Tunisia v England, 18th June, 7pm(GMT)

[AnimoEtFide]

England threatened to be the new fresh, exciting, young team of the future. But thankfully were the dopey, anxious England team of old.

Still, they will be relieved to get the winner. And with the Tunisia goal being a VARce, at least it allows the narrative to be slightly friendlier to the England team.

That's not the narrative. I didn't see much questioning of the Tunisian penalty. The narrative is that Harry Kane should have got two penalties and we all love Harry Kane and we want to have Harry Kane's babies.

 

[Luke_1884]

England threatened to be the new fresh, exciting, young team of the future. But thankfully were the dopey, anxious England team of old.

Still, they will be relieved to get the winner. And with the Tunisia goal being a VARce, at least it allows the narrative to be slightly friendlier to the England team.

So GIF's don't bladdy work.

 

[Predator373]

Deserved win but we certainly made work of it, doesn’t help when the ref seemed hell bent on Tunisia getting a point. Should of been 3 or 4 up by half time, really glad we got the 3 points though will give the lads plenty of confidence.

 

[Abertawe]

Saw enough to know Southgate is doing it wrong and has no other strategy. England will play Colombia in the 1st knockout round and go out.

 

[JJ1532]

Missed the first 20 minutes, but the first half wasn't too bad for an opening game. Flashes of good stuff, pretty solid at the back. Wasted some great chances though, Lingard first was a shocking miss. Just hit the target. Stones should have connected better on that knockdown. Should have been 2 or 3 up even accounting for the penalty.

Walker though, surely Southgate can see he is a liability defensively. Always has been, see numerous times for England and Spurs, hell see Man City v Wigan only a few months ago. Stupid to swing his arm like that, got to be more careful.

2nd half, not sure why things were so slow and lethargic. Did the right thing bringing Rashford on, not sure how Lingard completed the 90. Alli and Sterling were also poor, as was Young. Is Danny Rose really not a better option down that left hand side?

Maybe Southgate was right to show faith in his system, but I'm not sure why he didn't sacrifice one of his 3 defenders and throw on Vardy towards the end. Didn't need 3 against a team that went uber defensive and took off Khazri. Could have easily taken off Walker. Bold sub bringing Loftus-Cheek on, paid off though, fair play. Kane is such a good poacher, 2 carbon copy goals, total yardage of them must have been about 5.

Positives were that we created plenty of chances and but for some better luck and sharper finishing, we would have won by a couple. We also restricted Tunisia to nothing. A few half chances from way out, even the penalty was a nothing cross that their lad wasn't getting anywhere near. And of course, we won and did so via a late winner, which will be huge for the confidence. The officials are a downright disgrace though, only a few days ago a referee was able to spot hugging challenges on set pieces and correctly give a penalty, yet 2-3 on Kane go un-noticed and aren't even worthy of a VAR review? I don't think so.

Negatives were the supporting trio of Lingard, Alli and Sterling. All 3 had poor games imo, yes Lingard could have scored, but he was anonymous in the 2nd half and the other 2 were dross. Ashley Young is not an international CB, he can't tackle(see his 2 ridiculous free kicks conceded deep in the Tunisia half), can't shoot, can't take a set piece. Is he really better than Danny Rose, even given this particular system? Walker I've already mentioned.

Also felt Tunisia were able to find gaps and get out of trouble, plus get on the attack too easily. Luckily they had limited quality and ambition, but against a better team, things could come unstuck. Want to see a better understanding and all round game from Alli, Lingard and Sterling if they do start again. Would prefer Rashford to start myself, think his no-nonsense approach would a good thing to have. Not sure why he let that one go for Lingard in the 2nd half though, shoot yourself man!

Happy with the 3 points, but need to be far better going forward. This formation is also confusing. 3-1-4-2? I do worry Southgate is trying to be too clever and it's just leading to confusion. With a group that over flowing with talent, is a simpler approach and system not the better choice? I suppose we'll find out.

 

[SALTIRE]

Saw enough to know Southgate is doing it wrong and has no other strategy. England will play Colombia in the 1st knockout round and go out.

Indeed, and rather easily I reckon.

 

[JimJams]

We'll be a goal up and they'll be 2 men down in the first 20.

 

[SALTIRE]

And you'll still find a way to bollocks it up mate.

 

[Stevencc]

STILL DONE BETTER THAN YOU YOU DAMN JOCK.

Sorry mate, got carried away.

 

[Jockney]

Thought we played a good game. It's hard to find space against a side that is playing desperately for a draw. Fair play to Tunisia, after getting the pen they closed us down really well. Think they'll get a point against Belgium.

Thought the forward/midfield options worked well so can't agree at all with people who want Lingard/Alli/Sterling/all of the above dropped. Alli visibly suffered after his early injury: not sure what the logic behind keeping him on so long was. Lingard desperately unlucky with some of his chances. Sterling had a tough game, but it still central to our best moves. Something hasn't quite clicked for him in the way that it's clicked at Man City: he's a bit too quick for everyone else physically and mentally, but when others are on his wavelength our attack looks great. Maybe a tournament too soon, but there is good chemistry between those young lads, especially with Rashford and RLC also developing an understanding with them.

Biggest worry for me was the defence, which looked susceptible to mild pressure and full of mistakes. Stones really needs to iron out the dawdling. Young patently isn't a defender. Not sure I buy Walker in the middle, either (silly pen to give away). Not sure if it was collective brainfart because we didn't expect Tunisia to offer any threat (probably), but defend like that against any side with intentions of winning the game and we'll lose before we have a chance to get going.

 

[Redpelt]

I was so relieved to hear post match that the manager had a plan ,I mean ,Imagine if he wasn't as tactically astute as we've been led to believe ? *frantically looks for sarcasm smiley*

 

[JimJams]

What's with the Southgate bashing?

 

[Pagnell]

What's with the Southgate bashing?

Nothing against him personally but he appears to have all the personality and presence of a wet fart. Then there is his managerial ability, which seems minimal.

He's the safest and most compliant England managerial choice by the FA in years, even more so than Hodgson. And since when has such shit been the right way to choose a manager?

 

[Gassy]

Phew, and breathe.

Thought we were excellent first half. Dodgy penalty against us IMO and then of course should have had 2 very very blatant penalties which of course were completely missed by all.

2nd half we became the same old England. Not quite sure what Southgate said at half time, "All that energy, closing down, passing football and passion - yeah drop that, there is no need for it"

All in all, it should have been completely out of sight but we did see the good and the ugly side of what this England team can do.

Let's get the job done against Panama and then we'll really see how we can play against Belgium

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I would like to think that when it comes to better more defensively testing opposition, like Belgium or Colombia - Rose comes in for Young and Dier or Jones comes in for Walker to create a more defensive back 5. But against Panama, Walker at centre back and Young bombing down the left will be fine you'd think.

That might even leave Walker on the bench going by the way Trippier played last night, that's a nice problem to have.

 

[silkyman]

First half it was some of the best I’ve seen England play in years. Should have been out of sight before the equaliser. Then Tunisia shut up shop and switched to Rugby and it was hard to find a way through.

 

[Leo]

Good result for you lads. Think Kane is a fantastic player and I was glad to see him on the scoreboard.

 

[Luke_1884]

Most enjoyable game at a World Cup since 2002. Don't get the Southgate hate, he's done a good job so far and if we carry on in the same vein we'll do ok with this young team.

 

[Pagnell]

I don't think anyone does or could hate Southgate. That's part of the issue in a way, he comes across as such a drab entity I can't see him inspiring such a strong emotion in people.

 

[Stevencc]

Good result for you lads. Think Kane is a fantastic player and I was glad to see him on the scoreboard.

Jesus, Leo, you must really hate yourself.

 

[Jockney]

I don't think anyone does or could hate Southgate. That's part of the issue in a way, he comes across as such a drab entity I can't see him inspiring such a strong emotion in people.

Good job he’s a football manager and not a game show host then

 

[St. Juste]

Here we are, the day St. Juste has been waiting for for four (fore) years.

Really? I didn't even watch the game, I don't expect I will watch any England games.

Was it a good performance? I don't really know, I've long said England lack a creative midfielder and their two goals came from set pieces.

The hideously overrated Kyle Walker gave away a penalty whilst the, in my opinion superior, Trippier had a good game.

Maybe it is Englands year after all? Their record of 5 decades of underachievement can't continue forever.

 

[SF_]

We were very good in the first half, if Lingard wasn't gash then it would have been very, very comfortable.

One of the softest penatlies i've seen, while Kane was constantly wrestled to the ground. Walker's positioning looked like a right back, trying to play in the centre but he wasn't looking at the man and the contact with his hand was minimal.

Did the job but should have been out of sight by half time, can't constantly rely on Kane to score our goals.

 

[SF_]

Southgate not bringing on Vardy was baffling, if Kane didn't bail us out then i'd be asking serious questions of some of his decision making during the game.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Not sure how bringing on Vardy would have helped given how deep Tunisia were second half.

First half when Tunisia setup to play actual football and came at us a bit, there was space for Vardy. We ripped them apart without him, although if Vardy had Lingard's chances, it would have been 3-0 or 4-0 at half time.

 

[Pagnell]

Good job he’s a football manager and not a game show host then

So such factors are an irrelevance in an international manager? Can you see Southgate being an inspiration in the dressing room when required for example?

 

[SF_]

Not sure how bringing on Vardy would have helped given how deep Tunisia were second half.

First half when Tunisia setup to play actual football and came at us a bit, there was space for Vardy. We ripped them apart without him, although if Vardy had Lingard's chances, it would have been 3-0 or 4-0 at half time.

He's a goal scorer.

Tunisia were woeful and his hassling and pace would have created chances no doubt. Any successful one-two resulted in a clear run at goal against them. Vardy coming on early in the second half should have been a no-brainer. Instead we had to rely on a set piece to win it late on.

 

[Gassy]

Can't argue that Vardy would have closed them down.

I was disappointed it took him so long to bring on Rashford.

Surely Vardy/Rashford to start against Panama replacing Sterling ?

 

[PuB]

Not sure what anyone's problem with Southgate is, we're playing a system that we stuck with during qualification and that the players understand. Add to that they clearly want to do well for each other (and Southgate himself) despite their limitations.

I'm not sure what more you could want or expect from the current crop.

 

[Jockney]

So such factors are an irrelevance in an international manager? Can you see Southgate being an inspiration in the dressing room when required for example?

none of us have any real idea about how Southgate conducts himself behind closed doors. we’ve not lacked for passion or desire (yet) so not sure why that’s even relevant either. I think the issues about his personality get the heart of the matter though, which is less about what senior figures actually are but how they present to the public. I’m not particularly interested in conducting trials against the national side anymore; I don’t care how they present to me, the media or the rest of the country — I just want positive football and some decent results