A lack lustre performance by England tonight

Wayne.Kerr

Wayne.Kerr

Vital Champions League
Of the players on show, Rose and Rashford should get the nod to start in the next game. Cahill, Dier and Welbeck cert subs and perhaps Vardy, although we don't really play to his strengths. On paper, we may have an easier route to the quarter finals but we don't play on paper and, judging by their performances, Colombia will be no pushover. Still, an extra day's rest, the big guns back and all to play for.
 
I was on tenterhooks waiting for the commentators to tell me who we would be playing in the final after this minor inconvenience, as they seemed to have our path pretty much mapped out!

None of the players put themselves forward to start against Colombia..i anticipate a heroic loss against a more experienced tournament side.
 
In a week or 2 this loss will see Southgate either lauded as a god, or else condemned for mucking with our form and morale.

Here’s hoping it’s the former :loser:
 
HastGill said:
Japan are total pony, it was a no brainer to try and play them over Colombia.
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So that we could then be thrashed by Brazil? No thanks. If we can't beat Colombia (thought they were lucky today) then we have had no chance v Brazil if we got to the quarters by the orher route.
 
For a nothing match I thought it was quite entertaining and England did OK. Fringe players got a good run out in the tournament. They didn't look outclassed, a bit unsteady in defense perhaps.
They made a couple of good chances and if they'd finished 1-1 I'd have been happy.
 
Brazil haven't been that great so far. Croatia and Sweden (even though they lost to the Germans tut, tut!) have played much better. Uruguay too. I'd fear playing either of them three than Brazil.
 
jokerman said:
Do World Cup winners lose qualifying matches?
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Apparently the last 4 winners all went out in qualifying next time round. France, Spain & Brazil. Now Germany (stand to be corrected, that was off F/B and I can't be ar$ed to check the facts).
 
OneSirKeefy said:
Apparently the last 4 winners all went out in qualifying next time round. France, Spain & Brazil. Now Germany (stand to be corrected, that was off F/B and I can't be ar$ed to check the facts).
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It was the last 4 European winners. Italy also went out in the group stages after winning the previous WC. From your list, Brazil didn't get knocked out in the group stages.
 
jokerman said:
Do World Cup winners lose qualifying matches?
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It's actually happened four times: West Germany against Hungary in 1954, West Germany against East Germany in 1974, Argentina against Italy in 1978 and Spain against Switzerland in 2010.

Germany against Hungary is the only one where they deliberately lost, though.

I enjoyed last night. It was the only possible circumstances these days where I could consider watching an England match in a pub with other people. Normally I like to keep my misery private.
 
The other side of the draw:

Uruguay, Portugal, France, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, Japan.

Our side:

Colombia, then either Sweden or Switzerland, then either Spain, Russia, Croatia or Denmark.

This is our best chance to get somewhere decent for a long time.
 
wxgill said:
The other side of the draw:

Uruguay, Portugal, France, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, Japan.

Our side:

Colombia, then either Sweden or Switzerland, then either Spain, Russia, Croatia or Denmark.

This is our best chance to get somewhere decent for a long time.
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Until 9pm last night I didn’t look at the “sides” of the draw in any detail - I knew we hadn’t Brazil on our side if we won the group, that was it. I just preferred taking each game as it comes and always play to win. BUT, when it’s written down like that, playing reserves and losing shouldn’t be too damaging. Of course, Columbia are a decent side, but with a full strength team, we should have enough to turn them over.

I won’t worry about the QF until we get there. If we get there.
 
Personally feel all the changes were a bit unnecessary - a few changes yes, but enerally speaking play your best team, win as many as you can and see where it takes you. Momentum is massive. Bit uncomfortable as an England fan looking too far ahead and plotting the best route! Who are we to do that?! Also opens manager up to criticism now if we don't progress. But if they're fresh for next game and play well I suppose it's justified.
 
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