World Cup 2018 | 7th July | QF: Sweden vs England Match Thread, KO 15:00 (BST)

[SpiritofBurnden]

Mad thing is we are going to the world cup semi final playing shit teams, only decent team we faced was Belgium and we lost, some will say that's a tactical loss, but a passage to the semis of Panama, Tunisia, Columbia and Sweden, never an easier path you will see

Sweden beat Italy over two legs in the play-offs for the World Cup finals.

They came through a qualifying group which included Holland and France.

They finished top of a World Cup group in which Germany finished bottom.

The only team that had beaten them at this tournament before today were Germany and they only did it with a last minute winner.

We made them look shite today.

 

[Pam]

Gary Neville has just called out the social media Haters Brigade and then praised Raheem's performance to the hilt. Also criticized some of the fans in the stadium. Bloody hell. It's taking some of the feel-good out of it, tbh.

 

[Mancity1980]

What this tournament has proved to me, is what an absolute bunch of greedy, self important, backward, fucking wankers previous England teams & managers have been.

If they had played as teams, with intelligence, put a shift in & the manager had the balls to play the 11 which was best balanced, they still might never have won anythinv but they wouldn't have shat out so hopelessly so often.

Man for man, most of those teams were infinitely better than this one.

But this squad & manager has put the lot of them to shame.

That is an absolute spot on post. I blame the FA with their scattergun approach to manager recruitment. We have done what other winning countries have done, appoint a good coach with past England tournament player experience. God knows what we would have won if we had done this before.

 

[kalouk]

Well done, I thought you played well, you were never under any sustained pressure and looked confident. I admit I had my head in my hands at Raheems miss more for him than anything but thought the rest of his play made up for it. I think some are over analysing the way the team play, only set pieces etc but if you flip it the other way you are obviously better at them than the other teams giving you an advantage. Just as a side note I think you have more support than you think in the rest of the country. Wales aren't in it so I genuinely hope you go all the way they are a likeable team with a likeable manager. Good Luck in the Semi final!!

 

[Mancity1980]

Gary Neville has just called out the social media Haters Brigade and then praised Raheem's performance to the hilt. Also criticized some of the fans in the stadium. Bloody hell. It's taking some of the feel-good out of it, tbh.

I think sterling is starting to turn it around with a lot of people, particularly those with less club rivalry ignorance and more football intelligence.

 

[mackenzie]

What this tournament has proved to me, is what an absolute bunch of greedy, self important, backward, fucking wankers previous England teams & managers have been.

If they had played as teams, with intelligence, put a shift in & the manager had the balls to play the 11 which was best balanced, they still might never have won anythinv but they wouldn't have shat out so hopelessly so often.

Man for man, most of those teams were infinitely better than this one.

But this squad & manager has put the lot of them to shame.

Well said

 

[Pam]

Did you put money on wigan beating City? Birmingham beating Arsenal, Leicester winning the Prem, Denmark or Greece the euros? Inverness caladonian thistle beating Celtic? ;0)

Shocks happen.




Totally agree. They’ve put the golden generations to shame.

Sometimes going under the radar with limited expectations makes things easier.

BTW, I can't believe this is only England's third semi final.

 

[SpiritofBurnden]

That is an absolute spot on post. I blame the FA with their scattergun approach to manager recruitment. We have done what other winning countries have done, appoint a good coach with past England tournament player experience. God knows what we would have won if we had done this before.

We've had managers in the past who were former England internationals with tournament experience as players.

 

[Pam]

I think sterling is starting to turn it around with a lot of people, particularly those with less club rivalry ignorance and more football intelligence.

I wish I could say I've seen evidence of that. But I haven't, least ways not amongst the English fan base.

 

[SpiritofBurnden]

Also, those teams played Brazil and Portugal in the knockouts...not Colombia and Sweden

It's all relative though.

Those England teams were possibly more talented but still failed.