The Knockout Stages

First topic message reminder :

Round of 16:

France vs Argentina
Portugal vs Uruguay
Spain vs Russia
Croatia vs Denmark
Brazil vs Mexico
Belgium vs Japan
Sweden vs Switzerland
England vs Colombia

Will all of those get regular gametime at their clubs to allow their progress...that's the big question.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Foden, Sancho, Bailey, Sessegnon, Mawson, Trent, Chalobah, Maddison, Gomez. Can’t think who I’m missing, obviously those youth squads have had success and one or two would be looking to break through, especially by Qatar

And Ben Brereton.

Though Foden, Gomez and Sancho are the most exciting.

Some mixed emotions for me regarding England's World Cup.

Of course, before the tournament started, virtually nobody would have had England down for a semi-final run, regardless of a skewed side of the draw. England have failed to beat any of Costa Rica, Russia, Slovakia and Iceland in their last two tournaments, so an open side of the draw was hardly a guarantee of success. A semi-final, regardless of favourable circumstances, was completely out of the blue and a welcome surprise. Moreover, as Spain and Germany found out, getting past these less-fancied teams isn't always easy.

But...As far as semi-finals go at this level, England's was just about as winnable a one as you could hope for. Croatia are a good team with a couple of exceptional individuals, but along with the 2002 version of Germany they're probably the most average (and average is in very much relative terms here, remember!) finalists in recent times. Their performances have also dropped just a shade since the group stages. England were well on top in the first half and wouldn't have been flattered by a 2-0 lead. From then on England didn't really show up and Croatia were markedly the better side and deserving winners, but it still feels like a golden chance very frustratingly missed. Not sure when a chance like that, to make a tournament final, will come along again.

But I'm probably being a little too downbeat if I labour over that point too much. Prior to the tournament all I wanted was: 1) To see an England player, unknown on the biggest world stage, make an impression and announce themselves to an international audience before leaving the tournament with their stock higher than when it began, something no England player has done since Euro 2004 when Rooney and Lampard made their first real impression on the international conscience. Pickford, Maguire and Trippier certainly did that. 2) For any so-called 'world class', already-existing star name we had to bolster their credentials at a tournament to justify that billing. Kane, despite a disappointing showing against Croatia, did that for the most part. 3) For England to actually look like a cohesive unit who had an identity to their play, regardless of whether it was all that exciting or not. Again, Southgate clearly had a vision for how we'd set up and, while it robbed us of a bit of a cutting edge at times, it made us harder to beat than we've looked for a while and was clearly a vision the players had confidence in.

We even threw a few early goals in to the bargain. England never score early tournament goals!

Much to applaud for Southgate's first tournament, and it was the most enjoyable ride any England supporter has had for years. Italia '90 and Euro '96 proved to be false dawns; now the real work begins to make sure that isn't the case with Russia '18. Hopefully the bit of pride that's been restored, the solid base of players we have who have excelled at this World Cup and the eventual integration of the U17 and U20 World Cup winners over the coming years can give us an outside shot at some glory in the next two or three major tournaments.

It was a strange England that I witnessed (outside observer).  There seemed to be a disconnect between systems, tactics, 'endeavour' (hate the term) - and emotion and passion.
It seemed the players were well drilled for most foreseen outcomes and had the right fitness levels etc, etc.... but from an England side fighting for a place in the Final, that degree of belligerence and urgency just wasn't apparent enough - which is strange for England.  What they might have often lacked on technique, they usually had buckets of attitude and defiance and the drive to push hard when in a corner.

I didn't see that.  There almost seemed to be a cooling mood of resignation as Croatia found more of a footing in the game.  There was no urgency to knock the enthusiasm out of Croatia again and too many minds seemed to be on training ground shape and set-piece strategies.

Time was ticking away and the game needed more fire and bloody-minded determination to push Croatia back.

If all else fails blame passion. Can't agree, Croatia changed tactics and the wing backs were pinned back largely preventing us from building a platform. We played a technically excellent side, failed to capitalise when we were on top and paid the price.

Always find it interesting the side that dominates the 2nd half is the one that takes away more plaudits. Yet England were better in the first half than Croatia were in the second.

I always thought Lewis Cook should have gone to Russia, outstanding young player that has the potential to be a playmaker.

Duty281 wrote:

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Foden, Sancho, Bailey, Sessegnon, Mawson, Trent, Chalobah, Maddison, Gomez. Can’t think who I’m missing, obviously those youth squads have had success and one or two would be looking to break through, especially by Qatar

And Ben Brereton.

Though Foden, Gomez and Sancho are the most exciting.

Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood at Utd I'd put on the long term radar.

So short term, not many changes for the Euro qualifiers.

Would you bring Shelvey in?

Shelvey isn’t good enough and doesn’t fit the system

Would you play the first team tomorrow, or give some of the reserves a game?

As for the Euros, this team have done enough to at least start the Qualifiers baring injury.
Funnily enough, I was more gutted after the 96 semi final. As we should have won that game. And the way we lost was more heartbreaking. As I said, Croatia deserved the victory, and outplayed us after HT onwards. It was a valiant effort, just not quite good enough.

I'm not sure on ages, so this maybe a bit mute. But short term, Mee & Trawoski (spelling), Chalobah, Cook,Maddison, Sessegnon, David Brooks, Harry Winks, Tom Davis,.
If they continue could all be challenging in for the Euros qualifying/finals.

Room for experimenting and tweaking but i think that we dont play other top countries often enough competetively in between major tournaments to be able to get genuine evaluarions. We had a pretty easy qualifying group and world cup group that potentially papers over cracks exposed against better teams when its too little too late. Its hard to recreate that business end of a tournament environment.

Well, we have the nations league now. In the same pot as Croatia & Spain.

Just John wrote:Well, we have the nations league now. In the same pot as Croatia & Spain.

Could well get relegated to the second tier with that draw.

5 changes for England. Dier definitely in didn't hear the rest.

Rose, Delph and Jones 3 others.

Belgium a couple of changes.

Get into work after 10mins, turn on the TV to find we're already 1-0 down.

Superb ball De Bruyne , Lusaka with a chap touch.

From what I've seen, England's build up plays been quite good. Just the final ball is lacking.

Decent game for a glorified exhibition game between 2 sides probably fairly fatigued/changed.

Some great chances for England but all dropping to Eric dier

Belgium 2-0 England - Hazard

Game over

Phil Jones is pretty awful

Belgium proving they want it far more than England.

Fair play to Belgium. Agree there was more desire from their camp, 3rd meant more to them, but England lack a clinical edge. Looked a game too far after extra time in midweek.

I don't really see the point in this game though.

Bit of a flat finish for England...not too surprising though , Belgium are genuine class.
Actually had a really good half hour or so in that second half but just couldn't finish ; which has been their main problem against the stronger teams .
Considering they lack a midfield genius (nothing you can do about that , they don't grow on trees )  I think they've done well in this tournament by staying well drilled on the set pieces , (mostly) sound in defence and seeming to play for each other and with spirit. And taking their luck as it came , of course.
If Kane had put away that sitter in the first half the other day they'd have been playing France tomorrow ...something no one could ever have envisaged last month.

Long way to go to be a true world class team but this is potentially a chance to at least start moving forward.  A young team , will need some additions of better players and we are currently guessing who they'll be : but were Trippier , Pickford and Maguire on anyone's
radar a year ago ?

Probably all three were, yes, but the better question would be two years ago, when none would have been expected to show anything like this

GSC wrote:Fair play to Belgium. Agree there was more desire from their camp, 3rd meant more to them, but England lack a clinical edge. Looked a game too far after extra time in midweek.

I don't really see the point in this game though.

If all else fails blame a lack of desire..............

Okay

Got to be asked. Is Kane really a Captain? He just seems to play and............... play. Not really a man who grabs a game by the scruff of the neck and demands more from the players around him. He just plays. The team lacks a Captain. I don't think Kane is the one.

SecretFly wrote:

GSC wrote:Fair play to Belgium. Agree there was more desire from their camp, 3rd meant more to them, but England lack a clinical edge. Looked a game too far after extra time in midweek.

I don't really see the point in this game though.

If all else fails blame a lack of desire..............

hah, true enough.

Griezmann dives, and they score from the free kick

I find myself rooting for Croatia.

VAR

Hope that doesn’t decide the WC

Really a harsh decision for that penalty I feel.

Like Riggs, finding myself really going for Croatia here today.

Croatia are clearly attempting more attacks than the French, I hope they equalise and then get to score enough to win.

French have barely turned up, but lead 2-1 at HT

The Croatian goal also game from an imaginery foul. That said France are indeed riding their luck and they are well dominated by Croatia.

I too would love to see Croatia take this. So much to admire in the way they are attacking this match ...and indeed their spirit to get to it.
France lucky to be ahead , no question. Feel their professionalism will probably prevail but if they are to win I hope they play much better in the second half and really earn it as opposed to winning by an OG and a rather fortunate VAR penalty...

If they don’t play much better France will certainly lose anyway. Croatia deserves this so far.

Anonymous Pogba scores.

Game over

France are built to play with a lead and 2 massive slices of luck have got them there

Reckon that's it.

Croatia aren't going to come back from this. They won't stop trying , though...

4-1.

Might end up a bit of a rout.

Just not Croatias day. They've been the better team by a comfortable margin but history will record this as a thumping.

Oh that's just ridiculous

Irony that possibly - nay certainly - the worst goalkeeper error ever seen in a WC final wont actually cost his team...

France are pretty mediocre just been fortunate the ref is on their payroll. Croatia have been brilliant just been robbed

Deschamps is basically Rosberg winning a WDC in a Mercedes

Weird world cup.

Probably the most open and even world cup I can remember, no real powerhouses. Lot of entertaining games, not so many big clashes. The world cup of the second tier nations I guess

Incredible to see someone hopelessly mediocre as Matuidi getting a winners medal

GSC wrote:Weird world cup.

Agree. Bit of an empty feeling at the end. No real standout International side, but no real surprise France ending up winning it with that squad. No real standout individual performers either, who had three or four top games. Kane wins the golden boot having turned up against Tunisia & Panama.

Can’t look past the French or Belgium at the next Euro’s. Squads on another level.