[World Cup 2018] Group G (BEL - ENG - PAN - TUN)

[Pepe]

Just came back. Lol at the US.

[Lewis]

I think we'll beat Belgium with surprising ease but then fall to bits against whoever we get after them. Do a Croatia, if you will.

[Yevrah]

It's good to see that the phrase 'game management' is now being used to cover everything.

[Spikey M]

As it stands, I think a draw between us and Belgium would see it go to fair play (I think currently 3 Belgium bookings to our 2).

So if all else fails we could kick our way to second place.

But Belgium could out kick us. Then we’d need someone to 2 foot the red or something.

[Pepe]

Trying to game the brackets is proper small nation mentality.

[Jimmy Floyd]

But Belgium could out kick us. Then we’d need someone to 2 foot the red or something.

Could turn into a UFC match with the 'winner' being the first down to 6 players to get the game abandoned.

[randomlegend]

Sterling has been proper bollocks so far. He's not even managed to do anything in a 6-1 humping.

Trippier on the other hand has been brilliant. Despite Kane's goalscoring antics I think Trippier has been our best player.

[SvN]

Yeah Sterling has to be dropped, he was our worst player today by some distance.

[Yevrah]

But Belgium could out kick us. Then we’d need someone to 2 foot the red or something.

Sterling could finally do something.

[Yevrah]

Sterling has been proper bollocks so far. He's not even managed to do anything in a 6-1 humping.

Trippier on the other hand has been brilliant. Despite Kane's goalscoring antics I think Trippier has been our best player.

Kane's problem has been that we've created absolutely fuck all for him in open play. It's remarkable that he has 5 goals.

[Shindig]

No need. Hazard's bound to go down for anything.

[Ian]

Given how bereft of vertebrae we usually are a loss against the first team with a competent player we face may not set us up for this rampage through the 'weak ' fixtures people seem to be envisioning.

[Pepe]

USA beat them 4-0 in the second to last game. CONCACAF qualification is harder than it looks due to having to play away in all these drug ridden shitholes where you get bags of piss and other projectiles launched at you for the full 90 minutes, but it's amazing that they came 5th.

Yes, CONCACAF qualis always turn out harder than they should. Playing in swamps against fully defensive teams that hack at you all match isn't easy. Also, the players from Mexico/US can't really be arsed to be there. Finally, the likes of Panama, Honduras, etc. are no longer scared of the top CONCACAF teams, so they do a good job at whatever you want to call the way they play. In the World Cup they still get stage fright and end up like today.

[John Arne]

Meanwhile, in the F1, some bloke is donning proceedings by chilling out on some sort of flying device...

https://gyazo.com/916fe0724616a27bcf43b083c27d3f7e.jpg

[Jimmy Floyd]

With the 48 teams they will presumably go to a double hex or some similar format and you'll see Guatemala or whoever con their way in as well.

[Pepe]

48 teams really is an awful idea.

[Pepe]

Yes, CONCACAF qualis always turn out harder than they should. Playing in swamps against fully defensive teams that hack at you all match isn't easy. Also, the players from Mexico/US can't really be arsed to be there. Finally, the likes of Panama, Honduras, etc. are no longer scared of the top CONCACAF teams, so they do a good job at whatever you want to call the way they play. In the World Cup they still get stage fright and end up like today.

Key part is the not being arsed. Imagine having to fly all the way from Europe to Mexico, and then to Panama just to play some shitkickers. They always turn into horrible, horrible games of football.

[Giggles]

1010887086298292224

[SvN]

I'm listening to Three Lions, World in Motion and Vindaloo on repeat. This is it, lads.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I hate World in Motion, but Three Lions got an airing earlier. Such a great song. It'll be a real shame when Diafra Sakho ends our tournament in the last 16.

[phonics]

World In Motion is as bad as the rest of the New Orders output. Utter dogshit.

[Lewis]

If you don't at least like Blue Monday you're bent.

[Jimmy Floyd]

New Order are ok but as a football tune that thing is a bollocks clinical dirge. So much emotion in Three Lions.

[SvN]

World in Motion is only there for nostalgia reasons. It's always going to be linked to the success of 1990.

[Lewis]

Germany won that one mate.

[phonics]

If you don't at least like Blue Monday you're bent.

Great intro riff but can't de-link it from that advert for the hatchback ford focus so it goes in the bin sadly.

[Spikey M]

Sterling could finally do something.

He’d miss.

[Baz]

Three Lions or Three Lions 98 though?

[niko_cee]

Original Three Lions.

Set pieces.

:cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Three Lions for sure. Not having Jonathan Pearce on it improves any track.

[Trancemeister]

Lukaku misses the game against England.

[Ian]

He's just scared.

[Pleb]

Lukaku shitting his pants early I see.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pathetic from Belgium.

[Giggles]

Pathetic from Belgium.

:D

[niko_cee]

It's going to be the nil-nil to end all nil-nils, with someone heroically getting themself sent off in the last minute to game the fair play table.

[niko_cee]

I hadn't actually clocked how imbalanced the two sides of the draw are. Fucking hell.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/schedule/knockout-stage

[Jimmy Floyd]

Now it's Sweden v Switzerland, we really want to start the game with three own goals and see how Belgium like that.

[niko_cee]

If Japan win their group then all bets have to be off. That bottom half of the draw would be an absolute shambles.

[Yevrah]

It's only the bottom quarter that's relatively weak, but if Japan do win their group then I hope we finish second, but I've no idea how we engineer that.

[Giggles]

RTÉ were saying tonight that Belgium are likely to make 8 changes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

RTÉ were saying tonight that Belgium are likely to make 8 changes.

Your move, Southgate. Can we play with 9?

Start Nick Pope in central midfield and get him to two-foot anyone he sees.

[Yevrah]

I suspect it's going to be a monumentally embarrassing game to be involved in and if there's any hint of either side actively trying to lose (beyond fielding shithouse teams) FIFA should kick both of them out of the tournament.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The fact that it's completely level on everything, so there is no currency in goals but only cards, gives it a unique status in all the tournaments I've seen.

[Yevrah]

In other matters, I find all the talk of finishing second in the group deliberately from the same people who think we can win the fucking thing to be pretty rofl.

[Max Power]

Just go and try and win it, keep the momentum going. It would be so typical to successfully sabotage the game and go lose 1-0 to Japan (Okazaki 63') in the last 16.

[mugbull]

Neither team's gonna be throwing it, and I predict a lot of goals (if you get done on the counter, who cares?). A 4-3 to Belgium or something like that

[Jimmy Floyd]

England will win easily if we try. Belgium will not try. I'm sure they have form in gaming all sorts of rankings and seedings.

[Yevrah]

Actually, scrap what I said above, I genuinely don't care where we finish. 'Best case' it'll be Japan then Sweden, which would have me thinking we could make the semi's and that sort of hope just isn't good for anyone.

[Shindig]

Momentum is a nice thing to build and, if we're serious, we have to beat the best to succeed. It's the first opportunity for both sides to face a credible opposition.

[ItalAussie]

The fact that it's completely level on everything, so there is no currency in goals but only cards, gives it a unique status in all the tournaments I've seen.

I love the idea of it turning into a deathmatch in the last ten minutes, as both teams try to finish lower on the fairplay table.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Apparently we're resting Carrie Hain and starting Vardy.

Boooo.

[Spikey M]

We’d play Sterling up top if we were trying to lose.

[Disco]

We should send him on to get sent off, he might actually be able to contribute that way.

[niko_cee]

Bob Martinez has blinked first.


We want to perform well but the priority is not to win.

[Byron]

Bob Martinez has blinked first.

Fuck it, we should boot one in our goal to spite him.

[Boom-Boom-18]

Did he actually say that?

I am happy either way really, I think Colombia would prove a very tough test.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Now Japan are the opponent I'd say we definitely want to win tonight.

[Giggles]

I was going to say Colombia winning the group takes all this 2nd place bullshit out of it, but I've just seen that Kane is rested and Southgate has went with the 9 changes.

[Trancemeister]

Both teams rotate heavy


ENG XI: Pickford, Rose, Jones, Stones, Cahill, Alexander-Arnold, Delph, Dier, Loftus-Cheek, Rashford, Vardy

BEL XI: Courtois, Dendoncker, Boyata, Vermaelen, Chadli, Dembélé, Fellaini, Tielemans, T. Hazard, Januzaj, Batshuayi

[Waffdon]

Both teams as shite as each other. Fuck knows who is playing wing back for Belgium.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think that's really stupid from Southgate. We should be naming our strongest side, going out and smashing them.

[Giggles]

I think that's really stupid from Southgate. We should be naming our strongest side, going out and smashing them.

As the teams stand, England should be comfortably better than them tonight anyway.

[Lewis]

What are we doing? Mong.

[Yevrah]

Given Colombia topped the group that's a fucking stupid approach from Southgate. Finishing the world cup with two losses will be amaze balls.

[SincereTheRebel]

Respect to both teams trying their best to lose the game

[Waffdon]

What’s happens if both teams finish with the same yellows at the end of the game?

[niko_cee]

Draw lots.

It should go to pens, seeing as they're playing each other.

[Lewis]

We should still win it (unless they bring their good ones on), but why mess about?

[Giggles]

Remember when Januzaj was hot property. Where's he shitting it up these days?

[Disco]

The top two teams in the group should play each other first to avoid silly shit like this.

[Giggles]

This back 3 is arguably stronger.

[Trancemeister]

Remember when Januzaj was hot property. Where's he shitting it up these days?

Sociedad

[John]

Remember when Januzaj was hot property. Where's he shitting it up these days?

Sociedad, and he's been quite good. He's the flightiest of flighty midgets, so Spanish football suits him nicely.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Draw lots.

It should go to pens, seeing as they're playing each other.

And then they'd spend the next month deliberately spaffing penalties towards the corner flag.

[Adramelch]

Players still complaining about the ball passing the line is genuinely funny.

[Giggles]

What the fuck was Pickford at there?

[John]

Harry Kane would put about six past this defence. He'd have buried that header for a start.

[Spikey M]

And then they'd spend the next month deliberately spaffing penalties towards the corner flag.

Exactly. It would be fucking brilliant. Sterling accidentally putting it in the top corner. :drool:

[Adramelch]

I reckon Fellaini is playing to ensure that Belgium finish second due to fair play in the event of a draw.

[Baz]

[shows Hazard, Lukakau and De Bruyne on the Belgium bench]
[Cuts to Lingard and Hendo on the England one]
Commentator: plenty of talent on BOTH benches tonight.
:lol:

[Waffdon]

[shows Hazard, Lukakau and De Bruyne on the Belgium bench]
[Cuts to Lingard and Hendo on the England one]
Commentator: plenty of talent on BOTH benches tonight.
:lol:

Lolled at that too.

Few more cynical fouls please, troops.

[Pepe]

This is as bad as you'd expect.

[Baz]

Dier is diabolical :henn0rz:

[randomlegend]

The Belgium second team looks a lot weaker than ours on paper, which shows we have decent strength in depth at least.

[Spikey M]

Nearly Ronaldinho’d that.

[Max Power]

Rose has been good. Should be in instead of Young.

[John]

Very much looked like the referee was organising the Belgian defence there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Belgium second team looks a lot weaker than ours on paper, which shows we have decent strength in depth at least.

Should be really as we're England and they're Belgium.

[Adramelch]

Keep in mind that you are much more familiar with your players than the Belgian ones. Both XI's look similar-ish to me, but I've only seen bits and pieces of every player.

Edit: Although I guess most of them play in England.

[bruhnaldo]

Rose has been good. Should be in instead of Young.

How dare you

[Spikey M]

Thank Christ he’s a fraud.

[Boydy]

This is so dull.

[Yevrah]

Belgium have been the better side, so we're voluntarily shitting our way to second place.

I'm fucking fuming.

[randomlegend]

Ashley Young convincing seemingly the entire footballing world that he's a good left wing-back is one of the great bamboozles of our age.

[bruhnaldo]

Because he's not good he's great? Or I guess you missed when he pocketed the AFrIcA's GrEaTeSt TaLEnT?

[mugbull]

Keep in mind that you are much more familiar with your players than the Belgian ones. Both XI's look similar-ish to me, but I've only seen bits and pieces of every player.

Edit: Although I guess most of them play in England.

The Belgian back line is weaker, but the midfield is definitely superior. About equal I'd say

[Spikey M]

:lol: ‘kin ‘ell

[Adramelch]

Belgium have been the better side, so we're voluntarily shitting our way to second place.

I'm fucking fuming.

As it is now, you are first though. I reckon Belgium are sort of playing for second as well, but they'll take a chance if it comes their way.

[Browning]

I didn’t watch France vs Denmark but I can’t imagine it was worse than this.

[Yevrah]

As it is now, you are first though. I reckon Belgium are sort of playing for second as well, but they'll take a chance if it comes their way.

Yeah, but we're a Fellaini header away from being second. As for Belgium, they can do what they like, and given they're managed by a moron and a chancer I expected nothing less than this sort of fuzzy wankthink from that twat.

[Yevrah]

As it is now, you are first though. I reckon Belgium are sort of playing for second as well, but they'll take a chance if it comes their way.

Yeah, but we're a Fellaini header away from being second. As for Belgium, they can do what they like, and given they're managed by a moron and a chancer I expected nothing less than this sort of fuzzy wankthink from that twat.

[Waffdon]

England should throw on two goalkeepers to get sent off if it’s still 0-0 by the 90th minute.

[Baz]

:D That’d be class.

So so bored. I missed the end of the first half to water the grass.

[Waffdon]

That’s fucking beautiful.

[Trancemeister]

Boom what a goal by Januzaj

[Spikey M]

Martinez must be seething.

[Baz]

I could sense Yev’s seethe when Martinez did that hand gesture from here. :happycry:

[Yevrah]

He looks it, but only because he's an idiot.

This selection now ranks up there with the all time England fuck ups.

[Cord]

Remember lads, we were planning to lose.

[Lewis]

Of all the chumps.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He looks it, but only because he's an idiot.

This selection now ranks up there with the all time England fuck ups.

If we now go out to Colombia then Southgate needs to go in the bin.

Belgium will try and lose this yet, though.

[Waffdon]

Columbia match up pretty well against both of these sides in the sense they’ll be able to hit on the break. Game rests on Hamez being fit though.

[Trancemeister]

Did you see Batshuayi after the goal :D Hit the ball against the post bounced back at his head.

[Yevrah]

If we now go out to Colombia then Southgate needs to go in the bin.

It's the stench of being too clever for their own good that makes this so repulsive, particularly when neither of the two have done anything in their careers to earn the right to do that.

[Giggles]

It's the stench of being too clever for their own good that makes this so repulsive, particularly when neither of the two have done anything in their careers to earn the right to do that.

They've done enough in this group to do it though.

[Baz]

If it stays like this England get Japan?

[Yevrah]

They've done enough in this group to do it though.

Group being the key word there.

[Yevrah]

If it stays like this England get Japan?

No, we get Colombia.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Somebody chuck Welbeck on.

[Baz]

No, we get Colombia.
Oh right yeah I knew that, duh. It’s the rounds after where it’s easier.

[Baz]

https://i.imgur.com/vNrFwpc.gif

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't wait to see how Martinez tries to throw this from here.

[Waffdon]

England aren’t even bothering here.

[Waffdon]

Rashford :D

[randomlegend]

:lol: that gif

If I was manager for a game like this I'd just go balls to the wall attack. If you win, it's a really momentum building win, if you get exposed and lose you get an easier draw.

It's like everyone thinks they are are the really hot girl at school who is too cool to try and ends up working at McDonald's.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was nowhere near Courtois's glove, and he left half the fucking goal open trying to let it in, and I can sort of believe that Rashford is that bad at finishing but I don't know.

[Baz]

If ITV don’t close the show with Drake’s Feel No Ways they’ve seriously missed a trick.

[randomlegend]

That was nowhere near Courtois's glove, and he left half the fucking goal open trying to let it in, and I can sort of believe that Rashford is that bad at finishing but I don't know.

It was going wide anyway but he definitely touched it.

[Baz]

Rashford :D

1012416652632363009

[Lewis]

There is a touch of the Jermain Defoe about him in that he tends to finish best when his thinking time is limited. Hopefully he isn't still like that in a decade though.

[Yevrah]

Oh right yeah I knew that, duh. It’s the rounds after where it’s easier.

The round after, one round and one round only. Which is negated by getting Colombia instead of Japan in the next one.

It's like the world's run mad.

[Yevrah]

Oh right yeah I knew that, duh. It’s the rounds after where it’s easier.

The round after, one round and one round only. Which is negated by getting Colombia instead of Japan in the next one.

It's like the world's run mad.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Our semi-final against Spain or Croatia will be good practice for the UEFA Nations League, where we face both in the autumn.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Here he comes :drool:

[SincereTheRebel]

Belgium's squad is slim if Chadli, who played four games for WBA last season, can get into the squad.

[Spikey M]

This will all be worth it when Columbia knock us out and this was all pointless.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If they had any interest in getting back into this THEY WOULD HAVE BROUGHT FUCKING KANE ON.

[randomlegend]

Jamie Vardy always comes across as a proper shithouse human being to me. I bet he'd be into human trafficking if he wasn't a footballer.

[Yevrah]

Jesus Welbeck.

[Boydy]

12 shots each, 1 on target for England, 3 for Belgium.

Lol.

Probably more now after that from Mertens but still.

[Waffdon]

If that wasn’t Welbeck, I’d think they deliberately missed that.

[Yevrah]

I haven't seen much of Pickford in the Premier League, but he's got calamity written all over him from these three games.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This has been an utter disgrace from England and Southgate. Wantonly sucked all the momentum and positivity out of the campaign.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They should have gone for the win.

Colombia will put them to the sword.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I haven't seen much of Pickford in the Premier League, but he's got calamity written all over him from these three games.

He's in the camp of goalkeepers that 'CAN PASS' but yeah, he's not the best shot stopper.

Pope is better IMO.

[randomlegend]

It's been wank, but you lot are a bunch of drama queens.

[Browning]

Shame because it was definitely coming home before we got drawn against Colombia possibly without Rodriguez.

Really couldn’t give a toss tonight. If anything this suits me because it’s unlikely I could watch the Monday game.

[Yevrah]

I don't know what's worse really, that we were that bad and trying or that bad intentionally.

Either way, I'd rather not have seen any of that and the only way to redeem it is to beat Colombia, which I'm much less confident than I would have been had we been facing Japan.

[thommo]

I forget how bad a footballer Danny Welbeck is until I have the misfortune of seeing him wander about aimlessly in televised games. He really is utter dogshit.

[Giggles]

Bigger picture 2nd is still far better. Colombia aren't any great shakes and that half of the draw is piss.

[Pleb]

That was a sack of shit.

Out to Columbia.

[John]

England will spank Colombia.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We'll spank Colombia and then go out to Switzerland on penalties. A death that befits us.

[Spikey M]

Calm down you raging queens. We wanted to lose that. You don’t put that squad out and deliberately avoid subbing your best players on otherwise. We’re playing well with our first team. Columbia is a big step up, but if we can’t beat them we’d have been thoroughly de-pantsed against Brazil.

I still believe.

I still believe.

I still believe.

[Boom-Boom-18]

Everyone needs to calm down. Only Colombia and either Sweden / Switzerland stand between us and a spot in the semi finals.

Beat Colombia and the build up to the quarter final is going to be electric. It's going to be tough but most knock out games are going to be tough.

[Yevrah]

We’re playing well with our first team.

Are we? We've played a team who were more interested in filth than playing football and a pub side.

3 games in and I for one still have no idea how good we are. I hope Southgate does.

[Yevrah]

Bigger picture 2nd is still far better. Colombia aren't any great shakes and that half of the draw is piss.

That half? Spain and (to a lesser extent) Croatia are in that half you know.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I would have just marched on. Seven straight games with your best team, that's how you win a World Cup.

We are clearly happy with a pikey semi-final though based on Gareth Neville's punditry.

[-james-]

The semi final berth is confirmed. From there it's two games.

:drool:

[Giggles]

That half? Spain and (to a lesser extent) Croatia are in that half you know.

And they're the only two. The other half that Belgium have landed themselves in is far stronger.
Should be a canter to a semi now without playing anyone.

[Baz]

England have done better than germany, at least.

[Dark Soldier]

Fucking lol at the state of some in this thread. I expect it from Yev, because its Yev, but fucking hell :happycry::happycry:

[Yevrah]

And they're the only two. The other half that Belgium have landed themselves in is far stronger.
Should be a canter to a semi now without playing anyone.

Yeah, but you can only play three of the teams left in it, so talk of it being a weaker half is completely irrelevant if Spain are waiting in the semi's.

[Spikey M]

Are we? We've played a team who were more interested in filth than playing football and a pub side.

3 games in and I for one still have no idea how good we are. I hope Southgate does.

We’ve been fine. The Red had a nightmare against Tunisia, it should have been much, much easier.

[Giggles]

Yeah, but you can only play three of the teams left in it, so talk of it being a weaker half is completely irrelevant if Spain are waiting in the semi's.

Semi's would be an unbelievable final result.

[Browning]

All this "confidence and momentum" bollocks can fuck off. I just can't believe that a professional sportsman would suffer a lack of confidence by losing one game they weren't really trying to win, or would gain anything significant from beating someone's reserves.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Psychology is a massive part of sport. They're not robots.

[niko_cee]

At least we've learned that if Plan A (aka set pieces) isn't working then there really is no Plan B off the bench.

[Magic]

Stuck a tenner on Kane golden boot and England winning WC.

[Browning]

Psychology is a massive part of sport. They're not robots.

Of course it is, but as I said, it's a reserve team game we didn't need to win. It's insignificant and certainly not going to make up the difference between Brazil and Sweden.

[niko_cee]

In other news today, Nick Pope's doing alright for himself.

[Boydy]

Limmy's winding up Crisps on Twitter.

[John]

Limmy is a world class tadger.

[Giggles]

Limmy?

EDIT: Oh fuck, that humourless pox.

[Browning]

I've just read it, and I still don't know who Limmy is.

[Reg]

All this "confidence and momentum" bollocks can fuck off. I just can't believe that a professional sportsman would suffer a lack of confidence by losing one game they weren't really trying to win, or would gain anything significant from beating someone's reserves.
As Jim said, they're humans. When they've actually lived it, a result isn't a tick or cross in a box. I can't imagine anyone, professional or not, not having doubts after they've lost their most recent match.

I don't think that game helped us at all. The players could have had valuable practice playing against their toughest opponents yet. Instead, second choices got practice playing among players who they will never play with in the knockouts. Much better to have Delph have practice looking up and seeing Kane drop deep instead of Vardy running in behind (for example). That was an almost useless experience, considering any potential boost in confidence game time would have given to the second string would likely have been squashed by losing.

All that said, we're through to the knockouts, and we're England. So woo!

[Adramelch]

As Jim said, they're humans. When they've actually lived it, a result isn't a tick or cross in a box. I can't imagine anyone, professional or not, not having doubts after they've lost their most recent match.


Especially seeing as you've only beaten 2 irrelevant teams prior to that. You come up against the first proper team, and surely the result is less important and the two teams are fielding their second XI's, but you still lose with a bad performance. There's no way that can be good for morale even if it was pre-agreed that you'd be fine with 2nd place.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As someone said on twitter, if Roberto Martinez is doing something, should you be doing it too?

[Dark Soldier]

I've just read it, and I still don't know who Limmy is.

God.

[Adramelch]

As someone said on twitter, if Roberto Martinez is doing something, should you be doing it too?

That's FA Cup winner Roberto Martinez. What has Southgate won as a manager? :dc:

[Giggles]

I've just read it, and I still don't know who Limmy is.

Count that blessing and never look any further.

[Spikey M]

That's FA Cup winner Roberto Martinez. What has Southgate won as a manager? :dc:

Our hearts.

[bruhnaldo]

Is it still coming home boys? I say YES. :drool:

[bruhnaldo]

Not that American sports matter to you guys but if the city of Cleveland can finally win a championship after 50 some years and if the Chicago Cubs can win the World Series after like 100 than the damn THREE LIONS can certainly win the World Cup :drool:

You all should know I want nothing more than to correct everyone who says "Ashley Young" to say "World Cup Winner Ashley Young, MBE" cause surely they'd give him one of those initial-y thingy's you guys do :drool:

[niko_cee]

Our hearts.

:D

I was so close to posting this.

[Giggles]

Hang your head in shame Bruh.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If we won the World Cup it would be genuinely amazing. It would be the best thing to happen to the country in my lifetime. And this is probably our best chance since 1990.

Which is why it's so frustrating watching that shite earlier.

[Yevrah]

As for the game itself, nobody on the pitch did anything to force their way into the first team, which is a real shame as I'd rather have Rose, Cahill and Rashford in the team than Young, Walker and Sterling.

[Yevrah]

If we won the World Cup it would be genuinely amazing. It would be the best thing to happen to the country in my lifetime. And this is probably our best chance since 1990.

Which is why it's so frustrating watching that shite earlier.

Irrespective of the draw I don't give us any chance of winning it. I think Colombia could turn us over and all the bunting will have been based on smashing a pub team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think we'll beat Colombia. Their centre backs are a bit of a mess and their goalkeeper is as dodgy as it gets.

The famously easy quarter-final will not be easy at all though, especially when Switzerden manager Nils Parsnip shows his team a video of the England v Belgium game and says look boys, this is how easy they think we are.

[bruhnaldo]

Hang your head in shame Bruh.

I'm just trying to be supportive :'(

[Giggles]

I know.

[Max Power]

On the “confidence” front, what if we had picked our strongest side and got turned over by the Belgium B team? Wouldn’t that have knocked it?

You can spin this shit from any angle. First or second, momentum or squad rotation. I think we’ll beat Colombia, especially with no James Rodriguez and go into a quarter final where we will be favourites and that’s pretty good.

[-james-]

You're slowly all coming round to the idea. It's beautiful.

Jimmy's on board, but I fear Yevrah needs two or three more rounds.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We'd do Spain in the semi as well, far too physical for them (where has the idea that Croatia are contenders come from? They're absolute spastics) and then it's just how to get past Ronaldo's Portugal in the final.

[niko_cee]

As for the game itself, nobody on the pitch did anything to force their way into the first team, which is a real shame as I'd rather have Rose, Cahill and Rashford in the team than Young, Walker and Sterling.

You need to have Walker in the back three for his pace, even if he is a bit of a bombscare (not as if Cahill isn't). The latter would be a boon at set pieces though

Rashford is just wank. He'll biff one in every now and then without thinking (as per Lewis' point about him) but the overall quality of his play is poor. Sterling probably meshes better with Lingard and 'Dele' even if he struggles to be able to kick a ball. Rashford can at least make an impact off the bench which is more than can be said of any of our other attacking options.

Rose still looks a bit rusty, which is a shame as having a left-footed player there would be better.

Set pieces and Kane, that's our hope.

[Raoul Duke]

No use of VAR tonight :sherlock:

[Waffdon]

This is hilarious.

[Spikey M]

We'd do Spain in the semi as well, far too physical for them (where has the idea that Croatia are contenders come from? They're absolute spastics) and then it's just how to get past Ronaldo's Portugal in the final.

Get Dier to Ramos him early doors.

[Byron]

Christ, given some of the reaction in this thread you'd have thought we lost 3-0 to Banana Republic FC.

Colombia will be a test but there's nothing in there that makes me think we won't be facing Switzerland well on Saturday.

[Shindig]

Yeah, we lost to a Belgium side that has a lot of talent in its ranks.

[Spikey M]

Our second string lost to their second string in a game we didn’t particularly want to win. It has taught us nothing.

[Andy]

As for the game itself, nobody on the pitch did anything to force their way into the first team, which is a real shame as I'd rather have Rose, Cahill and Rashford in the team than Young, Walker and Sterling.

Cahill has been poor for a while now, no way near good enough. Rose just isn't fit enough unfortunately.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I actually think I prefer Walker on the right of a back three to as a full back.

[Andy]

Personally think we did the right thing yesterday. Rested all the key players, gave a few a run out and we've ended up in the easier side of the draw.

Columbia (hopefully without Rodriguez), Switzerland and Spain is a far easier run to the final than say Japan, Brazil and France.

In an ideal world we get to the semis without any 120 minute / penalty games and potentially go into the final rounds fresh after resting so many last night.

Never that easy for England though is it?

[Shindig]

It's never that easy for anyone. Like when people say our runs to Wembley were piss. They weren't. Stevenage nearly put us out.

[John Arne]

If Football Manager has taught me anything, and it hasn't, it's that whenever humanly possible always rest your players in the 3rd group game.... otherwise you have a team full of 83%'s.

[Trancemeister]

Funny that everyone thinks Switzerland are through to the quarter final.

[Disco]

Having watched both teams I would say they've been better.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's coming home...

[Byron]

It's coming home...

Don't think we're going to let you crawl back to us since Poland are out.

[Ian]

Yeah Mahow. For you it's GOING home.

[Adam]

He looks it, but only because he's an idiot.

This selection now ranks up there with the all time England fuck ups.

Fuck me, what an over reaction that is.

[Byron]

Have you even encountered Yevrah before?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Don't think we're going to let you crawl back to us since Poland are out.

How does it feel being a Liverpool fan for the summer?

We need a graph.

Anyway, I've officially defected to Croatia so fuck y'all.

[Adramelch]

Isn't Byron a West Ham fan or something?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yes but I'm saying the England summer tournament fan follows the Liverpool fan graph.

[Yevrah]

Fuck me, what an over reaction that is.

Even if you think it is now, it won't be if we lose to Colombia.

[phonics]

What if we played the full team, Harry Kane got booted up in the air like Danny Rose did multiple times and then England lost to Japan 1-0? There are a million ways it could have worked out and this is fine, just as the other way would have been fine. Everyone just needs to be outraged about something at all times. Chill out and enjoy the first moderately likeable England side since 98.

[Yevrah]

If that argument stands then why did we bother playing Kane at all in the group stage?

I'm just not having it, but obviously hope we win on Tuesday. We'll see.

[phonics]

If that argument stands then why did we bother playing Kane at all in the group stage?

To qualify for the next stage.

[Shindig]

I genuinely don't know how Harv will react to an England tournament success. He'll either neck himself or quickly add some England flags to his Vauxhall and all his house windows.

[John]

More interesting will be how you relate it back to Newcastle or computer games.

[-james-]

I'll tell you who didn't rest any of their best players in their last group game.

It's the same team's whose best players are all the same age as Spav's dad, and are all going to collapse into a pile of dust during the semi final, their sixth game in a fortnight.

Final ahoy.

[Shindig]

More interesting will be how you relate it back to Newcastle or computer games.

Why would you find that more interesting?

[phonics]

I'll tell you who didn't rest any of their best players in their last group game.

It's the same team's whose best players are all the same age as Spav's dad, and are all going to collapse into a pile of dust during the semi final, their sixth game in a fortnight.

Final ahoy.

If you ignore the debacle of 2014, this does feel like it's the first time that Spain defense can be got at through the middle. Has Busquets lost 'it' or are the players around him just a bit older and shit enough to highlight his flaws?

[phonics]

Why would you find that more interesting?

He'd have something to complain about so you'd make his night.

[Shindig]

It won't bring his dad back.

[John]

Why would you find that more interesting?

The post itself will be bobbins, but it'll be fun to see if you can make it more grasping than relating England's world cup performance to Newcastle almost losing to Stevenage.

[John]

It won't bring his dad back.

That's a fun post. My mum and aunt are dead too. Keep them coming.

[Boydy]

I'll tell you who didn't rest any of their best players in their last group game.

It's the same team's whose best players are all the same age as Spav's dad, and are all going to collapse into a pile of dust during the semi final, their sixth game in a fortnight.

Final ahoy.
Can't see Russia making the semis.


It won't bring his dad back.
Don't be a cunt.

[Shindig]

I apologise. It was out of order.

[mugbull]

Damn, John is a steaming pile of horse apples but you don't mess with peoples' families like that

[randomlegend]

If that argument stands then why did we bother playing Kane at all in the group stage?


To qualify for the next stage.

Yev I think you've got so angry you've suffered brain damage.

[Adramelch]

I genuinely don't know how Harv will react to an England tournament success. He'll either neck himself or quickly add some England flags to his Vauxhall and all his house windows.

I'm genuinely hoping for a Belgium-England final on that basis. So either England wins it or Martinez. I reckon it's going to break him for good.

[Giggles]

Fucking hell Shinners. Nothing funny about that.

[Yevrah]

Yev I think you've got so angry you've suffered brain damage.

He wasn't needed, we were playing Panama and Tunisia. Which is obviously bollocks but then I'm not the one advocating resting players.

World Cups don't come round very often and I'd have much preferred a third decent game and the chance to play Japan for a spot in the quarters against Brazil than what we've actually done.

As it is, a shit performance against Colombia and we're going home with the square root of fuck all to show for it. The arrogance that we'll do Colombia and then Sweden or Switzerland is baffling given our record too.

[Giggles]

Colombia and then Sweden or Switzerland is better than any path to Brazil in a quarter.

[Shindig]

He wasn't needed, we were playing Panama and Tunisia.

He scored both our goals against Tunisia with his only chances. We don't go through without that.

[Waffdon]

It won't bring his dad back.

Cockeyed nonce.

[Spikey M]

It’s disgusting that nobody has rolled out the MS Paint effort of Yev arguing with Mrs Yev yet.

[phonics]

Lost in the great crash sadly.

[Lewis]

Tragic that.

[Ian]

Is it not one of the ones Sama salvaged?

[Shindig]

First result on the search, 'Yevrah broom' is this:

http://i.imgur.com/SFmOqJZ.png

[Spikey M]

It should be someone’s (Lewis) job to keep shit of that quality safe.

[Boydy]

It was Lewis that made it, wasn't it? Make a new one. World Cup edition.

[Giggles]

It was Lewis that made it, wasn't it? Make a new one. World Cup edition.

Seconded.

[Boom-Boom-18]

I really don't think Southgate was trying to plot his way through the group, I think he genuinely wanted to rest the players and give the rest of the squad a game.

Playing Thursday and then potentially Monday is a short turnaround. Totally reasonable decision in my eyes.