World Cup 2018

[Orikoru]

Is that the same Dembele who currently occupies a space on the bench for his country and has a grand total of 16 mins so far at the World Cup

So yes I rate Henderson a lot higher than most and it’s no surprise a Man Utd fan doesn’t - what was that about bias again

I guess you missed the Spurs fan who pretty much picked every Spurs or ex Spurs player available even playing one out of position - imagine that eh

Martinez is the manager. Enough said.

Dembele has been in the top 3 midfielders in the Premier League for the past two or three seasons. Henderson has not.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I still believe Russia are a fairly average side riding on home advantage and having played two very poor-at-the-back sides. Uruguay have already taken the lead here, I'll be surprised if it isn't reasonably comfortable for them now.

Agreed, but sometimes hosts in big tournaments can rise to the occasion, South Korea a few years back and Euro 96

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Anyone else heard if the Refs have been told to clamp down on the holding in the box at corners etc, started with England yesterday and seen both the Refs in the Colombia match last night and todays match stepping in early.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Anyone else heard if the Refs have been told to clamp down on the holding in the box at corners etc, started with England yesterday and seen both the Refs in the Colombia match last night and todays match stepping in early.

Don't know but it can only be a good thing. Lazy, awful defending holding on to people like that.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Don't know but it can only be a good thing. Lazy, awful defending holding on to people like that.

Great if all of them are doing it and not just a few.

 

[Orikoru]

I still believe Russia are a fairly average side riding on home advantage and having played two very poor-at-the-back sides. Uruguay have already taken the lead here, I'll be surprised if it isn't reasonably comfortable for them now.

Well, I got something right for once. :rofl:

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If he was going to do that with Rashford/Sterling, it needed to be against Panama I think. If anything it makes more sense to put Vardy up with Kane for the Belgium game, and keep the midfield quite compact behind them.

Fair point. I think players deserve a second go but if they are not in form then out you go. I was thinking along keeping the same pattern of play but was not really thinking about who the opposition were. This may be the game he brings Dier back in. We need to be tighter against Belgium than we were against the first two teams but of course we didn't need to be that tight for those two.

 

[Kellfire]

https://t.co/BiwvdXWcgS

Panama tried to score a goal while England celebrated.

 

[garyinderry]

Interesting stat from Shearer's article on the BBC website.

England only created seven chances in open play against Tunisia and Panama and, so far at this World Cup, only one team - South Korea - has managed fewer.

Against the same opposition we have faced, Belgium made 26 chances in open play,

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Not going to be long before a red card

And that should be one for Pique

 

[ColchesterFC]

Does the fact they are using VAR mean that they can't look at bad tackles after the games any more? There were a couple of interesting tackles in the first half of Spain v Morocco that I'm sure in the past might have been looked at afterwards.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

They should be looking at them as they happen and straight after - should be at least two reds

 

[ColchesterFC]

Mark Lawrenson in the Portugal v Iran game proving his lack of knowledge of the rules. He said that the Portugal penalty shouldn't have been given because "Ronaldo didn't have control of the ball". I guess that means that any player running towards goal chasing a through ball can be taken out as he hasn't yet got control of the ball. Lawrenson really is one of the worst commentators.

EDIT - and obviously Kane shouldn't have had the penalty for getting rugby tackled as he clearly didn't have control of the ball.

 

[srixon 1]

I thought Ronaldinho was going to cry when he missed the pen.

 

[ColchesterFC]

They should be looking at them as they happen and straight after - should be at least two reds

Pique and the Moroccan player for the stamp on Iniesta's leg?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Pique and the Moroccan player for the stamp on Iniesta's leg?

Yep - and maybe Amrabat for two yellows as well

 

[Hobbit]

I’d take Vertonghen, not so convinced on Aldeweireld.
De Bruyne and Hazard would be in a world 11 for me.
Lukaku is marmite, so many wouldn’t have him.
I’d prefer Southgate to set up to win rather than trying to avoid defeat, plus if anything, we’ve played better against bigger teams in friendlies (which may or may not of helped).

The big thing for us at the moment is the squad look confident and happy.

I’d add that for the first time in a while there doesn’t appear to be any egos and they look like a team, not 11 individuals

 

[user2010]

I thought Ronaldinho was going to cry when he missed the pen.

Thought he'd retired?:ears:

 

[srixon 1]

Thought he'd retired?:ears:

Damned predictive test.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Chortle