3rd 4th place play-off is a pointless game really..

Made only to fill tv schedules, and determine a position no one really wants anyway - could be done on results, goal diff etc.

It should be a celebration of football, and a lead up to the final. Maybe it needs to be a player of the tournament team vs a rest of the world team, north vs hemisphere, or something similar to get fans excited and maybe bring in players that play for small / lesser nations that otherwise wouldn't get a game at the world cup? Just something to add a bit of competition in there? Even a guaranteed spot at the next w/c? 

2 hours ago, speeeeeeedie said:

I suggested taking Trippier and Alli off for Dier and Delph, and switching to 4-4-1-1. Walker as an orthodox right back. Dier and Henderson in the middle, Delph on the left. That would have cut off their full backs who were causing havoc.

You are correct though, a second goal would have killed it off.

My initial thought was Delph / Rose for Young / Alli, same formation. Dier and Henderson is too negative for me. Sterling should have stayed on, even if pushed a little to the left to stop their full back from camping in our half and pinging crosses.

Having said all that - someone needs to teach Rashford to stay central. He drifts to the wing far too much. Getting the ball to the position where he can cross, but there's no-one in the box.

Pretty obvious gaps in the squad of creative central midfield, left midfield, central striker(s). We have to use the next couple of years trying to find players to fill those gaps, not just coasting through a dozen easy qualifying games and learning nothing. Get some B international's lined up and give the kids who have won their age groups some experience they are unlikely to get at club level for another 2 or 3 years.

8 hours ago, DE. said:

I have to agree with this. When Croatia began putting pressure on us we started punting it up the pitch like nothing had changed. Multiple times last night during the second half I noticed that nobody was showing for the ball, and if players are no longer willing to receive a pass the end result will ultimately either be a hoof or a loss of possession. It wasn't just the Croatia game either, in almost every game this tournament we've had a moment passing it around at the back where we've lost possession dangerously, mainly because of a lack of options passing wise. It's very noticeable that when the likes of Lingard, Alli and Sterling no longer want the ball the three of them will stay as far up the field as they can, leaving Henderson, Young and Tripper to try and find a way up the pitch (hint: not going to work very often). This is what led to Kane dropping back so far towards the end of the Colombia match. His three supporting attackers had lost their courage and didn't want possession anymore. 

This is why I don't buy into the media constantly pushing our "new identity". Yes we pass it around at the back, but it's led to as many dangerous situations in our own half this tournament as it has our opponents. We've created very few chances from open play. Most of our goals have come from penalties and set pieces, which contrasts against the supposed identity we've gained. We're a long way off establishing anything yet. At no point in this tournament did we ever look as dangerous as Croatia did against us in the second half last night - that's what we should be aspiring to. Once we can play like that then we can start crowing about new identities, philosophies, and whatever else. 

 

To me the issue wasn't Lingard, Sterling and Alli dropping off. Firstly Sterling terrifies defences with pace and skill, and taking him off allowed Croatia to push forward their defensive line -taking him off and putting Rashford on the wing was a strange decision. Secondly Young got tired early second half (one game too many?), and essentially left Alli to be playing both left-back and left hand side of central midfield. This never got addressed. Thirdly and hardly mentioned Kane stopped running and ended up playing nowhere near a centre-forward position - essentially enforcing the lump it forward we saw at times.

However, the biggest issue was not scoring a second goal in the first half. 

Southgate too slow to change things, Kane is pretty much useless outside the box and can only do 70 mins, Sterling better but decision making awful, Young should have been replaced by Rose, 2 sloppy goals conceded, etc...

All matters nothing, when you see a team trying, risking things, committed. Take this team vs the one that surrendered to Iceland, to the one that couldn't get out of the group vs Costa Rica and Honduras.

Those all where far better rated than this. That's what we take from this, a bit of bloomin pride.

Full team vs Belgium, or reserves? ?

Croatia just about deserve it, shame to lose to such a crummy goal. Overall, a lot to be proud of.

Kane gets to 70 minutes and can't run.

Alli off Delph on for me

Good half, shame only to be one up. Keep going, get another goal. 

Come on England, just give it everything. Don't die wondering.

The ball must have been in play for a good 4 or 5 of the last 25 minutes of that game. Unbelievable time-wasting by France and stupid free-kick given away by Belgium.

Well we are in the last 3.

1 hour ago, Husky said:

I meant THE semi-final. Not that tin pot game that's on tonight ?

Also what the heck are FIFA doing with all those 'unsold' tickets? Are they gonna scalp those to touts too? If they can offer final tickets to the Thai kids that got trapped in the caves then they obviously still have some they are keeping from real fans (i.e. - those 2 countries that will make the final). The whole thing is all very Blatter.

They have been giving unsold tickets to local kids.

There's always loads of corporate tickets, I'd imagine that's where the Thai kids ones would come from, not that I can think of anyone who would begrudge them one to be honest - better than giving them the likes of Maradona.

3 hours ago, Husky said:

I see FIFA and the usual skumbags are letting the touts take-over the competition as per usual.

Take a look at the prices for the semi-final . . .when I checked the cheapest one was over £500 and for the final it's shocking - the cheapest one was £1,900.

I suspect the vast majority of these touted tickets are ones that filthy FIFA lobbed to their football disliking corporate buddies.

I have an associate that has a flight to Moscow, but no ticket. It seems you have to be super rich or go bankrupt to witness history . . .I wonder how many people from Blackburn are over there.

Talk about the working man's game. It's a disgrace really.

There were tickets on sale via the FA at face value for every game so far. Only this game has sold out, and that was only on Monday.

Fifa still selling tickets on official site for tonight's game. Only cat 1 and 2 left and they start at around £450 each

3 hours ago, Rogerb said:

Chorley pitch not ready due to lack of rain

That's a quote you don't hear in England very often. 

I think both semi-finals are pretty much 50:50, it's whoever shows up that will win, in both games.

Croatia have some superb players, but also realistic in that they have some that aren't as well. IMO our best opportunity is to be positive as I don't think we can do long defensive shifts without conceding, and we have some serious firepower going forward. 

I think we start unchanged (bar injuries), but Southgate needs a different plan if we see ourselves becoming overrun in midfield.

Thought Sterling was much more of a threat yesterday. Looks a completely different player running at people or playing on the shoulder looking for a ball over the top.

He's no natural goalscorer, and often makes the wrong decision, but he's still a threat.

I'd be surprised if Southgate changes anything, thought the performance yesterday was pretty good given the nerves etc.

Croatia are pretty much big physical lads at the back, and not quick, must be able to make some chances vs that.

Very good professional performance by England today. We could easily have had 4 or 5 bar poor decisions and finishing. However Sweden where poor really, and looked like they are missing the odd top quality player they have had in the past.

Watched Russia v Croatia, Croatia a class above but must be worrying how a poor Russian side scored twice, and forced penalties.

Given the semi is Weds, hope that the extra time will make heavy legs for Croatia, and that they may have picked up a couple if injuries too - their keeper for one was struggling.

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

Poor from VAR clear penalty.

Agreed, poor decision .However was interesting when they cut to the referees room, and they had multiple tv's, and they had different views to what we see on TV. 1 clearly was the same though, but no one was looking at that one.

Go on Belgium, make Neymar cry.

Sterling doesn't fit in the formation because he's primarily a winger who gets the ball to feet then runs at people. Playing centre forward he has to play the majority of time back to goal, with very little time and space afforded by defenders.

He's not clinical or strong enough to play centre forward, and not good enough defensively to play wing-back. 

He's had 3 games now, and not proved himself. I'd look to give someone else a chance.

Great news, got the potential to be playing in PL for me.

Got to think the team spirit Mowbray has got in this squad is a key factor in these renewals.

Phew!

Totally deserved to win in normal time, but we where hanging in from the point we put Dier on and stopped being positive.

Colombia deserve to go home after so much dirtyness, but I'm still worried we create very little from open play. On the other hand we look better than an Allardyce team from set pieces.  

Sweden next up, tough opponent, much better in the air too, so may negate that specific threat. 

Thought Stones was very good in particular tonight.

Just now, JacknOry said:

I still dont understand 5 mins when first half was 3 mins? 

Took about 10 minutes to take the pen

Wow.

Belgium a bit over-confident? Not working hard enough.

Good pedigree, know nothing about him.

2 hours ago, Giant said:

Neymar does make a meal of things but he faces constant fouling, like most of his predecessors for Brazil.

His constant over-reaction in my opinion goes against him. Which ref can look at him on the floor after ANY foul and know if there was any vs serious contact?

Personally at times I feel the refs need to book the player who fouls him, plus him for over-reaction. Then he's also got that very annoying waving imaginary cards at referees thing - that should be an instant card for him too.

Take that away from his game, and he'd be a much better, and probably better protected player.