I thought apart from the goal he was his usual self, makes good runs but spaffs opportunity after opportunity and can't make a decent pass to save his life.But you would drop Sterling who was arguably our best player and won us the game?
Think it will be the same team. However, if anyone was to come out, it probably should be Foden.
There's certainly a worry. Shaw could have done everything Trips did and more; perhaps as Southgate knew he didn't want any overlapping he thought there wasn't much point using Shaw but we know our man can do a rock solid defensive job when needed.Because Southgate is an ultra-defensive, championship level manager. He's holding this talented young English side back.
That's why Grealish is so important, imo. He's our best player in this regard. A lot does come down to coaching and instilling that mentality of we're going to dominate regardless of who we play, but having a player like Grealish is a huge asset to waste.England's biggest issue, which was demonstrated yet again even against a declining Croatia team, is their lack of ability, confidence and composure in controlling a game with the ball.
We will be outdone in this aspect against sides such as France, Italy, Germany and maybe Holland too.
Did he do more than Foden?I thought apart from the goal he was his usual self, makes good runs but spaffs opportunity after opportunity and can't make a decent pass to save his life.
Yes he did. But Foden is more tidy. I'd drop him for Sancho in a second though, but thats never happening.Did he do more than Foden?
There are 4 teams in each group and 3 games per day. This format is normal.Strange Scotland aren’t playing today. You a could argue it’s unfair that we get an extra day…
Surprised all teams in the group don’t play the same day.
What better players ? Mount was great.You could put the full stop after "nothing". Time we started integrating our better players into the 11.
Yes, Grealish is a big component of a player capable of playing this game, as is Foden and Sancho.That's why Grealish is so important, imo. He's our best player in this regard. A lot does come down to coaching and instilling that mentality of we're going to dominate regardless of who we play, but having a player like Grealish is a huge asset to waste.
What did he do? I think Phillips is our only player whose performance could be labelled as such, and even that's a stretch.What better players ? Mount was great.
Why are your posts so shit? If you're going to WUM at least be crafty about it!People wanting to see Grealish and Shaw etc. better give up after we won that game. It won't happen. Southgate will see the decisions as vindicated despite the terrible performance against a bunch of pensioners in chequered shirts.
He has shown today his intentions are to be as defensive as humanely possible. Dropped deep after 20 minutes, and dropped deep straight after the goal to defend the lead. There was barely any forward thinking today.
Why do you whinge when people have different opinions to you? Yes, unbelievably, people don't all agree with you. Cry me a river.Why are your posts so shit? If you're going to WUM at least be crafty about it!
Yeah, we're desperately lacking a Modric. It's why I'd go 4-3-3 and give Grealish and Foden a go at dictating games ahead of a Rice.Yes, Grealish is a big component of a player capable of playing this game, as is Foden and Sancho.
Big issue is we don't have enough of these players in the centre. Phillips seems the strongest option at the moment but Rice ? not confident and Jude is too young/inexperienced.
I think Mount is a good player and well rounded midfielder. He did fine today.What did he do? I think Phillips is our only player whose performance could be labelled as such, and even that's a stretch.
Sterling was good. Kane anonymous. Foden was tidy but was hindered by having Walker on his side being a hindrance in possession. Mount, like Kane, was anonymous, but, unlike Kane, has a top player as competition in Grealish.
That's not true at all. Mount worked his socks off all game linked up play well drive forward well.What did he do? I think Phillips is our only player whose performance could be labelled as such, and even that's a stretch.
Sterling was good. Kane anonymous. Foden was tidy but was hindered by having Walker on his side being a hindrance in possession. Mount, like Kane, was anonymous, but, unlike Kane, has a top player as competition in Grealish.
I'm not whining just saying you're posting shit saying it was a poor performance.Why do you whinge when people have different opinions to you? Yes, unbelievably, people don't all agree with you.
Do you deny that we were defensive?
Do you deny that Southgate does not play Grealish and Shaw?
The evidence goes against you, I'm afraid.
Yep.People wanting to see Grealish and Shaw etc. better give up after we won that game. It won't happen. Southgate will see the decisions as vindicated despite the terrible performance against a bunch of pensioners in chequered shirts.
He has shown today his intentions are to be as defensive as humanely possible. Dropped deep after 20 minutes, and dropped deep straight after the goal to defend the lead. There was barely any forward thinking today.
Mount was excellent, as was Phillips.What did he do? I think Phillips is our only player whose performance could be labelled as such, and even that's a stretch.
Sterling was good. Kane anonymous. Foden was tidy but was hindered by having Walker on his side being a hindrance in possession. Mount, like Kane, was anonymous, but, unlike Kane, has a top player as competition in Grealish.
He did do fine, but if we want to achieve something we need better than fine from our 10.I think Mount is a good player and well rounded midfielder. He did fine today.
Mount better than Sterling and Foden? No.Mount was excellent, as was Phillips.
Some people are utterly clueless and like to find fault when there is none.
The rest were ok, except Walker who was abysmal.
Why is it not a bad performance?I'm not whining just saying you're posting shit saying it was a poor performance.
Exactly. There's a reason why Kane was dropping so deep. We had no midfield control. It was quite laughable really.Why is it not a bad performance?
Croatia are not the team of three years ago, so I'm not sure why people are treating them as such tough opponents. Rakitic is retired; Modric is an old man by football standards; Perisic is the same.
We created three chances in ninety minutes with home advantage. Most of the time we were in our own half, playing the ball around slowly. We ceded a lot of possession to Croatia, putting us on the backfoot for long periods of the game. It is fortunate that they are not the team of three years ago, otherwise, we would have come away with a loss after being dominated.
A goal doesn't change the fact that we barely even ventured out of our half after the first twenty minutes.
What's this crazy talk ? ! Get outta here you absolute mad man.I have bets on England reaching the final, if my group stage bets aren't miles off i reckon you'll have a fairly easy road. Depends a bit on who finishes second in the group of 3 teams that will qualify aka group of death...If you're unlucky it'll be France, and that's it.
Not entirely sure about the praise that Sterling and Foden is receiving. 3 situations where he's close to goal and he goes for the cross instead of trying to get it on target, from such close distance you just hammer it, extremely lucky with his goal.
Walker was a disaster.
Kane offered nothing up top.
You'd be better off, i reckon, by playing Trippier on the right.
Foden?Mount better than Sterling and Foden? No.
people moan about everything.Why are people moaning? We completely dominated the exact sort of team we notoriously struggle against. It was only 1 nil, but the difference was far greater. Coratia were completely outclassed.
On what basis were they "completely outclassed"? England were better and deserved to win but were themselves nothing special. Also, this Croatia team is mediocre anyway.Why are people moaning? We completely dominated the exact sort of team we notoriously struggle against. It was only 1 nil, but the difference was far greater. Coratia were completely outclassed.
Dominated in what way?Why are people moaning? We completely dominated the exact sort of team we notoriously struggle against. It was only 1 nil, but the difference was far greater. Coratia were completely outclassed.
Being tidy means feck all really. Van de Beek is tidier than Bruno but I'd always prefer the latter. That's not to say I prefer Sterling over Foden but he offered much more of a threat than him today. This is why I'm confused as to why you would drop Sterling for the next game based on his performance today.Yes he did. But Foden is more tidy. I'd drop him for Sancho in a second though, but thats never happening.
I think you're way off the mark here. Possession was pretty much dead even as was pass completion, at half time possession was 60% to England. The xG was 1.47 - 0.53 in England's favour. Croatia didn't have a single big chance. England had two big chances and scored one. Later in the second half we did drop off and allowed them possession and they didn't create any big chances. Croatia are not a team of old men, they had 3 players on the pitch over the age of 30 and one over 32 with Modric at 35. That is not washed up age in the modern game by a long shot. Whilst Croatia are not the team of 3 years ago they're a decent side with one of the best midfields in the competition. It was a very professional performance and a deserved win. If your opponent can't create a proper chance then you have controlled the game, its as simple as that.Why is it not a bad performance?
Croatia are not the team of three years ago, so I'm not sure why people are treating them as such tough opponents. Rakitic is retired; Modric is an old man by football standards; Perisic is the same.
We created three chances in ninety minutes with home advantage. Most of the time we were in our own half, playing the ball around slowly. We ceded a lot of possession to Croatia, putting us on the backfoot for long periods of the game. It is fortunate that they are not the team of three years ago, otherwise, we would have come away with a loss after being dominated.
A goal doesn't change the fact that we barely even ventured out of our half after the first twenty minutes.
I can already feel the frenzy on its way if we win our next game, the premature belief that we're definitely the best national team in Europe. Just wait, 3 points against Scotland and at least one sports journo will write a hot take piece about how England will overcome France and Belgium, including the obligatory 'route to the final chart' that has us winning every game without a single draw after 90 minutes.England 1-0 Croatia
"(England) Fans are now edging closer to their prayers being answered and the team ending 55 years of hurt to bring football home for the first time since 1966"
- A crappy tabloid, 13th June 2021