Just checking. Don't touch the stuff. Just finished a bottle of Glenmorangie, got a bottle of Dalwhinnie Winter Gold waiting to be opened.
More despicable diving & play acting from Neymar tonight. Aside from seeing the German players in tears, a red card for this cheat would be the highlight of the World Cup.
To be fair to the Germans that’s only the second time in 75 years they have failed to advance in Russia.
Neymar is one spoilt Prima Donna. He also wants to referee the game. I would send him off every time.
Southgate is resting players tonight v Belgium, bringing in 2nd raters like Eric Dier. I don’t remember Sir Bobby resting Gazza at Italia 90. Tournament football is all about building up momentum - if we stall tonight I think we will go out with a whimper in the last 16. Look at a similar example closer to home. Bowyer took his foot off the gas at Rochdale & we lost limply 1-0 ....we then carried that into the Play Offs. I don’t see England going much further.
Neymar was brutally and cynically kicked out of the last World Cup, reminiscent of the Way Pele was hacked out of the 1966 World Cup. Some of the play-acting is ghastly, but in Neymar's case I see it as a response to a lack of protection from refs. It wasn't a dive when the Serb defender smashed him on to the artificial turf, yet all the Serb subs jumped up to claim it was, and the defender did not get a yellow. This was followed shortly after by a bit of play-acting after a far less serious foul, and although it is infuriating to watch I don't like to see a player targeted for the sort of treatment which put him out of the last W/C, and out of the game for several weeks.
With Belgium also resting players it seems we'll have to wait a bit longer before we can judge this England team in a competitive game against a good side. I agree with your basic point about momentum though. Play your strongest team. The idea of giving a player a game to keep him happy is wrong. All players, even the 3rd choice goalie, have to be mentally and physically prepared to go into action at any time, and the manager's job is to make sure of this.
I am in two minds about this. Harry Kane is our talisman but if we play him tonight and he gets an injury and is out for the rest of the matches it will badly affect our chances. I would play our strongest team and take that chance. Winning becomes a habit.
Mind you the team who wins the group gets a far tougher draw. England are quite capable of getting to the semis if they finish second.
After a slow start to the tournament, Brazil are looking ominously good now. Coutinho is the real star of the team and goes about his work quietly whilst Neymar hogs the limelight. Croatia are also in fine fettle and will go close; their strength in depth was plain to see against Iceland. - All in all, this is shaping up to be one of the great World Cups.
I backed Belgium & France pre tournament, I feel fairly confident of a pay day. Looking at the draw, Spain are no great shakes, ditto the Argies. That leaves Brazil v Belgium/France ...
France just don't do it for me. I reckon they'll lose to the Argies on penalties after a drab 120 minutes. Belgium have fine individuals, no doubt about it, but they'll be heading home if they get Colombia in the last 16.
My son had £5 on Columbia pre tournament. Fortunately he did it on my betting account, so I won’t give him the money if they win it
