Quarter-Finals 4: Sweden v England, 7th July, 3pm(GMT)

[rudebwoyben]

Everyone was saying beforehand how if we were to make the final this would be our biggest test, that Colombia are a very dangerous side going forward and indeed possibly even a better side overall.

Well, we didn’t get them a sniff for 3/4 of of 120 minutes. They were so desperate they had to resort to all manner of mind games to unsettle us and we still came through it. Don’t know what people expect of us to be honest. Win well and the opposition ain’t all that, play well but lose and who cares we still lost, show character and resolve to beat a very decent footballing nation in a high pressure game and it’s not good enough coz we didn’t Brazil 1970 them. And the very same people have the cheek to blame the media for the poisonous atmosphere during tournaments. It’s laughable.

Indeed, I recall reading many comments before the start of the World Cup Finals on the Guardian's Football site that England would only get one point out of the Panama and Tunisia matches!

 

[Bilo]

Indeed, I recall reading many comments before the start of the World Cup Finals on the Guardian's Football site that England would only get one point out of the Panama and Tunisia matches!

Now this is some genuine pics or it didn't happen shit.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Now this is some genuine pics or it didn't happen shit.

I'm not going to trawl through the depths of Comment is Free to find these comments but there were plenty of them!

 

[Gassy]

To be fair, I don't think I've seen a single team play well the full 90 minutes.

People can say we haven't scored many from open play - sure, that's true. Sweden don't concede them either? Perfect! What part makes that Sweden's advantage btw? We score from set pieces, so what's the problem?

Sweden are hardly a free scoring team by the way. Lets look at their goals:

Sweden 1-0 Korea = 1 Penalty
Sweden 1-2 Germany = Deflected Chip
Sweden 3-0 Mexico = 1 from open play (from a lucky scuffed shot that put a player through 1-on-1). 1 penalty & 1 own goal
Sweden 1-0 Switzerland = Deflected Goal

Yet some how we're the ones getting slated for scoring from set pieces?

 

[Bobbin']

they were set up incredibly poorly, showing you too much respect by somehow deciding to play on the defensive (possibly because their only world class player was injured). When you finally went 1-0 up they started playing and from there on matched you, at the very least. They shouldn't really have been in the game at that point though, yet you let them into it by conceding a sloppy set piece. You then kind of have one half each in the extra time, leading to penalties.

So, England were the better better side for 80 mins, evenly matched for 25 mins and Colombia the better side for 15. Doesn’t sound that different from how England fans viewed it at all. Personally, I think the only time Colombia were on top was the first half of extra time and even then they barely threatened. We had far better chances in ET with Rose’s and Dier’s efforts.

And here's the cracker: had Colombia, through no fault of this likable England side, scored all their penalties you would've been out.

What a really bizarre thing to say. What if we had scored all of our penalties too?

What if one of our chances earlier in the game had gone in? There wouldn’t have been any need for penalties at all.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

3-0 to the mighty England.


It's coming home!

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Just for Bilo, because it's my favourite so far in this 'narrative'

https://twitter.com/x/status/1014260549675253760

So far as I can see, it's getting sillier by the day, not more serious?

Reading your take on the Colombia game, it's not far different at all from what many of us have said in the hours and days after the game. But yes, if Colombia had scored all their pens, the outcome would have been different. That's how shootouts work. That's an odd comment.

Are you really trying to assert that we "can't imagine going out, and it shows." - England fans who've lived though 12 years since winning a knockout tournament game? Who lived through being knocked out by Iceland two years ago, a side quite probably weaker than Sweden? Could you elaborate on that assertion at all? I hope it's not the daft video clips is it?

Yours, slightly confused by what point you're trying to make.
Mark

 

[Bilo]

Re penalties: contrary to every other aspect of the game, the penalties can be scored without you being able to do anything about it. For example, a goal scored can always be defended against. But a penalty in the top corner is never saved. So my point was, this identical performance (drawing 1-1, scoring 4/5 penalties) could have very well sent you out and then it would be "the same old england".

So my point is, you're results orientated when the performance was pretty much identical to ones that have sent you out in previous tournaments. But because Colombia, this time around, were even worse at penalties you're looking like Germany 2010 (credit to Chris FGR ).

You are absolutely, most definitely getting carried away. And that's fine. But you are.

 

[Bilo]

England fans who've lived though 12 years since winning a knockout tournament game? Who lived through being knocked out by Iceland two years ago, a side quite probably weaker than Sweden? Could you elaborate on that assertion at all? I hope it's not the daft video clips is it?

Read through this thread and tell me you're not very, very confident of going through?

I get you've been through some shit, that's why I like you and prefer you over any other big nation who've won it in recent memory. But you're being incredibly arrogant.

Fair enough I'm realizing nobody will admit it. But there aren't any Swedes even thinking, let alone mentioning or joking about making to the world cup final. We don't talk about the easier half of the draw either. So there's a million miles between you and us, and I really don't think we're the outlier tbf. And our route here has been significantly tougher, to add to it.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I don't know, our penalties were definitely better than the last few times we've lost in penalty shoot-outs!

 

[Bobbin']

Re penalties: contrary to every other aspect of the game, the penalties can be scored without you being able to do anything about it. For example, a goal scored can always be defended against. But a penalty in the top corner is never saved. So my point was, this identical performance (drawing 1-1, scoring 4/5 penalties) could have very well sent you out and then it would be "the same old england".

So my point is, you're results orientated when the performance was pretty much identical to ones that have sent you out in previous tournaments. But because Colombia, this time around, were even worse at penalties you're looking like Germany 2010 (credit to Chris FGR ).

You are absolutely, most definitely getting carried away. And that's fine. But you are.

Sorry but you’re really not making any point at all.

Sweden’s performance was worthy of being knocked out but because Switzerland were even worse and conceded a deflected goal, they are through.

Honestly, I’ve seen far more people telling us that England fans are getting carried away than I have England fans actually getting carried away. Hilarious.

 

[Bilo]

Sweden’s performance was worthy of being knocked out but because Switzerland were even worse and conceded a deflected goal, they are through.

You're incapable of seeing the key difference between open play and penalty shootouts?

Drawing 1-1 and scoring 4/5 penalties will get you sent out a lot of the time. Winning 1-0 never will.

 

[SF_]

Can see this one being mind numbing and resulting in another shoot out.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Can see this one being mind numbing and resulting in another shoot out.

This discussion or the match?

 

[SF_]

This discussion or the match?

It depends whether we get on to the subject of the 6pm news again.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Sorry but you’re really not making any point at all.

Sweden’s performance was worthy of being knocked out but because Switzerland were even worse and conceded a deflected goal, they are through.

Honestly, I’ve seen far more people telling us that England fans are getting carried away than I have England fans actually getting carried away. Hilarious.

Any other country and it'd be described as confidence, certainly makes me laugh at the hypocrisy. Most England fans are just tongue and cheek when they say it's coming home etc. I suspect they know that though. Personally still think France will win it.

 

[Bobbin']

You're incapable of seeing the key difference between open play and penalty shootouts?

Drawing 1-1 and scoring 4/5 penalties will get you sent out a lot of the time. Winning 1-0 never will.

Not at all but you’re just talking ifs and buts. It’s pointless. You even said yourself that the game shouldn’t have finished 1-1 but it did.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Fair enough I'm realizing nobody will admit it. But there aren't any Swedes even thinking, let alone mentioning or joking about making to the world cup final. We don't talk about the easier half of the draw either. So there's a million miles between you and us, and I really don't think we're the outlier tbf. And our route here has been significantly tougher, to add to it.

These took seconds of googling to find and talk about exactly these things

https://www.thelocal.se/20180702/without-zlatan-swedens-team-spirit-shines

https://www.thelocal.se/20180703/i-...wedes-confident-about-swedens-world-cup-hopes

 

[Bilo]

These took seconds of googling to find and talk about exactly these things

https://www.thelocal.se/20180702/without-zlatan-swedens-team-spirit-shines

https://www.thelocal.se/20180703/i-...wedes-confident-about-swedens-world-cup-hopes

The local is a joke. As in, very, very dissimilar to any of the respected newspapers in Sweden.

But fair enough, I like every other Swede never visit that place so I wouldn't know what they're on about.

Plus, the first one is the only text source and there's no mention of the World cup final or the easier half of the draw in there.

 

[valefan16]

Wouldnt say we are arrogant, Sweden's players are suggesting ours are arrogant which is as far from the truth as you can get with this squad.

We are currently third favourites and have a decent chance of making the final so are enjoying it, as I dare say are Sweden/Russia/Croatia due to how things have fallen into place on our side of the draw,

We've seen a young team (the youngest at the finals) come through and show more as a team than the big personalities of the Golden Generation and are having a rare good tournament.

4 years ago and then 2 years ago we had little to look forward too and things looked bleak going forward so to have this bright young side which should get better in the coming years along with our World Champion U20 and U17's sides have seen some growing optimism... but thats all it is.

Most on here have suggested it may well be a draw and penalties so no arrogance. English humour is what it is and the "Its Coming home" is generally tongue in cheek and the play on the jokes such as Putin playing the Piano and The Wolf of Wall Street gifs...

Its said more in hope, there is a strange feeling of optimism in the air but that's not arrogance... we are allowed to believe surely otherwise whats the point in turning up?

 

[Abertawe]

Hard to disagree with anything bilo has said tbh.

England fans are massively overhyping the performance in the last game. Whilst England were the better team the Colombian's should've won all being fair. As I said earlier Southgate really needs to start getting em scoring from open play.

 

[TractorBoys]

We'll smash 'em.

Don't think they'll cause us any problems offensively at all, could just be mind numbing as we try to break them down.

2-0.

 

[T.A]

This is a knockout competition it means fuck all if one team deserves to win and doesn’t it’s all about the team who does.

Portugal fluked their way to winning the Euros in 2016 but nobody will care about that one bit. People call it arrogance to look forward to the final but what’s the point being in any competition if you don’t want to win?

I’d say us and Sweden are equal in terms of squad quality. I think we have more players that can win us the game but Sweden have the better team and a lot more experienced etc. The Quarter-final was our target and we are now there so I hope we can have a bit of fredom. Tunisia, Panama and Colombia have all resorted to dirty tactics to try and stop and start the game to try and stop us getting in any rhythm. I don’t see Sweden doing this this but they will be competitive

I couldn’t predict a result. Either way we’ve had a good World Cup where we weren’t embarrassed for once.

 

[Abertawe]

I’d say us and Sweden are equal in terms of squad quality.

why you lying?

 

[Jockney]

got Bilo waxing poetic about the Sweden squad and how they all play in the Ukrainian third tier one minute, then claiming England are arrogant for acting like favourites the next. Like, which is it mate? You can’t paint yourself as the underdog and then whinge when people treat you like underdogs

 

[Abertawe]

got Bilo waxing poetic about the Sweden squad and how they all play in the Ukrainian third tier one minute, then claiming England are arrogant for acting like favourites the next. Like, which is it mate? You can’t paint yourself as the underdog and then whinge when people treat you like underdogs

Because whilst England have the better players you have Gareth Southgate as manager adopting a system that can't score goals from open play. You can't treat victory over Sweden as a cert given those circumstances.

 

[G.B]

Be reasonable. This has 9-0 Ingurlund written all over it. Beelo is as transparent as Hugh with his obvious envy and jealousy of us.

 

[AnkleBiter]

Can't be fucked with 'getting carried away' comments, including from some of our own fans. How long has it been since the country were as in love with our national team as they are at the moment? Record viewing figures, scenes of jubilation everywhere, three lions memes all over social media... it's class, and very rarely happens, so fuck it, let's get carried away, we don't often get the chance to!

 

[mase]

Can't be fucked with 'getting carried away' comments, including from some of our own fans. How long has it been since the country were as in love with our national team as they are at the moment? Record viewing figures, scenes of jubilation everywhere, three lions memes all over social media... it's class, and very rarely happens, so fuck it, let's get carried away, we don't often get the chance to!

I haven't seen it like this since... Euro 96?

 

[Abertawe]

I haven't seen it like this since... Euro 96?

Nah the social media traffic was nothing like it is today.