That's my hope that he's forced Southgate to abandon his 3 at the back and be a bit more proactive. I'm likely still scarred from the Italy game where we just surrendered all attacking output once we got the lead
England Discussion
- Thread starter Samid
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I think France will control the game and England play on the break, I think that'll be a lot more effective with 2 wingers rather than just Rashford running in behind if we did go 2 up top
It wouldn't actually surprise me if England beat France. They look sharp, and the role of slight underdog might actually be a good thing here.
France are the favourites but there's no reason why we can't go through, England winning wouldn't be an upset by any means. All depends on our game plan and how we approach the game (and whether the players rise to the occasion). We'll almost certainly sit back, you can't ignore Mbappe and allow him the opportunity to get behind with his pace.
We have no yellows. Odds on half the team tries kicking Mbappe to death come Saturday?
It's a strange match-up, England looks more equiped to press high on the pitch and pin France in their own half. But at the same time it exposes them to fast counter attack with Mbappe and Giroud barely defending.
I'm pretty sure Deschamps will happily concede ball possession to focus on keeping a very tight defensive block with Griezmann and Dembele spending a lot of time defending in their own half.
But at the same time, I can see Southgate being very conservative too and asking Shaw / Walker to be prudent when going forward.
If that happens, we could be in for a proper snoozefest.
I'm pretty sure Deschamps will happily concede ball possession to focus on keeping a very tight defensive block with Griezmann and Dembele spending a lot of time defending in their own half.
But at the same time, I can see Southgate being very conservative too and asking Shaw / Walker to be prudent when going forward.
If that happens, we could be in for a proper snoozefest.
Wouldn’t surprise me either as England aren’t a bad side. But you would still expect France to win with Mbappe
If Pogba plays you can bet your house he will ruin it for England. But since he wont be there I think you should worry more about Giroud than Mbappe.
I don't agree with that tbh, in fact I think England is probably the most likely team in the tournament to negate Giroud considering he spent a decade playing in the Premier League.. He's also just the type of striker that Maguire absolutely thrives against
Maguire (and Lindelof to be fair) got absolutely wrecked by Giroud a few seasons a go when Chelsea beat us in the Semi Final of the FA Cup. He absolutely dominated our defence sadly.
I don't agree England is the underdog here, 50/50 this one. The only real favourite in the QF is Brazil, even Portugal against Morocco it's like they will play them at Rabat and not Qatar, beside being the first African team with the chance to reach a Semifinal they will also be supported by the majority of Arabs , it's not a neutral stadium there.
Hardly suprising with Lindelof playing, a strong breeze would knock him out of the way!
Yeah being underdogs in a big KO tie hasn't happened for maybe 20 years
And that Italy game was right after southgate said England needed to be brave. But they invited Italy to put a lot of pressure on them when they had the Italians on the rack. A wasted opportunity.
Maybe the last time was against Brazil in 2002, although I can't remember how the teams were perceived before that match. In hindsight, you probably should have been underdogs against Germany in 2010, but that England team was still great on paper.
There is this thing called fatigue....
Anyways:
-Contain the Theo-Grizou-Mbappé chain
-Exploit it on the counter
-Set Pieces
-Pray Dembele doesn't pick this game to go in beast mode
Keys to an English victory
-Contain the Theo-Grizou-Mbappé chain
-Exploit it on the counter
-Set Pieces
-Pray Dembele doesn't pick this game to go in beast mode
Keys to an English victory
But you guys have homelander though.
I've been impressed by Griezmann in this tournament. He's really reinvented himself. Midfield of Tchouameni-Rabiot-Griezmann looked way too soft to me before the tournament, but credit to them for doing things so smoothly so far and actually playing way better brand of football then I expected France to play, with 2018 memories still fresh.
I'm still not sure if they can impose themselves on England though, they haven't actually had a proper, strong test. If Griezmann and Rabiot can run games like they did before, than France should come out on top. On the other hand, I'd really have a headache if I was either Deschamps or Southgate whether to just sit back and try to counter because both teams are good at that.
I do believe that either France or England could go all the way, Brazil combo of Neymar and Paqueta is in my opinion disaster in the waiting. Casemiro has been on top for whole tournament, but I'm not sure even he can cover as much ground as neccessary against top level opposition.
I'm still not sure if they can impose themselves on England though, they haven't actually had a proper, strong test. If Griezmann and Rabiot can run games like they did before, than France should come out on top. On the other hand, I'd really have a headache if I was either Deschamps or Southgate whether to just sit back and try to counter because both teams are good at that.
I do believe that either France or England could go all the way, Brazil combo of Neymar and Paqueta is in my opinion disaster in the waiting. Casemiro has been on top for whole tournament, but I'm not sure even he can cover as much ground as neccessary against top level opposition.
If I'm Deschamps I'm sticking Mbappe up front and sticking Coman out wide. It would be harsh on Giroud but I feel that Walker is far more likely to cope with him.
Just imagining Mbappe running at Maguire would make it impossible for them not win I feel. It would upset England's tactics (preparation) which I actually think Southgate is very good at.
Anyway, probably won't happen, I'm pretty sure France will win regardless.
Just imagining Mbappe running at Maguire would make it impossible for them not win I feel. It would upset England's tactics (preparation) which I actually think Southgate is very good at.
Anyway, probably won't happen, I'm pretty sure France will win regardless.
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I actually think Griezmann could be world class in this midfield role. He's always been underrated in his defensive work rate and application, and he's an excellent carrier and good passer as well. Very underrated player in this France team at the moment, I think he's the key to their success given Pogba is gone.
That's a terrible team.
That's nasty. Wonder who lined up for France.
Gonna be tough for you red coats. Good luck. Can't stand seeing France in another final.
That's an awful team.
Jesus that’s awful. Is that Ashley Young playing behind the striker?
An atrocity.
Lloris-Debuchy-Rami-Mexes-Evra, A.Diarra-Cabaye-Malouda, Nasri-Benzema-Ribéry.
fecking hell that team was bang average
Ribery was world-class at that point if I remember correctly
Benzema was quite good but overshadowed by Cristiano at Real.
Neither of them were particularly good for France but most importantly the team was largely made of average to below average players. The fact that Alou Diarra played that many games for France is still difficult to accept.
Llori
Debuchy Remi Mexes Evra
Diarra
Cabaye Malouda
Nasri Riberi
Benzema
Debuchy Remi Mexes Evra
Diarra
Cabaye Malouda
Nasri Riberi
Benzema
England scored with only shot on target but did outrun the French. Did very well to get a 1-1 draw... Don't think xG was thing so much back then.
https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/2003326--france-vs-england/
Mexes
England are nailed on to win this match now - why, because the BBC's worst ever pundit and game predictor has backed France to win 2-1! 
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Iirc Benzema and Ribery hated Nasri as well. Team basically ate itself, in true french NT tradition
Also btw, but euro 2012 really was a poor tournament in terms of quality. You basically had 2 good teams in Spain and Germany, two flawed but talented ones in Italy and Croatia, and one crappy team propped up by a top 4 player all time in Portugal. And i still think if Germany got to play Spain, they would have destroyed them
Indeed and Nasri thought that it was a good idea to taunt the press during his celebration.
Guy who famously refused to play for B teamEngland are nailed on to win this match now - why, because the BBC's worst ever pundit and game predictor has backed France to win 2-1!
I reckon it's 60-70% a France win. They have equally good players plus they have Mbappe and we have Maguire. Reality is we have not in several decades beaten a World Champion side in a knock out game in a major tournament away from Wembley. The semi-final in Russia was the result of a lucky draw. The Euro runs were at Wembley.
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