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GrimRob |
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Greece, and Portugal were not the best team on paper but by winning the tournament they rightly became the best team at the respective tournaments, and from what I remember especially of Greece they were playing some great football. We finished top of the group stage unbeaten in 66, we beat Mexico France, knocked out Argentina and Portugal, and then beat the Germans and having watched the final I’d say convincingly, we won the World Cup because we were the best team.
You have completed turned the argument on its head by saying they were the best team because they won. There simply aren't anywhere near enough games in a tournament, and not everyone plays each other, to say that with any certainty. Imagine the Premier league table after 5 or 6 games and that's all the World Cup is.
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Maringer |
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Greece didn't play great football when they won in 2004. They were really solid defensively, very hard-working, good at set pieces and nabbed one or two goals on the break. Obviously, they deserved to win because they beat their opponents, but I went to their game vs Spain and neither team looked much good. Just goes to show what can be achieved with a bit of application and luck.
Unfortunately, I don't think we have either the application or luck to mirror their achievement. No passengers in that Greek team which isn't something which could be said about England at the moment.
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Bigdog |
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We are seeded to reach the final. 3 of the 4 teams in the other half of the draw are better than us. We can only do our best. Teams evolve, change and hopefully improve. Alli and probably Sterling can be replaced.
With captain Kane we always have a punchers chance. 6 goals from 6 shots on target. Teams that have gone home have usually not had a proven scorer in form. We do have.
The players have grown a lot after last night.
Colombia finished 1 point behind Argentina after 18 qualifying matches. A Messi hat trick in the last game ensured that they just pipped Colombia. We beat a good team, who were very dirty. Our fans were outnumbered 6 to 1, so effectively, we won an away match in their back yard.
We should have some faith for the strong leadership, on and off the pitch, new spirit and strong belief. English football is looking exciting for the next 12 years or so.
He didn't have a great game going forward, but then again who did against the shithousiest of all shithousing teams who were massively helped by a weak referee? But his work rate was incredible. You take that and the threat of his pace out of the team and we will be much the worse for it. Everyone clamouring for Rashford, yet he didn't tear up any trees against Belguim reserves did he? Far better leaving him as an impact sub. If Alli isn't 100%, I'd put Loftus-Cheek in and would be really tempted to replace Young with Rose..
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Balthazar Bullitt |
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Surprised forza is praising Southgate as we only needed penalties because he decided to attempt to shut up shop when we had Colombia on the ropes. Defensively, we're not good enough to try this and we were lucky to get away with it in the end. The fact that we were well-prepared for penalties doesn't forgive the tactical failings before then.
How can it be that we didn't once try to run the ball at their defence in that period immediately after their defenders were getting booked left, right and centre? Bonkers for me. Sterling not very effective (again) but he's still quick and strong and he should have tried to run at them a couple of times in an attempt to draw a rash tackle.
Sweden are very limited as a team but they are well-organised and competent. The way we collapsed mentally in the second half and for much of extra time (just whacking it forward in hope/panic) makes me worry whether we'll be able to apply our superior ability to do enough against them.
Could be penalties again.
Three days to learn some lessons and I hope the points raised above are at the top of the list. If we're 1-0 up against Sweden with 10 minutes to go then bring on Rashford not Dier. We are not good enough to just defend. Thought Kane showed some footballing intelligence last night. Got the ball and without being a threat, made the opposition foul him. Would be good to see same kind of intelligence somewhere else in the team. Can't understand why Alli is starting as he doesn't look fit and just seems lost tbh. Loftus-Cheek much preferred.
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Maringer |
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I agree about Kane - barely put a foot wrong and retained possession or won a free-kick almost every time he received the ball. Really impressed me last night - a classy player. If he was a bit quicker, Real and Barcelona would be battling for his signature.
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Posh Harry |
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Humble pie for me. After the Tunisia game I said I did not think McGuire was good enough or quick enough for international football but he has improved in each game and took it to a new level last night.
I think Henderson had another good game and is getting better and better, although he is no Kante, but I didn’t see any of the commentators actual pick out the fact that he lost the scorer at the corner for their goal. Henderson was stood in no mans land and McGuire had 2 of them on top of him so had little chance.
All sterling has for me is pace. His touch is poor, his passing is nothing better than ok, his final ball is terrible and if I see him run straight into a defender again the telly is going out of the window, every time. It as though he thinks they are going to jump out of the way.
I’m also not keen on Vardy as another option. To be fair if you are going to bring him on then when the opposition are pushing up then that is the time to do it but he had no effect and can’t hold the ball up so he was a passenger in extra time. I would prefer to see welbeck who is still quick, but can hold the ball up, buy a foul (like Kane did numerous times superbly last night) and can win a header.
All about opinions as always.
C’mon England and UTFM
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KingstonMariner |
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Greece, and Portugal were not the best team on paper but by winning the tournament they rightly became the best team at the respective tournaments, and from what I remember especially of Greece they were playing some great football. We finished top of the group stage unbeaten in 66, we beat Mexico France, knocked out Argentina and Portugal, and then beat the Germans and having watched the final I’d say convincingly, we won the World Cup because we were the best team.
Greece played shite football. Defended well and relied on set plays.
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140348 |
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Good God, what will or does make people happy. Our country has reached the 1/4 finals of the world cup and you still moan and pick fault. God help MJ if we draw a game or even dare lose one. Get real and enjoy the moment.
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GrimRob |
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Quoted from 140348
Good God, what will or does make people happy. Our country has reached the 1/4 finals of the world cup and you still moan and pick fault. God help MJ if we draw a game or even dare lose one. Get real and enjoy the moment.
If Town won the FA Cup there would still be people on here complaining about the lack of goals from open play, negative substitutions, lack of total football and the manager's post-match comments.
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| 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Posh Harry |
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Sorry but this is one of the worst England teams I have seen to have ever reached a World Cup, lets be totally honest we are not going to win the World Cup we couldn’t even must up a shot on target through open play during the first 90 mins against what Ian Wright described as a poor team. The worst thing for me is that if Sweden knock us out the quater finals we will take that as a minor success and tell Southgate to carry on with his bland cautious crap football.
Come on Grim. Which one are you? Swin’s brother or his son?? 😊
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