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

MrsGrey

We made heavy weather of that. Really important cos we're getting nothing out of the Belgium game. And Panama v Tunisia could end up with 3 points for one of them

Hammerwombat

thornburyiron said:

England won’t beat any of the better teams. We struggled against a non tackling, non jumping below average players.

I disagree, I think we can beat anyone. But we have to have the ability to change game plan. Tunisia knew exactly what they were doing, they played to their strengths and pushed us around. A young side can go that way, but they will learn from it and so will Gareth Southgate. Glad to see us keep patience and keep going. Could have ended 1-1, but we nicked it.

Adam

I wonder what the percentage is for England goals in tournaments, which are from set pieces. Most I can remember from recent times are from set pieces.

baracks_a_hammer

Many other bigger teams failed to get going against inferior opposition. Through whatever means England got the job done. Thoroughly deserved too. It was always going to be difficult in the second half with the humidity.

The only thing is, you always fancy there to be defensive ricket in stones and maguire so I’m not sure both should play against better opposition

MrsGrey

Blimey. Pundits acting like we won the Cup.

We nicked the first group game.

baracks_a_hammer

Tunisia are a perfect example of why the tournament finals should not be 48 teams

thornburyiron

That will be an interesting game because neither can defend but they can’t attack either.
Belgium will bury Tunisia because lukaku will have a field day if they put crosses in. He’s taller than their defenders to start with so he will only have to go on tiptoes to win every header.
I’ve never seen a defence before who can’t or won’t jump.

SuzanneClaret

They are former England players.

They are happy.

I think that’s ok.

Lukerz

Job done.

Credit where due.

We won’t beat better sides? What better sides? None of them have won yet lol.

jay_in_cpt

A deserved win IMO
Against let's not forget the highest ranked team in Africa , above Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria etc..
Kane has the knack where to be at the right time, Spurs must be havin a love in right now
IMO Rashford should start in next game..

Hammerwombat

My man of the match was Harry Maguire. Never really rated him before, but I liked him.

SuzanneClaret

I was quite impressed with McGuire tonight.

steve

How on earth did Stones and Lingard get into the team they were beyond poor

MrsGrey

SuzanneClaret said:

They are former England players.

They are happy.

I think that’s ok.

Happy is okay.

But they aren't there as former players/fans. They are getting paid to offer expert analysis.

If we just want fanboys reaction, we could livestream twitter and save a few quid.

Hammerwombat

Lingard didn’t have his finishing boots on, so made himself look poor. Think I only heard Stones name mentioned once.

Yeoldhammer

What are people talking about, we played some very nice stuff, second half went a bit stale. But we created opportunities, we didn't hoof ball, we showed signs of a genuine football team. I actually enjoyed about 75% of it.

Get Lingard on shooting practice with Sterling and Rashford and maintain that first half presence in the second half and we will be good. Maguire could do with a confidence boost looks a bit scared by the occasion hopefully he will grow into it as the tournament goes on.

Tunisia were total trash at least Saudi Arabia got over the half way line. Worst team in the tournament.

SuzanneClaret

I think that’s a bit harsh.

You can’t exoect them to turn off emotion.

Hammerwombat

Gareth is the coolest man there. Wearing a waistcoat, and a blue shirt. He’s either wearing some serious antiperspirant or he has an air conditioned dugout.

MunichHammer

Hammerwombat said:

Gareth is the coolest man there. Wearing a waistcoat, and a blue shirt. He’s either wearing some serious antiperspirant or he has an air conditioned dugout.

A German mate of mine mentioned that all he needed was an umbrella and a bowler hat. That would have made him archetypically British.

thornburyiron

16 more teams of the calibre of Tunisia, Panama, Saudi etc makes a mockery of the tournament. Surely qualifying rounds are meant to eliminate dross as far as possible or are we getting to an ‘every team has to be a winner’ mentality.

MrsGrey

Yeoldhammer said:

What are people talking about, we played some very nice stuff, second half went a bit stale. But we created opportunities, we didn't hoof ball, we showed signs of a genuine football team. I actually enjoyed about 75% of it.

Get Lingard on shooting practice with Sterling and Rashford and maintain that first half presence in the second half and we will be good. Maguire could do with a confidence boost looks a bit scared by the occasion hopefully he will grow into it as the tournament goes on.

Tunisia were total trash at least Saudi Arabia got over the half way line. Worst team in the tournament.

So you are saying we played well in one half against a poor team.

grey_til_I_dye

'dross' that England struggled to beat, and Spain only beat 1-0.

FIFA rank 21.

Our definition of 'dross' is clearly very different.

baracks_a_hammer

So I need a bit of clarification - I thought the Greys’ allegiances were with the ROI?? Or is it only one of the Greys?... ;hmm

MrsGrey

Look, it was quite jolly.But I'm not convinced ON THAT SHOWING w are guaranteed to get out of the group.

grey_til_I_dye

baracks

Just me, although Mrs G has recently discovered Irish roots.

Yeoldhammer

MrsGrey said:

Yeoldhammer said:

What are people talking about, we played some very nice stuff, second half went a bit stale. But we created opportunities, we didn't hoof ball, we showed signs of a genuine football team. I actually enjoyed about 75% of it.

Get Lingard on shooting practice with Sterling and Rashford and maintain that first half presence in the second half and we will be good. Maguire could do with a confidence boost looks a bit scared by the occasion hopefully he will grow into it as the tournament goes on.

Tunisia were total trash at least Saudi Arabia got over the half way line. Worst team in the tournament.

So you are saying we played well in one half against a poor team.

First 60 65 minutes we created chances, last 20 apart from the goal we didn't create much but were in control of the entire game, never looked like conceding.

Tunisia were a poor team and had 11 behind the ball the entire game. They tried settling for a point with Belgium to play next ? they might have just sacrificed their tournament with the most negative brand of football in this tournament yet.

thornburyiron

No idea how FIFA rank the teams but if they are 21st in the world then there’s a big problem.
They are extremely poor and cannot defend or attack with any intent.
Spain may have only beaten them 1-0 in a friendly but I’m sure they’d have beaten them comfortably tonight.

Bazshuayi

Plenty of other teams have struggled against so called lesser teams (Tunisia recently ranked as high as 12th).

We kept going. Technically, we were better than past England sides. In past years, some of our play has been naive, prehistoric and embarrassing.

We're a young team with decent potential (and other younger players potentially boosting that in upcoming tournaments).

I liked Loftus-Cheek and Rashford subs. I would've taken Young off for Rose too (actually I'd have had Bertrand in the first place). But you know me, I'd always make the max amount of TFs, I mean subs... ;wink

'Better' sides tend to give teams more space and won't put everyone behind the ball. Tunisia got a lucky pen and did next to nothing offensively.

When we play Belgium, most of their players are known and mix with our own so its not as if we won't be used to playing against them and vice versa. I havent seen much to be frightened off but I'm realistic enough to know that our best players would have to play like they do for their clubs if we're to progress once out of the group. I'm not feeling pessimistic though, we have some very decent players and, for the first time in ages, look like we might actually gel into a team! Whens the last time anyone can remember us being a good team? We had a golden generation of players that never fulfilled a team potential.

The only real negative for me is that Sterling provokes a frustration because (apparently like Sane) he does so much better in a City shirt.

I think Rashford should play in front of him. He doesnt seem fazed by putting on an England shirt. Perhaps Loftus-Cheek for Lingard too

Next game....

Pickford
Trippier Walker Stones Maguire Rose
Henderson
Alli Loftus-Cheek
Rashford
Kane

(ignore the formation ;-P)

Pearces_Left_Foot

Good first half other than giving away a penalty although we seemed to have clown shoes on when it came to having a shot . We looked strong at set plays and against more open teams we should be able to play a bit more

baracks_a_hammer

Panama won’t lay a glove on England and Belgium could play a completely different 11 and steam roller Tunisia. First and second is going down to the last game, but nothing else is at stake