England Expects (but should it) ?

Quoted from moosey_club

We struggled to beat Tunisia...last gasp winner....and we walked over Panama (ranked 55 in world football) ... and now we expect ??

How dare you spoil the unbridled positivity on here with any reasoned debate. May I remind you that England and MJ are untouchable at the moment, so keep any of your thoughts (however level headed they may be) to yourself..

The thing is, there are no teams out there to be afraid of. Germany are out. France and brazil have stumbled through, also relying on late goals. Spain and portugal looked far from impressive. Argentina look plain shite. This tournament is wide open, and when you've got a striker of Kane's quality, you always have a chance. I think this tournament will have a few surprises, with some lesser teams getting to the quarters and semis, and england could genuinely do well.

Good read here with several interesting points -

https://www.football365.com/news/playing-for-second-would-be-foolish-for-england

Quoted from Bigdog

How dare you spoil the unbridled positivity on here with any reasoned debate. May I remind you that England and MJ are untouchable at the moment, so keep any of your thoughts (however level headed they may be) to yourself..

That's not the case though is it? Nobody is claiming England are certain to win the World Cup. But we've performed as well as anybody (except maybe Belgium but we're ahead of them in the group so not dissimilar) and nobody is playing so brilliantly that we wouldn't have any chance of beating them. We've got a young squad who are playing well and will only get better as long as England stick with the blueprint they've created and don't change it at the first sign of difficulties. In Harry Kane we've got a world class striker who is on form so we'll have a chance against anybody so there's no reason not to be reasonably positive, the optimism is not completely baseless like previous years.

Even if we don't win this year, which we probably won't, we're still in a great position. Bringing through players who are winning tournaments at every age group who will be used to playing a more technical style, the ones who make it in the Premier League will be able to slot right in to a team that will have at least another 3 tournaments in it anyway. If you can't be positive about the future of the national team right now then you're a miserable sodomist.

6 out of our 8 goals have come from set pieces so at some point in the tournament we will have to create from open play in order to progress.

Belgium will no doubt provide a tougher test, be interested to see how we get on tonight.

I believe the confidence that comes with winning games is far more valuable than being in the so called easier side of the draw.

I think I’ll be happy to win all three group games and to then just have a good go in the knockout stages, quarters would be a good result imo. We may not be the best side in the world but from set pieces we’ll have even the best defensive  sides worried.

I also believe that taking tonight’s game easy would be disrespectful to all the fans that have made the effort to be there and to Harry Kane who needs to keep scoring to aid his golden boot quest and keep confidence high

Quoted from Tommy

If we end up in the half of the draw with Brazil, France, Portugal, Uruguay etc, is there any of those teams who have looked outstandingly good? Not for me. Brazil maybe shading it but they've looked wobbly at times for me and a better side could punish them.

It's not a true reflection either to list all the teams on that side of the draw. For example, the "tough" side of the draw will contain France, Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico and someone from Group G. But it's not like we'd have to face that many top sides. One of France/Argentina will be knocked out (neither look good to me anyway), and same with Brazil/Mexico.

The last point for me is that we could be massively overlooking the potentially toughest last 16 game we could have. If we don't top the group, I reckon we'll end up playing Columbia, who are a very good side and could go far in this tournament as they did the last WC.

Just win the game. Win the group. One game at a time. No fear.

Agree with this. I think trying to face 'weaker' sides sets yourself up for a fall, and why be scared of the names above?

And yes anyway, Colombia are a really good team. To compare them to Iceland as someone did is ridiculous.

Quoted from Tommy

Good read here with several interesting points -

https://www.football365.com/news/playing-for-second-would-be-foolish-for-england

Interesting argument, I totally disagree but interesting nevertheless

Of course what would resolve this playing for second debacle is if the rounds were actually drawn rather than planned. Just stick all the teams that came first in their groups in one bowl and the second teams in the other and draw the matches that way.

All this talk of it not mattering if they lose and trying to get a few yellow cards in towards the end if both teams are tied on points and goals difference is very non-sporting.

Quoted from Manchester Mariner

All this talk of it not mattering if they lose and trying to get a few yellow cards in towards the end if both teams are tied on points and goals difference is very non-sporting.

But I was under the impression we wanted to win it or are we going for the most sporting failures prize (again)