2018 World Cup

[Locke]

Originally Posted by vennegoor of hesselink

How many Turks and Poles have played for Germany lately? and Boatengs brother plays for Ghana. Mario Gomez sounds oh so Germanic as well

What about 'Hernandez' for France, or the Russian Mario Fernandez? How many foreigners play for Spain or Portugal?

Pepe (Brazil), Adrien Silva (France), Diego Costa (Brazil), Rodrigo (Brazil).

Japan has had a Brazilian or two over the years.

I could go on and on.

Its the nature of the game, especially in Europe. People like to point their fingers at Germany, but as one of the countries in Europe that accept a large number of immigrants its bound to happen, thats just basic demographics.

Similarly with Switzerland and various other countries.

[GirlySports]

Kooooooorea is pure!!!

Geez I sound like the North.

[SuperMatt18]

Was only able to listen to the 2nd half on radio live but caught up on highlights now.

Something was for sure wrong with Subasic on those two second half goals - looked like he had no power in his right leg and couldnt push off with it to dive. If that’s the case he should not have started.

Still think the hand ball was deserved too - if that ball gets though it’s actually in a real dangerous spot in the box and your hands can’t take up space. Deserved call.

Feel bad for Croatia and their fans too - for this this is their golden age and when they get this shot as a fan you have to hope they deliver. Should still be proud of the team too.

IMO Mbappe could be the best player in the world as early as next season - unreal talent.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

On the bright side France now have twice as many World Cups as England!

They pretty much were the best team in the tournament, if anything I think only the Belgians could have really gone toe-to-toe with the French despite that game being somewhat underwhelming.

In the World Cup with 48 teams France should be forced to field: 'Actual France' and 'Colonial France.'

I think I know which team would be better....

This would ruin one of my favorite things about the WC though; for this one month these countries all cheer on their immigrants! A large portion of the French team hails from elsewhere, and certainly some of their better players. It's rampant through a number of the European clubs, and whether you like that or not, it's at least amusing that many people who hate immigrants from Africa the other 47 months in a 4 year cycle at least end up cheering for them for one!

Originally Posted by Bagor

Brace yourselves!

A Spurs player is about to lift a trophy!

Where's Tony Adams when you need him? I was hoping it would be England/France just to make sure it was inevitable.

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Kooooooorea is pure!!!

Geez I sound like the North.

And their hockey team?

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Slava

A large portion of the French team hails from elsewhere, and certainly some of their better players.

Not true.
Umtiti is the only player that actually played that hails from elsewhere (Cameroon). Moved to France when two.
Apart from him the back up keeper Mandanda is the only other non French born (DR Congo) member of the squad and he moved to France also when he was two.

They're not exactly the 1990 ROI team.

[GirlySports]

All the French players talk is weird.

Wait til Canada makes a miracle run in 2026 led by Ghanaian-born Alphonse Davies.

[nik-]

It is really dumb. There are three players on the France squad who weren't born in France itself.

[Magnum PEI]

Lemar isn't really from France either, at least not hexagonal France. Neither was Malouda. A bit like Graham LeSoux playing for England.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Locke

What about 'Hernandez' for France, or the Russian Mario Fernandez? How many foreigners play for Spain or Portugal?

Pepe (Brazil), Adrien Silva (France), Diego Costa (Brazil), Rodrigo (Brazil).

Japan has had a Brazilian or two over the years.

I could go on and on.

Its the nature of the game, especially in Europe. People like to point their fingers at Germany, but as one of the countries in Europe that accept a large number of immigrants its bound to happen, thats just basic demographics.

Similarly with Switzerland and various other countries.

Hernández was born in Marseille. He’s French.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Lets not forget Croatia and Arsenal legend Eduardo Da Silva!



Then there's that Calgarian who decided he was English at 19



This happens all over the world of football and the France examples are actually legit childhood immigrants who were raised French, so not even amongst the late change examples.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Locke

What about 'Hernandez' for France, or the Russian Mario Fernandez? How many foreigners play for Spain or Portugal?

Pepe (Brazil), Adrien Silva (France), Diego Costa (Brazil), Rodrigo (Brazil).

Japan has had a Brazilian or two over the years.

I could go on and on.

Its the nature of the game, especially in Europe. People like to point their fingers at Germany, but as one of the countries in Europe that accept a large number of immigrants its bound to happen, thats just basic demographics.

Similarly with Switzerland and various other countries.

Do they?
It was actually you who pointed a finger at France. No one else in this thread had even mentioned anything until that instigation.

[FireGilbert]

Why are we talking about immigrants?

Congrats to the French. The Croatians looked like the better team but just got no breaks.

What was the deal with the Croatian goalie though? He looked injured. Would it have been that big a risk to put the back up in?

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Beninho

As far as memorable moments in the final I can’t say I will remember this one. The last 3 finals have all had incredible endings. Feel a bit underwhelmed with this one but France could care less. They got their trophy and deserve it. 20 years since their last.

I don’t know about that.

I remember the exact moment I turned off the tv.

[SebC]

National Geographic has a graphic that makes it quite clear what's happening.

Players not playing for their country of birth, for the most part, are leaving the big European powers and playing for the minnows where they can make the team. France, by far, has exported the most players, and the biggest importers are African, with Morocco leading the way.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I don't see how Canadians can really criticize European national football/soccer teams for having players that weren't born in the country play.

Owen Nolan and Robyn Regehr played for the Canadian national hockey teams.

Ben Johnson, and Donovan Bailey won how many medals wearing a Maple Leaf?

Who did Lennox Lewis (born in West Ham, London) win an Olympic gold medal for?

[The Familia]

In my opinion a player in any sport should have to be born in that country to play for them. Parents went travelling and gave birth on vacation? Too bad, now you play for Thailand! The only condition would be if they moved and lived in their new country for 20 years.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by The Familia

In my opinion a player in any sport should have to be born in that country to play for them. Parents went travelling and gave birth on vacation? Too bad, now you play for Thailand! The only condition would be if they moved and lived in their new country for 20 years.

In which case they would be unlikely in many cases, through no fault of their own represent any country at national level.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I don't see how Canadians can really criticize European national football/soccer teams for having players that weren't born in the country play.

Owen Nolan and Robyn Regehr played for the Canadian national hockey teams.

Ben Johnson, and Donovan Bailey won how many medals wearing a Maple Leaf?

Who did Lennox Lewis (born in West Ham, London) win an Olympic gold medal for?

I should say that I don't mean it in a critical way at all, I think it's great! I do have some concerns about things like the Japanese rugby team, which is essentially Austrailians and NZers who didn't make their own national teams, but as a fan I don't actually care.

The amusing thing to me is that in a lot of these countries there is a significant anti-immigrant sentiment...until the world cup. Those guys are heroes there, and I think that's so awesome.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Do they?
It was actually you who pointed a finger at France. No one else in this thread had even mentioned anything until that instigation.

Well I like to point a finger a Germany, just to get a rise out of Locke. But without one particular Turkish player the German collapse this time around wouldn't have been quite so sweet!