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England v Croatia | World Cup Group L | 17 June 2026

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Comments

  • Swisdom
    Swisdom Posts: 15,102
    One of the most entertaining England games in years.  Entertaining is the main word here because we looked good going forward for once we normally just look Workmanlike.
    the defence can improve throughout the tournament but the initial attacking threat was good as was our pressing game.

    I wasn’t impressed with either Madueke or Gordon so I think there is still lots to come.

    we put down a bit of a marker there with that performance and I think a few other nations right now look at us and think they don’t fancy playing us.  
  • The Red Robin
    The Red Robin Posts: 27,943
    SuedeAdidas said:

    Do feel for her. By far the best coach and tactical knowledge in the studio. Chucked in the corner.
  • ForeverAddickted
    ForeverAddickted Posts: 100,068
    edited June 18
    Only one game so far, but getting goosebumps watching this, with the players watching on

  • thenewbie
    thenewbie Posts: 11,538
    Swisdom said:
    One of the most entertaining England games in years.  Entertaining is the main word here because we looked good going forward for once we normally just look Workmanlike.
    the defence can improve throughout the tournament but the initial attacking threat was good as was our pressing game.

    I wasn’t impressed with either Madueke or Gordon so I think there is still lots to come.

    we put down a bit of a marker there with that performance and I think a few other nations right now look at us and think they don’t fancy playing us.  
    I'm definitely not going to be saying we are favourites or that there's no one we should worry about as the tournament goes. But I suspect that even the biggest teams will be hoping to avoid England in the draw if possible and would be taking it very seriously if we had to play each other.
  • Garrymanilow
    Garrymanilow Posts: 14,543
    Rashford isn't the hardest worker but he's very good at punishing struggling teams late on when they've run out of puff a bit (as we found out in the League Cup). Gordon is incredibly hard working, is lightning fast and stretches defences. I don't think Gordon was particularly poor last night so much as he barely saw the ball. Our right-footed defence naturally kept moving the ball to the right back at which point Kane or Anderson would drop into the space and look to take the ball on the turn and play it up the pitch to Madueke. We weren't doing that in reverse so O'Reilly also didn't see that much of the ball and our players aren't naturally doing those pivot passes in the middle to the left winger because they're also not left-footed. I like Gordon as a starter and Rashford as a sub though, Gordon runs his full back ragged and pushes him back a good way because he's terrified of the pace running in behind, then Rashford comes on against a tired team and makes the most of his superior finishing. When that ball fell to Rashford last night I was positive he'd score whereas I wouldn't have been with Gordon, but equally Rashford might not have found it so easy to cut inside his defender if Gordon hadn't already helped wear Croatia out in a way Rashford wouldn't. It works
  • ValleyGary
    ValleyGary Posts: 38,636
    Watching all the videos this morning, it’s impossible not to get carried away isn’t it.

    Incredible.
  • AndyG
    AndyG Posts: 6,369
    What a refreshing viewing that was ! finally an England performance that was entertaining. I dont for one second think we will win the WC but atleast lose playing the game our way when we do eventually lose against France or one of the great teams. The defence will probably give me a heart attack before the end of this WC but it certainly gets the blood pumping lol
  • ForeverAddickted
    ForeverAddickted Posts: 100,068
    edited June 18
    Just a fun FYI... At the moment our Round of 32 game would be against Portugal
  • Crispy
    Crispy Posts: 611
    Can't remember the last time we played so positively in a tournament game. Great night and topped off by meeting Chris Waddle in Aldgate whilst walking to the train station. He was steaming and asked me for directions to Tower Hill and my reply was "You're Chris Waddle!"

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  • The Red Robin
    The Red Robin Posts: 27,943
    Crispy said:
    Can't remember the last time we played so positively in a tournament game. Great night and topped off by meeting Chris Waddle in Aldgate whilst walking to the train station. He was steaming and asked me for directions to Tower Hill and my reply was "You're Chris Waddle!"

  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 22,166
    Crispy said:
    Can't remember the last time we played so positively in a tournament game. Great night and topped off by meeting Chris Waddle in Aldgate whilst walking to the train station. He was steaming and asked me for directions to Tower Hill and my reply was "You're Chris Waddle!"
    Did you say ‘tet tet tet’ in a Spanish accent first 
  • peterreeves
    peterreeves Posts: 1,193
    Loved the game but the defence needs sorting.

    Plus Pickford has got to stop titting about with the ball and passing it back and forth to the defence, it has all the hallmarks of a comical cock up coming our way.

  • CaptainRobbo
    CaptainRobbo Posts: 2,179
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Nicest thing about last night for me was my 8-year old Son getting into the game
    He's not really shown interest in Football until now... Understandable, I'm a Charlton fan... But the kids all went to school yesterday in England kits etc. so he mentioned wanting to watching it when he got home himself. Thought I'd let him stay up for it as a result, thinking he wouldn't really pay attention, but he got right into it
    Nice to hear.
    I'm surprised the school didn't brand them as right-wing bigots and expel them. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
  • DamoNorthStand
    DamoNorthStand Posts: 12,450
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Nicest thing about last night for me was my 8-year old Son getting into the game
    He's not really shown interest in Football until now... Understandable, I'm a Charlton fan... But the kids all went to school yesterday in England kits etc. so he mentioned wanting to watching it when he got home himself. Thought I'd let him stay up for it as a result, thinking he wouldn't really pay attention, but he got right into it
    My son was the same... in fact even later.

    Wasn't that interested in football until he was about 13 or so. Now 5 years later he plays for a Sunday team, and is Charlton mad.
  • DamoNorthStand
    DamoNorthStand Posts: 12,450
    Has NJ been speaking to Tuchel - starters and finishes and the like?

    Gordon and Madueke are blatantly there to just run and run as much as they can.... tire out the defence for Rashford, Saka and Rogers to run at.
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 72,133
    Out intensity in the second half was brilliant, but we won't be able to do that in one of the boiling hot stadiums without a roof, that's my one worry. 

    Indeed rotation for the next 2 games might be crucial, to keep legs fresh. It's not going to be a tournament where you just automatically start your best 11 every game IF you have decent rotation options. 
  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 19,306
    edited June 18
    DamoNorthStand said:
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Nicest thing about last night for me was my 8-year old Son getting into the game
    He's not really shown interest in Football until now... Understandable, I'm a Charlton fan... But the kids all went to school yesterday in England kits etc. so he mentioned wanting to watching it when he got home himself. Thought I'd let him stay up for it as a result, thinking he wouldn't really pay attention, but he got right into it
    My son was the same... in fact even later.

    Wasn't that interested in football until he was about 13 or so. Now 5 years later he plays for a Sunday team, and is Charlton mad.
    Not sure we want that happening to FA’s kid. Can’t have FA distracted from the match threads 
  • The Red Robin
    The Red Robin Posts: 27,943
    DamoNorthStand said:
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Nicest thing about last night for me was my 8-year old Son getting into the game
    He's not really shown interest in Football until now... Understandable, I'm a Charlton fan... But the kids all went to school yesterday in England kits etc. so he mentioned wanting to watching it when he got home himself. Thought I'd let him stay up for it as a result, thinking he wouldn't really pay attention, but he got right into it
    My son was the same... in fact even later.

    Wasn't that interested in football until he was about 13 or so. Now 5 years later he plays for a Sunday team, and is Charlton mad.
    Sometimes, something just clicks for them. My son is six and had a passing interest but not that bothered, despite me dragging him along to games. He played for a team but wasn't that interested. The playoff final changed everything. Football obsessed, especially Charlton, plays for two teams now, one of them a semi-academy. 
  • CaptainRobbo
    CaptainRobbo Posts: 2,179
    edited June 18


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  • Chunes
    Chunes Posts: 18,435
    edited June 18
    It beats watching us try to 'control' a game by playing five at the back and moving the ball at a snail's pace, and nicking a goal here or there. I'd rather see us go out playing like we did last night. The Premier League tempo is what the England national team should be about. Very enjoyable watch and I have a feeling there's more to come. 

    It was satisfying to watch Modric be taken off early because he just couldn't keep up with the game we were playing. 
  • Starinnaddick
    Starinnaddick Posts: 4,577
    I realise they like to make the Man of the match from the  winning team but surely the Croatian goalkeeper earned the award. 
  • rina
    rina Posts: 2,367
    Chris_from_Sidcup said:
    DamoNorthStand said:
    Chris_from_Sidcup said:
    In terms of keeping the players fresh, i assume if we beat Ghana then we'll rotate v Panama as we'd only need a draw.

    There are 8 days between Ghana and the last 32 match.
    Beat Ghana and with a last 32 surely 6 points and you’re through already.
    I meant in terms of winning the group. We'd obviously already be through but would technically need a point v Panama to secure top spot.
    first tie breaker is head to head so if England and Croatia both win game 2 then we top the group regardless of game 3 results as we'll already have beaten both teams that could also get to 6 points
  • North Lower Neil
    North Lower Neil Posts: 23,846
    Starinnaddick said:
    I realise they like to make the Man of the match from the  winning team but surely the Croatian goalkeeper earned the award. 
    Still let in four I guess.

    Had a great game tbf, could have been a real drubbing without him.
  • jose
    jose Posts: 1,403
    Every time the camera showed the referee from behind I found myself scornfully saying ‘Dick!’.
  • Algarveaddick
    Algarveaddick Posts: 21,696
    Thought Pickford could have caught a couple that he punched. Mpasi looked so much more commanding for DRC against Portugal. Jordan just made me nervous. 
  • Karim_myBagheri
    Karim_myBagheri Posts: 14,143
    edited June 18
    Rather enjoyed that. 

     5 goals were well worked and then a penalty on top. 
    Only thing that gave me a bit of heartburn was our persistent passing out from the back. 
  • ForeverAddickted
    ForeverAddickted Posts: 100,068
    DamoNorthStand said:
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Nicest thing about last night for me was my 8-year old Son getting into the game
    He's not really shown interest in Football until now... Understandable, I'm a Charlton fan... But the kids all went to school yesterday in England kits etc. so he mentioned wanting to watching it when he got home himself. Thought I'd let him stay up for it as a result, thinking he wouldn't really pay attention, but he got right into it
    My son was the same... in fact even later.

    Wasn't that interested in football until he was about 13 or so. Now 5 years later he plays for a Sunday team, and is Charlton mad.
    Yeah I've never been too fussed if Football wasnt the thing for him, I'd be surprised given how much I watch it, but at the same time I think it was only around the '94 World Cup / Euro '96, when I was 11-13 that I really started getting into it myself
  • Chris_from_Sidcup
    Chris_from_Sidcup Posts: 37,416
    Algarveaddick said:
    Thought Pickford could have caught a couple that he punched. Mpasi looked so much more commanding for DRC against Portugal. Jordan just made me nervous. 
    I feel like Pickford has always been like that. Capable of the odd howler and not exactly the most comfortable playing it around at the back if an attacker presses him but i think generally he has been very good for England over the years.

    If we reach the quarter finals and he plays every game then he will have the most ever World cup appearances for us.
  • Scoham
    Scoham Posts: 38,905
    Great to see us score goals though hopefully we can tighten up defensively.

    I don’t bother watching England qualifiers and friendlies, and don’t see much PL football, so it was good to see some of the newer England players - Anderson was impressive in the middle.

    Nice to see our academy represented through Konsa.

    Some of my mates who support PL clubs weren’t impressed seeing Gordon and Noni start, but I could see what Tuchel was going for. They offer width and pace, and as with us in the Championship that changes the tempo and style of play for the better. We’ve had the likes of Foden, Grealish and Palmer out wide in recent tournaments, and they’re obviously talented players, but they don’t offer width and pace in the same way. We’re not Spain 2010, we shouldn’t be trying to fit 2 or 3 number 10s into the midfield.

    Never been a big fan of Rashford but he’s another who can offer that pace.

    It was a big call to leave some big names out, it’s not something that tends to happen. I can remember Gazza in 98, McClaren dropping Beckham, but other than that England managers usually try to play all the big names together, regardless of what the most effective team might be.

    On Croatia, 40 year old Modric in a 2 man central midfield was a strange choice.

    Last night has got my hopes up, but then I remember this is England… but it’ll be different one day, right?

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