Ecuador vs France 21:00 RTE2

My name is URL

mike65 wrote: »

World's worst game. Ever.

I don't think it was all that bad for a nil all game

celticcrash

Most boring match in the world cup.

vidor

My name is URL wrote: »

I don't think it was all that bad for a nil all game

Ah it was terrible. Lack of quality from both teams. There's many a good 0-0 but this wasn't one of them.

Jelle1880

France really couldn't be bothered with that it seemed.

Boom__Boom

Maybe having the French wear white wasnt the best idea?

Scottish rugby tops = goals galore

White jersies = couldnt score in a house of ill repute

Billy86

Boom__Boom wrote: »

White jersies = couldnt score in a house of ill repute

I wouldn't want to score in the Dail, in fairness.

daithijjj

RasTa wrote: »

Ok so are you saying Valencia had every right to be pissed after the Sterling tackle? I understand why he was, surprised if you can't.

Sterling caught Valencia with his trailing foot, not his leading foot. Valencia made a cowards challenge.

Agueroooo

daithijjj wrote: »

Sterling caught Valencia with his trailing foot, not his leading foot. Valencia made a cowards challenge.

Cowards yea but also coached to protect your self

Panthro

A united vs Liverpool debate brewing?!
Surely not!!!

Slicemeister

Even though he made contact with the ball, the fact both legs are airborne make it a red. The lads are still in the 90's!

GreNoLi

I agree with the lads, unlucky on Ecuador, very game from them.

RasTa

daithijjj wrote: »

Sterling caught Valencia with his trailing foot, not his leading foot. Valencia made a cowards challenge.

Valencia's was more nasty alright but Sterling's was still a red. You win I guess, hope you feel better for it.

JIdontknow

This talk of two footed, lunged in etc.... His left foot when he made contact was planted flat on the ground, he sprung and then as he landed his left foot on the ground - he went in with his right, I don't see this as a two footed tackle, two footed implies you lunge in both feet or slide in two footed its clear as day his left foot isn't tackling at all it's on the ground... Not defending him, it looked bad and was probably a red but I think he was unlucky too with how the ball went. Don't see it as malicious or horrendous as some people here...

Son Of A Vidic

Billy86 wrote: »

I AM RAY HOUGHTON, AND RAY HOUGHTON GIVES CREDIT TO NO MAN!!

Ray this is what he should have done Houghton. Non-stop telling players what they should have done after the fact. "Oh he should have done this, oh he should have done that." I don't think he has the cop on to realise, how incredibly stupid and annoying his gormless commentary is.

daithijjj

RasTa wrote: »

Valencia's was more nasty alright but Sterling's was still a red. You win I guess, hope you feel better for it.

Sterling's was never a red.

It's not about winning, it's a forum for debate.

RasTa

daithijjj wrote: »

Sterling's was never a red.

It's not about winning, it's a forum for debate.

Of course it was a red, not sure why you decided to debate it 3 weeks later in their 3rd game match thread.

http://balls.ie/football/vine-raheem-sterling-and-antonio-valencia-red-cards/

daithijjj

RasTa wrote: »

Of course it was a red, not sure why you decided to debate it 3 weeks later in their 3rd game match thread.

http://balls.ie/football/vine-raheem-sterling-and-antonio-valencia-red-cards/

2 reds for Valencia in "3 weeks", that's the only reason.

Imo, Sterling and Valencia in isolation both get yellow. Sterlings challenge is up for discretion with the ref, Valencia's reaction to it was not.

RasTa

daithijjj wrote: »

2 reds for Valencia in "3 weeks", that's the only reason.

Imo, Sterling and Valencia in isolation both get yellow. Sterlings challenge is up for discretion with the ref, Valencia's reaction to it was not.

Ok then..

UnitedIrishman

daithijjj wrote: »

Sterling's was never a red.

Yes it was. He got sent off.

eagle eye

Valencia has been looking a bit petulant and rough tackling through the three games in the World Cup. I was not surprised to see him tackle like that and not surprised he was sent off either. Only surprise for me concerning him during the World Cup is that he actually got a contract extension at United.

BoarHunter

French looking ordinary with a big turnover. Digne, schneiderlin not mature for this level. Pogba and Sissoko can't really be on the field at the same time, it's obvious it has to be one or the other. Benzema on an off day. This team lacked the cutting edge of Vabuena and Cabbaye. Varane proved he's absolutely needed in this team with his passing quality. It will be another day with Debuchy and Evra on the flanks with Valbuena relaying. Look at what they did to Switzerland. I reckon they will dispatch Nigeria and challenge Germany unless USA do them a favor tonight. France never failed to reach the semis when they went out of their group in previous WC.

Nothing to really take from this match against Ecuador apart from the fact that nobody was injured or booked. Could have done with a couple of goals though.

Shanotheslayer

UnitedIrishman wrote: »

Yes it was. He got sent off.

Calm down Mr.Pedantic you knew what he meant.

jacool

BoarHunter wrote: »

French looking ordinary with a big turnover. Digne, schneiderlin not mature for this level. Pogba and Sissoko can't really be on the field at the same time, it's obvious it has to be one or the other. Benzema on an off day. This team lacked the cutting edge of Vabuena and Cabbaye. Varane proved he's absolutely needed in this team with his passing quality. It will be another day with Debuchy and Evra on the flanks with Valbuena relaying. Look at what they did to Switzerland. I reckon they will dispatch Nigeria and challenge Germany unless USA do them a favor tonight. France never failed to reach the semis when they went out of their group in previous WC.

Nothing to really take from this match against Ecuador apart from the fact that nobody was injured or booked. Could have done with a couple of goals though.

The only thing I got from this game is that France will not win the World Cup. Paul Pogba was even more selfish than Yaya Toure the previous night (but at least he didn't cost his country a spot in the last 16) and Benzema couldn't hit a barn door, so can't be relied upon when the pressure is on, IMO. Nigeria will really fancy their chances now. I rate their keeper better than that guy that France made look good last night.

greendom

jacool wrote: »

The only thing I got from this game is that France will not win the World Cup. Paul Pogba was even more selfish than Yaya Toure the previous night (but at least he didn't cost his country a spot in the last 16) and Benzema couldn't hit a barn door, so can't be relied upon when the pressure is on, IMO. Nigeria will really fancy their chances now. I rate their keeper better than that guy that France made look good last night.

Pogba was very poor last night - hopefully that's a one off. Valbuena was really missed last night, as was Cabaye. With them back in the fold I think they will beat Nigeria.

SantryRed

Seriously, nothing to take from that game about France last night, in a good or bad way. They knew they were through and played like it. Nothing mattered. They'll be completely different against the Nigerians in the last 16. I'm just majorly pissed I didn't have the cash on me at the start of the World Cup to make a serious wedge off them to qualify for the quarter finals at evens!

Billy86

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Ray this is what he should have done Houghton. Non-stop telling players what they should have done after the fact. "Oh he should have done this, oh he should have done that." I don't think he has the cop on to realise, how incredibly stupid and annoying his gormless commentary is.

He is kind of like the anti Gruden.

BoarHunter

jacool wrote: »

The only thing I got from this game is that France will not win the World Cup. Paul Pogba was even more selfish than Yaya Toure the previous night (but at least he didn't cost his country a spot in the last 16) and Benzema couldn't hit a barn door, so can't be relied upon when the pressure is on, IMO. Nigeria will really fancy their chances now. I rate their keeper better than that guy that France made look good last night.

Pogba was poor yes. He hasn't had a break in 2 seasons now and it started to show already with juventus. He won the -20 World cup last year. It was even more blatant yesterday because with the team shuffle there was no fluid movement and team mates werent easy to reach with quick passing. It stroke me to see France playing pedestrian last night but it makes sense after all knowing that they had nothing to gain from that match.

As for Benzema I don't know what you are calling pressure. Last night match was the most casual match they could play in a world cup. No pressure whatsoever. It was a real mid november friendly show up when the players know there is champion's league the week after kinda performance. Benzema could well be on 6 goals already ( Missed penalty, one given to honduras goaly and one scored as the ref was whistling the end of game ... ) he just didn't play well last night.

Enyama is a great goalkeeper and IMO the best player of Nigeria. In saying that I don't see France midfield being troubled by Nigeria. I fancy Sissoko coming back into the midfield beside Matuidi and Cabbaye, something he's better than the winger role he was asked to play yesterday. I'm not expecting France to walk over them but they should go through.

jacool

@Boarhunter
Good points, well made.
I just felt that if Benzema is to be relied on he should be taking the chances he missed against Ecuador. The French will have to learn to keep their elbows down as well. Theoretically they could have finished with 9 players. Cabaye and Valbuena are better than what was on show there, but it implies, to me, that they haven't too much depth beyond the first 11. The draw sets them up to play Germany and that might prove to be a step too far, if they get past Nigeria(!)