I have to say I think you are in cloud cuckoo land. All this talk of last eight and semis is completely deluded imo. To get that far you have to win the last 16 game and if we'd won the group last night we'd have had a very winnable game against Japan. Instead by trying to be smart we've landed a very difficult tie against Colombia which I Don't expect us to win and I expect us to be coming home Tuesday night. We only needed a point to top the group and ensure Japan ffs. We couldn't even manage that against Belgium's reserve side who weren't particularly going for it themselves but who were still far too good for us on the night. If we do get knocked out Tuesday night I hope Southgate is sacked immediately upon his return. It's bad enough getting knocked out trying your best let alone being eliminated trying to be clever and falsely manipulate your route through the competition.

Rubbish. We're now likely to get knocked out by Colombia whereas we could have had a much easier game against Japan. I'm gutted with that display. Momentum killed stone dead, the suspicion the squad players aren't up for it if needed and every likelihood we'll now get knocked out in the last 16 as usual. well done Southgate you absolute Muppet.

Deliberately getting yourself booked to gain an advantage isn't just a bit of gamesmanship like walking off the pitch a bit slowly its downright cheating and I'm sure players have been fined and suspended in the PL or EFL for that. Martinez apparently said before the game the priority "was not to win the match." That can be taken either of 2 ways 1) The priority is to make sure we get beaten or 2 ) Whilst we want to win the game the main priority is not the result but giving everyone a game etc. If Martinez meant the first one he should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute and heavily fined. Either way If Belgium do finish second I now hope they get absolutely stuffed by Colombia and Don't even reach the perceived easier half of the draw. Going forward, if teams aren't going to play the game in the spirit it was intended I can't see any alternative to draw the names out of a hat after the group stages as Adam Rochina said.

There's varying degrees of bending the rules slightly and outright cheating. I Wouldn't particularly be too keen if we won the World Cup with a blatant dive in the last minute whereas someone feeling slight contact in the area and going down might be tolerable. It would stick out like a sore thumb if we started gratuitously kicking the ball away in the last few minutes for absolutely no reason. I suppose you were perfectly happy when Maradona punched the ball into the net in 1986 then?.

Lotus Cheek would probably edge ahead of Dele Alli as well if he has a stormer.

Very surprised by that. I would be keeping him happy at all costs and would have let him have at least an hour tonight.

Or perhaps he wants to win but wants to give everyone some game time in case they're needed later on in the competition!

Never read anything as ridiculous. Where's the satisfaction in winning by cheating? There isn't any.

I think the papers were predicting 8 changes with Kane being one of the three who retained his place. He'd go bananas if he were dropped with having a genuine chance of winning the golden boot. Not all bad news if Sterling is one of the changes.......

Surely Columbia finishing top of their group puts paid to the stupid argument that we would be better off finishing 2nd?

So what do you suggest if we look like We're in danger of drawing and finishing top then? Instruct the team to start kicking lumps out of the opposition? I understand the need to make a few changes to give one or two players a game but all this talk in the media today of it being maybe advantageous to finish second to go into the easier half of the draw is complete nonsense imo. If we lose then it will be a real momentum and confidence killer no matter which combination of players are put out. If we win the camp will be absolutely bouncing after topping the group with three wins out of three. For me, play your normal game and just beat whoever is put in front of you.

I find it impossible to take your argument seriously when you're citing players who are no longer at the Club in support of your argument that We're going to be decent next Season.

For me Neymar is rather like Raheem Sterling in being a player I just Don't get. They must play well at times when I'm Not watching them but whenever I watch them live I'm left wondering what all the fuss is about. Messi on the other hand is the complete opposite. An absolute genius on a completely different plane to his team mates even in sides as good as Barcelona or Argentina.

Thought the entire post was reasonable. We looked a pretty ordinary side carried by Dack most of the rime imo, even at L1 level.

Also, if you're going to win it you're going to have to meet the best at some stage anyway. Might as well get it out of the way early.

I was too young to remember 1966 but for me the 1970 tournament will never be beaten. Pele, the incomparable Brazil side, the best England team we've had and the first tournament in colour under glorious sunshine. I Don't think the tournament this year is particularly high on quality but the intrigue comes from the fact that none of the fancied sides have particularly impressed to date. So it's extremely open. Hate to say it but England have a puncher's chance but only if we can keep Kane fully fit and firing. Still Don't expect us to win it yet though.

? ?

£20 for this game is ludicrous. I might have considered going and an extra tenner is neither here nor there really given it would be a relatively expensive day out overall but Wouldn't go out of principle at that price.

Get in. Not a fan of fan of VAR but Ill take that one! ?

I was under the impression that that had always been ruled out in the past on segregation and safety grounds. I find it very disappointing ST holders can't claim their own seats. Looks like We're falling into the usual trap we do when a "big" Club comes to town of trying to make a quick buck by filling the ground with away fans as opposed to taking a long term view and getting floating home fans in who might want to see an attractive game.

Same. Never wanted a side not to score as much. Mexico were superb in the first two games and now they're 3 down against Sweden. Fingers crossed for them they Don't go out with 6 points.

Nailed it with that post. I'd also like to see quality reinforcements all over the pitch who can perform at Championship level but as a first priority I'd agree with you and say we need two strikers who can find the net at Championship level and at least one pacey wide man none of whom will be cheap. We all know there's still plenty of time of the transfer window left yada yada and TM may be about to pull a number of rabbits out of hats we Don't yet know about but as an outsider looking in the indications from what has transpired to date do not point to enough funding being available or the right calibre of player being brought in. Conway being retained, Rothwell being signed, apparently we can't afford 2m for the young Charlton centre back or to pursue any serious interest in Armstrong and we Don't appear to have any real interest in either in bringing Chapman back. I'm not saying the likes of Bauer and Armstrong are necessarily worth £2m and £3m respectively but if those are the players the manager really wants he sbould be backed and for me it does all rather point to us trying to cobble together a side out of 2 and 6, a packet of pork scratchings, a half eaten mars bar and a bunch of loanees like we unsuccessfully tried to do under Coyle. could have course be completely wrong. Very much hope I am.

Have they? Do you mean the comment about preferring character over quality?

Wouldn't have thought Cardiff's situation had any relevance whatsoever to our own. As a general rule of thumb if you get promoted and do not strengthen significantly you are going to struggle.

I thought Peru were desperately unlucky against Denmark and very good against the French. They just seemed to lack a top class striker up front. By way of contrast Denmark have been as dull as dishwasher. I think it's a real shame they look set to advance and not the spirited Peruvians. France are hardly any better.