Well done England ...

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The space created because of that'll was in wide midfield. Clearly noticeable. I said we didn't handle it.

I would say Sean that was because we fell back and allowed that space. We came out in the 2nd half with the attitude break us down and when you ivite players like Modic & Rakatic ont the ball more you are going to get punished no matter who you are. I definatley think up and till now we had a nothing to lose attitude, that changed at HT today and went against the grain.
 
I've been sayin on the shoutbox we haven't been that great.....

Today it was proven.
 
He can make as many changes as he wants. What’s ingrained is ingrained. It’s a seriously deep routed problem.

When the nation that is Croatia gives the mighty England a lesson in technical, dominating football, something CANT be right.

Get back to me once you have an understanding of the reasons I have stated what I have stated.

10 out of 10 (ish) for effort. But the cream, inevitably, rises to the top.

UTB

Well if the problem is deeply entrenched then we might as well all give up now and never kick a football again, no?

This tournament was proof if ever it was needed that things are improving. Yes we fell short, but we saw a togetherness and team spirit that we haven't seen for a long time and it was a welcome and much needed change from the WAG and circus lifestyles of previous England camps. What did we see this time? A hard-working bunch of young lads who wanted to play for each other, with no expectation but a desire, playing in a new system and playing at times, exciting football. The nation was understandably and rightly captivated. And all of that, may I add, from a bunch of grounded, humble and honest young men who looked a world away from the pompous overpaid premier league footballer lifestyle we've come to expect.

Where did it fall short? Not enough experience, not enough quality in centre midfield, not enough grit in there to balance the attacking intent of Dele, Lingard etc. What's the bigger issue? Well, that the money influx and overusage of world quality foreign footballers in the Premier League means that our lads are rarely ever the leading stars in their club sides, they're always the support cast to the foreign stars of Lukaku, Aguero, Silva, Hazard etc. The only few that genuinely lead and shoulder responsibility for the clubs ultimately showed here, in this world cup: Kane, Maguire, Pickford etc. And most importantly, this takes nothing away from a classy Croatian midfield who grew into the game. They were in the semi on merit and the fact that they are a small nation is irrelevant, their midfield are currently in the prime of their careers for Barca, Real and Juve - they are brilliant footballers and were just too good for our hardworking young lads at this time.

But Christ, does Gareth have us heading in the right direction and boy did they do us proud.
 
Have read virtually none of this thread so far my own thoughts are that the midfield was completely overwhelmed second half and Southgate did little to change it. All three were poor second half and I was surprised Southgate didn’t change it. We live and we learn but we will never have a better chance
 
I would say Sean that was because we fell back and allowed that space. We came out in the 2nd half with the attitude break us down and when you ivite players like Modic & Rakatic ont the ball more you are going to get punished no matter who you are. I definatley think up and till now we had a nothing to lose attitude, that changed at HT today and went against the grain.


Opinions Bruce. I felt we were pushed back by Croatias tactics. They had to come out with a new plan and imo did.
 
The nation that is Croatia that finished above Argentina in the group, beating them 3-0?
Oh FFS.

Could you doubt, for even a split second, that the superior, dominant, better side won tonight’s match ?

Rather like the game itself, it’s all about levels ;)

UTB
 
Shelvey? Jesus.
Seriously? Do you think any of those three are a better passer of the ball?
Who in this team today made an effective pass to the players who were supposed to put it in the back of the net?
There needs to be someone who can cut a team in half an this midfield can't.
 
Have read virtually none of this thread so far my own thoughts are that the midfield was completely overwhelmed second half and Southgate did little to change it. All three were poor second half and I was surprised Southgate didn’t change it. We live and we learn but we will never have a better chance
Understand the riddle that is that GS had absolutely nothing in his kit bag TO change it, and you will be at least one up on the vast majority on here.

UTB
 

Oh FFS.

Could you doubt, for even a split second, that the superior, dominant, better side won tonight’s match ?

Rather like the game itself, it’s all about levels ;)

UTB

Did I say they didn't. Answer the point, that your "losing to little Croatia" jibe forgot the Argentina game.

If you keep suggesting people have said something they haven't, to escape a point, you're going to end up looking as daft as you have with your Clarke comments.
 
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Understand the riddle that is that GS had absolutely nothing in his kit bag TO change it, and you will be at least one up on the vast majority on here.

UTB

Again, educate yourself instead of just repeating what you read on the internet and in the papers and you might be able to have a solid discussion
 
You heard if here first...

England, 2022 world champions - captained and led by the talismanic Regan Slater...of Tottenham Hotspur. :confused:
 
Exactly, he was very good at making himself look brave.

A little bit like those who like to swear on the internet....

Perhaps you should write to him and say so, as a matter of paramount importance.

Since you're usually desperate to give everybody else your unsolicited opinion.
 
Seriously? Do you think any of those three are a better passer of the ball?
Who in this team today made an effective pass to the players who were supposed to put it in the back of the net?
There needs to be someone who can cut a team in half an this midfield can't.

I think they're all better players full stop.

The team looked good in the first half. Do you dispute that or are you critical of their play in that period?
 
You’ve stated that nothing has changed. You’ve said that it’s ‘ingrained’. Changes have happened but they won’t be noticeable overnight.

Go away and educate yourself then come back and have a discussion as you will actually know what you’re talking about then
Right.

I’ve gone away.

Educated myself.

Or at least I think I have. Maybe you will put me straight ;).

Do you have an explanation as to why we simply could not retain possession of the ball for the vast majority of the 120 minutes ?

Do you have an explanation as to why Modric and Rakitic ran the show ?

Do you have an explanation why our tactic, appeared to be that of the counter puncher rather than having the front foot firmly forward (which by inference gave us only a punchers chance) ?

Do you have an explanation as to why we developed a “panic” mentality ?

Do you have an explanation as to why we had less possession ?

Less key passes ?

Less key moments ?

Less touches in the box ?

Less clear chances ?

Why we chased the Croats, rather than have them chase us ?

Why this led to tired legs, and inevitably tired minds ?

I could go on forever, but much like the actual game itself, it’s all about levels.

The one thing I can categorically state, without fear of contradiction, is that I understand mine ;)

UTB
 
I love this ‘L1 teams’ comment and the fact that you seem to believe it so much

Sweden's most creative player is Seb Larsson though to be fair...

I've enjoyed the tournament, but when I take a step back and take a look at it all for what it is, we've beaten a few poor teams, and we've been outplayed by a side who aren't that good.

Still, it's been better than I thought it'd be. Usually we lose to the poor teams.
 
No , we were undone by being shit . Lack of ambition and creativity going forward has been obvious since the opening game . For all the hype surrounding Alli and Lindgard they might as well have been sitting next to me for most of the time and , throughout the team , there were too many who were happy to abdicate responsibility by passing sideways or backwards . To blame our demise on two defensive errors is naive in the extreme .

As for exceeding expectations , we beat a pub team and scraped home from set pieces against two others who can only be described as mediocre , at best .

Given the fortuitous draw and the substandard performances of the likes of Germany , Spain , Brazil and Argentina we will probably never have a better chance for another 50 years - and we blew it .

My newly acquired waistcoat has just gone on the bonfire .
What a prick he looks wearing that fucking thing.
 
Did I say they didn't. Answer the point, that your "losing to little Croatia" jibe forgot the Argentina game.

If you keep suggesting people have said something they haven't, to escape a point, you're going to end up looking as daft as you have with your Clarke comments.
Federer lost today.

Absolutely no one on the planet saw that !

If your argument / point is based on what could happen rather than what should and most probably will happen, it’s a rather weak argument.

No doubt I have this wrong as well ?

We lost to the better side tonight. Period.

UTB
 
I agree that we got found out by the best team we've faced in the tournament tonight (also think we were both fucked but they used their energy better, whereas we looked panicked on the ball and ran around chasing lost causes too often) but there's no reason not to hold England to a higher standard and say "why shouldn't we be challenging?"

England are the current day Liverpool of international football, with the players we've had we should be winning stuff.

We need a midfielder that isn't Jordan Henderson, and some more strikers because Harry Kane is the only player we've got I'd bet on scoring tbh but everywhere else we've got youth and raw talent. Bit more experience and the confidence from getting here and we should be reyt for more semi finals.

Gareth Southgate will forever have my respect though just for leaving Joe Hart at home even if we go to shit after this haha
 
Best team won. Although the gamesmanship from them peed me off.
Deserved it in the end,but i thought they were there for the taking and we played into their hands...let them back in by constantly giving them the ball back and in the end they were better than us...Pity we couldn't have got the 2nd goal,as i think that would have killed them off.
 

The annoying thing about it all is that we rested for half the game in the first 2....rested for the full game vs Belgium.....

Yet we still looked absolutely fucked against a midfield that's played 3 90 mins and 2 120 min games.
 

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