Grealish is so frustrating…… through no fault of his own, he really does get fouled so much. Perfect for this occasion, just breaks any rhythm that they might muster
I’ve got to disagree - though he is great on the ball I think his real talent is winning free kicks just outside the 18 yard box. Clearly England practice a lot of set pieces from free kicks, so a player who can create the opportunity like he does is invaluable. It’s a double edged sword to play against - if he doesn’t get fouled (I see a lot of players very wary around him in this area), then he’s extremely dangerous going forward.
I wonder if the papers tomorrow will be baying to sack Southgate?
Maguires worse game so far this tournament, but he's been annoyingly competent up to now.
France then. I reckon there will be a red card. If it's one of ours, France win 4-1. If it's one of theirs, we maybe sneak through 2-1.
I am notoriously rubbish at predicting results.
Horrible news about Raheem Sterling’s family and the need for him to fly home.
This seems to be a nasty reality for modern footballers these days.
I’ve got to disagree – though he is great on the ball I think his real talent is winning free kicks just outside the 18 yard box. Clearly England practice a lot of set pieces from free kicks, so a player who can create the opportunity like he does is invaluable.
That's what I was trying to say. Invaluable for sure, but at 3-0 and when you want free flowing and a fourth or fifth, he just draws so many fouls as he can't get stopped legally...... frustrating in a good way, and if we're 1-0 up with 10 minutes left next week I'll be cheering every niggly interruption
Horrible news about Raheem Sterling’s family and the need for him to fly home
Robbery seems to happen to an alarming number of footballers.
Robbery seems to happen to an alarming number of footballers.
Given the average premier league player probably has hundreds or thousands of pounds of bling stashed away in the bedside drawer it’s probably unsurprising unfortunately
Don’t fancy englands chances against the French on Saturday. Mbappe will tear their defence a new one. That said they have looked clinical up front
Don’t fancy englands chances against the French on Saturday. Mbappe will tear their defence a new one.
I think France start as favourites but they too will be looking at we have and worrying how to deal with it. The challenge with Mbappe is not to let him get the ball in good positions, which means stopping supply lines, and we have a team that absolutely can compete if not dominate the midfield
lets hope Hugo goes all spursy for us... Poland really should have scored a couple of times in the first half though... with all the talk of Mbappe ol' Olivier is crafty player especially in tight games you'd hope the England back four have seen enough of him to keep him quiet.
Don’t fancy englands chances against the French on Saturday. Mbappe will tear their defence a new one.
I think we can play with the same side as against Senegal but switch to a 3 with Saka and Shaw as wing backs.
Between Walker and Saka, I think we can do a decent job of containing Mbappe - well, as decent as anyone can - and still remain capable going forward ourselves.
They'll be plenty scared of us.
Saka switches off too much when he's supposed ot be tracking his full back. If you have a back 3/5 I'd go with TAA as right wing back all day. Let's get Mbappe tracking him back instead. He's not the best defender but offers France a different sort of problem. Walker a right sided CB with Stones to cover him.
The Croatians are playing a dangerous game letting Ito constantly run down that right wing and just keep whacking really good crosses across the box. If he keeps doing that, sooner or later someones going to be in for a tap-in
Yesterdays game with Senegal was interesting to see the change of approach when getting through the midfield seemed difficult, pin-point lobs over the top by the keeper really worked well.
I think the stats so far bode well. If we can beat France I will start to believe we can do this.
This one’s so one-sided, it’s like watching the Manchester derby 😄
😂 that’s made me laugh!! Brazil look a bit good going forward!
Not sure if Brazil are very good or South Korea are just awful.
Naive from South Korea. Could be anything although suppose Brazil will ease up second half. Their goal celebrations make me want to punch something though!
Bit of both I think. SK are letting Brazil be very good.
Their goal celebrations make me want to punch something though!
Any more and Roy's going knee high through their dugout
Ronaldo's not exactly at peak fitness any more. At 46 (him) to my 53 I'm suddenly feeling a bit better about myself.
how are your knees when compared to his?
F***ked.
Just been whatsapping with mates, and we're onto writing the Sun headlines for tomorrow. So far I think "Brazilian whacks" and "Brazilians cause discomfort around the box" are favourites.
They do look vulnerable once they're 4-0 up and have their reserve team on......
Spain attempting to make Morocco fall asleep this afternoon so they can sneak a win
1000 penalties and then that
Absolutely Terrible penalties yet again
JUST PUT YOUR ****ING LACES THROUGH IT FFS!!!!
Fair play to Morocco though. They’ve just done a proper job on Spain there
Agree @binners some terrible pens there, but blimey Morocco! And that last pen took some balls 😳😁
JUST PUT YOUR ****ING LACES THROUGH IT FFS!!!!
So you didn't like the last Moroccan penalty?
Love the cheeky dink down the middle. That takes some balls, because if it’s saved you’ll look like a right muppet.
But the half-arsed, feeble ‘shots’, low, with no power, carried out with all the commitment of a teenager who’s just been told to go and tidy his room. They deserve to go out!
I see the petulant little shit has been dropped.
Good! That’s his club and international career over in the same stupid way. ****ing egotistical idiot!
I always think they should take the first couple of penalties straight down the middle, and not too hard.The goalies are always going to dive at the start. Put doubt in the keeper’s mind for the next ones & takes the pressure off the players.
Spain are just a hot and cold team, they weren't doing it today, and those penalties were horrible, don't think one had any height, and all were weak, the Spanish goalie wasn't great either, that last penalty he dived right about a second before the ball was hit, made the guys mind up for him.
Portugal having their best half of football in the competition without the ego in chief.
Man City/Wolves select are looking rather good.
I may have mentioned but I hate ITV, as represented by that weapons-grade Noel Edmunds sound alike Sam Whatshisface.
Portugal have scored some cracking goals tonight!
And agreed on itv - it’s awful… Still going on about the possession stats not making 100% when we worked out the ‘contested’ bit in game 1! Come on, keep up… And Ally McCoist, really?
Portugal never shut up shop, the mood in their campmwill be totally different now, I don't think we'd have sen as many goals had Ronaldo been on the field, they'd have protected their lead.
That team definitely wanted to show Ronaldo that not only was it not all about him but that he'd been holding the rest of them back.
Feel a bit up the same about Brazil and Neymar, who seems to be a bit of a distraction. With his tendency to showboat he slows the game down, when Richarlason and Vinicius just want to get on with it by being far more direct and aggressive.
And agreed on itv – it’s awful
It’s difficult to imagine how it’s possible to get it so wrong. It must take a concerted effort. It’s absolutely bloody awful!
Any normal, sane human being would watch that tonight and have a realisation of where they now stand in the grand scheme of things, but I doubt that’s Ronnie’s analysis
Apparently the most vocal person in getting him put out to pasture is Bruno as he’s had to suffer the petulant one all season at Old Trafford. If the rumours are to be believed, they were barely on speaking terms. And we all know how that ended.
With the choice of starting Bruno or Ronnie, on form rather than reputation from years ago, there’s surely only one choice for a manager
It was a big gamble by Santos but what a result - hat trick for the replacement. No comeback for Ronaldo now. Impact sub maybe? Or on when the game is won. They must be a good shout to win it but I’m not sure I can take Pepe’s sour pus lifting the World Cup 😩
Feel a bit up the same about Brazil and Neymar, who seems to be a bit of a distraction. With his tendency to showboat he slows the game down, when Richarlason and Vinicius just want to get on with it by being far more direct and aggressive.
Currently though Brazil are playing as a team despite Neymar, and his presence does add to the danger of their attack IMO, but the coach doesn't rely on him as his only tactical output the rest of the team are trusted. Whereas Portugal and Argentina rely tactically too much on Ronaldo and Messi tactically not allowing their other good players to contribute what they are capable of, until last night in Portugals case.
I think the issue with Ronaldo is different to Neymar and Messi in that Neymar and Messi both still play the right type of football, the type of football Ronaldo wants to play just isn't want modern teams want to play. I think Ronaldo is still a great player and has something to give but not as a starter in most teams, he could be a great impact sub in a tight game but I doubt he'll relish the opportunity to be that player.
No team has yet managed to deliver consecutive performances to get the hacks drooling. If Portugal follow that game up with another great performance then maybe they are contenders. They were excellent last night but the Swiss looked tired and disorganised from the start. Brazil thumping Korea.. a bit meh. SK set themselves up badly and were punished for their awful defending and absent midfield.
For all the talk about Argentina, the Mexico game was dire and hardly an advert for the game. England were woeful against the US. Morocco are playing like Greece in 2004 - zzzzz
The Dutch are the only team to be consistent so far and they've been more artisan than Dutch masters.
it's funny watching Ronnie's ego deflate with the whole world watching, especially when the other sub scores 😀
I genuinely have no clue which way EngFra is going to go, which usually means England go out - it won't be nil-nil
Now that we have a bit of a break from the WC I can recommend this investigative journalism video of how bent the board of the National League are. It investigates how the Covid money was split between the clubs in the NL
I think Portugal’s names on the cup. Everything has aligned for them - they should have faced Italy in a play off to qualify until North Macedonia beat them, their group at the World Cup was straightforward, Morocco in the quarters and the big call to drop Ronaldo - a massive gamble - paid off spectacularly!