World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 24 (7 July)

[mattyspurs]

I've only watched England in the World Cup proper. In my lifetime I can only remember 86 Semi vs Germany and Euro 96 vs Holland as games that I enjoyed watching. The similarities between England and Spurs at their frustrating worst are spooky.
Why anyone would pay money to watch friendlies and qualifiers is beyond me.

It’s called supporting your country as a football fan?

If you are not English then fair enough

 

[SdB]

I don't think Sterling is as effective out wide. We've seen that in two tournaments now, that's why Southgate as followed Pep's use of him. Secondly, Alli is carrying an injury and may not stretch defences as well as Sterling.

His finishing is woeful but as things stand, it's working, and you would be mental to change that going forward. Perhaps it may need changing at some point during a game but you don't ditch something that's working

I contest it isn't working given how shit we are in open play but yes we are winning games due to our set pieces and heading ability.

 

[Dirty Ewok]

wow....

 

[Sandros Shiny Head]

How on earth did that not go in!

 

[Marty]

Perisic? How?

 

[werty]

No luck there for Croatia.

 

[tiger666]

How on earth did that not go in!

There was a post in the way.

 

[Marty]

I've only watched England in the World Cup proper. In my lifetime I can only remember 86 Semi vs Germany and Euro 96 vs Holland as games that I enjoyed watching. The similarities between England and Spurs at their frustrating worst are spooky.
Why anyone would pay money to watch friendlies and qualifiers is beyond me.

Some of us just like to watch football, and discuss it. Even shit games can be analysed and discussed at length.

 

[goughie1966]

Keystone cops at the back there

 

[SdB]

It’s called supporting your country as a football fan?

If you are not English then fair enough

I have turned into my father who didn't think we were unlucky vs Germany in 86.
Football for me is about entertainment. Of course I want England to win and perhaps that's why I'm suggesting ditching Sterling. It's all about opinions although i also work on fact and look at Sterling's international strike rate/assists and with what I see with my own eyes.
Plus Dele wasn't carrying an injury when the Sterling experiment started.

 

[werty]

How on earth did that not go in!

Hit the post perfectly for Russia. A little to the right and it would have gone in off it. A little to the left and it would have deflected off the Russian guy and gone in.

 

[Gassin's finest]

I agree with the latter but not that they have minimal technical competenency - it you mean football technique that is. Both Sterling and Lingard are pacey with good dribling skills (particularly Sterling) but then, yes, I agree: they have minimal level of awareness and decision making.
I have not watched Lingard in the EPL much but in the WC it strikes but that he always (yes always) have a poor touch in the "final moment", whether it is setting up the ball to shoot or a vital pass or a dribling which often goes wrong with the final touch of the ball..

That's just it, no he doesn't. He can run fast with the ball, and relies on jinking with the ball with his little flailing hand, followed by a burst of pace to try and beat his man... But he's not actually a good dribbler. He is not a flair player, and he has limited technique. He just runs fast.

Some think that is enough. It isn't.

 

[tiger666]

Hit the post perfectly for Russia. A little to the right and it would have gone in off it. A little to the left and it would have deflected off the Russian guy and gone in.

Fucking drugged up post.

 

[SdB]

Some of us just like to watch football, and discuss it. Even shit games can be analysed and discussed at length.

As we are doing now??
Somehow I'm being criticised for questioning playing someone as a striker at international level who can't hit a barn door as evidenced by 2 goals in 45 appearances.

 

[Marty]

As we are doing now??
Somehow I'm being criticised for questioning playing someone as a striker at international level who can't hit a barn door as evidenced by 2 goals in 45 appearances.

And I don't disagree with you on that. Others do. That's where the discussion comes in.

 

[rossdapep]

I contest it isn't working given how shit we are in open play but yes we are winning games due to our set pieces and heading ability.

Except we haven't been shit from open play. We've been fine and it could possibly be better but we ain't exactly the greatest team to ever exist. We had Sweden hanging on for most of that second half and had we changed it it may have played into their hands.

You don't change things when you've got a team on the ropes, you keep suffocating them until you wither score again or are able to help run the clock down. None of us really know what Southgate's plan is and the simple fact is he may not see Alli up close with Kane as the key to the overall set-up and strategy.

Just try to enjoy the ride and don't have any expectations. It's much better.

 

[Shadydan]

Watching England is a painful experience and I just can't be doing with all the overexcited 'it's coming home' nonsense.
As I see it Sterling is fast but shit, he negates our best goalscorer and we then play Dele out of position rendering him less effective.

We don't have the talent of the squads of 90,96 And 2004-06 so we need to make do with what we have, they may not be as pleasing on the eye as previous teams but they are effective. That's all I can wish for as an England fan right now and like I said it's working.

Sterling is playing well and getting into positions, he's just not scoring them but he is 100% contributing positively to how we play.

Also the it's coming home nonsense is a meme, it's not meant to be taken seriously.

It's hard to believe that you're an England fan, we've achieved something in this tournament and all you can do is pick apart the style of play...how do you find the energy to be this miserable? Enjoy it.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

 

[SdB]

We don't have the talent of the squads of 90,96 And 2004-06 so we need to make do with what we have, they may not be as pleasing on the eye as previous teams but they are effective. That's all I can wish for as an England fan right now and like I said it's working.

Sterling is playing well and getting into positions, he's just not scoring them but he is 100% contributing positively to how we play.

Also the it's coming home nonsense is a meme, it's not meant to be taken seriously.

It's hard to believe that you're an England fan, we've achieved something in this tournament and all you can do is pick apart the style of play...how do you find the energy to be this miserable? Enjoy it.

I'm a realist and a grumpy cad to boot.

 

[Streetspur77]

I contest it isn't working given how shit we are in open play but yes we are winning games due to our set pieces and heading ability.

If you can’t enjoy being in the World Cup Semi final honestly just stop watching football, there’s literally no point