Is this what we wanted? It’s not what I wanted. How about you?
Semifinals Roundup
Not much to say. I missed both games. I thought the teams that ended up winning, Spain and Argentina could win, but I thought France and England were playing better and that would carry them. It didn’t, clearly.
- France over Spain ❌
- England over Argentina ❌
For France, I think they got outmatched in the midfield and just couldn’t control the game. I think Spain probably have the edge talent-wise in the midfield but it wasn’t as big as it looked in the game, so tactics clearly played a part. Spain, to their credit, use and have been using that midfield to, yes, control, but also to protect their defense. Their offense has come and gone in spurts but the defense has been the best in the World Cup and it’s because the midfield really control the game.
For the England-Argentina, lots of factors in any game in determining the outcome, and I worried about England being fatigued compared to Argentina considering the games they played heading into the game, but in the end it was a tactical decision that did England in. Thomas Tuchel’s decision to park the bus after the England goal was disastrous. Maybe the fatigue I mentioned played a part in why he did that, namely his concern his team would tire. That led to the widely discussed 12% of possession England enjoyed after the goal. Hard to win when that happens. The minnowest of minnows in Serie A have the ball more than that when they park the bus. Unreal.
Final
Here’s what I got for the final…
- Spain over Argentina
Yes, this pick is maybe more desire than logic but I just don’t want to see Argentina win. Argentina and Messi fans will just become unbearable. Like even more than normal. Thankfully Spain have a good team. Really good.
Spain’s defense has really carried them and Argentina has started slow a few times this World Cup, so it’ll be interesting to see if that trend continues in this game. Spain will be harder to break than the previous teams Argentina have faced and have as dangerous a player in Lamine Yamal as anyone in the tournament. So getting down early might actually come back to bite Argentina should it happen again.
As for what I’m expecting in this game, I really don’t know. Often in finals it stays conservative until someone finds a breakthrough, with both teams not wanting to go down a goal, especially early, and be forced to chase the game. So, I think both teams could very well play it safe initially. That being said, after my O-fer last round, I don’t feel particularly confident in anything at the moment, LOL.
But uncertainty aside, I’m going to go with a 2-1 Spain win. Fingers crossed.
Oh! Shout to France and England for providing an entertaining 3rd place game. Both teams went in wanting to play an open game (wanted is maybe the wrong word but that’s certainly how it turned out). The fans got a lot of goals and something fun to watch. I hope future 3rd place game teams take this lesson and have fun and provide fun in a mostly meaningless game.
Wrap up
Let’s hope the weather holds, the Canadian wildfire smoke stays away, and we get a gem of a final with ideally a Spain win. Here’s hoping, anyway.
Enjoy the game!
gillis