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Post by Imperial on Sept 11, 2018 10:04:23 GMT
The quality of the players representing the nation for one. I’d also argue that to say they have played above themselves consistently is generous in the extreme. How can you assess that? You can’t say to a team “yeah ok you’ve qualified for the last two tournaments but that team’s players are better than yours so tough”. You can only judge a team on their recent results and Iceland’s (until the weekend) have been good. You’re surely not trying to tell me you only judge players on their international form? Look at Germany, they’re very poor at the WC but they’re a still a better squad than England aren’t they?
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Oct 15, 2018 21:18:23 GMT
What a fantastic win to stave off the threat of relegation and simultaneously keep our semi-final hopes alive!
The main thrust of the negativity after a tremendous World Cup performance was that we bottled it against any half-decent opponent but that result tonight certainly proves we can do it against the elite - inflicting previously RAMPANT Spain - who smashed six past Croatia - with their first competitive home defeat in FIFTEEN YEARS.
Surely a "where were you?" night tonight. Arise Sir Gareth!
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Post by Lobster on Oct 15, 2018 22:19:06 GMT
Excellent first half but am I being a bit harsh by suggesting England could easily have blown that in the second? Pickford a bit lucky to get away with his faffing about.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Oct 16, 2018 6:44:11 GMT
To be fair this was the youngest England team for a single match since 1959, I reckon we can afford them a little lapse after the game was already won. The first time Spain have conceded three goals in a competitive home game... ever. Unreal. This was the performance and the result that knocks back the critics of the World Cup showing ("didn't beat anybody", "lost against the half-decent teams" etc).
The next step is to prove that last night was not just a one-off.
Hopefully results go our way in November because we can still finish third (relegated), second or first (qualification for the semi-finals next summer).
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Post by Al on Oct 16, 2018 11:04:36 GMT
Excellent first half but am I being a bit harsh by suggesting England could easily have blown that in the second? Pickford a bit lucky to get away with his faffing about. Yes you are
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Post by Hannibal on Oct 16, 2018 11:19:47 GMT
Loved the way we dealt with their "animal". Well done Kane and Eric.
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Post by chislenko on Oct 16, 2018 11:34:10 GMT
As a Wales supporter, firstly congratulations to your boys on a fine win.
On the concept as a whole I think it is so far a major success. Having games where something is on the result is far more interesting than meaningless freindlies with umpteen substitutions.
Also I suppose it brings in more money for the respective FA's as the crowds should be bigger for a competitive match.
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Post by Imperial on Oct 16, 2018 13:06:29 GMT
Completely agree. I’m enjoying it so much more than the friendlies. Shame it’s only on Sky though.
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Post by chislenko on Oct 16, 2018 13:56:48 GMT
Completely agree. I’m enjoying it so much more than the friendlies. Shame it’s only on Sky though. Sky, welcome to the world of the rest of the home nations, but at least Sky allow S4c to show the games as it is in "a foreign language"
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Post by Hannibal on Oct 18, 2018 13:16:32 GMT
Amazingly England have given themselves a decent chance of winning this group now although it will depend on Croatia stopping Spain from winning the game there.
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Post by Lobster on Oct 18, 2018 13:21:15 GMT
Completely agree. I’m enjoying it so much more than the friendlies. Shame it’s only on Sky though. Sky, welcome to the world of the rest of the home nations, but at least Sky allow S4c to show the games as it is in "a foreign language" That does back the question of whether all Sky have the copyright to is the commentary, and if so, could other channels get round this by broadcasting with either no commentary, or commentary in a minor English language such as Cornish? Losing Tyldsley and Hoddle seems a small price to pay to watch England on terrestrial TV.
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Post by chislenko on Oct 18, 2018 14:16:13 GMT
Sky, welcome to the world of the rest of the home nations, but at least Sky allow S4c to show the games as it is in "a foreign language" That does back the question of whether all Sky have the copyright to is the commentary, and if so, could other channels get round this by broadcasting with either no commentary, or commentary in a minor English language such as Cornish? Losing Tyldsley and Hoddle seems a small price to pay to watch England on terrestrial TV. Yes, surprised BBC Alba don't do the same for Scotland as they show SPL games on there in Gaelic.
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Post by chislenko on Oct 29, 2018 23:37:27 GMT
Sky, welcome to the world of the rest of the home nations, but at least Sky allow S4c to show the games as it is in "a foreign language" That does back the question of whether all Sky have the copyright to is the commentary, and if so, could other channels get round this by broadcasting with either no commentary, or commentary in a minor English language such as Cornish? Losing Tyldsley and Hoddle seems a small price to pay to watch England on terrestrial TV. Prophetic words re Hoddle??
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Nov 18, 2018 9:36:33 GMT
Massive game at Wembley this afternoon against the side that did us in the World Cup.
A win will see Gareth's boys qualify for next summer's semi-finals, a defeat will see us relegated to League B (as Germany were on Friday courtesy of Netherlands' 1-0 win over France), whilst a draw will keep us in the same league for the next time this competition rolls around in a couple of years. Literally everything to play for. Croatia beat Spain 3-2 the other night to actually keep our semi-final hopes alive.
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Post by Wortleyblue on Nov 18, 2018 10:17:34 GMT
Massive game at Wembley this afternoon against the side that did us in the World Cup. A win will see Gareth's boys qualify for next summer's semi-finals, a defeat will see us relegated to League B (as Germany were on Friday courtesy of Netherlands' 1-0 win over France), whilst a draw will keep us in the same league for the next time this competition rolls around in a couple of years. Literally everything to play for. Croatia beat Spain 3-2 the other night to actually keep our semi-final hopes alive. England 0 Croatia 2 England are nowhere near good enough
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Post by MOC on Nov 18, 2018 10:54:39 GMT
Massive game at Wembley this afternoon against the side that did us in the World Cup. A win will see Gareth's boys qualify for next summer's semi-finals, a defeat will see us relegated to League B (as Germany were on Friday courtesy of Netherlands' 1-0 win over France), whilst a draw will keep us in the same league for the next time this competition rolls around in a couple of years. Literally everything to play for. Croatia beat Spain 3-2 the other night to actually keep our semi-final hopes alive. Sure I've read that if it's a score draw we'll be relegated on the head-to-head rule as away goals would apply.
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Post by Hannibal on Nov 18, 2018 15:18:27 GMT
Need 2 goals now. What a load of useless W*nkers. You've got to say that Croatia have the measure of England despite being inferior on paper. Southgate out!
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Nov 18, 2018 15:42:29 GMT
Need 2 goals now. What a load of useless W*nkers. You've got to say that Croatia have the measure of England despite being inferior on paper. Southgate out! You were saying?
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Post by Lobster on Nov 18, 2018 15:58:40 GMT
On the subject of national football, I'm now watching Congo v DR Congo on YouTube.
The refs seem keen to try and get the second half underway even though the pitch has turn into a swimming pool!
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Post by Hannibal on Nov 18, 2018 16:39:13 GMT
Need 2 goals now. What a load of useless W*nkers. You've got to say that Croatia have the measure of England despite being inferior on paper. Southgate out! You were saying? Well well! I never knew England could turn it round like that. Absolutely made my day. Who are the other qualified nations? Is it Holland Portugal and Belgium? Well done England.
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Post by South Wirral Blue on Nov 18, 2018 16:40:16 GMT
Would have hated losing to Croatia, again. It reminded me of the summer at times, us generally looking the more dangerous wasting chances but they hung in there and took their chance when it came.
We're a better side than they are and should have beat them in Croatia a month or so back.
Fully deserved that and to win a group that also involved Spain is a decent effort.
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Post by South Wirral Blue on Nov 18, 2018 16:41:28 GMT
Well well! I never knew England could turn it round like that. Absolutely made my day. Who are the other qualified nations? Is it Holland Portugal and Belgium? Well done England. So far I think Portugal are the only other side certain to be in the semi finals.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2018 16:54:35 GMT
2019 its coming home.
53 years of hurt.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Nov 18, 2018 17:00:20 GMT
Yeah just England and Portugal guaranteed semi-finalists so far. The rest of the groups conclude tomorrow and Tuesday.
If Belgium avoid defeat in Switzerland later tonight then they'll qualify, whilst Netherlands can pip France for the final berth by simply avoiding defeat to Germany.
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Post by agl on Nov 18, 2018 17:02:00 GMT
Well well! I never knew England could turn it round like that. Absolutely made my day. Who are the other qualified nations? Is it Holland Portugal and Belgium? Well done England. From wan£ers to heroes. See you have the same schizophrenic approach to England as Chester. There is a middle ground you know!
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Nov 18, 2018 17:03:16 GMT
There's no better sight than Dejan Lovren on the losing team. Fantastic.
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Post by Wortleyblue on Nov 18, 2018 17:03:36 GMT
2019 its coming home. 53 years of hurt. You cannot compare this mickey mouse competition to the World Cup the hurt will only end when we're good enough to win the World Cup again and that I'm afraid will not happen for a long time especially with the premiershit in its current format
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Nov 18, 2018 17:08:45 GMT
Incidentally because Portugal became the first League A nation to qualify for the knockouts, they get to host both semis, the third-place match and the final. Fixtures between 5th and 9th June.
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Post by Hannibal on Nov 18, 2018 17:10:55 GMT
Well well! I never knew England could turn it round like that. Absolutely made my day. Who are the other qualified nations? Is it Holland Portugal and Belgium? Well done England. From wan£ers to heroes. See you have the same schizophrenic approach to England as Chester. There is a middle ground you know!
To you maybe!
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Nov 18, 2018 17:14:39 GMT
Also, because every group winner in all the leagues are guaranteed a Euro 2020 qualifying playoff place we've done that too. Of course I'd still expect us to qualify directly via the normal route but at least the back door is always open...
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