I'm proud of the boys.

They lost but played very well and dominated most of the game against a very good France team. It was one hell of a game but sadly not to be. France did what they needed to in big moments and they go through. I think they will win the World Cup now.

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windinhishair · 61-69, M

Who do you think will be in the Final?

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@windinhishair France to beat Argentina in the final.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@Burnley123 That's what I think too, but as this World Cup shows, anything can happen.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@windinhishair Yeah, you would think that the upsets will end at some point. No true outsider has ever won a WC. Greece and Denmark have won the Euros though so you never know.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@Burnley123 It has been extremely interesting this time around. Brazil is in national mourning.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@windinhishair They are because (not unreasonably) they were expecting to win the trophy.

If the World Cup was a league competition like the Premier League with 38 games and no play-off: Brazil would win it, France would finish second and England would maybe finish third or fourth. In knockout football, it's all about big moments going for or against you. You can't recover from a shock defeat and luck really does come into it. The Brazil team of 82 and the dutch team of 74 were inarguably two of the greatest national teams of all time but neither won the trophy because things went against them in one big match. What makes the World Cup so great is also what makes it so brutal.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@Burnley123 And that is precisely what makes it exciting. An inferior team that would lose 9 times out of 10 to a superior one can win on the given day.

I'm not a fan of the shootout, but you can't keep playing forever.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@windinhishair Agreed.