World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 28 (11 July)

[Indisguise]

I actually think Croatia are going to give France a bloody good game on Sunday and I'd quite like to see them win it.

 

[nidge]

Would love to see Kane's heat map for the last couple of games.

Southgate imo got it really wrong in allowing or asking Kane to play deep like he did.

 

[Pellshek]

Commiserations to England, but that was their =2nd best ever WC, which is a fantastic achievement. But a sense at the end tonight that they'd just run out of road with the resources at their disposal.

The better team won this SF, and the best two teams in the tournament are in the final, which is as it should be.

 

[Bobbins]

Think we really missed Lallana. We had no options in the whole squad who could offer possession and creativity. It was pretty much all pace-based.

 

[Indisguise]

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.

Well... if they do, all they're going to prove is that they know fuck all about football.

 

[SdB]

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

Bang on.

 

[thinktank]

Nope.

Would you kindly elaborate?

Harry not forward enough.

 

[Hakkz]

And why was Young starting instead of Rose in the whole tournament?

Maybe because of Rose's mental health? Dunno.

 

[thinktank]

Think we really missed Lallana. We had no options in the whole squad who could offer possession and creativity. It was pretty much all pace-based.

But we didn't use that pace this game, when we should have...much earlier on.

Would have won.

This Croatia team can't handle pace.

Kylian is gonna kill 'em.

 

[LSUY]

A lot of people have made some very good points about what England lacks, where Southgate struggled tactically, etc. but we seem to be avoiding the main problem. ITV is our Jonah. The football gods won't be appeased until Sam Matterface and Clive Tyldesley are sacrificed.

 

[Johnny J]

I mean, how often are England blessed with a world class striker? It's almost like the team was set up for bloody Sterling.

 

[Johnny J]

A lot of people have made some very good points about what England lacks, where Southgate struggled tactically, etc. but we seem to be avoiding the main problem. ITV is our Jonah. The football gods won't be appeased until Sam Matterface and Clive Tyldesley are sacrificed.

Literally a sacrifice I'm prepared to make.

 

[DannyNZ]

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.

I generally agree with this except I have Trippier contributing to both their goals.

 

[Vulcan10]

Would love to see Kane's heat map for the last couple of games.

Southgate imo got it really wrong in allowing or asking Kane to play deep like he did.

Agree. How thrilled would you be as a defender if you were told the best CF in football was going to be asked to stay out of the box,
We should have at least mixed it up a bit. Was painful as a spurs fan seeing England attack and Harry behind the ball. Felt for the poor lad.

 

[spursfan1991]

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.

i dont mean to be a party pooper but theres a reason for this. at that level you can win tournaments through pace and power hence why african teams have even won these tournaments in past. However, at the highest level, you need intelligent midfielders and i can only think of 2 players england have produced in past 28 years who were gazza and scholes.

You can only go so far with pace and power. you only need to look at spurs side and appreciate the influence of a clever player like eriksen. He is so slow physically but makes up mentally which can be said the same about modric and rakitic.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Sterling looked on a mission to score just to stick it up the media and he’s come out of it looking even worse.

I’ve never seen a greedier player with absolutely nothing to back it up with. Terrible first touch, absolutely no eye for a pass and when he did make any they were over hit and any chances he did have ended in absolutely fuck all.

 

[VegasII]

A lot of people have made some very good points about what England lacks, where Southgate struggled tactically, etc. but we seem to be avoiding the main problem. ITV is our Jonah. The football gods won't be appeased until Sam Matterface and Clive Tyldesley are sacrificed.

In a giant wicker cock.

 

[diamond lights]

That result saved me some massive angst. Don't have to choose between Hugo and Harry on Sunday. Plus couldn't really have tolerated another 50 years if England won the World Cup.

Come on France.

 

[mark87]

Just been told I look like rakitic (I dont) what a hurtful thing to say.

 

[Hakkz]

Sterling looked on a mission to score just to stick it up the media and he’s come out of it looking even worse.

I’ve never seen a greedier player with absolutely nothing to back it up with. Terrible first touch, absolutely no eye for a pass and when he did make any they were over hit and any chances he did have ended in absolutely fuck all.

Without his pace he would be in league 2.