[Vanessa]

Russia will be easier to beat

[Calderyon]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

Russia will be easier to beat

Game wise maybe.

Home team advantage and Putin factor is different thing altogether.

[Shaun]

It's coming home lads

[MTVN]

****ing hell its actually happening isn't it, what a day!!!!

[Vanessa]

It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming, football is coming home!

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by Calderyon

Game wise maybe.

Home team advantage and Putin factor is different thing altogether.

Omg Croatia will be a tough nut to crack.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

Omg Croatia will be a tough nut to crack.

They will,but we can't lose faith now.

[Nicky91]

my faves now for you guys, this match i will be at the tip of my seat

[AnnieK]

Croatia have needed extra time and pens to beat their last two opponents, that will have taken its toll on their confidence and physicality. If we play well, we should beat them....we just need to stay focused,defend well whilst still playing attacking football

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Going to go watch it in the pub this time since its a Saturday Got UFC in the early hours aswell, it's going to be a long night

So that is the atmosphere like at home Niamh, was the pub full of Swedes

[Cherie]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/fifa...cid=spartanntp

no surprises there...

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

So that is the atmosphere like at home Niamh, was the pub full of Swedes

No, would you believe most of the pub was shouting for England Oh this made me laugh though...

https://www.facebook.com/markmitchel...action_generic

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

No, would you believe most of the pub was shouting for England Oh this made me laugh though...

https://www.facebook.com/markmitchel...action_generic

that's brilliant

[Calderyon]

Originally Posted by Cherie

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/fifa...cid=spartanntp

no surprises there...

He has got a point though.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Calderyon

He has got a point though.

Really surprised how negative you are. Croatia are on the same side of the draw? Russia aren't exactly a high ranking team


Sweden...rank 24

Russia ...rank 70

[bitontheslide]

Panama were a mediocre team, Tunisia were an average team, but as many of the big teams found out, that doesn't mean automatic success. By the time teams get to the knock out phase, they have earned the right to be there no matter how they look on paper, so beating any team in that phase is not easy, and getting to the semis requires consistently good performances

[Calderyon]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Really surprised how negative you are. Croatia are on the same side of the draw? Russia aren't exactly a high ranking team


Sweden...rank 24

Russia ...rank 70

I want Croatia to win though.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Calderyon

I want Croatia to win though.

That's fine but trying to suggest the England are only at the semis because they had easy opposition is not correct and comes across as sour grapes, any team is beatable in a knock out match

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

Panama were a mediocre team, Tunisia were an average team, but as many of the big teams found out, that doesn't mean automatic success. By the time teams get to the knock out phase, they have earned the right to be there no matter how they look on paper, so beating any team in that phase is not easy, and getting to the semis requires consistently good performances

I preferred it when you were predicting England losing, I fear you have jinxed it

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

That's fine but trying to suggest the England are only at the semis because they had easy opposition is not correct and comes across as sour grapes, any team is beatable in a knock out match

It's not really sour grapes coming from Caldryon tbf, he's got no loyalty to England and is just giving his opinion

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

It's not really sour grapes coming from Caldryon tbf, he's got no loyalty to England and is just giving his opinion

He concurred that LB had a good point, and I am rebutting that, I never said he had to support England I am just pointing out how stupid LB point is...

how can he ignore how beatable Russia should have been and then bang on about Englands easy ride

[Drew.]

"England are only in the semis because they had easy opponents" is just annoying at this point. A majority of the favourites couldn't get to where we are after failing to beat the so called easy teams. England can only win against whats in front of them, many other teams failed to do that. Whether it's winning against Sweden or Germany getting to this stage is a huge achievement

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Drew.

"England are only in the semis because they had easy opponents" is just annoying at this point. A majority of the favourites couldn't get to where we are after failing to beat the so called easy teams. England can only win against whats in front of them, many other teams failed to do that. Whether it's winning against Sweden or Germany getting to this stage is a huge achievement

Exactly my point, its been a WC of shock exits against the so called "easy teams"

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

He concurred that LB had a good point, and I am rebutting that, I never said he had to support England I am just pointing out how stupid LB point is...

how can he ignore how beatable Russia should have been and then bang on about Englands easy ride

I was just talking about the sour grapes part of your post....

[Calderyon]

England has been somewhat lucky tbh. The draw was favorable (Panama and Tunisia in the same group meaning an easy advancement) and they got to the easier right side of the knockout stage. Granted the Colombia match was difficult, but that was more for different reasons. Sweden win was nice job although with better finishing Sweden would and should have easily made the required goals. But it was a nice win.
Whether it was a true test whether England can do it, i am not so sure.