[Football] The Reality Check Is Nigh

[el punal]

Not too many hours to go before our boys take on Belgium, and what a wonderful situation to be in. Facing stern opposition, a test of resolve, tactics, mental and physical strength and everything else - without the booby prize of being turfed out of the tournament for coming second in the match.

To be honest I can’t wait. This England team has flattered without deceiving anyone. They have gone about their business in a, well, business like manner. Did what was required, with a few hiccups, against an awkward Tunisia and put the WWE experts, Panama, straight back on the canvas in great style. Now we are facing our equals in Belgium, some would say better. Belgium is a team that, in my view, are definitely one of the contenders for the trophy.

How England will fare from here on in is anybody’s guess. One thing is for sure they’ve achieved more plaudits in the last two games than previous squads have in the last ten years.

Keep it going lads, we’re behind you!

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Not too many hours to go before our boys take on Belgium, and what a wonderful situation to be in. Facing stern opposition, a test of resolve, tactics, mental and physical strength and everything else - without the booby prize of being turfed out of the tournament for coming second in the match.

To be honest I can’t wait. This England team has flattered without deceiving anyone. They have gone about their business in a, well, business like manner. Did what was required, with a few hiccups, against an awkward Tunisia and put the WWE experts, Panama, straight back on the canvas in great style. Now we are facing our equals in Belgium, some would say better. Belgium is a team that, in my view, are definitely one of the contenders for the trophy.

How England will fare from here on in is anybody’s guess. One thing is for sure they’ve achieved more plaudits in the last two games than previous squads have in the last ten years.

Keep it going lads, we’re behind you!

You’re right but the nation is still subdued, few flags, no bunting seems a bit flat

 

[Official Old Man]

Belgium are likely to play their 'B' team whilst England are all up for winning. Problem is, it's a game no one wants to win as second in the group get a better draw. 1 nil up with two minutes to go, what a time to send on Dunk for a classy OG.
We all knew he should have been there.

 

[Jim D]

Belgium are likely to play their 'B' team whilst England are all up for winning. Problem is, it's a game no one wants to win as second in the group get a better draw. 1 nil up with two minutes to go, what a time to send on Dunk for a classy OG.
We all knew he should have been there.

It would need to be an own goal and a red card

 

[crabface]

You’re right but the nation is still subdued, few flags, no bunting seems a bit flat

Saw my 2nd car with flags on it this morning since the start of the tournament, maybe people are begging to get excited.

 

[bhaseeer]

We really need to finish 2nd......the other side of the group is nasty.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Saw my 2nd car with flags on it this morning since the start of the tournament, maybe people are begging to get excited.

Either that or people are waiting to see if Joe Bloggs get theirs out first, not wanting to be seen as a complete chav, doing so.
I admit it's been a bit subdued lately, with the flag on car situation.
Normally it's been like some South American rally, after a coup d'etat

 

[crabface]

Either that or people are waiting to see if Joe Bloggs get theirs out first, not wanting to be seen as a complete chav, doing so.
I admit it's been a bit subdued lately, with the flag on car situation.
Normally it's been like some South American rally, after a coup d'etat

I completely agree, maybe once the group stage is over it will be easy to identify the chav drivers as a few more will come out.

 

[Pantani]

We really need to finish 2nd......the other side of the group is nasty.

At the moment one side has Spain and Russia, the other Uruguay and Portugal. No real difference there. Brazil have a tough game to come, and are no guarantees to win their group as Switzerland are playing a pretty dire and already out Costa Rica. Colombia in the second round is the only thing we should be thinking of trying to avoid.

But as I said on the previous thread on this subject let's wait until 17:00 on Thursday before we start assuming potential routes through the competition. Or even more sensibly remember we have beaten two pub teams intent on fouling and spoiling, and have won only six knock out games in 52 years. It is classic England fan hubris to be looking at who we might get in the quarter finals. If only we had some recent example of England getting in to the easier part of the draw and failing in the first knock out game to remind us of this...

 

[casbom]

Whatever happens in this tournament, I am liking how England play.
Probably for the first time since Venables was in charge I've actually been looking forward to watching England. Southgate has instilled clear principles on how he expects us to play and the players are fully behind him. With quality young talent coming through (and already World Champions/Tournament Winners in their age groups) the future looks bright for England if Southgate carries on in the same vein. I can actually see us winning a tournament in the next 10 years!

 

[Hotchilidog]

It is classic England fan hubris to be looking at who we might get in the quarter finals. If only we had some recent example of England getting in to the easier part of the draw and failing in the first knock out game to remind us of this...

Absolutely this. We should want this team to play it's best at all times and go for the win. We had the 'easier' QF in 1990 and nearly went out. You play to win and take on the next opponent. Not massively impressed by Germany, Spain and Brazil so far, but have been impressed by the likes of Colombia, Senegal, Uruguay (in the last game), Croatia and Switzerland. Who is to say what is or isn't an easy route.

I am not expecting England to win this tournament on the back of two decent performances against teams we should be expected to beat. That we did comfortably on both occasions is a welcome improvement. Looking forward to us playing a team that will be more concerned with playing football rather than kicking us off the park. I am fascinated to see how we set up and cope against a top level opponent.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Belgium are likely to play their 'B' team whilst England are all up for winning. Problem is, it's a game no one wants to win as second in the group get a better draw. 1 nil up with two minutes to go, what a time to send on Dunk for a classy OG.
We all knew he should have been there.

I don't believe second in the group will get a better draw. Right now I think Colombia will win Group G, Japan come second; and both Germany and Brazil will win their groups. I'd rather the Japan-Brazil route than the Colombia-Germany one.

Indeed its hardly impossible that Sweden beat Mexico and Germany hammer South Korea, and then Switzerland hammer Costa Rica; Colombia beat Senegal and Poland beat Japan....

Then its Colombia - Germany/Brazil if you come second, and Japan - Mexico/Sweden/Switzerland if you win the group


I hope we keep winning, a defeat will be a real downer. It was widely thought that Russia preferred to come second in their group to stay in Moscow and have an extra days recovery, but they've ended up with a 3-0 defeat, a guy banned after a red card and a tie with Spain rather than Portugal. I wonder how they feel now.

 

[Notters]

Saw my 2nd car with flags on it this morning since the start of the tournament, maybe people are begging to get excited.

Blimey there's loads of them in Newhaven. Maybe that says more about Newhaven.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Absolutely this. We should want this team to play it's best at all times and go for the win. We had the 'easier' QF in 1990 and nearly went out. You play to win and take on the next opponent. Not massively impressed by Germany, Spain and Brazil so far, but have been impressed by the likes of Colombia, Senegal, Uruguay (in the last game), Croatia and Switzerland. Who is to say what is or isn't an easy route.

I am not expecting England to win this tournament on the back of two decent performances against teams we should be expected to beat. That we did comfortably on both occasions is a welcome improvement. Looking forward to us playing a team that will be more concerned with playing football rather than kicking us off the park. I am fascinated to see how we set up and cope against a top level opponent.

I wouldn't say we beat Tunisia 'comfortably'. Yes, we were easily the better team but we needed an old-fashioned set play to a big defender and then some Albion-like defending of the second phase to grab a late winner. I think a lot of people went nuts over the Panama win. Let's see how we get on against a decent side. The decision as to whether we finish first or second may not be ours to make.

 

[Jim D]

Blimey there's loads of them in Newhaven. Maybe that says more about Newhaven.

It's probably French tourists coming over on the ferry and trying to blend in...…...

 

[Brian Parsons]

I'm more interested in watching one of our own put Argentina to the sword.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[Hotchilidog]

I wouldn't say we beat Tunisia 'comfortably'. Yes, we were easily the better team but we needed an old-fashioned set play to a big defender and then some Albion-like defending of the second phase to grab a late winner. I think a lot of people went nuts over the Panama win. Let's see how we get on against a decent side. The decision as to whether we finish first or second may not be ours to make.

In terms of the performance we were, we created plenty of bona fide good chances but lacked a clinical finish, especially early on. It compared well to laboured performances against the likes of Algeria, Trinidad et al in the past.

I could not agree more that the decision to finish either first or second is not ours to make, or even that our progress through the round of 16 is guaranteed, such thoughts are arrogant in the extreme.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

We really need to finish 2nd......the other side of the group is nasty.

That's the spirit eh?

Not to worry tho, I'm sure Belgium will grant you your wish

 

[hart's shirt]

Not to worry tho, I'm sure Belgium will grant you your wish

 

[seagull_special]

I’ve loved the way England have gone about their business. There seems a real sense of camaraderie, quiet confidence and I think the players are enjoying the tournament. Southgate’s leadership has been outstanding and I am sure the emphasis will be on beating Belgium without running the team into the ground or risking suspensions. This game has draw written all over it. Do I think we could win the WC? Heart says yes please, head says realistically no but as long as we continue to play with heart and passion this will be the most enjoyable England team to support for a couple of decades.