I'm not saying that Croats are bad! On the contrary, I will support them! – Mail.Ru Sports

Immediately after the end of the second semifinal, wrote on Twitter: "Well, no matter what, but not such a final deserved our World Cup … Well, …, Croatia? Take your tickets … "

I did not understand it at all. Now, I will explain what I had in mind.

I am not saying that Croats are bad. On the contrary! With their game, they certainly deserved a place in the final. The team is brilliant, attacking, willing, with two incredible players – Modric and Rakitic. For them, I'll be sick Sunday.

But! It's a bit disappointing that it's our championship that got the match not with the best teams of in the final. I would like to see there Brazil, Argentina, Spain … or a team that left a trace in the world football. On Croatia, with all due respect, that can not be said. After the semifinals, I blamed the British for being cowardly. Probably, you can formulate differently – in the second half they started playing on hold, with an eye on their own goal. Why?!

The Croats did nothing before the break. The ball, already missed in the 5th minute, clearly demoralized them. In this situation, what was to be done in England? To have an opponent! Do not go on the defensive, then attack! The second would be blocked, and for Croatia everything would be over. She would not have played it anymore. The British themselves gave the initiative – and paid.

If this match I was watching on television, then the first semifinal – at the stadium "St. Petersburg". There was a cautious and closed football. It is strange that someone is waiting for another one. We were motivated by the fact that both teams scored a lot. I realized that when there was a ticket for the final, nobody wanted to take risks.

It was clear that the last defenders did not arrive in front of them, the central offices did not leave their place at all. The fate of the match was decided by a single mistake with the "standard". And admitted his big Fellaini, playing his head beautifully. But I did not follow them once for Yumti, that's all. The game went to a goal. If the Belgians were the first to score, I think they would have qualified for the final.

The French were closed to the draw 1-0, it was already very difficult to break through their defenses. Moreover, from the platform, attention is drawn to such detail – in the second half, the Belgians obstinately try to break through the center, where everything is tightly blocked. But any flank attack concealed a threat at the gates of Lloris. If Mertens came out early, Ferreira-Carrasco and especially Batshuayi, maybe the result would be different …

In the final, my sympathies on the side of Croatia including due to Modric which is now in an astonishing form. If on July 15 at Luzhniki Stadium, his team wins, I think he'll get the "Golden Ball" for the season.

I do not have any illusions. Of course, France is a favorite. Most likely she will win the World Cup. The team is balanced, pragmatic, with a luxurious selection of artists in every line. Cope in the middle of the field with three midfielders Kante, Pogba, Matyudi or Tolisso, even a duo like Modric and Rakitic, almost unrealistic.

And in the attack, the French are preferable. Mbagpe and Grizmann – best players. On the spearhead is Girou. Many people underestimate it. They start from the fact that until now, not a single ball has been scored at the World Championships. If you believe the stats, then the target never hits. But Giroux still benefits enormously. Constantly shoot him two defenders, who can not leave him at one single step. As a result, there is a space at Mabppe with Grizman.

If the Croats go immediately into a defensive defense, the French will shake it and sooner or later they will sneak up. So we have to play as with Argentina, which in the group stage was hit 3: 0. Not scared, crushed by the pressure, the opponent did not get an exit to attack . Even Messi did not help.

If something like that likes to arrange for the French, there is a chance. It's time to remember Lobanovsky's favorite method – a game arrhythmia. Need to alternate the pressure with the control of the ball, in a few moments to retreat. That's another question if there is enough strength? People are not two-tiered. Three consecutive games of 120 minutes, plus France an extra day off … Yes, the match against the British showed that the "physical" order of the Croatians. In the end, they seemed cooler, and could add.

But in the finale it will be harder. Many

Vladislav RADIMOV
ESPECIALLY FOR "SE"