The Football Thread

[m100]

Originally Posted by footstep

Ok Meini but let's keep our wives!
Congrats to England.
I remind have written here that Kane was going to be a great.
He is.

Something tells me Rooney won't be keeping the England goalscoring record as long as Charlton did.

[izzzzythedog]

Originally Posted by Meini Again

And I didn't see one bloomin minute of Eng v Panama.
Not one minute

The first half is great , the second muhhhhh

Either way a classic . Its a shame the drive to score wasnt there in the second half to make it something really special , something the world would take note of .

Kane in many ways was lucky , a hat trick is special but not the way this one was won . Fantastic first penalty , a real schooling in how to take them .

[victor meldrew]

My wife and her friends were enjoying the sunshine in the garden and left me in peace to watch the footie and some of the cricket.

The two local watering holes we charging an entrance fee to watch the footie, so watched it at home for free, well apart from the £150 license fee.

[buttsie]

Worked a treat last time - lost on penalties to Germany - AGAIN
other times , sucked in red card Argentina x1 Portugal x2 , game over.

[Roger Allott]

England is in pretty much the same situation as Russia was before today - two convincing wins against quite/very humble opposition.


Russia then came up against some quality and pedigree (Uruguay) ..... and looked as poor as we'd all expected them to be before the tournament.


We'll be facing Belgium, who'll field a strong side even if they rest some of their big names. Time will tell whether we're another Russia or not.


I think we've shown enough quality in our performances to say we're in the best 8 teams in the tournament, but I feel that the top 4 (Brazil, Germany, France, Spain) have got more gears into which they can move when the going gets tough.


I'd like Southgate to rest Harry Kane, but I think the fact he was subbed quite early against Panama might suggest he'll be in the starting XI. Dele Alli shouldn't start even if he's fully recovered, but I'd like to see him get 30 mins or so at the end to get him match-sharp.


Two players have yellow cards (Walker & Loftus-Cheek) so I'd like to keep them out of the team for the Belgium game to avoid any unnecessary suspensions for the knockout rounds. Who have we got to play right side of a 3-man defence? Jones?


I suppose the plan was to play a 2-man holding midfield when we come up against quality opposition, so presumably that'll mean Dier takes the place of one of the three more adventurous midfielders.


Rashford surely has to play in this game. It can be sold to Sterling as an opportunity to rest him rather than any lack of belief in him.


.

[jokerman]

I fear that this is one tournament to early for our lads. But next time we will have the experience required to win it.
Come on England.

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by Roger Allott

England is in pretty much the same situation as Russia was before today - two convincing wins against quite/very humble opposition.
... the top 4 (Brazil, Germany, France, Spain) have got more gears into which they can move when the going gets tough.

Who have we got to play right side of a 3-man defence? Jones?

I suppose the plan was to play a 2-man holding midfield when we come up against quality opposition, so presumably that'll mean Dier takes the place of one of the three more adventurous midfielders..

If England play as poorly as the second half against Panama, we'll be coming home. It was frustrating to see Vardy get on the pitch yet the team cruising and not pushing to create more chances and maintain momentum. We don't have other gears...Spain were slipping theirs last night. DeGea is regressing before our eyes - he has always been suspect at crosses offset by great reaction saves but the overall disintigration of the Spanish central defence is extraordinary.

The England defence is already full of right sided players...unfortunately Maguire is the only one who can adjust to play on the left - he's better as a central defender. It might be tempting to bring in Jones and Cahill on the right and centre, however I wonder if Lukaku will be rested and Belgium will try DeBruyne in his better more advanced position? That would expose the england defensive frailities. All of that group (including the keeper) have a mistake in them which I think will be our undoing sooner rather than later. If Dier plays in front of them then you'll have another who concedes possession too readily.
I still don't comprehend why we have a left back who is continually left spectating, has been easily turned and 'run' by low-level opponents in both matches thus far and going forward, slows play down in a team supposedly built on pace?

Alli should be rested - I fear his tournament might even be over. In which case, we need to wrap Lingard in cotton wool and start playing Rashford from the off.

The good news is that nobody has really impressed so far, albeit the Uruguay side did perform well and I like the look of both Columbia and Croatia. If Serbia are eliminated, they can count themselves unlucky.

The Argentina match is a must-see...

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by jokerman

I do hope so. But i fear that this is one tournament to early for our lads. But next time we will have the experience required to win it.
Come on England.

With the calibre of some of the youngsters (Sessignon at left back for starters), we might be in with a very decent chance. But Qatar's climate will sadly turn the next competition into a lottery based on heat endurance. A shocking choice of host by a corrupt selection process.

[buttsie]

Originally Posted by pierrelm

With the calibre of some of the youngsters (Sessignon at left back for starters), we might be in with a very decent chance. But Qatar's climate will sadly turn the next competition into a lottery based on heat endurance. A shocking choice of host by a corrupt selection process.

ahem ---- not forgetting the bought summer WC 2022 was moved by Fifa so they didnt have to give back any money

Qatar in winter - nothing over 25C/77F - 21/11-18/12

https://weatherspark.com/m/105083/11...-in-Doha-Qatar

Far better than USA 1994 where even the Germans wilted

Hard to see England ever getting the better of all the streetwise cynical Countries
who think cheating is an art form

All too often they get sucker punched or stone walled

Then theres the penalty shoot out record in sudden death games

[victor meldrew]

Will Liverpool be looking for a new manager?