World Cup Semi Finals Live Match Chat
Welcome to World Cup Semi Finals Live Match Chat. We are down to crunch time for the four remaining teams. They say the semi-finals is the cruellest round to exit a tournament, so all four sides will be determined to reach a World Cup Final and take a step closer to the ultimate prize.
The World Cup has turned into a European Championship in effect with just France, Belgium, England and Croatia remaining.
Tuesday’s semi between France and Belgium is likely to be the more entertaining spectacle of the two matches with the likes of Griezmann, Mbappe & Pogba lining up vs Lukaku, Hazard & KDB.
This is the fifth time France have reached the semi-final stage, while Belgium have only reached this stage once before, in 1986.
Wednesday sees England appear in a World Cup semi-final for the first time since 1990. Gareth Southgate’s youthful squad is the youngest at the World Cup and while they have taken advantage of a kind draw to get to this stage, there is growing belief that 52 years of hurt may be coming to an end! This is only the third time England have reached the last four.
England’s opponents will be spot-kick champs Croatia who have come through two successive penalty shoot-outs to reach the last four. The Croats have reached the semis just once before, in 1998 and remain heavily reliant on their midfield duo of Modric and Rakitic.
From a fantasy point of view we have 5 free transfers for this round and we can now own a maximum of six players from any one team.
THE GAMES IN FULL
Tuesday 10 July
France vs Belgium (7pm)
Wednesday 11th July
England vs Croatia (7pm)
So that you have them to hand in one place here’s a reminder of the substitution rules, transfer allotment, wildcard and boosters. AKA the rules…
SUBSTITUTIONS
TRANSFERS
Keep track of all the action, the goals, the talking points, right here at FF247 Live Match Chat, an interactive chat which encourages you to keep involved and share your thoughts and emotions as the matches take place.
Good luck!
AK47
Hi guys, I am trying to do:
Coutinho>KDB
Golovin>Fellani
Granqvist> Hernandez
Fagner>Maguire
But the only way to fund it is to do Muslera>Mandanda. Is this worth doing considering he may start in the 3v4 playoff if France lose. If not I reckon Golovin>Chadli should work instead.
Any other suggestions welcome!
Cookie
AK, I’d probably grab Chadli there mate
AK47
Silvers have you seen the Hyde Park screening for the game? Might be worth looking at for yourself. Getting a hotel in central will be easier and probably similar price.
AK47
1 FT left and there’s no £5.0 mid left. Muslera > Pickford make sense even though my GK’s are playing each other?
Cookie
Yeah defo AK, then you have a guaranteed keeper for the final.
AK47
Guaranteed WC final CS as well. Silly question really. B)
Matt
What should I do with this lads? Who should I aim for?
Matt
I’m thinking Kane, French Mid, Belgium Mid, Maguire and Courtois and then I take a hit for someone else.
AK47
Probably no need for a hit, 13 players should be enough.
AK47
Start with Suarez>Kane, Coutinho>Fellaini, Granqvist> Maguire and see what you can do with whats left. Golovin>Chadli may also a good move if you fancy Belgium against France.
Matt
Perfect cheers mate
secretzorro
FPL Question: Arnau or Zaha?
Smash
Arnau
secretzorro
Cheers. If the dildos actually buy players, then it’s a no brainer I guess. But, but how will Pell cope with the owners??? Give Pell the players, Hammers could be fighting for Europe (they won’t get it, but still a big step up), if not…… Goldi will be watching Championship games soon.
Smash
A lot depends if Arnaotovic plays up top or not. I’m a bit wary of West Ham. Going to be attacking but have a horrible start which could spiral into a crisis. Everton had a nasty start last season and look what happened there
Cookie
Given the early fixtures, Zaha for me.
secretzorro
I have him for the Fulham game, but then…. At 7m I can’t find many options, yet.
AK47
I can see us beating Palace at home, that is assuming we start signing some players!
Smash
Don’t get the Zaha hype.
Cookie
Smash,
I think his appeal has lessened being classed as a striker, less points for a goal, no cs points, yet probably more chance of bps……however Palace’s opening fixtures look kind on paper and he was easily their main threat from open play last season.
I’m not convinced Arnie will be played up front much.
The Gallant Pioneer (@MitchellC_FF247)
At that price I dont see any better Smash. Just actually studied it, there’s a huge jump in the striker department between 7.0 and 9.0 isn’t there?
How are you pal?
Smash
Maybe I’m just not a fan. Might be something personal I’m not aware of. I’m all good GP. Yeah you are right there GP there does seem to be a lack of options I think I’ll go 3-5-2
The Gallant Pioneer (@MitchellC_FF247)
Good to hear mate.
I’ve only dipped in and out here and there to look at some prices of players who’ve sprung to mind.
I’m on autofill still. No idea how I’m playing it yet.
hammerfan_lm
Kralin, long time no speak mate. I presume you are the same from fff? If so, good to see you – i am hammerfan.
I suggest Arnie over Zaha, but confused as to why Arnie is a striker on fpl as opposed to a midfielder.
my strikeforce, at present, is arnie/kane/firmino
Kralin
Not a lot between them. West Ham have some ok games in their opening set.
Am trying to shoehorn Firmino in myself but may have to get one of them in.
secretzorro
I have Luka/Firmino/Zaha at the mo’.
Cookie
Liverpool, Arsenal, United, Chelsea and Everton (away) in the first seven is enough for me to avoid early doors.
secretzorro
I might just rotate depending on fixtures; as GP says above, there ain’t much of a choice at 7m
Kralin
Yes…though saw those fixtures and thought ‘lots of new managers’ – though of course West Ham also fall under that umbrella as well.
Zaha maybe edges it, playing for avuncular Roy’s happy, settled Palace side.
The pre-season frolics should help us a bit to see who plays where.
hammerfan_lm
Kralin, long time no speak mate. I presume you are the same from fff? If so, good to see you – i am hammerfan.
I suggest Arnie over Zaha, but confused as to why Arnie is a striker on fpl as opposed to a midfielder.
my strikeforce, at present, is arnie/kane/firmino
Kralin
Evening Hammerfan, yes the same one. I hope all is well with you. A few of us have staggered from the wreckage of FFF to here. I’m hoping a few more will be dug out.
I have a memory of you fretting when you were 100 odd points ahead in your mini-league. I bet you won by miles in the end.
SZ was asking about the Zaha/Arnie thing – at the moment I’m looking at Kun and Firmino plus someone cheap.
I’m avoiding those far advanced in the WC, so no Kane for me. Plus I don’t think their fixtures are too brill etc.
hammerfan_lm
Yeah am good thanks mate.
Yes I fretted and won with 103 points spare!! So glad that season ended!!!
Shame what happened to fff, but yes, glad I found this place, and be good to see a few old faces find there way here, and to see all the new faces, and obviously thanks to Cookie and Inittowinit for the warm welcome.
The WC players have worried me as to whether to pick them, but its whether I will be able to get them back, that is my concern.
To be fair, not many of the decent players have good fixtures, which doesnt help!!!
Kun didnt really have a good WC, neither did Lukaku. I may end up taking out Kane for a similar priced striker, but deffo keep Salah.
What are your thoughts on Arnie as striker? Do you think he will stay in that position or revert back to last seasons midfield?
Zaha being linked with Dortmund.
inittowinit
Be a helluva coincidence if it isn’t! Bit like seeing Kramer pitch up in Cheers and wondering if it’s the same Kramer.
Although this one just changed his hair to deliberately throw you off the scent 😉
Kralin
I haven’t had any moments of illumination yet re Arnie. Hopefully the pre-seasons will spell things out a bit re where he plays.
Having a couple of 7m striker options is quite nice though.
I’m not taking my side too seriously at the moment – just idly tinkering and getting a vague sense of fixtures and so on.
IvanTheTerrible
This is just the beginning init. Kralin loves classic French writers, poets, thinkers and anyone connected. Expect many gravs to follow soon 😉
Kralin
We did, confusingly, have two people with the same name regularly posting(ish) on FFF.
But no ontological worries here, though it would be funny if someone else turned up with the same name.
IvanTheTerrible
@hammerfan_lm
I am weeks away from even thinking of drafting a team for the new season. One thing I can assure you from now is that Salah won’t be anywhere near. His flash in the pan season will be a history and he will do as much as the cliches Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo did in the World Cup. This overpriced tag can be spread wisely elsewhere with so many better options.
DMC
Ivan , that’s all good but he’s the best ever FPL scoring player, he plays for a very attacking side , whose attack will remain the same, with the same coach. Odds are against him not replicating last season. He may not reach 32 goals but a +20 season is very much possible. So, perhaps have at least a plan to buy him if needed is what I’d say to those not going with him from the off (which may be my case – like you, I haven’t even loged).
IvanTheTerrible
Yes DMC, you could be right, I will go with the wait and see camp this time. Many will avoid Kane because of the so called August curse but we might see a diferent story this time.
inittowinit
How do we even know which one we got then?! Are you Kralin or are you the imposter, or is the imposter the original Kralin or is, or is…. #kralingate
Kralin
Straight out of Jorge Luis Borges.
You got one of them. I got references.
hammerfan_lm
Kralin, fpl site has him positioned as a striker!!! its ruined my team!!
Something in my brain makes me think there was a Kralin2 on fff (or is it my old age catching up on me!!
Re: Salah – he stays. As someone said on fff – he is set and forget. an old captain saying on there.
As for Kane. might ditch him, for now, but keep the funds there, just in case. August is only a short month!!
inittowinit
We shall wait to see if the imposter (or indeed the original) follows then. And then we have to decide which one to shoot. Batman nailed it, I’m sure we can.
I had an imposter on FFC and inexplicably it turned out to be Migs. Very odd. Suffice to say he lasted a day. I also have an imposter who posts on Scout but without the grav.
I know your pain. Or at least that of the person you are trying to be 😉
Kralin
RE the Salah thing, if you don’t have him you’d better have a plan b to swoop in for him.
Much easier to have him then discard rather than having to bring in such an expensive player. Managers may be forced into an early wildcard to enable that.
IvanTheTerrible
Yes, I knew that will be the main reason or should I say excuse to start with him but I am determined to avoid silly bandwagons this season.
Kralin
I shouldn’t bite, but I wouldn’t classify Salah as a ‘silly bandwagon’. DMC above eloquently spelt out some logical reasons for picking him. But I’ll be interested to see if some managers go for a Mane / Firmino duo instead.
IvanTheTerrible
Croatia sack Ognjen Vukojevic ahead of World Cup semi-final clash with England
http://www.thesackrace.com/news/10th-july-2018/croatia-sack-ognjen-vukojevic-ahead-of-world-cup-semi-final-clash-with-england