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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Nothing. Same if they don't."
I think they'll beat Argentina and France will beat Spain.
I don't think their defence would cope against France's attack. They definitely can be got at, as limited enough teams like Croatia and Mexico proved. Mbappe has a serious Ballon D'Or itch to scratch, and I reckon he's gonna get it by winning the World Cup with France, and ensuring that he's out on his own as the top World Cup goalscorer of all time.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10421 - 14/07/2026 12:12:58    2685721

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I really hope Spain don't win it, honestly would rather see England do it.
The style of football they play is mind numbing, painful to sit through, just passing for the sake of it.

dolfos (Longford) - Posts: 152 - 14/07/2026 15:11:38    2685738

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Agree with others hoping Spain doesn't do it, very boring team with such a lack of flair. Don't really mind this England team, I really like the French and don't really mind the Argentinians but they always seem to get the rub of the green. Will be rooting for France tonight and Argentina tomorrow. As for predictions:

France vs Spain: 2-1 to France
England vs Argentina: 3-2 to England

RoyalStalwart24 (Meath) - Posts: 41 - 14/07/2026 15:48:34    2685742

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"Mbappe has a serious Ballon D'Or itch to scratch, and I reckon he's gonna get it by winning the World Cup with France, and ensuring that he's out on his own as the top World Cup goalscorer of all time."

Ah that old chestnut 'of all time'. Mbappe is on 20 World Cup goals in 20 matchces. Messi ihas 21 goals in 32. So, Mbappe has a chance of being the highest goalscorer in WC history.

But if you're going to talk about 'the top World Cup goalscorer of all time', then surely you have to consider Just Fontaine (France), 13 goals in 6 mathes. Or Sándor Kocsis (Hungary), 11 goals in 5 matches. Or Gerd Muller, 14 goals in 13 matches . Imagine how many goals they would have scored if they had played 20 games?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2943 - 14/07/2026 17:40:15    2685762

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Replying To dolfos:  "I really hope Spain don't win it, honestly would rather see England do it.
The style of football they play is mind numbing, painful to sit through, just passing for the sake of it."
Don't understand how anyone could possibly rather see England win it.

Think people are writing off Spain a bit. They're well capable of playing great attacking football as seen when they beat France 5 - 4 in the Nations League semi. Haven't gotten to near that level yet but wouldn't be surprised if they still pull it off. As for predictions I'm going with:
France to win 3-2
Argentina to win in extra time 2-1

Lúla571210 (Louth) - Posts: 199 - 14/07/2026 18:15:54    2685765

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Serious question lads....what in god's name are we going to do if England pull this off?"
I honestly couldn't care less if they won it or not.
Fair play if they do.

Sure their fans have a nasty element but the fans of one or two of the under dog nations have behaved terribly throughout this world cup and the previous one and weve been cheering those countries on.

Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 162 - 14/07/2026 20:49:40    2685777

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Spain into final. Likely to play England. Repeat of Euro 2024 final.

hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 208 - 14/07/2026 21:35:24    2685782

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My predictions of France winning the World Cup in the gutter after such a controlled display by Spain.

Not sure why I underestimated Spain who won the European championship two years ago and such championship are won generally with solid defences, Spain by a distance have been the best defence unit in the World Cup.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 4044 - 14/07/2026 22:06:10    2685787

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Replying To hlynch12:  "Spain into final. Likely to play England. Repeat of Euro 2024 final."
Similar result too probably.
Spain looked awesome.

Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 162 - 14/07/2026 22:13:14    2685789

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Replying To dolfos:  "I really hope Spain don't win it, honestly would rather see England do it.
The style of football they play is mind numbing, painful to sit through, just passing for the sake of it."
Can't agree with that at all. I said earlier in this thread I'd be interested to see how France look against a team like Spain which is technically excellent and will deprive them of possession and space. They pressure teams high up the pitch, and it suffocated France. To be honest, they weren't good enough to deal with it.
When they have space and teams back off due a fear of being hit on the break, France look incredible.
Spain took that away from them this evening, nullified their threats and to be honest could have won by more. Their full backs got forward regularly which put France's attackers on the back foot.
Why people are surprised by this I don't know.
Spain beat them in the Euro semi-final two years ago, with France hardly laying a glove on them in the second half. They also beat them fairly comfortably in the Nations League semi-final last year.
Spain were joint favourites at the start of this tournament along with France, and were a lot more road tested coming into this game than France.
In Rodri they had the best midfielder on the pitch by a distance and had plenty threat from Olmo and Yamal. Oryazabal works incredibly hard up front and is very clever with his movement. He's generally a very good finisher when he gets a chance too.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2948 - 15/07/2026 00:30:36    2685811

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Replying To dolfos:  "I really hope Spain don't win it, honestly would rather see England do it.
The style of football they play is mind numbing, painful to sit through, just passing for the sake of it."
'Passing for the sake of it'....... a lot harder than it looks, at the highest level of soccer. Look at Ireland. They can't string 3 passes together, when a quality side puts the squeeze on them.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4860 - 15/07/2026 09:32:20    2685820

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