Random, but politely delivered, observations I can vaguely recall from many non-football patrons in a foreign bar.
Have Brazil changed into England shirts? Best passing team. I've never seen English people look happy like this. Does the goalies nan look after him between matches? Why are they so confident? Has Henderson 'come out' yet? Who's the big Irish man? They're still running! (at the end) They're so cool.
Roll on Wednesday.
England are winning lots of new friends in this tournament.
It will generate positive conversations around the world between strangers from different nations for years to come.
Random, but politely delivered, observations I can vaguely recall from many non-football patrons in an Asian bar.
Have Brazil changed into England shirts? Best passing team. I've never seen English people look happy like this. Does the goalies nan look after him between matches? Why are they so confident? Has Henderson 'come out' yet? Who's the big Irish man? They're so cool.
Roll on Wednesday.
England are winning lots of new friends in this tournament.
It will generate positive conversations around the world between strangers from different nations for years to come.
Where players have a relevant choice of nationalities, it should also encourage more of the best and most ambitious to opt for England at senior level, rather than other countries. That's quite important these days.
Very professional and mature performance from those young lions. More experienced and star studded England teams of years past have frozen on the big stage which you cannot acuse this team of doing so far.
I know we still haven’t exactly seen a really fluid attacking performance, and we may well not now at this tournament, but set pieces are a perfectly legitimate way to get goals and it’s hardly like they have been flukes, rather they have been well worked training ground routines.
Immense credit has to go to this team for the preparation and organization they’ve show and I think that’s played a huge part in the calm, confident performances. For once, just for once, we are playing like the well drilled side maximizing its resources - exactly the kind of team that usually knocks us out.
That was fun. This team seems so calm, perhaps to much sometimes. The were a couple of performances I could quibble with. Dele, but he end up scoring , and Walker always seems to have a bad pass in him.
Pickford has been unbelievable.
Big plus, being able to watch the game before breakfast as I’m out in Oregon this week.
Portland today. More breweries than I know what to do with.
Well it's the morning after the night before and i've now had some time to sober up and reflect on things and after some careful consideration, i can indeed confirm that football is coming home.
Any top premier league side in need of a centre back, surely has to be looking at Maguire. The guy is a beast, decent on the ball, quick, brilliant in the air and a constant danger in both boxes.
After 15mins we settle into the match and allowed are ourselves the confidence to play some lovely football.
At times it looked like we were playing with an extra player because we were hunting in packs. Pickford made some great saves to keep a well deserved win.
Only downside is that Sterling confidence looks shot to pieces.
Seen a lot of people praising Sterling and others not. He has scored two international goals in 42 appearances. Yes...our striker has scored TWO international goals. For me, he quite clearly should not be in the team. His finishing and final ball are awful. Any number of players have the speed to run into open space, so why play the one that is incapable of producing when it matters.
Was desperate for him to score yesterday as he badly needs a goal for his confidence. His pathetic finish when through on goal towards the end of the first half sums it up. It was flagged offside but he didn't know that at the time. Simply can't afford to miss chances like that especially in a tight semi or final.
Seen a lot of people praising Sterling and others not. He has scored two international goals in 42 appearances. Yes...our striker has scored TWO international goals. For me, he quite clearly should not be in the team. His finishing and final ball are awful. Any number of players have the speed to run into open space, so why play the one that is incapable of producing when it matters.
We missed him when he went off against Colombia.
Yesterday his movement off the ball was superb. Dropping deep and out wide to maintain possession and keep moves going. He's clearly been asked to do a certain job by Southgate, it's not all about goals. Watch the game again and just watch Sterling when we have the ball.
Was desperate for him to score yesterday as he badly needs a goal for his confidence. His pathetic finish when through on goal towards the end of the first half sums it up. It was flagged offside but he didn't know that at the time. Simply can't afford to miss chances like that especially in a tight semi or final.
He clearly knew he was offside. He was staring at the linesman for a good few seconds.
Was desperate for him to score yesterday as he badly needs a goal for his confidence. His pathetic finish when through on goal towards the end of the first half sums it up. It was flagged offside but he didn't know that at the time. Simply can't afford to miss chances like that especially in a tight semi or final.
He clearly knew he was offside. He was staring at the linesman for a good few seconds.
He looked straight across at the linesman as soon as he received the ball. He knew he was offside.
We're in a World Cup semi-final, we don't need any scapegoats.
Woke up feeling like complete shit, watched the bbc video recap of yesterday and it’s made me an emotional wreck. Still can’t believe we are in a World Cup semi final
Woke up feeling like complete shit, watched the bbc video recap of yesterday and it’s made me an emotional wreck. Still can’t believe we are in a World Cup semi final
Exactly the same here.
Watched highlights trying to get some breakfast down me and got all emotional. Quite a moment on my own.
Looking back these Pickford saves were quite unreal, very important timings too. Well done one and all!!!
Yesterday was just fantastic. An England team bursting with effort, pride and no little skill. Then a night at our favourite restaurant celebrating my Welsh, England supporting, mate's 65th birthday, and today is the wife's birthday, so off out for a nice meal again tonight.
Yesterday was just fantastic. An England team bursting with effort, pride and no little skill. Then a night at our favourite restaurant celebrating my Welsh, England supporting, mate's 65th birthday, and today is the wife's birthday, so off out for a nice meal again tonight.
All the best to Karen for her birthday, enjoy the meal.
Whatever happens now, they have massively exceeded our expectations and deserve a heroes' welcome when they get home.
It's a whole new world when we have a team playing with confidence and a big dose of humility winning friends all over the globe with our football. Like many of our older lifers, I almost can't compute it when comparing with what I have been used to all my life. The effect that it's having on people up and down the country is fantastic. When you have people of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities celebrating and hugging each other, you realise what a truly special and positive thing this is.
But my word, I don't half like it and I'm going to enjoy this ride for as long as it lasts and whatever happens, I will look back on it with pride. It's been over twenty years since I've been able to say that!
Thank you Gareth, the team, the squad, the staff and the fans. This is a special moment.
Comments
Good night.
Have Brazil changed into England shirts?
Best passing team.
I've never seen English people look happy like this.
Does the goalies nan look after him between matches?
Why are they so confident?
Has Henderson 'come out' yet?
Who's the big Irish man?
They're still running! (at the end)
They're so cool.
Roll on Wednesday.
England are winning lots of new friends in this tournament.
It will generate positive conversations around the world between strangers from different nations for years to come.
I know we still haven’t exactly seen a really fluid attacking performance, and we may well not now at this tournament, but set pieces are a perfectly legitimate way to get goals and it’s hardly like they have been flukes, rather they have been well worked training ground routines.
Immense credit has to go to this team for the preparation and organization they’ve show and I think that’s played a huge part in the calm, confident performances. For once, just for once, we are playing like the well drilled side maximizing its resources - exactly the kind of team that usually knocks us out.
Pickford has been unbelievable.
Big plus, being able to watch the game before breakfast as I’m out in Oregon this week.
Portland today. More breweries than I know what to do with.
Sweden fans chanting "Go home, to your ugly wives."
Good banter
Bacon sizzling in the frying pan as I write this!
Reckon there was a celebration here
At times it looked like we were playing with an extra player because we were hunting in packs. Pickford made some great saves to keep a well deserved win.
Only downside is that Sterling confidence looks shot to pieces.
He has scored two international goals in 42 appearances. Yes...our striker has scored TWO international goals. For me, he quite clearly should not be in the team. His finishing and final ball are awful. Any number of players have the speed to run into open space, so why play the one that is incapable of producing when it matters.
Yesterday his movement off the ball was superb. Dropping deep and out wide to maintain possession and keep moves going. He's clearly been asked to do a certain job by Southgate, it's not all about goals. Watch the game again and just watch Sterling when we have the ball.
We're in a World Cup semi-final, we don't need any scapegoats.
Watched highlights trying to get some breakfast down me and got all emotional. Quite a moment on my own.
Looking back these Pickford saves were quite unreal, very important timings too. Well done one and all!!!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44751785
It's a whole new world when we have a team playing with confidence and a big dose of humility winning friends all over the globe with our football. Like many of our older lifers, I almost can't compute it when comparing with what I have been used to all my life. The effect that it's having on people up and down the country is fantastic. When you have people of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities celebrating and hugging each other, you realise what a truly special and positive thing this is.
But my word, I don't half like it and I'm going to enjoy this ride for as long as it lasts and whatever happens, I will look back on it with pride. It's been over twenty years since I've been able to say that!
Thank you Gareth, the team, the squad, the staff and the fans. This is a special moment.