World Cup KO: En-ger-land, En-ger-land, En-ger-land (was 'Group G')

OutcastLondoner

At the end of the day, I think the only real difference between the sides was Perisic. Yes, Croatia were stronger mentally and dominated but they weren’t doing all that much with it without him. He had the sharpness and drive to get ahead of walker for the goal, get that shot off that hit the post and nudge it to Mandzukic. Just a quality England didn’t have when they were on top

SuzanneClaret

IronHerb

But we weren't talking about the women world cup. Different game.

ianbishoplegend

Need a plan B team, that doesn’t have Lingard and Alli in midfield. Dier for Henderson and Rashford for Sterling is not a upgrade.

Ace of Clubs

Pearces_Left_Foot

The u20,s won the World Cup earlier in the year so it’s 0 really

SuzanneClaret

IronHerb said:

But we weren't talking about the women world cup. Different game.

Different tournament maybe but a different game, no not all.

Although having said that there is far less histrionics in the women’s game and very little rolling around like they’ve been hit by sniper fire.

BubblesNeverDies

I thought it was very refreshing that there was no rolling around in the game, and virtually no diving either as far as I can remember.
Suze, did you get a chance to correct the Argentinian girl on your course? ;biggrin

MunichHammer

This morning we were listening to 3 Lions in the car. When we got out my daughter (6ys) asked me 'Daddy, why is the song called football's coming home even though football doesn't come home?"

So young and she's already sussed it out. ;weep ;weep ;weep

Bazshuayi

;weep

ASLEFshrugged

I thought it was a 7pm ko, I'm working until 6:40pm.

MIAHammer

Huge difference between the teams when counter attacking. Belgium surge forward and we seem to trickle forward.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Belgium looking a lot livelier

Purely because they have Hazard and KDB pulling the strings

IronHerb

And because we have Sterling who is woeful.

Adam

I’m very disappointed that Rashford hasn’t started this game. Seems like the perfect opportunity to give him a go. Oh well.

EXETERHAMMER

Dull I'm afraid.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

I know Southgate has defied expectations etc and I'm happy for him but its games like this where I find him tactically pretty inflexible

Apart from Panama we have lacked creativity with the 5-3-2 formation, I agree I would've liked to see Rashford up top with Kane with perhaps a few attackers behind him

Either way this game is effectively a dead rubber...it really doesn't matter

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

So slow....so boring

No imagination at all

Just lile the 2nd half of croatia struggling to see us scoring from open play

OldCastleSwift

Heads the commentator say that we were second only to Iran for the fewest chances created from open play.

That's really poor when you consider who else was in the competition.

OldCastleSwift

Belgium showing us up now

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Southgate with another like.for like change

I dont care about this game but i really dont get some managers who persists whe the system isnt working

MunichHammer

I disagree there OCS - we are opening up because we need a goal and Belgium are taking advantage.

England played a decent tournament. For Southgate this is the first time he has come up against decent opposition in earnest. I am sure they will learn from it and be stronger next time around.

MIAHammer

We are so slow and laboured going forward, the whole Belgium team can get back to defend before we approach their 18yard box.

OldCastleSwift

Whereas their attacks are quick and the movement and one-touch football is much better than ours, which is why I say they're showing us up.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

But they also have better players than us

KDB is arguably in the top 3 central midfielders in the world, Hazard is an ex pfa player of the year and potential Ronaldo replacement at Real, Lukaku is about as good as Kane and Mertens has got like 60 goals in the last 2 seasons for Napoli

You chase the game you open yourself up....and world class players epxloit that space

MIAHammer

I agree chasing the game will open yourselves up but that still doesn’t explain/excuse why we are so slow going forward. We just don’t seem to have the players for that. And I’m not just talking about this game. It is been the same since we got out of the group stage. Plenty of possession on the halfway line but we struggled moving forward from there. We lack a creative midfield player that can open up the opposition.

OldCastleSwift

Not sure we lack them, MIA, they just weren't picked.

Wilshere and Shelvey are two players that can pick a pass and get the ball moving quickly, but Southgate didn't fancy them.

Personally, I'd have them over Henderson and Delph all day long.

IronHerb

I find I cheer just as much if we score from open play or from set pieces. We do not have a midfielder who can create chances or, for that matter, go past an opponent. Until we do we need to be good at set pieces.

Slaven_Cups_His_Beard

Not really a surprise to get turned over by them again, still I’ve enjoyed this WC and England certainly did better than what I thought they would. Will we have a better chance of making a final, probably not, but I’m pleased for Southgate he’s a good guy and helped us believe we could actually do it. Personally I just wanted to see us in the final, it wasn’t to be, Croatia had too much for us and we didn’t take that critical chance at 1-0.

Proud of the lads, won’t bother picking out who should’ve gone and who should or should not of started, they gave it their all and that’s all you can ask

Cuz1

Slav we both know it’s all about opinions southgates mine and your team would only differ slightly probably same results though lol it’s a start and hopefully with a bit of tweaking and that bit of luck we will be able to go on challenging for these semis and the next step with it