Rousseau 10,640 Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 England should've been 2/3 goals up at Half-time, but then when Croatia changed it they should've scored a couple. England couldn't adapt, giving Croatia too much time on the ball. They should've went to a back-four, pushing another into midfield which would've helped to press a bit better. They lacked creativity, though. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
compo 7,048 Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 46 minutes ago, Rousseau said: England should've been 2/3 goals up at Half-time, but then when Croatia changed it they should've scored a couple. England couldn't adapt, giving Croatia too much time on the ball. They should've went to a back-four, pushing another into midfield which would've helped to press a bit better. They lacked creativity, though. They seemed to go to sleep at half time and walker well his game went out the window manager should have sensed that and replaced him 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buster. 5,199 Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share Posted July 12, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Rousseau said: England should've been 2/3 goals up at Half-time, but then when Croatia changed it they should've scored a couple. England couldn't adapt, giving Croatia too much time on the ball. They should've went to a back-four, pushing another into midfield which would've helped to press a bit better. They lacked creativity, though. When it came down to it, England weren't good enough to take advantage of a relatively straightforward route to a WC Final. They have a solid team who are excellent at set-pieces. Their team spirit was also evident. However, they don't have the level of creative abilty middle to front to excite, entertain or take advantage of a golden opportunity. Southgate will stay in the job and if the creative talent develops in the coming seasons, then they'll be a really good team. Edited July 12, 2018 by buster. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill 13,717 Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 England are under 17 and under 20 world champions. Their senior team has just reached the WC semi-finals. Croatia, a country with a smaller population than Scotland is in the WC final in a few days time. Uruguay, a another country with a smaller population than Scotland, played in the WC quarter finals. What this does for me is emphasise the dreadful, pathetic state of Scottish football at all levels, club and national. And the worst of it is the reasons are glaringly obvious when you look at who is running the game here and for whose benefit. We're a total mess and every few years the WC comes around to rub our faces in it. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 4 hours ago, Rousseau said: England should've been 2/3 goals up at Half-time, but then when Croatia changed it they should've scored a couple. England couldn't adapt, giving Croatia too much time on the ball. They should've went to a back-four, pushing another into midfield which would've helped to press a bit better. They lacked creativity, though. I told guys in the pub after 15 minutes "England are giving up way too much possession and it will hurt them". Proven right. You simply cannot give a team like Croatia that much possession. Personally disagree that they needed to go to a back 4 - a back 4 would have meant an extra body in defence, not one less - they had 5 in midfield because both Trippier and Young were acting as wing backs (though Trippier was going forward more than backwards - 5 in the middle should have been enough to stifle Croatia's possession - I think the bigger issue, rather than formation, was personnel. In the engine room they really only had Henderson to break play up as Alli & Lingard offer very little defensive protection - with Rakitic "destroying" and Modric showing just how much of a little genius he is by way of creation, England offered little resistance to them - Trippier & Young had hands full with Rebic & Perisic so couldn't offer any help. IMHO, England should have considered bringing Dier (I don't really like him as a player but they had few options for midfield enforcer) on much earlier (when up 1-0) to assist Henderson. Southgate is a thoroughly likeable guy - but even at half time he should have seen the ominous signs of giving so much possession to a team like Croatia. The signs were there. At that level you have to take your chances or you will get punished - England got punished for missed chances - how Lingard missed the target when central in front of goal is beyond me. They definitely lacked creativity - and Souness made a really good point - Alli and even Lingard are the typed who prefer to be on the end of things rather than creating them. They don't keep possession that well. Modric was masterful last night - what a player ! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 3 hours ago, buster. said: When it came down to it, England weren't good enough to take advantage of a relatively straightforward route to a WC Final. They have a solid team who are excellent at set-pieces. Their team spirit was also evident. However, they don't have the level of creative abilty middle to front to excite, entertain or take advantage of a golden opportunity. Southgate will stay in the job and if the creative talent develops in the coming seasons, then they'll be a really good team. We spoke about this in the pub after the game last night. The one player England lacked last night was a Paul Gascoigne. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buster. 5,199 Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share Posted July 12, 2018 25 minutes ago, craig said: We spoke about this in the pub after the game last night. The one player England lacked last night was a Paul Gascoigne. Aye, Gazzer in his pomp would have made a big difference. Some of the previous England sides that failed might well have done better than the 2018 team, if they had benefited from the same route to the Final. The better teams in the EPL tend to bring foreign players in to fill that type of role instead of playing and developing younger English players (other than sending them on the loan circuit). The prevailing footballing culture that has seen the UK relatively short on gamechanging numbers 10's could be starting to undergo change but it'll take time to work it's way through. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buster. 5,199 Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share Posted July 12, 2018 France (4) and Croatia (1) semi-final starting line-ups featured 5 players from the EPL. England (11) and Belguim (10) featured 21 players who started their respective semi-finals. The extra quality that some of the players from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletico Madrid and PSG seems to have made a difference. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 38 minutes ago, buster. said: Aye, Gazzer in his pomp would have made a big difference. Some of the previous England sides that failed might well have done better than the 2018 team, if they had benefited from the same route to the Final. The better teams in the EPL tend to bring foreign players in to fill that type of role instead of playing and developing younger English players (other than sending them on the loan circuit). The prevailing footballing culture that has seen the UK relatively short on gamechanging numbers 10's could be starting to undergo change but it'll take time to work it's way through. It may work its way through in England but doesn't appear to be in Scotland - look at our recruitment this summer.... lots of height and physicality... not one player brought in, yet, who genuinely excites as a creative player (someone like Gazza). Good point about England teams of old.... obviously hypothetical but I reckon the England of Italia 90 would have beaten Croatia last night. Will never know right enough 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buster. 5,199 Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share Posted July 12, 2018 1 minute ago, craig said: It may work its way through in England but doesn't appear to be in Scotland - look at our recruitment this summer.... lots of height and physicality... not one player brought in, yet, who genuinely excites as a creative player (someone like Gazza). Good point about England teams of old.... obviously hypothetical but I reckon the England of Italia 90 would have beaten Croatia last night. Will never know right enough Sometimes I think that Scottish fitbaw is a particular sport that time forgot. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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