[Football] What if ?

[Napper]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44802996

Such a great piece , thought deserves its own thread.

For me , I've read that and it's closure.

 

[CliveWalkerWingWizard]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44802996

Such a great piece , thought deserves its own thread.

For me , I've read that and it's closure.

Totally agree, sums it up well.

 

[Wardy's twin]

yes nice piece of writing which captures the feeling

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Even if, and l do mean IF, we had beaten the Croats, would we have beaten France in the final? Very unlikely l'd say.

 

[daveinprague]

The thought of losing to France in a final is what makes the defeat more tolerable against Croatia for me.

 

[goldstone]

The thought of losing to France in a final is what makes the defeat more tolerable against Croatia for me.

The fact is we'd have had our asses whipped by France in the final and the score could have been embarrassing. Better to go out like we did in the semis and build for the Euros and the next World Cup.

 

[El Presidente]

Even if, and l do mean IF, we had beaten the Croats, would we have beaten France in the final? Very unlikely l'd say.

France would be favourites but England would have been in with a decent chance. Certainly wouldn’t have written them off, especially with their set ball successes in the tournament.

 

[SAC]

Even if, and l do mean IF, we had beaten the Croats, would we have beaten France in the final? Very unlikely l'd say.

When we were one-nil up and pissing all over Croatia I started to believe that we could beat France in the final.

It's the belief and hope that gets you every time. I was fine when I expected little.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I like these paragraphs.

A goalkeeper who had been relegated one season and then at a club that sacked two managers in a single season, transformed into a leaping, shouting, game-saving superstar. A central defender unwanted three years ago at a club sinking into the Championship looking indomitable in the air and even better on the deck. A captain who had never scored at a major tournament before finding the net more than any other player in the world.

At the head of it all, a manager undergoing his own personal redemption, and in doing so saving the reputation of his position and that of those who wear the national shirt too. It is hard to create a team that finds success on the pitch but it is harder still to build one that draws such affection for its constituent characters.

 

[CliveWalkerWingWizard]

It would have been real progress to get to the final, win or lose. Now it feels like an overachievement and an underachievement at the same time. It has been a ride, but ultimately same old England.