Well done England ...

[Trigger]

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?

I'm not talking about the team. I'm talking about the midfield. Other than a free kick, which of them played a ball that created a chance of goal? There's more to a midfield than running about a lot.. So yes I am being critical of them.

 

[Sean Thornton]

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

What the hell are you on about?

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

They beat Argentina as well. 3-0.

Croatia are a decent side.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I'm not talking about the team. I'm talking about the midfield. Other than a free kick, which of them played a ball that created a chance of goal? There's more to a midfield than running about a lot.. So yes I am being critical of them.

None of them. Never happened.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

To be fair, I don't think our midfield looked fucked, our midfield didn't look balanced or disciplined against a well organised Croation midfield who play that deeper, closer role for club and country regularly.

We had Henderson. Against Modric and Rakitic and asking Lingard and Alli to drop in and help out, which they aren't naturally inclined to do.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Oh and I'd also add, that if off the back of this world cup the big money international offers do start to arrive for Kane, Maguire, Trippier, Pickford - take them, go, learn to be a superstar. If you have a decent chance to actually playing, go - and learn to be the world class players that other nations nurture using our top flight.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

OK let me correct my mistake pal, Colombia are bottom half championship, Sweden top half L1, Croatia mid table championship. The draw has been very kind and these teams (in Blades terms) were easily beatable. This England team is not what people think.

Croatia mid table Championship is laughable.

Modric, Rakitic, Mandzukic and Perisic are all top level players.

 

[ucandomagic]

The teams we beat are ranked 21, 55, 16 and 24 in the world. We lost to the 20th ranked, and we are ranked 12 - so we haven’t even lived up to our world ranking.

Southgate showed typical English softness, by continuing to pick Sterling who played every game like a frightened rabbit.

Our midfield was a complete void in the second half tonight, and yet Southgate hadn’t the slightest idea how to change things.

Like everybody else I drank my beer, shouted at the screen in my Coming Home T-shirt and was gutted at the end - but I’m afraid that all the hype about the start of a big future is just that.

Looking forward to watching a real manager in action again now, starting with Inter.
UTB

 

[tomtheblade]

A lot of reactionary nonsense on here, some of you lot are worse than the British media. When we win everything is amazing, and when we lose we're shit..

The truth is we have a decent team with some talented young players. Good enough to beat most sides but you need more than that to win a World Cup. Getting to a semi-final when ranked 12th is an achievement, no matter who you play. We're just not good enough as it is.

There's positives and negatives to take away, but more positives overall in my opinion.

 

[Bert]

The teams we beat are ranked 21, 55, 16 and 24 in the world. We lost to the 20th ranked, and we are ranked 12 - so we haven’t even lived up to our world ranking.

Southgate showed typical English softness, by continuing to pick Sterling who played every game like a frightened rabbit.

Our midfield was a complete void in the second half tonight, and yet Southgate hadn’t the slightest idea how to change things.

Like everybody else I drank my beer, shouted at the screen in my Coming Home T-shirt and was gutted at the end - but I’m afraid that all the hype about the start of a big future is just that.

Looking forward to watching a real manager in action again now, starting with Inter.
UTB

The second half of last season was a bit like England's second half tonight.
Poor.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

The reality is England got lucky with the draw and most of the top teams getting knocked out early, played a Colombia side with their one world class player injured, a very average Swedish side, and then lost to the first decent team we faced.

It won't be like that in 4 years time. This was the best chance we had to get to a world cup final in a generation.

I’d agree with that. England are the Spurs equivalent of the season Leicester won the league when the usual strong sides all collectively had a year off.

 

[Trigger]

A lot of reactionary nonsense on here, some of you lot are worse than the British media. When we win everything is amazing, and when we lose we're shit..

The truth is we have a decent team with some talented young players. Good enough to beat most sides but you need more than that to win a World Cup. Getting to a semi-final when ranked 12th is an achievement, no matter who you play. We're just not good enough as it is.

There's positives and negatives to take away, but more positives overall in my opinion.

I appreciate what you say. But I'm 53 years old. Ive never seen England win shit. I ve never seen Sheffield United win shit. Ive passed my allegiances over to my 16 year old son who lives and breathes both England and Sheffield United. I worry that in his lifetime will also see us win shit. So I'm afraid I don't get the positives. Wish I could.

 

[tomtheblade]

I appreciate what you say. But I'm 53 years old. Ive never seen England win shit. I ve never seen Sheffield United win shit. Ive passed my allegiances over to my 16 year old son who lives and breathes both England and Sheffield United. I worry that in his lifetime will also see us win shit. So I'm afraid I don't get the positives. Wish I could.

Yeah, I understand, and I do know what you mean.

For me, the constant disappointment is now simply just part of being a football fan haha. I totally expect it to go wrong almost no matter who i'm watching or who we're playing, Any other result is a positive. That's why you have to enjoy seasons like our League 1 promotion when they happen, because that level of dominance and success so rarely ever occurs.

 

[Trigger]

Yeah, I understand, and I do know what you mean.

For me, the constant disappointment is now simply just part of being a football fan haha. I totally expect it to go wrong almost no matter who i'm watching or who we're playing, Any other result is a positive. That's why you have to enjoy seasons like our League 1 promotion when they happen, because that level of dominance and success so rarely ever occurs.

 

[Trigger]

I think we've been born under unlucky srars. But I'll never stop believing in either England or Sheffield United. There just isn't another option.

 

[Davalon]

He was always a hero of mine. If I could've been any player from my youth then in all probability I would've picked him.

Which not only sort of explains a lot but also hugely highlights the hypocrisy of you and the suppressed

 

[Davalon]

I think we've been born under unlucky srars. But I'll never stop believing in either England or Sheffield United. There just isn't another option.

Totally agree mate but as a 45 year old man who has fully believed for 30 years that neither will win anything meaningful in the modern era, I can't pretend on days and weeks like this there's a huge element of frustration.

Even when there's things to be proud about with England and United, there's still usually a frustrating regret in the background.

 

[Bashar Al Asaba]

Which not only sort of explains a lot but also hugely highlights the hypocrisy of you and the suppressed

"The suppressed".

Please, go on....

 

[Trigger]

Totally agree mate but as a 45 year old man who has fully believed for 30 years that neither will win anything meaningful in the modern era, I can't pretend on days and weeks like this there's a huge element of frustration.

Even when there's things to be proud about with England and United, there's still usually a frustrating regret in the background.

We've had a shit night, a shit week judging by what's gone off in the High Court. I'm (yet again) disappointed. But you're right, it is what it is. UTB. UTENGLAND

 

[Davalon]

Some really good comments and opinions on here by and large imho.

Croatia deserved it over 120 minutes but as someone who remembers tournaments from nearly 40 years ago, this is probably the first time we've not under-achieved or just reached parity.

Not a tough run to the semis without doubt, but far more positives than I envisaged a few weeks ago.

Disappointing, and a huge opportunity missed, no more so by the players. Hopefully most of these lads will come again on the next 2 tournaments.

Southgate has been a class act throughout.

Modric has shown the opposite in his classless interview, we all know what a huge chip Keane has, and only one poster on here has clearly enjoyed our demise tonight.

Massively disappointing but at least some positives for a change.

Sorry to be negative but I truly believe neither United nor England are destined to win anything of note in our lifetimes.

 

[ucandomagic]

If you convert world rankings to last year’s English leagues Southgate has just got Bournemouth to the semi final of the Cup and lost to West Brom, having beaten Wolves, Bradford, Huddersfield and Villa on the way.

FA Cup final between Burnley and West Brom to look forward to! Puts into perspective that none of the top countries have really showed up, and perhaps the really top players aren’t that interested in international football - and beyond that the best managers aren’t even there.

If France with Pogba and Kante behind Griezmann and Mbappe don’t beat Croatia by at least 3 goals I’ll be surprised.

 

[Trigger]

Totally agree with you other than:

'Southgate has been a class act throughout.'

He's been detailed in the way of Clive Woodward, but I'm afraid I don't think he has the necessary experience or quality to manage.
And it is, full stop.
He's just a.FA yes man, in a waistcoat.

 

[nopigfansintown]

England play basketball football:end to end with little control. They have no Modric, Rakitic. Carrick, Xavi, Koke, Scholes to dictate the tempo of the game and wait for openings. They've played this way throughout the tournament, in the pre tournament matches and friendlies etc.This can be effective, which is why Croatia had to get to half time on a wing and a prayer. The game should have been effectively over with England at least three goals up.This would've made our basketball football even more effective, as the Croats would've had to desperately over commit to get back into the game.Pick them of on the break and off we go.
England's defender are our best footballers, our best technicians; we saw our best periods of possession at the back throughout the tournament.The Croats cleverly pressed us high, which wasn't a big problem when we had threats in the channels and our players were fresh.Hence our first half efficacy -barring the lack of goals,There was no midfielder to take the ball of the back three and goalkeeper hence the problems.
Southgate deserves enormous credit for galvanising this young team, and for his decision to favour the easier side of the draw.It was a gamble that paid off, yet I thought he was exposed last night.When England were getting overrun second half he could've changed it and brought on either a stopper in center midfield (Dier) or a ball carrier and physical presence in Loftus Cheek.Pack the midfield.He went with changing Sterling later on, who was by far England's greatest threat on the break.He brought on Rashford who offered absolutely nothing.I'd have changed either Lingard or Alii for Loftus Cheek after about 55 minutes.The substitute to bring Walker off instead of the visibly hampered Trippier was also brainless.Surely Trippier comes off and Walker goes to RWB? Somebody, anybody for Trippier! That said, England have a very promising team that just needs a ball playing center midfielder or two.Maguire,Stones,Trippier and Kane would challenge for a place in any team in the draw.
Would've loved a puncher's chance vs the French. They're not all that by the way.Nobody in the draw was.Overall Federer vs Anderson and the phenomenal Nadal vs Del Potro was the best sport yesterday.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Completely undone by the fact that Croatia stopped the ball being played out from the back, England reverted to long ball and it was completely ineffective.

Hats off to the England team for getting to the semis with Young, Henderson and Sterling in the team. The rest must have done around 1/3 more work each.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Nah he's a spineless Cork cunt with the typical Irish inferiority complex ☺

I thought he was a Jackeen.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Bang on. The hard man persona away from the pitch is hilarious. He full weight bottled it up against Mick.

#prayforanotherpotatofamine

I agree about the nature of Keane. Complete knob.
Your last statement is unacceptable.
I don't for one minute believe you mean it.

 

[nopigfansintown]

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 did!

 

[Houston_Blade]

On the Roy Keane issue, he's had to listen to Ian Wright and Lee Dixon talk England up for 4 weeks. Gary Neville is also rather biased towards England, though is a bit more level headed.

I actually thought that Keane brought balance on some of the pre-match jizz fest comments. He probably was smug after the game but only in the same way that I'd be smiling inside if the same happened to Scotland or Ireland and I'd had to listen to them bang on about how good they were for the last few weeks. He made the point before the game that to win a semi-final England would have to be good and perform well, they didn't and he was quite right in making this point at the end.

I switched to Bein at half time last night as Hoddle pisses me off and to be fair to them they had Paul Robinson, Souness and Freund in the studio, Souness was polite towards England but Freund called it as it was and very similarly to Roy Keane just stated that England had been outdone tactically by a more experienced team and that it perhaps might bring the fans and media back down from cloud cuckoo land about how good the England team actually are.

 

[Gimli]

On the balance of play we lost to the better side, it became increasingly clear which side wanted to win the game after Croatia scored, we lost all confidence and barely created a chance after this point.

In a way I kind of understand the negative tactics in the second half, it got us 25 ish minutes away from a World Cup final, but I felt like once they scored, there would only be one winner. Croatia got stronger as the game went on, England weaker.

Take our first half chances and maybe we put the game beyond them - psychologically 2 or 3-0 would have seemed much less surmountable than just the slender 1-0 at half time.

Still, we’ve done well, it’s been a great tournament for England.

 

[derfblade.3]

 

[Jan Age]

To anyone saying Southgate is a yes man:

1. Pickford
2. Walker at right CB
3. Maguire
4. Young brought back in from exile
5. Trippier
6. Loftus Cheek
7. A new system

When he was originally brought in I had my doubts but he’s proven me wrong.

Some tactical naivety ? Or is it just sticking to the game plan?