England better team until Croatia scored and should have been out of sight.
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England better team until Croatia scored and should have been out of sight.
Don't even think England dominated in the first half, especially not in the manner that is being made out. Croatia were miles better than England from the start of the second half, in fact, any England performance this tournament. Kane will get away with that miss as he is the golden boy, but truth be told, that lost them the game. Hope Croatia do France.
THIS!
Watch the whole game back. Croatia controlled the first half even though they were one down. England were opportunistic (and should have been two up). Croatia were clearly the more intelligent and IMO better footballers. It was as if england didn't really want to play with the ball. I suppose that was the idea, don't try and play Croatia at a game you are going to lose.
Despite everything that has been said about this English squad, at the end of the day, they were just not good enough, end of! Especially when they played against a team like Croatia who played with more drive, ambition, and quality. I agree with a lot the other bob wilson has posted but the most significant part of his post for me and surely for a lot of others was: England were probably one of the weakest teams to have made a World Cup Semi Final in truth.
The midfield was a definite game changer. I think Southgate was right to stick with the tactic that has worked so far this world cup in playing with pace in behind Kane on the counter.
A bit of composure in front of goal in a few occasions would have put England into the final, but in truth the problem runs deeper than that. For whatever reason England never ever produce midfielders who can control the tempo of a match. If they had a Xavi or a Pirlo in their ranks last night they would have won the game but they tend to play with one pace and that is panic mode.
There have been some encouraging signs from an English point of view and they have centre backs who are far more comfortable on the ball now and won't give the ball straight back to the opposition which you can't do at the very top level, however I commend Southgate in that he seems to (unlike the English pundits) have his finger on the pulse and his comment about "we are where we are" indicated to me that he knew they were currently punching above their weight.
There are definitely some good players on the horizon for England to supplement a promising squad but the truth is unless their given opportunity to flourish in the cut throat premier league they'll never reach their potential.
Completely agree with this, as, incidentally, does Harry Redknapp who sounded doubtful though as to whether it would happen - truth is, managers like Arri are the reason there's a problem because, from memory, he was hardly the sort who would only resort to splashing the cash once he had given the best young players at whatever club he was with a chance to prove themselves in the senior team first.
Love the way the media are trying to put a positive spin on this defeat this morning!
On BBC this morning (didn't see who was talking) -
the rest of the world "are scared" of how England are developing as a football team.
They're going to win the next tournament(s)
With all the praise they are getting, you would think they played great football and were unlucky.
They scraped past Tunisia, with a 91st minute goal, then they needed a pelanty to draw with a depleted Colombia, if the Swede's would have attacked 'um, instead of trying to play "tippy tappy", they would have put 'um under pressure.
Then, the first time they come up against any kind of side, they lose.
Sterling for all his running about, i don't think he created one chance, the cheat, also known as Deli Ali, scored a header my 9 year old grand-daughter could have put in the net.
Me thinks, they are talking and thinking above themselves.
It's all a bit tetchy at work!
I only mentioned that the ref. had a good game exept for the pelanty that Lovren could / should have had, apparently I'm the only person in the world who thinks that way!
I need to be elsewhere until they've cooled off (a couple of weeks maybe?)
'Underestimated' Croatia stars twist the knife after beating England via @OnefootballEN. Read it here:
https://1.ftb.al/IICZQdNiuO
Kane proved his is not world class last night, not yet anyway. He should have easily buried that one chance, the fact they didn’t go into the break 2 up cost them a place in the final. Croatia were rattled first half and they had to finish it then, that’s history now.
I'm just glad the arrogant Tw@ts are out ....... Nothing against the players, aimed at the Fans and the media.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44811549
England facing FIFA investigation over chants;
Also FA fined £50 Grand when 3 players wore "unsponsored" socks