Russia 2018 Finalists Decided
Jul 12th, 2018 by 'holic
And then there were two. The final pairings for the last weekend of the 2018 World Cup are known, and if you are French or a Croat you will still be buzzing. Those of a Belgian or English persuasion are probably anticipating the third/fourth place play-off with little relish.
The only vague Arsenal interest in the first semi-final came in the shape of old boy Olivier Giroud, not a goalscorer on the night but giving a hardworking display and contributing possibly more in the French half of the pitch than at the attacking end.
That fact goes a long way to describing the nature of the contest which was, the experts told us, going to be an attacking feast. On that basis I had a sneaky punt on Belgium to win an open match 3-2. That probably sealed their fate.
Instead France adopted a safety first approach and throttled the life out of the Hazard, de Bruyne, Lukaku axis. Samuel Umtiti’s deflected header six minutes after the break was sufficient to take Les Bleus into a second consecutive major Final.
There they will meet Croatia who managed to restrict England to a solitary set-piece strike from Kieran Trippier in a first half that England completely dominated. The Three Lions best chance to add a deserved second was lost when Harry Kane refused to pass the ball square to an unmarked Raheem Sterling and saw his own double attempt scrambled to safety. That moment also did for the ‘holic pound punted on England to win 2-1.
It was to prove a costly error. 22 minutes from a place in the World Cup dream a much improved Croatia were level thanks to a flick of his flying boot by Ivan Perisic. Extra-time was no more than the Croats deserved for a second-half display that gave the lie to their showing in the opening half.
In extra-time the comeback was complete when Mario Mandzukic beat a tiring England defence to a Perisic flick-on to break the hearts of a nation.
Rather than criticise the players who might have been said to let him down last night it is preferable to praise Gareth Southgate for how far he took his England team in the tournament. His approach was a breath of fresh air for a team that had not played in a major tournament semi-final for 22 years, or a World Cup semi-final for 28.
The last mention in an Arsenal blog has to be reserved for Danny Welbeck, only a squad player this time around who hopefully will get an appearance on Saturday. He faces a real battle for a place in the Arsenal team this season as we have strengthened considerably during his enforced absence this summer.
More on the new players in the days to come, as well as another book review. Here is hoping for an entertaining big match on Saturday. We start our new campaign at Boreham Wood and if you are not going we can follow the match on Arsenal Player.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
47 Responses to “Russia 2018 Finalists Decided”
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We dared to dream but it went all Sperzy.
Those who doubt Ornstein should note that his prediction that both our buying is done was confirmed at Emery’s presser today. Unless a special deal presents itself( what Arsene used to say but he hadn’t bought five by the time he said it!)
I’d like an upgrade on Mustafi, possibly Maguire1.0 or Tony Adams 5.0 ! I would have thought it’s bye-bye Welbeck too,well described by Holic
Disappointing. Game should have been put to bed by half-time and we should be boiling over in media-fuelled frenzy of expectation to the World Cup final of the century on Sunday afternoon. I’ll hit the links instead.
Danny should be racing to go on Saturday. I went along to this “first game of the season” a couple of years ago and enjoyed it, About Diaby was superb, (apart from the fact that Arsenal’s megabuck men were too precious to get within twenty feet of the young kids (and me – Steve T wanted some) who’d come along for autographs. Good day out, if you’re going, enjoy it.
Yup.. Bit Spursy!
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Nice summary H.
The team I tipped and backed for the cup, Uruguay sadly fell at the third last hurdle due primarily to the absence of Cavani.
England did well to get as far as they did (even with a favourable draw) with such meagre creative resources and a surfeit of notorious bottlers.
I think the upside of last night’s result is that they have spared themselves an embarrassing thumping in the final by France in one of the weekend’s also ran matches.
I hope the weekend’s big match is the beginning of a triumphant season for Unai Emery.
COYG
TTG
re managers prezzer today re little Jack,
Unai said he had a good chat with him,but explained that for
” tactical and technical reasons he could not offer him much game time ”
make of that what you will.
Steve T will no doubt be shaking his head in disbelief at those comments.
Clive,
I hadn’t picked that precise wording up so thanks for passing that on.
It strikes me that Emery has a very clear idea of how he wants 5o pla6 and who can deliver that style . This exchange with Jack looks open and honest. I am in Steve T’s camp on LJW. I feel he still has more to offer and would rather keep him than offer new contracts to Elneny and Xhaka. My guess is that Arsenal think fitness wise he is ( or will soon be) a busted flush. West Ham are far more desperate than Arsenal and to get a player like him with no fee involved is extraordinarily attractive. We are fishing in the same pond as West Ham – players thought to be below top tier or as yet undiscovered. Finding undiscovered gems will be down to Sven and he has begun confidently . I’m happy to back the judgment of our top management
Only just stopped shaking Clive.
I’m not a big follower of European football so lace litke yo no knowledge of the players we have signed apart from what I have read in the press. All I’m guessing will need time to settle in, as will the manager.
I think Jack was also a big loss for England. Lots of commendable, workmen like performances but no one when we needed it who could pick a pass or unlock a defence.
Nice stuff H. Agree totally re Southgate. A total breath of fresh air with a degree of class, honesty and integrity that most of us would have feared had become extinct years ago. Wouldn’t it be nice to see some of that filter down into the Premier League?
Still very much the season for leather on willow so pre season friendlies may just have to take a bit of a back seat.
What has gone on there???
Should read, little to no knowledge of European football.
Steve,
You might have told me that you’ve nicked my spillchucker ?
Look at what has happened at the Bus Stop. I was berating Chav fans last night and they hung their head in shame. It has been an awful situation there for weeks and it reeks of a lack of class. I know details of senior executive sackings that have not hit the press in the past there.
I also heard a horrid story about the Totts sacking Clive Allen with no class whatsoever.
I hope we can retain a modicum of integrity in the dirty world of football
It would probably be cruel to hope that Allen’s compo amounted to two bob.
In other news, if you’ve not caught up on it yet, Ray Parlour’s autobiography is a very easy read. Great fun.
It could be a coincidence but ever since England were eliminated from the World Cup I haven’t seen one English football writer expositing about what a great World Cup of football Russia ’18 has been.
Can’t wait for the bloomin’ tournament to be over, meself.
Personally, I think the performances at Qatar 2022 will be much better than what we saw at Russia. Especially considering the handicaps that the fans will have to allow the players for playing in 130 degrees of Fahrenheit.
bt8, if it actually happens, I don’t think Qatar 2022 will even be as good as this WC. The game will be played practically at walking pace for long periods and players and fans may actually die because of the temperatures and their (different) exertions.
there will be the air-conditioned stadiums so everyone will be naked,
supporters and players
hippie football
love is in the air-conditioned air
Has anyone noticed any tactical innovations at this World Cup? To my eye, it has been characterised by teams setting up with well organised and discipline defences, attacking on the counter and getting goals from set pieces — the sort of tactics to be expected from middle of the table Premiership sides.
Shaquiri has signed for Liverpool. Good luck to them. A very average player with an attitude to match!
Fantastic day of tennis at Wimbledon today.
6 plus hours epic between Isner and Anderson,with the final set alone lasting an incredible 3hrs.
Then a 3 set slog fest between Djokovic and Nadal,which will continue tomorrow,with the Serb leading 2 sets to 1.
To top it off a young 16yr old,Jack Draper won a 3 set 4hr marathon against a lad 2 yrs older than him to make it to the Boys singles final.
You like me,will never guess the last British boy to win the Wimbledon final.
You have to go back to 1962 to find him,and his name was Stanley Matthews,and you could have knocked me down with a feather when i read that he was the son of,and named after, his father the great Stanley Matthews of footballing royalty.
You couldn’t make it up.
holic I apologize
just
fuckin stupid twats
bla
the nonsense that’s nonsensing is nonsense
but
if it isn’t sorted
anyhow
hello
someone is gonna die
fuckin seriously
someone is gonna die
And
THE WAR IS OVER
.
.
.
THE WAR IS OVER
.
.
.
cunts
PLASTIC HARD MEN
wha ??
CLI -FUCKIN -CHE
Pansies
but
in other news
in THE football blog
I have done it again
sorry Dave
i don’t mean to
in penance
here’s a dungheap of a 15 chord song https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m-H0uIH5HHQ
hello cba.
sorry all doesn’t seem well but it’s
nice to hear from you again
guy singing is a big girl
proper one
but
each to their own
.
.
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=BYibDbcb4yI
now you , japan
you
i like
smarter than most
cleverer than the rest
.
awful tragedy by you
i hope you weren’t visited
god rest those poor people
and to hear from The Jam….
haven’t seen a slashed seat,
graffiti covered bus for about
20 years 🙂
thanks cba
the earthquake gave the house a
good shake and the torrential rain
gave it a good clean but we were
all ok – unlike some unfortunate
souls
heartbreakin osaka M
.
.
at the minute
i am listening to twats
violence on their minds
history fucked up in their bonses
Pathetic
there’s people with real problems
who don’t need this nonsense
.
.
holic your eejit repellent needs pound shopped
anyhow
sorry Dave for being a MOUTH
I will endeavour to not hang about
.
.
.
anyone heard from Chris ?
you cunts are just a distraction
the MIGHTY chris !!!!!!!!
the oul fucker
messaged him no response
fill in the blanks
or ?
Say hello ya nz fucker
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1FT-4sNe-as
Hehe… When I went off to bed last night, there were 19 drinks and no signs of life. I wake up to 38 drinks and the first thought is …. cba!
Welcome back you old mud puddle
We used to have a set of encyclopaedia (note the spelling, Americans) when I was a kid, I think the Arthur Mee ones, which featured a picture of a mud puddle. Looked like a cow had eaten some dodgy grass… but anyway, the point of these things was to educate but they used to give me nightmares. I’d read about boiling hot mud and see the picture then have dreams about falling into one.
Such a wanker when I was a child.
Some would say I’ve never grown up 🙂
Hey hey cba
Been wondering what you were up to. Chris probably has his Maori face paint on as he wanders through the kiwi wilderness.
Delia on the other hand may have no further reason for watching Wimbledon now that her favored Roger has bowed out.
As the season gets closer I expect these characters to revert to type however.
Hoping Nadal can pull this out against Djokovic, but it is looking a bit tough.
anyone else watching at boreham wood? i had the pleasure of watching the first half, but the second half seems to be oversubscribed…not a surprise at 5-0 to le arse.
cba: welcome back. Back to the dark ages in Derry. Mindless.
But at the football, England 206 minutes without a goal. Midfield still lacks a creative spark even after Southgate shuffled the pack.
Where do we think that England side would end up in the Premiership? Top four? Top six? Middle of the table? Fighting off the drop?
ned I’m not really back
but yer 100% right
or thereabouts
why ?
.
.
think of us what you will
but
as a brain director
what would you do if Irish soldiers were on your streets
every move you made
on the business end of a rifle
.
.
.
.
this current NONSENSE is not that
it’s fuckin NONSENSE
but DANGEROUS NONSENSE
.
.
.
hard to watch , ned
.
.
.
.
UP THE ARSENAL
(cheerio and sorry ‘holic)
Back or not it’s good to see you are still in one piece, cba. ??
well
you can eff off for a start ?
Hehe ? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>