Group D, day 6, New Zealand vs. France

[samer_1_2]

I am shocked by Newzealand performance...

French Team performance has degraded since first two matches

[raph]

We were trying to win no matter how it looked like. Don't forget how the team collapsed against lithuania.

And we have trouble in the group apparently, as some players who did not stop fighting seem to aim at others who are not giving what they could and should. We can't rely on a center to bring the ball inside and "kill" the opponent (if not the starter, his rotation). if traore does not step up badly, this will be a disappointing fail, even if we could not have big hopes with this team.

Nothing to do with russia vs greece here, just the limits of some of our player (and the lack of experience as well, everyone seem to forget that they average 24 yo, even if some teams are even younger, but we lack experience in big competition, just need to look how we defended in the end). Our supposed leaders are hiding or at least not weighting enough (nice joke for diaw i know, but he's not the guy i am aiming at, mostly de colo batum & above all traore), it's crazy to see that our bench is providing most of our scoring.

People underestimate the performance of new zealand as well, they were almost hiting everything from the perimeter (including 3 pretty lucky shots, last one included) and pretty motivated.

[DarkoMVP]

This French team with no players has no offense, so it can lose to any teams. However, it has good defense, so if it gets lucky shooting day, it can beat good teams.

[Dtown]

So Greece loses they get Spain, France loses they get to face a motivated and in front of an insane crowd Turkey. Lets hope this discourages teams from potentially intentionally losing games.

[Goxest]

I really don't think that we wanted to loose it on purpose, Collet wouldn't have made Pietrus play that long while he was injured short time ago.

Fact is everyone saw us bigger than we are after our win against Spain. We got worked up, but we're just too inconstant. Lack of experience & bad preparation games rise to the surface once the euphoria was passed. Predictable.

'n now we juste have to pray

[surfer]

after the last Turkey - Greece game, it just did not feel like the last time
see you in semis guys

[tensai]

i think new zeland team is more dangerous than france..
so with that france match up, i am happy.. that's better.. good work NZ

[Luíz for 3]

New Zealand will face Russia, I really see them making it into the quarters! They could be the big surprise of this WC.

[Hepcat]

If France was really playing to lose by eleven points or less, it will be poetic justice if the French are blown out by the Turkish team.

[lafa]

i see a replay of last year's EB final, only outcome this time could very different...

[buzz]

greece has no chances against spain...the team has no rythm...

[mbenga]

I know we must not understimate Greece and all but, just for today...

[Illegal2k10]

Switch Greece with Russia and we will have great matchups

[Deschain]

7 European teams in the first bracket , all in top 8 last year.. seriously.. This is insensible

if i were a player in turkish or spain team i would double my efforts not only to win, and to humiliate the opponent. They deserved this.

[kyle007]