We went shopping early this morning, as we parked Baddiel & Skinner came on the radio.......I refused to get out of the car until it had finished.....much to MrsC&B’s consternation ;lol
Yes agree it was a very much easier game than I expected, thought we looked very assured and have to i like this feeling of watching England in a relaxed frame of mind and feeling quietly confident ;biggrin
What a day! Great birthday present and the England win certainly made a terrible day a lot more bearable. The only downside to that match was that it didn't come against the Germans. ;clap
Ironherb you either haven't or have chosen not to understand what I meant. My point was Pickford made three crucial saves whereas Olsen made none. Had we had Olsen and they had Pickford then Olsen would not have made the saves whereas I'm sure Pickford would have saved at least the second and would certainly made a better go of the first. It doesn't matter how much you dominate games it's moments like those that determine what happens.
It seems unthinkable almost, but we could get to the world cup final!
I am not sure we have a good side, but I don't know as I don't think we have met one yet to measure ourselves against as we have had a most charmed passage so far. We have played Tunisia, Panama, Belgium, Colombia, Sweden and will now play Croatia, the only one we would have expected to have real difficulty with during any previous competition would be Belgium and we did lose that one (although neither were at strength), which leaves me wondering if we have just hyped ourselves up again without any real evidence of capability.
Previously we would have met a Portugal, Germany or Brazil by now and have been on our way home so I think we need wait until we play either Belgium or France before we can actually measure ourselves. The good news is even if outclassed by those teams on a normal day, as I think we would be, the final is a time when things can come into play that can balance things and I think as a team we are together and that can bridge a quality gap sometimes. We do of course have to beat Croatia first, but I feel we have a quality gap over them and so hopefully we can navigate that hurdle.
C&B I agree with your summing up. Whilst we dominated today and deserved to win we didn't really create many chances and I can't recall their keeper making a save. Sweden didn't offer much but still created a few good chances and a bit of poor finishing and some good saves kept them out. I think the way games have gone they should get past Croatia but the way France and especially Belgium are playing I think we would get found out. However as you say in a one off game anything can happen.
But bear in mind that nobody else knocks Sweden over easily or even scores against them.
Whilst I'm sure everyone will acknowledge we are in the easier half of the draw, I feel only Brazil on an off dau would still beat us. France and Belgium obviously have some outstanding players but both are capable of off days. If we have that 'on' day then we can dream of and actually bring it home!
Thorn, I would have been disappointed if any of those efforts had gone in. Decent saves but not worldies imo so iIthink Olsen would have expected to stop them too.
C&B, We haven't met a Germany, Brazil or Portugal because they were not as good as they have been in the past whereas we are playing better than in most recent World Cups.
All three of the saves Guy Mowbray was going crazy about should be saved by a top level keeper. We would be straight on the back of Adrian had he let any of those in
Did Croatia have any players banned for semi ? I took my wife out for our birthday meal although we did watch the penalty shootout on the phone and the bar man came over and watched
Comments
#worldcupfever......
I have the white version with Passion, Glory and Honour across the front, worn it for every game so far #bobbymooreeffect.
Weds is our pool night, but we'll be missing it next week.
Jordan Pickford
I expected more from Sweden...
Lingard had a good game I thought...
Our dead balls are so good, great coaching..
;wink
The only downside to that match was that it didn't come against the Germans. ;clap
I love Harry Kane
A proper captain and a decent lad.
https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1014485179639922688
https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1014452778402541568
It doesn't matter how much you dominate games it's moments like those that determine what happens.
I am not sure we have a good side, but I don't know as I don't think we have met one yet to measure ourselves against as we have had a most charmed passage so far. We have played Tunisia, Panama, Belgium, Colombia, Sweden and will now play Croatia, the only one we would have expected to have real difficulty with during any previous competition would be Belgium and we did lose that one (although neither were at strength), which leaves me wondering if we have just hyped ourselves up again without any real evidence of capability.
Previously we would have met a Portugal, Germany or Brazil by now and have been on our way home so I think we need wait until we play either Belgium or France before we can actually measure ourselves. The good news is even if outclassed by those teams on a normal day, as I think we would be, the final is a time when things can come into play that can balance things and I think as a team we are together and that can bridge a quality gap sometimes. We do of course have to beat Croatia first, but I feel we have a quality gap over them and so hopefully we can navigate that hurdle.
I think the way games have gone they should get past Croatia but the way France and especially Belgium are playing I think we would get found out. However as you say in a one off game anything can happen.
Whilst I'm sure everyone will acknowledge we are in the easier half of the draw, I feel only Brazil on an off dau would still beat us. France and Belgium obviously have some outstanding players but both are capable of off days. If we have that 'on' day then we can dream of and actually bring it home!
I would have been disappointed if any of those efforts had gone in. Decent saves but not worldies imo so iIthink Olsen would have expected to stop them too.
C&B,
We haven't met a Germany, Brazil or Portugal because they were not as good as they have been in the past whereas we are playing better than in most recent World Cups.