I'm not sure you can accuse 23 people of taking 'banned substances' based on stats. And you didn't answer my question which one of the Fake News media outlets do you work for?

Fake News. Which one the The Times, The Guardian, BBC, Sky or The Mail do you work for?

I think I'd rather play Croatia. Nothing to fear from either team but Croatia strike me as a side very mentally fragile side, because lets be honest with the players they have they should be capable of beating Russia & Denmark comfortably yet against Denmark they were second best against & were no better than Russia tonight.

Cheryshev player of the tournament so far for me.

Beautiful Goal

Not sure I'd say that Italy team was a steady team I'd say it was a very good team, far better than anything I have seen in this tournament. As for Greece and Portugal that was in the European Championship which unlike the World Cup has occasionally produced surprise winners you could also add Denmark in 92 to that list.

So I'll ask you again would you rather play the likes of France, Brazil, Belgium & Uruguay than Colombia and Sweden? Personally I would much rather play Sweden & Colombia. And who are these better teams that have fallen short against opponents we have overcome? Yes Germany went out in Sweden's group but they still beat Sweden with 10 men. So who are the other teams?

Not sure what any of that has got to do with what you quoted me saying. But you say it's simple to call our route easy that's because it has been the easy route are you seriously telling me that you would have rather played the likes of France, Belgium, Brazil & Uruguay than Sweden & Colombia? There's nothing wrong with getting the easy route but lets not delude ourselves into thinking England are world beaters just yet. Also other than Germany going out in the group stage I'm not sure any of the other major nations have gone out to 'easy' teams maybe you could include Spain but I would say they were knocked out by their own FA as their chances were doomed from the minute they sacked their manager one day before the tournament.

Croatia much like England a decent side, steady and solid all over the pitch with a couple of top quality players a 50/50 game that would be. Both sides will never have a better chance of reaching a World Cup final.

If you bothered to read another post of mine you would have seen that I said that the standard of international football seems to have been on a downward curve for a while now if the last 5 World Cups are anything to go by as there is now a lack of top sides. The only team in this tournament that could potentially measure up to previous winners is France & they have only shown it in patches. I was just highlighting that the Fake News media would have you believe that this is a great England side and that Southgate is a genius, whereas the reality is we have had an incredibly lucky draw. Why deny that when its clearly true? Who wouldn't rather play Sweden & Colombia than the likes of Uruguay, Spain, France, Belgium, Brazil. This is a decent England side but that's all. No one remembers that German team either. People only remember that Brazil side that was miles ahead of everyone else in that tournament. Well that and the rather suspect refereeing for the Koreans.

What an eloquent & thoughtful response

I never said that it did. I was merely pointing out that if you listened to the Fake News media they would have you believe that this is a great England team and that Southgate is a genius. Whereas the reality is that they have been lucky with the draw.

This World Cup has been one of the most exciting that I have seen but in terms of standard it has been a sad indictment for international football. Whoever wins out of Croatia and Russia looking at the 4 semi finalists and having seen every World Cup from 1962 I don't think any of them would have got near to winning previous tournaments. From 2002 the standard to me seems to have decreased with each world cup.

They've been incredibly lucky with the draw, they've got to the Semi's without playing a an elite team side. Despite the media hype this side is not a patch of the sides from 2002 & 2006.

Didn't think Martinez had that in him. As for Brazil they seemed mentally weak to me and unable to cope with the pressure of wearing the famous yellow shirt.

Belgium look at their most threatening when Brazil get a corner.

Poor from VAR clear penalty.

France looking very efficient & have been impressive in the 2 knockouts games they showed against Argentina what they can do it you go toe to toe with them & today they showed against a side that like to sit back that they can beat you in a different way.

Neymar is so overrated, I really don't get the hype about him. I wouldn't even put him in the top 30 Brazilian players that I have seen.

Surely the BBC have got to get rid of Lawrenson after this tournament the man is absolutely clueless.

Still think we need two wingers, a centre forward, centre back and a right back. If we get that then I will be quite optimistic about the new season.

Probably the best of business we will do this summer.

Not know why Firmino doesn't start, Brazil look a much better team with him on and Jesus has been anonymous all tournament.

How is that not a red card? He took him out from behind as he was about to roll the ball into an empty net.

Colombia, Russia, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Croatia will all think the same. As Spain would have before today. Koke's penalty summed his performance up & for a top goal keeper De Gea is poor at saving penalties.