The International Friendlies thread

[Pickleman1967]

Don't you just love VAR? It surely enhances the live experience right?

 

[AFCB_Mark]

What a weird atmosphere in the ground. England v Italy should be a big game, regardless of the frendly status. Indeed it's a sellout. How come its so flat? Like even flat by Wembley standards flat.

Anyway a shame to let the lead slip, in slightly odd circumstances too. Otherwise it's been a decent few days. For better or worse we seem to have decided on a shape now which is something.

Lewis Cook Together with Ake pocketing Ronaldo last night, its a decent couple of days for Bournemouth.

 

[Benji]

I think that was a penalty, but I also think VAR is rubbish and should be killed dead.

 

[Super_horns]

Hm..there was contact but slight and the Italy lad was going down already I think.

Not really a clear cut incident for VAR to rule on.

Overall a decent England performance for about 60 minutes after a slow start.

 

[Pickleman1967]

Well, have to say a tad disappointed, cant we beat this lot even in a friendly? Nonetheless, fair game for a friendly and some pleasing attacking movement from England. All too often England look timid at Wembley against the better teams, there were times tonight when they looked like the shackles were off. As ever, my England glass is half full!

 

[Railway Blue]

That really was dire. The worst Italy team in modern times and we still can't beat them. They should have been 3-0 up before we scored. Stirling (shite again) blasted over when well placed to make it 2-0. Draw probably a fair result. Ashley Young my m-o-m. Despite being a poor team Italy are still miles ahead of us technically. We'll struggle to get out of the group in Russia. Who's the Polish guy that gave the penalty away.

 

[Jockney]

it was a decent performance. Lack a proper midfield option, but our energy and movement will give teams problems. Sterling looks a different player this season, very impressed by him over the two games.

 

[Gassy]

2 very contrasting reports there.

I’ll look at the highlights tomorrow. I’d like to think we can beat Panama and Tunisia though

 

[Pickleman1967]

Stirling (shite again) blasted over when well placed to make it 2-0.

Don't agree mate, I think he was lively against the Netherlands and he was lively tonight. Always frustrating when a player like that cant stick the ball in the net, but I think he is growing as a player. I hoped he would sink without trace when he went to Citeh, but he hasn't; fact. Would I pick him in my first England eleven in the WC? Oh yes.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

That really was dire. The worst Italy team in modern times and we still can't beat them. They should have been 3-0 up before we scored. Stirling (shite again) blasted over when well placed to make it 2-0. Draw probably a fair result. Ashley Young my m-o-m. Despite being a poor team Italy are still miles ahead of us technically. We'll struggle to get out of the group in Russia. Who's the Polish guy that gave the penalty away.

carry on chatting shit and your bikes going in the canal pal

 

[SALTIRE]

Scotland won, we actually won!!

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Decent from England tonight, if not for the ridiculous VAR striking again we'd have had two very good friendly wins. Will be the death of football this monstrosity.

 

[Railway Blue]

Don't agree mate, I think he was lively against the Netherlands and he was lively tonight. Always frustrating when a player like that cant stick the ball in the net, but I think he is growing as a player. I hoped he would sink without trace when he went to Citeh, but he hasn't; fact. Would I pick him in my first England eleven in the WC? Oh yes.

You're easily pleased. When does he ever go past a man (with the ball)?

 

[Railway Blue]

2 very contrasting reports there.

I’ll look at the highlights tomorrow. I’d like to think we can beat Panama and Tunisia though

England have been so poor for so long that the people who were happy with that against a very poor Italy team are wearing rose-tinted glasses.

 

[The Alex]

Just back from the game.. I thought we played well, and I know we all like to got our hopes up before a tournament in this country, but does anyone else think this side actually looks good and promising? Because I do. Think Southgate is a good manager and we're benefiting from having coaches like Klopp and Guardiola in the prem. And I don't think there's a side in the world that Vardy can't bag against, a quality, clinical striker. Also VAR needs scrapping pronto! It may have been a penalty but that's up for debate and not the point, you can't use it for incidents like that or else we're on the way to killing the game. Finally, Sterling is brilliant.

 

[Gassy]

Just seen the highlights - indeed Italy should have been 3-0 up by the first 16 minutes tbf. They amount of times they chipped a through ball over our static defence was terrifying. I'll give the defence credit that they recovered very quickly though. I guess this is what friendlies are for though, to test your weaknesses too. Great move for our goal too, Sterling looked like he had a very good game.

As for the penalty - I'm on the fence. The player is clearly already going down before he's even stepped on his foot. The problem with this VAR is it makes a foul looks 10x worse than it was in slow motion - never mind the fact that we're now going to stop and look at VAR every time someone touches their ankle in pain (when it was his foot)? You're actually inviting more diving by doing this because in slow motion, anything can look like a foul.

Here's some screen shots I took - I can see why the ref gave it (if he had given it at the time anyway) but how far do you go? If he looked 'properly' he would see the Italy player is already on his way down without any contact:

 

[Carver]

People here moaning about VAR even though it was a penalty. Yet if it goes our way then you will be praising it.

As for Englands performance it was ok but there is too much possesion play by us just for the sake of playing possesion football. Not a good idea when you are only 1 goal infront, we should have pressed more for a second goal especially in the second half and I worry that this is going to be Roy Hodgson all over again!

 

[Gassy]

I think it's the way it's given is the problem - rather than the incident itself.

Every time a player is holding any part of his body, should we stop the game for 5 minutes to determine whether there was a foul or not?

 

[St. Juste]

Didn't even realise they were playing, but have just seen the night's results coming in..Scotland 0 Costa Rica 1.

What's surprising about that? Costa Rica are a better side than Scotland, comfortably, I'm not surprised they won.

Scrub that, lets just assign the Scotland football team to history, we are so beyond dross its laughable. That McTominay - is that all he does - no wonder Maureen (who was at the game) loves him. McBurney, fucking hell what a waste of air. We are done, finished, finito!

Scotland fans are absolutely ridiculous, no doubt about that.

Anyway, an excellent result and performance away to a side with almost double our population, and a proud footballing heritage (they did alright at Euro 2016 as well). An extremely positive result.

i saw the second half of the England game once the Scotland game was over. Was a bit meh, Italys friendly results are typically absolutely horrendous so surprised they didn't lose.

Wish they brought Balotelli on to make it 3 in 3 vs England.

The debate about the penalty is absolute nonsense, if you don't think that's a penalty please resign from ever watching football.

 

[Railway Blue]

Just back from the game.. I thought we played well, and I know we all like to got our hopes up before a tournament in this country, but does anyone else think this side actually looks good and promising? Because I do. Think Southgate is a good manager and we're benefiting from having coaches like Klopp and Guardiola in the prem. And I don't think there's a side in the world that Vardy can't bag against, a quality, clinical striker. Also VAR needs scrapping pronto! It may have been a penalty but that's up for debate and not the point, you can't use it for incidents like that or else we're on the way to killing the game. Finally, Sterling is brilliant.

Agree with some of that except the Sterling bit. You must be a Man City fan. We're not going to get many chances against the Germanys and Argentinas, so that second half chance needs to fall to Vardy and not Sterling.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

What's surprising about that? Costa Rica are a better side than Scotland, comfortably, I'm not surprised they won.




Scotland fans are absolutely ridiculous, no doubt about that.

Anyway, an excellent result and performance away to a side with almost double our population, and a proud footballing heritage (they did alright at Euro 2016 as well). An extremely positive result.

i saw the second half of the England game once the Scotland game was over. Was a bit meh, Italys friendly results are typically absolutely horrendous so surprised they didn't lose.

Wish they brought Balotelli on to make it 3 in 3 vs England.

The debate about the penalty is absolute nonsense, if you don't think that's a penalty please resign from ever watching football.

How big is Costa Rica's population.

 

[SF_]

Costa Rica - 4.8m
Scotland 5.3m

Roughly.

Still a respectable scoreline for Scotland though, they're fucking wank.

 

[Carver]

ENGLAND ARE SHIT.

Always have been and always will be, so do not waste time watching those overpaid shitbags.

We will be knocked out by the second group match against Panama, heard it here first.

 

[Libertadores FC]

We beat Iceland 3-1 last night. Friendly or not, we are playing marvellous football and I think we're well prepared for the tournament. What I find sad is that in that group, one good side will go out. Be it us, Denmark or France. All due respect to Australia but they aren't up to par compared to the other 3.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Agree with some of that except the Sterling bit. You must be a Man City fan. We're not going to get many chances against the Germanys and Argentinas, so that second half chance needs to fall to Vardy and not Sterling.

But for Sterling that chance might not exist. Ditto the one that lead to the goal. Movement is more important than finishing ability, hence why Sterling has 20 goals this season and Sané has 12.

 

[Carver]

We beat Iceland 3-1 last night. Friendly or not, we are playing marvellous football and I think we're well prepared for the tournament. What I find sad is that in that group, one good side will go out. Be it us, Denmark or France. All due respect to Australia but they aren't up to par compared to the other 3.

Peru? HA don't make me laugh!

You are going to be one of the tournaments whipping boys who will be taken lightly and rightly so because your team is just so shit. Oh you beat Iceland in a friendly? WOW just WOW the footballing juggernauts of Iceland!

You will be out by the second group match without scoring a single goal.

 

[St. Juste]

Costa Rica - 4.8m
Scotland 5.3m

Roughly.

Still a respectable scoreline for Scotland though, they're fucking wank.

So, very similar.

But anyway, this is a Costa Rica side who finished top of their group at the last world cup, beating Italy and Uruguay. They qualified ahead of the US.

Of course they are better than us, occasionally small nation will have good teams. Their team isn't fantastic but they had an admirable team spirit.

England, more than ten times their size, mocked them relentlessly then drew with them in a dead rubber - finishing bottom of the group where Costa Rica finished top.

But nevertheless, apparently beating Scotland 1-0 is worthy of derision? The lack of knowledge of certain nations continues to be astonishing.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Peru? HA don't make me laugh!

You are going to be one of the tournaments whipping boys who will be taken lightly and rightly so because your team is just so shit. Oh you beat Iceland in a friendly? WOW just WOW the footballing juggernauts of Iceland!

You will be out by the second group match without scoring a single goal.

Tell that to the last 12 teams we've faced.

 

[Gassy]

Didn't Costa Rica make the 1/4 Finals as well? Only going out in penalties to NL?

Tbf, I'd expect Scotland to lose to Costa Rica right now. I'd expect England to lose to Costa Rica right now too.

 

[Libertadores FC]

So, very similar.

But anyway, this is a Costa Rica side who finished top of their group at the last world cup, beating Italy and Uruguay. They qualified ahead of the US.

Of course they are better than us, occasionally small nation will have good teams. Their team isn't fantastic but they had an admirable team spirit.

England, more than ten times their size, mocked them relentlessly then drew with them in a dead rubber - finishing bottom of the group where Costa Rica finished top.

But nevertheless, apparently beating Scotland 1-0 is worthy of derision? The lack of knowledge of certain nations continues to be astonishing.

Dude, no one cares about population. San Juan de Lurigancho (district in Lima) has THREE times the population of Iceland. Iceland is in the World Cup and finished first in their qualifying group ahead of Croatia. We don't have a huge national pool either. We have a really good group of 23 but after that its questionable quality for this level.