Southgate has made his decision. We had better beat Colombia or he will be destroyed by the media, much like the last World Cup when Hodgson rotated.
This is why it bothers me. He could have gone for it and continued the swashbuckling drama which had everyone onside. Now the long-term feel-good factor is at risk. Then again when we beat Colombia everyone will be calling him a genius.
Yep, just like the last World Cup... well apart from the fact we didn’t win our first two group games to guarantee qualification.
And if he’d gone for it and we’d been knocked out by Brazil, he’d have been slaughtered for not taking the easier route. We’re through, it’s now about the next game. Who is to say right now, that Colombia is harder than Japan?
Loss here was a better option, it put England in the easier part of the bracket. On that side you only have Spain of the top sides, while on the other there's Portugal, Argerntina, France and Brasil. Looking forward to Croatia England semi final.
Have you watched the sides? Colombia are far, far better than Japan. They were unlucky not to win and they had 10 men for 87 minutes. I think Colombia will do us. They’re the sort of team that will cause us issues - quick, technical players.
However, it is what it is. We are through. Football is coming home. Come on England!!! PS date night tomorrow as Mrs No 7 thinks I am wonderful for suggesting it, so won't be on so much
I don't believe that is the case. The press had very clearly set up behind the gallant England story and would have backed that approach. Also, getting to Brazil tells us we hit a quarter final. That seems to me to have been England's aspiration at the start of the tournament.
Yes I’ve seen Colombia and I think they are a good side, not a great side. Their best player might be out injured too. I think they are beatable and I didn’t think they were particularly good today. If Senegal had any composure in front of goal they’d have beaten Colombia (or at least got the draw). I wanted us to win and posted this before the game, but I am equally understanding of Southgate’s decision to make changes. He was always damned if he did and damned if he didn’t, as is proving the case in here. We still have a very good chance of reaching the quarter finals of the World Cup, our key players having had a rest. Come on England!
Thanks to last nights result we are 3 very winnable games away from the final, Colombia, Switzerland/Sweden and Spain. Not sure I would have said that had we won last night. Before it started i was targeting the last 8, now I believe we could and should be reaching the final, although we are England so nothing is a given.
I think we may see Croatia in the semi-final if we progress that far. I fancy them to give Spain a very tough game. Their midfield pair have impressed me the most I think this tournament as a partnership in the middle.
Harry didn't want to be on the bench, so I'm expecting him to gee everyone up for the next one. At least with him on the pitch the ball won't be quite as close to Pickford for as long.
Southgate obviously decided that he had to give most players a run out....he owed it to them to give them a chance. And it was a dead rubber. He will not be able to take risks in the knockouts. Another factor was that Belgium were going to do the same...so he wasn't committing suicide....there was a chance we would win or draw. And in the end we were beaten by a single goal. Yes, Colombia are better than Japan, but there are much better teams than them left....and we'd have to beat them to win the trophy anyway. In theory, shouldn't we do better against a team that goes for it like Colombia...get them on the break. We just have to be at our best.
"Easier, easier, easier" It's all I hear, and it makes me cringe. People are scared by name and reputation, and ignore current form. Look at Croatia vs Argentina. Before the WC started, on paper, we'd all prefer to play Croatia, because Argentina have the big name and reputation. But Croatia schooled them. I bet there's still people who would opt for Croatia, even after that game!! Brazil have got some very good players, but they haven't looked like a team yet, and because of this they are vulnerable. Both Sweden and Switzerland are the opposite; well-drilled teams with no particular stand out superstars (save Shaqiri), very similar to Iceland two years ago, and we know what happened then. Yes, I'd still rather play the latter two in the quarters, but, we are not in the quarters yet. Choosing Colombia over Japan is mental. Do we suddenly think we deserve to be so cocky, because we beat Tunisia and Panama? I just want to see an England who are fearless, and who in turn, everyone else is nervous to play against. I wanna see us playing entertaining, attacking football, not ****ing losing on purpose. If we do that, the success will follow. But if we only focus on winning a trophy, at all costs, we are doomed to failure.
So, let me get this right. French friends of mine will ask me about this later so I need to be sure of my facts. We took 23 players to Russia. 12 or so are pretty decent and we can make up a team that can annihilate Panama. The rest are ****e and we should have left them at home to negotiate contracts with newly promoted Macclesfield Town. Have I missed anything?
