World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 28 (11 July)

[yiddopaul]

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.

It's criminal! One of the 3 best goal scorers on the planet, kept away from the goal!!

 

[worcestersauce]

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.

A couple of midfielders were doing that in the prem but they weren't taken, I'm not saying we should have taken them but the questions were asked before the tounament however, it could be that Southgate didn't want to take them because he was originally using this world cup to blood the young players not thinking we'd find ourselves in the semi final.

 

[Dharmabum]

England were in control of the game until Croatia scored and looked solid in defense. And until that goal it looked as if Croatia were not going to score. After Croatia scored they took control of the game.
Young had little to offer down the left. Rose did well when he came on but should have been put on earlier.
England had no-one to control the MF. Lingard can run but got no end product and Henderson was, well, just himself. Dele could have played more central with Kane further up.
Kane is being wasted as a CM. Why Southgate doesn't play him as a CF is beyond me. Kane got kind of caught out in trying to be both CMF and CF.
Walker should have been more aggressive when he went for the ball on Perisic' goal and Stones lost his concentration when Mandzukic scored.
Trippier were really good though.

 

[Romulus]

We've got so many good young players coming through the system playing with the same style. Players like Welbeck will be replaced with Sancho who could be incredible in 4 years.

Also EURO 2020 Semis and Final are at Wembley so a big opportunity.

This. theres a lot to be optimistic about, the next tournaments we'll have players like Sessegnon, Sancho and maybe Mount and Foden... these guys can play football. we'll have World Cup winners at U17 and U19 level and European U19 champions to come through. WINNERS

 

[jurgen]

Why has Kane not been given media training? Keeps saying uuugh on television.

He's our most marketable star.

What are you on about..

 

[thinktank]

Looked wrong from the start.

Southgate should have changed it at some point.

He would have offered that direct pressure on the CBs, who are not very good.

That back four don't like pace or direct threat. Lovren, especially, hates it and is prone to giving away a pen under pressure.

@heelspurs Direct threat irt Harry; pace, generally, which is why I wanted rashford and vardy on.

 

[mpickard2087]

Harry Winks is the missing link in that midfield

As I just said, it shouldn't just be pinning our hopes on the odd player. English football needs players of his ilk, who might be able to control and dictate the game from midfield and puts their team in the right areas, spread across the league and found in all teams.

 

[mattyspurs]

Tonight’s not for post mortems. I didn’t expect a thing prior to this World Cup.

I’m upset, gutted, but the reason for that is because Southgate and this England team have given me my pride back.

Cheers lads

 

[YiddoTom90]

I really want to know why Kane was played as an AMC rather then a striker.

Aside from that, we have scored 1 goal from open play. Or maybe 2? Ether way we didn't deserve to win the world cup. Tacticaly we were useless tonight, no midfield and no ideas.

only one who passes foward maybe, fair play to maguire running foward and taking risks

 

[DuDe]

Why has Kane not been given media training? Keeps saying uuugh on television.

He's our most marketable star.

Because every muscle in his body is fucked, including his tongue.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Can the media or press resist creating a scapegoat

 

[werty]

I thought Brozovic was excellent for Croatia.

 

[ajspurs]

Have to admit I do think a few cracks were papered over throughout the tournament, it's just that it was such an enjoyable journey still.

Actually think we really needed someone like Shelvey in there if I'm honest. The team should really revolve around Kane and to have him up there being on the receiving end of passes, not having Sterling furthest forward and having Kane drop deep most of the time. Not sure how much I like both Dele and Lingard there either because it results in a sort of non-existent and non-cohesive central midfield. It's like with Spurs, we know Dele can be quiet and struggle to get into games a lot of the time and having two Dele's would see us being overly bland and that's what it feels like we have with England in having Dele and Lingard.
Plus if your game revolves around wing backs as well, you would think you'd need a left footed player on the left and a right footed player on the right. Southgate saw Young with a competent display there and didn't want to make the call to go we what we probably should have in having Rose there.

Don't mean to sound too negative though as I never would have imagined us making it to the semi-final so the guys deserve so much praise.

 

[thinktank]

@heelspurs Hear what Wrighty just said?

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Kane missing that chance to make it 2-0 is absolutely gut wrenching and I can see opposition fans using that as a stick to beat him with for the rest of his career.

 

[Johnny J]

If we actually had a midfield, rather than stuffing in three forwards (Lingard, Alli, Sterling), we might have played some actual football.

This would also meant not playing the world's best no.9 as a bloody midfielder.

It's great we got to the semi, but I just do not understand Southgate's formation and selection, and not just this game.

Play Kane up top with Alli or another behind him, and then 3 in midfield

 

[DuDe]

Can the media or press resist creating a scapegoat

Nope, because several of them are West Ham and Liverpool fans, iirc.

 

[nattydredd]

Weird feeling here, for me..I'm more gutted for the players than I'm gutted myself. That's a feeling I've not had for a long time watching England play..

 

[DuDe]

@heelspurs Hear what Wrighty just said?

Nope.

Would you kindly elaborate?

 

[Metalhead]

At the beginning of this World Cup I thought England would be pitiful..I was wrong. I didn't think we could play coehsive football on a world stage, in front of a world audience, under real pressure..I was wrong again. I thought if we did manage to get throught the group, we'd get knocked out on penalites at the last 16 stage..I was wrong. I had literally got fed up with the national game, as I'd suffered, as have many others, England's abject displays over the last 25+ years. This group of players and manager have restored a lot of faith for me...and we're going to be much better for this experience.

I am proud of my national team for the first time since 1990..

Bad luck team, a lot of you enhanced your reputations enormously..

Well said!