Sterling. Couldn't even get a start for City towards the end of the season (admittedly they're a better side than England). Grealish, Rashford and Shaw will all be on after 60 minutes as we chase a 1-0 deficit.
Day 3: England vs Croatia | Austria vs North Macedonia | Netherlands vs Ukraine
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
Grealish and Rashford are obviously not 100% fit. Playing Trippier at left back is utter fecking madness though.
I really hope that the pundits slaughter Southgate if this doesn’t work today. He has had an easy ride from the media his entire time as England manager so far.
I really hope that the pundits slaughter Southgate if this doesn’t work today. He has had an easy ride from the media his entire time as England manager so far.
Any Croatian player to look out for ,minor the obvious ?
Tyrone Mings!
Sterling 
Mings
Mings
Get a goal and then throw on the 2 other goalies. Genius.
I didn't even realise the games are played on stadium to favour one side. Why are England playing on Wembley? Last night Russia played in Russia too, who made that decision? How exactly is that fair?
The Sterling decision I can kind of understand. Grealish has only just returned after being out of action for months and Rashford is not at all fit.
I can also understand Sterling over Sancho for the opening game as you want experience out there, but not having him on the bench? That is just plain ridiculous.
Is it a back 3 with Walker Stones Mings and Trippier as a rwb?
You lot need some fake sheikh voodoo done on Southgate before the next big international tournament.
Ahh well. Early England exit is good for United.
Why is TrippI er at LB?
For right back on left I can think of only one example which came from genius of Jose who played azpi on left back to give protection for hazard to go all out attack from left side on his own though he had cole and Luis.
Holland worked for Jose while at chelsea and probably testing this to make pathway for grealish in coming games yet get protection from that side.
Holland worked for Jose while at chelsea and probably testing this to make pathway for grealish in coming games yet get protection from that side.
Question that will be asked for generations to come
It's not.
Southgate really has milked that WC semi final run. We beat Panama, Tunisia and Sweden FFS. When it came to playing any teams of note, we drew to Colombia and lost twice to Belgium and Croatia.
This selection feels like a lose/lose situation. If we win he'll persist with it and we'll lose to the runner up of group F in the last 16. If we lose today then, well, we've lost. Ugh I fecking hate this selection.
The Sterling decision is just bizarre. His form was largely poor last season. Pep still gave him chances but he was anonymous against Chelsea in both the FA Semi Final and Champions League final.
Great way to alienate players. You have the best left back in the world in your squad and you pick a right back who's looking to sign a contract to be the second best right back at that left back's club. What the absolute feck.
Gvardiol.
Yeah it's ridiculuous. Surprised there's not much debate on that.
That defense has the potential to be a comedy of errors.
Michael Owen has entered the building.
All the talk about their winger options yet he's easily the worst one in the squad (well ahead of Saka but he's young). Rashford you could say he's injured and make it understandable. But the rest? fecking hell.
Garbage manager.
Pretty insane that Sancho doesn’t even make the bench! He’s not injured, is he?
Who is Kalvin Phillips?
Such a shame that this isn't going to be in front of a full Wembley crowd.
Croatia also have two goalies on the bench and Italy did the other day as well so there could be something in it.
England 1-1 Croatia
Austria 2-1 NM
Holland 1-2 Ukraine
Austria 2-1 NM
Holland 1-2 Ukraine
Southgate hehe.
We've got a red card in this team, too much inexperience.
Shaw and Grealish on the bench
England deserves to lose for those two decisions alone.
England deserves to lose for those two decisions alone.
There's teams with homefield advantage in every tournament. At least it's not just one or two this time.
A very average midfielder who plays for Leeds.
Of course he is, there's two keepers on the bench. Not even Southgate could be that stupid.
Southgate is so incompetent. This will be hilarious.