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

[Bobbin']

As a twist on my earlier question, when was the last time England beat a team as good, or better, than Colombia in a competitive match?

Probably Scotland in the qualifiers.

 

[St. Juste]

Just like Slovakia

Wait, don't they have a smaller population and are still better at football than Scotland though?

#Paradox

Well, we beat them at home, lost away, and finished on equal points.

Don't think we are too far away. Didn't England just lose to a far smaller nation in Belgium?

Probably Scotland in the qualifiers.

As I said before, most sensitive football fans of all time.

 

[Gassy]

Well, we beat them at home, lost away, and finished on equal points.

Don't think we are too far away. Didn't England just lose to a far smaller nation in Belgium?

You got smashed 3-0 away and Slovakia had a red card very early on and you some how managed to only win 1-0 from an 89th minute own goal.

Keep living in your dream land

We did, but I'm not the one trying to argue constantly about populations

 

[TomPNE94]

Football is no where near the dominant sport in Russia, Ice Hockey vies for supremecy.

Also I read an article that Russia has one of the most ethnically homogeneous teams in the tournament, that certainly doesn't help and is coincidentally a problem Scotland has too.

Reading some of the replies on this thread, are England the most sensitive football fans of all time? They don't even like it when they are told the correct the spelling of the country they are playing.

As a twist on my earlier question, when was the last time England beat a team as good, or better, than Colombia in a competitive match?

*supremacy

 

[Son of Cod]

I work in sales in the life sciences industry, after finishing uni I had hit a glass ceiling in Sainsbury's with all their cut backs, couldn't seem to get anyone to reply to grad job applications so just thought f*ck it take a risk - 3 years later I've never looked back! I'm always looking for native speakers if you're interested (PS, iFollow is the greatest thing ever created)

Yep the hour drives me mad, but at the same time the other game kicks off at 4pm meaning I can start doing some 'lead research' at the end of my day

I've not been back in the UK that long myself, but if things go tits up for me here then I might hold you to that mate haha!

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Breaking SSN update - the England squad have gone through some light training exercises and a load of set piece routines this morning.

Get it on Maguire's head. I hope this is progressive enough for everybody.

 

[Abertawe]

If England are clinical they could have this wrapped up by halftime with their blitzing starts. If they fail to put away chances and it's still tight by 60 odd minutes I think Colombia's playmakers will come into their own and punish the England boys.

 

[Gassy]

I've not been back in the UK that long myself, but if things go tits up for me here then I might hold you to that mate haha!

Where did you go? How is it being back?

 

[TomPNE94]

So nervous about tonight, mainly because if we lose we miss out on a huge piss up on Saturday

 

[valefan16]

Football is no where near the dominant sport in Russia, Ice Hockey vies for supremecy.

Also I read an article that Russia has one of the most ethnically homogeneous teams in the tournament, that certainly doesn't help and is coincidentally a problem Scotland has too.

Reading some of the replies on this thread, are England the most sensitive football fans of all time? They don't even like it when they are told the correct the spelling of the country they are playing.

As a twist on my earlier question, when was the last time England beat a team as good, or better, than Colombia in a competitive match?

Switzerland a couple of years ago if you go by the World Rankings....

 

[St. Juste]

Switzerland a couple of years ago if you go by the World Rankings....

Looks like that match took place in 2015. Do you think they were a better side?

In the upcoming Euros Switzerland beat Albania 1-0 before draws with France and Romania. They were then knocked out by Poland on penalties in the last 16.

 

[Gassy]

On a separate note, these World Rankings always make me laugh.

How are Switzerland 6th then last time they made last of 16 at the Euros, I believe 1/4 finals before that in Brazil?

Poland as well - 8th best? They went out in the 1/4's in the Euros and didn't even make it to the world cup in 2014..

Even Belgium haven't really done anything to warrant being 3rd. 1/4 final for Euros. 1/4 finals for the world cup. I guess at least they're different because they have a superb squad, but still.

 

[TomPNE94]

On a separate note, these World Rankings always make me laugh.

How are Switzerland 6th then last time they made last of 16 at the Euros, I believe 1/4 finals before that in Brazil?

Poland as well - 8th best? They went out in the 1/4's in the Euros and didn't even make it to the world cup in 2014..

Even Belgium haven't really done anything to warrant being 3rd. 1/4 final for Euros. 1/4 finals for the world cup. I guess at least they're different because they have a superb squad, but still.

Poland didn't play a friendly for a whole year so that they were seeded for this world cup, went well for them.

 

[Jockney]

The point about beating top sides in competitive games is a good one. Since the turn of the century, we've beaten the worst German side for several generations in Euro 2000 and in 2002 a sub-par Argentina, who didn't even make it out of the group. The 5-1 in Germany is the last time I remember, and even then we didn't get much time to bask in the glory -- 9/11 happened a few days later.

Tbf, we should have beaten France at Euro 2004. Probably the best England tournament performance of my lifetime, bar Euro 96. Surprised it's not brought up more, as it's probably the last time we looked like a side capable of winning a tournament -- well, unless this bunch of players surprise everybody.

 

[valefan16]

Looks like that match took place in 2015. Do you think they were a better side?

In the upcoming Euros Switzerland beat Albania 1-0 before draws with France and Romania. They were then knocked out by Poland on penalties in the last 16.

Switzerland are pretty decent in fairness, don't lose often and are one of those solid, unspectacular sides, seeding farce aside I would say they are probably of similar ilk to Colombia currently.

If we were to progress and meet them I would consider it as tough as tonight's tie.

The issue of competitive meetings with big teams is a tough one to call, we are generally seeded for qualifying so never have to play any top side outside of a finals tournament (our friendly record is fairly decent).

The fact is we haven't met many in recent years, Italy and France we drew in 2012, Germany battered us granted in 2010 and we didn't qualify for 2008 but even in 2016 we didn't meet a top side as we got dumped out by a supposedly far inferior outfit (all be it Iceland have proven themselves to be at the second tier level of European nations).

In 2014 Italy were poor and Uruguay not much either (they went out quickly once through).

The Nations League may change that if teams take it seriously to make it competitive.

Its hard to place where Colombia are at though in terms of comparing them to European Nations that we play a lot such as Switzerland, Slovakia etc.

It will be tough regardless as will each game to the final if we are to progress that far.

 

[Gassy]

Poland didn't play a friendly for a whole year so that they were seeded for this world cup, went well for them.

But the draw was made in December?

EDIT: Oops, read it wrong anyway - thought you wrote this year, not a whole year!

Thats mental though, how can they be allowed? How were they even there in the first place?!

 

[Abertawe]

Doesn't matter boys.

 

[St. Juste]

Switzerland are pretty decent in fairness, don't lose often and are one of those solid, unspectacular sides, seeding farce aside I would say they are probably of similar ilk to Colombia currently.

If we were to progress and meet them I would consider it as tough as tonight's tie.

The issue of competitive meetings with big teams is a tough one to call, we are generally seeded for qualifying so never have to play any top side outside of a finals tournament (our friendly record is fairly decent).

The fact is we haven't met many in recent years, Italy and France we drew in 2012, Germany battered us granted in 2010 and we didn't qualify for 2008 but even in 2016 we didn't meet a top side as we got dumped out by a supposedly far inferior outfit (all be it Iceland have proven themselves to be at the second tier level of European nations).

In 2014 Italy were poor and Uruguay not much either (they went out quickly once through).

The Nations League may change that if teams take it seriously to make it competitive.

Its hard to place where Colombia are at though in terms of comparing them to European Nations that we play a lot such as Switzerland, Slovakia etc.

It will be tough regardless as will each game to the final if we are to progress that far.

While there might be a point on Colombia vs. Switzerland, I don't think there is any doubt the former is a far better team than Slovakia.

In the Italy draw in 2012, England were dominated throughout the game - even the English media conceded this afterwards. The first line of the BBC match report:

"Italy were vastly superior to England over the course of 120 minutes "

 

[Son of Cod]

Where did you go? How is it being back?

Well, when I say I haven't been back long I mean I've been back well over a year haha. I was in Korea for almost 5 years before that, though. It's good being back, pros and cons to both living abroad and being back in England as I'm sure you're well aware!

 

[Gassy]

Well, when I say I haven't been back long I mean I've been back well over a year haha. I was in Korea for almost 5 years before that, though. It's good being back, pros and cons to both living abroad and being back in England as I'm sure you're well aware!

I'd love to hear a Grimsby lad speak Korean

 

[Jockney]

While there might be a point on Colombia vs. Switzerland, I don't think there is any doubt the former is a far better team than Slovakia.

In the Italy draw in 2012, England were dominated throughout the game - even the English media conceded this afterwards. The first line of the BBC match report:

"Italy were vastly superior to England over the course of 120 minutes "

Pirlo bossed it yeah. I don't think there was a single obvious chance for either side in the 120, though. 2012 was perhaps more depressing than any other tournament I can remember -- results-wise better than the following two, but at the time it really did seem like we were going the way of the Netherlands, with no decent prospects on the horizon.

 

[Son of Cod]

I'd love to hear a Grimsby lad speak Korean

Hahahahaha it's so hard I was rubbish even at French at school, but Korean is on another level of difficulty for me.

 

[St. Juste]

Pirlo bossed it yeah. I don't think there was a single obvious chance for either side in the 120, though. 2012 was perhaps more depressing than any other tournament I can remember -- results-wise better than the following two, but at the time it really did seem like we were going the way of the Netherlands, with no decent prospects on the horizon.

I don't remember the complete game, but I do recall Pirlo hitting the bar with a 40 yard free kick.

 

[Meadow]

Has this been posted yet?

 

[TractorBoys]

COME ON ENGLAND.

It's time boys. The lass in Asda on the tannoy just finished a store announcement with 'Come on England, bring it home'. True story. Reaction from store going customers; minimal.

 

[Leo]

Once again best wishes to England....hope they spank the Columbians.

 

[G.B]

5-0 England imo

 

[SALTIRE]

If England are clinical they could have this wrapped up by halftime with their blitzing starts. If they fail to put away chances and it's still tight by 60 odd minutes I think Colombia's playmakers will come into their own and punish the England boys.

Abertawe you are not becoming all sensible on this are you? This isn't how it works! Pull your act together lad.

 

[Leo]

Abertawe you are not becoming all sensible on this are you? This isn't how it works! Pull your act together lad.

#hopehopehopinglikefuck..............

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Nerves kicking in now, best opportunity we will ever have to progress deep into a tournament, let's get the job done tonight ffs. Happy with the line up, just hope we'll be able to deal with the flair players that Colombian's possess.