[World Cup 2018] Semi Finals

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rashford, a man faster than Sterling with better end product. The man who should be starting.

[Trancemeister]

Perisic is everywhere

[Pepe]

Does anyone have a stream?

EDIT: Found one.

[Boydy]

Rashford should have come on for Lingard and they should have gone three up front.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Does anyone have a stream?

Don't you have a TV?

Every country is showing it on a freebie channel.

[Disco]

Does anyone have a stream?

EDIT: Found one.

http://buffstreamz.com/view/soccer5.php

[Pepe]

Don't you have a TV?

Every country is showing it on a freebie channel.

I don't.

I paid for bloody Youtube TV to watch this but it decided to crap out.

[Spikey M]

Has Rashford managed to control the ball once yet?

[Pepe]

England clinging on to this one.

[Magic]

Absolute bottle job.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rashford should have come on for Lingard and they should have gone three up front.

I admire it but he's got too much faith in Lingard and Alli. Lingard in particular is a long way out of his depth.

[Mazuuurk]

Where is Kane in all this?

[Pepe]

Resorting to long balls. :drool:

[Spikey M]

Where is Kane in all this?

Dropping deep for some reason.

[Mazuuurk]

Dropping deep for some reason.

Yeah and then tossing out awful passes. Thats not his game. Is he crocked? Knackered? He normally moves around more I’m sure, both with and without the ball.

[Baz]

They’re coming home. :huhu:

[Pepe]

Stupid, stupid foul.

[Pepe]

Kane. :face:

[John Arne]

Kane has looked fucked this second half.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kane has had an ATROCIOUS game. Mental weakness laced into everything he's done.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Imagine if Croatia win the whole thing having penalties in every knockout match :drool:

[mugbull]

Kane has had an ATROCIOUS game. Mental weakness laced into everything he's done.

Sure, mate. That’s what it is. Lol.

[Adramelch]

He's just been training alongside Sterling so he's picked up a thing or two.

[Boydy]

Imagine if Croatia win the whole thing having penalties in every knockout match :drool:

I was wondering the other day if anyone's ever done that?

Would it be possible to win the world cup without actually winning a match? Could you qualify from your group if you drew every game?

[Adramelch]

I was wondering the other day if anyone's ever done that?

Would it be possible to win the world cup without actually winning a match? Could you qualify from your group if you drew every game?

Ye, if the top team beats the other two and the other two draw each other.

[Spikey M]

Didn’t Portugal do something like that at the Euros?

[Adramelch]

Didn’t Portugal do something like that at the Euros?

Portugal finished 3rd in that new silly format so it doesn't really count.

Edit: Ah you meant win it without winning a game, but they won the semis.

[Danny]

I was wondering the other day if anyone's ever done that?

Would it be possible to win the world cup without actually winning a match? Could you qualify from your group if you drew every game?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_FIFA_World_Cup_Group_B

[Shindig]

I can't go through this again.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ye, if the top team beats the other two and the other two draw each other.

You could even have the top team beat the bottom team and then have the other matches all draws. That would create a 5-3-3-2 scenario with drawing of lots/fair play/wanking competition to decided which team on 3 points goes through.

Edit: Or the 7-3-2-2 that happened which Danny posted.

[Adramelch]

Edit: Or the 7-3-2-2 that happened which Danny posted.

That's the scenario I proposed you nonce.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Vrsjalko, who was ruled out 2 days ago, has been brilliant since the second half.

[Spikey M]

FOR FUCK SAKE!!!!

c

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's the scenario I proposed you nonce.

Bite me.

[Pepe]

Shiiiiii.

[Adramelch]

Bite me.

There's also the scenario of 4 teams on 3 points with the wanking competition as a tie breaker.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

There's also the scenario of 4 teams on 3 points with the wanking competition as a tie breaker.

Soggy biscuit will be deciding things instead of yellow cards before you know it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The refs are having a really poor game low level, lucky they haven't had a penalty shout or anything.

[Spikey M]

Soggy biscuit will be deciding things instead of yellow cards before you know it.

They’d sub you on just for that you tranny cum goblin.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They’d sub you on just for that you tranny cum goblin.

You're confusing me with DS you mess.

[Spikey M]

Nobody has ever done that.

[randomlegend]

This referee is a drooling mongoloid.

[Baz]

Ref was English in the first half. Now it seems like he’s making up for his earlier bias.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's great from Pickford.

He's just gone for it.

[randomlegend]

Ref was English in the first half. Now it seems like he’s making up for his earlier bias.

What a load of shit. There were about 4 occasions in the first half where Lovren should have been booked.

Mandzukic got absolutely munched by Pickford there.

[Magic]

Serbic or whatever his name was should have had a thousand yellows.

[ItalAussie]

It's worth bringing up that the Croatian keeper is a bit of a penalty-saving specialist. Whether that counts for anything remains to be seen.

I want England to get through. England-France would be a fantastic final, and Croatia-France not so much.

[Ian]

For fuck's sake. Create a chance, dickheads.

[Waffdon]

England winning this.

[Magic]

Croats rock solid when it comes to pressure.

[Adramelch]

I think either final will be boring in terms of spectacle to be honest. It'll just be more exciting if it's England instead of Croatia.

[SincereTheRebel]

Modric is a beast.

[Spikey M]

‘JLingz’ looks knackered and can’t be taking a Pen, surely? Get him off.

[Trancemeister]

Should have done much better on that corner.

[Spikey M]

Fuck sake

[Pleb]

That's game.

[Trancemeister]

They'll equalise.

[Pepe]

:uhoh:

[mugbull]

Ante Rebic is very very good

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why can't Hoddle say Mandzukic's name right?

[Baz]

Not a chance in hell England will get back in this. They’ve been diabolical for over an hour.

[Pepe]

Those fucking eyes. :D

[Baz]

Why can't Hoddle say Mandzukic's name right?Crimes in a former life.

[Shindig]

Looks like it's us and Belgium with another game neither of us wants to win.

[Lewis]

John Stones again.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Inexperience has cost us.

[ItalAussie]

I want England to get through. England-France would be a fantastic final, and Croatia-France not so much.
Not even two minutes. Is that what it's always like to be an England supporter?

[John]

That's fucking pathetic from Stones. Reacted a good second slower than Mandzukic, and even after he'd reacted he was still looking back at the passer as though he'd somehow play a second pass.

[Pepe]

Southgate worse than Martinez.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is so dispiriting to watch because it's all naivety and mental weakness costing us. Croatia's leaders have dragged them through this.

[Baz]

Looks like it's us and Belgium with another game neither of us wants to win.Oh god I’d forgot about that. :sick:

[mugbull]

This is so dispiriting to watch because it's all naivety and mental weakness costing us. Croatia's leaders have dragged them through this.

Nope. Sorry. You’re talking out of your ass, as you always do when it comes to football. England’s lack of midfield has cost them.

[Pepe]

Too many working class players or something.

[Trancemeister]

Definately a corner there.

[Magic]

This is so dispiriting to watch because it's all naivety and mental weakness costing us. Croatia's leaders have dragged them through this.

Exactly. No egos has cost them.

[Trancemeister]

4 minutes?

[Pepe]

Exactly. No egos has cost them.

Needed a midfield general. Maybe two.

[ItalAussie]

I don't buy the leadership thing. I just don't think England have created much outside of set pieces.

[Adramelch]

Seems reasonable. Mandzukic basically spent all his time after the goal feigning injuries.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm surprised that more nations haven't tried to rile Alli up.

He clearly wanted to punch Rakitic there.

[ItalAussie]

If it was to go to penalties now, how would they deal with Trippier being unable to take a kick? Would Croatia only have to nominate ten takers?

[Magic]

Needed a midfield general. Maybe two.

Needed a real captain not a Mongol like Kane.

[Pepe]

Needed a real captain not a Mongol like Kane.

This team + Lampard, Gerrard, Terry, and Rooney would have won 15-0.

[Pepe]

Comeback time? :drool:

[Trancemeister]

Its coming home. Like fuck it is.

[randomlegend]

Ah well, for once it feels like we went out having done alright. Ref was a mong but whatever.

[Adramelch]

If it was to go to penalties now, how would they deal with Trippier being unable to take a kick? Would Croatia only have to nominate ten takers?

Ye.

[Baz]

Unlucky lads.

[Adramelch]

If only England could score a goal from open play.

[Pepe]

Unlucky indeed. All they needed is a slightly more favorable draw.

[Baz]

Unlucky indeed. All they needed is a slightly more favorable draw.:lol:

[Shindig]

Hell, a semi final with this lot is a minor miracle. You did alreet, lads. Two years ago you guys were loaned out to League One.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We just completely ran out of gas there, not helped by superb Croatian game management and a pisspoor referee.

Oh well.

[John]

Stones' contribution to that extra time goal should see him banished from English football forever. So deeply crap that it amounts to gross incompetence.

[Lewis]

Weird this. I'm sure we would have all taken a semi-final a few weeks ago, but that was there for the taking and we blew it, and we won't have this opportunity any time soon.

What I think I'm driving at is the need for smaller pitches at youth level, and for coaches to stop rejecting players for being too small.

[CJay]

Is Kane the worst golden boot winner ever? Woeful tonight and useless for most of the knockout stage. Did he break out of a jog tonight?

Southgate made some poor changes. RLC or Delph should have replaced Lingard or Alli probably.

Marcus Rashford is one of those players who gets better the more time he spends on the bench. Never even looked dangerous, which Sterling at least managed to do.

[John Arne]

I've no idea who Dele and Lingard stayed om the field so long. Crap defensively, offered nothing going forward.

[Shindig]

What we need is a match-fixing or bribery scandal in a World Cup year. That's the real reason Zagreb's fellas are in the final. Fate favours criminals.

[Dark Soldier]

Can't fault the side, got to a semi final which I never thought I'd see in my lifetime and undone by a lack of concentration in injury time. Fair fucks to the lot of 'em.

[Yevrah]

Absolutely gutted, but the better team won and the last 60 minutes demonstrated how good we actually were.

Still, good effort and the first good world cup from us for years.

[bruhnaldo]

i'm so so so so sorry boys

[Dan]

Well there you go, we’re not winning the World Cup in our lifetime. Didn’t play a single good team & still couldn’t beat anyone convincingly.

We’ve had a fantastic run, and obviously it’s a huge overachievement in terms of how far we’ve got, but let’s not kid ourselves that we’re now in the top tier of world football, or even the second one.

Fingers crossed the players keep developing, and we actually manage to find some attackers who aren’t just brainless pace merchants, and we could probably make the occasional semi final in the Euros & get back to being fairly consistent World Cup quarter finalists.

Trippier was fantastic all tournament - easily our best player - but we really need more quality in midfield & I’m still not sure about playing so much from the back.

But yeah, overall a good tournament that we’ll be able to keep banging on about for thirty years.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My main regret is that the final is dogshit on paper and has France 1-0 written all over it. Croatia had better go on and win but surely they'll be physically shot.

[Spikey M]

It’s not coming home but France is a short drive so fuck it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Did Croatia have any good players in the Yugoslav era or have they just suddenly come on strong after independence?

[Luke Emia]

We were never going to win anything with half a team of Spurs players on the pitch. Wrong mentality.

[Dan]

Did Harry Kane score a single goal this tournament that wasn’t a header or a penalty?

[Yevrah]

The biggest kick in the bollocks is that we've got another fucking game on Saturday.

[Shindig]

Did Harry Kane score a single goal this tournament that wasn’t a header or a penalty?

Yes. His third against Panama was off his heel.

[Yevrah]

Watching that second goal again, it's real typical England shit.

[Spikey M]

We were never going to win anything with half a team of Spurs players on the pitch. Wrong mentality.

From a Liverpool fan? :harold:

[Shindig]

I still think this was worth the 45 minutes I completely fucked off work to watch the first half in the break room. Fuck these French overlords.

[Dan]

Yes. His third against Panama was off his heel.

Oh yeah :D Fantastic tournament then.

[Lewis]

I'm looking forward to seeing what people will think of Our Gareth and his collected civility (which is actually just not being able to believe his luck) once we're back to being bollocks.

[Waffdon]

Mandzukic on Drogba levels in terms of big games

[Shindig]

In a tournament where we've created so little, he's done well to take what he's been given. Hit the post today, as well.

[Luke Emia]

From a Liverpool fan? :harold:

How many Spurs players in the England and Belgium squads? Mentally weak always have been and always will be, Liverpool make the final and lose Spurs can't even manage that.

[Ian]

Disappointed that we went out with a relative whimper after being much better in the first half but it's nice to go out of a tournament and not be angry.

[Max Power]

Made major progress in many ways. Southgate himself needs to work on earlier subs but on the whole its a good tournament.

[Yevrah]

If the narrative moves to us not creating enough from open play I'm going postal on you fucks.

[ItalAussie]

Is Kane the worst golden boot winner ever? Woeful tonight and useless for most of the knockout stage. Did he break out of a jog tonight?


https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/russian-forward-oleg-salenko-is-tackled-by-cameroonese-defender-andre-picture-id51955848

[Browning]

Kane was shite tonight. If he turned up, we'd have been out of sight by half time.

The better team won though, so it's hard to complain too much. We just didn't turn up from the second half onwards.

Still, they're young and they will push on from here.

[Shindig]

And if they don't, our World Champion Under-20s, 19s and 17s have a chance.

[Spikey M]

We took what 5 strikers? 2 of which started every game (bar Belgium) and Kane was the only one to score. And get the golden boot on top of that. Anyone trying to get close to blaming him can fuck right off.

[Dan]

Who’s that lad at Man City that’s meant to be shit hot? We should probably give him a game over Sterling at this point.

[mugbull]

same as against Sweden, except Croatia have capable players. absolutely no surprises. People need to realize Dele is shit and Lingard is also shit, they absolutely cannot be the central attacking linchpins of any team looking to attack.

[Spikey M]

How many Spurs players in the England and Belgium squads? Mentally weak always have been and always will be, Liverpool make the final and lose Spurs can't even manage that.

You’re gloating about losing one match further on, you realise that?

[mugbull]

lynchpins*

[Yevrah]

I'm looking forward to seeing what people will think of Our Gareth and his collected civility (which is actually just not being able to believe his luck) once we're back to being bollocks.

There's a sentiment that lends itself to thinking we'll get stronger on the back of this, but the reality is it might be as good as it gets for this crop.

[Giggles]

Jesse Lingard having a world cup winners medal couldn't actually happen.

[mugbull]

hahahahaha at “luke emia”, you good irl mate?

[Yevrah]

Who’s that lad at Man City that’s meant to be shit hot? We should probably give him a game over Sterling at this point.

Foden.

[Mike]

We all set for the press to build England up for Euro 2020, insist they’re going to win it then watch us fail to get out the group stage?

[Lewis]

There's a sentiment that lends itself to thinking we'll get stronger on the back of this, but the reality is it might be as good as it gets for this crop.

Definitely. I'm not going to write off these weirdly good youth teams we have, but abso-fucking-lutely no chance this lot (or any side based on the same core players) challenges in the next two tournaments.

[Luke Emia]

You’re gloating about losing one match further on, you realise that?

I’m not gloating lose in the semi, the final or the first round it doesn’t matter. But it’s a well known fact Spurs are mentally weak, as are Liverpool by the way. Hence the state of our keeper.

[Dark Soldier]

I’m not gloating lose in the semi, the final or the first round it doesn’t matter. But it’s a well known fact Spurs are mentally weak, as are Liverpool by the way. Hence the state of our keeper.

TRIBAL DOMINANCE

tell it how it is lad don't hold him back

[Lewis]

You would think we were n impressive young side let down by a bit of inexperience (Germany 2008-12) the way ITV are going on. You can't knock the results, but we were bollocks and didn't play anybody. This was our best chance since winning it. Roy Keane knows.

[Giggles]

Someone just said to me on WhatsApp that Roy Keane is losing the run of himself on ITV but I don't have it. I presume he's still offering nothing other than the odd quip as he has fuck all else about him, but is he worse than normal?

[phonics]

I've got nothing to add that others haven't. Just want to point out that Delle Alli has been absolute dog shit this entire tournament and Sterling getting shit instead of him is ridiculous.

I was at a fanzone and when they were reading out the XI, Sterling was announced and got booed. In another country for fucks sake. These people aren't reading The Sun, it costs two pound fifty a paper for one.

Literally the only player that turned up.

edit: Oh I have got something to add that others also have, Luke Emia you sound like a massive scouse twat. Fuck off.

[Yevrah]

You would think we were n impressive young side let down by a bit of inexperience (Germany 2008-12) the way ITV are going on. You can't knock the results, but we were bollocks and didn't play anybody. This was our best chance since winning it. Roy Keane knows.

It's amazing how much of the stuff I got lambasted for pointing out earlier is now being referenced. We didn't create enough, why were we ever thinking of a final. etc.

We did two things in this tournament that we haven't done for 20 years. Win a penalty shootout and play very well in a knockout game and win it and while both those things are great, they should really be par 50% of the time and aren't enough to bridge the gap between being as shit as we have been for years and winning the fecking thing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think we'll need some real on-pitch leaders before we challenge the good teams. Kane, Henderson, nah.

[phonics]

I think we'll need some real on-pitch leaders before we challenge the good teams. Kane, Henderson, nah.

Oh god it's back to leadership and passion. GET IN THE FUCKING BIN WITH THIS NONSENSE.

England won every second ball in the first half and almost none of them in the second half. That's why they lost.

[Shindig]

Sterling had an okay first half but you can mark him out of it easily. Dele Alli was never really at it.

[Yevrah]

Sterling had an okay first half but you can mark him out of it easily. Dele Alli was never really at it.

I think that you can go though the England team and pick quite sizeable holes in half of them shows our level, a level that was flattered by some of the shite we played.

That said, Southgate should get huge credit for the spirit he built in the camp, which despite being told this every tournament, the mood genuinely never had been better.

[Shindig]

If you can't be good, be organised.

[phonics]

The real issue is that England lost that because of fatigue, we tired at exactly the same time as Croatia around the 65th minute despite rotating and playing 30 minutes + penalties less.

The only 'leadership' issue I saw was someone not two footing a Croatia player when they started to build momentum and then Colombiaing the fuck out of them for the remaining 25 minutes.

We're a limited team and Croatias basic technical level pushed them over the top the longer the game went.

[Yevrah]

The fatigue was mental, not physical, in that we were completely flattened when they scored, which is why resting players in a 7 game (if that) tournament is pointless.

[Spikey M]

Dele Alli was shit (and injured) for the first 4 games, but he was ok for the last 2. Lingards criticism is massively unfair. One of our best players in the group stages and worked his bollocks off.

[phonics]

The fatigue was mental, not physical,

Agreed.

[Giggles]

Now that it's over, it would be fucking brilliant to see Croatia win this.

[phonics]

I'd say put money on France 2-0 but with the run I'm on I'd back everything but.

[Magic]

The fatigue was mental, not physical, in that we were completely flattened when they scored, which is why resting players in a 7 game (if that) tournament is pointless.

This.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The fatigue was mental, not physical, in that we were completely flattened when they scored, which is why resting players in a 7 game (if that) tournament is pointless.

The same thing happened when we conceded against Colombia, and if I'm ultra critical it kind of did against Tunisia as well for a while.

They are good players and were set up well, but against the experience and yes, phonics, LEADERSHIP of people like Perisic, Mandzukic, Modric etc they just came heavily second in the big moments. Alli I don't mind and I don't think he was ever fully fit at this tournament, but Jesse Lingard, for example, was demonstrably out of his depth in a 'big game' and you could also say that about Kane and others.

[phonics]

I think Modric could run a record setting marathon time and still play a 60 yard outside the boot pass onto a sixpence on the finish line. I just don't think that's 'leadership'.

[ItalAussie]

There's a risk of overreaction here. England were largely very good, which is a damn sight better than they've been for a while. You've got a popular team and a platform to build on. Don't do the classic post-tournament evisceration - just enjoy that you're really relevant again.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There's a risk of overreaction here. England were largely very good, which is a damn sight better than they've been for a while. You've got a popular team and a platform to build on. Don't do the classic post-tournament evisceration - just enjoy that you're really relevant again.

That's the long lens take, but we will have to be about 200 times better than this to ever win a World Cup as the draw will never open up in this way again, so not to reach the final is properly crushing.

[Magic]

The same thing happened when we conceded against Colombia, and if I'm ultra critical it kind of did against Tunisia as well for a while.

They are good players and were set up well, but against the experience and yes, phonics, LEADERSHIP of people like Perisic, Mandzukic, Modric etc they just came heavily second in the big moments. Alli I don't mind and I don't think he was ever fully fit at this tournament, but Jesse Lingard, for example, was demonstrably out of his depth in a 'big game' and you could also say that about Kane and others.

But then Gerrard, Lampard etc were exactly that for their clubs at least.

[Jimmy Floyd]

But then Gerrard, Lampard etc were exactly that for their clubs at least.

They didn't actually do it for England though, whereas Mandzukic et al actually do do it for Croatia.

[ItalAussie]

That's the long lens take, but we will have to be about 200 times better than this to ever win a World Cup as the draw will never open up in this way again, so not to reach the final is properly crushing.
But the team has really obvious scope to get better. "Leadership" is in no small part the experience and confidence of having been there before. Half the players in the side I'd never heard of two years ago. Two players got their first England goal in this tournament. It won't have to be like that next time.

Yeah, you need to improve. But there's heaps of scope for that to happen naturally. You've got a strong base and time to build. They'll only get better.

[Kikó]

It's not coming home.

[Yevrah]

There's a risk of overreaction here. England were largely very good, which is a damn sight better than they've been for a while. You've got a popular team and a platform to build on. Don't do the classic post-tournament evisceration - just enjoy that you're really relevant again.

I think I'm being reasonably level-headed, I just take umbrage with the notion that we'll definitely kick on from here, when we might well not.

It was a huge occasion and we did so well to get there, but we looked like losing that game for 60 minutes and had absolutely no answers whatsoever. Had the draw been different we could have easily drawn Croatia in the second round, lost and nobody would be talking about us being challengers in two and four years time. I guess a bit of perspective and appreciation for how easy the draw was is what I'm after.

And I know I'm right, because from the internet, to the call-ins, the tv studio (Roy Kean aside), people are a bit confused as to why we weren't good enough.

[Yevrah]

But the team has really obvious scope to get better. "Leadership" is in no small part the experience and confidence of having been there before. Half the players in the side I'd never heard of two years ago. Two players got their first England goal in this tournament. It won't have to be like that next time.

Yeah, you need to improve. But there's heaps of scope for that to happen naturally. You've got a strong base and time to build. They'll only get better.

As will everybody else. Back to the point I've just made, play a good team in the second round (we didn't meet one this time until the semi's), go out and no one is talking about us winning it in future.

[randomlegend]

I've spent all my life before this tournament watching dramatically more talented England teams put out dramatically worse tournament performances than this one, so I can only feel happy overall with how we've done.

I mean there was a time we could field a team of:

David James
Ashley Cole
Rio Ferdinand
John Terry
Gary Neville
Joe Cole (I guess)
2 of Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard
David Beckham
Wayne Rooney
Michael Owen

and we still looked shitter then than we have this tournament.

[randomlegend]

As will everybody else. Back to the point I've just made, play a good team in the second round (we didn't meet one this time until the semi's), go out and no one is talking about us winning it in future.

Well everyone else won't, because many teams have older players who will have retired/declined by the next time. There's nothing to say the players in the next generation who replace them will be as good/better.

[Yevrah]

Well everyone else won't, because many teams have older players who will have retired/declined by the next time. There's nothing to say the players in the next generation who replace them will be as good/better.

And players that will have replaced those older and retiring players.

Do you really think this England team exists in a bubble that will make only them improve and no-one else? And I've not even mentioned the draw in that response.

[randomlegend]

I don't understand what you're trying to say in that first line since I've already addressed it with my second sentence.

I think this England team has one of the youngest and least experienced squads of the big teams. They therefore have more room for growth going into the next few tournaments than most others. There are obviously exceptions (e.g. France) but looking at a team like Croatia today, Modric and Mandzukic will be gone by the next World Cup and the chances of them being replaced by better players are basically zero.

Teams don't all just improve forever, which is basically the argument you are making. Some teams will benefit from the next few years as their players get older and more experienced and will improve, others will suffer from big players retiring/aging and get worse.

[-james-]

Player for player this is one of the weakest England sides in memory. They have punched above their weight massively in getting to the semi final. To declare they're never winning a tournament off the back of it seems an odd conclusion.

[Shindig]

That's the long lens take, but we will have to be about 200 times better than this to ever win a World Cup as the draw will never open up in this way again, so not to reach the final is properly crushing.

More crushing than a loss in the final?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd be more excited about some of the kids who haven't played yet than about 50% of the current team.

[randomlegend]

Well yeah obviously Angel Gomes will be the one captaining us to glory in 2022, that goes without saying.

[phonics]

1017178545293090816

Neville with the face of someone who's had to put up with Roy Keane his entire life.

[Shindig]

Well yeah obviously Angel Gomes will be the one captaining us to glory in 2022, that goes without saying.

"Well, lads. We trained for this in the 2018 heatwave so we're used to this humidity."

[randomlegend]

Wright imitating Keane's accent was a bit pathetic. He'd be in big shit if he'd done that to someone with a Nigerian accent or something rather than Keane's Irish one.

[ItalAussie]

And players that will have replaced those older and retiring players.

Do you really think this England team exists in a bubble that will make only them improve and no-one else? And I've not even mentioned the draw in that response.I think they have a much higher baseline to improve from than most other sides. And a much higher ceiling. Compare them to Spain, who have a fantastic theoretical player pipeline, but looked utterly bereft of ideas, and relied on almost the same names that got wiped out four years ago. Nobody is saying England has locked down 2022, but they've got enough talent to build towards it.

You're just whinging for no reason now. Just enjoy being relevant for the first time in a long time. They didn't have to win in order to not be failures.

[Giggles]

Wright imitating Keane's accent was a bit pathetic. He'd be in big shit if he'd done that to someone with a Nigerian accent or something rather than Keane's Irish one.

We've always been fair game, I was only talking about it the other day sure.

[Ian]

We've always been fair game, I was only talking about it the other day sure.

That's not an Irishness thing that's a white thing. Just look at the fucking dopey Eastern European meerkats.

[Baz]

Biggest surprise for me was Pickford actually being alright in net.

[Baz]

Uploaded July 7th:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9BbKWatZ-Q&t=2s

[Kikó]

The midfield got done over yesterday which let Croatia control the game. The subs came too slow and made little influence.

It's been an enjoyable tournament though and now we can play Belgium in another pointless game.

[Spikey M]

We've always been fair game, I was only talking about it the other day sure.

Giggs, I loves ya, but you don’t half sound like a Liverpool fan at times.

[Giggles]

Giggs, I loves ya, but you don’t half sound like a Liverpool fan at times.



http://gifimage.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/noooo-gif-2.gif

[Spikey M]

https://preview.ibb.co/h8cf2T/1797584_D_89_AA_4_D02_9092_7_EE022_DF1606.jpg

Lol monghow

[Shindig]

I need to wind the clock back and see if there was any anti-Welshness going on in 2016.

[Shindig]

Actually, is there any reason why Slaven wasn't in the ITV studio? Maybe Keane was subbed in.

[SincereTheRebel]

After watching the game. Croatia during the second half dominated the game. Modric was amazing and he should win the Ballon d'Or on his performance alone. Someone on here pointed out a few games ago that Kane just does not run that much during game. That was evident last night. If he was injured and could not run at full speed, surely England are better off brining someone else in instead of Kane. I thought it would be Croatia who would fatigue first given they have gone through to extra time in every round but it was England who looked tired the most.

Croatia was the better team and deserved to go through. England has slobbed their way to the semi-final. I thought they would beat Croatia but I was completely wrong. Pickford and Tripper are both the standout performaners in the tournument for me. Suspried Welbeck didnt get playing time when England needed goals as his England record is decent.

I hear all 'the lads have done us proud talk' but Croatia was there to be beaten, and England fucked it up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't think Southgate was good with substitutions at any point in the tournament, but that's something for him to work on as his man management seems flawless.

[Bernanke]

So Lingard and Rashford tried the same shit as Panama did against England. This is when Croatia are celebrating their goal:

https://i.imgur.com/oy0eBzI.gifv

[mugbull]

Ahahahahaha pointless you fuckers pointless. Was so funny listening to you all talk up your mediocre Sweden performance as a sign of things to come. Your team just isn’t very good.

[SincereTheRebel]

England was just not good enough. Came across a team who could actually play. Surprised me. I had England winning by a landslide. Wrong on that on.

[Shindig]

Ahahahahaha pointless you fuckers pointless. Was so funny listening to you all talk up your mediocre Sweden performance as a sign of things to come. Your team just isn’t very good.

Czech Republic 0-0 Northern Ireland
Germany 3-0 Czech Republic
Czech Republic 0-0 Azerbaijan
Czech Republic 2-1 Norway
San Marino 0-6 Czech Repulbic
Norway 1-1 Czech Republic
Czech Republic 1-2 Germany
Northern Ireland 2-0 Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan 1-2 Czech Republic
Czech Republic 5-0 San Marino

Or is this the point where we find out your nationality was faked along with your tennis fantasies?

[thommo]

Whilst I agree that Croatia completely took hold of the game from the 2nd half onwards, if Kane and/or Lingard just put their chances away, we'd be cruising into the final. I still can't really understand how Kane misses the 2nd attempt.

[Giggles]

Whilst I agree that Croatia completely took hold of the game from the 2nd half onwards, if Kane and/or Lingard just put their chances away, we'd be cruising into the final. I still can't really understand how Kane misses the 2nd attempt.

Because he plays for Spurs so he bottled it.

[Andy]

There's a sentiment that lends itself to thinking we'll get stronger on the back of this, but the reality is it might be as good as it gets for this crop.

Indeed, we are short in midfield. Hopefully someone like RLC or Foden kicks on and we get a real commanding midfield which can control and see games out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't understand why he didn't use Loftus-Cheek after Panama. He is a twat but he's also the perfect impact sub for a tiring Alli/Lingard.

[Waffdon]

Modric has to win the Balon D’or if Croatia win. Champions League/World Cup double and the best midfielder by a landslide the last three years.

[mugbull]

Czech Republic 0-0 Northern Ireland
Germany 3-0 Czech Republic
Czech Republic 0-0 Azerbaijan
Czech Republic 2-1 Norway
San Marino 0-6 Czech Repulbic
Norway 1-1 Czech Republic
Czech Republic 1-2 Germany
Northern Ireland 2-0 Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan 1-2 Czech Republic
Czech Republic 5-0 San Marino

Or is this the point where we find out your nationality was faked along with your tennis fantasies?

The Czech team is a joke but no one would ever claim otherwise, that’s the difference.

Also, faked tennis fantasies? I faked my age and a preggo girlfriend but i never faked the tennis stuff

[SincereTheRebel]

England shouldn't be happy or content with going out to Croatia.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/jhvm3V9.png

Chaps.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

England shouldn't be happy or content with going out to Croatia.

If he actually said those things he should be sectioned.

[SincereTheRebel]

Dejan Lovren with the Ether



It's something special for me,From my point of view, people were saying I had a difficult season but I don't agree with that.
I showed that I took Liverpool to the Champions League final and now with my national team we are in the final. I think people should recognise that I'm one of the best defenders in the world and not just talk nonsense I will say.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/13950/11434084/dejan-lovren-says-he-is-one-of-the-best-defenders-in-the-world

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why did you edit that post to something else and then re-post it?

[SincereTheRebel]

The site is broken. Ive been trying to post this for 5 minutes and im getting errors.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The worst part about last night was having to try and explain to my mum why we had 'scored too early', as I declared we had just after the goal.

[Boydy]

Did we get to the bottom of why Kane was playing so deep yet?

[Giggles]

Did we get to the bottom of why Kane was playing so deep yet?

Most pundits have been saying he looked injured.

[Boydy]

If that was the case would it not have made more sense for him to be higher up the pitch? Just mooch around the box until he gets a chance to finish.

[Spikey M]

He seemed to be playing more as a number 10. Which is pretty mental, when his partner was Sterling.

[Browning]

He had the chances. He bottled them.

[Spikey M]

He had the chances. He bottled them.

He bottled one (well 2 go’s at the same chance), the header wasn’t particularly easy. Regardless of that, he’s the top scorer in the tournament, so he’s hardly had a stinker.

[Browning]

He is, but he’s only scored penalties except for against Panama and Tunisia. He hasn’t set the world alight either.

[Waffdon]

I was drunk, and in the pub last night, but I swear the assistant flagged offside for that Kane double chance.

[Browning]

I was drunk, and in the pub last night, but I swear the assistant flagged offside for that Kane double chance.

He did but the consensus of people I’ve spoken to was VAR would have given it. I was drunk too so I don’t know for sure.

[Giggles]

I'm drunk since.



.

[Spikey M]

He is, but he’s only scored penalties except for against Panama and Tunisia. He hasn’t set the world alight either.

He also won the majority of those penalties and the free kicks that lead to the setpiece goals.

[bruhnaldo]

He flagged for a goal kick?

[Jimmy Floyd]

A goal is a goal. Doesn't matter how you score it.

[Baz]

He flagged for a goal kick?
100%

[Kikó]

Rebic being booked twice last night and not being sent off was a highlight.

Jim's spot on about the subs. They were too late. I think we had nothing in midfield either to help Henderson.

[Boydy]

Rebic being booked twice last night and not being sent off was a highlight.


So that did actually happen? I could've sworn it had but then he didn't actually seem to go off.

[niko_cee]

I also thought that had happened.

:cab:

Apparently Mandzukic got the first one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The first one was Mandzukic for slapping the ball away after Rebic had kicked someone.

[Kikó]

He elbowed Walker in the face.

[Waffdon]

Even better.

[niko_cee]

Ref's have been extremely lenient throughout the tournament. It's probably for the best, as going the other way really wrecks games, but some teams have taken the piss. Neymar must have been fouled (fairly cynically) about a thousand times by Behrami alone.

[Shindig]

Rebic being booked twice last night and not being sent off was a highlight.

Excellent. Graham Poll's not alone in being confused by Croatians. Also, people can go on about the draw all they like. At the end of it, there are three teams that look good out of the 32 that set off. Belgium, France and Croatia (the fucking Ironmen) are the only three that have hit any sort of stride.

[Giggles]

He elbowed Walker in the face.

It's over.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://twitter.com/search?q=croatia%20disqualified&src=tyah

Seems someone jokingly said that Croatia would be getting disqualified and Twitter have bought it :harold:

[Browning]

https://twitter.com/search?q=croatia%20disqualified&src=tyah

Seems someone jokingly said that Croatia would be getting disqualified and Twitter have bought it :harold:

The original post (assuming it's the one a friend of mine shared, albeit he shared it knowing it was bollocks) said the guy was meant to serve a 2 match ban for collecting 2 yellow cards. They weren't even trying to hide that it was a load of shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The original post (assuming it's the one a friend of mine shared, albeit he shared it knowing it was bollocks) said the guy was meant to serve a 2 match ban for collecting 2 yellow cards. They weren't even trying to hide that it was a load of shit.

Yeah, it's amazing.

I've also seen other versions with them being booted because Rebic got 2 yellows (first was for Mandzukic) and because of Perisic's high boot.

[Kikó]

It's over.

Is it? Ok.

It was bizarre to see the leniency around arms to the face throughout the tournament.

[ItalAussie]

Our commentator said something about Rebic's card being reallocated to Mandzukic, and this was significantly before Rebic's later actual yellow card.

Oh Graham Poll. The memories.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I only recently found out that Poll was duped because Simunic was talking in a broad Aussie accent, so he put his first yellow under Australia.

[John Arne]

Our commentator said something about Rebic's card being reallocated to Mandzukic, and this was significantly before Rebic's later actual yellow card.

Oh Graham Poll. The memories.

It wasn't really "reallocated" - the ref clearly showed the yellow directly to Mandzukic, either because he thought he made the tackle, or he was mouthing off (which he was).

[ItalAussie]

It wasn't really "reallocated" - the ref clearly showed the yellow directly to Mandzukic, either because he thought he made the tackle, or he was mouthing off (which he was).

Fair enough. I wasn't paying it close attention, and just remember the commentator saying something peculiar.