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Post by Lobster on Jul 14, 2018 12:56:30 GMT
My team- Lloris Trippier, Verane, Vertongen, Godin Modric, Hazard, Pogba, Raticic, De Bruyne Mbappe Several standout centre halves, but not too many full-backs and a lot of teams have played three at the back. Godin isn’t a left back. I think the only full-back who has really impressed me is Vrsaljko who looks superb. Weirdly, I always thought Croatia’s previous right back Dario Srna was another player who didn’t get the plaudits he deserved.
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Post by Lobster on Jul 14, 2018 13:08:58 GMT
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Post by agl on Jul 14, 2018 13:39:36 GMT
My team- Lloris Trippier, Verane, Vertongen, Godin Modric, Hazard, Pogba, Raticic, De Bruyne Mbappe Several standout centre halves, but not too many full-backs and a lot of teams have played three at the back. Godin isn’t a left back. I think the only full-back who has really impressed me is Vrsaljko who looks superb. Weirdly, I always thought Croatia’s previous right back Dario Srna was another player who didn’t get the plaudits he deserved. Yes, not a very balanced back line in my selection - I also liked the Uruguay left back, Laxalt, so will bring him in, in place of vsrtongen and move Godin to the middle
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Post by rcb on Jul 14, 2018 15:56:44 GMT
Of the 32 teams in this year’s World Cup only 2 have lost 3 matches.
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Post by chislenko on Jul 14, 2018 16:00:27 GMT
Hazard and Kevin are on a different level to anything England have at their disposal.
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Post by Lobster on Jul 14, 2018 17:12:35 GMT
Hazard and Kevin are on a different level to anything England have at their disposal. They are, but we knew that before the tournament started and for that reason I think we have to see a final four finish as very decent progress. There is an argument that England have only really done what they usually do and gone out to the first top side they’ve met, but even ‘the usual’ is significantly better than going out to Iceland, and the more important thing is that this team has changed from what we traditionally expect from England. The Tunisia game was the sort of match I’ve seen England draw countless times but we found a late winner. The Panama game was the sort that usually sees England labour and make a meal of (eg Trinidad in 2006) but we approached it correctly and blew them away. Best of all, we finally overcame the penalties jinx and I don’t think that can be overestimated. I honestly didn’t think England would ever break the psychological barrier of winning on penalties, but now we can approach shootouts with confidence, and if you want to win a tournament, you normally have to get through at least one penalty shootout.
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Post by Rio Doherty on Jul 14, 2018 20:48:50 GMT
Gutted that we couldn’t come home with anything after a positive tournament. I won’t comment on today’s performance as I didn’t watch the game, but I’m hopeful that now is the start of a brighter era.
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Post by chislenko on Jul 14, 2018 21:03:40 GMT
Is the entire Tottenham team at this tournament or has anybody been left out and how bad would you feel if you were that person.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jul 15, 2018 5:55:57 GMT
Gutted that we couldn’t come home with anything after a positive tournament. I won’t comment on today’s performance as I didn’t watch the game, but I’m hopeful that now is the start of a brighter era. Coming home as the fourth best team in the world when few expected us to even reach the quarter finals is definitely something. There's hope and belief for the future, and I'm sure they'll be targeting winning Euro 2020 in our own national stadium.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jul 15, 2018 5:57:01 GMT
Here's a trivia teaser for you...
Who are the only squad at this World Cup to be made up entirely of players playing in their home country? All 23 players playing in their nation's own domestic league.
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Post by Rio Doherty on Jul 15, 2018 6:30:15 GMT
Here's a trivia teaser for you... Who are the only squad at this World Cup to be made up entirely of players playing in their home country? All 23 players playing in their nation's own domestic league. England!
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jul 15, 2018 7:03:37 GMT
Yep, pretty easy admittedly. I actually thought it was Saudi Arabia.
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Post by Lobster on Jul 15, 2018 7:25:19 GMT
Who are the two teams with no players from their home country?
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Post by agl on Jul 15, 2018 8:43:25 GMT
Got to be happy with a semi final, albeit a freakishly easy route to get there and a missed opportunity. But does leave me wondering how many of our players actually enhanced reputations and could form the basis for a truly good team. I'm left thinking only Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire and Henderson.
In the middle group, who did reputations no harm, and you can add to that group I'd say Loftus Cheek, Trent Arnold, Kane and Lingard. Kane could end up with the golden boot but did all his good work in the group games and scored a lot of penalties. In the tight games in the later stages he was fairly anonymous and missed a sitter against Croatia that would probably have put us in the final. Also maybe Walker, who was played out of position, but isn't the right man to play in a back three. Sterling is the enigma...could be brilliant but no goals or assists speaks volumes and gives the ball away far too cheaply
The rest, I don't think are good enough. Desperately short of a creative midfielder. Believe only Iran created fewer chances in open play.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jul 15, 2018 8:53:10 GMT
The so-called "sitter" Kane missed against Croatia was actually a remarkable save from the keeper, who stretched his boot out at exactly the right moment.
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Post by Lobster on Jul 15, 2018 9:33:02 GMT
Barring something special in the final, Kane has scored more goals than anyone else in the competition, and that speaks for itself. A penalty is still a goal, you’ve still got to score it (something the great Portuguese ego couldn’t do against Iran) and Kane won at least two of them himself. And he’s not the only player who played weak teams in the group stage. Yes, he faded as it went on, but you can’t argue with six goals in a competition.
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Post by agl on Jul 15, 2018 9:44:26 GMT
The so-called "sitter" Kane missed against Croatia was actually a remarkable save from the keeper, who stretched his boot out at exactly the right moment. No, it was a sitter. Any decent striker should have given the keeper no chance. Have you seen the photos with the whole of the goal gaping?
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Post by rcb on Jul 15, 2018 10:27:06 GMT
Two Real Madrid targets probably knocked many millions off their valuations, or even ended Madrid’s interest - David de Gea and Harry Kane. Two players who increased their market value most - Kieran Trippier and Harry Maguire.
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Post by Lobster on Jul 15, 2018 15:56:59 GMT
That’s why VAR is a load of wank. This brilliant World Cup could be decided by a group of vain video officials who wanted to make themselves the stars of the show. No way would that have been given in France’s box.
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Post by Si on Jul 15, 2018 16:05:25 GMT
That’s why VAR is a load of wank. This brilliant World Cup could be decided by a group of vain video officials who wanted to make themselves the stars of the show. No way would that have been given in France’s box. Is it really the fault of VAR? All it’s done is facilitate the opportunity for the referee to have a look on a screen. The decision was made by the referee, who judging by the amount of time he took clearly couldn’t be sure. Not sure how he thought that was a penalty, a ridiculous decision.
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Post by rcb on Jul 15, 2018 16:06:40 GMT
The day top level football died! Supposedly top official, with five supporting officials and hi-tech VAR, and he still gets conned by a Griezmann dive which produces the first goal, and gives a ridiculous penalty which never was in a million years. Looks like the World Cup will be won by an Argentinian after all.
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Post by Lobster on Jul 15, 2018 16:25:07 GMT
Really harsh on Croatia. The game’s been ruined, a real shame.
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Post by Lobster on Jul 15, 2018 17:16:27 GMT
That’s why VAR is a load of wank. This brilliant World Cup could be decided by a group of vain video officials who wanted to make themselves the stars of the show. No way would that have been given in France’s box. Is it really the fault of VAR? All it’s done is facilitate the opportunity for the referee to have a look on a screen. The decision was made by the referee, who judging by the amount of time he took clearly couldn’t be sure. Not sure how he thought that was a penalty, a ridiculous decision. Yes, I think it is the fault of VAR. It’s a case of too many cooks spoil the broth. The ref takes the responsibility ultimately, but his decision has been guided by a load of people in a room who just seem desperate to make a name for themselves. That game was entertaining but a bit of a farce I thought. The wrong team won it and it’s a bit of a silly, poor-quality end to a great tournament.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jul 15, 2018 17:33:27 GMT
I'm glad the VAR controversy didn't ultimately decide this game - France were simply outstanding in that second half, on another level. Fully deserved crown and a thrilling end to the best World Cup tournament in a long while. Don't believe the western propaganda - Putin and his pals put on a fantastic finals.
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Post by midfieldgeneral on Jul 15, 2018 18:32:19 GMT
Just look at the records of France and England over the last 20 year. We are a similar size in terms of population. Yet France have won 2 world cups got to the final and have out performed England on most occasions, barring the odd implosion. We are delighted because we got to a semi final. What is the reason? Is it just that glorious failure is inbred into the psyche?
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Post by Lobster on Jul 15, 2018 19:55:12 GMT
You could also ask why France has such a poor record in club football, and whether they put more time and effort into their international team than their clubs. One European Cup ever, and that was stripped from Marseilles. Even with the amount of money PSG are throwing at it, they seem some way short of Europe’s best sides.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jul 15, 2018 20:16:22 GMT
Good point and one I was about to answer with the saying "you can have the best league in the world or one of the best national teams in the world but you can't have both."
This has been our problem for the past 30 years.
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Post by thestanchion on Jul 15, 2018 20:45:34 GMT
I think the reason France produce so many top class players is the investment the government put into facilities. Every village in France about the size of Wervin has a 'Le Stade', tennis and other sports amenities. In England we build houses on football pitches.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jul 15, 2018 20:48:28 GMT
France, as well as Germany, have also embraced multiculturalism to the benefit of their respective national teams. Perhaps what is holding England back is the views of some who have posted earlier in this thread...
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Post by South Wirral Blue on Jul 15, 2018 21:13:02 GMT
Just look at the records of France and England over the last 20 year. We are a similar size in terms of population. Yet France have won 2 world cups got to the final and have out performed England on most occasions, barring the odd implosion. We are delighted because we got to a semi final. What is the reason? Is it just that glorious failure is inbred into the psyche? Add to that a European Championship in 2000. They have been very impressive no doubt, almost approaching German levels of consistency at major tournaments. While it's been great this year, I've found it a bit sad that it's been 22 years since our last major tournament semi final. The celebration of making it this far has been enjoyable, but it's also highlighted how rotten our record is compared to others. The legacy of this WC, I hope, will be to usher in an era where semi-final (or even final!) appearances aren't such a rare thing. Nobody expects us to win things all the time but we ought to be going deeper in to tournaments like this more often.
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