Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

We need to change tactics pronto.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Just shocking from England, have absolutely no idea what they're doing. Only England could committ the biggest choke in World Cup history.

---------- Post added at 20:30 ---------- Previous post was at 20:30 ----------

We needed to change when it was becoming evidently clear England were falling apart, at least 10 minutes before they scored. How did they manage to turn that first half into this second half atrocity? Croatia didn't get any better to be fair, England just came out half arsed.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Lack of experience also telling here as we need some wise heads.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

This second half is up there with that infamous Iceland game. Unsure how you're meant to process this if England drop out now.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Thank god we have a couple of minutes to clear our heads.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

France will be loving this, they get an extra days rest against a team that has played 3 or 1 period of ET.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

They've absolutely shat the bed, I'd love to know what Southgate said at half time. All the pre match hype of how confident England were. They failed to show any of that after the first 45. Again I'd love to know what prompted this mental collapse from being a goal in front.

---------- Post added at 21:22 ---------- Previous post was at 20:54 ----------

Just horrid to watch. I'd have taken going out playing to their best against France or Belgium or any top level team.. Not to Croatia with this shocking performance. England have choked harder than Steven Gerrard did letting in Demba Ba.

---------- Post added at 21:47 ---------- Previous post was at 21:22 ----------

What's there to say?

Conflicting opinions it seems. The run is a lie and Croatia were the first good team England really had to get by and they failed. That if we'd seen the fixtures we'd have before the tournament we'd expect to run all the way to the final.

On the next opinion. England could have beaten anyone on their day. That first half performance would've tested France.

Myself. I just don't understand. I have absolutely no idea how you go in at 45 minute looking like a top team and reappear in the second half looking like Newcastle United. Desperately trying to cling onto a 1 goal lead.

I can't defend Southgate either. He got that horribly wrong, we all seen a goal coming and made no shift to change the outcome.

Sadly whilst I find a case to agree with both opinions on ways, especially given how many times I've said they could do it and I still believe they could have. The fact is a simple one. We'll never get an easier run to a world cup final than that and we bottled it.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I meant the third place play off.:dunce:

Croatia the better side after half time and ET. A team of hardened professionals with a total of nine Champions League medals between them. Fully deserved win in the end.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

They did well to reach this stage, but in this game they got what they deserved.

After a decent display for 30 minutes, they suddenly turned into a poor team.

It looked to me as though they stopped closing down, relied on a 'defend-counter attack' tactic, and allowed Croatia the freedom they needed to gain confidence in their play.

They're still a good shout for the future of English football though . . young enough to develop into a very good national team, which makes a refreshing change :tu:

@ adzii_nufc . . 'reappear in the second half looking like Newcastle United' - I was actually reminded of a few Luton matches from the past few seasons :D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Don't think it's arguable that Croatia didn't deserve it. England ensured they did. An England collapse granted but Croatia took the chances, that's key.

This may be an unpopular opinion, but Southgate out, Wenger in. :D I have faith in this team but I think they're capable of so much more, Southgate said the same thing. I just really don't believe he's the man to bring that out. Bloke has done a great job but I can't deal with waiting two years for him to be sacked at Euro 2020.

We can forget all this though for a bit and look to something else. This is the most united I've seen the nation since the 2002 World Cup. Extraordinary turnout around the nation for England this year.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Something completely slipped my mind . . . England are still in the running for 3rd place.

For this English team to finish 3rd in a World cup would be a worthy achievement indeed :D

Saturday may be our day of 'glory' ;)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Can imagine it'll be more of the same from the first game. Can't complain if it gives some of the other lads a chance to play. Can accept the top players from both teams will be rested now.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Inexperience , naivety , fatigue , failure to get more then a one goal lead and to top it off another stinker of a referee.

Well done Croatia for reaching the final but even more well done to England the youngest side in the tournament as despite what some others say they certainly did not bottle it as our boys did us proud.

---------- Post added at 05:03 ---------- Previous post was at 05:01 ----------

l was thinking more along the lines of Jim as the manager and you as his clever assistant...:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Onwards for France vs Croatia. France would be worthy winners now. Can't argue with it. Believe their team hasn't even hit its peak yet either.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

France for me as their team has the right blend of talent and experience.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I agree with you that this team is getting too much credit. They've beaten the teams they really should have beaten but not beat anyone better than them or close to them. Yesterday was a bottle-job.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

If people had said before the tournament started that England would get to the Semi’s, they would have been accused of being wildly optimistic.

It’s a young, fairly inexperienced (at International level) team, and whilst they’ve got a lot to learn, I’m impressed they got this far.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

For some to say it was a bottle job is OTT IMO as in the end the key factors of lack of experience , clear fatigue , requisite tactical nous cost us but we certainly have a team and a manager that we can be proud of as look at our previous managers and then one might think quite a bit differently then some of the kneejerk reactions after losing this match.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

They would have on the other hand people also would be surprised if you told them Germany and Spain wouldn't make the Quarter Finals. The draw opened up in such a way that England wouldn't have had to play a 'better' team than them until the final. In the end we got here by beating Tunisia, Panama, Colombia and Sweden. Pessimistic or not those are teams we should have beaten.

It's not just about the quality of the team but an element of luck as well and we had that in this tournament. You have to take your chances when you can because in four years time we might have a final route which includes Germany, Spain and/or Brazil.

The team did better than expected, they played nicer football and are more likable but you can't help but feel we threw away the chance to play in a World Cup final for only the second time ever.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Although I feel that Croatia fully deserved to win one thing did bother me. Looking at the boot of Perisic as he scores brings back memories of this same ref and Nani’s ludicrous red card in the Champions League a few years back. If that challenge had been outside the box would he have penalised the Perisic?

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Agreed - I thought that Croatia deserved to win, as they played more attacking/aggressive football and seemed to have more "go" in the second half/extra time, and all through the competition England (mostly) seemed to lack the killer instinct in the box (often dawdling/passing instead of shooting for goal), but hopefully experience will bring that.

I still think they did well to be the third English team to get to the semi-finals in 68 years, and the second in the last 52 years, and the first in the last 28 years.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

People can obviously have their opinion and I'll have mine. Getting to the semi finals, brilliant. But we were shocking from the start. Struggled against Tunisa and got beat of Belgium. Colombia was a hard game for the tactics they used and while we beat Sweden, it didn't really look convincing. They aren't hero's and they really didn't do anyone proud. Played 6, lost 2 and kept messing about in their own half passing back to the keeper only for us to kick it forward and lose the ball or it end up going out of play or getting into difficulty by messing about near our own box. I'm not saying there wasn't any positives but it just didn't seem good enough.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Thus why I posted both opinions on the matter and it is justified. Whilst it was great for the country and a rare occasion it wasn't as impressive as its being made out to be and people are trying their utmost to disguise England's second half performance as anything other than absolutely collapsing and bottling the game.

I'll still credit Southgate but I've never backed him. This team is actually capable, again numerous times I've pointed that out (feel like that has to be said because I've slated them relentlessly in the past) Arsene Wenger is the logical choice here if he can be persuaded. Sadly its more likely Southgate will be backed because the FA are all too happy to see this as an over achievement. Which it will be coming into the tournament blind with no idea who you'd play in the knockouts. If you're coming in with the guaranteed fixtures we had then you'd expect nothing less than the final and because of the teams we had, I struggle to class it as an over achievement. I'm still lost in what absolutely should have been England's first final since 66. I also can't see England getting 'better' Southgate knows they're not playing to their full ability but I can't imagine him getting that from them. With the timing too it's really now or never for someone like Wenger to step in. Given the split of the fans, it would be an impossible choice to make.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Southgate really talks the big talk, doesn't quite happen that way on the field though.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

So you think we should get rid of him then?.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Pretty much, can't think of a game where we've beaten decent opposition and looked good over the last year. He's being protected by a semi final finish against mediocre opposition. England were crap under Hodgson but they applauded a draw and knockout on penalties to Italy. Which in turn led to a horrendous world cup and an even worse Euros. Just can't be bothered to watch a repeat. At the same time, our squad is one of the worst I've seen in my lifetime.

But I've slated Southgate from the get go, so there's bias. His one key moment as a football manager being relegating Middlesbrough. I'm just not convinced.

Again though, it's all on opinions. Those that think we done well and those that are calling it a run against mediocre opposition that we should've pounced on. I'd rather sit on the middle of it and call it both ways.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

+1

You can add to that the embarrassment that is kane.

No way captain material, anonymous the last few games and cringeworthy when being interviewed.

And to think he might get the golden boot for slotting in penalties makes that award worthless.:rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

So who would you both suggest as the new manager?.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Yep. It seems harsh to say but how can you avoid the truth of it, he was diabolical when it mattered most. He had such a chance too and absolutely blew it. Sterling is another, the same pundits protecting him throughout were nowhere to be found after Croatia. An absolute repeat of Rooney in 2016, who I praised up until he pulled an amazing magical trick of vanishing

---------- Post added at 16:04 ---------- Previous post was at 16:02 ----------

Arsene Wenger or bust.

There's not really much point in swapping out a manager if nothing better is available. I mean we've ended up going from Capello to Southgate with a Hodgson and Allardyce in between doing that. We need someone that will bring out the best in players, especially Sterling who has a return of 2 in 42, yet 18 in 38 for Guardiola, with 11 assists to boot.

---------- Post added at 16:53 ---------- Previous post was at 16:04 ----------

Belgium really deserved more. Had they took second and had our run they'd undoubtedly be in the final.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

There will be outrage from the press if they hired Wenger now. He would become the most hatred man in Britain. Leaving aside the fact Southgate is popular there is a small, but loud, part of the British press who clearly despise foreign managers. You know the ones, the ones who praise Allardyce but hate Benitez.

---------- Post added at 19:57 ---------- Previous post was at 19:48 ----------

Also for all my scepticism around this tournament there isn't much cause to reason to fire Southgate. He has done well enough to handle Euro 2020 IMO.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I think it would be wrong to get rid of Southgate, he has done well with the squad, okay what he needs it a pair of creative midfielders as Alli is good yes but not very creative just runs at the defenders and tries to pass the ball to the strikers both of whom are lame ducks and yes as Julian has said wrong player for captain, main striker, everything really and yes for him to get a golden boot for mainly penalties and 1 goal that shouldn't have been his as he didnt do anything to score it.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Clear hand to ball IMHO.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Another poor decision for the penalty just awarded to France..:td:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

There was obvious hand towards ball movement from Perisic, harsh but it stopped the ball going past him.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Sorry Jim but on this one l absolutely disagree with you as Perisic's hand was not really in an unnatural position and was a very close distance from the header as it has to be clear and obvious without any doubt..

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

His arms were going downwards. If he had held them up, he might have been penalised for that. His arms were only up be the SAME amount as the French player in front of him. They put their arms up as part of jumping up, and then put them down again. That is the natural positioning of arms. The ball did get past his hand. It was deflected downwards to his foot.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

In the shot taken from above his hand clearly moves down towards the ball, it was not static and did not look like natural movement to me.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Those pitch invaders are brave to do that at Putin's big event....

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Both arms of BOTH players were going down as part of the process of having jumped. His left arm was up and out, by the same amount as the French player in front of him.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

The score line flatters France...

---------- Post added at 17:21 ---------- Previous post was at 17:19 ----------

Many disagree with you..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/foo...3976795/page/2

https://www.theguardian.com/football...v-croatia-live

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

We will just have to disagree on this, personally I think these Croatians are very smart operators and he knew exactly what he was doing.

Not bad from Pogba. :cool:

---------- Post added at 17:29 ---------- Previous post was at 17:22 ----------

Lloris, what a wally. :rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

l wonder who they will name as goalkeeper in their team of the tournament as he certainly would not be in it....

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

He was doing a brilliant impersonation of Karius.:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

You must have been taking tips from one of my winding up brothers.:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

France become twice winners of the World Cup!

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Congratulations to them :tu: but Croatia were the better side today IMO and deserved far more then they got in the final..

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I think France were deserved winners of the cup overall though.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Yes indeed as they have probably the strongest squad of the tournament but also you need the rub of the green as well which they had.

Re: France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

And Pogba is the first Premier league player to score in a WC final since 1998 (Petit)

Re: France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Your memory serves you well Mr Mastermind.:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Agreed. The two best teams in the tournament didn't even meet in the final. France and Belgium. Albeit France beat Belgium. Overall they deserved to win. Undeniably beat the best teams en route.

This France squad hasn't even peaked. They've never been invincible during this tournament, everyone was there to be beat if you had the right day but as above I think France really can only get better and that's a scary prospect for the rest of the world. Some world class youngsters in there.

To add actually, just noticed that this France squad is the second youngest team to win a world cup.

Re: France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

The French have been known as a big football country for so long it's almost a surprise this is only their second World Cup and even the first wasn't that long ago.

Re: France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Who makes your team of the tournament?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44811274

Re: France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Only Trippier from England that's for sure.