France get a penalty.
Internationals March (World Cup Qualifiers)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
Mbappe takes the penalty. It is saved. Still 0-2.
Such a defensive side by England. They are playing bloody Albania and not a top nation. Two defensive midfielders and only one real winger in Sterling. Granted they have few wingers in the squad, but could play one extra forward then.
Seems like Southgate has gone for a 4231 as I can't imagine Rice or Phillips will be as advanced as JWP was vs San Marino.
It seems overly defensive and I would have liked to see Bellingham start in CM instead of one of those two as I doubt he will start vs Poland, which makes me think he should have just gone and joined the u21s.
It seems overly defensive and I would have liked to see Bellingham start in CM instead of one of those two as I doubt he will start vs Poland, which makes me think he should have just gone and joined the u21s.
Pretty much full strength against Albania? Alright, I guess.
You'd imagine the full backs will be bombing forward quite a bit.
He's starting. Big day for him!
You're right, I probably overstated it a bit, but just not keen on that midfield duo.
Far worse players than him get games for France.
Deschamps doesn't pick players based on club form.
Great singing ....tear to the eye
No crowd noises to drown out players singing the national anthem is absolutely hilarious. I thought it was dubbed 
What an awful looking pitch.
Expect England to win at least 3-0. Anything less by 3 goals is a failure.
Please let Shaw and Maguire come through this unscathed
Albania are not that bad I think. Englands team is pretty defensive as well so it does not look like they want to improve goaldifference.
Strakosha must be one of most unlucky keepers around, can't get in ahead of Reina somehow now at Lazio and now behind declined Berisha who dosen't even play in Serie A anymore.
Nice little counter for Albania there, should've scored.
Nice little counter for Albania there, should've scored.
Not too happy with Shaw playing. How is his fitness given that Ole do not want to play him as much as us fans want?
England are pretty dull. It's all just pass, pass, pass. Nobody seems to run with the ball and take on players anymore.
Look at that team and it is only Sterling and Shaw you think will do that. They need Sancho and Rashford I think for wing options or even Grealish.
It blows my mind that Southgate is trusted with this team. England boasting an embarrassment of riches and he goes negative again.
I didn't realize they are a pretty decent team after looking up their recent results. Topped their nations league group and only lost to France 0-2.
He is doing a good job, but you lot play fairly negative a lot. Still scoring lots of goals vs the weaker sides most times.
Rice and Phillips in midfield is really average, there is a serious lack of talent in central midfield for England right now and they will never win anything until that changes. Anytime England come up against a reasonably solid or good team they look shite.
Is Nick Pope now the undisputed no 1 for England? What happened to Pickford?
Southgate really has blood on his hands, can see him ruining another good English generation by his defensive approach. Rice and Phillips is just too much. There should have been Bellingham with the players today, and maybe even Lingard. You will have all the possession but so little creativity.
Injured.
He's injured. And shit.
They are a side England should beat, but not a super easy game. Like that 2-0 vs France is what I expect from England pretty much.
England really weak defending counter attacks today with the back 4 and no Henderson covering ground in midfield.
That's the crux for Southgate for the summer.
That's the crux for Southgate for the summer.
They qualified for a major tournament less than 5 years ago albeit quite a few of that squad have now retired.
I just wonder if this is all part of a cultural shift, where we seem to value players who can play "safely" above all, especially in these midfield positions. It just seems very limited. There's more than one way to play the game, after all.
Other teams still going for pace on the wings I say. Spain have played without it, but even players like Iniesta and Silva could beat a player.
Aye, he’s too pragmatic. I don’t know why he continues with this two holding midfielder thing against opposition who will essentially play a giant low defensive block. See this same shit at United, it’s fecking tedious. Total lack of balls.
Need a few more defensive midfielders on the pitch, come on Southgate, you're taking too many risks here against Albania,
Ole's football really isn't that bad compared to this.
Was going to say the same thing. Dull tumescent affair.
Lack of balls and talent. I don't think he's knows another way to play.
Kane scores, assist for Shaw.
Lovely cross Shaw