Already talking about a route to the final, and talking about Colombia likes it's already won
We are the Sheffield Wednesday of international fans
It's no coincidence that the odds on Belgium winning the World Cup have lengthened while the odds on England have shortened after that result.
I would have thought the same but not on BET365
Last night England were 15/2 And Belgium were 13/2
Now England 15/2 Belgium 13/2
I was looking at the exchanges where the movements are smaller. Before the match, Belgium were a shade over 7/1 and England a shade over 8/1. Now they're both a little over 15/2.
People talking as well like we have the same group of bottlers playing for us as we did in previous years. Yes we've not won many knockout games lately but this squad has barely any World Cup appearances between them before this tournament. Maybe, just maybe, they're not the same players that bottled it in the past?
Have a bit of belief, if we beat Colombia (and we're favourites to do so) then we should have the confidence to go and beat the side waiting for us in the quarter finals as well.
This has all the hallmarks of our Italia 90 run to the semis....
Last 16 against a tough but could have been much tougher opposition (Columbia / Belgium) and the easiest quarter we could get on paper (Cameroon / Switzerland or Sweden).
You really can't sensibly judge England so far in this tournament. They've played well against a couple of the no-hopers and then a nothing game against Belgium. I wasn't bothered about the result tonight one way or the other as it's a mugs game trying to work out an ideal path to glory. Just concentrate on winning against whoever is in front off you.
Similarly, its difficult to judge the players who came in, in a nothing game. I reckon any of them, coming into the established side, would do well. But so many changes in the starting eleven, with the players knowing that they are probably just getting some consolation game time, doesn't;t lend itself to a cohesive performance.
Having said that, I thought Dier was Dire and Danny Rose showed that he is a much better option than Ashley Young at left wing back.
The bed wetting from some England fans is genuinely infuriating and sorry if it's a bit rude, but I think you're genuinely a bit daft if you are in panic mode over that.
We played a very much a second string side. We showed no desire, no passion you could tell we wanted that result and if it didn't cause anymore bed wetting than it already has, I would say the players would be all smiles.
Who cares if we get Japan? Waiting after that was Brazil, if we lose to them it is pretty much the exact same as losing to Colombia in the RO16. Either way people will make jokes and no one remembers people for winning easy knock out games. People do remember world cup winners though, regardless of the route taken and in my lifetime (I'm 27) this is our best chance on paper, easily as well.
All this stuff about morale etc is nonsense as well, do you really think Kane, Alli, Henderson etc are the type of characters that will lose faith in themselves because we lost a meaningless game?
Great result for us tonight and more people will see that when we smash Colombia 3-1 and have a cushty quarter final game against a side we know we can beat. Well done Southgate and the lads
As was mentioned on here during the game, if we really wanted to win the group, Kane and a couple of other starters would have been brought on. We didnt win because we really didn’t try to win. We ended up in the weaker half of the knockout phase. That doesn’t mean we’ll win the cup, but it’s an easier route to the final.
For those saying it’s embarrassing trying to avoid the top teams as it’s makes no difference when we have to beat one eventually.....
I think it makes all the difference in the world when this England team plays a top team.
Playing a top side (such as Brazil) in any stage up to the quarters will indeed results in being easily outclassed....
However - in a semi final onwards the occasion goes up a level. The whole country will be in a euphoric position. None of the players will really remember England in Italia 90 and honestly when the occasion is like that - all bets will be off. They truly could rise to the occasion in a one off game which would be the biggest in English football (club or country) for nearly 30 years.
In fact in my admittedly small sample size of 2 games - England have outplayed arguably stronger sides on paper in the two semi finals I have seen in major tournaments in 90 and 96.
We got an easy group and earned the luxury of having a chance to rest players. Belgium did exactly the same as us but their second string was better than ours. It was always going to be a strange game, win, lose or draw. The only disappointment was that some of the players who came in didn't look good.
The way i see it (and i'm sure many others do too) is that it's obviously disappointing to play so shit and lose but given Colombia then Sweden/Switzerland as a route to the semi finals, we'd take that all day long.
If we can't come through that quarter of the draw then we'd have absolutely no business being in the same quarter as Brazil.
Bring the big guns back for tuesday night and let's fucking do this!
We got an easy group and earned the luxury of having a chance to rest players. Belgium did exactly the same as us but their second string was better than ours. It was always going to be a strange game, win, lose or draw. The only disappointment was that some of the players who came in didn't look good.
And won by a wonder goal- that ultimately was the difference between us as group winners.
I feel sorry for all the people that payed good money to go and watch this game .
So who should be happier, Belgium or England ?
Do you think Belgians are content to play Japan, Brazil (possibly), rather than Colombia, Switzerland/Sweden ?
There is one telling thing here. Imagine the winners would play Columbia then Sweden/Switzerland and the losers Japan then Brazil Mexico. Would we have seen the same teams and the same game? Genuine question. I suspect not. England did ok as they did enough not to be accused of cheating - but we have basically improved our chances tonight. It is as simple as that!
I feel sorry for all the people that payed good money to go and watch this game .
So who should be happier, Belgium or England ?
Do you think Belgians are content to play Japan, Brazil (possibly), rather than Colombia, Switzerland/Sweden ?
There is one telling thing here. Imagine the winners would play Columbia then Sweden/Switzerland and the losers Japan then Brazil Mexico. Would we have seen the same teams and the same game? Genuine question. I suspect not. England did ok as they did enough not to be accused of cheating - but we have basically improved our chances tonight. It is as simple as that!
One of Two scenarios are going to play out next week. Either we beat Columbia on Tuesday, or Southgate's nose will turn into a giant parsnip in the sun on Wednesday.
Comments
No doubt Southgate will be hounded out if we lose against Columbia though
That said, on paper, there is a good opportunity of progressing further than we usually do in the knockout stages.
We badly missed link up between forwards and midfield, midfielders running beyond Belgium's defence and Trippier & Young's delivery.
Have a bit of belief, if we beat Colombia (and we're favourites to do so) then we should have the confidence to go and beat the side waiting for us in the quarter finals as well.
Do you think Belgians are content to play Japan, Brazil (possibly), rather than Colombia, Switzerland/Sweden ?
Last 16 against a tough but could have been much tougher opposition (Columbia / Belgium) and the easiest quarter we could get on paper (Cameroon / Switzerland or Sweden).
Similarly, its difficult to judge the players who came in, in a nothing game. I reckon any of them, coming into the established side, would do well. But so many changes in the starting eleven, with the players knowing that they are probably just getting some consolation game time, doesn't;t lend itself to a cohesive performance.
Having said that, I thought Dier was Dire and Danny Rose showed that he is a much better option than Ashley Young at left wing back.
We played a very much a second string side. We showed no desire, no passion you could tell we wanted that result and if it didn't cause anymore bed wetting than it already has, I would say the players would be all smiles.
Who cares if we get Japan? Waiting after that was Brazil, if we lose to them it is pretty much the exact same as losing to Colombia in the RO16. Either way people will make jokes and no one remembers people for winning easy knock out games. People do remember world cup winners though, regardless of the route taken and in my lifetime (I'm 27) this is our best chance on paper, easily as well.
All this stuff about morale etc is nonsense as well, do you really think Kane, Alli, Henderson etc are the type of characters that will lose faith in themselves because we lost a meaningless game?
Great result for us tonight and more people will see that when we smash Colombia 3-1 and have a cushty quarter final game against a side we know we can beat. Well done Southgate and the lads
I think it makes all the difference in the world when this England team plays a top team.
Playing a top side (such as Brazil) in any stage up to the quarters will indeed results in being easily outclassed....
However - in a semi final onwards the occasion goes up a level. The whole country will be in a euphoric position. None of the players will really remember England in Italia 90 and honestly when the occasion is like that - all bets will be off. They truly could rise to the occasion in a one off game which would be the biggest in English football (club or country) for nearly 30 years.
In fact in my admittedly small sample size of 2 games - England have outplayed arguably stronger sides on paper in the two semi finals I have seen in major tournaments in 90 and 96.
If we can't come through that quarter of the draw then we'd have absolutely no business being in the same quarter as Brazil.
Bring the big guns back for tuesday night and let's fucking do this!
Fine margins
Either we beat Columbia on Tuesday, or Southgate's nose will turn into a giant parsnip in the sun on Wednesday.