Slept on it and still have the opinion that the hype given this England side was over the top and I can see why other countries think we are arrogant.
Part of why I couldn't stand the idea you'd win it and similar to Keane talking about the final and 'bringing football home'. Such a cringey thing, the other reason is the one sided rivalry Ireland has with England and typically seeing England fail gives us a good oul laugh.
Have to say in the end when I was able to separate the 'its coming home' talk from the rest I was just disappointed for England fans in the end.
Is it too early to be honest? The English are natural born losers really. "Oh well, we didn't win, but we are all united and it was a spiffing effort wasn't it? " Fuck that, in it to win it, go down fighting, that's the way to do things
Other nations aren't like this.
Personally, (and I have to clarify I never actually seen the England team I am referring live but) since the Gazza days English national teams seem to lack any form of grit, spirit, pride, etc.
Its weird because the average person in England has it in spades but for some reason when the players go play for their nation they don't have it. Its been interesting to see comments saying they showed it against Colombia, they didnt they got dominated and outplayed as soon as Colombia got back in the game. It went missing against Croatia too.
I look at players like Lingard and maybe its just because they come through that system that they havent really faced much adversity. Harry Kane has it because he had to dig deep on loan and try and show his value but Lingard is a cookie cutter modern footballer who has had a good dare I say easy life coming through Uniteds academy. Maybe Im wrong, maybe Im ignorant but its the only thing I can think of to explain it. A lot of the Colombian or Croatian players wouldnt have had it easy and you toss in Croatia being a small nation of 4 million people it gives them some bottle and pride. Trying not to tar every english player because I think the likes of Kane, Maguire, Pickford relish it but you've lads like Lingard and Delle Ali who don't live in reality. I just couldnt see Lingard, Sterling, Stones etc. playing through injury and risking their careers like Vrisalko or Subasic have been.
Would have been a travesty against football if Lingard won a medal but I wouldnt begrudge a lot of other names, I've been very impressed with Pickford and even at this stage the man should win something.