International Football thread

[Durhamfootman]

Freddie Woodman, take a bow

decent game too

and good use of the technology for the penalty. Could be the way forward, stopping all that surrounding the ref nonsense

[yuppie]

Over here in Sweden it seems there are rumours of Zlatan coming out of international retirement.

Speaking to a few people here they seem not to want him in the team now. They think Sweden are playing better football now with out him in the team and that their is now more focus on Sweden instead of Zlatan. Their view is that he obviously wants to come back as Sweden are having a good qualifying campaing(just beat France 2-1 and top their table on goal difference) but they actually think he will make the team worse if he was to return.

My neighbour reckons that if Sweden qualify for Russia then Zlatan will come back and then it will be the Zlatan show again. Sweden as a team have moved on from that, are playing better football, and that Zlatan will only be thinking about himself instead of the team.

Interesting times for the Swedish national team

[sussexpob]

After the norge blast a hole through their inbred neighbours tonight, zlatan will be too busy looking for another passport......

[yuppie]

I understand the game is not being played on cross country skis, so the Norge have no chance.

[sussexpob]

You are are probably (definitely) right.....

[yuppie]

There seems to be renewed hope in the Swedish team at present. I'm sure its not meant to last though

[yuppie]

well the yokels are winning so far. shame its a friendly.

[mikesiva]

That was a great combination from Ali sterling Bertrand and. ...of course. ...Harry kane!

[Gingerfinch]

Another pointless friendly. I'd rather watch a qualifier against Macedonia.

[mikesiva]

That equaliser seemed to be on the cards. Umtiti makes it 1-1.

[Aidan11]

2-1 to France.

[mikesiva]

2-1 to France.

Sidibe puts France ahead. Dem bele is a very skilful player.

France has good attacking players but their defenders are crap. Varane is sent off for bringing down Ali. Kane converted the penalty.

[Aidan11]

Didn't look lile a penalty to me.

[mikesiva]

Dem bele!

[Durhamfootman]

well that was a very strange game. Pleased I only watched the highlights, tbh.

First thoughts on the pen were that Alli took a dive, then on replay it was clear that he'd had his heels clipped s a pen was fair enough... sending off the defender for what looked like an accidental clip was excessively harsh imo... and after the TV review as well

I heard Hoddle praising Jones' defending.... well perhaps he was brilliant for all the bits of the game that didn't make the highlights, but it struck me that every French goal came through the part of the pitch where Jones should have been, but wasn't. I'm tempted in future to refer to Phil Jones as 'the hapless Jones'

Remarkable that once France went down to 10 men, they battered England... battered them. Too often I have heard that England are always playing teams that set out to defend against them... well not this time.... France didn't try to shut the door, they went after England, big style and England were utterly wanting. First half going forward, England were bright at times, but jeepers.... they haven't got any decent defenders have they? Hopeless.... couldn't clear the ball out of the box.... couldn't get a defender to defend their right hand side.... poor old goalie, kept making saves, never a defender anywhere nearby to help him out... sold down the river

The good news, given that we are likely to qualify for the WC finals, is that it isn't possible to exit the tournament any earlier than last time