GROUP G - Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

[dannyboy]

Laughing now at this from Turnip Southgate: "Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture and make decisions that sometimes might be criticised. But I think everyone's understood what we were trying to do."

So basically he's saying they went half throttle in order to get to Colombia and to an "easier" QF.

Good luck keeping your job if that one goes arse up, Turnip.

Expectations are so low that Southgate has the job for the next four years because Tunisia and Panama were dispatched.

 

[COYBL25]

Breaking news : Alexander Arnold wins BBC man of the match poll shocker.... Lawro and Murphy clicking all night I dare say.

Not one of his corners actually made into the box.

It was like watching Baines back end of last season, all over again.

 

[bicycleheader]

The perfect result for England, rested almost the entire team and given themselves possibly the best chance of reaching the semis for around 30 years

Could hardly have gone better.

no offense, but I consider that thinking to be quite deluded. Thinking of the semis after drawing the more difficult of the possible ties in the 2nd round.

 

[dannyboy]

And the rest!



Spot on, absolute tosh to fill time with the easiest to remember moments. Not many keepers were saving that shot. Everyone makes mistakes during a game and Pickfords cost them nothing. Rose was culpable for giving the chance away. If you hadn't have watched the game and just tuned into the reaction you would swear he had a Karius type game. If he played for man utd I bet not a word would be said, De Gea didn't even get it out in the danger zone he just shovelled it straight in...well saves having the attacker do any work.

Utter crap turning the spotlight on someone as at somepoint something will happen and they'll be like 'I told you', get behind the players for pete's sake and say the England defenders just need to be on their toes to follow up anything that may come off the keeper, because yes, it is a team sport. It's likethey don't actually want to win anything.

I do find it amusing because they're looking in completely the wrong areas for a scapegoat.

Rashford being the go to man for a goal is terrifying after what we saw from him tonight. Add that onto the fact you just know Southgate will be itching to keep Dier in the team and you've got all the signs of a Colombia win.

 

[deipnosophist]

The perfect result for England, rested almost the entire team and given themselves possibly the best chance of reaching the semis for around 30 years

Could hardly have gone better.

hmmm...getting to the QF is more of an immediate worry.

 

[davek]

I'd put Colombia as at least equal chance with them to go through to QF if not favourites. No idea why anybody would prefer a 2nd round game which will most likely be harder just because you might (just might) get an easier QF game. It's a bit odd.

If you're Belgium then that strategy would have worked. Belgium are a way better team than England and would have seen Colombia off. England will struggle if Kane is not on song. Toss up that game for me.

Turnip Southgate had a chance to go all out tionight and secure a creditable QF berth. But he's gambled on going one stepo further than that and his career will depend on it coming off. Personally i think he's been too greedy and he'll be in a lot of trouble hanging onto his job and explaining those 7 changes if/when Colombia prevail. He's defo placed his head on the chopping block and heaped a lot of pressure on this England team too.

 

[davek]

I agree. Brazil are mercurial...and hence vulnerable to upset. Belgium is still a smoky for me. Very talent laden team and possessing the most astute manager in global (and probably galactic) football. I am not sure whether you are aware of this or not, but Bobby once navigated us to 72 points in the PL.

You were going so well there too before the epic fail sarcasm moment.

 

[davek]

Expectations are so low that Southgate has the job for the next four years because Tunisia and Panama were dispatched.

Nope, not for me. Imagine the English media if that game was soft peddled tonight and it comes to nought against Colombia?

He'll be under the cosh and hanging on.

 

[Toffeeslam]

This result is exactly what was needed to be honest, people I was talking to were getting carried away with the previous wins.

This should ground everyone and act as a reality check to those who think we have won it already, and a supposedly easy path in the later rounds.

In context two weakened sides and I didn’t see a huge gap there at all, thought it was fairly even tonight.

If England play well they should beat Colombia then after that who knows so overall after all said and done it’s no disaster.

 

[deipnosophist]

Turnip Southgate may have been born with a silver spoon but his upbringing on the fields of Eton won't stand him in good stead for the rough and tumble of Colombia's lads from the favelas.
I'm not imbued of optimism.

 

[Toast]

Arise Sir Gareth Southgate..

And Harry Kane to get a gong after scooping BBC sports personality of the year too..

 

[Tin-Tin]

Keepers union out in force tonigh plus a few GK coaches!

 

[deipnosophist]

You were going so well there too before the epic fail sarcasm moment.

curses!...I thought that might have just snuck past the goalkeeper. I should have known that your razor sharp reflexes would pick that up.

 

[dannyboy]

This result is exactly what was needed to be honest, people I was talking to were getting carried away with the previous wins.

This should ground everyone and act as a reality check to those who think we have won it already, and a supposedly easy path in the later rounds.

In context two weakened sides and I didn’t see a huge gap there at all, thought it was fairly even tonight.

If England play well they should beat Colombia then after that who knows so overall after all said and done it’s no disaster.

Really convinced they'll play well? Colombia have no reason to be concerned playing against us.

 

[Walken]

curses!...I thought that might have just snuck past the goalkeeper. I should have known that your razor sharp reflexes would pick that up.

you're getting pointers from a master there, heed his words and carry them forth