Round of 16: Colombia v England, 3rd July 7pm(GMT)

[JJ1532]

Well then, the last 16 game we wanted to avoid is the last 16 game we've got, thanks to Southgate's tactical throwing of the Belgium game.

Colombia come in not in great shape. There are big question marks of James Rodriguez, who limped off in their game with Senegal after 30 minutes. Even if he does somehow make this game, he clearly isn't fit. A tactical kick on his bad leg early on might be in order.

Falcao is a mystery of a player, good one week, shite the next. Watch, he'll have a blinder in this game. Cuadrado is a good player, Umina and Sanchez at the back, Ospina in net. They have a solid core and will cause England problems that's for sure.

However, England come in with their big players rested. Does that mean they are fresh and should outlast Colombia, giving them an advantage late on? What sort of team will Southgate pick? Is Alli fit? What about Stones, who was taken off at half time against Belgium?

We'll surely see Young, Maguire, Walker, Trippier, Lingard, Kane and Sterling right? Alli too if fit. Does RLC keep his place? Does anyone from the Belgium game?

So, can England break their tournament hoodoo and win their first knockout game since 2006? Will Southgate look like a genius for resting players and getting the 'easier' bracket, or will he look rather stupid at full time as his young team come up short?

 

[SALTIRE]

3 - 1 to Colombia, their power and technique to put Engerland to the sword!

 

[Bobbin']

2-1 England.

Job done.

 

[Jockney]

Think we'll do it 3-1. Kill them on the counter with them chasing an equaliser at 2-1. They're a good side but I don't think they have much discipline at all. Senegal should have South Korea'd them this afternoon but had no-one up top. We have Kane.

 

[Gassy]

We will need every single player performing to beat this team.

When both teams are at their best, I do think they're better than us

 

[SF_]

Now shit gets interesting.

No idea how it will pan out, I make Colombia slight favourites but just hope we don't turn up and put in a meek performance. If we go out and its an end-to-end, hard fought 3-2 loss then fair enough.

Penalties can fuck off.

 

[Dirk]

Europe vs South America : My preferences here are clear. I am always backing the European guys (unless it's a Europe vs South America final and Italy or Netherlands are in it like in 1970, 1978, 1994)


1-0 England (Harry Kane or alternatively, Jordan Henderson (for Salty's pleasure)

 

[leedsvaliant]

We will need every single player performing to beat this team.

When both teams are at their best, I do think they're better than us

I disagree. They have two or three decent players capable of doing damage. The rest are shite and ospina is a poor goalkeeper

 

[Pagnell]

We need to go balls out, Kane could grab two or three goals on his own against this lot. Unfortunately, they could match it the other end if we're not careful. Going for the jugular is the best tactic for me, even if it ends up not working. Better than a limp exit after a shithouse, defensive display. Are you listening Southgate?

2-1 Engulaaand.

 

[G.B]

My predicition: Salty mate watches all the build up and match it's entirety, then submits half a dozen posts complaining about the build up and match being on TV.

 

[SALTIRE]

My predicition: Salty mate watches all the build up and match it's entirety, then submits half a dozen posts complaining about the build up and match being on TV.

Nope I don't watch that rubbish, even if its a game featuring someone else. Not listening to pundits rubbing their ego's and telling us this will happen or that will - most of them predicted blandly that Germany would win this tournament, so most of them are dullards anyway. I start watching when the game starts, then have to suffer that bloody commentary, especially if Sam Shitface is on.

 

[Reaper]

There's only 2 Colombian players I would have in our team and that's defender Sanchez and James. If we are close to our best then we should win the game.

 

[SALTIRE]

There's only 2 Colombian players I would have in our team and that's defender Sanchez and James. If we are close to our best then we should win the game.

I remember Shearer saying that before you faced Germany in 2010, and we all know what happened there.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I remember Shearer saying that before you faced Germany in 2010, and we all know what happened there.

It certainly wasn’t the wisest thing to say and watching the pre-match buildup of that match it’s striking how much of a blind eye the pundits were willing to give to England’s mediocre performances against Algeria and Slovenia.
It’s all very well saying that you’d only take 2 of Colombia’s players, what’s more important is whether our 11 will play well enough as a team to win the match. I can see Colombia moving the ball around more quickly than us, which has long been a familiar failure of England teams.

 

[Reaper]

I remember Shearer saying that before you faced Germany in 2010, and we all know what happened there.

Well I'm not Shearer I know what I'm talking about.

 

[SALTIRE]

It certainly wasn’t the wisest thing to say and watching the pre-match buildup of that match it’s striking how much of a blind eye the pundits were willing to give to England’s mediocre performances against Algeria and Slovenia.
It’s all very well saying that you’d only take 2 of Colombia’s players, what’s more important is whether our 11 will play well enough as a team to win the match. I can see Colombia moving the ball around more quickly than us, which has long been a familiar failure of England teams.

Indeed, some will think this a walkover for England, but Colombia are far from mugs. They are a tough side to get past. By the sounds of things you'll be helped as it doesn't look like James Rodriguez will make the match; but it won't be easy at all.

 

[SALTIRE]

Well I'm not Shearer I know what I'm talking about.

You wouldn't have Cuadrado either then?

 

[JJ1532]

Indeed, some will think this a walkover for England, but Colombia are far from mugs. They are a tough side to get past. By the sounds of things you'll be helped as it doesn't look like James Rodriguez will make the match; but it won't be easy at all.

Who? Who has said that? Show me the quote or the article or the tweet that says that. And I don't mean some gobshite on twitter either.

 

[Reaper]

You wouldn't have Cuadrado either then?

No especially with formation we play, thinking about it a bit more I'd maybe have Falcao alongside Kane but that's it for me.

 

[JimJams]

Theres a lot of hype about this colombia side and most of it is unwarranted.
They finished 4th in qualifying, 1 point ahead of Peru who nobody rates. And they didn't win a single encounter against the big 3, Brazil, Argies or Uruguay.
Player for player barely any of them get near our team with Rodriguez, D.Sanchez shoe ins and Falcao a possibility.
Atletico Falcao walks in, but thats not him anymore. People seem unaware of that.
Cuadrado is a bit parter at Juve, Izquierdo is a mid level prem winger and Quintero was never good enough nor fit enough to break into Portos side and went to River Plate.
Former Villan Sanchez is utter dogshit, Arias has never got his arse out of the Dutch league.
People scoff at Hendo but fk me if you think Sanchez is anywhere near his level you're off your fking tits.

 

[Stevencc]

So, to paraphrase, it's coming home?

 

[JimJams]

Well Iceland are out now so confidence is through the roof!

 

[SALTIRE]

So what you all going for, 5 - 0 to Southgate's marvels?

 

[TractorBoys]

I really don't see the level of danger described by some of you in this thread. I'd call this for exactly what it is, a potential banana skin, but if we perform anywhere near our full potential, we should come out fairly comfortably.

3-1 England. Standard defensive question marks after the game.

 

[Abertawe]

I really don't see the level of danger described by some of you in this thread. I'd call this for exactly what it is, a potential banana skin, but if we perform anywhere near our full potential, we should come out fairly comfortably.

3-1 England. Standard defensive question marks after the game.

Peruvian bag for this one mate?

 

[TractorBoys]

Peruvian bag for this one mate?

Bag of each mate, dark net job.

 

[Stevencc]

How reliable is the dark net for getting massively illegal substances delivered to one's home?

Asking for a friend, of course.

 

[Laker]

We’re capable of beating Colombia but we’re also capable of losing to them.

I didn’t see Colombia’s defeat to Japan though I understand that if they’d had 11 men it would have been a different outcome. I saw their win over Poland and I thought they were excellent. I then didn’t see their win over Senegal but I read they were a bit lucky and got away with it a bit. So from what I’ve seen, Colombia look really good but that may not be a true reflection of their level.

Our players should be well rested and it’s nice to have Alli back. Hopefully Jones will be fit too. I still wouldn’t play Sterling (I wouldn’t have taken him at all to be fair!) and I’d start Loftus-Cheek, Welbeck or Rashford instead. But otherwise our players should be in good shape and high on confidence.

Fingers crossed but we’re definitely capable of losing this.

 

[JimJams]

You wouldn't have taken a player who scored 22 goals in 34 starts last season but would take bench warmers at clubs that did worse in the league and Europe and are demonstrably worse players?

I mean Welbeck ffs? Yamad!

 

[Laker]

You wouldn't have taken a player who scored 22 goals in 34 starts last season but would take bench warmers at clubs that did worse in the league and Europe and are demonstrably worse players?

I mean Welbeck ffs? Yamad!

No I wouldn’t. Sterling is crap and wastes too many chances to be useful.

To be fair, I’m not a Welbeck fan either at club level either but he seems to raise his game for England.