World Cup 2018 countdown!!!!

[Memphis]

Absolutely gutted to have gone out. One foot in the final, 45 minutes away, I think then it started to dawn on some of our players where they were and what they were on the brink of, we stopped playing. Take nothing away from Croatia, on balance I guess they were the better team over the 120 minutes, but we should have put them away long before they had the chance to do that. If Kane's scores that second goal, they have a mountain to climb and they might start feeling those back to back extra times. Coulda woulda I suppose.

Some nations churn out great team after great team. Germany and Brazil in football, Australia in cricket, New Zealand in rugby etc. For the rest of us, National sport moves in cycles, we have our peaks and troughs. We're moving towards a peak now with a new manager, a new ethos and new spirit that will hopefully give us a good few years of positive English football that ultimately results in success at senior level in a major championship. Before we have to break it all down and start again

P.S. Roy Keane is a cunt.

[Batman]

Like 1990 I won't watch the final. Not sour grapes just a painful reminder of what might have been.

So yet another pointless match against Belgium for us.

I'll watch the final, doesn't matter that we are not in it, I'll watch it but I'll not be excited by it.

Probably won't bother watching the losers final though, never seen the point of it

[Mark TKO]

Anyone notice the easy ball Kane could have played to Sterling when he missed his chance for two nil.

Greedy bastard

[Master]

Anyone notice the easy ball Kane could have played to Sterling when he missed his chance for two nil.

Greedy bastard

Sterling would not have scored with Katie Price never mind an open goal squared to him by Kane.

France would have beaten us in the final but I would have taken that than have lost in the semi against Croatia where we should have had them beat in the first half.

England looked shattered and Croatia were stronger as the game went on. How does that work out?

[smashup]

Kane looked ill when stood in the tunnel before kick off, sure as I can be something has been up with him this past week, no excuses though we should have killed that off and broke their hearts in the first 45 mins.
What I do like is that we have won at under 17s then at under 21s and now a semi final.
That's how a "Team" and a winning mentality is built so huge positives there.
On the other hand you could be more brutal and look at it as we only played 2 decent teams and lost to both.
I'm nowhere near as gutted as I expected because they played like Lions and gave 100%.
Very young squad with massive potential.

[Gandalf]

Yes, Master I watched it all until 5 30am. I made enough noise to show others what it is like. Didnt wake up until 4pm. May well have died in my sleep or something. This isnt me posting.

[TitoFan]

Anyone notice the easy ball Kane could have played to Sterling when he missed his chance for two nil.

Greedy bastard

Sterling would not have scored with Katie Price never mind an open goal squared to him by Kane.

France would have beaten us in the final but I would have taken that than have lost in the semi against Croatia where we should have had them beat in the first half.

England looked shattered and Croatia were stronger as the game went on. How does that work out?

Not knowing much about your players beforehand, I couldn't help noticing two obvious facts. One, Sterling is faster than I thought he was. More than once he ran by the Croatian defender like he was standing still. Pity he never converted on a chance to put England out of reach. Two, Kane is slower than I thought. He also looked a bit old and tired half the time. Don't get me wrong.... he may be a fabulous striker.... but again more than once he was outrun to the ball by the Croatian defender and appeared to suffer from lack of speed.

Having said all this, and saddened that it won't be a Chunnel Final....... I'm switching gears and going with Croatia in the final. Hell..... it's been a Cinderella story thus far. Why have it end against France?
The fact that Kolinda is doable has nothing to do with it at all.

[Master]

I am disappointed we went out against Croatia after the first half that we had. Players tired badly in the 2nd half and probably lacked experience to pace themselves better. Quality midfielder who could do a "modric" was missing. England can build from this for Euros.

Want France to win the final, they have been the best.

Belgium keeper ad Hazzard called France anti football but that is just sour grapes. Belgium did the same in the second half against Brazil.

[TitoFan]

https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/video/1263492675978



I think Nacho and Coutinho should've been 1 and 2 respectively on that list.

[Mark TKO]

Been reflecting on it all a lot. Still gutted about being out to Croatia but the one huge huge plus fo is they’ve won the nation back, and in a way that’s the most important. We’d fallen out of love with them the last ten years and the players are to blame for that - ‘we didn’t have team spirit because we were rivals’ excuse. They’ve all chosen to admit this in the past few months. No wonder you lost the nation primal Dona tossers.

There’s not one such figure amongst the current group and we love that.

Some interesting stats below that shows how actually weak we were in some areas - very weak in fact. We need a Modric type figure in midfield.....


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44808192

One of the options in the poll on the overall performance is - encouraging but let’s not get carried away. Can’t say fairer than that.

Can’t believe we have that stupid fucking game tomorrow night.

[TitoFan]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/footba...554805dc89c9c2

[Master]

I think all the reserves should play all out attacking football. England should not even bother with a goalkeeper.

[Mark TKO]

Yes both teams just have a policy of all out attack.

Used to play in pool tournaments that had third place play offs. The rule was in that match you had to attempt a pot on every shot.

Different game but I’m sure you get the general idea

[smashup]

Hopefully Kane secures the golden boot and also Pickfords right up there for the golden glove.
Pretty sure Southgate will rotate a few players and give some of the bench warmers a run out.
No one cares if we win or lose this one.

[Master]

Forgot abou Kane and the golden boot, he has to play. Harry must be knackered.