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

[The Preacher]

Do I not like das.

Haha! That brought back some wonderful memories of the documentary that was made of the ill—fated qualifying campaign under Graham Taylor. So many classic lines, especially from Mr. T himself (‘Can we not knock it?’), Phil ‘the Parrot’ Neil (‘Bring Wrighty on!) and Laurie McMenemy (‘Oooh, that’s a penalty!’). And the Peter Swales episode where he chairs the FA Committee meeting (‘Very good that, Graham!’). Recommended for any (masochistic?) England fan. Had it on video but my brother downloaded it last year and burned me a CD. Brilliant stuff. ‘You do realise’, Taylor says to the FIFA official on the touch line after Koeman’s twice taken free kick goes in and we fail to qualify - Koeman should have been sent off earlier in the match - but your mate’s just lost me my job’. Deluded to the end.

 

[domalino]

I bet Spain are rooting for Belgium to finish top.

They have their issues as a team, but we saw against Portugal that they can play at a very high level they could have one of the easiest runs to a final in history to work out their issues.

Would love to see merlin lift the trophy again.

 

[kenzie115]

Could be farcical tonight if both teams want to finish second in the group.

Could be hilarious.

I know it won't happen, but imagine if both teams went all out for the loss. You'd need some sort of gentleman's agreement not to simply score an own goal straight from kick off. The keepers and defenders would start on the half way line and sprint towards the opposition goal to get into position. You'd then have both teams attacking in the "wrong direction". Any fouls on attackers in the box would result in a free kick and any fouls on players defending the goal would result in penalties, which would then be played away from goal, in an attempt to build an attack. There'd be no offsides when attacking, but you could get caught offside by playing the ball back in your "own half" if there were no opposition attackers nearer to their own goal. The referee and linesmen would have to flag in the "opposite" direction.

Would be quite a spectacle. Certainly better than a 0-0 with both sides trying to pick up yellow cards.

 

[BlueHammer85]

as things stand

Potentially - if we win group.....

Last-16: Senegal
Quarter-final: Brazil
Semi-final: France
Final: Spain

if we come 2nd...
Last-16: Japan
Quarter-final: Switzerland
Semi-final: Spain
Final: Brazil

 

[SpiritofBurnden]

‘You do realise’, Taylor says to the FIFA official on the touch line after Koeman’s twice taken free kick goes in and we fail to qualify - Koeman should have been sent off earlier in the match - but your mate’s just lost me my job’. Deluded to the end.

Why deluded?

He was right, Koeman should have been sent off so he wouldn't have been on the pitch to score the free-kick.

We were well on top at the time and the whole game changed on that incident.

 

[aguerrrroooooooooooo]

as things stand

Potentially - if we win group.....

Last-16: Senegal
Quarter-final: Brazil
Semi-final: France
Final: Spain

if we come 2nd...
Last-16: Japan
Quarter-final: Switzerland
Semi-final: Spain
Final: Brazil

You seem to be completely forgetting about the best team in group H, Colombia

 

[laughing gravy]

Haha! That brought back some wonderful memories of the documentary that was made of the ill—fated qualifying campaign under Graham Taylor. So many classic lines, especially from Mr. T himself (‘Can we not knock it?’), Phil ‘the Parrot’ Neil (‘Bring Wrighty on!) and Laurie McMenemy (‘Oooh, that’s a penalty!’). And the Peter Swales episode where he chairs the FA Committee meeting (‘Very good that, Graham!’). Recommended for any (masochistic?) England fan. Had it on video but my brother downloaded it last year and burned me a CD. Brilliant stuff. ‘You do realise’, Taylor says to the FIFA official on the touch line after Koeman’s twice taken free kick goes in and we fail to qualify - Koeman should have been sent off earlier in the match - but your mate’s just lost me my job’. Deluded to the end.

it was funny first time round

 

[Neville Kneville]

Haha! That brought back some wonderful memories of the documentary that was made of the ill—fated qualifying campaign under Graham Taylor. So many classic lines, especially from Mr. T himself (‘Can we not knock it?’), Phil ‘the Parrot’ Neil (‘Bring Wrighty on!) and Laurie McMenemy (‘Oooh, that’s a penalty!’). And the Peter Swales episode where he chairs the FA Committee meeting (‘Very good that, Graham!’). Recommended for any (masochistic?) England fan. Had it on video but my brother downloaded it last year and burned me a CD. Brilliant stuff. ‘You do realise’, Taylor says to the FIFA official on the touch line after Koeman’s twice taken free kick goes in and we fail to qualify - Koeman should have been sent off earlier in the match - but your mate’s just lost me my job’. Deluded to the end.

Back in those days, a quick Graham Taylor impression always went down well with any random group of Norwegians.

They all saw that documentary & thought it was hilarious.

Apart from all the comedy, the way Taylor wants England to play, which is basically boot it as soon as possible, is actually scandallous & the bit in the FA board room, with his soul mate, the arch criminal Charles Hughes, gives me the creeps. The men who ruined English football for so long, that only now are we starting to learn how to pass a football.

But, of course, it's fucking funny all the same.

 

[The Preacher]

Why deluded?

He was right, Koeman should have been sent off so he wouldn't have been on the pitch to score the free-kick.

We were well on top at the time and the whole game changed on that incident.

You are right there but what I meant was that that game alone should not be seen as the sole reason for his sacking. It was a real hit and miss campaign but, yes, England would have qualified were it not for that game and who knows what would have subsequently happened (personally I don’t think that team would have done particularly well) but the football England were playing was dull, one-dimensional and uninspired. The lack of self-awareness on the part of the players, coaches and FA (no change there, then!), as shown on that documentary, was astonishing. And don’t get me started on Carlton (the real one) and ‘Gazza’ behaving like tits every time the cameras were on them, not to mention Paul Ince bleating in the hotel (before the Poland away leg, I think it was) that the ‘bread’s not fresh’!

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

Could be farcical tonight if both teams want to finish second in the group.

We can make it look like we're going for it. Just stick Sterling up front, to miss all the chances;-)