Argentina won’t play with a low block and today were shredded several times by Egypt. England are better than Egypt to state the obvious.
England World Cup Discussion
- Thread starter SilentWitness
- Start date
Yeahight live to regret it, but Argentina don't worry me as much as Norway. Apart from some Messi magic I feel like we'd have too much overall from them.
Norway on the other hand I can see being really tough. We need to stop the supply to Haaland as he's got the ability to completely bully our back line.
Norway on the other hand I can see being really tough. We need to stop the supply to Haaland as he's got the ability to completely bully our back line.
Firstly, that's not how football works. Secondly, Croatia and Mexico didn't either, and England didn't overrun them, did they.
I mean, we scored 7 in the two games.
I don't think anyone can be reliably counted on to do that, on England or any other team.
Maybe you missed the second half against Croatia but that is exactly what England did. As for Mexico, we are not playing again at altitude in front of 80,000 home fans.
I am quite worried about the prospect of suspensions for the semi (if we beat Norway obviously).
Bellingham, Rice, Guehi and O'Reilly are one yellow away from a suspension.
On another note, Argentina have committed 26 fouls over the last 2 games and have 1 yellow card to show for it...
Bellingham, Rice, Guehi and O'Reilly are one yellow away from a suspension.
On another note, Argentina have committed 26 fouls over the last 2 games and have 1 yellow card to show for it...
Both games are difficult but we're above Argentina in quality. I think Egypt struggled because they couldn't control the midfield. I don't think Messi can play every 4 days at his age, hopefully he has to do 90 minutes against Switzerland or they drag it into extra time
Yeah those suspension worries will stop us being able to play at the required level of intensity on Saturday
If history is any indicator, the English will defeat the Norwegians decisively, only to get routed by the French a few weeks later.
If they didn't have Haaland maybe
The point here is England havent exactly been bulldozing their opponents so far, that strong second half against Croatia notwithstanding. So it seems a bit rich to me to confidently expect them to do that to Argentina. But whatever. If you want to go into the final 8 with unreasonably high expectations, be my guest.
I am confident that if we stay 11 men vs Mexico we would have scored a couple more.
England have already faced and beaten two teams ranked in the top 16, including one which had a massive home advantage. What makes you think that 31st ranked Norway is a significant step up in quality than Croatia or Mexico?
Definitely, we were beginning to dominate until the red card. Then we defended heroically in the Azteca, shutting out a free scoring (up until this match) Mexico.
Was a fantastic performance. England should beat Norway, but anything can happen.
That Mexico game was genuinely the first time in years (maybe ever) that England have given me confidence they can do well for the remainder of a tournament.
I think if you can't get a little excited and hopeful when England get to a world cup quarter final then what's the point of it all really?
They're doing far better than I thought they would, the defence still worries me greatly but our attack is starting to click and that's exciting. Norway will be very difficult and we might just have to outscore them, I fancy us against Argentina if we can get that far, and then if we manage that then France(presumably) are far better than us but in a one off game, who knows?
They're doing far better than I thought they would, the defence still worries me greatly but our attack is starting to click and that's exciting. Norway will be very difficult and we might just have to outscore them, I fancy us against Argentina if we can get that far, and then if we manage that then France(presumably) are far better than us but in a one off game, who knows?
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Seriously, FIFA ranking as a measure of how good a team is right now, in this tournament?
It's not a really big difference between the three, but I don't think many teams would choose to face Norway among those three. Croatia didn't beat anyone good, the best that Mexico beat was Ecuador, while Norway already won against three teams on that level or better. It's debatable I guess, but that looks harder to me. Unless Argentina fecks up in the quarters, you'll certainly get tougher oppo in the semis.
Who have Argentina beat
You think Ivory Coast are on a level with Croatia? I think Mexico at the Azteca was also a tougher opponent than playing this current Brazil side in New Jersey. I would say England and Norway have had a similarish run so far in terms of difficulty (considering that the French game was a dead rubber), and both have had a much harder route than some teams (Argentina, France).
Jude Bellingham gone up in my estimation. As for the rest of them who ignore the disabled reporter 
IC/CRO: In this tournament? For sure. Mexico has been quite a lot overrated in this tournament IMO. Largely on the back of walking through the group phase against very weak oppos without really looking very impressive. I'd have been VERY surprised if they'd beaten England. There's no serious comparison with Brazil, even this version of them, come on.
Jude Bellingham gone up in my estimation. As for the rest of them who ignore the disabled reporter
That's lovely (and his Spanish sounds good). What the feck is wrong with the others just completely walking by though?
Do you think the England team are extra motivated against Norway after they have cosplayed as vikings for the last three weeks? England finally has a chance to definitively avenge Lindisfarne.
You already did, at Stamford Bridge.
On that occasion though, you moved directly on to defeat by the French. If that's not ominous, I don't know what is.The streets will never forget Lindisfarne
I think England takes it based on overall quality. I thought Norway would lose against Brazil too, to be fair, but hoped they could outbattle them in the midfield. Against England I see no such advantage. Maybe our wingers can challenge England's fullbacks but probably the centrebacks will have it shouted into their ears to watch Haaland at all times and to stop the crosses / balls into the box as much as possible. Solbakken also ALWAYS starts Sørloth who's done next to nothing other than be a target man or outlet for the goalkeeper. He can still be that, but an England winger or fullback will be on him in a second flat, and he'll lose the ball. I sort of hope we go bold and start two out of Nusa/Schjelderup/Bobb and try to challenge on the ground, get the ball in the box as much as possible and hope Haaland can get on the end of a few of them.
Kane against our defense is scary, unless Nyland somehow plays a blinder again. No way we survive the amount of chances Brazil got with Kane or Bellingham at the end of them. The midfield has been very good, but I doubt they will outrun or outbattle England's as easily as Brazil's. I just hope it's a good match that goes back and forth and not a drubbing. Norway has never been this far, so we will party in the streets and great the players as heroes when they return no matter what, but it would be an anti-climax to get demolished in the last game.
Kane against our defense is scary, unless Nyland somehow plays a blinder again. No way we survive the amount of chances Brazil got with Kane or Bellingham at the end of them. The midfield has been very good, but I doubt they will outrun or outbattle England's as easily as Brazil's. I just hope it's a good match that goes back and forth and not a drubbing. Norway has never been this far, so we will party in the streets and great the players as heroes when they return no matter what, but it would be an anti-climax to get demolished in the last game.
I’m wondering if Tuchel might start with a back 5. Their team is absolutely huge, so I think there’s a world where he starts Dan Burn just to combat the height disadvantage.
Can see Kane up top with Gordon starting on the left, Bellingham just behind and Rice and Anderson in midfield. Wing backs doing what they do and one of the shorter cbs stepping up to cut out the through balls to Haaland.
Can see Kane up top with Gordon starting on the left, Bellingham just behind and Rice and Anderson in midfield. Wing backs doing what they do and one of the shorter cbs stepping up to cut out the through balls to Haaland.
Fixed it for you.
We need to phone Jonny the Kid and have him ban Haaland.
Again, forget about Argentina or whatever. Norway is up next and is a tough game.
People get far too caught up in who's had a easy draw etc. France and then maybe spain, have been above everyone but after that, all sides have shown weakness.
People get far too caught up in who's had a easy draw etc. France and then maybe spain, have been above everyone but after that, all sides have shown weakness.
Wonder how training goes between Haaland, Stones and Guehi.
You have to think him vs the backline is the decisive factor in the game. Outside of that, England are a lot for Norway to collectively handle.
You have to think him vs the backline is the decisive factor in the game. Outside of that, England are a lot for Norway to collectively handle.
Djed Spence
Jude Bellingham gone up in my estimation. As for the rest of them who ignore the disabled reporter
Wow, that's super weird how not one of the others stopped for a quick question. Good lad Jude.
Jude Bellingham gone up in my estimation. As for the rest of them who ignore the disabled reporter
The disregard from the others is as bad as the humanity shown by Bellingham in that clip.
Doesn’t look good on the rest of them.
That blonde giant up front is a significant step up to anything England have faced so far, rankings mean feck all in a one-off game, England overall have a better team but that doesn't make Norway weak, any team that has Haaland in it are very dangerous
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I know, they're the hardest among the big teams to get a true measure of, for that reason. As I believe I already mentioned. That doesn't mean there's reason to assume they're not very good, it just means there's less certainty about how good they really are. I think there's good reason to think they are going be better than Mexico or Croatia though.
I agree that Haaland is a step up in quality, but equally the Norway defence is a step down in quality from Croatia. And the atmosphere and pace of the game will be a step down in quality from Mexico.
Norway are not weak and can definitely win, but I don't think is as tough a game on paper for England as the Mexico one.
Apaarently a super computer predicted we get to the semi finals but lose to Argentina. That simulation has Argentina winning the world cup again.
I personally think Norway is harder than Argentina. I also free France having some weaknesses at the back but they're favourites.
I personally think Norway is harder than Argentina. I also free France having some weaknesses at the back but they're favourites.