I wouldn’t argue with you that Kane is our best player and create and converts chances. But as BobbyD points out, those taken to date have included two penalties (extremely well and confidently rifled home) and a flukey deflection. Still, you gotta step up or be in the right place and Kane is doing that. But do you really want your team’s main playmaker to also be the centre forward? I don’t. I want him to be a central midfielder, threading the ball through for the striker to run onto, or making those cross-field diagonal passes for the wide men to exploit the flanks. Yes, we occasionally do that, but I’d love England to have that superstar midfielder right now, but this generation hasn’t (yet) as far as I can tell.
Yes, we had no one doing that against Belgium. We spent long periods slowly passing the ball around at the back without moving it forward but with the impression that with any whole hearted press from Belgium they'd probably lose the ball in a very dangerous position, which they did a couple of times with no press. When they got to the half way line they then mostly hit aimless balls toward the back of Belgium defence and lost it. A horrible performance. Hope that with Sterling, Hendersen and Lingaard back in, England are good enough to beat Colombia. It could depend on whether their playmaker James Rodriguez is fit or not, with him they look very good at times, without only Mina looked a major threat in the air.
If you have a playmaker he needs to play in midfield, or possibly at 10. But there is no English player of sufficient quality around at the moment (and if there was you would actually need two, in case of injury, if this was your preferred set up) so Southgate has devised a system with a single holding midfielder and two willing, fast and skilful runners and wing backs. I think it’s quite clever, making the most of the players we actually have. And given last nights display it seems the best players to suit this system are the ones we started against Tunisia with, with Rashford as an impact sub.
All of which is, of course, true. I’m not arguing against what GS has done, just ruing the fact such a player doesn’t exist. I’d love to have someby like Hazard, de Bruyne or suchlike instead of Sterling (for example). I have nothing against Rashford and would struggle to find an alternative, but I don’t think he’s that brilliant to be honest. Hoping he’ll improve with age.
The only players we have who would have a shout of getting into a ‘team of the tournament’ so far would be Kane, Trippier and perhaps Lingard. We have to be more than the sum of the parts otherwise we are mediocre at best (though a few players have potential). If any of the countries with superb individuals - Belgium, Brazil and in attack Argentina - play well as a team we should have no chance against them. Croatia the stand out team so far though, and Modric top player in my view. If we don’t win this I hope they do. Or any country that hasn’t won it before. Except Portugal.
Here we go France v Argentina, massive game for last 16 stage. Hope it’s a good game, and goes to penalties. I know yellow cards get wiped out after this game, but I suppose any reds in this round mean a ban for the next. Mascherano, who was once a magnificent, if dour, player, is now being asked to do a holding role he is too slow for and will pick up at least a yellow. Argentinian fans own the stadium, as have all the South Americans. Should slightly favour the French, given the state of the Argentinian defence and what looks like a complete breakdown between players and coach. But have the French got the desire and the bottle? Not sure. Penalty. Looks like Mbappe is going to terrorise this aging defence. 1-0.
Brilliant run by Mbappe to force the error from Rojo - Argentine defence looked lije they were running in quicksand compared to him. Calmly took pen by Griezman - just needs a few more goals to get towards that Golden Boot please
Messi seems to be playing in the middle of nowhere, way too deep. Di Maria having a mare. France have less than 40% possession but look like then could score every time they attack. Another goal and the Argies will lose the head, could be carnage.
this argentian coach is such a ******. Why would you play Messi as a striker and then have him (or maybe hes doing himself) drop into midfield into the 3 beasts of matuidi, kante and pogba. Theres literally no one at the top for argentina.
France look well organised in defence and very fast on the attack. They seemed well in control until the Di Maria wonder strike. Should be an interesting second half.
Now we will see f the French have bottle and how cynical the Argies will get to protect their lead. Was that a deliberate flick or was he trying to get out of the way?
