I admire Modric but I am always suspicious of Croatian football which is riddled with bigotry and nationalism. They still haven't really cast off the stench of Mamic and Simuric.

You got there first! It is still a massive part of their football establishment.

Strictly football reasons, try not to care too much about the players personal lives as that would mean I couldn't enjoy any team. You know half the English team are racist *%^@ (not because they're English, just because that's the way people are) and probably all of them treat women horribly, because that's what professional athletes do.

That being said, I'm not really invested at all and will most likely not even watch the game.

Erm...

....you quite sure about those statements?

I'm not really talking about players personal lives I'm talking about a football establishment that is genuinely steeped in bigotry, nationalism and - in the case of a few recently-departed faces - criminality.

Let's hope England beats them then.

I enjoyed the clip on the BBC last night on Italia '90 with Bobby Robson.

Such a nice guy he was, shamelessly hounded out of the job.

Personally, I have found nothing I dislike about this England team or their manager. Even the yobs seemed to have stayed at home.

They aren't a patch on the '98 team imo.

Weirdly a bit of me won't mind if England go out - it's all gone way too far now, this is like some parallel universe. Plus if we play France the Brexit bollocks will be absolutely unbearable...

Can't really argue with that either, I make Croatia favourites, but only slightly.

England have the best striker on the pitch in Kane and a threat in the runs of Sterling, Ali and Lingard. Up to now though they haven't been able to service Kane with enough chances and have relied on set pieces - even against mediocre opposition. No opposition team has had the ability to attack England yet so we also don't know how they will handle pressure from a technically gifted side. Sweden had a good 10 minutes and created a few chances but that was it. I also wonder if England will get overrun in midfield if they continue to commit two of the midfield players high which could leave gaps to be exploited.

No doubt it will be a cagey affair. England do like to start fast but I can imagine another 20 minutes of both sides sussing out the opposition before hopefully the game will come to life.

Yeah message to the aliens who are holding Niall, please return him - we can tell these moderate and sensible comments cannot possibly belong to him.

So we are to judge a football team on past nationalist sentiments of players bearing in mind they came out of war. Rather sad. Would like to see England go all the way. Added bonus is that will piss of Guardian and New Statesman opinion writers who won't be able to handle all the patriotic outbursts.

Mattéo Guendouzi

Arsenal have signed French midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi from Lorient for a £7.1m initial fee.
He joins the youth ranks, taking Arsenal's net spend to -£70.6m so far.

I’m the other way

I hope England keep winning. Anything to keep the Brexit stuff out of my reading material.

If I see another article about farage, Johnson, may, people stockpiling food, etc etc etc it’s quite possible I could go bonkers.

Ooh quick update my Scottish uncle just sent me a text saying he hopes Croatia win tonight due to what happened at Bannockburn in 1314, the passing of 700 years hasn’t done much to provide unity to local sporting vigour.

I am wondering if this might be like the year Leicester won the EPL or Chelsea the CL - it was written in the stars. If it does happen I would be very happy for Southgate who seems a genuinely nice, well grounded person and it would be justice for him given all the crap he was given over that missed penalty and even when he got the job.

I can think of cases where this would be eminently reasonable, yes.

Yeah only a bit of me.

Although England actually winning it would be mental - the nation would just become like tigers running around a tree and turning into butter (this happened in a book I had as a kid called Little Black Sambo which for rather obvious reasons has not been read by my own children).

Also I'm not entirely sure that all the racism and homophobia of the Croatian football establishment - and many of their fans - came out of war.

My fear is, if England does win the WC the press could treat the returning players as untouchables and as a consequence the referees will undoubtably follow suit. It’s difficult enough now watching Spurs getting a free ride with the media let alone if half their team come home with a winners medal

Personally I’m just gutted the team haven’t used the obvious opportunity presented when celebrating a goal so far..


Kane prods ball home ....

Sterling runs over to him to celebrate and cocks his leg in the air...

Kane grabs it and pretends to shoot it like a machine gun.

Would have been superb.

Imagine the thermo nuclear explosion of judgement from the nazis at the express and Mail. Fantastic stuff

Mate unless Emery performs a miracle I’m not sure it matters. We have a couple of seasons of rebuilding ahead and a few decisions here and there are hardly the issue. If they win it as far as I’m concerned they can pull down nelsons column and do one of Trippier instead

Having said that I love Croatia and you find some of the best and least nationalistic people there too who are cheering on their team for the normal reasons.

The problems lie more with its football establishment which never really escaped the stench of Mamic (currently on the run).

France shaded it but I thought Hazard was the best player on the pitch among several good performances on both sides including both keepers.

Belgium had a great shape ay first but France has too much quality. Giroud didnt finish well for the final ball. I still like him and he must credit Chelsea for giving him the opportunity to get a spot on the team.

Mbappe is scary. And to think if Lacazette and Martial fulfill their potential France has a bright attacking future.

I really like this English side and Im guilt ridden for even cheering for the scum players. However, as much as a France vs England final would be captivating, I still think Croatia will win and I go back to what I wrote about 2 prior matches, their wins over Nigeria and Argentina. Two sides they beat who did things much better than they did. Nigeria had more pace and a certain amount of power. Argentina had infinitely more technical ability. The Croats admirably coped with both. Other than 2, maybe 3 players they are a team of unknowns who are well drilled and disciplined.

I think England's dream ends here. If Im wrong I get to enjoy a much better final than I thought.

He had some good moments but he disappeared from the game for a large period in the second half.

If you include the entire Torreira fee even though it’s being paid in instalments then we have spent around 70 million. I can’t see us signing anymore players unless there is a major departure like Mustafi or Ramsey.

It seemed like every time Hazard got a touch 2 French players closed him down. At times he was dribbling through the French defense and had to be fouled to be stopped.

The Giroud foul shpuld have been a free kick and was wrongly waved off.

Ok whose on the sauce already?

Croatia for me too, now that Belgium are sadly departed. Modric really does deserve this accolade. I like Mandzukic too. He has the same cadaverous, laconic manner as Ivan Lendl.

I've got nothing against this England team, but they haven't set the pulse racing.

As for France, although Griezman would a worthy winner, I really don't want Pogba and especially Mbape to win it, good though they no doubt are. Giroud is also beginning to grate a just a bit.

.

Wow. He looked workmanlike to decent ... but crickey that must be more $ per inch than Ronaldo.

To all our English friends, here's a few minutes of Harry Kane's cousins (seriously) in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwxpjSenGE4

Anyways, hope ye go all the way now and trounce Belgium at the weekend.

The new Beckham!!!

Who’s

That was a fantastic free kick

I made a loud involuntary noise somewhere between “Goal” and “Aaaaahhhh” and I’ve been playing this cool all day.

And I was so convinced by Lovren’s righteous indignation!

Ref helping us cos he's doing his job. Shame he's Turkish but if he keeps this up I'd welcome him here as a prem ref.

Should be 2-0. Croatia offering nothing at the minute.

Ashley Young is not a defender. Just thought I share that.