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

[Carver]

England World Cup fever finally here now?

 

[St. Juste]

in other words you expected a Colombia win and England to fail, you mug. Please refrain yourself from our QUARTER FINAL thread you virgin.

Not particularly, I think I posted that England would be favourites without James playing.

Still, I think Colombia probably respected them a bit too much and their tactics left a lot to be desired. Giving away such an awful penalty is a absolutely ridiculous way to concede a goal in a WC QF.

I'm not totally convinced any side in that part of the draw have played particularly well. England still haven't managed a goal from open play against a semi competent side, and their only really convincing performance came against minnows Panama.

They will of course be significant favourites against a Sweden side chalk full of average players - Sebastian Larsson as a DM and their starting right back is a weak link at Celtic. However, it's a Sweden side that finished ahead of the Netherlands in qualifying, beat Italy in a play off and were incredibly unfortunate to lose to Germany. These are all sides with a lot more recent and historical tournament pedigree than England. Granqvist is having a tremendous tournament which is a nice story but it's a shame the slayer of England, Ibrahimovic, can't come back for one game.

All British TV is a right off until the game. They managed to have it as the main story, then main sports story without 4 minutes on BBC Breakfast this morning. Anyone who thinks this isn't / shouldn't be annoying should watch the TV stations of their rival football club.

Still England fans are clearly enjoying it, and as well they should. As I said, it's their best tournament since at least 2006 (and Colombia are a better side than Ecuador).

I think Yerry Mina could be a great player going forward.

 

[SF_]

Was just relief rather than happiness after we nearly fucked it up again.

Sitting back and fucking around with the ball in our own half after going 1 up, that equaliser served us right against a side that is bog-standard at best without James Rodriguez.

Seemed same old to me but we won on penalties for a change.

 

[PuB]

All British TV is a right off until the game. They managed to have it as the main story, then main sports story without 4 minutes on BBC Breakfast this morning. Anyone who thinks this isn't / shouldn't be annoying should watch the TV stations of their rival football club.

It's a damn shame you Scotts seem to have lost the ability to turn your television sets over isn't it. Tell me though, what has caused this?

Is it chronic obesity with the remote control being on the other side of the room, or a simple lack of IQ? Or maybe both.

 

[Gassy]

It's a damn shame you Scotts seem to have lost the ability to turn your television sets over isn't it. Tell me though, what has caused this?

Is it chronic obesity with the remote control being on the other side of the room, or a simple lack of IQ? Or maybe both.

They should have voted for independence really

 

[St. Juste]

It's a damn shame you Scotts seem to have lost the ability to turn your television sets over isn't it. Tell me though, what has caused this?

Is it chronic obesity with the remote control being on the other side of the room, or a simple lack of IQ? Or maybe both.

I do turn it off when it comes on. Then turn it back on a few minutes later to see if they were talking about the news but they had then moved onto the sport section (where the big story was the same as the leading story).

It's an inconvenience certainly, but it's not as if I am sitting down and forcing myself to watch it. If it comes on, I'll turn it off. I managed to avoid all the half time spiel yesterday but unfortunately the 5 live commentary wasn't synced with the TV pictures so had to suffer Tyldesley and Hoddle (who were bad but not as bad as I was expecting).

 

[mase]

Other than Danny Rose's effort, did we even trouble the Colombians? I can't think of any other times Ospina had to do anything and that is seriously worrying. Also thought a couple of the subs were just wrong. Dier for Alli (Who was fucking wank btw) completely killed us and invited them onto us. I think Loftus-Cheek would have been a more dynamic choice in the middle (although nice one Dier for the final penalty). I also didn't see the point in bringing Rashford on so late (if we were hoping he was going to get us a winner at least). He will have had loads of energy, but no fucker else out there did so he was effectively wasted as no one was able to match him for creative energy.

The Colombians must be kicking themselves today though, if they'd just gone out and actually played football rather than play like typical South Americans, they could very well have won that game inside the 90 minutes. That's how much better they looked than us. They were proper shit houses for large parts of the game. Makes the win feel all the more sweeter though. Even though we didn't create very much, I still feel we just about deserved the win over the course of the whole game, despite us looking seriously shaky for a good 30/40 minutes.

Jordan Pickford what a fucking save before their equaliser, and a strong hand for the penalty save too. Trippier and Maguire have been our stand-out players for me, and it's been mighty surprising.

 

[Renegade]

Colombia were my favourite side in the last World Cup and I really like this iteration of the England squad (and manager), so I was pretty ambivalent going into the game with who to root for. I probably slightly favoured England, but by the end of the game I was pumping my fist in the air for every England penalty that went in, which is a pretty weird feeling when the default stance for an Irishman is usually the exact opposite. That's how much of a disgrace Colombia were in this game. Complete shithouses.

I don't think England should chop and change much. Sterling lost the ball a few times, but he made a few really nice runs and gets into positions that other players do not. I think there is a lot of confirmation bias going on, people expect him to play poorly because that is the narrative, every time he miscontrols the ball it's leaped upon. He's one of England's most dangerous players, I think he's a better option than Alli and Rashford currently. Was delighted Rashford put his penalty away, looked like a deer trapped in headlights walking up to take it. Balls of steel.

Also England, please stop letting 'brave' defensive players like Henderson and Dier take penalties, it's as though you haven't read your own script. Dier's should have been saved, he was very lucky. Actually, just leave him on the bench, he was a disaster when he came on.

 

[Jockney]

People going on about the intensity of our play, or lack thereof, and Colombia’s lack of effort to play football — I really 100% believe that was down to the way we set up. We completely sucked the life out of them, never gave them any second ball opportunities, and generally made it very difficult to get the ball off us. The only downside is that the Alli-sterling-Lingard dynamic never really clicked — if it had, we’d be talking about one of the great England tournament performances. Really excellent management from Southgate for the most part.

 

[Kopper]

We were rubbish and will be going out in the next round.

 

[PuB]

We were rubbish and will be going out in the next round.

You're gonna look like a right idiot when it comes home.

 

[Pagnell]

Also England, please stop letting 'brave' defensive players like Henderson and Dier take penalties,

Was surprised by this, I admit. What the fuck was Henderson and Dier doing taking penalties whilst far more attacking players like Vardy and Lingard watched from the half way line? Did they simply shit out of taking one?

 

[SF_]

Was surprised by this, I admit. What the fuck was Henderson and Dier doing taking penalties whilst far more attacking players like Vardy and Lingard watched from the half way line? Did they simply shit out of taking one?

Vardy pulled up with something and Lingard is a little minge.

 

[Renegade]

It's very out of character for Lingard, because he's a very confident player and more often than not delivers. He is one of United's best big game players and I don't think the occasion phases him. He might be shite at penalties though, he's not the best finisher. There is no excuse for Vardy if he wasn't injured, he's taken penalties for Leicester before.

Ideally one of Alli and Young will be on the pitch for your next shootout, along with Kane, Trippier, Rashford, Vardy. I think those are your best options. To be honest I would fancy John Stones to take a penalty before either Henderson or Dier too.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Vardy was definitely injured and is doubtful for Saturday's match.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

Surprised no one has mentioned the tackle on Lingard in the box by Mina (I think), looked like a penalty to me. First by blocking his following foot, then falling on it with his knee. Not the most obvious foul ever, but he definitely took him down. Think the ref would have been very wary about giving us another pen though as he didn’t want to risk facing the wrath of Falcao the psychotic again..

 

[SF_]

I thought the defender pulled out of the tackle and contact was avoided but Lingard fell to floor anyway with a delayed reaction.

100% not a penalty for me.

 

[Gassy]

Funny, I saw minimal contact but not enough for Lingard to go down hence it wasn't given

 

[Steve_Wafc]

I’d need to see it again then. At the time I saw Lingard shield the ball to his right side, then as he moved his left foot forward, the defender blocked the movement, leaving Lingard to take a chunk out of the pitch in the process, then the defender lost balance and fell down onto Lingard’s achilles. Reminded me of the penalty Sweden won vs Mexico.

 

[Leo]

They should have voted for independence really

NO NO & THRICE NO!!!

 

[mase]

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...gry-at-england-players-after-world-cup-defeat

 

[Predator373]

Yeah but you see the thing is, that'll never happen. Say you beat the Swedes, you really think you'd beat Croatia or Brazil/France with your darling Pogba afterwards?

What a sad jealous bitter scot. I honestly pity you.

 

[valefan16]

Lingard should of trued to stay on his feet as he would have had the chance to slot home past Ospina but seemed to be looking for the touch more than trying to stay upright and finish the game off.

 

[valefan16]

What a sad jealous bitter scot. I honestly pity you.

Why wouldn't we be capable of beating Croatia either? They were poor against Denmark and nothing to say they'd see off Russia in their own back yard yet. Would be a tough tie but certainly think we'd be slight favourites.

 

[valefan16]

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...gry-at-england-players-after-world-cup-defeat

Their fans as I said earlier are in the main blaming the referee massively for their loss which is baffling really! Other than the corner they didnt get near the end I can't say he did anything game changingly wrong for them, if anything he gave them the lifeline by not sending their lad off!

They are furious with him though, wouldn't say we dived anymore than most teams and I am glad we are becoming more streetwise as other teams have done it to us for years to our detriment.

 

[Predator373]

Why wouldn't we be capable of beating Croatia either? They were poor against Denmark and nothing to say they'd see off Russia in their own back yard yet. Would be a tough tie but certainly think we'd be slight favourites.

Yes I agree I fancy us to beat Sweden and then against Croatia I think it will be a tight tough game but I would fancy our chances.
Come on England!

 

[Kopper]

You're gonna look like a right idiot when it comes home.[/QUOTE

You're gonna look like a right idiot when it comes home.

We couldn't score from open play or open them up on anything like a consistent basis. Passing back to our keeper at every opportunity is a sign the midfielder can't use the channels to get it forward.
This England team is better than every England team since 2004. But even so it won't go any further if they're not prepare to attack the opposition.

 

[The Southbank]

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...gry-at-england-players-after-world-cup-defeat

What a bitter old twat - Colombia played up and got their just reward. Maybe they should stick to churning out the marching powder, it's all that country is good for.

 

[Kneezy]

The repulsive Pekkerman showed just why most of the Columbian team were such thuggish cheats
Petulant cheating arsehole

What a bitter old twat - Colombia played up and got their just reward. Maybe they should stick to churning out the marching powder, it's all that country is good for.

Nah. Their coffee is excellent.

 

[Kneezy]

There is too many to choose from. Kanes diving inside the box constantly, Lingaard too when booked. Oh how bout McGuire, a guy built like a tank, but somehow goes down like a feather in the box on no contact.

Don't you mean wrestled to the ground ?
At times it's been utterly ludicrous, like the Tunisia game
But EVERY SINGLE GAME it's happened.
And considering you're ignoring the play acting of other teams - most notably those repulsive Columbian cheats - you're pushing only ONE line here and confirming bitter whining scot FOR your critics