Ali should've been taken off at half time as he was pretty ineffective once he got injured, we Loftus-Cheek (?) came on I thought he did well.
Lingard was unlucky that his little dink hit the outside of the post, Rashford needs a bit more time to do anything really.
All in all it wasn't bad, considering England are ranked 12th in the World and Tunisia 21st (one place above Iceland), it's a fair outcome.
Panama should be another 3 points, current ranking of 55th makes them 13 places worse than Scotland!!! and as said above, it's all about who comes out of the Belgium game on the better side of the draw; Germany don't look that good and their pre-tournament form hasn't exactly been sparkling, but they are Germany after-all.
I personally think we'd be better meeting Brazil, they look good, but once you rattle Neymar he looses the plot a bit and is liable to throw the toys out of the pram a bit, he also isn't Ronaldo
Mixed feelings about Sterling, fo'shure his international record is bloody awful, but I can't help feeling that if somehow he unlocks it...
Agree with others though, Rashford Lingard starting, was also impressed with Loftus Cheek, moves well for a big unit and was very effective.
but I can’t help feeling that if somehow he unlocks it…
Well either Kevin needs an English grandmother or he needs to move to Belgium 😉
Was a good opening performance, something to build on. The only time they looked like scoring was when they had the penalty.
The ref seemed to let a lot go.
There seems to be a real togetherness about the team & they seem to have a gameplan that they all now about. Actually looking forward to the 0-0 draw with Panama & the edge of the seat 1-0 win over Belgium.
Probably a moot point looking that far ahead but there's a good chance of Mexico topping the group and Germany meeting Brazil so second in the Group might be a very good result. Would make the Belgium game 'interesting' if both teams want to finish second 🙂it’s all about who comes out of the Belgium game on the better side of the draw; Germany don’t look that good and their pre-tournament form hasn’t exactly been sparkling, but they are Germany after-all.
Did someone say drop Tripper !!
Yes, Trippier was excellent yesterday, but Walker has proved time and time again that he's the better RWB.
Just made the mistake of reading the BBC comments section... jeez - I thought Youtube comments were bad!
Like the way some people are presuming England are a shoe in for a quarter final against Germany / Brazil and completely forgetting we're going to have to get past Poland / Columbia first - teams ranked fairly closely either side of us so definitely not a guaranteed win.
Of course its all speculation and experience shows a likely crash and burn BUT with those two teams pretty close then arguably finishing first or second doesn't matter and then IF England get through its the potentially the difference between meeting the winner of Germany/Brazil or Mexico/Switzerland. Now neither is a shoe in (as is even getting there) by any means but one of those is somewhat more desirable and you get the 'easier' path by finishing second. Just makes the group dynamic interesting.we’re going to have to get past Poland / Columbia first – teams ranked fairly closely either side of us so definitely not a guaranteed win.
I don't believe in the easier route stuff after the groups. In knock out tournaments you've got to meet and beat the best teams.
I'd rather face the likes of Germany in a quarter final after their slow start than later having had to grind out results against lower ranked sides.
Guarantee the squad won't be thinking anything but topping the group is the aim. If for nothing other than confidence.
well that was stupid, 1-0 japan, colombia 10 men!
Interesting start... Red card felt harsh tho?
Eh?
England could have done with some strutting confidence in previous competitions. Being strangled by pressure and the occasion has been the issue not the opposite.
Strange comment.
That would be strutting confidence <span style="text-decoration: underline;">on</span> the field you are referring to. No issue with that. My issue with the likes of Cole, Terry and Rooney was how much they talked the talk and acted like they were world-beaters then crumbled into panicked ineptitude the second anyone came near them on the field. Then, after the event, it would all be someone else's fault.....
For example:
"Home fans booing you" (even though they were in South Africa, so clearly not 'home' fans and had paid thousands of pounds to watch a bunch of players, who could have funded a fan's trip in five minutes at their hourly rate, play like drains).
None of the established players helped Rob Green out after his blunder. Their treatment of Upson was also pretty awful.
Interesting start… Red card felt harsh tho?
The balls going goal bound, so stopping a goal scoring opportunity/
1-1 10 men columbia looking good!
The balls going goal bound, so stopping a goal scoring opportunity/
I thought they'd changed the rule tho, as the penalty was harsh enough? Or was that on more regular fouls in the area?
dunno, be lying if I said I knew the letter of the law.
<p class="sp-story-body__introduction">Players who commit a foul to deny a goalscoring opportunity will no longer automatically be sent off, football's rule-making body has confirmed.</p>
The previous 'triple-punishment' rule required a red card - and therefore a suspension - as well as the award of a penalty under those circumstances.However, players committing accidental fouls that deny a goalscoring chance will now be cautioned instead.
But deliberate fouls will still incur a red card.
Those include holding, pulling or pushing, not playing the ball, serious foul play, violent conduct or deliberate handball in order to deny a goalscoring opportunity.
From the BBC - so yes a red card...
Red card felt harsh tho?
Tactically Tunisia did well with what they've got. There's some big lads on the team with presence and that stopped England's diminutive players from breaking through. Tunisia also played to the ref and needled the England team with physical presence. Southgate could have asked England to start play-acting too but I think he's too proud to resort to underhand tactics.
All the play in the second half was in the Tunisia half of the pitch, England just couldn't break though, there was practically no running off the ball (until Rashford / Cheeks came on) - I don't think they were knackered so maybe it was the humidity / midgies? They've been doing a lot of drills, set pieces and chilling out for the past 3 weeks and hopefully just need to get back into it.
JPN 2-1Columbia.
I had it on in the background and was rooting for JPN 🤪
Next up Poland - Senegal... any predictions?
I'm going for 2-2 based on complete guess work
4-3 thriller, end to end stuff is my prediction
in the 2nd half mibbe, fairly timid affair so far.
Thankfully the cricket ODI is keeping my interest going right now.
On current form Senegal will win it 💪 2-0 at 60mins ...
Oh dear! That’s the goalkeeping howler of the tournament then? And the defence were all up in the other half watching it
Poland are absolutely awful!
Like the way some people are presuming England are a shoe in for a quarter final against Germany / Brazil and completely forgetting we’re going to have to get past Poland / Columbia first
🙂 🙂 🙂 Yep looking like one of those two
stv/itv player is a bugger, canny rewind back to see the goal(s) I missed while travelling home! grrr!
Ha!
Awesome, 2-1 Senegal
That score line flatters Poland too. They were absolutely dismal! Played off the park by Senegal
So first round of game done. Who's yer winner?
I'm gonny plump for a lethargic looking German team, think they'll have the bit between their teeth now and will kick on.
Mexico !
I think Spain looked the best, even though they only got a draw, IMO they have the tools to unlock the different challenges they will face, whether they face a team like Iceland who will defend deep and hope they can get something on the break, or a team like Brazil who will play more open and come on to them.
I would like to know if the referees get together and review the first round of games, so they know which players to look out for, some teams may have used the "black arts" too soon and hopefully the refs will stamp it out as the tournament progresses.
So first round of game done. Who’s yer winner?
no idea tbh.....but if you offered me odds, I might go for Russia. 😮
Well I reckon Klopp will be hoping Egypt go out as Salah is certainly not fit
BTW, did anyone else wonder why the Tunisia GK pulled his arm back when Kane scored the winner? Looked very odd.
Klopp must be going mental watching this. Salah is clearly nowhere near match fit.
Blimey! Highest scorers of the tournament? Russia?
Walk (out) like an Egyptian.
Farewell pharaohs
They sphinx its all over
Cheeriopatra
I'll get my coat
so, Mo Salah was single handedly going to pull apart the poor Russian defence and expose them for the lumbering fools they are, after all the opening match was a fluke...
ermmm....
Well I hope Mo can get a hatrick agaist the Saudi's, it's been tough watching such an awesome player going at 80% with not enough quality around him
Well that was deserved 🙂
Mexico have been the best team I’ve seen so far.
good lad Mo’.
It’s good to see the integration of wrestling in to football. Seems rugby tackles in the box, during corners and free kicks, are now par for the course.
There’s no way on earth you’d be getting away with that shit in the premiership
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/world-cup-2018-wallchart-predictor/
Oh and predictions please 😉
I just got Germany vs England in the Final with Iceland making the semi and Australia in the Quarters 🙂
Also... First round of matches over STW_FF Update
Happy with second due to having Lukaku and Kane in the team there but I can't see anyone's teams, few subs for the next round and off we go. Well done Andy Ro
