Rovers have a chance to rectify that defeat next weekend. England have to wait 4 years. I know plenty on here disagree with my views on England v. Rovers but England's defeat stung. Rovers losing is unfortunately a common event which doesn't bother me. Kane missed a late penalty, it was tough to watch. Not too long ago George Hirst missed a late penalty, I barely batted an eyelid.

The better team lost. I can't fault the performance. The first French goal was a good strike, the second a superb header.

Their midfield 3 tortured England in 2018. The Croatia players manage to get so much more out of themselves playing for their country. Lovren looks like Franz Beckenbauer. Neymar is such a talent but such a pain in the neck.

I'm going to again repeat my claim that walking, shuffling, step-stepping, and duck strutting up to take a penalty is a good way to miss it.

Messi and Ronaldo have had all the plaudits over the past decade or so but I think Modric is up there with them. A completely different player, but never gives the ball away and is always available.

Quite right. Good players but all known entities. The 2002 team had Ronaldo, Cafu, Kaka, Ronaldinho, and Roberto Carlos. All also very European but much better than what they have now.

I wasn't dissing Sterling. I too think that he does well for England. My point was that I don't think even Southgate would start him tomorrow after missing training all week.

I'm going with the same team as last time out. Even if Sterling is a Southgate favourite he's been absent all week. Mbappe is special but CL teams don't change their entire gameplan when playing PSG. I don't think that England should either. Kyle Walker is a capable full back.

They are as dull as dishwater. They had over 1,000 passes against Morocco and very few chances to show for it. I enjoyed watching their all-conquering sides from 2008-12. They passed teams to death but they had extras current team iterations don't. David Villa and Fernando Torres were excellent goal scorers. David Silva and Cesc Fabregas provided a bit of spark with an ability to break lines. All backed up by Xavi and Iniesta who kept the ball in Spain's hands.

I did but can see it be read other ways. Low lasted too long. Flick is having to deal with that legacy.

It reads like you are agreeing with me. They were unlucky. They should have beat Spain too. My comment was a counterpoint to Darrenbot stating that the German team didn't have quality players. They do have quality players, it's the set up that isn't working. The German mentality isn't there.

Germany's starting 11 against Costa Rica play for; Bayern, Bayern, Bayern, Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Bayern, Man City, Bayern, Bayern, Bayern, Bayern. They have quality players, they just aren't clicking. I think Jogi Low stayed on for too long (a bit like Wenger at Arsenal) and now the system is in need of a reboot.

Might I also add that bringing players on late into extra time so that they can take a penalty also doesn't work. Spain brought on two, Morocco 1. All three of them missed. See England 2021 too.

Awful penalties from Spain. Who decided that walking up to take a penalty makes it easier to score? Having said that if Morocco's 21 could shoot they'd have lost too.

A mate of mine was at the England-USA game. His view of it in person was that Southgate set the team up not to lose, and with it progression secured. USA wouldn't have scored if they played for 3 hours. England do look confident. 1 goal conceded from open play (the second was never a penalty), and more chances being created.

He is. He makes other players better. He's not flashy at all. He has been on the right of the 3, which if where he plays his best football for Liverpool. He does a lot of covering for TAA. If Southgate keeps the same team (which I hope he does) he can help with Mbappe. I think that Rodgers and Gerrard would have had a league title if it wasn't for Henderson being sent off against City a few years ago. They were lost without him.

Well said. I am glad I stay off here during the games. It was obvious after 10 minutes that England were by far the better team. Pickford's save made them wake up, then lo and behold it was 2-0 and game over at half time. Lots of posts moaning about Saka. He scores again. Henderson; a title winning and Champs League winning captain is thought of as a complete plodder. It's completely lost on most that he can play. I say again and again that this board is anti-England, and is certainly pessimistic at the chances of winning. Of course history plays a part but it's gamblers fallacy to think that there is no chance of victory. The Germans are out again after the group stages, Italy are missing their second straight World Cup. I also think that a lot of it comes down to the mentality that pervades East Lancashire. Predicting the worst and being right is easier than hoping for the best and being wrong. Finally, as to Maguire struggling against Mbappe; the last time I looked he played on the left side of England's defence, and Mbappe on the left side for France. Maguire will be responsible for Giroud. Stones and Walker will work on Mbappe. Think big.

One lad was offside but wasn't involved. Lovren was deemed to be because the edge of his shoulder was past the defender. I think that they used the wrong VAR. I don't think that Carrasco touched the attacker's foot. Belgium look old.

You and me both.

Every Rovers fan around to see him appreciated how good he was. His only weakness was his kicking.

Injuries robbed him. He is still good, but his progress was stalled just as he was really on the up. I agree on your Dembele take - I never saw him lose possession. He was superb. Moyes' Everton had a good few; Baines (although did play a game or two for England), Pienaar, Cahill, Carsley, Jagielka. Even Leon Osman did a good job. Arjan de Zeeuw is another one. Never put a foot wrong for Wigan or Portsmouth.

Wales were poor. In the first half they didn't try to play, however I don't blame them for that as every time they ventured past the halfway line they'd lose the ball and England were off. As soon as England scored it was over as a contest. It was barely one before. Overall a good performance from England. 3 goals, although should have been more, subs got a run out, and first place in the group. Roll on Sunday against Senegal. After the 3rd went in I switched over to the USA-Iran game. I'm glad USA are through. They have a young, talented squad who work hard. Their undoing will be the lack of a goal threat. Iran on the other hand are a terrible advert for football. Diving, fouling, complaining, annoying the officials, dirty tricks all around. I'm glad that they are going home.

He's trolling as usual. Just ignore. He goes for whatever he thinks will get a reaction. Where has the Anti-American sentiment on this thread come from? By all means rag the USA in the Trump topic. I hope the USA wins today. It will keep the tournament alive over here, I know more of their players, and they don't play an ultra defensive style of football.

I noticed that. The Iran players were putting in some dodgy tackles. Trippier got one on his foot that looked painful. There were others too. It looks like Kane will be fit ESPN FC - Kane fit to play

Cheers. I also assume that as the 1 seed in the group England get first pick on kit.