Dreams of 1995

The Dutch are looking good. You'd expect that from a Van Gal side - above all else pragmatic. They might not blow teams away but they will be organised and they will manage the game well. Sounds quite like an orange version of Southgate but let's not go there..........................................................................

But going on rankings is a nonsense Herbie Italy beat Spain and Belgium on their way to the final. If I remember correctly Belgium were ranked #1 at that time. Does that make them the best team? Right now Denmark are ranked the 10th in the World but didn't win a game I look around at what them teams were doing at the time and Croatia, Denmark, Sweden and Colombia were all beating the teams around them, except us Iran are now the 20th in the world - are we saying they are a better side than Japan (24th)? I take the rankings with a pinch of salt, purely how long Belgium spent as #1 without ever winning a major trophy

And yet in this tournament they are. Morocco have just knocked out Spain and Senegal made it to the knockout rounds. I don't quite get what this comment means to be honest. Why does that have any bearing on how good they are now, except of course to try and paint them out to be an easier opposition than they actually are. The reality is this: when we thumped Iran you said they were poor because their players didn't play in the big leagues. Now we thumped Senegal they are "missing their talisman", "missing their key midfielder" or "African teams have not done well on the world stage" However, when Brazil thump South Korea they are "showing what they are all about". No mention of course that teams from the Asian continent have not gone to the knock outs since 2010. Or that almost none of the South Korean players play in the big leagues. Or that Son is unfit. There is every reason under the sun why England's performances aren't worth of true credit but the same is not afforded elsewhere. But there ya are criticising roverandout for not wanting genuine discussion!!! And you can stand by them but they aren't based on reality. Colombia were World Cup quarter finalists in 2014 and Copa America semi finalists in 2021 (losing to eventual winners Argentina). They were a good side in those years. Croatia were exceptionally good during that World Cup, with a midfield of Rakitic and Modric. When you look at the team we had to have even gotten to a semi-final was an incredible achievement. We had a midfield of Henderson, Alli and Lingard. Only 1 of those still plays regular football at a top team. Neither are comparable in any way to Rice and Bellingham, who Hendo now has to help him out. The whole world could see that's what lost us that game but Southgate has to pick what players he has and neither Rice or Bellingham were ready then. What is not lost by regular watchers of England is that you don't seem to mention Ali's painkilling injections; or Sterling's thigh injury; or Young's ankle injury. All of whom were required to play v Croatia because the quality in depth we had at that time was not there. In fact, you don't mention that in our game vs Ukraine we missed starter Mason Mount due to Covid. And likewise you don't mention that we beat Senegal without Southgate's preferred Sterling. We can all list what makes teams weaker, but the truth is that we are beating teams put in front of us and scoring more than others doing it. Brazil have played Switzerland, Cameroon, Serbia and SK - scored 7 goals. We have played Iran, Wales, USA and Senegal - scored 12 goals. Both have a similar win or loss- but we are fortunate whilst Brazil have shown us what they are all about The bias against England is there for all to see I'm afraid!

Of course. And people show themselves to be very close minded in this kind of discussion In 2018 we beat a Sweden side which topped their group, which included “big team” Germany. I’d say in both of them tournaments the only game you’d consider fortunate was Ukraine. And that is because of the new rule of 3rd placed teams having the chance to qualify

You said they were a similar level, 'half decent' with a few good players. Not that they are better. The rest of the usual caveats you put in aren't needed. At the end of the day Senegal are the best team in Africa and have players from all over the top leagues in Europe, and playing regularly. Even the Championship player you say they rely on is wanted by top clubs in Europe. How have we had 'very fortunate' runs? In WC 2018 we knocked out a very good Colombia side which featured the likes of Cuadrado, Falcao, Mina, Lerma. In Euro 2020 we knocked out Germany, who featured Haverts, Kroos, Goretzka, Kimmich, Neur, Muller, Werner. We then beat an exceptionally organised Denmark side in another professional tournament knockout game And you see, it is due to those little caveats in your posts that I will only quote this part. I'm not here to point out the rights and wrongs of posters but, in contrast to your view on roverandout, your posts of "praise" are often littered with caveats that aren't true. Or, as you have picked out Foden's comments about his team mate becoming the best midfielder in the world - why can you take issue with that particular comment but roverandout not take issue with other comments about other nations' players? Anyway, I don't agree with your evaluation of England being fortunate in the teams we've played to date / in other tournament runs and actually think the opinion that other teams do not want to play us is right. We are on a great run in knockout football and any little caveat you can try and place to knock that form down is irrelevant because our form in consecutive major tournaments tells me this is more than "luck" and "injuries" to other teams. And that will remain regardless of the result vs France.

Senegal are the African Cup of Nations Champions. They are by far a better team than South Korea, even with Mane missing. Let's take their back line for example: Jakobs - Monaco Diallo - Dortmund Koulibaly - Chelsea Sabaly - Real Betis Mendy - Chelsea Compare that to South Koreas J. Kim - Jeonbuk Hyuandia Motors Kim Young gwon - Gangzhou Kim min - Napoli Kim moon - Jeonbuk Kim Seung - Al Shabab The levels of training and competitiveness aren't comparable. To call Senegal a "half decent" team either shows an ignorance to international football or reveals a bias you are trying to hide Beating Senegal in an exceptionally professional performance is exactly why pundits are saying other teams should be afraid to play us. We made them look amateur in the second half especially. Yet pundit unanimously chastised South Korea last night. They tried to go man for man vs Brazil - I thought Mcoist was going to combust. He actually said it was his duty to tell us just what SK were doing - that is leaving 3 on 3 against one of the best attacking sides in the world. It was as much tactical suicide as it was a great attacking performance. I think it is 3 of South Korea's starting line up that play in the top leagues of the World, compared to all of Senegal's starting 11. In the World Cup you can only beat what team you are drawn against. And we have played strong opposition. The USA and Senegal are both good teams - we didn't concede a goal against either and put 3 past one. We have been utterly professional in our approach to this tournament. Zero yellow cards, the best attack and the only goals conceded after knocking 6 past a team that are notorious for their defensive strength. Of course, when we do, Iran are crap and Senegal are half decent. You win some you lose some but let's stop pretending you are playing this argument with a straight bat whilst chasting roverandout for his understandable bias towards England. We are, afterall, English and one can actually forgive a bias towards ourselves

I feel like you are doing Japan a disservice there roverandout They are a good side. Made it out of the groups in the last WC too. I think they are a dark horse in this tournament. May not have the quality to win but I think they'll take a few out Imagine they take qualify and take Brazil with them next...

One thing that needs to be remembered is that Senegal could have only really had one goal yesterday, which was when Sarr blazed over. The second chance, where Pickford produced a brilliant save, was an attack which started from a handball. VAR would have pulled that back. Any use of the hand which helps in an attack is a foul. There's no way that goal would have stood. After that chance we came into the game more. We dominated in every aspect. Jude Bellingham is a fantastic player and at the age of 19 is better than both Rabiot and Tchoumeni. I actually quite like the midfield of Henderson, Rice and Bellingham because it is industrious with the right amount of passing ability and skill. I'd say it's up there with the best balanced midfield in the tournament. Sometimes our football is a bit laboured. It's really slow in the early 20 minutes. Whether that's deliberate or not I don't know - but you might find that better teams punish us in those early minutes as we try and pass from the back. I feel like we play our best football when we go from back to front very quickly, and expect we'll take a more counter attacking approach against France.

What a watch this morning was I’ll be working from home tomorrow morning too, because it would be rude not to at this point 950ish I think is the record innings score - here’s to hoping for that!

Because we are English? And in the World Cup we are only really looking around for who we have to eventually beat to win it? Nevermind….

I don’t watch serie a but by all accounts Tomori has been one of the better defenders there this season Compare with Dier and Maguire, who have either not been good enough or dropped, and he must be absolutely seething this morning Southgate is sticking with the boys who got him to the final. Part of me thinks he will regret it A backline of Dier and Maguire does not win World Cups

Must have been reading a different thread to me The lads who were the loudest about Buckley weren’t even there

I can’t see this game televised anywhere. Why have they only televised 4 cup games?

I’ll be glad to see a bit of Mola, although by all accounts he is a better left wing back than a centre half. I would have probably played Carter and Phillips with Mola left back. I don’t know who else to put in at right back because like others I’ve seen enough of JRC now. I think he’s a decent player, but the Championship is above his level.

Team is out, 11 changes Pears starts. Oh dear

You never know Joe, he could also mean it is because we let go of Mols and didn’t sign Whiteman After all, we are well clear of the teams both of them play for, right? 😄

Nonsense.

Yeah I don't think Travis will survive long in JDT's squad, but struggle to see him dropping him and Dack at least before the next transfer window. Maybe he will prove me wrong as Trav does deserve to be dropped

I'm more talking about losing the dressing room

I agree with keeping Trav out. Out of the regular starters he has been our worst performer this year imo. It takes courage to drop your captain though, and if the rumours of a rift with Dack are true, could JDT survive pissing Trav off before January too? Both are hugely popular figures in the dressing room But for this game I would, he looked leggy last week, and it's as good a reason as any My team Kaminski Brittain Carter Hyam Wharton Pickering Morton Wharton Garrett Brereton Hedges Switch out Hedges for Gally or Dolan if he isn't fit. If A Wharton needs a rest play Szmodics.

Garret's red card has been rescinded. We could all see it, never a red card in a million years, and let's hope the boy keeps tackling because he's a good en Certainly doesn't lunge into every tackle like some accusations. Nothing wrong with a bit of youthful exuberance. Our squad has lacked passion for years now

We need a striker. Hirst isn’t showing much I would say a striker and a wing back to rival Pickering and Brittain We could also do with a midfielder but that is less of a priority

Dack is more of a striker than Hirst And Hirst didn’t play as a striker. He played as a wide forward Something else Dack is better than him at In fact, name an area of the pitch that Dack isn’t better than Hirst at? Or Vale. You know, the whole notion of “strikers” is fading. They are attackers nowadays - they play all along the front line. Dack is a far better attacker than Hirst and therefore I have every faith he could do better than Hirst in the forward role

Waiting for the inevitable reaction to a poor performance I reckon we will go with roundabout the same squad, but Pickering in for A Wharton and the wing backs in the right places Travis will retain his position but for me he has to improve. I think he slows the team down far too often

You have to be on the wind up here Chad Explain to me why Hirst deserves a start over: Vale, Dolan, DACK or even Markanday / Leonard?