Gareth Southgate

[City123]

I think it's pleasing because they know their level now. I think the wider public have more knowledge of other European players, so they don't assume that England have one of the top 2 squads and should be getting to the final every year.

I love the wishful thinking, but a lot of them expected Croatia to be an easy victory

[Rjk]

I love the wishful thinking, but a lot of them expected Croatia to be an easy victory

I don't think so at all, not the ones I spoke to.
A few years ago losing to Croatia would have been a disaster, these days they understand a bit more

[City123]

I don't think so at all, not the ones I spoke to.
A few years ago losing to Croatia would have been a disaster, these days they understand a bit more

ITV's news report following the loss said that "Croatia aren't a great side", a lot of their pundits thought they'd win fairly easily including Ferdinand who said it would be "straightforward".

I saw a lot of hubris at the World Cup when they only actually beat 3 sides despite not playing that well, scraping past one of those in Tunisia. They lack a proper playmaker in that side, I wonder what they'd give for Aaron Ramsey to be in the middle