World Cup England V France Match thread...

All with hugely favourable draws. Has he won a single tournament game where we were underdogs or even against comparable opponents? Maybe the one game against Germany - but a poor Germany and on our own home ground.

2018 we needed pens to overcome Colombia, a win against Sweden that we should be doing and then a loss against Croatia.

2020 - we beat Ukraine and Denmark (only just).

As soon as we come up against a decent side, we go out. He lacks bravery as a manager. He's completely dull in terms of personality and it shows in his teams.

 

He picked the right team and nothing wrong with his tactics yesterday. You cannot blame him for Kane's penalty miss or the ref for missing the foul on Saka leading to their goal.

We more than matched the World champions last night, not sure what else he could have done?

I hope Southgate decides to stay and lead us into next Euro's. I have a feeling he will quit though, and you will have your wish.

If he does quit, who would you want next?

 

Get the Morocco manager in. A team who do not fear the opposition and have beaten 3 of the worlds best teams (Belgium,Spain,Portugal) and drawn with a fellow semi finalist (Croatia).
All this achieved by playing football how it should be played, attack attack attack, none of this tactical shite.
I hope they stuff France on Wednesday and then go on to win it, putting us truly to shame.

 

You didn't watch many of the Morocco matches did you?

 

I saw enough of them to know I was massively more entertained than watching England.
The fact is that England, very much like City this season never seem to do enough in the opposition half to justify winning games.

 

Yet we are joint top scorers in the competition.

Morocco success has been built on a very impressive defensive unit, not entertaining attacking football.

 

You said and I quote "attack, attack, attack, none of this tactical shite". If you were watching their games either that was some rash typing or you don't know what you're watching.

 

'Brave losers' is our perennial tag. Ultimately, he's failed. We've had great chances to win a trophy in the last 3 tournaments but every time we've met our first quality opponent, Southgate hasn't had the answers.

As for who comes next, I'd love Eddie Howe but that's not happening. Probably Tuchel. I have a horrible feeling we'll do something stupid though and go for someone like Gerrard

 

But they know their strengths and play to them. I was massively impressed by their resilience and counter attacking threat yesterday. When all is said and done they've pulled off 2 consecutive results that outshine anything England have done in years.

 

Ah, 12 goals against the world forces that are Iran, Wales and Senegal.

 

Massively gutting result. Been waiting for too long now to see England get to a world cup final.

Very even match and could have been much higher scoring. Gutted for Kane tbh - pressure was immense. Thought he would bang it down the middle. No guarantee we would have gone on to win it.

Referee was awful. League 2 bound.

Was anyone else screaming for them to get out to Griezmann prior to that cross?

 

Yeah it’ll be Gerard, Lampard or Rooney.
All serial failures in their careers

 

As my earlier post..slow build up from back ending with wasted pass in their third in first half.Second was a more direct affair which was provided more of a threat.That's the difference as I saw it NM.

 

Have the rules changed, I don't think Hanson was in control of the ball against Millwall in the 3rd round reply, yet Beavers got a red, I thought the rule was with regards denying a goal scoring oppertunity.

 

Derek Adams.

 

Yes, the rules about red and yellow cards in penalty situations were changed a couple of years ago to avoid double jeopardy. Peter Walton, the retired ref on ITV, said that, as Mason Mount wasn't in controlled possession of the ball, it wouldn't have been classed as deliberately denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, so it was a penalty plus a yellow, not a red card

 

Not sure I can agree with that interpretation. Hypothetically if England are holding a high line and for some reason Maguire is the the last man with Mbappé and Griezmann dinks a chip over them into the space. Maguire rugby tackles Mbappé knowing he is screwed in a foot race. Red card or not?

edit this is a reply to @bailiff bridge bantam and I just saw the thing about Walton’s explanation. I need to stop reffing!

 

My ideal choices would be Howe or Potter, neither will leave their clubs though now. I’m not Southgates biggest fan and nobody can deny Faithfuls points about our draws. If Sven and the golden generation had got similar draws we’d have had another successful period in the naughties. I hope he stays on until after the Euros then the FA can judge the managerial situation then. Ultimately in international football you’re only as good as your last tournament, just ask Italy!

 

Well I can think of one manager that sets his team up to keep possession and play it around at the back…..