in midfield.

And finally, will Zidane pass to Henry?

eirebhoy

Will Zidane play? He's a shadow of the player he was.

Anam

I think France will win.This could potentially be Zidanes last game,so I expect him to raise his game much like Nedved did in his last game for the Czechs.He will also benifit from having missed that last game.

Of course he may not start,in which case i think Saha should partner Henry up front,but i would be suprised to see him on the bench tbh.This is Henrys chance to deliver for France when it matters,how he plays tonight will be critical to Frances success.

Spain are a good team but i'm not convinced that they will be able to break down the French defense,especially with Makelele protecting them.

vorbis

Spain ftw 2 - 0. France have been absolutely brutal.

sprinkles

Spain will win, I think it should be comfortable in the end for them

mike65

I hope Spain win but fear France will.

Mike.

herbieflowers

Come on France! Do it for Zidane!

Royale with Cheese

Damn, allofmp3.com are doing a promotion where balance refills receive 10% extra for guessing the correct outcome of a match and 50% for guessing the correct score. Was going to go 3-0 to Brazil earlier in the day but wasn't bothered in the end. I'm thinking maybe 2-1 to Spain this time, but I'm really not sure. Maybe I should wait until one of the quarter finals which will be slightly more predictable. I'm lookin at Italy 1-0 Ukraine.

herbieflowers

Yeah, it's a hard one to call alright, I wouldn't bet against France being below par again...but then again there's always the slight chance they might finally turn it on!

Ruu_Old

Dont like Spain for some reason, so I hope France put them ooot!

Supercell

Come on the Spanish (and their fine supporters ..)

el rabitos

herbieflowers wrote:

Come on France! Do it for Zidane!

yeah! come on france! bend over and lose, help put zidane out of his misery and save my eyes from watching his ass do nothing for another 90 minutes. bien!

Kingp35

Is Zidane starting? If he is then Spain will win, if he isnt then France will win.

mike65

Spain
01 I Casillas
22 I Pablo
05 C Puyol
15 G Sergio Ramos
03 M Pernia
18 F Fabregas
08 H Xavi
14 X Alonso
21 D Villa
09 F Torres
07 G Raul

Subs: Salgado, Marchena, Albelda, Reyes, Luis Garcia, Antonio Lopez, Iniesta, Senna, Joaquin, Canizares, Juanito, Reina.

France
16 F Barthez
19 W Sagnol
15 L Thuram
05 W Gallas
03 E Abidal
22 F Ribery
10 Z Zidane
06 C Makelele
04 P Vieira
07 F Malouda
12 T Henry

Subs: Landreau, Boumsong, Dhorasoo, Govou, Wiltord, Silvestre, Saha, Givet, Diarra, Trezeguet, Chimbonda, Coupet.

What the hell happened to 1 to 11?

Mike.

jArgHA

Kingp35 wrote:

Is Zidane starting? If he is then Spain will win, if he isnt then France will win.

lol, yes Zidane is starting. shows weakness from the french coach. I think (and hope) Spain will win this but its going to be a close one.

that raymond domenech guy gives me the creeps

BOHSBOHS

spanish fans already disgracing themselves booing the french anthem:(

jArgHA

spain asleep, france way on top. oh dear, a penalty to spain out of nothing. that penalty was a beaut

Aquos76

spain 1-0 Penalty from Villa

wheres me jumpa

Ramos was disgraceful, won a penalty and then asks for a card.

A Dub in Glasgo

Definite penalty and yet the ITV commentator is saying 'soft'! Well taken from Villa

randomname

Come On Spain!!! 2 - 0 :d

Aquos76

1-1 Ribery

Aquos76

randomname wrote:

Come On Spain!!! 2 - 0 :d

What game are u watching?

Pepe LeFrits

France have definately been more dangerous and deserve at least that scoreline, unfortunately.

Spain having lots of the ball but looking toothless, Raul has been quiet as has Villa, Fabregas is misplacing some passes too. They could do with Joaquin and Reyes supporting Torres methinks.

mike65

Enjoyble game so far, but did anyone notice the stony silence from Daragh Moloney and Trevor Stevens when Torres went down clutching his face having been lightly tackled by Makelele or was it Viera? It seems when you are a hot young thing commentators put all critical thoughts on hold.

Mike.

PHB

It seems when you are a hot young thing commentators put all critical thoughts on hold.

Tell that to Ronaldo.

Every time I watch Makelele the more I'm amazed by him, his primary skill appears to be fouling without getting booked, it's incredible.

Kingp35

France on top despite the Spanish having more possesion. If Spain continue to play this offside trap they are going to concede again.

Torres should have been booked for diving!

PHB

Game is the best we've seen so far in terms of flowing football

Should persistant offside be booked? It's really quite annoying

Torres just goes down like a total wimp

Pepe LeFrits

Spain having a nice spell now, Fabregas is becoming more and more influential. The French are getting some baffling refereeing decisions going their way.

3rd substitution made by Aragones, high risk strategy!

mewso

Disgraceful from Henry. Hate that crap.

Guy:Incognito

PHB wrote:

Should persistant offside be booked? It's really quite annoying

Are you sepp blatter? I assume your messing?

Should any type of persistant mistake making be punished? 5 mis-placed passes and its a yellow maybe.

Davei141

Crappy french...

Aquos76

2-1 to France OG Viera looks to be claiming it

The Muppet

WTF is Henry doing holding his face . Another example of cheating in this comp.

RedPlanet

I agree with the free kick but Henry? What a tosser.

Pepe LeFrits

Balls.