France v Albania, 15th June, 8pm

[JJ1532]

All match discussion in here please.

 

[JJ1532]

Can Albania take heart from the fact they should have gotten something against the Swiss, or are they too knackered from playing with 10 men for 50 odd minutes?

Can France improve on what was a somewhat disappointing performance against Romania to do better in this game? Can they break down the stubborn Albanian defence? Interesting to note that Albania played France in 2 friendlies in the build up to this tournament and beat them 1-0 in the first game before drawing 1-1 in the 2nd.

I'd peg France to win, but they'll have do to better than they did against Romania and will have to work hard for it.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

After scraping to a win against Romania on Friday I think the French will want to put in a more comfortable performance tonight, however Albania were decent in defeat to Switzerland on Saturday so maybe they can cause some problems. Do however think France have far too much quality for Albania, and will wear them down with Payet pulling the strings. 2-0 France.

 

[JimJams]

Pogba dropped. Very attacking setup from Deschamps. Gotta love his bollocks. Made of steel.

 

[Stevencc]

Griezmann dropped too.

 

[JimJams]

Skysports has Albanias number 9 as 'Unknown'. Quality stuff.

 

[mistermagic]

I quite like our formation.

3-0 would do. Then get a draw against the Swiss.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Your right 3-0 would be perfect and would mean I would gain 14.5 points for a prediction league I am part of just from todays matches.

 

[SamScfc]

France are shit.

 

[Mustard]

No control. They need Pogba on.

 

[JJ1532]

This is the kind of performance I wanted Iceland to put in against Portugal. Sit deep, defend in numbers and stay organised, but when you win the ball back, use it sensibly, counter attack and try and cause the other team problems.

Albania have done a great job nullifying France. France look like a number of other teams at this tournament, great individuals but very little team cohesion or fluency. Still fancy them to get bailed out by an individual moment of quality.

 

[JimJams]

It's gotta be great playing for Bilic. He's never too critical and he always gets his view across in a positive way.

 

[mistermagic]

What did I miss?

4231 is so 2015. Why do managers feel the need to try a new formation in a major tournament and not in pre-tournament friendlies. Swap Pogba for Martial (who's been utter wank) and go back to our usual 433 allowing Matuidi to do his thang and we'll win the tournament. Sorted.

 

[JimJams]

Yeah you definitely need to do something for Matuidi to do his thang, cos his thang in this half was to play like a fucking ghost. Good job Rabiot mk II has been there to clean everything up.
Looks like this should have been the side that started against the Romanians and the starting lineup he used in that match should have started this. You lives and you learns.

 

[Super_horns]

This would certainly dampen the mood and expectations in France!

Albania have looked decent in the 2 games so far.

 

[JimJams]

Griezmann wins it.

 

[Stevencc]

I feel for Albania - it was a matter of time, though.

 

[Master D]

France looking very much like Brazil did in the WC, playing like dogshit but scraping wins. Expecting them to get smashed when they play a proper team.

 

[JimJams]

Albanian manager gives his assistant a whack in frustration.

 

[JimJams]

Great goal. Brilliant ball to Gignac from Pogba, and probably for the best that he lost his footing for it to run to Payet.

 

[JJ1532]

Harsh as hell on Albania. Deserve so so much more from that game. Almost a perfect performance from them. Defended well, limited France's attacks and still looked to counter and get bodies forward. Undone by individual quality.

I so hope France go out in the last 32/16, bunch of fluky fuckers, a group of individuals, not a team at all. Hopefully they come up against Germany or Italy and get stuffed.

 

[mistermagic]

Pogba was shite. Good enough second half. We don't look good playing a side with 10 men behind the ball. It'll be easier against Spain/Germany. That'll be when the fun begins.

 

[Stevencc]

How many chances would Giroud have needed to score tonight?

Useless, well-manicured lump.

 

[mistermagic]

Nah, he was fine. Your boy Martial was dogshite though.

 

[Stevencc]

Nah, he was fine. Your boy Martial was dogshite though.

Giroud was awful. That sitter of a header he missed was unforgivable.

 

[mistermagic]

I forgive him. So it's not that unforgivable.

 

[Stevencc]

Stop being a pedantic Giroud groupie and actually contribute to our Grandstand team for the first time you bastard!

 

[Liam_SWFC]

So harsh on Albania they were really impressive tonight and it's gutting for them that they haven't got a point on the board after 2 good performances. I reckon the game between them and Romania will actually be pretty good, two sides who have actually surprised me at how decent they are. France weren't great tonight much like on Friday but they've got the job done and are into the last 16 with a game to spare, it does however leave a question mark over them when they do come up against a better side. Switzerland might offer a bigger challenge for them but they've also been pretty poor so far. Another correct score for me on the prediction league too.

 

[voltage]

What is football. Lucky last minutes from France. Payet again proving what he came for. But France really did not well to begin with a wrong first eleven by Deschamps. With the replacements at second half France could improve but still nothing that good. Also didn't understand why Deschamps insisted for so long in Giroud clear was his bad performance. Albania did well. They showed to know their limitations and used it in their favor. They had a very good deffensive job and at first half were offensively better than France. But what decided this match was the individual skill of players with better technique, in case from France.