World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 28 (11 July)

[spursfan1991]

its a little shameful that a country of the size of england and also the money they have that they cant produce 2 or 3 midfielders that can pass a ball around and Croatia the size of birmingham can.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Some really disappointing performances from England players today. Young and Henderson are both such waste of space and honestly, Kane had zero impact on this game. I don't know why he is constantly so deep. Yeah, I know he is good on the ball but come on, that is not why he is on the pitch.

I also thought Kane was way too deep, he wasn't even in the box half the time.

Anyway Modric runs the game as usual, just too good at controlling the tempo. Rakitic was calm even though didn't have the impact he did on other games. These types of players would make the world of difference to England.

Still, overall a good tournament and an amazing amount of positives to take from it.

 

[DiamondLites]

What was the deal with Rebic, did he not get booked for a flailing arm to Walker’s face in the first half?

 

[fortworthspur]

The alternative is Rashford I guess who has looked rubbish.

or push Alli forward, keep Lingard and start Dier/RLC/Delph in the midfield. Also, im not trying to be a homer because Rose is far from his best ATM but Young had one good tackle otherwise he was an absolute liability today.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

Probably kane's worst match in the world cup.

Feels so long ago now but those 2 chances were so big, ignore the fact he could have passed to sterling the rebound chance was agonising

 

[heelspurs]

Can’t be unhappy with how the tournament went but we should have won that game in the first half. Feels so familiar and I’m so fed up with not winning these big games.

Tonight reinforces why spurs need to buy some winners midfielders, REAL midfielders.

FYP

 

[13VanDerBale13]

What was the deal with Rebic, did he not get booked for a flailing arm to Walker’s face in the first half?

commentators assumed it was him but it was for mandzukic for kicking the ball away

 

[dk-yid]

Croatia were far better. England were lucky it even got to extra time. Southgate stuck with the XI that got him there instead of being brave and making the necessary changes in order to stand a better chance.

What nonsense. If we had stuck a few chances away we would have capitalised on a brilliant start which proved that Southgate got it right. They got tired and Croatia pulled themselves back in the game to their credit.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Can't complain really, we got a lot further than I expected. A lot further.

But I'm going to complain a little bit

We need a proper playmaker. I didn't like the way Kane was used. He ended up being neither one thing or the other and we went backwards far too much. It seemed like we got less threatening and less positive the more the tournament wore on with perhaps an over reliance on set pieces, that's just how it seemed to me, I'm probably wrong.

Frustrating going out to a team with Lovren (****) and that rat lipped right back (bigger ****) but they are a decent side, shame we couldn't get that second goal.

 

[mpickard2087]

I don't think England did a lot wrong there, but finally we've got punished for being unable to keep the ball and control the ball for spells of the game. For all the effort, if the opposition enjoys so much of the ball in and around the final third, and constantly work overloads in certain areas (the flanks) then, usually, eventually the breakthrough will come.

I think the system has also got a bit exposed, out wide. All three midfielders look dead on their feet having to shuffle across constantly (as well as break forward) and there's a big disconnect now from back to front. I'd have gone 4-3-3, still would, match up in central midfield and try to pin back their fullbacks.

And in extra time much the same pattern. You couldn't fault the effort or application of our defence/midfield but if you have to defend for that long then there will be moments where a) the opposition prise the door open and b) someone switches off and presents an opportunity. In the end I don't think we were hard done by, Croatia had at least half a dozen decent moments, and managed to stick two away.

As we all know, the next step for English football is to start developing midfielders, not just one here or there that can be the 'messiah'-type figure there needs to be ideally 10-15-20 options eventually playing throughout the league, players who can conduct and run the play. Your Luka Modric's etc. Fair play for getting so far with a fairly limited set of tools, but the winning teams are able to control the game.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Came into the World Cup with fuck all expectations.

Semi Final with a manager people may have not liked/rated and besides my Spurs bias with fuck all interest.

Not sure you can really shit on this team, a semi final against the Croatians best international team since what, 98?

Fucking hurts sitting here again - least it wasn't pens.

 

[StockSpur]

man city getting us knocked out with shit defensive and shit no brain attackng play, but othetwise thanks for getting us this far Pep..influence my asshole!

 

[Deleted member 27855]

England were terrible but the referee was worse. It's a different match if he doesn't let Croatia get away with all the shithousery in the second half. Apparently the Croatians had a "talk" with him coming off the pitch at the end of the first half. It clearly impacted the way he called the game in the second half.

 

[kaz Hirai]

As a neutral maybe we can actually get our transfer window started now!

No chance, maybe from August 1

It's funny how England get praise for over achieving and reaching the semi-finals.

But Liverpool get laughed at for over achieving and reaching the European Cup final.

Don't we also get laughed at for only finishing 2nd? Called legends! And we have nowhere near the power of Liverpool, united, city, Chelsea even arsenal

PS. Fuck Liverpool

 

[TheChosenOne]

Harry to snatch a hat trick against Russia in the 3rd/4th play off then ?

 

[tiger666]

yeah thats right, we had no midfield. it was a 514 formation. its not a coincident that the best 2 midfields are in final.

i dont think we will get another chance for another 20 plus years.

We won the U17 World Cup
We won the U20 World Cup
U17 Euro runners up
Won the U19 Euros
Won the Toulon Tournament two years running
Our senior team got to the semi of the World Cup with just about the youngest squad there

There's lots to look forward to.

 

[nailsy]

I never understood the Southgate love in.
Completely fucked this game with midfield selection and never changed it when he needed to.
Got a nice run playing poor opposition.
Too many overrated players like Sterling, Lingard, Rashford and our own two in Kane and Ali were extremely poor.
Henderson can't pass

Pluses for me was Tripper who has been outstanding and Maguire has been a big surprise.

This team is nowhere near as good as the 90 semi losing team + Sir Bobby

That's the point!

 

[DuDe]

TBH, I am kind of relieved it ends here.

We had a good run.

But honestly I don't think I could stand having my weekend or appetite ruined having to watch England being given a live 'Enema' by France. An operation in front of hundreds of millions of people. Too much humiliation.

 

[allatsea]

Right team won unfortunately. England have too many workers and not enough talented players.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Harry to snatch a hat trick against Russia in the 3rd/4th play off then ?

eh?