Should be involved in more high profile TV coverage.
Completely agree.
He lives in Rio which probably explains why he's not on the BBC for the Premier League or England Internationals. However don't see why he isn't a more high profile pundit at World Cups
I've added the KO times as per the BBC website so UK time
It's Belgium v Panama that's at 4pm on 18th June, our game is at 7pm.
Cheers just noticed my error
Its stupid because should the Group go to form then both England and Belgium should have six points by the final game (when the two sides face each other) - Group H will finish before ours so basically it could be a situation where both England and Belgium TRY to lose if they dont like their opponents for the 2nd Round!!
Really good draw for England. Belgium obviously have this insane Golden Generation, but they've long struggled to play as a team and you'd have to fancy your tactical wits coming up against Roberto Martinez.
I haven't seen them recently, but Tunisia are meant to be a decent side, but nothing more. A bunch of their players play in the domestic league there.
And Panama are not very good. Plucky underdogs and all that, but the type of team England need to beat to do anything of any significance in the tournament.
Russia 100% have a fixed draw there surely? That looks suspiciously easy.
Yeah mate I don't now how closely you follow events in Russia but I wouldn't go around accusing them of anything they obviously didn't do because they are a fine and not at all corrupt nation and they have my utmost respect.
Really good draw for England. Belgium obviously have this insane Golden Generation, but they've long struggled to play as a team and you'd have to fancy your tactical wits coming up against Roberto Martinez.
I haven't seen them recently, but Tunisia are meant to be a decent side, but nothing more. A bunch of their players play in the domestic league there.
And Panama are not very good. Plucky underdogs and all that, but the type of team England need to beat to do anything of any significance in the tournament.
Belgium are no different to England in the 00s... They've got a great 'keeper | Defence | Midfield but they're suspect when it comes to their Striker and dont play together as a unit more like a bunch of individuals
Looking at the Tunisia team they've got four players who play in Europe; the rest either play in Tunisia or the Middle East
Tim Vickey says that the Panama players are mainly in their 30s and wont do a Costa Rica
Group A Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay Group B Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran Group C France, Australia, Peru, Denmark Group D Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria Group E Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia Group F Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea Group G Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England Group H Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
My first thought was "poor Iceland," but having had a second thought, being in a group with teams better at attacking than defending actually might suit them nicely. They beat Croatia to top spot in the group, and beat them in Reykjavik so they shouldn't fear them. Nigeria aren't anything too special. And this Argentina side struggled to qualify, though under Sampaoli I expect them to improve as time goes on. But they're quite unbalanced, and the 3-4-3 exposes the fact that they don't really have wingbacks (or decent fullbacks) and they're very "meh" in midfield.
Group A Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay Group B Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran Group C France, Australia, Peru, Denmark Group D Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria Group E Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia Group F Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea Group G Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England Group H Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
My first thought was "poor Iceland," but having had a second thought, being in a group with teams better at attacking than defending actually might suit them nicely. They beat Croatia to top spot in the group, and beat them in Reykjavik so they shouldn't fear them. Nigeria aren't anything too special. And this Argentina side struggled to qualify, though under Sampaoli I expect them to improve as time goes on. But they're quite unbalances, and the 3-4-3 exposes the fact that they don't really have wingbacks (or decent fullbacks) and they're very "meh" in midfield.
Frustrating isnt it... You face a team in Qualifying and then get them in the World Cup!!
Thats something else that shouldnt be allowed to happen in the Group Stages if it can be helped
Really good draw for England. Belgium obviously have this insane Golden Generation, but they've long struggled to play as a team and you'd have to fancy your tactical wits coming up against Roberto Martinez.
I haven't seen them recently, but Tunisia are meant to be a decent side, but nothing more. A bunch of their players play in the domestic league there.
And Panama are not very good. Plucky underdogs and all that, but the type of team England need to beat to do anything of any significance in the tournament.
Belgium are no different to England in the 00s... They've got a great 'keeper | Defence | Midfield but they're suspect when it comes to their Striker and dont play together as a unit more like a bunch of individuals
Looking at the Tunisia team they've got four players who play in Europe; the rest either play in Tunisia or the Middle East
Tim Vickey says that the Panama players are mainly in their 30s and wont do a Costa Rica
No they have nowhere near the quality of player that Costa Rica did.
I was kind of alluding to the English golden generation when talking about Belgium. They do have some absolutely world class players obviously, and I think they have more of them than England did by far. But you're absolutely right, it's playing as a team and linking midfield to attack where they struggle. And Lukaku, as we're seeing with United but as we've seen with Belgium for years, needs space to run in behind. If you deny him that, he is very ineffective.
Really good draw for England. Belgium obviously have this insane Golden Generation, but they've long struggled to play as a team and you'd have to fancy your tactical wits coming up against Roberto Martinez.
I haven't seen them recently, but Tunisia are meant to be a decent side, but nothing more. A bunch of their players play in the domestic league there.
And Panama are not very good. Plucky underdogs and all that, but the type of team England need to beat to do anything of any significance in the tournament.
Belgium are no different to England in the 00s... They've got a great 'keeper | Defence | Midfield but they're suspect when it comes to their Striker and dont play together as a unit more like a bunch of individuals
Looking at the Tunisia team they've got four players who play in Europe; the rest either play in Tunisia or the Middle East
Tim Vickey says that the Panama players are mainly in their 30s and wont do a Costa Rica
No they have nowhere near the quality of player that Costa Rica did.
I was kind of alluding to the English golden generation when talking about Belgium. They do have some absolutely world class players obviously, and I think they have more of them than England did by far. But you're absolutely right, it's playing as a team and linking midfield to attack where they struggle. And Lukaku, as we're seeing with United but as we've seen with Belgium for years, needs space to run in behind. If you deny him that, he is very ineffective.
Think we are better off facing Belgium than say Poland as they will just defend where Belgium will attack and we can then counter with our pace (Sterling/Walker/Rose/Rashford)
Comments
He lives in Rio which probably explains why he's not on the BBC for the Premier League or England Internationals. However don't see why he isn't a more high profile pundit at World Cups
We are going to win the world cup.
Enjoy everyone
Its stupid because should the Group go to form then both England and Belgium should have six points by the final game (when the two sides face each other) - Group H will finish before ours so basically it could be a situation where both England and Belgium TRY to lose if they dont like their opponents for the 2nd Round!!
Us to win league 1 and us to win the world cup
Oh, and the Tour de France
And the Olympics
Wimbledon
I haven't seen them recently, but Tunisia are meant to be a decent side, but nothing more. A bunch of their players play in the domestic league there.
And Panama are not very good. Plucky underdogs and all that, but the type of team England need to beat to do anything of any significance in the tournament.
Looking at the Tunisia team they've got four players who play in Europe; the rest either play in Tunisia or the Middle East
Tim Vickey says that the Panama players are mainly in their 30s and wont do a Costa Rica
Treat for the wife, that.
Thats something else that shouldnt be allowed to happen in the Group Stages if it can be helped
I was kind of alluding to the English golden generation when talking about Belgium. They do have some absolutely world class players obviously, and I think they have more of them than England did by far. But you're absolutely right, it's playing as a team and linking midfield to attack where they struggle. And Lukaku, as we're seeing with United but as we've seen with Belgium for years, needs space to run in behind. If you deny him that, he is very ineffective.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup#Bracket
Even England should qualify from that group, however I also expected them to beat Iceland!
Group H winner v Group G runner up