Croatia v England, 19:00 BST, ITV

[Goonermerree]

Saved and took the man out. Well done. Has Putin had a word with the ref? Nothing going our way now much.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 HT in ET.

[Master Splinter]

Modric playing for pelanties.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on, please bring on Welbeck. :pray:

[Letters]

:sick:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

:sick:

Basically most of England right now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Croatia 2-1 England, MANDZUKIC!!!!

[SMatthews]

Fell asleep

[Master Splinter]

MANDZUKIC!!!

[Letters]

Oh.
Piss.
Off

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sleeping at the back.

Welbeck has to come on surely?

[Master Splinter]

It's Welbz or never now.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

FFS.

[Goonermerree]

Walker just hoofed up that to block then watched as the Croatia player runs past him. Extra time is following the pattern of normal time, we had a few chances in the first, then give up in the second and they score.

[Goonermerree]

Yeh, give Welbz a chance, he will run at them and cause problems like Sterling did in the first half.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

A one legged Vardy coming on instead of Welbz.

Do one.

Walker off for him.

[Goonermerree]

Not Welbz, Vardy. rubbish choice.

[Goonermerree]

Kane couldn't even keep the ball never mind shoot.

[Goonermerree]

Don't put the ball out for cramp, play on.

[Globalgunner]

Mandszukic dies for the 2nd time

[Goonermerree]

When you go one up so early, you have to score another, it's too long to keep another team out.

[Goonermerree]

Unless we do something drastic here, I'll be washing me England shirt.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mandzukic off, Corluka on.

Again, too negative.

[Mac76]

Southgate didn't have the guts to sub kane, we're playing with 10 men

[The Emirates Gallactico]

All those missed chances in the first half. :doh:

[SMatthews]

Why not let him just walk off behind the goal.

[Master Splinter]

Corluka v Bif for the most handsome finalist.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pickford flaps at Brozovic's shot.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

So we're down to 10 now?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trippier is fucked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Modric off, Badelj on.

[Master Splinter]

Modric hauled off.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

>Desperately refreshing this page in the hopes that Maccy updates with a goal.

[SMatthews]

That was a dive

[Master Splinter]

Kramaric :doh:.

[Mac76]

So we're down to 10 now?

Think so but tyldesley can't be bothered to tell us :rolleyes:

[Mac76]

Alli reverting to spuds moron behaviour

[Mac76]

Vardy finally contribiues by giving away a free kixk, gyppo tosser

[Letters]

It’s not coming home, it seems :crying:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tbf too much Spuds to get past the semi-final stage.

[Goonermerree]

Get the bloody ball in their box. Kane been rubbish, Ali been rubbish, Vardy, why?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Last chance for Greece...

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Abysmal. Haven't created a thing.

[Goonermerree]

Come on, one last push.

[Mac76]

Why isn't pickford up??

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Croatia 2-1 England, FT!!

Croatia in to their first World Cup final - many congrats to them.

England play Belgium, possibly the reserves again.

Ivanisevic. :bow:

Bilic. :bow:

Suker. :bow:

Olic. :bow:

Kane. :haha:

Captain Fantastic. :haha:

Spursy. :haha:

Neville. :haha:

Keown's book club. :haha:

Dele Alli. :haha:

[SMatthews]

Dammit. Still, one hell of a tournament for England. Never thought we’d be in the mix for the final.

Come on Croatia.

[Goonermerree]

COME ON FRANCE!!!!!

[Globalgunner]

Spuds are gonna Spud

[Goonermerree]

This is a young team and we have some players out with injuries, we can get better.

[Mac76]

Tbf too much Spuds to get past the semi-final stage.

Yeah, choked as usual, anyway we can go back to slagging them all off :lol:

[Master Splinter]

Southgate :haha:.

Kane :haha:.

Lineker :haha:.

Shearer :haha:.

Rio :haha:.

Gary Neville :haha:.

Phil Neville :haha:.

Jenas :haha:.

Three Lions :haha:.

[Mac76]

Southgate :haha:.

Kane :haha:.

Lineker :haha:.

Shearer :haha:.

Rio :haha:.

Gary Neville :haha:.

Phil Neville :haha:.

Jenas :haha:.

Three Lions :haha:.

:lol:

[Letters]

Kane you cockwomble. Offered nothing tonight

[Goonermerree]

When the sweat dries and the kit is washed - even my shirt now - we will look back and say 'The lads done well.'

[Goonermerree]

Kane you cockwomble. Offered nothing tonight

Not a bloody thing.

[GP]

Average managers have done really well in this World Cup - Wenger to manage in 2022?

[Master Splinter]

Eduardo :bow:.

Ivo Karlovic :bow:.

[Letters]

Average managers have done really well in this World Cup - Wenger to manage in 2022?

I hate you.

[Mac76]

Meanwhile, Croatia have had extra time 3 times in a row and played a day later, all France havw to do is turn up...

[Letters]

Not a bloody thing.

Now wash your shirt, you smelly moo.
No offence

[Goonermerree]

Now wash your shirt, you smelly moo.
No offence

I don't smell at all actually, I only wore it during the matches.

[GP]

Kane you cockwomble. Offered nothing tonight

Was anonymous in the knockout games.
Group games aside, he's had a poor world cup.

[Mac76]

When the sweat dries and the kit is washed - even my shirt now - we will look back and say 'The lads done well.'

Or, just maybe, 'the lads were a bunch of over-hyped spuds losers'

[GP]

Or, just maybe, 'the lads were a bunch of over-hyped spuds losers'

This

[Master Splinter]

Kane you cockwomble. Offered nothing tonight

Or all tournament really. 3 pelanties, a fluke and two pubbed set-piece goals. His general play was non-existent.

Another pointless achievement coming the way of a Spud.

[Goonermerree]

Was anonymous in the knockout games.
Group games aside, he's had a poor world cup.

He seemed lethargic tonight, a bit like a cart horse really.

[GP]

Or all tournament really. 3 pelanties, a fluke and two pubbed set-piece goals. His general play was was non-existent.

Another pointless achievement coming the way of a Spud.

Agreed.

[Goonermerree]

Or, just maybe, 'the lads were a bunch of over-hyped spuds losers'

You can say that if you want. Pickford , McGuire did well, Trippier had a good game. They've done well and it's been great for the time we were in.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Ultimately we offered so, so little outside of set pieces.

Worst Golden boot winner since Salenko?

[SMatthews]

Kane pitching for a punditry role post-career.

[Mac76]

You can say that if you want. Pickford , McGuire did well, Trippier had a good game. They've done well and it's been great for the time we were in.

Pickford was our best player, don't deny that

[Mac76]

Nevilla wondering why we were better against Sweden

Err, maybe because they were s**t....?

[Mac76]

Dixon calling it right, we lacked senior pros

[Master Splinter]

Pickford was our best player, don't deny that

Trippier was England's best player probably overall. But Pickford stepped up in the knockouts.

Kane and Alli were the worst by far.

[Master Splinter]

Dixon calling it right, we lacked senior pros

Apart from Welbz.

Who wasn't used.

[Mac76]

Keane: 'you look at a lot of these England players, and they haven't even won a trophy' :clap: :haha: :haha:

[SMatthews]

Trippier was England's best player probably overall. But Pickford stepped up in the knockouts.

Kane and Alli were the worst by far.

Not forgetting Maguire’s ‘legendary forehead’.

[Globalgunner]

Trippier was England's best player probably overall. But Pickford stepped up in the knockouts.

Kane and Alli were the worst by far.

Sterling!!!!
Came to Russia on a jolly

[I am invisible]

Ultimately we offered so, so little outside of set pieces.

Worst Golden boot winner since Salenko?
Yeah, the masterplan never really strays too far from "get it in the box to big [insert name of big striker or CB]", does it?

[Mac76]

Sterling!!!!
Came to Russia on a jolly

Actually, when he came off it all turned around, without him to worry about, and k**t f**ked, Croatia got it together and took control of the game

[Mac76]

Apart from Welbz.

Who wasn't used.

Please tell you're joking...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bilic's face. :lol:

[Mac76]

Wow is that Jackie Oakly? I always imagined her as a total boiler, but actually, i would....

[Mac76]

Giggs trying to pretend he's disappointed...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bilic laying the smack down on Hoddle.

[Mac76]

Bilic laying the smack down on Hoddle.

Yeah :lol:

[Mac76]

Southgate confirms we were down to ten at the end, something tyldesley never mentioned.. :rolleyes:

[Mac76]

Belgium will shag them this weekend

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Keane and Wrighty having a tear-up. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

More from Gareth Southgate: "Harry Kane has given everything for the team. He has captained the team brilliantly throughout this tournament and I couldn't have asked more of him as a captain or as a man over the past three weeks."

Quite a low bar set then.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BBC highlights are on now.

[Letters]

Belgium will shag them this weekend

What exactly is the point of the 3rd place playoff.
Who really gives a shit if we come 3rd or 4th?

[Letters]

Right. England's success in the Quarter Final was clearly down to me starting the thread so I'll start this one.

Letters :doh:

[Marc Overmars]

England :rose:

Lack of quality showed in the end. You can’t just rely on set pieces and expect to overcome the good teams. Very disappointing to say the least.

[SMatthews]

Ken Early nailed it by saying this was a once in a lifetime moment of euphoria made more intense because it was so unexpected as England have been useless at tournaments for so long.

The problem now is that expectancy levels have ramped back up once again and the feeling amongst most England fans will be that they should be winning Euro’s and WC’s going forward.

[Letters]

England :rose:

Lack of quality showed in the end. You can’t just rely on set pieces and expect to overcome the good teams. Very disappointing to say the least.
Pretty much. Kane is our only really world class player and he wasn’t up to much today.
Actually thought we played alright in the first half and had we got a second we might just have held on but we don’t have enough quality and France would have taken us apart in the final. They’ll be hot favourites against Croatia too

[Mac76]

Pretty much. Kane is our only really world class player and he wasn’t up to much today.


so actually he isn't world class either

modric and mandzukic have been patchy throughout but came up with enough to win it

our players will always be limited in what they can do or achieve until they grow their ambitions, lose their xenophobia and play abroad - fat chance of that though...

[SMatthews]

Which players are xenophobic?

[Marc Overmars]

We desperately lack a playmaker. It’s quite incredible really that England got this far without scoring hardly any goals from open passages of play.

Kane is an excellent striker but without the service he’s not going to be up to much. Sterling for all his effort was ordinary and Alli was just shit, 2 key positions that we fell woefully short in.

[Goonermerree]

so actually he isn't world class either

modric and mandzukic have been patchy throughout but came up with enough to win it

our players will always be limited in what they can do or achieve until they grow their ambitions, lose their xenophobia and play abroad - fat chance of that though...

I don't know why you keep saying they should go abroad and belittling them for not doing so. Firstly, most foreigners come here, probably the money and maybe they perceive it to be a good league to play in. Secondly, they might just like living in their own country near their friends and family. Owen went to RM and I believe that contributed in his career nose- diving. Beckham could barely get a game there in the end either.

[Goonermerree]

We desperately lack a playmaker. It’s quite incredible really that England got this far without scoring hardly any goals from open passages of play.

Kane is an excellent striker but without the service he’s not going to be up to much. Sterling for all his effort was ordinary and Alli was just shit, 2 key positions that we fell woefully short in.

I thought Sterling had his best performance in the first half, their defence couldn't handle his pace.

[Goonermerree]

The problem now is that expectancy levels have ramped back up once again and the feeling amongst most England fans will be that they should be winning Euro’s and WC’s going forward.
Actually, we won two WC last year with the youngsters, so there is hope coming through. They need to get game time though at the top level in the prem, will they get it? I know one of the kids was going to sign up for a German club.

[Power n Glory]

We desperately lack a playmaker. It’s quite incredible really that England got this far without scoring hardly any goals from open passages of play.

Kane is an excellent striker but without the service he’s not going to be up to much. Sterling for all his effort was ordinary and Alli was just shit, 2 key positions that we fell woefully short in.

Kane had two or the best chances of the game. He should have done better with both. When we needed a goal he kept dropping deep. I'd see Rashford or Rose trying to attack from wide areas but Kane nowhere to be found when on the final third.

[Letters]

our players will always be limited in what they can do or achieve until they grow their ambitions, lose their xenophobia and play abroad - fat chance of that though...

You think they play in England because they’re xenophobic?
Isn’t it just that they are pretty average and big European clubs are not clamouring for their signature.

I do think Kane is world class, a poor performance last night doesn’t change that. He could do with some better players around him though

[Marc Overmars]

Kane had two or the best chances of the game. He should have done better with both. When we needed a goal he kept dropping deep. I'd see Rashford or Rose trying to attack from wide areas but Kane nowhere to be found when on the final third.

I agree that was frustrating. It’s one of the reasons why I’m not sold on strikers being captains, sometimes you just want them to be selfish and have had tunnel vision when it comes to scoring a goal. You don’t always need them trying to be all action and helping the team out in areas that are already covered.

It was the same limited performance that we’ve seen throughout the tournament only this time we couldn’t rely on set pieces and crosses.

[Goonermerree]

I agree that was frustrating. It’s one of the reasons why I’m not sold on strikers being captains, sometimes you just want them to be selfish and have had tunnel vision when it comes to scoring a goal. You don’t always need them trying to be all action and helping the team out in areas that are already covered.
.
I totally agree, you need someone who can see the bigger picture so they can organise defence and midfield

[Letters]

:ilt:

:crying:

Trains were quiet this morning, lots of people licking their wounds after last night I guess :(

[Marc Overmars]

Hopefully we don't have to wait another 22 years before reaching a semi final. You'd hope the experience of actually winning knockout games breaks down the mental barrier.

[Letters]

Yes, and the win on pens is a psychological thing broken too.
I don't buy the "They're a young side, in 4 years they'll have grown" argument though. It rarely works out that way - remember when we were getting excited about a young Arsenal side who were doing well in the league cup.
That lot never came through and achieved anything.

At least I've enjoyed watching them play in this tournament. They're a side that can pass to one another and there's a bit of spirit about them. They just don't have the quality in depth. People like Vardy and Welbeck on the bench is a clue :(

[Marc Overmars]

The sun has gone, England are out and Trump is coming over.

What a come down. :rose:

[Letters]

On a conference call. Not really listening.
:crying:

Football doesn't often get to me like this but although I think we'd have lost in the final just to be there...we had a real chance :upset:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

We desperately lack a playmaker. It’s quite incredible really that England got this far without scoring hardly any goals from open passages of play.

Kane is an excellent striker but without the service he’s not going to be up to much. Sterling for all his effort was ordinary and Alli was just shit, 2 key positions that we fell woefully short in.

Dele was shit all tournament! Stupid useless Spud!

Kane had a stinker but you may be right about lack of service. Plus it seemed like kind of like Messi is for Argentina, Croatia had several men on him and telling the others to step up which none of them had the talent to do.

Sterling faded in the second half but for all the ridiculous abuse he gets, he ran Croatia's defence ragged in the first half and you saw how utterly ineffective Rashford was when he came on. Hoping Southgate didn't buy into the narrative and sub him off for that reason.

I guess Croatia are the slightly better team on paper so it was a fair result ...... but damn .... with a few better decisions that game could have been won and we could have been in a WC final!

[Mac76]

Yes, and the win on pens is a psychological thing broken too.
I don't buy the "They're a young side, in 4 years they'll have grown" argument though. It rarely works out that way - remember when we were getting excited about a young Arsenal side who were doing well in the league cup.
That lot never came through and achieved anything.

At least I've enjoyed watching them play in this tournament. They're a side that can pass to one another and there's a bit of spirit about them. They just don't have the quality in depth. People like Vardy and Welbeck on the bench is a clue :(

I think the 'they're a young side' does have something to it, look ar Germeny, Low took young players, built them up and did well.

Assuming most of these guys stay on form, i'd expect that team to do well at the next Euros, even though we won't again be lucky enough to have Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal falling away so easily...

I also hope some of our own young guys might play more of a part next time, for example, if AMN keeps improving he could easily break into the side

[Mac76]

You think they play in England because they’re xenophobic?
Isn’t it just that they are pretty average and big European clubs are not clamouring for their signature.

I do think Kane is world class, a poor performance last night doesn’t change that. He could do with some better players around him though

Ok, maybe i shouldn't have said xenopobic, and you may have a point re lack of demand. But I still don't think most of them have the appetite to open their horizons - someone here said they wanted to be near family etc, well fine if being near to mummy is more important than going somewhere different, and btw being helped witth your move and pampered all the way so there's no hassle, fine, but i think it shows a lack of ambition and or / curiosity that can only be a bad thing

[Mac76]

Dele was shit all tournament! Stupid useless Spud!

Kane had a stinker but you may be right about lack of service. Plus it seemed like kind of like Messi is for Argentina, Croatia had several men on him and telling the others to step up which none of them had the talent to do.

Sterling faded in the second half but for all the ridiculous abuse he gets, he ran Croatia's defence ragged in the first half and you saw how utterly ineffective Rashford was when he came on. Hoping Southgate didn't buy into the narrative and sub him off for that reason.

I guess Croatia are the slightly better team on paper so it was a fair result ...... but damn .... with a few better decisions that game could have been won and we could have been in a WC final!

Agree re walli and sterling, and yes Croatia were the better team

As for Kane, i thought he was starting to look off his game before last night, he really seems to be unreliable form-wise, plus i agree with those who say he was too deep, but was that southgate's instruction, or was it him thinking he had to do a 'captain's job' and help the team?

[Power n Glory]

Dele was shit all tournament! Stupid useless Spud!

Kane had a stinker but you may be right about lack of service. Plus it seemed like kind of like Messi is for Argentina, Croatia had several men on him and telling the others to step up which none of them had the talent to do.

Sterling faded in the second half but for all the ridiculous abuse he gets, he ran Croatia's defence ragged in the first half and you saw how utterly ineffective Rashford was when he came on. Hoping Southgate didn't buy into the narrative and sub him off for that reason.

I guess Croatia are the slightly better team on paper so it was a fair result ...... but damn .... with a few better decisions that game could have been won and we could have been in a WC final!

No idea why Sterling was taken off. I thought Kane went into a shell after missing that early chance in the first half. Southgate should have taken off Alli or Lingard for Rashford. Heck, even Danny Welbeck would have injected something into the game at the latter stages. Wasted subs. Dier, Rose and Vardy made no difference.

[Letters]

Ok, maybe i shouldn't have said xenopobic, and you may have a point re lack of demand. But I still don't think most of them have the appetite to open their horizons - someone here said they wanted to be near family etc, well fine if being near to mummy is more important than going somewhere different, and btw being helped witth your move and pampered all the way so there's no hassle, fine, but i think it shows a lack of ambition and or / curiosity that can only be a bad thing

I think in general "them foreigners" have more of an appetite to work in England than English people do have to work abroad. Part of that might be the "island mentality", I think part of it is the language thing. English has become somewhat of a lingua franca so them jonny foreigners are always going to find it easier to come here than our players will to go there. Bah.

[SMatthews]

Dele was shit all tournament! Stupid useless Spud!

Kane had a stinker but you may be right about lack of service. Plus it seemed like kind of like Messi is for Argentina, Croatia had several men on him and telling the others to step up which none of them had the talent to do.

Sterling faded in the second half but for all the ridiculous abuse he gets, he ran Croatia's defence ragged in the first half and you saw how utterly ineffective Rashford was when he came on. Hoping Southgate didn't buy into the narrative and sub him off for that reason.

I guess Croatia are the slightly better team on paper so it was a fair result ...... but damn .... with a few better decisions that game could have been won and we could have been in a WC final!

Alli usually plays in that role Sterling was in and relies on someone like Eriksen to put him in. He rarely got into goal scoring positions because he was asked to play deeper along with Lingard - a role neither of them are used to. They’re not creative players and so Kane was isolated and dropped deeper too. Midfield was the biggest problem and using those two players there was exposed once the Croatian midfield took control in the second half.

[GP]

I think in general "them foreigners" have more of an appetite to work in England than English people do have to work abroad. Part of that might be the "island mentality", I think part of it is the language thing. English has become somewhat of a lingua franca so them jonny foreigners are always going to find it easier to come here than our players will to go there. Bah.

I think English players refusing to go abroad is a big reason why we've been unsuccessful.

Even Jack had an opportunity to play abroad but he's chosen eternal mediocrity at West Ham. It's so disappointing.

[Globalgunner]

I think English players refusing to go abroad is a big reason why we've been unsuccessful.

Even Jack had an opportunity to play abroad but he's chosen eternal mediocrity at West Ham. It's so disappointing.

Jack has been a boyhood West Ham fan. All that talk of being a future Arsenal captain never happened.

[Marc Overmars]

Unfortunately the money on offer in the Premier League provides them with a very easy comfort zone to stay in.

[Power n Glory]

I've lost some respect for Wilshere. He wants a clear path to walk into the first team even at the expense of his own development. I would have liked to have seen him at least fight for a starting position this season until January. Hand in a transfer request after if you still can't get into the team and haven't learned anything new from Unai.

[dostoy]

England played 2 good teams and lost to them both.

They were lucky to get as far as they did.

[Letters]

England played 2 good teams and lost to them both.

They were lucky to get as far as they did.

Ooft. Bit of a bleak way of looking at things but fairly accurate.
I'd counter that though by saying I did enjoy watching our games, I thought we mostly played well and they made much less hard work of beating some teams than they have on previous occasions.
Getting to the semi-final flattered us, had the draw not opened up so kindly we probably wouldn't have, but there seemed a bit more about this England team than 4 years ago when we went in with low expectations and they still disappointed us.
We do lack quality though.