England's attack didn't score a goal this World Cup from open play.
Croatia or England
- Thread starter FootballHQ
- Start date
We're winning the world cup. You heard it here first.
It was a joke seeing as his post seemed quite nitpicky.
You do seem to produce a number of exceptionally talented yet freaky looking players though.
Daily mail say that we are shit and there is nothing to fear for england. All our newspapers are quoting that. Dm isn't doing you any favours with that article
3 of our 11 goals have been from open play I think.
Yeah not. Vida is one good looking bloke.
England will be favorites to advance to the final, mainly because Croatian team seems to be exhausted and there isn’t much time in between the games. This disadvantage though could be smoothed with smart tactics and altered personnel choices. Coming out with 4-4-2 formation consisting of 2 strikers and 2 wingers would be a suicide. But if they pack up the midfield to protect their defense they could keep England at bay and nick something in the meantime. Quality-wise they're better than their English counterparts on many positions. Also it was great to see Modric run the show yesterday from the start of the second half, because in the game against Sweden he was nothing more but a shadow of himself. So with their captain in good form the midfield battle is there to be won by Croatia. I'll be rooting for the Croats in part because I've got a nice bet in place for them to win the WC and if they manage to reach the final I'll be able to win irrespective of the last game’s outcome.
Yeah not. Vida is one good looking bloke.
But yea I don't see anything unlikeable about your team. You're an example to the rest of us in the Balkans. The amount of world class players you've got for such a small nation is amazing. I don't see how anyone could begrudge you winning.
It's the tabloid but nevertheless it's even better if they come to the game thinking that.
Of course mate.
But yea I don't see anything unlikeable about your team. You're an example to the rest of us in the Balkans. The amount of world class players you've got for such a small nation is amazing. I don't see how anyone could begrudge you winning.
Where are you from?We scored one yesterday and a couple of others! That’s not necessarily a sign of encouragement. In 1998, 2006 and 2014 the team with the most set piece goals won the tournament.
Top of the morning, Ban
Congrats on the win, looking forward to the next match! 2 proper teams deserving teams. I hope England wins, but if we don’t, I’ll be pulling for Croatia in the final!Yes they have, they scored a few in open play against Panama
If it was a one-off game I think I would fancy Croatia, but they've played more football than England in a short space of time and some of their players looked tired last night. They also picked up a few knocks too.
I think all things considered, I'm happy Croatia beat Russia. Russia's home advantage and direct football seemed more of a threat to me. That's not to say England will go through - apart from Panama I've gone into every England match thinking it could either way, even Tunisia.
I think all things considered, I'm happy Croatia beat Russia. Russia's home advantage and direct football seemed more of a threat to me. That's not to say England will go through - apart from Panama I've gone into every England match thinking it could either way, even Tunisia.
Thanks mate! It will be a terrific game I'm sure, may the best team win.Top of the morning, Ban
if we don't go through I hope our United lads win it. They won’t. The DM are cnutsIt's the tabloid but nevertheless it's even better if they come to the game thinking that.
Y'all need a stud. Someone like Maguire hahaha. What a strange comment that dude made.
Before the last two games, I'd have picked Croatia easily.
But they've had to rely on a shootout to beat Denmark and Russia, two very limited teams. I reckon England beat them, 2-1. But lose the final to France.
But they've had to rely on a shootout to beat Denmark and Russia, two very limited teams. I reckon England beat them, 2-1. But lose the final to France.
Cheers, mate. I also hope England will win.Thanks mate! It will be a terrific game I'm sure, may the best team win.
For me it’s 55/45 in England’s favor but much like the other semifinal I expect it to be a tight affair. What should be big for England is that they had a relatively easy game against Sweden and could turn tone down the performance in the second half while Croatia had to play very tight 120 minutes for the second time in a row against a physical, well conditioned Russia team. This has to take its toll on their players.
Croatia will win. England need to mix it up, but Croatia will be happy to give them the ball most of the time and do nothing with it. England can only play one way, while Croatia can keep the ball and counter as well. If they dont concede too many corners, i cant see past Croatia. A well oiled and experienced machine, all going to the maximum physically. Englands open game will suit them much better than PTB from Denmark and Russia. England weakness in midfield and defense will cost them in the end. A game of fine margins though.
They're always making us look like idiots to be honest, such a scummy tabloid.
I had Brazil, France, England, and Croatia to reach the last four backed. Brazil were beaten by Belgium. Now I am going to have a little wager on a Final of Belgium and England.
Off the top of my head, Lingard?
Alli yesterday too.
I can see England beating Croatia but not sure about France /Belgium.
The Colombia game seems to have been the toughest test for them.
The Colombia game seems to have been the toughest test for them.
Rakitic really doesn't worry me as much as modric, he isn't a world class player. I think he gets lumped into discussions because he's next to Modric, I like Brozovic though he seems good.
Kane against Panama was it? Alli yesterday too.
Greece. We had a decent run for a few years but it wasn't sustainable. Player wise, we've never produced anything close to the likes of Modric and Rakitic.Of course mate.
Rebic looks like he could be next.
I love Rebić, he's a beast.
Whatever players you had you'll forever be European champions.
Cheeky.
Just look at Ćorluka.
They quoted some Croatia fan off an internet message board....say they were dogs*** at defending set plays.
Rakitić has had a brilliant wc till now. If anything he rarely shined in NT shirt.
Well, they are midfielders technically.
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Ball is rolling for England in this tournament.
If you look back to extra time v Colombia, likes of Walker and Kane were having massive problems with cramp. Not a problem to recover from but last thing England needed was another emotionally draining quarter final. In previous World cups England would run into a Brazil or Portugal and have nothing left in the tank.
Instead England got an ideal opponent in Sweden with little pace or attempt at good ball possession so it was a stroll in the park.
Croatia had the draining quarter final. Great one to win of course but even winning on the edge can drain you a lot.
Croatia can still win as they have plenty of great players in final third. Way I see it is they need to flood midfield to counter England's pace in that area and make sure Modric and Rakitic do as little running as possible and get them on the ball in that vacant space around Henderson that Sweden exploited a few times second half. Delic needs to avoid his wierd 4-2-4 stuff, 4-3-3 as a minimum.
If they can do that Croatia will create chances with their 1-2s around the box. Problem will be though leaving players unmarked in six yard box when defending set pieces. I think you know what's going to happen if Stones, Maguire or Kane get free headers in six yard box like Mario Fernandes did.
Overall England to win 2-1 in normal time.
If you look back to extra time v Colombia, likes of Walker and Kane were having massive problems with cramp. Not a problem to recover from but last thing England needed was another emotionally draining quarter final. In previous World cups England would run into a Brazil or Portugal and have nothing left in the tank.
Instead England got an ideal opponent in Sweden with little pace or attempt at good ball possession so it was a stroll in the park.
Croatia had the draining quarter final. Great one to win of course but even winning on the edge can drain you a lot.
Croatia can still win as they have plenty of great players in final third. Way I see it is they need to flood midfield to counter England's pace in that area and make sure Modric and Rakitic do as little running as possible and get them on the ball in that vacant space around Henderson that Sweden exploited a few times second half. Delic needs to avoid his wierd 4-2-4 stuff, 4-3-3 as a minimum.
If they can do that Croatia will create chances with their 1-2s around the box. Problem will be though leaving players unmarked in six yard box when defending set pieces. I think you know what's going to happen if Stones, Maguire or Kane get free headers in six yard box like Mario Fernandes did.
Overall England to win 2-1 in normal time.
Has he? I remember in the last World Cup he was really good but I can't say I've payed as much attention to Croatia this time around. Fair enough, I think the only advantage England have regarding the midfield is that England don't really rely on winning the midfield battle anyway, hence why Henderson is in there pretty much on his own at times.
Yup, he has been orchestrating our midfield like a pro which he is.
Yesterday I thought he had a really good game in the 2nd half, constantly changing our rhythm, passing to the sides to spread the Russians.They will play a 433, Modric further forward in midfield and Brozovic besides Rakitic, just like against Argentina
Feel as if Croatia will win.
Would add Kovavcic to mix aswell, don't know if Croatia have ever played the 4 of them in a game before but really they need to have something like 60-40 possession and really get England chasing the ball and tired out like all their teams of ten years ago.
Kramaric and Rebic as fresh legs in the second half.
Kramaric and Rebic as fresh legs in the second half.