I think I'm leaning towards that opinion too.
Switzerland will be similar to Norway tonight, it'll be a very tough slog of a game.
Argentina are better going forward but they can be got at defensively.
England World Cup Discussion
- Thread starter SilentWitness
- Start date
- Status
I think I'm leaning towards that opinion too.
Switzerland will be similar to Norway tonight, it'll be a very tough slog of a game.
Argentina are better going forward but they can be got at defensively.
France aren’t great at the back. They look great going forward but they are capable of having an off day too
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/...set:90f1981d-5035-48b0-9c13-886a5c9c8395#post
Bit of a Fergie moment?
Bit of a Fergie moment?
England would beat Swiss in similar manner to today I think.
Argentina is more psychological. I do think England would cause issues against their backline which has hardly been impossible to score against but they've got hard workers in midfield that wouldn't just let Bellingham run off them constantly. And then the Messi factor. And all the dark arts stuff from likes of Emi Martinez, Romero, Enzo etc.
However imo England desperately need to beat a tier 1 nation before a final. Does seem a trend of scraping through with kindish draws and then can't up levels for the actual final.
So Argentina 40 years on from Hand of God offers that redemption.
Cringe
He looked quite poorly in the dug out after being subbed.
Notway deserved the win England need to play much better
Argentina: wide, wide, wide.
They've no pace, no quality at FB and are very susceptible to crosses. They've also got a serious lack athleticism so running them into the ground is a valid tactic.
I think Switzerland is the harder match up because they have more players to contain.
Tuchel is right, though: there's not going to be a better chance to go all the way than this, so demanding more is valid.
Everyone's going on about France, but I think Spain will do them. Spain's football is also Kryptonite to England.
I see what you're doing, but nah. Of course anything is possible in a 2 horse race but France have insane quality all over the pitch.
Norway scored 1 goal. England scored 2. England deserved the win. Mafs.
I thought James and Saka did well.
England have Jude.
Tuchel made a bit of a mess with the squad, some bizarre choices and too many players who aren’t fit. The Eze sub tonight was a strange one and at one point we had Eze on the wing, James in midfield and Konsa at RB.
He’s limited his options a lot because of his choices but he’s getting the best out of the two best players which has been enough so far, maybe it works for one more game but we look nowhere near the level of France or Spain.
He’s limited his options a lot because of his choices but he’s getting the best out of the two best players which has been enough so far, maybe it works for one more game but we look nowhere near the level of France or Spain.
Fair enough. Looks like Rice is running on fumes as well
Yeah I’d be changing Madueke but we’re so deep in the tournament now that I doubt he will. He’s just too sloppy when the opportunity arises to put a ball in or take the fullback on. If you’re in a position where Anthony Gordon looks the more dangerous one of your wingers….youve got a problem
How he took him before Bowen I genuinely have no idea.
Tuchel obviously knew a number of players were not fully fit, needed time, yet doesn't seemed to have picked a squad to fully cover it.
But what would I know, they are in a semifinal.
France haven't conceded since the group stages.
This England backline will concede 2-3 against elite attack. Would've happened today but for VAR overrule.
For all the wonderful games it looks like the top 4 FIFA rated teams will make up the semi finals.
Agree.
I think France are the best side in the tournament but I'd rather face them if we made the final instead of Spain.
Spain are just the worst matchup for us. I could see us maybe fluking a win over France, but not over Spain.
Mandueke's purpose is fatiguing his full back and softening them up for a broken Saka. He'll actually have an invaluable role in the semi, especially if it's against Argentina.
But yeah, he's awful.
No I want England to actually play good for once.
Yeah I don't think he's fully fit. I think managing his minutes has been sensible and It's worked so far. Hopefully he's got enough in him to play more of a role now.
No team with Rabiot in cm has any right to be winning the World Cup but when your frontline is that good who needs a midfield I suppose.
I’d get it if he was a sub. Throw him on to cause some chaos, run at a tired full back etc etc.
He’s not good enough to carry that starting spot though, far too wasteful
I think Tuchel did well with his in game changes to be fair. He’s much more intuitive than Southgate, even if he may have made a few errors he rectified and adjusted things.
Madueke needs to sit on the bench though. Saka and Gordon should be the wide pair. James back will be huge.
Madueke needs to sit on the bench though. Saka and Gordon should be the wide pair. James back will be huge.
No way. We’re scraping through games with Bellingham dragging us and a fair pinch of the dark arts. Argentina have Messi to drag them through and they’re far better at the darks arts than we are.
Brazil won a World Cup with Kleberson, and Rabiot is miles better than him.
I agree with everything you've said there but please can you stop with the 'dark arts' bullshit as if we are a century ago. England are plenty capable of that shit and they should be because at this point any nation that isn't is stupid. Switzerland will have the same 'dark arts'. Your players do it too and thats fine with how the game is currently.
England are cynical when they need to be They know how to win fouls and penalties. Plus, the referees often seem to favour them. Even though France is a much better footballing team, England have tournament experience and grit to win it
Sooo will he back for Wednesday?
Not bringing in Mainoo for Rice very nearly cost us the game. I really think we are winning in spite of Tuchel rather than anything he’s doing particularly well. The squad selection was poor, his use of the squad he selected is equally head scratching and frankly the performances have been worse than what Southgate was dishing up. It feels like people are reluctant to criticise him purely due to his name.
All that being said, we truck on and if he somehow shithouses his way to a World Cup then I’ll be the first to volunteer to build the statue. I just think agaisnt any proper team (where we don’t have a superior talent differentiation), we will be badly exposed playing this football.
No chance.
Argentina would be the first side England have played who on paper are at least as good if not better than them. They've been limping along so far but they've got quality and depth, it would be a proper 50/50 game.
People might as well start planning their world cup final parties if Switzerland win tonight.
Well we all know Pickford can be a clown, Stones has barely kicked a ball this season and we’ve generally got a back four hanging in rags with Reece James crocked. Hopefully the next few days will give the team enough time to recover before the semis.
Kane should be in his element vs either backline.
Strangely, I think so too. Easy to get carried away right after a quarter final win, but I’d be surprised if we didn’t make it to the final. I’d then fancy our chances against Spain, but France I’d fear.
England could get into a final by beating, Mexico, Norway and "you never know", Switzerland. Funny shit if it pans out that way.
I think Argentinas defense has been incredibly shaky and I could see Saka and Bellingham causing some real trouble.
Swiss will be a physical and tiring slog.
Either way hope England go all the way
I just think it would be similar to Euro2024 or any big European final with an English side against a Spanish side if we made it to the final vs Spain.
Where they just keep the ball and we tire ourselves out.
Where they just keep the ball and we tire ourselves out.
Norway knocking out Brazil did England a huge favour
Yes I agree.
- Status