World Cup 2018 | 28th June | England vs Belgium Match Thread, KO 19:00 (BST)

[The Colonel]

Why do you care what the media think?

All that counts is what Southgate thinks.

Personally i think they've both been equally ineffective and that's a problem for him.

Unfortunately they still control the fan’s minds and that then affects the players confidence.

 

[dronefromsector7G]

We had one shot on goal the whole game.
Aside from the missed rashford chance we never threatened Belgium.
I forsee disaster against Colombia

Do you think we’ll play our reserves again then?

 

[The Colonel]

I hope not! I have no idea how we will set up against Colombia tbh

I’ll hazard a guess. Exactly as we started the tournament and absolutely nothing like tonight’s game.

 

[BigOscar]

And tbf to rashford they'd be better wondering why as a team we can't get the ball to the forwards in decent positions with any regularity in open play. Vardy and rashford weren't great tonight but really they were feeding off scraps imo. Kane has barely touched the ball in open play in the tournament so far and Sterling keeps having to drop to the half way line to get any touches. The reality is that this England team and the way it is set up is shit and the best players we have i.e. Kane and Sterling are being totally wasted.

Yup, that's the crux of it. Southgate is just out of his depth and has completely abandoned the idea of a midfield, we have back 6 and then a front 4, with no one linking the two, other than with long diagonals. All the "attacking midfielders" are runners, who want to get on the end of things, with no central midfielder to actually link with them, it's hugely unbalanced. We've no middle third at all

 

[Lancet Fluke]

How we set up? Do you think that we’ll see that side again?

If everyone is fit it'll be the team that started the first match I reckon. Both sides are average so will be close and who knows who will win.

 

[aguerrrroooooooooooo]

I’ll hazard a guess. Exactly as we started the tournament and absolutely nothing like tonight’s game.

That's what we should do but I'm not sure why there was a sudden change in style tonight.

Do you think we’ll play our reserves again then?

Obviously not mate but I'm curious as to whether we take the game to Colombia or try and hit them on the break like we tried tonight.

 

[The Colonel]

That's what we should do but I'm not sure why there was a sudden change in style tonight.Obviously not mate but I'm curious as to whether we take the game to Colombia or try and hit them on the break like we tried tonight.

Because they could. Simple as that. Rested everyone. England’s biggest weakness is a diminutive goalkeeper. Never ends well.

 

[canyerdogputoutafire]

Yep. I get your point. There is clearly media bias for Rashford over Sterling.
But my way round it. Is to totally ignore the media. Why does it matter what they think ?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/footbal...led-unprovoked-racist-attack-raheem-sterling/
Because shit like his happens.

 

[1.618034]

England are always shit when they're on ITV.

Roll on Columbia.

What channel is it on....?

 

[IH8MUFC]

I'm obviously talking about our style of play mate not the selection

It was pretty obvious that the player's were under strict orders not to come top of the group. Coming 2nd is more advantageous than coming top.
Tonight clearly meant f##k all and ourselves and Belgium clearly didn't even put 30% effort in.