World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 15 (28 June)

[Huddlestone22]

Ah well, nothing game played in a similar manner.

Unfortunately it means that England will struggle massively if any key players were to miss any games. Think it'll take a few years before England have decent depth (when the youth teams progress) but the first XI is fairly decent.

 

[idontgetit]

Rose was excellent. Dier the only way I can describe, looked fucking lazy tbh. Assumed he could just trot around in midfield, nothing special in terms of link up play and his closing down and positioning in front of the back four was bang average as well.

 

[nailsy]

I understand history and I understand that England have not faced a single decent team in the competition yet and I also understand that until they win a knockout match the pressure they will have on them will be enough to cripple them (in all probability). I just do not get why people are looking past the next match with any certainty at all. It's just plain arrogance that is completely misplaced.

It's not arrogance it's excitement. I bet fans of every other side who have made the knockouts are already looking at who they might play in the next round. I work with a Swiss lady and she was looking to see who they might play after Sweden if they get through that one.

 

[Ekmek]

Columbia you mean?

No I think they beat Colombia.

 

[yiddopaul]

But you can only take each game as it comes. Brazil haven't been amazing so far.

I’m guessing the same ‘England Fans’ are the same ‘Spurs fans’ that do nothing but moan and always look for negatives and overreact.

 

[tooey]

Dier is better defensively, Henderson is better with the ball. If you’re playing one true CM ideally you want a combination of the two.

The issue with Dier is that whilst he's probably better than Henderson defensively, that's not really saying much. I think there's a bit of a myth that because Dier has played at CB he's decent defensively in CM. I've watched people ghost past him far too often in a Spurs and England shirt.

 

[PLTuck]

I can understand why Southgate played the team he did. Those 8 needed game time. A lot of them haven't played a competitive game for weeks. He was on a bit of a hiding to nothing with it. Had he picked a full strength side and we still lost or looked flat he'd be wrong. If he played full strength and we won easily and then go out next game he'd be wrong. If we go out vs Columbia he'll be wrong.

Hopefully his decision will be proven a good one in the coming days and weeks!

 

[Zippy1980]

If England ever wanted a really good chance to get to at least the semi final it is now.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Well, we'll always have this:

 

[lennon180]

If I’m remembering correctly didn’t we beat Colombia in a World Cup with our very own sicknote having a blinder? I just googled it and we did in 98 as I get irritated by people who don’t just google.......

 

[Mr Pink]

I just hope we dont freeze against Colombia, tonight would of been a fantastic opportunity to keep confidence high in a game with no pressure.

Expected a few changes but not 8. It's obvious not facing Brazil was the priority but Colombia could be very difficult, I'd of preffered to face Japan but understand why Southgate has planned it this way.

Rose is definitely better than young though.

 

[riggi]

Get innnnn

 

[Romulus]

Vardy and Dier etc can have very little complaints if they see very little football for the rest of the tournament

 

[Gassin's finest]

Well at least Rose should've played his way into starting.


Unfortunately the only thing I trust Southgate to do is to carry on making the wrong choices.

 

[King of Otters]

That'll do. No one will give a shit about this game if both teams get through the next round.

We will be the laughing of the world if we go and lose to Columbia though.

 

[nailsy]

Ah well, nothing game played in a similar manner.

Unfortunately it means that England will struggle massively if any key players were to miss any games. Think it'll take a few years before England have decent depth (when the youth teams progress) but the first XI is fairly decent.

I don't think that's necessarily true. We could change one or two first team players for one of the backups and it wouldn't make a massive difference (apart from Kane), but if you change the whole team its going to look disjointed.

 

[mpickard2087]

Tbh I could have easily seen that happening if we'd picked the 'strongest' eleven... A half-decent team with superior technical/football ability just dominating the ball, and eventually finding the breakthrough.

Only time will tell if those were good decisions made in the long run, but I just look at the three group games (plus the warm ups) and think England have got to have a better shape without the ball (and have got to start pressing better), and they definitely, even with a lack of technical quality and metronome type players, have to get a better shape and structure with the ball and look to work teams about a bit more... I'd be very surprised if we can keep relying on set pieces and dumping the ball down the channels for the 3rd man run.

 

[spursfan77]

Very strange all round. I’m crossed between Southgate showing his true inept colours or him throwing that game.

 

[Colonel Dax]

Henderson is better than Dier but tbh England’s pivot CM options are poor. Biggest weakness in the squad.

 

[fridgemagnet]

Watch this backfire on me; but Vardy doesn't offer enough in an England shirt for me.

Dier was better when Maguire came on.

Rose did well apart from the goal.

That performance was like what happens when teams make loads of changes in the 2nd half of friendlies.

I should've stayed in and washed my hair for 90 mins than watch that. Ho-hum here's hopping for better next week.