Being defensive in the sense of not conceding many goals comes in quite handy in tournaments generally.
Yeah spot on. That’s exactly the problem. But ultimately I think our chances of winning a tournament are far better now. So so close against Italy. No team is guaranteed to win the WC outright, but we are now in the mix. As long as you can match the best teams, then it comes down to a piece of individual brilliance or luck. Eventually it will happen for us, but we have to stay part of the elite. Southgate got us into that group.
Maybe some of it is my pessimism about this tournament as I don't feel we're in the mix for winning it or will match the top sides. Felt all year we'd have a worse tournament this time round as a 3rd consecutive semi would be mental and we seem to give away more silly goals than previously. To go back to my original point though, I don't see us beating France in a quarter final without us having to take some risks to score ahead of simply not losing. The defence won't hold out against the very best and we won't score enough against those sides playing that way imo. I guess we'll see soon enough anyway! Buzzing for Senegal which is a tough game itself but one I see us coming through 2-0 or 2-1.
Senegal will undoubtedly sit back and try and hit us on the break. We'll need to do what we did against Wales and Iran: be patient, move the ball quickly, movement off the ball and we should win. Cannot take them for granted though even without Mane.
That potential QF with France is already looming large. Mind you if Argentina finish second (which looks unlikely TBH) then it will be a France v Argentina last 16 clash. IMO England have got as good a chance as anyone. France and Brazil have probably looked the best so far but for me there are 4 countries I think have a genuine shot of winning it: France, Brazil, Spain and England. I think if anyone else wins it will be somewhat of a surprise.
I’m not that fussed about France. Obviously Mbappe is huge, but apart from him, meh, they still play Giroud. I’d choose England’s attacking options over France’s. France are there for the taking imo. More nervous about Senegal to be honest, but that’s cos I’m always nervous being favourites to win.
Looking ahead (dangerous game I know) I think there's a strong chance the finalist from the bottom half of the draw will be either England or France. Spain and Brazil look set to win their groups which will send them into the top half. In England's half I reckon the round of 16 will look like: England v Senegal France v Poland or Saudi Arabia (I think Argentina will finish top or go home) Morocco or Croatia v Germany/Costa Rica/Japan/Spain (In order of likelihood) Portugal v Switzerland or Serbia Hopefully Spain beat Japan so they finish top and go into the top half (I think that will happen) and Germany fail to beat Costa Rica (don't think that will happen).
You are going to absolutely love the next World Cup then, with 48 teams participating. TBH I have had plenty of games on but not necessarily watched them, just looked up when the sound indicates decent action. Reading a lot of books though.
Got to admit I feel far less into this WC than previous, but not sure it is the number of games as much as the time of year. I have some sympathy for increasing the size of the WC because qualifying in some parts of the World is a bloodbath (particularly Africa with 5 spots for 54 countries), but 48 is too far. 40 Teams in 8 Groups of 5 would have been sufficient imo.
That Tunisia goal makes this Denmark-Australia match even more exciting. And as I type, goal for Aus.
Come on Tunisia and Australia, score some more goals and we could be looking at the winners of Australia v Poland/Saudi Arabia in the QFs instead of France v Argentina
