Group D: England, Croatia, Scotland, Czech Republic

[Paul Rideout]

If population mattered China would win it every year.

Some countries are just not made for football.

England, yes, Wales, no, Scotland, no, Ireland, LOL.

Population does matter when you’re talking about the home nations because it’s the national sport of both nations in 2 countries within the same nation state, similar/same ethos to life, football etc etc.

Also, one tournament win, which was at home, 55 years ago, where the venue for games was changed during the event to keep it at Wembley providing an unfair and unsporting advantage would suggest it should be: England, no.

 

[Goat]

Population does matter when you’re talking about the home nations because it’s the national sport of both nations in 2 countries within the same nation state, similar/same ethos to life football etc etc.

Also, one tournament win, which was at home, 55 years ago, where the venue for games was changed during the event to keep it at Wembley would suggest it should be: England, no.

Best teams don't always win.

The other home nations have massive inferiority complexes with regards England, that's a cold hard fact.

Get over it I say and don't forget to bow to our Queen.

 

[tsubaki]

England's problem has forever been getting the squad playing well as a team. In terms of talent and quality there's very little to doubt. Never had a manager as good as the players.

Gert Potter in

TBF I am not sure it is - the problem with the England squad is that it is very much a secondary concern to players and the FA, and has been for years.

Who was the last player to absolutely bust a gut for the England shirt, in the sense of putting in one of their best ever performances? Beckham vs Greece?

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Population does matter when you’re talking about the home nations because it’s the national sport of both nations in 2 countries within the same nation state, similar/same ethos to life, football etc etc.

Also, one tournament win, which was at home, 55 years ago, where the venue for games was changed during the event to keep it at Wembley providing an unfair and unsporting advantage would suggest it should be: England, no.

It was changed because they didn’t want Russia and Germany playing in a half empty Wembley when they could play in front of a full Goodison

The English head of fifa at the time actually wanted to keep the game at Wembley but was out voted

Don’t think it would have made much of a difference to be honest

If anything, playing against Portugal in more of a bear pit atmosphere at Goodison would have been an advantage not a disadvantage

Playing the game at Goodison wasn’t going to help Eusebio find a way out of Nobby Stiles’ pocket

 

[Goat]

TBF I am not sure it is - the problem with the England squad is that it is very much a secondary concern to players and the FA, and has been for years.

Who was the last player to absolutely bust a gut for the England shirt, in the sense of putting in one of their best ever performances? Beckham vs Greece?

Englands problem is quality players.

Sure we have some good 1s, like Grealish, Sancho, Kane, but we have gone from Shearer, Rooney, Beckham, Gerrard, to Kalvin freaking Phillips and Declan Rice.

Look at the French squad, the Belgian, the German, world-class players all over the park, the gulf in class is huge.

Plus a manager that couldnt motivate a toddler to use a potty.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Englands problem is quality players.

Sure we have some good 1s, like Grealish, Sancho, Kane, but we have gone from Shearer, Rooney, Beckham, Gerrard, to Kalvin freaking Phillips and Declan Rice.

Look at the French squad, the Belgian, the German, world-class players all over the park, the gulf in class is huge.

Plus a manager that couldnt motivate a toddler to use a potty.

It’s more a mentality issue I think

Worse sides than England have won tournaments over the years

 

[Goat]

It’s more a mentality issue I think

Worse sides than England have won tournaments over the years

Hungry players who care Mikey.

I remember when we had players who would kill for the shirt, now it's about how many sponsors they can attract.

National pride has been hijacked by racists and flag shaggers in this country, its sadly an ugly trait.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Hungry players who care Mikey.

I remember when we had players who would kill for the shirt, now it's about how many sponsors they can attract.

I think a lot of the lads do care though

Dom was clearly made up for instance

It’s more they just don’t have the grit for tournament football

I’m not sure how you fix that

 

[Goat]

I think a lot of the lads do care though

Dom was clearly made up for instance

It’s more they just don’t have the grit for tournament football

I’m not sure how you fix that

If your manager is boring and a lil bish, your team will be boring and a lil bish.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

If your manager is boring and a lil bish, your team will be boring and a lil bish.

See, I think Southgate comes across well

Bit of a drip like, but he seems sound enough

 

[Kurt.]

England's problem has forever been getting the squad playing well as a team. In terms of talent and quality there's very little to doubt. Never had a manager as good as the players.

Gert Potter in

Harry Potter couldn’t sort that mess out

 

[tsubaki]

Englands problem is quality players.

Sure we have some good 1s, like Grealish, Sancho, Kane, but we have gone from Shearer, Rooney, Beckham, Gerrard, to Kalvin freaking Phillips and Declan Rice.

Look at the French squad, the Belgian, the German, world-class players all over the park, the gulf in class is huge.

That is down to the English FA as well, at least in part - in all three of those countries young players are brought in earlier and at a higher level than ours generally are. Idiot clubs in England then buy them in order to put them in the way of English youth, who have to either play occasionally or drop down a level, or increasingly leave the country to get back on track. Sancho and Bellingham are only where they are because they left England; if Hudson-Odoi had left when he had the chance to go to Bayern he'd probably be starting for England now (and England would look a far better side) with some idiots (United) about to blow £120 million on him.

Then you have the evident lack of seriousness with which the English FA treat the national side - ie: Southgate, Allardyce, Hodgson, Hoddle, McClaren etc.

 

[Goat]

That is down to the English FA as well, at least in part - in all three of those countries young players are brought in earlier and at a higher level than ours generally are. Idiot clubs in England then buy them in order to put them in the way of English youth, who have to either play occasionally or drop down a level, or increasingly leave the country to get back on track. Sancho and Bellingham are only where they are because they left England; if Hudson-Odoi had left when he had the chance to go to Bayern he'd probably be starting for England now (and England would look a far better side) with some idiots (United) about to blow £120 million on him.

Then you have the evident lack of seriousness with which the English FA treat the national side - ie: Southgate, Allardyce, Hodgson, Hoddle, McClaren etc.

I think Big Sam would have been great for England.

 

[Kurt.]

 

[Paul Rideout]

Best teams don't always win.

The other home nations have massive inferiority complexes with regards England, that's a cold hard fact.

Get over it I say and don't forget to bow to our Queen.

‘The best teams don’t always win…’

The ‘best teams’ have won more than once… at home.

Demark & Greece have won a major international tournament once too.

Funny you should mention the Queen, because I’d consider Germany to be in the ‘best teams’ category.