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ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

Thanks guys! [:)]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Congratulations Leo - although I would dispute one part of that comment. We never came out for the second half. Croatia took it to us and grew in confidence and energy as England (supposedly younger and fitter [8|]) wilted and Walker and Stones in particular became walking accidents waiting to happen. Class won through and Croatia deservedly made the final. England were a creativity free zone.

I really don't understand what happened to England team in last 60 minutes of the game (i.e. 2nd total half because game lasted 90+30=120 minutes)...

They played well at start and had so many chances... it could have been 0:2 or 0:3 after first 45 minutes... but then they simply faded away...

How come? They are all young and full of strength...

ORIGINAL:warspite1

I think given the England team performance in the second half it would be unfair to single out Stones. Whilst he was slow to react for the goal, the fact was that England's tactics in the second half and beyond simply invited Croatian pressure. With only one team attacking and with no counter-attacking threat ourselves it was only a matter of time.

BTW, our commentators singled out your defender Kyle Walker as weakest link...


Leo "Apollo11"

warspite1

Well I don't know what sort of half time instruction Southgate gave to the team but we've been here so many times with England, I suspect it doesn't matter what he said and England simply reverted to type.

I remember under Erikson the plan was usually the same. Score early and then sit back and allow the opposition to win through our inability to keep possession and threaten the opposition after the 45th minute.

The comment re Walker was probably fair - he always has a mistake in him (for club and country) - as does Stones. It's why if the instruction was to sit back then it was the wrong call.

But who knows what really happened and why it keeps happening to England? Fact is we got what we deserved and we're out.

Walker lost the plot the minute he got that stupid yellow card. He simply fell apart after that to include giving up the equalizer. When you have one of the best strikers in the world playing 20-30 yards deep in the mid-field and one of your defenders pushing the ball up to the midfield, you can tell things aren't going well. Why would they do that? Well because their midfield thought the best way to play was to turn around and come up with creative (and oftentimes bad) ways to pass the ball back to the keeper. To top it off, they play with a striker that can't score, but of course, he runs a lot. Not only can't score, can't even get a shot on goal. They should have used their subs a lot sooner.

You know, sometimes things just don't fall your way. England dominated the game up to the equalizer. They should have easily been up 3-0.
Croatia could barely get out of their own half. One beautiful cross and a frankly lucky foot stuck out to redirect and Croatia was like a new team. You could see the life just go right out of England.

All in all though, I thought England did well in this world cup, 3rd/4th is nothing to sneeze at. Far better than recent performances. They lack creativity in the final third and rely far too much on set pieces. They don't have a Modric or a De Bruyne. But they are a young team and will be back. I expect them to do well in the Euros. Youth is the ticket. England, Belgium, France, etc all had young teams and doing well. Old teams failed. Argentina, Spain, Germany, etc.

Yes, being young has its advantages. England lost this time foolishly but they got to change their mindset for the better. If not all the assets would be wasted. [:)]

Hi all,

Congrats to all French supporters!

Unfortunately my team lost... they played well for the first 60-odd minutes but I knew that our luck has finally run out after first two goals... great squads (and French are most certainly that) can lead even without playing good... after that weariness and pressure to catch opponent lead to mistakes and inevitable defeat...


Leo "Apollo11"

Congratulations Croatia on second place. Well deserved. [&o] [:)]

Worthy performance in the final. I hope to see more of the Croatians in the Euros in two years time.

Congratulations, France. [:)]



Well deserved. [:)] [&o]

Two things in the wake of Russia World Cup 2018

First, Japan losing 2:3 to Belgium can be linked to poor damage control. Shokaku, Zuikaku, Lukaku.

Second, the forgotten World Cup 1942
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4ZpaA5XahU