Kid in the Riot

A pretty dull, predictable contest for the first hour and now one of the best finals in recent memory. Gotta love it

Oh, you mean the poisoning?

Very slow start from France.

Agree, that's generally not a foul.

"Standing still"? The keeper has charged out to play the ball. He has missed the ball, made himself big, and taken the forward out. I just can't see what I'm missing that makes that ok?

But by the rules of the game, it doesn't have to be deliberate. The 'keeper came to play the ball, missed and impeded the player instead. That is a foul.

Not listened to them yet, but could be a couple of late entries from Little Simz and SZA, who've both just released albums...

Before the tournament started I'd assumed he leave at the end of it, no matter what. But given I can't see any obvious alternatives at the moment, it seems sensible for him to stay on till Euro 2024, especially given that tournament is only 18 months away.

France are heading for their fourth world cup final in the past seven tournaments. If that doesn't qualify them as a footballing superpower, then not sure what does.

Don't want another Capello or Sven though. English manager seems to work best (maybe Hodgson aside!) Can't see one available better than Southgate right now.

If we went for a change what are the options? No way we can go foreign again, I don't think. Potter or Cooper? Meh. Howe never leaving Newcastle. So, who? Pearson ??

Well said. Didier Deschamps has managed to make France a very non-emotional team, which isn't typically French. Their efficency is quite German. We kept Mbappe quiet. They scored a great opener. It's a gutter. Score that pen and who knows.

Absolutely devastated. Thought we were the better team and we've been done yet again in a major tournament. Partially of course by our own errors, but also feel the ref / FIFA fancy a bit of France in the finale. I thought Southgate would leave after this tournament, and I still think he probably will. But there's a reality that there's maybe no-one better and he'll stay. France are on the verge of winning three of the last six World Cups I think? Quite incredible

Surely not long ago when we were in League One or Div Two...

I agree, and doubtless Messi has had the opportunity to play in England as the money is here. That said, I don't for a minute think he'd have been anything other than a massive success in the Prem. There is also a case that despite his goals at Juve, Ronaldo actually didn't make them any better and was actually a bit of a burden, as he has been in his second spell at United.

Piss poor from the Argies. At least the GOAT Messi is clean. I get that football is an absolute religion in Argentina (far more than it is here, and we gave them football) but this lacks class.

I agree with you. I'm a huge Messi fan and I enjoy him more than Ronaldo. However, it is a fair criticism that he hasn't "done it" in the best league in the world (of late, that is definitely the Premier League) or Serie A. Ronaldo has conquered more leagues and obviously has more honours at international level too. But ask me who I'd pay £50 to see play and it'd be Messi everytime. Been lucky enough to see him score a hatrick at Camp Nou in fact.

So impressed with Croatia, and Modric is incredible. 37 years old and still a baller. Up there with Xavi and Iniesta for sure.

We haven't won there since 1995, and are always shite after international breaks. Hope I'm wrong but can see a draw at best, and defeat most likely.

Haha what?! Families? You are talking about Vieux Port, yes? You must have been in a different part to me. I'm not disputing the Russians weren't the main instigators/aggressors btw, but that was returned to them with interest. Plus plenty of police attacked by Eng fans after tear gas was fired in.

Yes. Absolute stunner ?

I was in the England end, so no idea if that's true.

I'm not familiar with what he said at the time, but let's not pretend it doesn't take two to tango. England fans were fighting back the Russians, and fighting them back well for long periods on the day of the game and the night before. There was also plenty of Marseille and PSG hooligans about too. 5 at the back like he played for the Germany game at the Euros to deliver our performance of that tournament? Regards Southgate in or out after this tournament. I think that's immaterial. I think he's leaving even if we win the thing.

I'd say five teams left that can win it - Por, Eng, Fra, Bra, Arg