Quarterfinals: Russia vs Croatia

[davek]

Croatia are beatable, France or Belgium will pull our pants down and spank us silly.

Croatia are a level above England. Not a doubt in my mind. That Russian team would have suited England down to the ground.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Took guts to see off that confident Russian team in their own stadium. Croatia have a lot of spirit. Three days to prepare for the England game. It's all or nothing. Should be a great game. The first match England will have played a class team and had to win.

Mad isn't it that it's got to the semi final stage and England still haven't had a decent outfit to face in a game they had to win (Belgium game doesn't count but they lost anyway haha). To get to semi final and have Columbia minus their best player as your hardest opponent is crazy.

 

[summerisle]

...and that contradicts that forecast in what way?

I never said it contradicts anything. You just seem to have a penchant for being miserable ; I blame Brexit.

 

[ilikecheese]

England vs France final then.

Loving that both semifinals are so evenly matched.

 

[davek]

playing the home nation with rabid support would not have been easy

...no, but as Croatia underlined, they can be mastered.

It;s down to whether Croatia or England's class players show up on the night. In reality a close call. However, Croatia have faced uality already in this WC and come through...England have faced a quality Belgian third string they didn't want to beat.

 

[sageyefc]

Just a matter of if Croatia can recover in time for the game, if they do they should knock England out

 

[tsubaki]

no, that bloke in the stand just before than was the most Soviet looking man on earth

 

[ToffeeTim]

I'm swaying towards a Belgium v England final.

But they are both absolute toss ups. Great that they are evening games too. Can't wait.

 

[davek]

England got more firepower. But yes Modric could be the game changer. It's a 50 50 game. Croatia will definitely lose if they play as poorly as they did tonight tho.

Host nation, QF...no easy game.

If they find the form they had versus Argentina they'll wallop England. If not, it's game on.

 

[sageyefc]

lol lol

Was just thinking that when I saw him before

 

[davek]

Mad isn't it that it's got to the semi final stage and England still haven't had a decent outfit to face in a game they had to win (Belgium game doesn't count but they lost anyway haha). To get to semi final and have Columbia minus their best player as your hardest opponent is crazy.

England have had a charmed existence. If they get past Croatia (doubtful, imo) they will be steamrollered by France.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Host nation, QF...no easy game.

If they find the form they had versus Argentina they'll wallop England. If not, it's game on.

Definitely don't see any wallopings in these 2 SFs. That's for sure. 2 great match ups with evenly matched teams.

 

[tsubaki]

Host nation, QF...no easy game.

If they find the form they had versus Argentina they'll wallop England. If not, it's game on.

it will be a big test for Lovren - is this the first time he'll have faced Kane and Alli since they tore him into little bits at Wembley?

 

[davek]

I never said it contradicts anything. You just seem to have a penchant for being miserable ; I blame Brexit.

You said I stated France would win the WC. I did and I still do, and nothing I posted in the last few minutes contradicts that...which is what you implied.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

A comment from the BBC site.

Russia have won my heart over. Showed us how to lose a football match. Figh and give nothing away. And without the big name stars that flail all over the floor at the slightest contact. Lots for other teams to learn