World Cup 2018 | Hoops & Dreams

kingfisher
Les Ferdinand

The Sussex Rs fan group celebrate drawing with Sheff Utd

Posts: 9,283

World Cup 2018 Jul 11, 2018 21:59:52 GMT

Quote

Post by kingfisher on Jul 11, 2018 21:59:52 GMT

Jul 11, 2018 20:49:47 GMT northwesthoop said:

Ah well, we can be proud. We REALLY needed to score 2 in the first half when on top. We were pretty poor from half time onwards. Such a poor goal to lose by too.

That is what I said to others on FB - I am proud to have them as my country's team! They were not expected to achieve so much in this tournament as they are such a young side. We were living the dream but now we must wait for the next dream to appear - soon I hope!! For now I feel rather empty...
Truth be told, Croatia were the better side in midfield and up front. Full credit to them and I hope they go on to beat what has become a great France side!

Proudly supporting QPR

surrey chad
Danny Maddix

Posts: 1,558

World Cup 2018 Jul 12, 2018 7:10:22 GMT

Quote

Post by surrey chad on Jul 12, 2018 7:10:22 GMT

Jul 11, 2018 20:49:47 GMT northwesthoop said:

Ah well, we can be proud.

We REALLY needed to score 2 in the first half when on top. We were pretty poor from half time onwards.

Such a poor goal to lose by too.

Total agree, very proud of them. The only thing I would say is that Croatia changed the way they played in 2nd half which caused us issues which we didn't / couldn't respond to.

Roll on Euros as I think this team has so much more to come from it. All very young, some have only had 1 season in the prem!! COME ON ENGLAND!!!

Ghost
Glenn Roeder

Posts: 2,171

World Cup 2018 Jul 12, 2018 7:32:03 GMT

Quote

Post by Ghost on Jul 12, 2018 7:32:03 GMT

Yes we paid for not taking the chances when we were on top.
Croatia worked us out in the 2nd half:
1. High press to stop us playing out from the back so we ended up playing long balls which suited their big centre backs
2. Width up front to get behind our wing backs, especially Young - the same problem we had when we played 3-5-2.

kingfisher
Les Ferdinand

The Sussex Rs fan group celebrate drawing with Sheff Utd

Posts: 9,283

World Cup 2018 Jul 12, 2018 13:06:09 GMT

Quote

Post by kingfisher on Jul 12, 2018 13:06:09 GMT

Jul 12, 2018 7:32:03 GMT Ghost said:

Yes we paid for not taking the chances when we were on top.
Croatia worked us out in the 2nd half:
1. High press to stop us playing out from the back so we ended up playing long balls which suited their big centre backs
2. Width up front to get behind our wing backs, especially Young - the same problem we had when we played 3-5-2.

Agree! I feel we lost control of the midfield and thus the game. With Young in particular hanging back we became outnumbered, resulting in Kane forced to drop back to assist and thus running himself into the ground. Having said all that, if we had only put away just one of the half-chances offered in the first half......

I would have kept Henderson on; brought on Rose at 50 mins for Young (who feared to go forward but then positioned himself so badly defending that he was often bypassed); replaced Alli with Loftus Cheek; and considered introducing Welbeck rather than Vardy (because more physicality was needed). The worry is the lack of depth in the squad....
POSITIVES: Pickford dominated his area; Trippier & Maguire are confirmed as #1 choices; Gareth Southgate is the right choice; and the squad, manager & support staff have made us all proud to follow England!

Proudly supporting QPR

northwesthoop
Stan Bowles

@admin

Posts: 12,644

Member is Online

World Cup 2018 Jul 12, 2018 13:21:57 GMT

Quote

Post by northwesthoop on Jul 12, 2018 13:21:57 GMT

Agree kingfisher that Vardy was the wrong sub. They were stopping us playing so we were knocking more and more long balls that they were just heading away. We already had Rashford on for pace so Vardy was perhaps the wrong call and Welbeck could have come on to help us try and keep the ball in their half. We weren't able to put on constant pressure after they scored.

I've Got Blue and White Hooped Blood

northwesthoop
Stan Bowles

@admin

Posts: 12,644

Member is Online

World Cup 2018 Jul 12, 2018 19:30:17 GMT

Quote

Post by northwesthoop on Jul 12, 2018 19:30:17 GMT

Also I've seen a lot of people saying about 'it coming home' in 2022 but not only is it unlikely that England will perform well in the heat of Qatar but it will be in December, it just won't feel the same... This was the moment... the summer of 2018, the unexpected journey from a young side when expectations were low, the heatwave, Southgate in his waistcoat....

It will be hard to have the same vibe next time around a week before Christmas! And expectations will be higher next time round. Everybody is already talking about the next tournament, whereas in this run up we were happy just to win a game or two. There won't be that same unity across the country again next time and I can't see everybody still being positive when we don't do as well in the future.

And when again will Italy and Holland miss out before a ball is kicked, Germany flop, Spain and Brazil go out etc all at the same time?

This was THE moment. Such a shame.

Last Edit: Jul 12, 2018 19:32:40 GMT by northwesthoop

I've Got Blue and White Hooped Blood

pamment8
Gary Bannister

Devils advocate why I'm annoying

Posts: 904

World Cup 2018 Jul 13, 2018 2:56:56 GMT

Quote

Post by pamment8 on Jul 13, 2018 2:56:56 GMT

I think what SOUTHGATE has done is put together a team that is not full of prima donnas.
Instead a team that knows how we are going to play and understand the roles they are given.
Yes at times they will fail but that's football nothing predictable.
It was easy to rule out certain teams at this world cup.
South American teams never win in Europe.
Seldom do winners comeback and win the trophy 4 years on.
The nation was glued to the semi final 30.9 m viewers.