Yeah, it's what happens when I edit a post without editing all of the post (which I manage pretty often). Originally had 'highest-capped fullbacks' and then realized that it wasn't true: Kenny Sansom had 1 goal in 86 appearances. Amended to RB and forgot about Cole, heh.
In isolation it’s not a terrible result tbh. They were well up for it. I just simply cannot fathom him putting Jude Bellingham - who is (or will be) one of the best English players of all time on the wing. Especially to make space for Henderson who is clearly past his peak. Totally unforgivable decision imo. He ran the middle of the park for Dortmund and now Madrid… and yet Southgate puts him out wide. Ridiculous
Watching Shea playing for NI.... https://flash-24.live/live/stream.p...k=https://wikisport.click/strm/t13.php&num=12
True. Only a friendly though, and I'm guessing the players wanted Flick out, because they are better than that.
I saw a clip of one of the Japan goals where they intercept it and break on Germany, Rudiger is the furthest back and he doesn't start running at all until he's given the Japanese player a few seconds headstart and then jogs back half heartedly. I know it's a friendly, but seemed like there was more to it than that. So yeah, if they wanted Flick out that would make sense. Got their wish too.
Typical jibe aimed at England is the fact that we are huge underachievers, with just one WC win and one Euros final. Can't argue against it really, when you look at the likes of France, Germany, and Italy. But we are not alone. Here's some other nations I think should be considered equally, if not more, of an underachiever: In Europe, I'd go with Russia and Turkey, based on the fact that football is the most popular sport in each, they have huge populations, and a decent standard of league football. In the Americas, no doubt Mexico and Colombia. Same reasons as above. Football-obsessed, large populations. Not even a WC semi-final appearance between the two of them. Mexico has the population of France and England combined. Rest of World, has to be Nigeria. With a population of 223,000,000, and football as it's number one sport, they really should be the 'Brazil of Africa'. Their 3 AFCON wins are fewer than Egypt (7 wins), Cameroon (5), and Ghana (4). I know you could argue about other factors, such as the wealth or climate of a country etc, but it's not like developing countries haven't been successful at all. Biggest overachievers have to be Uruguay and Croatia. (Yes, I'm so bored)
I recently stumbled upon a YouTube channel called HITC Sevens that had videos on exactly this. Basically Mexico being the biggest underachievers and in a separate one of the top underachievers it included them, Turkey and Russia. I think there was a different (or maybe additional) African team. I want to say Ethiopia. The context was not England but China and the USA. With the caveat about football not being popular there which is why India didn’t make the list. I think China did due to the government’s failed efforts to grow it
Interesting. Ethiopia is a weird one. Has there ever been an Ethiopian in the Prem? Yeah, I guess that's one way it has underachieved. Another reason why I put Nigeria, is that it's always very well represented in Europe's top leagues. They've consistently produced quality players but never really gelled as a team. Mexico is the most shocking for me. And they've hosted the WC twice lol.
According to Southgate he needs to play Phillips due to a lack of depth. This isn’t a joke. Scotland are in excellent form, Hampden will be ravenous and they are taking the fixture seriously while we are treating it like a bog standard friendly. High risk of getting skelped tonight.
Ah I see Scotland managed to get into the game with their heritage shirt, meanwhile we go with our soulless modern day kit because we obviously have to obey our commitment to Nike. Scotland appear to be treating this as an occasion, we are treating it like a game against Bulgaria.
