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asspickle1 t1_ixwat8u wrote

Reply to comment by minos157 in Holders France are the first team to qualify for the last 16 of 2022 World Cup. by dragon8811

don’t know much about soccer/football, could one player really mean the tournament for them?

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TheLightningPanda t1_ixwemct wrote

It can make a pretty big difference, not necessarily in a vacuum but some players can do a lot for advancing the ball and some have a very strong ability to create chances that others can’t do. When a single goal/moment can change a game, having a player that can create that goal or moment is key.

I don’t know what sports you follow, in terms of basketball it would be akin to losing a niche role player, like Andrew Wiggins in the finals. He’s not their best player, but he was insanely key in their success. In the NFL it would be like losing an o-lineman or two, it just hurts your chances to repeat if your game plan is focused around running behind those o-lineman.

I could also be talking out of my ass, but my understanding is he’s a huge deal in France’s general game plan.

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fordyford t1_ixz9a8x wrote

I would argue that he was absolutely their best player - not their most spectacular by any means, but such a crucial lynchpin to their team.

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minos157 t1_ixwggxt wrote

As the other reply said it's not a yes or no and very dependant on why said player is important.

In this case Kante was an absolute beast of a holding midfielder last world cup for France. He basically dominated the midfield and gave France WAY more possession as a result.

Without him they are allowing more chances for opponents which will lead to more goals against which I think will ultimately cost them the competition, especially if it plays out how I think it will where they face Belgium or Brazil at some point on the way through the knockouts.

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Raphelm t1_ixwhwt5 wrote

Ugh, yes, I love Kanté. I don’t know how he manages to be everywhere like that, it’s like he has a twin. And he seems to have the most gentle soul, all shy and discreet despite being a beast on the field. It’s his absence I was the most disappointed to hear.

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minos157 t1_ixwiuz4 wrote

After that world cup, I don't know why Chelsea didn't just shove him into the exact same role and build a tactic around him.

It's similar to how I questioned why Belgium played KDB as a defensive midfielder at that world cup......

Lots of questionable coaching choices in soccer lol

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the_real_rs t1_ixwqe8w wrote

Just an fyi but I think Chelsea used Kante just fine post World Cup 2018, they won the Champions League in 2020. As a Chelsea fan I can say that Kante’s biggest issue is that he’s missed 50% of all possible minutes since 2019.

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minos157 t1_ixwu9md wrote

Oh wait, I had my years mixed up. Fair point!

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Iola_Morton t1_ixx8jrz wrote

It wasn’t just Kanté. Pogba was his perfect partner in that midfield

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mikmik555 t1_ixxi8d2 wrote

Well Kante is injured and so are many other players in the team. The team is made of people from the bench and still holding on. So…

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minos157 t1_ixy7gey wrote

Not to discount Denmark, who I think is a dark horse this year, but France is in a pretty easy group (by world cup standards).

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mikmik555 t1_ixyil7i wrote

Dark horse? Denmark was in the semi-finale of the EuroCup last year. It’s not an easy team. They are 10th on the FIFA ranking right after Portugal.

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minos157 t1_ixyu3o0 wrote

They were tenth headed into the tournament. That makes them a dark horse, not a predicted winner or favorite.

A dark horse is a team that's good but not expected to win, Denmark fits that bill. If everyone came out of groups seeded by FIFA ranking there would.be nine other teams who would be predicted to win before Denmark.

Not sure how that doesn't make them a dark horse. It's also why I specifically called it out, to showcase that while I'm calling it an easy group, I was not discounting the talent of Denmark.

You'd have been better off reading my comment instead of being offended by it.

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JJJeeettt t1_ixyqdpm wrote

Belgium is nowhere close to where they were 4yrs ago. And it already wasn't good enough.

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minos157 t1_ixyu8gi wrote

Sure, but they have the ability to score and I still think they are a favorite to go deep.

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JJJeeettt t1_ixz3s55 wrote

Just checking in. Do you still think that?

BTW, I'm Belgian. Our team doesn't deserve its FIFA ranking. At all.

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minos157 t1_ixz51wn wrote

I mean yeah now my thoughts are of course different lol

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kharjou t1_ixz08k3 wrote

Who's the player who can score? Eden "big mac" hazard or romelu "bench warmer" lukaku?

They have a great goalkeeper and de bruyne is nuts but they have average forwards

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__JO__39__ t1_ixws9vs wrote

I genuinely think if Brazil lost Casemiro their chances would drop to something very close to 0. Even though his replacement is a decent player, I think there is no defensive midfielder at his level currently and they would lose all the defensive security that allows them to play such attacking football without being suicidal.

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UnderThat t1_ixwvev1 wrote

Thing about France is, they always try and walk it in.

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TheWholesomeBrit t1_ixyb654 wrote

I'm a Chelsea fan, Kante plays for Chelsea. He's incredibly key, BUT, he's not as good as he used to be, so I don't think he's as important anymore. They miss him, clearly, but even if he was back I don't think he would be the shining light they would hope he is.

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ShitPostQuokkaRome t1_ixypz5a wrote

It depends on the national team, France looks the strongest one in the tournament even without Kante or Benzema, current Balloon d'Or holder. They simply have too many replacements

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saint-simon97 t1_iy001d3 wrote

Yes and no. Not as much as in say, basketball, but there are players who have an extreme importance either because they're decisive in their roles (eg players like Messi, Mbappe, etc) or because their replacements aren't good enough.

Don't think this applies to Kante personally but yeah.

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