Arsenal! 😆

I'm English, born and bred. Although my Grandfather is Italian. If that's what you're asking.

I don't support any international team, though, and don't really watch or like international football full stop. Couldn't pay me enough to watch a qualifier or a friendly unless there's an Arsenal angle!

I genuinely can't figure out what your argument is, Ricky. People say: "really enjoyed England having a good run, showing some nerve, and getting to the semis." Then you've basically ranted about the quality of the opposition to make some point about the quality of the squad.

I don't understand. Who honestly gives a toss about any of your points when it comes to supporting a team? I sure don't. In fact, if anything, you've only made me reflect back and think even more highly on their run and their performances.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Arsenal! 😆

I'm English, born and bred. Although my Grandfather is Italian. If that's what you're asking.

I don't support any international team, though, and don't really watch or like international football full stop. Couldn't pay me enough to watch a qualifier or a friendly unless there's an Arsenal angle!

Fair play. I'm the same in that most of the time I give no fucks about international football.

Isn't there a tendency to believe that the media narrative is a reflection of general public sentiment and hence be repelled by the team which is the subject of the media story?

I think it's unfair to both the people of the country who are brought together by such a tournament and the players.

I am not English. I don't live here either. I have however been in London for over a week now and in Russia for a game in between and met a lot of people. I haven't met one person who believed this team had a chance, or that any of the previous English teams were better than they showed.

It was really heartening to see the excitement in people, those that are regular football viewers and those that are indifferent about the game. They were really looking forward for a reason to celebrate. The English fans are passionate from what I have seen but not deluded.

England paid for not having a creative player. Not that they had much option. Still I think Southgate shoulda gambled on Wilshere over Welbz. Maybe even Jonjo Shelvey.

This doesn't excuse Kane who did bottle this though. Went into hiding - dropped deep but didn't really even get the ball.

Croatia were always my favourites from this half of the knockouts. They have really solid squad. But it's 3 ET games in a row now and they've got some fairly old players.

Ricky's point seems to be that it doesn't really count for anything without having beaten any of the traditional big teams. None of whom (bar France if you include them in that group) made it as far in the tournament, and several of whom (Germany, Italy, Netherlands) couldn't get past the Sweden side it was apparently no achievement to beat. Presumably by "only" beating Denmark, Russia and England it's no great success for Croatia yet either.

I don't really see the shame in going out at this stage. It wasn't the best England team ever and they may not have beaten the best teams, but for most people on here at least it was the best run at a World Cup in living memory. Last tournament they went out to Iceland and the one before that they were out inside the first week. Also hadn't won a tournament knockout match since 2006. This was a good run beyond reasonable expectations and there's no shame on feeling proud of it. There's also no harm in feeling optimistic about the future given the age of many of the players, and also remembering England have just won the U20 and U17 World Cups too.

im trying to think of how the Ox really could have helped this team. (and by that, i mean he really could have). he has that explosiveness and can beat a man better than Lingard can. shame he got injured

Well Croatia are a country with 4 million people so it's a pretty amazing accomplishment regardless of who they beat on their way to the final. It would have par for the course should England have made it however due to the disparity between the relative size of both countries.

This was England's best chance to make a final and they blew it. It's an embarrassment especially considering how everyone was constantly banging on about how it's coming home.

Wilshere didn't go and despite dropping off his top level since injury he would have been a good asset for England in a game like this. Even coming off the bench.

It’s not an embarrassment at all. Getting behind your team and country is what it’s all about. Having a vested interested made it all far more exciting. Garaunteed I’ve enjoyed this World Cup more than the those snarky negative folk in here who have a pop at england because it’s england. They are the embarrassing ones.

Tambourine Man wrote:

Well Croatia are a country with 4 million people so it's a pretty amazing accomplishment regardless of who they beat on their way to the final. It would have par for the course should England have made it however due to the disparity between the relative size of both countries.

This was England's best chance to make a final and they blew it. It's an embarrassment especially considering how everyone was constantly banging on about how it's coming home.

All that it's coming home stuff was obviously banter and it's amazing that you can't see this.

Gutted about yesterday. Small details cost us the game, such as Kane and Lingard messing up great opportunities and Stones switching off for their winner. That aside there was very little between us and them.

Southgate should've shut up shop in the 2nd half and played on the counter. Bit of naivety there tactically and looking back he would probably be the 1st to admit that he got it wrong in the 2nd half. We allowed Croatia back into it with little to no tactical adjustments.

That being said, can't help but feel proud of the lads and it very much does feel like our pride as a footballing nation on the global stage has been restored.

Ricky1985 wrote:

However good the feeling is, beating Colombia and Sweden can't, in my opinion, be hailed as some sort of great achievement.

Colombia is a tough team to beat. They are inconsistent which is why they rarely win anything, but they are very tough and often cause upsets. 

I agree that overall England has had an incredibly easy draw for WC standards. In the end they lost against the two teams you would have expected to beat them, and scraped by the only other theoretically tough team they played. Sweden were no pushovers, but beating a good team of that sort rarely gets you to the semis.

England did well to get this far given their very limited squad. They don't seem like a particularly good team to me, and therefore I think English fans should be rightfully delighted by the fact they might bring third place home. 

Still one more to go, just look to the next game.

If England can beat this Belgium side they'll have proven their bona fides clearly.

England definitely create the biggest buzz in international footy. Interest is yuuuge. That in itself is credit to the success

Who would have thought England would play Belgium twice in a game no one cares about?

Way too much talk about England and not nearly enough praise for Croatia for my liking. The likes of Modric or Mandzukic were dead on their feet in the first half already but somehow were still pressing Pickford in the 118th minute, insane willpower. Rakitic the best Croatian this tourney for me has played 70 games since last summer, as a CM he's barely subbed too. Why anyone would want to see them "taken apart" in the final is beyond me

England did well to get this far, they have a solid functional team which isn't nearly good enough for the semis on a normal day so they can hold their heads high although that's certainly not what I'd be saying after going out so I can definitely understand Ricks ridicule of Kanes interview. Southgate is similar, his setup is good enough to get past most weaker teams but his neglect of the midfield was always going to be his downfall. He also clearly put players in based on reputation first which is why I never warmed to him

Overall this England side is basically the Burnley of this tournament. A compliment if you consider the quality of the squad and an insult if you think about the aspirations they had.

And yet I don’t see many if any teams who have played significantly better footy. Go figure

Second youngest squad in the tournament and lots of promising youngsters in the pipeline, whilst other major nations are seeing their stars age. Futures well bright

I want to see France win cos Mbappe is the only player to get me off my seat so to speak this World Cup. He’s electric

Too Spursy to support this England team.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

I want to see France win cos Mbappe is the only player to get me off my seat so to speak this World Cup. He’s electric

Mbappe is a joke. As bad as Neymar. 

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Not bovved by Sat - what’s the point in that game?

Hopefully a run out for Welbz

eh, last 2 games, he's been a bit more.... shall we say... theatrical. dont think he rises to level of Neymar yet, and he's young.. he really doesnt need to be doing it, he's a big strong lad

I'd like to see Croatia win. They're not a great team and lack a bit of top end quality, in my view, but they try their balls off. And it'd be great for them and their country to do something like this for the first time ever.

I don't think England bottled it, Croatia are a better team. England hasn't produced a player like Modric in decades. Anyway, glad they're out. Brexit means Brexit.

This is right after Mandzukic scored. How did I miss it ffs 😆

Best thing about it even if the ref had allowed it Lingards pass would've been offside 😆

The three young lions looking over their shoulder 😆

Gurgen wrote:

I don't think England bottled it, Croatia are a better team. England hasn't produced a player like Modric in decades. Anyway, glad they're out. Brexit means Brexit.

England were playing them off the park until half time. Easily the best 45 minutes I've seen from England in this WC. Then half time happened and when they came back out they sat deep and started making mistakes. "Bottling it" is a bit harsh but I definitely think they got nervy and it changed the way they were playing.

Qwiss! wrote:
Gurgen wrote:

I don't think England bottled it, Croatia are a better team. England hasn't produced a player like Modric in decades. Anyway, glad they're out. Brexit means Brexit.

England were playing them off the park until half time. Easily the best 45 minutes I've seen from England in this WC. Then half time happened and when they came back out they sat deep and started making mistakes. "Bottling it" is a bit harsh but I definitely think they got nervy and it changed the way they were playing.

Croatia seem to me exactly the sort of team that are a bit of a slow burner in a game. They don't have too much pace or athleticism, but they have real nous and stamina. I thought it would go as it did before hand. England all energy early on and then Croatia's far superior midfield working them out and wrestling control as the game wore on. When the screw tightened England's tactical shortcomings were exposed left, right and centre. If Croatia had a Greizmann or Mbappe; players deadly on the break, it could have been a thrashing.

I wouldn't quite agree England were all over them in the first half either. They were the better team but that's a bit strong.

Southgate's laughable/laudable desire to "play out from the back" and "keep hold of the ball" really came to hurt England in the second half. They were gifting the ball to Croatia time after time. Pickford was very dodgy in just about everything he did, but it didn't help that they kept playing the ball backwards constantly and he was where the buck stopped.

Calm it down Dules.

jones wrote:

This is right after Mandzukic scored. How did I miss it ffs 😆

Best thing about it even if the ref had allowed it Lingards pass would've been offside 😆

That's amazing 😆

Ricky1985 wrote:

Southgate's laughable/laudable desire to "play out from the back" and "keep hold of the ball" really came to hurt England in the second half. They were gifting the ball to Croatia time after time. Pickford was very dodgy in just about everything he did, but it didn't help that they kept playing the ball backwards constantly and he was where the buck stopped.

I think the blame should really go to the fullbacks for allowing themselves to be pinned back - say what you like about Trippier and Ashley Young but they carry more threat going forward than Henderson and Alli. Also Kane opted to come short instead of playing up top and against Lovren (not to mention missing two sitters!). England did end up resorting to hoof ball but even that could have been effective if Kane actually channeled his inner Shearer.

Basically, fuck Kane. A half fit Vardy would have been much better at scrapping something out

I'm not even joking, I genuinely think it was a mistake not bringing Welbeck into the fold. Someone who will actually occupy the defenders.

goon wrote:

Calm it down Dules.

I am calm. Just highlighting what a stupid post he made. How is that acceptable?

I’ll repeat. Why bring politics into it. It’s not the EU Cup it’s the World Cup

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:
goon wrote:

Calm it down Dules.

I am calm. Just highlighting what a stupid post he made. How is that acceptable?

You just highlight it as much as you want, just cut out the personal stuff and name calling. 

Again how is it acceptable he brings that into the discussion?