2022 World Cup knockouts: RIP four games a day

[Spikey M]

Someone needs to nobble the ref at half time.

[Pepe]

The intensity has been backyard kickabout level.

France's defense looks shaky as fuck. Your lot should get three if they only tried.

[Jimmy Floyd]

France are making so many errors, we just have to have the composure to take advantage of them.

Trashford for Saka an obvious first substitution, and then if we still trail, Grealish for Henderson. JG never done a thing in an England shirt that I can remember, but he might do one day.

[7om]

Grealish on for Saka.

[SincereTheRebel]

Randon. Here is a name thay has just came to mind from the good old Pro Evo days. Vikash Dhorasoo.

[Ben]

Theo Hernandez is there for the taking and Saka just isn’t doing it. Grealish would probably be the most eager to take him on but he doesn’t play on the right so Rashford it should be.

[7om]

Could always switch Foden over to the right, Clive.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Looking at those Saka replays, it's an obvious foul (one of two horrendous decisions from the refs in that area of the pitch), but Saka has been so naive not going down fully with South American refs. You have to be aware of this stuff. Bit of inexperience, Kane would have won that decision.

[Pepe]

Sounding a bit like the Portuguese players here lads.

[Pepe]

But yeah, the French left side looks free. Mbappe doesn't even pretend to try to help on defense and Rabiot looks all over the place.

[Lewis]

Look at Gary Neville dressed like a date rapist.

[Spikey M]

Sounding a bit like the Portuguese players here lads.

Punch your wife for us please.

[Pepe]

She fell asleep within five minutes and missed the goal. Has been on her phone since.

[Don]

Allez les bleus motherfuckers :rasta:

Fucking spent 45 mins struggling to make shit 10 yard passes between defenders and diving all over the place and they're complaining as if it was the ref that has them deservedly behind. Buzzing for the "they wanted us out because of our LGBTQ+ stand".

You could write a thesis on how the cultural differences and systemic racism has led to such a stark difference in these 2 teams. One is a load of BLM dons expressing themselves with full confidence and flair and the other is 7 thick gammons, 1 out of place footballer and 3 BLM dons who have had the flair and confidence beaten out of them for fear of standing out too much.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Punch your wife for us please.

:D

[Yevrah]

Bit of a nothing performance from us really (likewise from the French too, but that's not my business), we need to go at them much more in the second half and at some point if we're still behind one of Rice or Henderson needs to come off for at least Mount but probably Grealish. 1-0 down with 20 minutes left will not be the time for more like for like nonsense.

[Lewis]

Allez les bleus motherfuckers :rasta:

Fucking spent 45 mins struggling to make shit 10 yard passes between defenders and diving all over the place and they're complaining as if it was the ref that has them deservedly behind. Buzzing for the "they wanted us out because of our LGBTQ+ stand".

You could write a thesis on how the cultural differences and systemic racism has led to such a stark difference in these 2 teams. One is a load of BLM dons expressing themselves with full confidence and flair and the other is 7 thick gammons, 1 out of place footballer and 3 BLM dons who have had the flair and confidence beaten out of them for fear of standing out too much.

Rwanda.

[Spikey M]

She fell asleep within five minutes and missed the goal. Has been on her phone since.

Perfect. She won't be expecting it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well that's certainly a fresh take on race relations in France.

[Adramelch]

Looking at those Saka replays, it's an obvious foul (one of two horrendous decisions from the refs in that area of the pitch), but Saka has been so naive not going down fully with South American refs. You have to be aware of this stuff. Bit of inexperience, Kane would have won that decision.

Kane didn't win the other decision so I am not all that convinced with this ref.

[Don]

The premise is of course that it's far healthier to be called a what-have-you to your face.

[ScousePig]

Our main weakness is that the play only speeds up when we get it out of the defenders' feet. There's never a chance to break unless France make a huge error in possession and give us an easy pass forward. 90% of the time we have it in front of a set defence because our defenders and Kane are just too slow (all the pace is in midfield).

That's how football works.

[7om]

Taz :D

[Spikey M]

If I know England like I think I know England, we'll be all over them for 10 minutes now then go 2-0 down.

[Lewis]

The premise is of course that it's far healthier to be called a what-have-you to your face.

Can we have this reflected in the forum rules?

[Giggles]

Goals been coming. France have completely shut off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Saka is causing problems.

[Spikey M]

Not an ideal keeper for Kane to be facing.

[Yevrah]

This has been much more like it. Excellent since the re-start.

C'mon Kane.

[randomlegend]

Do we get 2 penalties there given they fouled two players in a row?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a top penalty.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Really well won and taken pen. Mon boys.

[Yevrah]

Outstanding penalty. Get the fuck in.

[Magic]

French mistake. Another England goal incoming within 5 minutes.

[7om]

Hi Taz :henn0rz:

[Waffdon]

England win it from here. Pass a rope

[Spikey M]

Fuck me :D

[Shindig]

This is terrifying.

[randomlegend]

Mbappe fucking rinsed Walker there, lmao.

[7om]

First thing Mbappe has done. He’s been wank so far

[Danny]

Really need to make sure keep playing how we were. Being positive has been working.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

First thing Mbappe has done. He’s been wank so far

Saving it for the final 20 minutes.

[Yevrah]

Really need to make sure keep playing how we were. Being positive has been working.

Indeed. France seem to completely shit the bed every time Saka runs at them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Griezmann should go there. Weak refereeing again.

[Lofty]

The reluctant red theory rides again.

[Danny]

Hes already on his way down when he bumped into Griezmann. As nice as it would be, never a booking.

[7om]

Let’s not call for cards. Jesus we’re not Venezuela.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hes already on his way down when he bumped into Griezmann. As nice as it would be, never a booking.

If he gave it for the first contact then fine, but Griezmann a lucky boy, was cynical/stopping the break.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Not sure why you're all bitching, I think this ref has done a brilliant job.

[7om]

What in the fuck is this ref thinking

[Gray Fox]

The ref is just guessing at everything isn't he?

[Danny]

If he gave it for the first contact then fine, but Griezmann a lucky boy, was cynical/stopping the break.

100% for the first one. Had Foden ridden it better Griezmann would have been in trouble. Him or Dembele could go.

[Yevrah]

That passage of refereeing was absurd.

[Spikey M]

Just start studding the cunts

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just start studding the cunts

The refereeing team or the French?

[Waffdon]

France playing like everyone thought England would

[Spikey M]

The refereeing team or the French?

The French for now. The ref can wait.

[Lewis]

Not sure why you're all bitching, I think this ref has done a brilliant job.

Your step-mum, 2016.

[Spikey M]

Fuck me

[Pepe]

France looking tragic. Are they even allowed to run?

[7om]

I remember a time when people were wanking over Upamecano. Where did it all go wrong?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Saka is ending careers here. One of the most electrifying 20 odd minutes I can remember in an England shirt.

[Giggles]

France have been dogshite. The stars are aligning lads - lap it up.

[Spikey M]

I'd get Rashford on and put him on the left.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I don't understand what France's game plan is.

Win on pens? They've looked so bad since the opener.

[Spikey M]

I remember a time when people were wanking over Upamecano. Where did it all go wrong?

He had all the physical attributes and they assumed the mentality would come with age. It hasn't.

[7om]

Upamecano is shite.

[Spikey M]

That should be 2-1

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

When that dropped to Giroud I thought that was going to get buried.

[Spikey M]

Now it is. Terrible defending.

[Danny]

Stones asleep. Lucky there.

Edit: not there tho

[Adramelch]

Ye England pretty much missed their shot and France woke up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Olivier :drool:

What a beast.

[Shindig]

Bugger. At least we've given France a proper run for it.

[7om]

Written in the stars. You have to make chances and momentum count.

[Yevrah]

Gutting.

[Pepe]

:harold:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Quite a novel approach to be clearly the better side and get mugged. Can we put Maguire out of his misery at last if this proves decisive.

[Danny]

Maguire has to be stronger but what the fuck are Stones and Rice doing? Ball watching and completely fell asleep.

[Spikey M]

Why the fuck would you take Saka off?

[Yevrah]

He's taken Saka off? Insanity.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Saka off? :lol:

[7om]

Oh why the fuck take Saka off. He’s killing Hernandez

[randomlegend]

Sterling for Saka :D

That's top trolling from Southgate.

[Spikey M]

This referee is an absolute joke

[Boydy]

That's a pen as well.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What is Hernandez doing?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Definite penalty. Atrocious refereeing again by a man who is quite simply not up to the task.

[Yevrah]

Saka off? :lol:

That is genuinely the worst substitution of all time.

[Adramelch]

Yeah he's not trying to play the ball at all.

[Pepe]

The state of Hernandez. :face:

[Magic]

Last man?

[Boydy]

Taking Saka off is mental too.

[randomlegend]

The ref has literally only given the yellow because England told him it should be a red. He looks like he's just been plonked here out of Sunday league. Amazing.

[Lewis]

Fucking what.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Glorious :drool:

[Spikey M]

Fuck sake

[Baz]

:lol:

[Boydy]

Fucking hell, Kane.

[Magic]

:D

[Guybrush]

Hahahahahahahaha, fuck me.

[Pepe]

THE BALL

:lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

The revenge of THE BALL.

[Lofty]

Ironically Saka is a great penalty taker now too.

[Waffdon]

:lol:

They’ll get another chance soon

[7om]

Perfect way for us to go out :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The ref has literally only given the yellow because England told him it should be a red. He looks like he's just been plonked here out of Sunday league. Amazing.

Walton explained why it wasn't a red.

It is denying a goalscoring opportunity but the player doesn't possess the ball.

[Yevrah]

That was so bad, but I'd mentally resigned myself to us losing after waistcoat took Saka off, which I still haven't got over.

[Browning]

Inevitable.

[Pepe]

Morocco to walk past either of these two. Tragic.

[randomlegend]

Walton explained why it wasn't a red.

It is denying a goalscoring opportunity but the player doesn't possess the ball.

Not my point. He wasn't going to card him at all until the players asked for a red.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was so bad, but I'd mentally resigned myself to us losing after waistcoat took Saka off, which I still haven't got over.

It's genuinely baffling, every single time he got the ball the French defenders were shitting themselves.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Not my point. He wasn't going to card him at all until the players asked for a red.

Fair enough, it did indeed look like that.

[Magic]

Kane and Disabled.

[Magic]

McGuire diving. He's such a fucking bewn.

[Lewis]

Kane and Disabled.

:lol:

[John Arne]

Walker needs to get out of England's half.

[Spikey M]

McGuire diving. He's such a fucking bewn.

Barry McGuire?

[Lewis]

At least we've kept Mbappe quiet.

[Pepe]

At least we've kept Mbappe quiet.

Didn't you see him lolling at Kane?

[Spikey M]

Walker needs to get out of England's half.

He's clearly been told not to because of Mbappe. It's why Henderson has spent most of the game on the right too.

[Magic]

He's clearly been told not to because of Mbappe. It's why Henderson has spent most of the game on the right too.

God tier management.

[Ian]

Mason Mount is fucking honking.

[Spikey M]

Mason Mount is fucking honking.

Trying a GERAAAARRRD in these circumstances is some chutzpah.

[Spikey M]

Get everyone forward for fuck sake.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think this is it for Southgate. This team is a really good England side and he's done well to bring it to this point, but it's clear that his imagination has limitations once the players are better.

[Pepe]

Your peepers dying of nothing.

[John Arne]

Bringing on Grealish in the 96th minute. Nice one, Waistcoat.

[Shindig]

I think this is it for Southgate. This team is a really good England side and he's done well to bring it to this point, but it's clear that his imagination has limitations once the players are better.

Ah close quarter final against the reigning champions doesn't lead to a sacking. Not in this country. This is still an improvement over the Croatia and Italy games.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Naive of the French lad to dive in there, it's Harry fucking Maguire on the edge of the box.

[Spikey M]

Steal that Holland freekick

[Pepe]

Come on THE BALL.

[Lewis]

I think this is it for Southgate. This team is a really good England side and he's done well to bring it to this point, but it's clear that his imagination has limitations once the players are better.

We're running low on both binmen and Tournament Managers, so let's just wait for Jose Mourinho to get sacked again.

[Danny]

Lloris had no clue.

[Magic]

:harold:

[Pepe]

:harold:

[Waffdon]

What a World Cup. Greatest ever and

[Boydy]

Steal that Holland freekick
Should have done that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a lot closer than I thought it would be.

Still though, it's not coming home :drool:

[Yevrah]

I think this is it for Southgate. This team is a really good England side and he's done well to bring it to this point, but it's clear that his imagination has limitations once the players are better.

I thought he'd done ok tonight - I liked the positivity of the starting XI, I liked whatever he said to them at half time and mostly how we played since the break, but the Saka substitution has undone all that and more. The move of an incompetent.

[Pepe]

Should have won by five too. France had nothing.

[Lofty]

If this fucks Spurs' season it is ample consolation.

[Yevrah]

And Southgate aside, our record on foreign soil in tournament knockout football remains pathetic.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Really gutted.

We were the better side. Referee poor which affected us emotionally as most of the decisions were against us, a lot of our players suffered from inexperience in this respect (esp Bellingham who lost his head a bit). Ultimately though Kane is there to do one thing and he failed, so that's on him. I'm sure it'll be some consolation to him when he scores the next few against Brighton, Palace and Leicester.

Three really dislikeable teams left in plus Morocco. I probably want the frogs to win, you know. That's the sort of horror we're dealing with.

[Pepe]

Punch your wife for us please.

She says lol.

[Spikey M]

We were clueless once Saka came off. Baffling decision. Waistcoat should probably be sacked for that alone.

[7om]

Oh well. Fun game but you have to make it count when you’re on top. Kane could have scored his one-on-one and Maguire had to score that free header.

[Browning]

He has to go.

He won’t go.

[Gray Fox]

Taking Saka off when he was the best player on the park by a mile is genius.

As for Kane.. well if you will trust a Spurs player.

[SincereTheRebel]

Bellingham is great

[Spikey M]

She says lol.

You need to work on your punching then, pussy.

[-james-]

Gutted. Worst bit was that I was watching on a stream and saw my father in law cry laugh emoji in the group chat as I saw Harry Kane pissing about before the second penalty.

[randomlegend]

Southgate wasting this team/squad yet again.

[Adramelch]

So how I see Southgate is that he has some scenarios pre-planned in his head in terms of substitutions and he sticks to those no matter what happens on the pitch.

[Magic]

Hopefully the French get a billboard outside Buckingham Palace mocking the queen's death.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As for Southgate, I think he should go and we should go Bazball. Have the players to be a really expansive, open team. Why the hell not.

[Adramelch]

Hopefully the French get a billboard outside Buckingham Palace mocking the queen's death.

With Mbappe's face after that Kane miss all over it.

[Boydy]

Probably should have had someone else hit the second penalty.

[Danny]

Gutted. Worst bit was that I was watching on a stream and saw my father in law cry laugh emoji in the group chat as I saw Harry Kane pissing about before the second penalty.

Yeah my feed over here was behind too. My mate text me and I saw "why can we....." on my watch. I knew he fucked it.

[7om]

We’ve always got that result in us. For as long as I’ve watched this team, we’ve always been capable of letting the fans down. My earliest memory being Southgate himself with that disgraceful penalty at whatever tournament it was.

[Shindig]

Hang on.

Before the match: "France should win this."
After the match: "ENGLAND ALWAYS KNOW HOW TO DISAPPOINT US!"

:D

[Waffdon]

Crying about a referee when you get two penalties in a match is an interesting take.

Mon the Croatia

[Pepe]

Paging Don.

[-james-]

England squad is a bit worse than France's man for man, and we at least matched them. Was a coin toss and it landed on the wrong side.

I would be fine to give someone else a go now, but the hate Southgate gets is ridiculous.

[Adramelch]

Crying about a referee when you get two penalties in a match is an interesting take.

Mon the Croatia

It's not like they were dubious decisions. Both were stonewall penalties, so I don't know what that has to do with the referee being bad (not to mention he needed VAR for one of them).

[Lewis]

I don't think that one was on Southgate really (crap substitutions aside). We had two penalties, missed one, and didn't really create much else beyond that for all that Saka was having a good day. France didn't play very well but still had us covered.

[7om]

Crying about a referee when you get two penalties in a match is an interesting take.

Mon the Croatia

So giving two stone wall penalties forgives all the other glaringly bad refereeing? Okay then

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's not hate for Southgate. It's just that if you have three goes with increasingly good squads and don't change the style or approach ever, it's time to give someone else a crack. He's done well but we can be amazing with these players, not merely good within a straitjacket.

[Ben]

I know it’s chic to blame Southgate but I don’t know how we can there. Just unfortunate. The players were on the pitch, it just didn’t fall.

[Pepe]

What is Moyes up to?

[Waffdon]

Southgate done well enough as he always does. They just don’t have bottle in English soccer z

Get baz ball in

[Cord]

A nice new type of England misery for us to be comfortably the better side against the best team left in the tournament and still fucking lose.

No matter how well Southgate has/will do, I think you have to move him on now. I don't think you can give him this group of players for an entire generation. He's had enough goes, see how someone else does.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What is bazball?

Baz has been doing that well with TTH FC?

[mugbull]

Southgate doing the soyboy approach with Maguire, who just isn’t good enough. He’s not Championship tier, but he is about Southampton tier

[Lewis]

I would like to see a Frank Lampard/Steven Gerrard management team like what Sweden used to think was acceptable.

[CJay]

Gutted. Worst bit was that I was watching on a stream and saw my father in law cry laugh emoji in the group chat as I saw Harry Kane pissing about before the second penalty.

Not having do not disturb on in this situation is criminal really. Especially as the streams in this tournament have consistently been a good 3 or 4 minutes behind.

[Yevrah]

England squad is a bit worse than France's man for man, and we at least matched them. Was a coin toss and it landed on the wrong side.

It's not a coin toss when we've lost in this way 5/6 times in my lifetime and never won one, chuck in the slow death defeats as well and those are the two things we need to get past. The Saka substitution (and the the slow death defeats to Croatia and Italy) tells you all you need to know about Southgate not being the man to navigate those challenges.

[Waffdon]

What is bazball?

Baz has been doing that well with TTH FC?

The greatest thing to happen to sport in decades

[Jimmy Floyd]

Did Bielsa ever get the Bournemouth job? Get him in. If you can't defend, don't try and defend. Going out to a fucking left wing outswinging cross between Stones and Maguire. Ugh.

[Shindig]

The upshot of this is if France lose to Morocco, Deschamps goes.

[Don]

Very harsh on the English there, referee completely ruined it, how are they expected to fucking progress if they're only given 2 pens when behind twice in the game?

Lads, this ain't NFL, fucking learn how to progress the ball without the use of set-pieces. You ain't winning shit until you pluck up some courage, just look at the contrast between France drilling passes into their man and England rolling it about. Give it 20 more years of unconscious bias e-learning and you'll be there or thereabouts.

[Browning]

My post about Kane was obviously rushed and "non-factor" was probably harsh but I do genuinely think he's a problem we need to work out. We go into tournaments with him as a CF and no other real options at the position, but he's offered next to nothing as a CF. He scored one goal from open play all tournament and any average PL striker would have buried that. His link up play when he drops deep is better than most but then we have no striker to finish off the chances.... He's obviously a quality player but the way we're using him is ridiculous.

Despite that I think we were the better side tonight. France seemed to stop playing whenever they were ahead. We just lacked the bottle to finish those chances.

[Shindig]

It's not a coin toss when we've lost in this way 5/6 times in my lifetime and never won one, chuck in the slow death defeats as well and those are the two things we need to get past. The Saka substitution (and the the slow death defeats to Croatia and Italy) tells you all you need to know about Southgate not being the man to navigate those challenges.

There is no man on Earth capable of changing the English psyche.

[Yevrah]

So how I see Southgate is that he has some scenarios pre-planned in his head in terms of substitutions and he sticks to those no matter what happens on the pitch.

That seems to be the only logical explanation, but if that is the case, he really shouldn't be in the job.

[Pepe]

Giroud, what a don, btw.

[Foe]

France were horrendously clumsy tonight. After they scored they fell asleep.

England were excellent again. When they need to play, they did well. I think you lot were probably the best team in the tournament, as a toss up with Brazil.

Maguire the weak spot for England was reasonable. Upamecano looked like an absolute horror show all night. How deschamps didn’t hook him for saliba I have no idea.

Dembele and mbappe pretty quiet too, they didn’t really bother trying to go at the full backs. When mbappe realised he should do it, they nearly got a tap in out of it.

That England side would’ve smashed the other 3 left in, and France might do the same.

[Pepe]

Excellent gtfo.

[Lewis]

Do kids still play on full-sized pitches? Because if so that seems like an obvious point of blame.

[Foe]

Bellingham is absolutely superb by the way.

Foden, Bellingham, grealish, saka all kicking about for the 4 years. You might need a Kane replacement and a retool of centre backs, but this England team will be knocking on the door in North America too.

[7om]

Giroud, what a don, btw.

Absolutely. I think he was underrated at Arsenal and certainly at Chelsea. The geezer is always causing havoc, is great in the air and tidy with the ball at his feet.

[Pepe]

Absolutely. I think he was underrated at Arsenal and certainly at Chelsea. The geezer is always causing havoc, is great in the air and tidy with the ball at his feet.

Back in the day of proper strikers everyone would love him.

[Shindig]

There's no way we're playing two up top but I would've liked to have seen Wilson partner Kane. One making runs off the other like they were Defoe.

[Magic]

Did Bielsa ever get the Bournemouth job? Get him in. If you can't defend, don't try and defend. Going out to a fucking left wing outswinging cross between Stones and Maguire. Ugh.

Not his type of job.

[Don]

Giroud, what a don, btw.

The Giroud close-up for the celebration of his second was a proper World cup moment. Chills.

This wasn't bad either.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FjpPlEVX0Ag-jXn?format=jpg&name=large

[Lewis]

What is this second penalty-taker stuff? If you're the first choice you are for a reason, so you take the second and third ones too.

[Yevrah]

What is this second penalty-taker stuff? If you're the first choice you are for a reason, so you take the second and third ones too.

Absolute drivel is what it was.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, that's one of the more bizarre takes I've seen.

Kane is a great penalty taker but that one - ball assisted I think - was horrible.

[Lofty]

Just have to hope Morocco win and get the Palestine flag out while lifting the trophy for maximum seethe now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Here's a fact, we were only given one yellow card in five games, which was Maguire in stoppage time just then.

The good guys.

[ScousePig]

Gutted. Worst bit was that I was watching on a stream and saw my father in law cry laugh emoji in the group chat as I saw Harry Kane pissing about before the second penalty.

Put your phone down then.

[thommo]

It's anyone but Argentina from here on out, surely.

[-james-]

Put your phone down then.

It was screen side up on the table.

[Jimmy Floyd]

All the 'well played lads, our time will come' tweets from blue tick twitter do my fucking head in. That was our time. That was a World Cup quarter final. We could all be dead by the next one.

[Lewis]

It was screen side up on the table.

Also, when did you get married?

[Yevrah]

A nice new type of England misery for us to be comfortably the better side against the best team left in the tournament and still fucking lose.

When you're my age, that misery is not new. :moop:

[Yevrah]

And I'd also add I'm not sure we were that good too. Good, sure, but we didn't score in open play or really create that much either.

[Waffdon]

The French are going to win three in a row with this current team. They’ll probably produce another monster or two on the way.

Has there ever been a repeat of the final back to back?

[Lewis]

1986 and 1990 were both Argentina vs Germany.

[Giggles]

I feel asleep at 1-1 because it was shit, but that is very pleasing. I hope I’m not dreaming.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The various final options are horrid apart from Argentina v France, so we might as well have that.

Croatia/Morocco would be hilarious but surely not.

[wullie]

86 and 90 is the only direct repeat I think.

[Ben]

My post about Kane was obviously rushed and "non-factor" was probably harsh but I do genuinely think he's a problem we need to work out. We go into tournaments with him as a CF and no other real options at the position, but he's offered next to nothing as a CF. He scored one goal from open play all tournament and any average PL striker would have buried that. His link up play when he drops deep is better than most but then we have no striker to finish off the chances.... He's obviously a quality player but the way we're using him is ridiculous.

Despite that I think we were the better side tonight. France seemed to stop playing whenever they were ahead. We just lacked the bottle to finish those chances.

There’s loads of shit in between but I agree with all of that. We can’t drop Kane but if we don’t then we don’t have a centre forward. It’s a conundrum.

[Giggles]

It's anyone but Argentina from here on out, surely.

Anyone but Morocco, and that was even before the game tonight.

[Gray Fox]

What is bazball?

It's what Englands Cricket team has started doing. The theory goes that you're going to get out at some point regardless of how defensively or offensively you approach your time batting. Therefore it is best to go fully attacking and maximise your scoring before you get out.

It's currently serving England very well.

[Waffdon]

I feel asleep at 1-1 because it was shit, but that is very pleasing. I hope I’m not dreaming.

Have a good night giggles

[Shindig]

I don't know if it applies to football though. You have a whole innings to deal with whatever wickets fall. In football, falling a goal behind carries more weight.

[Waffdon]

Don’t doubt Baz ball

[Shindig]

"And the latest score from the England match: -£6000."

[niko_cee]

Obviously a lot to unpack in here, but I thought England were about as good as they could be and should have no regrets [other than the obvious]. It's probably just age but I had no problems with that, thought we were in complete charge from about 40 mins onwards and just meffed it up. These things happen.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Moment of the tournament for us: when we took a knee against the fucking USA and they didn't.

[Pepe]

You deserve to never win anything just for that whole knee nonsense.

[Yevrah]

I still can't believe he took Saka off.

[Waffdon]

I still can’t believe Konate and Saliba are behind Upamecano in the pecking order

[Ben]

Upamecano is a car crash and will probably cost France the trophy if they fall short.

[Luke Emia]

I thought we played well tonight. BUT, where is Trent when you are chasing the game and don’t fool yourself anyone if James is fit he isn’t getting on the pitch either and that is the problem with him. Walker basically didn’t set foot in the France half and when two of the best tactical managers in the world are making it about what your full backs are doing going forward that shows you where Southgate is lacking.

[Yevrah]

I can forgive him sacrificing a right back's attacking output if said right back is up against Mbappe, but in general I agree - it's ludicrous Trent is nowhere near the England side.

[Spoonsky]

It's insane to me. Surely if you've brought Trent at all it's for a situation like the last 5-10 minutes of this match when you just need some crosses. Go full LvG bring on Trent and Callum Wilson instead of Sterling and Mount.

I'm here for anyone but France at this point. Argentina shithousing the French in a final (plus some kind of Messi moment) would do me very nicely.

*cue Croatia-France re-run*

[Giggles]

What have I missed with Alexander-Arnold (you cunts)? Most weeks everyone does be on here saying how shite he is. Is it one of those situations where he’s improved in everyone’s mind by not playing?

[Spikey M]

What have I missed with Alexander-Arnold (you cunts)? Most weeks everyone does be on here saying how shite he is. Is it one of those situations where he’s improved in everyone’s mind by not playing?

He's a defensive liability, but going forward he offers more than the others. At 2-1 down you may as well throw him in and risk going 3-1 down as the end result is the same.

[Kikó]

I broke my boycott yesterday and scuppered both Portugal and England. You're welcome.

[Spikey M]

I broke my boycott yesterday and scuppered both Portugal and England. You're welcome.

Bless. On what grounds were you boycotting Keeks?

[Kikó]

Because of your mum.

[Spikey M]

No less a made up reason than anyone else I guess.

[Kikó]

You know the answer really though right?

[Giggles]

One of your Scotland or Italy days in the calendar?

[Kikó]

I'm not Scottish mate.

[Dquincy]

I broke my boycott yesterday and scuppered both Portugal and England. You're welcome.

:harold:

You're as bad a vegans.

[Baz]

If Ward-Prowse had gone, England would probably have a semi-final to look forward to.

[Kikó]

:harold:

You're as bad a vegans.

What's a vegans?

[Spikey M]

You know the answer really though right?

Enlighten us.

[Spikey M]

What's a vegans?

When a group of vegans achieve peak angry superiority they merge into one. A Vegans.

[niko_cee]

If Ward-Prowse had gone, England would probably have a semi-final to look forward to.

Not having anyone who could deliver a set piece was a major error, although not entirely Southgate's fault, there are only two in the squad and one isn't allowed to play. Look at the difference Ziyech's delivery makes for Morocco, every attacking set piece is a major source of danger, all we had was people over hitting floaty balls to the back post which were not at all threatening.

[Dquincy]

What's a vegans?

They're like a fussy vegetarian, but let everyone know about it.

[Kikó]

I haven't mentioned it until the mega jinx so I think I'm better than a vegans.

[Spikey M]

So did you not watch because of the goat rumours? That's pretty racist bro.

[Dquincy]

I haven't mentioned it until the mega jinx so I think I'm better than a vegans.

You're the best, and don't you forget that.

P.s. I think Sareth Gouthgate is going to step down.

[Bam]

It's insane to me. Surely if you've brought Trent at all it's for a situation like the last 5-10 minutes of this match when you just need some crosses.

Wants the point if Kane is sitting in midfield?

[niko_cee]

To maybe score from a corner or a free kick?

[Bam]

So we bring him on just for a set piece and let Mbappe run wild.

My problem is more that Kane is never in the box.

[Spikey M]

He is being used as our playmaker because we don't have a natural one. So he's dropping deep and playing the Griezmann role. He has/had the most assists in the competition and Saka and Rashford are both joint (along with others) third in the top scorers.

If we had a playmaker maybe Kane would play as a 9, but without one we just play sideways football all game and he stands up front never receiving the ball.