England v Belgium, 28th June, 7pm(GMT)

[Steve_Wafc]

I’ve already explained the Kane situation. Trust me, Southgate would have got slaughtered if Kane got injured in this game. John Stones playing could be a bad decision now if his injury is as serious as it looks. Welbeck came on because he was the only other attacking option on the bench we didn’t mind risking. Pretty simple really. We took Alexander-Arnold off who had a knock but instead of risking someone like Trippier, we put Rashford there because there wasn’t any threat coming the other way and Welbeck went up front with Vardy. A team not pressing you, means that there’s less space in behind because they’re all sitting in two lines of 4 or 5 or whatever. I think they struggled to find rhythm, that’s what happens when you try an entirely new team for the first time, there’s no partnerships and link up play. I was surprised that Uruguay didn’t rest Suarez and Cavani, if either got injured, the coach would have massively regretted playing them. Southgate didn’t want to risk it and have that problem. But if England played their first team like Uruguay, they’d have had more fluidity like the latter did, I’m sure of it.

 

[Dirk]

Poor form Dirk, especially when its an old enemy. Tut tut.

Enemy? Are you talking WWII crap here, Salty? If yes, leave it , please. This is football, we don't have "enemies" here only opponents or rivals (and if you have read my post from today in the South Korea vs Germany thread I already stated that England isn't one of our archrivals in football. It's an rival which we respect . Don't make more of it.

Yes, I want England to win against Colombia. Best for me would be if Jordan Henderson (assisted by TAA) scores the winner just to make you proud that a Liverpool player scored

 

[Abertawe]

Enemy? Are you talking WWII crap here, Salty? If yes, leave it , please. This is football, we don't have "enemies" here only opponents or rivals (and if you have read my post from today in the South Korea vs Germany post I already stated that England isn't one of our archrivals in football. It's an rival which we respect . Don't make more of it.

We will never forget.

 

[Jockney]

was/am a bit pissed, but I thought rose looked a cut above and deserves to start over Young. Other than that, disappointing and hard to take much from the exercise. Vardy and Rashford had next to no service. TAA was our best outlet but looked slightly out of his depth with that responsibility (no slight on the bloke, just a bit soon for him). Colombia will be a tough test but hey what a cracker. Rather go out against a side with genuine quality than put in a limp performance against the Japanese.

 

[Chris FGR]

Right decision if we win v Colombia. Think we can beat em, but it'll be a tough game.

I don't get people saying that they'd have taken just getting out the group before the tournament, that was the minimum we should be aiming for, let's be honest other then Belgium it's a pretty shit group so not getting out of it would have been on a par with losing to Iceland and even worse then the last WC.

Colombia is massive. Beat them and this becomes a good tournament performance with real potential for it to be special and our best in decades, lose and we'll have beaten two shit teams and lost to two half decent teams which in my book wouldn't be much to celebrate.

Nervous already.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

was/am a bit pissed, but I thought rose looked a cut above and deserves to start over Young. Other than that, disappointing and hard to take much from the exercise. Vardy and Rashford had next to no service. TAA was our best outlet but looked slightly out of his depth with that responsibility (no slight on the bloke, just a bit soon for him). Colombia will be a tough test but hey what a cracker. Rather go out against a side with genuine quality than put in a limp performance against the Japanese.

I said that. Not usually a big fan of Rose, but he never stopped bombing down the left wing giving us an outlet and had some good link up play here and there.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

Right decision if we win v Colombia. Think we can beat em, but it'll be a tough game.

I don't get people saying that they'd have taken just getting out the group before the tournament, that was the minimum we should be aiming for, let's be honest other then Belgium it's a pretty shit group so not getting out of it would have been on a par with losing to Iceland and even worse then the last WC.

Colombia is massive. Beat them and this becomes a good tournament performance with real potential for it to be special and our best in decades, lose and we'll have beaten two shit teams and lost to two half decent teams which in my book wouldn't be much to celebrate.

Nervous already.

Progress has been made whether we win or lose in my opinion. We’ve been terrible in tournaments in recent times, but at least this time we’ve put poor sides away, played well and scored goals. I remember dreadful games against Russia, US and Algeria where we were far from convincing and completely messed up every chance we got. This time we’ve played some excellent football and been clinical. If we play really well against Colombia and lose to a single goal or a piece of quality, you say well done Colombia. If we don’t turn up and play poor, it would be very disappointing and a missed opportunity, but one to learn from. An England side went 5-0 up before half time, no doubts about it, progress has been made. It needs to continue now though.

 

[Abertawe]

Progress has been made whether we win or lose in my opinion. We’ve been terrible in tournaments in recent times, but at least this time we’ve put poor sides away, played well and scored goals. I remember dreadful games against Russia, US and Algeria where we were far from convincing and completely messed up every chance we got. This time we’ve played some excellent football and been clinical. If we play really well against Colombia and lose to a single goal or a piece of quality, you say well done Colombia. If we don’t turn up and play poor, it would be very disappointing and a missed opportunity, but one to learn from. An England side went 5-0 up before half time, no doubts about it, progress has been made. It needs to continue now though.

You've scored one goal from open play (Jessy screamer) that's hardly clinical.

 

[SALTIRE]

It may well be but who cares? I’ve made a prediction which may well be wrong and the worst that can happen is that some strangers on the internet can laugh that I got it wrong.

England will win though. I will have a £10 charity bet with you.

The World Cup itself?

 

[SALTIRE]

Best for me would be if Jordan Henderson (assisted by TAA) scores the winner just to make you proud that a Liverpool player scored

I couldn't have that, no, just no. If England won the World Cup, I would quit this site (and others) and give up on football, even if Hendo and TAA were the ones to do it.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

You've scored one goal from open play (Jessy screamer) that's hardly clinical.

Clinical is putting chances away when they come, not just open play specific. Thanks for reminding me though.. we’ve also been impressive from set pieces so far. Not just the delivery, but with the movement in the box too. Makes a nice change..

 

[Abertawe]

Clinical is putting chances away when they come, not just open play specific. Thanks for reminding me though.. we’ve also been impressive from set pieces so far. Not just the delivery, but with the movement in the box too. Makes a nice change..

It's not me you're trying to convince is it.

 

[Jockney]

Progress has been made whether we win or lose in my opinion. We’ve been terrible in tournaments in recent times, but at least this time we’ve put poor sides away, played well and scored goals. I remember dreadful games against Russia, US and Algeria where we were far from convincing and completely messed up every chance we got. This time we’ve played some excellent football and been clinical. If we play really well against Colombia and lose to a single goal or a piece of quality, you say well done Colombia. If we don’t turn up and play poor, it would be very disappointing and a missed opportunity, but one to learn from. An England side went 5-0 up before half time, no doubts about it, progress has been made. It needs to continue now though.

US and Algeria were dreadful but the Woy tournament games for the most part weren't dreadful to watch, we were just toothless. We were by far and away the better side against Russia, dominated the Wales game too -- undone the previous tournament against clinical strikers. Nowhere near good enough to challenge the best sides, but I didn't hate watching us against Hodgson, just depressed that we couldn't shake off the mental baggage of previous generations (tbf, hard when we were deploying Gerrard as playmaker). If we go out to Colombia without giving them a proper scare then it's hard to say we've progressed much from that era.

 

[Jockney]

It's maybe unpopular to say the Hodgson performances weren't the worst ever -- but I genuinely don't think they were (Iceland aside). Certainly it was a lot more entertaining to watch than under Capello and McLaren -- hell, even post 2004 Eriksson.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

It's not me you're trying to convince is it.

When you fail to give a response about the average Belgium side, there’s no point in trying to convince you about anything. You should know what clinical refers to though..

 

[Abertawe]

When you fail to give a response about the average Belgium side, there’s no point in trying to convince you about anything. You should know what clinical refers to though..

The Belgian side that still has the same worldys now. It's bizarre to claim little old Wales beating them isn't an achievement. I guess there's some personal emotional bias behind your flawed opinions regarding all things Wales.

You've not been clinical - one screamer from open play - stop being silly.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

US and Algeria were dreadful but the Woy tournament games for the most part weren't dreadful to watch, we were just toothless. We were by far and away the better side against Russia, dominated the Wales game too -- undone the previous tournament against clinical strikers. Nowhere near good enough to challenge the best sides, but I didn't hate watching us against Hodgson, just depressed that we couldn't shake off the mental baggage of previous generations (tbf, hard when we were deploying Gerrard as playmaker). If we go out to Colombia without giving them a proper scare then it's hard to say we've progressed much from that era.

Hodgson never convinced me as England manager. He wasn’t brave in his decision making (sticking Rooney on the left of a 3 in a 4-2-3-1 formation being one of the later examples), the players didn’t seem to take to him and although I’ve definitely seen worse teams, some of our football was pretty poor under Hodgson and Iceland was the final nail in the coffin. So many tactical errors and a lethargic display from the players. Hodgson strikes me as someone who is great at football club management where he can spend time to build a bond, but international management, where he only gets the players every 3 months or whatever, he doesn’t have a strong enough personality to get the players on board in that short amount of time. Southgate speaks with enthusiasm and passion and Hodgson was always very monotone and lacking in emotion.

 

[Chris FGR]

We played pretty well against Italy and Uruguay in 14, those were tight games that could have gone either way. Euros other then Iceland wasn't as bad as people make out either. Russia was a good performance we played some nice stuff totally dominated and were robbed. Then deservedly beat Wales who went on to make the semis. Had we beat Iceland reckon we could have given the French a real test, and the tournament would have been considered decent. Other then Kane taking corners which was bizarre.

So far this time I do agree that we looked more clinical v Panama but we missed some absolute sitters v Tunisia. Our pressings been good though, we pass the ball better and have one of the best strikers around plus some real pace. Just really want to see us turn it on against a properly decent team to prove we're real contenders again. Hopefully we do that Tuesday.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

The Belgian side that still has the same worldys now. It's bizarre to claim little old Wales beating them isn't an achievement. I guess there's some personal emotional bias behind your flawed opinions regarding all things Wales.

You've not been clinical - one screamer from open play - stop being silly.

I supported Wales once England crashed out I’ll have you know. I support a Welsh football club, I’m not Welsh myself, but I don’t have a weird obsession with Wales failing like you seem to have with England. You want to say that England getting to the Semis wouldn’t be an achievement because of the opposition, then I’ll throw the same right back at you.

On paper, yes that Belgium side has some talent. Did they play like it? Absolutely not. They played like individuals and De Bruyne had not become a world beater yet as I’ve already said.

 

[Chris FGR]

English fans supporting foreign clubs make me sick, seeing all these people going around wearing Real Madrid , Barcelona, Bayern and Wrexham shirts, plastic glory hunters the lot of them.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

English fans supporting foreign clubs make me sick, seeing all these people going around wearing Real Madrid , Barcelona, Bayern and Wrexham shirts, plastic glory hunters the lot of them.

What can I say.. I just enjoy watching a team that wins week in week out.

Oh wait..

 

[Predator373]

I'm starting to believe you two didn't actually watch the game. You threw the game in the most obvious manner possible. Yeah, Rashford scores the "sitter", except he put it twenty five feet wide, in tune with the objective.

Absolute rubbish. You just sound like some bitter sad England hater.

 

[Predator373]

A lot of jealousy in this thread. Come on England

 

[Steve_Wafc]

Absolute rubbish. You just sound like some bitter sad England hater.

To be fair to Bilo, he did retract his “throwing the game” comment, because he realised it was over the top and has no substance.

 

[Laker]

I’m just pleased we got no injuries or bookings. The result was irrelevant really.

 

[JimJams]

Southgate has played a blinder here.
If we played our best 11 and won, what credit would we have gotten? "You only beat their reserves ffs!" But what if our best 11 only drew, worse yet, what if they had lost? It wouldn't matter about it being a dead rubber, they'd get slaughtered. Even a narrow win might be seen as poor.
As is we got through without injuries suspensions and without really harming any confidence because that side will never take the field again.
He gave the 2nd string a chance to stake a claim, nobody did, we move on.

 

[Gassy]

What are the papers saying today?

 

[JimJams]

"Listen to JimJams"
"JJ knows best"
And...
"Shoulda took the Chimp"

 

[Johnnyt]

What are the papers saying today?

its gona be hot again.

 

[Johnnyt]

England played at 70% likewise Belgium.

If England really wanted to win they would have been full strength as would Belgium.

There was a gentlemens agreement with Southgate and Martinez to play weaker teams and it worked out well for England.*Source Johnnytodd