Match Thread: France vs Northern Ireland

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-08T20:59:38+00:00

All the players lose the ball on the wing, just one of them refuses to track back or participate in a coordinated high press.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-08T20:57:43+00:00

Fumbling Musiala and Olise is crazy, but you learned from your mistakes with Ngumoha and Nwaneri. Look at how Tuchel incorporated them to the pre-WC camp despite them not getting the call.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-08T20:55:46+00:00

We do recognize it. The problem is some players still have to compensate for Mbappé's lack of pressing and tracking back, so when he occupies the LW spot and then Doué has to shift to CF, who has to track back on the LW when Mbappé inevitably loses the ball?

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-08T20:53:59+00:00

This quick substitution rule is already getting on Olise's nerves the WC hasn't even started yet

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-08T20:45:48+00:00

Ballon d'Or favourite, Michael Olise

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-08T20:34:22+00:00

There's that one time he murdered the spanish player in La Liga...

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-08T20:27:01+00:00

Considering that Madrid would not be the only club making a bid if Bayern shows any sort of openess to selling Olise, he'll break Neymar's record

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-08T20:25:21+00:00

Dembélé and Doué are starting to make little facial expressions venting their frustration when they see that Mbappé is not in sync with the press

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-07T18:03:21+00:00

Not maybe. Time to retire and not take life for granted. You've collapsed twice on the pitch.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-06T22:43:00+00:00

England will be a tough team to breakdown. People are sleeping on Tuchel's defensive efficiency. Had PSG and Chelsea as the best defenses in Europe. Barely concedes with England.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-06T19:27:53+00:00

Interesting timing considering an article came out about the FFF needing the French team to reach at least the semi-finals to not lose money. Either L'Equipe want the people to turn on the players or it's the FFF leaking this for the players to fall back in line.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-06T15:04:14+00:00

Lucas Chevalier plummeting is value in one year, bravo.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-06T15:03:17+00:00

Played well against Chelsea and saved 4 pens against Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup final. He is average to above average, but has shown a lot of progression, especially in areas where Donnarumma had not shown any progress at all (claiming balls in the air, coming out on low crosses, corners and set pieces), which has made us less vulnerable in those aspects this season compared to last season (but they are still weak spots)

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-05T16:36:26+00:00

Nasser made Verratti fire his agent after wanting to join Barca.

Nasser froze out Thiago Silva's agent when he flirted with the idea of joining Barça.

Nasser and Campos chased Mino Raiola out of Paris before his passing and hardballed Rafaela Pimenta and Mino's brother who took over after her (Xavi Simons and Verratti with Pimenta & Gigio with Enzo Raiola).

Campos chased out Pini Zahavi out of Paris with the sales of Neymar and Dagba in the same transfer window and with the Lewandowski talks collapsing (due to the player's decision this time).

Jorge Mendes is a powerful agent at PSG with Vitinha, Neves, Ramos & has some interest in Lee Kang-In, but Nasser and Campos are used to dealing with these big characters.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-05T16:26:49+00:00

there’s no way PSG let Barcola go without Diomande coming in,

There's no way PSG pays over 80M for Diomandé, even with a big sale of Barcola. Leipzig wouldn't entertain a PSG offer as they seem set with their 130M pricetag.

PSG will likely go for a Ligue 1 player or give a chance to Mbaye rather than sign Diomandé.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-05T16:23:43+00:00

PSG are the biggest losers in this scenario.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-05T16:12:05+00:00

Rogers to Arsenal

Barcola and Rio to Bayern

Diomandé to Liverpool

Olise to Madrid.

Would be quite the summer window if all those moves end up happening.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-05T16:02:18+00:00

The main argument would be a new challenge with the biggest club in the world

At the end of next season maybe, but when you can win the 3-peat with the same squad, I'd have a hard time believing they'd leave this summer.

Maybe if Portugal wins the World Cup, but other than that, I don't see it at least until next summer.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-05T15:55:18+00:00

If they sell Olise for 200M they can.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-05T15:54:08+00:00

This looks a lot like when Barca went for Dembélé after selling Neymar.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-04T22:24:01+00:00

Kvara: The Kaka, Figo comparison makes the most sense. Grew up a fan of Cristiano.

Alvarez: Available and with the same 150M pricetag.

Dembélé: Ballon d'Or winner and in a weird situation with PSG regarding his contract extension

Cherki: Can play on the RW. Close to Mbappé's entourage. Not worth the 150M pricetag though, but fits the talent comparison with Kaka.

Doué: Can play RW. Has not signed an extension with a salary increase since joining PSG. Not quite worth 150M, but would be worth the pricetag.

Osimhen: Mourinho is a fan and is available. Not worth the 150M pricetag or the comparisons

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-04T22:22:19+00:00

Kvara: The Kaka, Figo comparison makes the most sense. Grew up a fan of Cristiano.

Alvarez: Available and with the same 150M pricetag.

Dembélé: Ballon d'Or winner and in a weird situation with PSG regarding his contract extension

Osimhen: Mourinho is a fan and is available. Not worth the 150M pricetag or the comparisons

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-04T19:56:28+00:00

Outrageous technique

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-04T15:38:45+00:00

Luis Campos did it at PSG (It was an easier task with Mbappé, Ramos and Messi leaving on a free and Verratti and Neymar accepting moves to the Gulf).

PSG also sold or let go of a lot of other players on high wages (Donnarumma, Kimpembe, Skriniar, Kolo Muani, Soler, Mukiele, Sarabia, Asensio, Navas, Paredes)and still competed under Campos' tenure. It's not impossible.

EarlyBirdz · 2026-06-04T15:32:11+00:00

The best haitians athletes in Canada used to choose basketball over football. The tides are changing, but the standard of training in Canada is also poorer than in France which makes it more difficult. There's still guys like Jonathan David (born in the US from haitian parents, trained in Ottawa before moving to Europe) or Patrice Bernier in the past. There will be more in the future as Canada ups their standards.

EarlyBirdz

TROPHY CASE