jim mk2

Swiss were very poor but hats off to Portugal tonight - a brilliant performance with some excellent goals For pure football, Portugal v Brazil would be a fitting final and one that many non-England fans would like to see

Correct. The current crop of German players don't have anything like the quality of previous German sides. The fact the players play for top clubs is irrelevant. It's just a poor cohort compared to their great teams of the past The Germans won't be down for long. They'll analyse where they've been going wrong, make a long term plan and return to the top.

Iran were a decent side - as they showed by beating Wales. They're the only team to have scored against England. I never said they were a "pub side" - those are your words You also described the 1960s and 70s Brazil team as playing in a "pub league" which is truly remarkable seeing as those teams contained soon of the greatest players the world has seen. Pele and Garrincha "pub footballers". Most people would say that was trollling

Is that surprising when English football history is one of failure, failure and more failure? An insular and xenophobic Football Association did not even contest the World Cup until the fourth edition in1950. Since 1966 it's been one catalogue of under-achievement in the games that really matter. Our European competitors Germany have won 4 World Cups and 3 European Championships, France, Spain and Italy numerous titles between them. England's solitary success was 56 years ago. Having said all that, this board is not "anti-England" as one troll said, just fatalistic about us ever winning a major trophy. England tripped up against Croatia in 2018 in the easier semi-final when they ought to have won and even managed to lose the Euro 2020 final in their own stadium against an Italy side that six months later couldn't even qualify for the World Cup!! Sure, we can beat France, and it would be great if we do, but the tide of history is against us.

Just read an interesting statistic From 1968 to 2016, nearly 50 years, England won just six knockout games in major tournaments. Since 2018, Southgate’s team have won another six. England have proved they can beat middling teams but they have consistently been outplayed by top-class sides in deciding games: by Belgium and Croatia at the last World Cup, and by Italy in the final of Euro 2020. Can England beat a real heavyweight in France in a knockout game?

The bits I've seen Mbappe does most damage down the left (our right) so he won't come up against Maguire. England need to wrap Kyle Walker in cotton wool this week; he's our fastest defender No one's mentioned the threat posed by Giroud. He's now France's all time top scorer and knows his way round the penalty box.

Err, not really. England could have been 2-0 down after 30 minutes and not able to complain.

Southgate got away with that. Could easily have been 2-0 down in the first 30 minutes He's a very cautious manager in his selections and tactics but 2 excellent goals it has to be said.

Bellingham did brilliantly there to make that goal

Boom. Amazing what happens when you attack instead of sitting back

Lots of English exceptionalism in this post. Southgate said before the World Cup we constantly as a nation over-rate ourselves

Southgate certainly has his favourites, and Saka is one of them. Sterling would probably have started too.

You have to wonder how Puskas would have fared in the modern game. He could barely run yet he was a genius, one of the all-time greats. One player who would have been just as good in the modern game is Eusebio, a free running striker way ahead of his time

Duggie was a lovely player to watch. As with all the best players, it's just something in the way they move It's the reason I loved watching at their peak the likes of Cryuff and C Ronaldo rather than Maradona or Messi. They first 2 were/are beautiful players, elegant in their movement.

Pakistan’s batting was very impressive to get so close to England’s score. They could have been demoralised but they played some brilliant shots and every ball on its merit. England lost a couple of quick wickets in 2nd innings. To lose it from here would be even more impressive

Wash yer mouth out matey! It’s football. Leave the soccer to US women and English public schoolboys

Australia goalkeeper provided another example of why this constant obsession with playing out from the back is a recipe for trouble Tomasson take note

Hearts were awful. To say it looked like a training match would be kind.

Battle of Berne, Brazil v Hungary 1954 was an infamous match Referee was Arthur Ellis, later of It's A Knockout fame The players continued fighting in the dressing room afterwards

My first instinct was the ball was over the line and that picture looks conclusive. Expect a complaint from Germany - and perhaps with good reason

Germany out. For you Fritz, ze war is over And other cliches.

Germany 3-2 but still going out as it stands

Fans out there from all countries are loving it according to the paper. Most venues within short distance of each other, carnival atmosphere in Doha, good food and weather, and they feel very safe

Germany and Spain out as it stands Blimey Germans equalise

Japan ahead! Have to say the ball looked out to me. VAR wrong again?