BritBill Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I'm obviously pleased with England's result last night. We've found it hard to win the first game of a tournament over the years so to get the points was the main objective, no matter how we or the opposition played. I think Southgate has found the correct formation but not the right personnel to play it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 16 minutes ago, BritBill said: I'm obviously pleased with England's result last night. We've found it hard to win the first game of a tournament over the years so to get the points was the main objective, no matter how we or the opposition played. I think Southgate has found the correct formation but not the right personnel to play it. A win is a win is a win, just get to the next round without wasting energy or piling up injuries..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritBill Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 1 hour ago, row_33 said: A win is a win is a win, just get to the next round without wasting energy or piling up injuries..... Without a doubt. A win against Panama on Sunday should be enough to see England through. A boring 1-0 will suffice. I think Dele Alli would have been replaced at half time had England gone in at the break 1-0 up. His looked the only injury problem for England. Today's games don't look like the greatest match-ups. Russia v Egypt (if Salah plays) is probably the pick of the bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 2 hours ago, BritBill said: Without a doubt. A win against Panama on Sunday should be enough to see England through. A boring 1-0 will suffice. I think Dele Alli would have been replaced at half time had England gone in at the break 1-0 up. His looked the only injury problem for England. Today's games don't look like the greatest match-ups. Russia v Egypt (if Salah plays) is probably the pick of the bunch. i overdosed on the first games, some great group efforts presented i could see the next 8 games being ritual slaughters until Croatia/Argentina, the first "playoff game" of this world cup my neighbourhood is heavily populated by people wearing checkerboard shirts during tournaments Are hardcore fans happy with Southgate so far? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritBill Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 30 minutes ago, row_33 said: i overdosed on the first games, some great group efforts presented i could see the next 8 games being ritual slaughters until Croatia/Argentina, the first "playoff game" of this world cup my neighbourhood is heavily populated by people wearing checkerboard shirts during tournaments Are hardcore fans happy with Southgate so far? I'm really looking forward to Croatia v Argentina. In fact, you could say Croatia have under-achieved a little over the years. They have some top notch players. Mordic and Rakitic are as good as any midfield players in the tournament. Argentina have their hands full. I went to Zagreb a few years ago. It was the game where the England 'keeper completely missed a back pass and the ball rolled into the empty net. There was plenty of blood spilled before the game at the hands (batons) of the Croat police force. The flight home resembled a hospital emergency ward. The fans are happy with Southgate in terms of lowering the average age of the squad and introducing some of the players from the successful U21's team. Also, results have been good. Qualification for the World Cup finals was in general a breeze. As I mentioned in a previous post, he's found a system which the majority of the players look comfortable in. Only one are two look to be struggling. To be fair to Southgate, there isn't a lot of quality to choose from these days. I'd say Harry Kane is the only true world class player in the squad at the moment. For the first time in, well, probably my lifetime an England team has gone to a World Cup and expectations have been low. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 19 minutes ago, BritBill said: I'm really looking forward to Croatia v Argentina. In fact, you could say Croatia have under-achieved a little over the years. They have some top notch players. Mordic and Rakitic are as good as any midfield players in the tournament. Argentina have their hands full. I went to Zagreb a few years ago. It was the game where the England 'keeper completely missed a back pass and the ball rolled into the empty net. There was plenty of blood spilled before the game at the hands (batons) of the Croat police force. The flight home resembled a hospital emergency ward. The fans are happy with Southgate in terms of lowering the average age of the squad and introducing some of the players from the successful U21's team. Also, results have been good. Qualification for the World Cup finals was in general a breeze. As I mentioned in a previous post, he's found a system which the majority of the players look comfortable in. Only one are two look to be struggling. To be fair to Southgate, there isn't a lot of quality to choose from these days. I'd say Harry Kane is the only true world class player in the squad at the moment. For the first time in, well, probably my lifetime an England team has gone to a World Cup and expectations have been low. thanks! hopefully an easy win off Panama and rest for the third game and an easy draw to the quarterfinals!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritBill Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 7 minutes ago, row_33 said: thanks! hopefully an easy win off Panama and rest for the third game and an easy draw to the quarterfinals!! Let's hope so! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 interesting scores today...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Senegal!!!! First big win since Papa Bouba Diop scored against defending-champ France many years ago!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cugalabanza Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Loved Japan’s effort against Columbia today. I loved the spirit. They had 1-1 and a man advantage and they did not play for the draw. They kept attacking and it paid off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoBills808 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Kinda impressed by Russia too. They have the home thing going on and that big dude up front is capable...even though Egypt w/o Salah fairly toothless. Predicting Iran over Spain for upset of the tournament tomorrow in a year with no real powerhouses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cugalabanza Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 3 minutes ago, GoBills808 said: Kinda impressed by Russia too. They have the home thing going on and that big dude up front is capable...even though Egypt w/o Salah fairly toothless. Predicting Iran over Spain for upset of the tournament tomorrow in a year with no real powerhouses. Yes on Russia, really impressive, and unexpected. That’s a bold prediction. I’m thinking Spain wins by 2 or 3, but who knows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Russia was handed a cushy group to let them easily get through this round, it’s the right of the host nation if it can play the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoBills808 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 1 minute ago, Cugalabanza said: Yes on Russia, really impressive, and unexpected. That’s a bold prediction. I’m thinking Spain wins by 2 or 3, but who knows? Yeh in all honesty Spain should win going away, I think they're still favorites for me (they were immensely better than Portugal overall imo, just unlucky to run into the game's best on his day)...but I hate the way they play with such a deep passion. I can't stand the tiki-taka. It drives me crazy watching Barcelona do it, it drove me crazy when Spain decided to go that route about 8 years ago too. It's anti-soccer imo...and wholly reliant on an accommodating referee. It removes the physicality which is what makes the game great for people who understand it. 4 minutes ago, row_33 said: Russia was handed a cushy group to let them easily get through this round, it’s the right of the host nation if it can play the game. Yep but there is something to be said for the home team...I remember South Korea playing out of their minds when they hosted. Now granted they were under corruption allegations and investigations afterwards, but still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Is that referee Moreno still around, the one that totally screwed Italy and let South Korea win that game? i trust something will burst to let Russia and other European teams move on.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritBill Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 There's more chance of Morocco turning over Portugal than Iran beating Spain. I'm expecting the possession count to be 80-20 in Spain's favour. If they get 2-0 up pretty quickly it'll become a procession of keep ball and low risk play. In reality, both games will be comfortable wins for the European teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 (edited) Both Spain and Portugal should coast to easy 1-0 wins. Pour on a solid and safe offensive attack and score the goal and grind out the clock and rest key players after they tried too hard in their first game. But this sometimes backfires.... that’s why the 1-0 win is best, prevents counterattack Edited June 20, 2018 by row_33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritBill Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, row_33 said: that’s why the 1-0 win is best, prevents counterattack Hey Row, I'm currently reading this book https://www.amazon.com/Numbers-Game-Everything-About-Soccer/dp/0143124560/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529486630&sr=8-1&keywords=the+numbers+game I think you'll like it. It opens your eyes even more to the game. It's nice to have a lead in the game but 1-0 is just so vulnerable. Look at England the other night. Getting the second goal is so important. A third will seal the deal the vast, vast majority of the time. There's a chapter in the above mentioned book analysing it all. I'm happy to send you my copy when I'm finished. Edited June 20, 2018 by BritBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Bills Fan Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 1-0 Portugal!!!!! Ronaldo is looking unstoppable. 4 goals in 2 games...so far 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritBill Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 10 minutes ago, Canadian Bills Fan said: 1-0 Portugal!!!!! Ronaldo is looking unstoppable. 4 goals in 2 games...so far C'mon! Although how Morocco allowed Ronaldo to have that much space at a set piece is just criminal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts