I think that’s harsh. After the Italy game I was in this camp. We approached that game as underdogs even though we were at home and were stronger in almost every position. I also think the media took a weird approach to that game and had us down as plucky underdogs and that leaked into the player psyche. However, today I think we went for it enough. He’s got his tactics right all tournament for me with the exception of the USA game where we gave poor players too much respect. We went toe to toe with the world champions and dominated them for large periods. Given a ref who wasn’t totally inept or paid off (I’m yet to decide which) we’d have had 3 penalties, they’d have their first goal chalked off, and be down to 9 men.
Conspiracy theory alert: It’s a bit strange that the team who have had the most favourable decisions in the tournament (France and Argentina) contain Qatar owned PSG superstars Messi and Mbappe. Considering the bribery used to secure this World Cup, is it really that much of a leap to think they’re capable of paying off refs?
Firstly, my start to super Sunday of football hasn't started how I imagined it, come on City cheer me up later! From what I have seen neither Southgate or the team should be criticised, we were equal to France, they were better first half, we were better 2nd half. This game was always going to come down to one or two moments of either a mistake or a bit of brilliance. France took 2 of their 3 chances, we didn't take any of ours. The ref was shocking, their first goal should never have stood the foul on Saka, they should have been down to at least 10 men if not 9. How he didn't give Mount's penalty in real-time God only knows, and it took VARS to rectify that mistake. We complain about the premier league and Championship refs, but looking around the world what FIFA purport to be the best is for a large part below the standard required. Well, another WC passes, at least in my lifetime I have experienced us winning one, unlike most people, so I should be content with that.
I agree with most of what has been written barring the French had more experience. More experience at reaching and winning finals maybe, but a team is there to be beaten. Maybe be my lack of knowledge of international football, but barring Lloris, Griezmann and Mbappe and Giroud I couldn't name another French player. I suspect the French population could name all 11 England players and the subs.. edit: only 5 of the whole French squad play for French clubs and only 1 was on the pitch last night..
The French manager showed how clever he was, instructed his team to employ the dark arts to test the Ref, the ref was lacking so they fouled all game, with only 3 bookings, I think it shows that the French were scared of us and rightly so, but Southgate on 1-1 should have made a couple of subs with Grealish in particular because he would have ran at them, instead we looked tired and again he left it too late.
2018 World Cup - The third manager in history to get England to a World Cup semi-final. Euro 2020 - First manager to get England to the final of a major tournament since 1966. World Cup 2022 - Got us to the quarter final, where we were beaten by the reigning champions and probable winners (not easily beaten either).
Has won more tournament games than any other England manager. Last night was the first knockout game he has lost in 90 minutes.
2007/8-2016 England were seen as an absolute joke Didnt even qualify euro 2008 Wc 2010 drew with usa n algeria Hammered by germany Euro 2012 bang average Wc 2014 finished bottom of group with 0 wins And peaking in the euro 2016 knockout by iceland Englands progress since 2018 is remarkable
