GROUP G - Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

[Chris O'Connor]

If England are to maintain the feel good factor and keep confidence on its upward trajectory, then going all out to beat Belgium and adopt a winning mentality against tougher opponents seems the right way.

To this end I think it would probably be wrong to make wholesale changes, you can't just go forward with keeping fringe players more contented if it's at the expense of keeping your first choices motivated. If Kane has goalscoring ambitions and wants to play, he should play. Only those on yellows should definitely be left out. There are some close calls with others that could be considered.

There could well be a heavy price to pay if a win ensures a far tougher route forward though. The prospect of a quarter final against Germany or Brazil isn't as enticing as one against say Serbia Switzerland or Mexico. Whichever way you spin it, Germany and Brazil are both likely winners and better sides despite previous hiccups.

Luckily we will know which route is best before we play and as seen recently surprise results can completely throw the best calculations.

We could and should aim to win if it's not seriously detrimental to our chances of progressing a lot further into this tournament.

Domestic football recently gave a good example of how an easy draw can benefit us greatly, and if coming second gave us a far easier route it would be far from a disaster and possibly hugely beneficial to finish there.

Arsenal won the FA cup a year ago, playing two non-league teams in the rounds before the City semi.

Its true they didn't deliberately choose this route or try and avoid teams, but nevertheless their route to the semi was a relatively straightforward one.

You can just concentrate on the next game, try and win and meet tougher opposition earlier than you have to. If you are good enough and confident enough you may progress regardless.

England, despite yesterday's impressive mauling of weak opposition, are not the best equipped team in the competition and perhaps thinking they may win it is a step or two too far.

If that is the case then, then the easier the opposition they are likely to face - the better their chances of progressing further. We should know if winning is best beforehand and all being equal should go for it.

Either approach is valid however, but the playing better opposition one maybe the shorter.

 

[Walken]

Possibly mate, but I think other nations will be wary of Englands attacking threat and might have to adjust to suit. Anybody who attacks England will score goals, thats my worry. In all fairness, Panama had two clear cut chances to score, the first one when it was nil-nil, better players would have scored.

they will have taken notice for sure, but England will find it much tougher to set piece the better sides out of the match, tensions rise in the knockout stage and possession and game management become very important, that being the case if your midfield linchpin is jordan henderson you're definitely more than a bit short

 

[duncs pigeon]

they will have taken notice for sure, but England will find it much tougher to set piece the better sides out of the match, tensions rise in the knockout stage and possession and game management become very important, that being the case if your midfield linchpin is jordan henderson you're definitely more than a bit short

Agree mate, not a fan of Henserson but hes done ok. I for one is just happy to see the football we are playing, no fear and enjoying themselves. And they have a good team spirit and work ethic, no bloody egos as in previous squads.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I'm just enjoying a World Cup where England are playing well and scoring goals so far. It's been a while!

It's great to be excited about Football again, and what will happen will happen. There are other teams who are better than England on paper, but we don't really know how good England are yet, and Football is always about the team rather than a collection of individuals. We also have a goalscorer, which always gives you a chance, and tournament Football isn't always predictable.[/QUOTEDon't get your hopes up mate. England, like Everton usually find a way of letting you down. Out on pens in the quarters is my guess. Enjoy the fact they're playing ok and dont expect anything more and you'll enjoy it much more.

 

[deipnosophist]

It's a pity Adam is out. Adam, Hendo and Wee Raheem is a triple pronged attack to frighten the very best

 

[Toffeeslam]

We have only played Tunisia and Panama so this team has not been tested yet. It’s tefres to see this England team playing with threat and endeavour but people saying let’s believe is too premature.

The Belgium game isn’t even that important and England should beat those in group H. As usual the real acid test will be the quarter final if they get there

 

[Seathestars]

The way Henderson was put in his place by Modric in the CL final tells me we will struggle against better sides. I hope I'm wrong and although kane is one class act I think you need a great spine, not sure we have it.
Confidence could be key though, its amazing what that can do.

 

[Jamiednm]

We have only played Tunisia and Panama so this team has not been tested yet. It’s tefres to see this England team playing with threat and endeavour but people saying let’s believe is too premature.

The Belgium game isn’t even that important and England should beat those in group H. As usual the real acid test will be the quarter final if they get there

And there's nothing wrong with that. If England had the same approach as we had in 2006/2010/2014, we'd have drawn against Tunisia and ground out a narrow, drab win against Panama.

There is obviously a feel good factor, momentum and confidence in this team, which is all you can ask for at this stage.

I think we've got a lot to offer going forward, and although no one in our midfield has the ability of a Modric, we appear to have some players who are on the same wavelength who aren't afraid of passing. I like what I've seen so far (other than defence, which I worry about). We will have underachieved if we don't get to the Quarters. A strong showing in the Quarter Final is par. Semi's and beyond is more than expected.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

I must admit to thinking Colombia the best team in group H and the one i'd prefer not to face, even if they can't win it and were beaten by Japan after conceding a goal and having a man sent off in the opening minutes.

The potential quarters for me and where we'd play are bigger considerations.

The predictions as to the route to be followed are so uncertain but it is a major advantage and just so lucky that our group play last.

Unless it would be truly horrendous for our chances to finish top its probably far better for the feel good factor and more importantly confidence to try and beat Belgium.

I'm one for keeping changes to a minimum, yellow cards only really, if Kane wants to play then he should. Keeping our captain, talisman and main goal scoring threat happy must override that of fringe players.

Hodgson rotated too much and it can be disruptive, tournaments are over quickly and they do get on as subs.

But I can't help looking and ...


Atm if England did finish second to Belgium and all the other groups remain as they are now, then one semi-final will be the following:

Spain/Russia/Croatia/Denmark vs. England/Japan/Mexico/Switzerland

How about that as one juicy route?

 

[Billy Dean]

I must admit to thinking Colombia the best team in group H and the one i'd prefer not to face, even if they can't win it and were beaten by Japan after conceding a goal and having a man sent off in the opening minutes.

The potential quarters for me and where we'd play are bigger considerations.

The predictions as to the route to be followed are so uncertain but it is a major advantage and just so lucky that our group play last.

Unless it would be truly horrendous for our chances to finish top its probably far better for the feel good factor and more importantly confidence to try and beat Belgium.

I'm one for keeping changes to a minimum, yellow cards only really, if Kane wants to play then he should. Keeping our captain, talisman and main goal scoring threat happy must override that of fringe players.

Hodgson rotated too much and it can be disruptive, tournaments are over quickly and they do get on as subs.

But I can't help looking and ...


Atm if England did finish second to Belgium and all the other groups remain as they are now, then one semi-final will be the following:

Spain/Russia/Croatia/Denmark vs. England/Japan/Mexico/Switzerland

How about that as one juicy route?

I think it's dangerous deliberately trying to finish 2nd. Any team in group H could beat us so if we deliberately finish 2nd then go out in the next round we'd look pretty stupid.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

I think it's dangerous deliberately trying to finish 2nd. Any team in group H could beat us so if we deliberately finish 2nd then go out in the next round we'd look pretty stupid.

To my mind we are almost always best going out to win, unless by doing so it would give us a horrendous disadvantage (which tbf is quite possible in this case).

Any team in group H could beat us, we've been embarrassed too often before for that not to be the case (everyone remembers Hodgson's team and Iceland)

For my money the one team more likely to trouble us is Colombia even if there is still some uncertainty whether they will qualify. Japan would probably be my preference and they'll possibly top the group as Poland look dreadful, are out already and can't be too motivated.

Looking at the layout for the two halves of the draw as it might possibly look before the knockout phase round of 16 though, there does look a very good possibility that all the well fancied teams bar Spain will be in one half of the draw and the lesser teams (with Spain) in the other.

Whichever way you spin it the likes of Germany, Brazil and France are better sides than Japan, Switzerland and Croatia and while there must still be some doubt it will break so starkly, this is now looking increasingly probable.

Martinez has already indicated he will drop his stars and make plenty of changes, the Belgian press have been full of the likelier easier progression in one half of the draw compared to the other too. Are they really wanting to be second?

So while the immediate next round might be the end for us anyway, whether we meet Japan, Colombia or Senegal, it does start to look like this next match against Belgium will determine just how difficult the route thereafter will be for the winners of our last 16 match.

Both ways and likely routes..

going for a win with the obvious advantage of keeping momentum and confidence high and if we're good enough advancing despite tougher opposition following

Or playing smarter, making changes and coming second and an enticing path if we win our last 16 game

are valid choices for me. It's easy to argue the advantages of both routes either way, but meeting tougher opposition and likely winners earlier than we have to might be the shorter one.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Seems like in conversations with Belgian journalists Martinez has practically said he would prefer to finish second (well, not is so many words, but reading between the lines).

No surprise at all, just common sense really: second clearly better as things stand if you have a genuine ambition to win the whole thing

Six changes possibly means Southgate knows but being media savvy too will say the right things to the press

Actions speak louder and rather like a Carling cup manager is talking up the importance of going for the win and wanting to win

I genuinely think it's the tried and tested Carling Cup response from Southgate, say how much it means to win and quietly drop anyone who is likely to make that happen

 

[deipnosophist]

If both teams are trying to get second, it will be a card strewn match...

 

[davek]

Turnip Southgate talking up this England team as "a reflection of the diversity of society".

Been reading too much about France's Rainbow Team of 98.

Comes across like a pompous divvy to me.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]