The "England have had it easy" narrative

The thing is, in this world cup England just needed to avoid France, Belgium and Brazil to go far. To England all the other teams were BEATABLE. "But they lost to Croatia", yeah but it was a close game, just like it was against Colombia.

This is their level, always was since I started watching football, with the exception of the last few dreadful years. They usually can't beat the very best in a tournament but can beat the rest.
 
Loublaze said:
I'd say Chile have more quality players, and they are the reigning Copa America champions. I mean Argentina almost didn't qualify as well but they are definitely a stronger team than Colombia as well.
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We have no MC as Vidal, but they don’t have any MVI as James. What they got, and we lack is someone as Alexis.

Current Argentina is nowhere as strong as Colombia. On paper they have the best attack in the world, but for the last four years they have been a tactical shamble. On 2014 they achieved final because of a good defense and Mascherano. Without Romero, with their now crappy defense, and with declining Mascherano, Argentina is basically the Liverpool of National Teams: living of past glories and name, but now winning anything.

Revan said:
Chile in 2014 vs Colombia now.
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Then I agree. Chile 2014 will have defeated Colombia 2018, specially with James being injured.

ti vu said:
Overall in the qualifier Chile was mostly in qualified zone, they dropped out in last round where a draw would be enough for them. Overall they performed/ attacked better than Argentina and Columbia. Their defense was bad, and the attack couldn't always bail the out. The final standing is the final judge, but in this specific case, you may consider to say if they had time to stabilize their defense. With their attack, they should perform better than half of the other South America teams this World Cup.
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IT’S COLOMBIA NOT COLUMBIA!!!
 
Colombian Mancunian said:
We have no MC as Vidal, but they don’t have any MVI as James. What they got, and we lack is someone as Alexis.

Current Argentina is nowhere as strong as Colombia. On paper they have the best attack in the world, but for the last four years they have been a tactical shamble. On 2014 they achieved final because of a good defense and Mascherano. Without Romero, with their now crappy defense, and with declining Mascherano, Argentina is basically the Liverpool of National Teams: living of past glories and name, but now winning anything.



Then I agree. Chile 2014 will have defeated Colombia 2018, specially with James being injured.



IT’S COLOMBIA NOT COLUMBIA!!!
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I AM SORRY :nervous:
 
Colombian Mancunian said:
We have no MC as Vidal, but they don’t have any MVI as James. What they got, and we lack is someone as Alexis.

Current Argentina is nowhere as strong as Colombia. On paper they have the best attack in the world, but for the last four years they have been a tactical shamble. On 2014 they achieved final because of a good defense and Mascherano. Without Romero, with their now crappy defense, and with declining Mascherano, Argentina is basically the Liverpool of National Teams: living of past glories and name, but now winning anything.



Then I agree. Chile 2014 will have defeated Colombia 2018, specially with James being injured.



IT’S COLOMBIA NOT COLUMBIA!!!
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Wtf is a MC or MVI?
 
4th is a good outcome. They had a favourable draw and made the most of it.

In truth though, the results were average - won 3, lost 3, and drew 1 (won on penalties). The wins were over Tunisia, Panama and Sweden. Their biggest problem is that, apart from Kane, the whole team is goal shy.
 
surf said:
4th is a good outcome. They had a favourable draw and made the most of it.

In truth though, the results were average - won 3, lost 3, and drew 1 (won on penalties). The wins were over Tunisia, Panama and Sweden. Their biggest problem is that, apart from Kane, the whole team is goal shy.
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That is cutting Kane a lot of slack. He scored 3 pens and a fluke goal. Being the no 1 choice for taking pens definitely helped.
 
Funny world up in the end to review.

Getting to the semi finals was beyond even the most deluded person's prediction.
But avoiding Germany, Spain, Brazil was a real stroke of luck.
Croatia outplayed us in the end, but we could and should have been 2-0 up after bossing the first half. We could quite conceivably have made the final. Most likely we'd have been smashed, but who knows in a one off game.

We only scored 3 goals from open play, and for long periods looked absolutely bereft of any ideas.
Kane ended up with 6 goals, but looked completely ineffectual for long spells. 2 tap ins, one went in off him, and 3 pens.

We lost 3 games, which is a pretty unusual position to be in over a World cup, unless you're a minnow.

We certainly need to somehow find or create some centre midfielders of real quality though.
 
surf said:
4th is a good outcome. They had a favourable draw and made the most of it.

In truth though, the results were average - won 3, lost 3, and drew 1 (won on penalties). The wins were over Tunisia, Panama and Sweden. Their biggest problem is that, apart from Kane, the whole team is goal shy.
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Kane unfortunately will always have that chance at 1-0 up v Croatia on his mind.
That gets squared to Sterling, or he puts it away himself, and we're a one off game from glory.
 
Colombian Mancunian said:
I was thinking in Spanish:

MC: Medio Centro: Center Midfielder: CM
MVI: Medio Volante Izquierdo: Left MCO (James position or Pogba at Juventus).
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Ah yeah, then 90% on here won't have a clue what you're on about.
 
SilentWitness said:
They had the chances to go into half time 2 or 3 up and didn’t take them. Once Croatia smelt the nerves they pounced. That’s what experience does and something we lacked.

During qualification our best players this tournament in Pickford, Trippier and Maguire weren’t even in contention to go to the World Cup. To gel in the time they have is only positive. Yes, this was a golden opportunity to get to a final but they were already pushing themselves to the limit.
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Well, looks like a Big Sam Vs Southgate debate. Big Sam would have picked all the experienced players and probably neglect Pickford, Trippier, Maguire as you mentioned, but then these are some of the better players we have seen. Had Big Sam picked Hart, Rose, Smalling etc. England would probably struggle at group stage. Some food for thought.

12OunceEpilogue said:
Agree with everything else, but did it actually?
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Yes it did. England looked great during 1st 10 min, looked decent in 1st half, but gradually staying back too much. It looked like they tried to park the bus with the wrong personnel. After the equaliser, English players were afraid.
 
cyril C said:
Well, looks like a Big Sam Vs Southgate debate. Big Sam would have picked all the experienced players and probably neglect Pickford, Trippier, Maguire as you mentioned, but then these are some of the better players we have seen. Had Big Sam picked Hart, Rose, Smalling etc. England would probably struggle at group stage. Some food for thought.



Yes it did. England looked great during 1st 10 min, looked decent in 1st half, but gradually staying back too much. It looked like they tried to park the bus with the wrong personnel. After the equaliser, English players were afraid.
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Have you quoted the wrong person? I don't doubt any of that, but I was asking about the level of English arrogance becoming literally nauseating to witness (which would be quite something!).
 
Sandikan said:
Funny world up in the end to review.

Getting to the semi finals was beyond even the most deluded person's prediction.
But avoiding Germany, Spain, Brazil was a real stroke of luck.
Croatia outplayed us in the end, but we could and should have been 2-0 up after bossing the first half. We could quite conceivably have made the final. Most likely we'd have been smashed, but who knows in a one off game.

We only scored 3 goals from open play, and for long periods looked absolutely bereft of any ideas.
Kane ended up with 6 goals, but looked completely ineffectual for long spells. 2 tap ins, one went in off him, and 3 pens.

We lost 3 games, which is a pretty unusual position to be in over a World cup, unless you're a minnow.

We certainly need to somehow find or create some centre midfielders of real quality though.
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I think everyone expected Quarters so it's just one round further than expected really.
 
It’s a cup competition and you can only beat what’s in front of you. A lot of the time, the best team don't win the cup competition but since it’s impossible to stage a league competition then knockout football will have to do.

Are England better than Argentina or Spain or Brazil because they got further in the competition? Probably not.
 
Chairman Steve said:
It’s a cup competition and you can only beat what’s in front of you. A lot of the time, the best team don't win the cup competition but since it’s impossible to stage a league competition then knockout football will have to do.

Are England better than Argentina or Spain or Brazil because they got further in the competition? Probably not.
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This England squad is way better than the worst Argentina in decades. I will say they can beat Spain, at least if they continue to value more “possession” than goals.

Brazil probably will beat you.
 
Leroy The Red said:
Surprised to see this from you. Surely you're aware enough to know media coverage of other nations in the world is likely to be just as embarrassing if not much worse than England. In fact we're more restrained here. You only have to watch videos on youtube of Italian, Portuguese commentary for some of their goals scored in these competitions to see how ridiculous they are. Like Neville and Keane said, Modric was talking shit, why would that even be on your mind?
I don't see what the media were doing as writing off Croatia, they were basically doing what any nation would do in that situation and try and look for positives and advantages. You think the Croatian media weren't thinking the same about England? All the teams on our side of the draw were thinking the exact same thing and their media coverage would have pointed it out just as much. It's the World Cup, everyone, every nation loses their mind in a pool of positivity and optimism.
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When you say your opponents are XYZ and don't have any chance, while our own side is full of talents and can't lose. This is not about drawing positivity and optimism, this is about setting an inappropriate expectation. On a lesser term, all fans are going into the game expecting easy win over opponents, with 60% possession and 3 goals by half time, which may not be. Worst is that PLAYERS themselves start believing into the myth.... How much of the media hype has got into the heads of English squad - only Southgate will know. Or may be himself think England is invincible?

Believe me or not, as a closed observer of England, this is repeating year after year. So 50 years of disappointment has its reason.
 
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