...Is it just me...? Brazil don't look THAT amazing - they had a 15 minute period there when they could have conceded three if Serbia had taken their chances. Neymar has been disappointing in a finishing sense, and they didn't really create too many clear cut chances. They were just quite lucky they scored a second when Serbia were on top that took the wind out of them and killed the game.
Not really following the hype from the commentators there.
We have to whisper it but a case can be made for England being the best team so far. The two teams that have impressed are us and Belgium so it could be a reflection of the group though.
England are in to fourth favourites for the trophy behind Brazil, Spain and Belgium.
Would put us third joint favourites... Belgium are nothing special i.e. there is some big thing about them not losing since Martinez took over but have people seen those opponents?
At the moment we are above Belgium on fair play record only.
We have two yellow cards whereas they have three.
There is no doubt that this game is ending 0-0 in my opinion. Would Southgate send on one of the fringe players in the last 10 minutes to get sent off?
England are in to fourth favourites for the trophy behind Brazil, Spain and Belgium.
Would put us third joint favourites... Belgium are nothing special i.e. there is some big thing about them not losing since Martinez took over but have people seen those opponents?
Sure. I'm just going off the odds which have Brazil 7/2 favourites, Spain 9/2 second favourites with Belgium at 7/1 and England at 8/1. French are now 9/1, likely because of their tougher draw.
At the moment we are above Belgium on fair play record only.
We have two yellow cards whereas they have three.
There is no doubt that this game is ending 0-0 in my opinion. Would Southgate send on one of the fringe players in the last 10 minutes to get sent off?
It would be very interesting what FIFA would do subsequently, if it became clear that BOTH teams tomorrow were trying to either lose or get their own players booked!
At the moment we are above Belgium on fair play record only.
We have two yellow cards whereas they have three.
There is no doubt that this game is ending 0-0 in my opinion. Would Southgate send on one of the fringe players in the last 10 minutes to get sent off?
It would be very interesting what FIFA would do subsequently, if it became clear that BOTH teams tomorrow were trying to either lose or get their own players booked!
Disqualify us both and tell Germany they are through
Anyone still want to put down a marker and beat Belgium?
There's a very real chance that the runner up of our group could get to the semi final.
I like the look of the european side of the draw as i'm calling it from now on...
Unfortunately the "Winners Group H" will ruin that
as long as it's Japan or Senegal V England I can live with that. Columbia can go to the South American half of the draw with the rest of them!
Would be absolute insanity to try to beat Belgium as far as i'm concerned. Belgium ain't gonna be trying to win that's for sure - would be very naive of us looking at the potential path though the tournament, winning momentum or not.
I don’t think we should discount England nauwsing up the R16 game even if we manage to finish second in the group. We’ve all seen his happen too many times ...it’s England remember!
You can’t play to do anything other than win it’s a slippery slope
All those who genuinely believe that England will win the World Cup why worry about who we play
If we are good enough to win it we will regardless of who we face
If we can’t beat the teams you want to avoid we are not the best team in the tournament let alone the world
Win your games you win the cup end of
Let’s be honest we had twenty good mins against Tunisia
We had 90 good mins against the mighty panama
Germany are out but with that exception all the other good teams are in
We will beat a much changed Belgium I do t doubt then the real tests Begin
I have no expectations on the squad or Mgr I don’t believe we will get to the semi finals let alone a final
But if I did it would be because I feared no team and truly believed in my own
Given the choice of potentially in the QF facing the winners of Sweden and Switzerland OR Brazil vs Mexico, I know who I'd rather play!
It's not being negative or presumptuous to be thinking ahead like this, many teams have got to finals based on having easy opposition. Millwall got to an FA Cup final AND Europe, without playing a PL side...
I'd rather have the best chance to win - no-one remembers the valiant losers. Giving yourself the best chance to win means preparing properly, training as hard as you can and that could also mean facing easier opponents. There is no shame in giving yourself the best possible opportunity.
We'll be looking on with jealousy WHEN we get knocked out by Brazil in the quarter final while Belgium play their semi final.
I can already see it... we get the runners up spot then by a spot of luck, make it all the way to the final and some will go "yeah but we didn't beat anyone decent yet".
I think the key for me if I was Southgate would be avoiding Columbia! Japan in the round of 16 is a gift! Columbia are more likely to beat us. So if it transpires that second place sees us playing Japan and avoiding Brazil it is very tempting - Maybe Southgate should have picked a few Charlton players!
There is another consideration - say Belgium make 10 changes and lose 2-0 or 3-0. The will enter the next round under a cloud, and that may affect them. But playing Japan under a cloud, they still ought to win! And then you get Switzerland or Sweden in the quarters! It is difficult - but I can already tell that we are going to win the group. It is a British trait and maybe it is important to go out and try to win every game. If you are going to win it, win it properly. That is more important to us than a lot of the continental sides!
it's very simple to play for the draw - don't tell me that everybody always plays to win all the time thats patently bullshit i've seen teams play for a draw plenty of times - england in Italy in the WC 98' qualifier anyone? The booking issue is the problem - if you are seen to purposely get players booked then you could see punitive action occuring.
Fair play rules should NEVER have been a consideration for tie breakers, that's on FIFA i'm afraid and I bet they change the rules for the next world cup.
Comments
Uruguay
Portugal
France
Argentina
Brazil
Mexico
England group runners up half of the draw:
Russia
Spain
Denmark
Croatia
Switzerland
Sweden
Not really following the hype from the commentators there.
Ruiz hit crossbar it bounced onto keepers head and went in
There's a very real chance that the runner up of our group could get to the semi final.
We've trampled over Switzerland a few times in the last few years so would prefer them if we got there over Sweden
Bet ya Belgium complain to FIFA if we draw and get a few bookings though
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium_national_football_team_results_%E2%80%93_2010s#Forthcoming_fixtures
We have two yellow cards whereas they have three.
There is no doubt that this game is ending 0-0 in my opinion. Would Southgate send on one of the fringe players in the last 10 minutes to get sent off?
All those who genuinely believe that England will win the World Cup why worry about who we play
If we are good enough to win it we will regardless of who we face
If we can’t beat the teams you want to avoid we are not the best team in the tournament let alone the world
Win your games you win the cup end of
Let’s be honest we had twenty good mins against Tunisia
We had 90 good mins against the mighty panama
Germany are out but with that exception all the other good teams are in
We will beat a much changed Belgium I do t doubt then the real tests Begin
I have no expectations on the squad or Mgr I don’t believe we will get to the semi finals let alone a final
But if I did it would be because I feared no team and truly believed in my own
Would be absolute insanity to try to beat Belgium as far as i'm concerned. Belgium ain't gonna be trying to win that's for sure - would be very naive of us looking at the potential path though the tournament, winning momentum or not.
It's not being negative or presumptuous to be thinking ahead like this, many teams have got to finals based on having easy opposition. Millwall got to an FA Cup final AND Europe, without playing a PL side...
We'll be looking on with jealousy WHEN we get knocked out by Brazil in the quarter final while Belgium play their semi final.
Now
Die Hard on Film 4
Great day
There is another consideration - say Belgium make 10 changes and lose 2-0 or 3-0. The will enter the next round under a cloud, and that may affect them. But playing Japan under a cloud, they still ought to win! And then you get Switzerland or Sweden in the quarters! It is difficult - but I can already tell that we are going to win the group. It is a British trait and maybe it is important to go out and try to win every game. If you are going to win it, win it properly. That is more important to us than a lot of the continental sides!
Fair play rules should NEVER have been a consideration for tie breakers, that's on FIFA i'm afraid and I bet they change the rules for the next world cup.