England vs Belgium Match Thread

[Alf]

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.

[MTVN]

Let's stick it to Brussels again!

[Shaun]

A nice 1-0 I think.

[Beso]

Team sheet please

[Jack_]

So as someone who only takes an interest in football at the World Cup and Euros, what's the tea on how we should (and likely will) approach this match? Colombia playing the second placers has spoiled things, but other than that...surely the right-hand side of the draw is a lot weaker on paper?

https://i.imgur.com/K15nxrx.jpg?1

[Beso]

Has he rested everyone?

[Jack_]

team sheet please

1012377028497170432

[James]

England making 8 changes. Is Southgate trying to chuck it?

Or if it's not to rest players, it is a typical managerial cop-out: getting his ready-made excuse for losing in, that it was an understrength team.

[Alf]

No pressure on, you don't get many opportunities in life to play in a World cup, go out and enjoy yourselves boys.

[bots]

the only easy game in the draw is potentially against japan, all the other teams on either side of the draw could be a challenge

[Beso]

1012377028497170432

Im chuffef he has done that. The energy should be high.

Hungry players and probably the best way to go for the win like he said he would...go gareth.:dance:

[MTVN]

So as someone who only takes an interest in football at the World Cup and Euros, what's the tea on how we should (and likely will) approach this match? Colombia playing the second placers has spoiled things, but other than that...surely the right-hand side of the draw is a lot weaker on paper?

https://i.imgur.com/K15nxrx.jpg?1

It is but you either prioritise that view or think that the most important thing is to keep the momentum and winning mentality going and you can over think these things too much really, I think it's a bit dangerous to try and engineer an 'easier' draw and sets the wrong tone

[bots]

i think it is a mistake to field that england team, it loses fluency

[Alf]

the only easy game in the draw is potentially against japan, all the other teams on either side of the draw could be a challengeThey fear us more than we fear them.

[bots]

They fear us more than we fear them.

i disagree there

[Vladimir]

Perched for the incoming snooze fest!

Though facing Japan in the next round should somewhat motivate the teams to try and win

[Vanessa]

Right, pizza ordered. I'm all set! :dance:

[Beso]

i think it is a mistake to field that england team, it loses fluency

I think they will come out at 200mph...go for it for 90mins

[Northern Monkey]

Come on lads!

I agree with MTVN.We need to keep momentum going(Not the communist faction of the Labour party)

[Jack_]

It is but you either prioritise that view or think that the most important thing is to keep the momentum and winning mentality going and you can over think these things too much really, I think it's a bit dangerous to try and engineer an 'easier' draw and sets the wrong tone

That's a fair point, and I guess the flip side of all of this is the argument that we haven't yet had a win against a decent team...so all of the excitement may well be for nothing

But *if* Belgium take the easy route and made say the semis or final while we lost to Brazil in the QF, aren't some people gonna be a little bit pissed? :joker:

[Beso]

Jeez, you come into a footy thread to chill out from other forums, and its all politics....AHHTRETKYVJJ

[Alf]

Both teams have earned the right to rest players, and both have chosen to use that option. Game on!

[Alf]

Right, pizza ordered. I'm all set! :dance:You can't take the Italian out of the girl.

[Vanessa]

Come on England :cheer2:

[Denver]

Ready to be wigged

[Wizard.]

We’re crap

[Vanessa]

I'm glad the key players aren't in this game. They need a rest for the elimination rounds.

[thisisdanny]

We'll have easier teams though if we finish second in the group, though Colombia we'll struggle with. But after that if we progress it might be better that we finish second.

[Alf]

Get someone different upfront. I'd take Vardy off, get Kane or Welbeck on.

[Vanessa]

Get someone different upfront. I'd take Vardy off, get Kane or Welbeck on.

Better save them for the next game.

[Wizard.]

Kane was warming up, he’s coming on i wreckon

[AnnieK]

Boring so far

[James]

All the Tottenham players from both countries chatting to each other. :S

[Crimson Dynamo]

This is bloody awful

[Wizard.]

Belgium wanna lose

[bots]

the pundits are just dire. When referring to england they have said that it's impossible for the team not to go out there and try and win the game ..... when referring to Belgium, they say they are just playing it out for the draw ... that's not my impression from the first half :facepalm:

[Wizard.]

Or not

[Alf]

That's what the game needed, a goal.

[Shaun]

:eyes:

[Ramsay]

Great strike

[Alf]

Test of our character now.

[Vanessa]

Oh no!

[Alf]

Get Welbeck on, we need some muscle up front.

[Alf]

That's better Vardy, draw blood lad, make em bleed.

[Northern Monkey]

Oh ffs

[Alf]

Gotta score son

[Denver]

Terrible player

[Calderyon]

What a nice miss from England.

[Jack_]

What a nice miss from England.

:joker:

[Jack_]

This is fascinatingly dull

[Vanessa]

What a nice miss from England.

:laugh:

[Alf]

This is fascinatingly dullThat's modern football in a nutshell.

If it's entertainment you're after in sport, then Rugby League is the fellow for you.

[Ramsay]

Yeah rashford definitely missed that on purpose a few mins ago

[Calderyon]

That free kick would have definitely gone in if the goal was 2 meters higher.

[Jack_]

Watch us lose to Colombia now

If only Japan had bloody won earlier there wouldn't even be this dilemma

[bots]

in the next game wellbeck is going to learn where the goal posts are located

[Northern Monkey]

Oh well Columbia here we come

[Alf]

Watch us lose to Colombia now

If only Japan had bloody won earlier there wouldn't even be this dilemmaYou don't fear Colombia do yeh? Is all their good for is cocaine.

[Calderyon]

England are so lucky they have Kane.

[Alf]

Worked out well then?

No complaints from me on tonights game, best team won on the night. But it gives you no indication of the future, because it'll be a different bunch of players next game.

[Shaun]

And now we play Colombia with doubts. Great.

[Vladimir]

At least the goal was really nice :wavey:

Good luck to both teams in the knockouts!

[Alf]

And now we play Colombia with doubts. Great.If we've got doubts against Colombia, then we should have stayed at home.

[Brother Leon]

It is what it is. Colombia without James possibly and then Sweden/Swiss to reach a ****ing World Cup Semi Final...

[Jack_]

It's a big gamble, hope it pays off

[Jack_]

You don't fear Colombia do yeh? Is all their good for is cocaine.

:joker:

You tell me, I've heard they're better but haven't played as well...I'm the rookie here

[Brother Leon]

:joker:

You tell me, I've heard they're better but haven't played as well...I'm the rookie here

They’re a good team, but it could always be worse.


If James is really injured for the game then it’s a huge advantage to us.

[Mystic Mock]

England are so lucky they have Kane.

Every great team needs a star player.

Tbh though I do think that we're starting to reach above our level now, teams like Belgium and Colombia play too expansive compared to our team, I like Southgate and I do believe that he has done a good job with the team, but it does have limits that not even him or Kane can stop.

[Vanessa]

We will need all our best players for the next match.

[michael21]

And now we play Colombia with doubts. Great.

What do you mean England rested most of the Frist team so there be freash and Colombia play need to win today

England will win

[Alf]

As an Evertonian, I'd like to say I'm confident in Pickford, but I'm not. I'd seriously be more confident if Joe Hart was there. That could be our weak link.

[MTVN]

Well I'm hacked off with that, very poor

[michael21]

Well I'm hacked off with that, very poor

It was part of the plan no brazil for England just easy teams :dance::cheer2:

[michael21]

As an Evertonian, I'd like to say I'm confident in Pickford, but I'm not. I'd seriously be more confident if Joe Hart was there. That could be our weak link.

Everton a you poor man

[Alf]

It was part of the plan no brazil for England just easy teams :dance::cheer2:A strategic withdrawal from Southgate, just like Churchill at Dunkirk.

[Alf]

Everton a you poor manYou're a Spurs fan, so you have no credit over me.

[Wizard.]

A strategic withdrawal from Southgate, just like Churchill at Dunkirk.

Thatcher wouldn't have backed down! Shows how men are weak. Get a female manager!

[rusticgal]

I don't think England went out with the mentality to lose..they just were not good enough.
They now have a better run in...but then who ever knows with England..this World Cup has thrown up some very unexpected results..lets just hope they beat Columbia..it's no done and dusted deal.

[Calderyon]

Has England ever beat a South American team in the World Cup?

[reece(:]

Was watching through my phone, glad I wasn't as into this game as before because it was rather disappointing

[Denver]

Has England ever beat a South American team in the World Cup?

They have beaten Colombia

[Mystic Mock]

As an Evertonian, I'd like to say I'm confident in Pickford, but I'm not. I'd seriously be more confident if Joe Hart was there. That could be our weak link.

It's best that we try and support the players I think as with people like Pickford it is his first World Cup so nerves are bound to show, as long as he gets better at the knockouts then I'll forgive the early teething problems.

And tbh our goalkeeper situation is a massive problem no matter who we pick, at least Pickford has not been a disaster yet.

[Mystic Mock]

Thatcher wouldn't have backed down! Shows how men are weak. Get a female manager!

Nah she'd have starved the northerners of the team so only the Southerners could play.:hehe:

[Crimson Dynamo]

shocking game and apart from confirming that his best team isnt that one not sure if this was a good idea?

[Nicky91]

great result for england, now in the weaker bottom half :love:

[Nicky91]

Thatcher wouldn't have backed down! Shows how men are weak. Get a female manager!

yeah but then england would've faced all the strongest teams, now Belgium has no chance at all to make the final :laugh2:

[chuff me dizzy]

Why oh why give Vardy a shirt? Ive never once seen him play even half decent for England, I was shocked and baffled he even got a seat on the plane

[Calderyon]

yeah but then england would've faced all the strongest teams, now Belgium has no chance at all to make the final :laugh2:

They have all the chance in the world. And do you really count Japan as a strong team?

[AnnieK]

If all of the Belgium team are fit, I think they could win it. I fear we were lulled in a false sense of brilliance in the first 2 games and now we are going to be shown up.....Columbia will still be a tough game.

[Nicky91]

They have all the chance in the world. And do you really count Japan as a strong team?

not Japan, red devils can easily win that one, but after that they have only tough opponents, so they need to play at 100% every match in a row then

[Calderyon]

not Japan, red devils can easily win that one, but after that they have only tough opponents, so they need to play at 100% every match in a row then

At knockouts everyone needs to play at 100% or they are going home, don't you agree?

[Nicky91]

At knockouts everyone needs to play at 100% or they are going home, don't you agree?

i agree, but i would rather play in the lesser of the 2 halfs


because after Japan, Belgium can face Brazil/Mexico, and then France/Argentina, and there's also Uruguay/Portugal


so Belgium needs to stay focused every match, no slip ups which can happen cause of the nerves playing against such tough opponents



England well they have Colombia as a threat, and then my guess would be Switzerland cause i find the Swiss a bit better than sweden, ranking wise as well, and Spain/Russia, Croatia/Denmark


so a slight bit better half for england to be in, i hope they can bring their best level now, with the best players in the starting 11 now



QF should be possible for england at least, i believe in them

[Calderyon]

i agree, but i would rather play in the lesser of the 2 halfs


because after Japan, Belgium can face Brazil/Mexico, and then France/Argentina, and there's also Uruguay/Portugal


so Belgium needs to stay focused every match, no slip ups which can happen cause of the nerves playing against such tough opponents



England well they have Colombia as a threat, and then my guess would be Switzerland cause i find the Swiss a bit better than sweden, ranking wise as well, and Spain/Russia, Croatia/Denmark

so a slight bit better half for england to be in, i hope they can bring their best level now, with the best players in the starting 11 now



QF should be possible for england at least, i believe in them


The other side is a little easier, but only a little. Colombia is a good team and I think England has always had trouble with South American style of play. Sweden blanked both Korea and Mexico, who both blanked Germany so they cannot be taken lightly. Nor is Switzerland, who was great getting a tie against the tournament favorites Brazil and overall played a solid group stage to advance.

Spain and Croatia of course now both have teams potentially of going all the way.

[Nicky91]

The other side is a little easier, but only a little. Colombia is a good team and I think England has always had trouble with South American style of play. Sweden blanked both Korea and Mexico, who both blanked Germany so they cannot be taken lightly. Nor is Switzerland, who was great getting a tie against the tournament favorites Brazil and overall played a solid group stage to advance.

Spain and Croatia of course now both have teams potentially of going all the way.

the Swiss are #6 of the world so i had expected them to get this far


Cald, i get what you are trying to say, don't be overconfident, don't cheer too soon

and i do not really care about who wins this world cup, whoever wins it is deserved, they all got this far now

[Crimson Dynamo]

i think England have blown their momentum with that dreadful performance last night and this could cost them

[Calderyon]

No worries.

I have to say this World Cup feels somewhat odd without Netherlands, USA and Italy.

[Crimson Dynamo]

No worries.

I have to say this World Cup feels somewhat odd without Netherlands, USA and Italy.

its great without terrible negative Italy and also without the surly dutch having internal arguments all the time

[Calderyon]

its great without terrible negative Italy and also without the surly dutch having internal arguments all the time

Netherlands '98 was an incredible team. Kluivert, Bergkamp, Davids, Overmars etc.

[Nicky91]

i think England have blown their momentum with that dreadful performance last night and this could cost them

:nono: keep thinking positive LT


so what this is just one dreadful performance who cares :rolleyes: this match wasn't important anyway

[Cherie]

It was a borefest but I think on balance Southgate did the right thing, everyone is fit, he rested his best players, can’t see how sitting on the bench for one game that they could afford to lose would make them lose focus :shrug: they have less travelling to do and will be playing in cooler condtions so they have a chance at least

[bots]

It was a borefest but I think on balance Southgate did the right thing, everyone is fit, he rested his best players, can’t see how sitting on the bench for one game that they could afford to lose would make them lose focus :shrug: they have less travelling to do and will be playing in cooler condtions so they have a chance at least

time will tell :laugh:

[Crimson Dynamo]

if they go out to Columbia it will be another abject world cup humiliation for England so this is a MASSIVE match

[Nicky91]

if they go out to Columbia it will be another abject world cup humiliation for England so this is a MASSIVE match

of course it is a important match, the Belgium match wasn't important


James is not 100% fit at Colombia


you guys need the hurrikane now

[Cherie]

time will tell :laugh:

if they go out to Columbia it will be another abject world cup humiliation for England so this is a MASSIVE match

Of course but if Southgate had played his first team and somene got injured people would moan then as well....every game in the knockouts is massive for everyone, the good news is the pundits have stopped talking about them winning :thumbs: