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Chelsea: Five blue things to look for in World Cup’s final matches

By Travis Tyler

VOLGOGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 18: Gareth Southgate, Manager of England prepares Ruben Loftus-Cheek of England to be substituted on during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group G match between Tunisia and England at Volgograd Arena on June 18, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
VOLGOGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 18: Gareth Southgate, Manager of England prepares Ruben Loftus-Cheek of England to be substituted on during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group G match between Tunisia and England at Volgograd Arena on June 18, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) /
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KAZAN, RUSSIA – JUNE 16: Olivier Giroud of France runs with the ball during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group C match between France and Australia at Kazan Arena on June 16, 2018 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

4. Can Olivier Giroud find the net?

For a side so stacked with attacking talent, France struggle to score a ton. A key showcase of that is the drought Giroud is currently experiencing on the world stage.

It should be noted that Giroud is helping immensely in other ways. His hold up play is creating space for the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to make runs in behind. He is a constant distraction for center backs that would rather divert away from him onto the other strikers.

But it would be nice of Giroud to score before the World Cup ends. It is more likely than not his last and he has been key to the goals France has been able to score. Giroud’s play is deserving of the back of the net, but he will have to go find it himself while he still can.

5. Will Gary Cahill or Ruben Loftus-Cheek play again without a third place match?

Cahill and Loftus-Cheek both entered the World Cup on good form, but were not guaranteed starters. Cahill’s only chance came in the Belgium battle of the B teams. Loftus-Cheek featured in the group stages while Dele Alli was injured but has been absent since.

England has been marching on without the two and the starting XI has been more or less consistent in the tournament. It is not perfect by any means, but there have not been enough faults to start rotating. That leaves the remaining chances available to Cahill and Loftus-Cheek low.

The only chance either really has of playing again is if England fall to Croatia and have a third place match. Even then, chances are slim that Gareth Southgate will sacrifice the (frankly meaningless) match to showcase the part time players. Both Cahill and Loftus-Cheek could really use the time to show what they have before the season starts, but it is unlikely either is seen again bar injury.

Next: Chelsea can keep Eden Hazard, but they must start moving

Bonus: Maurizio Sarri to sign before the World Cup ends?

Sarri will sign for Chelsea before the World Cup turned to before the group stages end turned to after the round of 16 to after the quarter finals to after the semifinals. If Sarri is an actual person who exists and is not someone the media and fans invented, he is expected to sign sometime Wednesday. Or if current trends continue, sometime before World Cup 2022.

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