Quarter Finals

[Rogue Trader]

That's what people have said after each of the last 3 tournaments. "Never a better chance to win than this." Until the next tournament 2 years later

France were missing key players, but have such depth that looking at both teams man for man, they still had better players in every department.

The good thing is that now England are matching France in terms of the quality of player being produced, they are just a few years behind. It won't be long before England are genuinely at a similar level to France.

 

[davek]

He is 19 ffs

Just because he had the gall to talk to Henderson you seem to have taken a weird dislike to the lad.

Was it his best game, no, although he did have a cracking shot saved at the start of the second half.

I did say he had talent.

The hype surrounding him looks misplaced to me. That lad wont transform the fortunes of an elite club IMO. Not atm anyway.

As I said: I'd continue monitoring him rather than rush in with a daft money bid...which is what seems to be going to happen.

 

[Rogue Trader]

But it is so true, Senegal missing their best player, a banged up French team and btw the way they're certainly not better in every department and a semi final v Morocco who will be missing probably both starting central defenders and maybe their left full for a place in the final, sorry I'm not going to as it was on a plate but that scenario to play a game where you may have been slight favs, unbelievable opportunity to pass on.

 

[davek]

Well he isn't Bobby Charlton, that's for sure. I mean, I think he's got massive potential at 19 - and Dortmund is a great club for him to develop at both on and off the pitch - but the last time England produced a player of unquestionable brilliance was Wayne Rooney. He was a force of nature at Euro 2004. That injury in the quarter-final was a real sliding doors moment for England. After that, he was never a force in a major tournament ever again. I blame Alex Ferguson (and Bill Kenwright).

Yep. Rooney was a phenomenon. That level of talent combined with a self-less work rate and ability to defer to Ronaldo was extraordary.

Bellingham is a good prospect but has a long way to go...and even then he'll never be as good as Rooney.

 

[Billy Dean]

But it is so true, Senegal missing their best player, a banged up French team and btw the way they're certainly not better in every department and a semi final v Morocco who will be missing probably both starting central defenders and maybe their left full for a place in the final, sorry I'm not going to as it was on a plate but that scenario to play a game where you may have been slight favs, unbelievable opportunity to pass on.

In which area are England superior to France? I would say probably only full-back.

 

[davek]

In which area are England superior to France? I would say probably only full-back.

What happened to Pavard? Is he that much out of favour with Deschamp?

He had a great WC last tme round.

 

[Gilbert..]

England, like Portugal, tried to play some theatrics, then blamed the ref because there was utterly minimal contact, instead of playing actual football.

Bellingham fell over like he was shot a few times, replays show he was barely touched lol

Like almost every single player in this world cup.
Sadly its now part of the game.

 

[LinekersLegs]

I did say he had talent.

The hype surrounding him looks misplaced to me. That lad wont transform the fortunes of an elite club IMO. Not atm anyway.

As I said: I'd continue monitoring him rather than rush in with a daft money bid...which is what seems to be going to happen.

No you didn’t, you explicitly questioned his talent!

I question how talented he really is tbh.

Yes, he's a decent player.

i know you say you don’t support the English team but that doesn’t mean you don’t understand English the language lol - decent is not the equivalent of talented

Decent - of an acceptable standard, satisfactory, fair, adequate.

Talented - have a natural aptitude, skillful, accomplished, brilliant.

I agree he shouldn’t have been hyped as much as the press have done this tournament but more because that is awful pressure to put on a youngster and it rarely works out well.

 

[Rogue Trader]

In which area are England superior to France? I would say probably only full-back.

Keeper Pickford over Lloris, both full backs, Stones I would either English centre half instead of that lunatic Upamecano, Rice and Bellingham i would choose over both French midfielders last night, Kane i would chose over Giroud although i must say Giroud was excellent last night and Saka over Dembele.

 

[Librarian]

Teams England have beaten in knockout World Cup ties since '66: Paraguay, Belgium (1990 version), Cameroon, Denmark, Ecuador, Colombia, Sweden & Senegal

 

[GoldenToffee]

Isn't it possible for people to just accept that the talent and squad isn't as good as they want to believe it is?

Like how many of England's XI get into the French side? You could argue Kane over Giroud, but not over Benzema. Pickford possibly over Lloris. That's it.

Bellingham maybe in a few years if he keeps up his development, but not yet.

We had people fawning over Foden and he was completely ineffective when it mattered, and I'm not buying that Rice is this top quality central midfield player.

Kane is past his peak and there is not a striker anywhere that looks like they may be the next big thing. Rashford, Sancho, Calvert-Lewin, Wilson, no, not at all.

This "one more crack at Euro 2024" lark - unless huge amounts of good fortune, England will struggle there.

France are amazing now and they genuinely have some top notch younger players. Genuinely wouldn't be surprised to see them win back to back WCs, and again in 2026.

 

[davek]

No you didn’t, you explicitly questioned his talent!

i know you say you don’t support the English team but that doesn’t mean you don’t understand English the language lol - decent is not the equivalent of talented

Decent - of an acceptable standard, satisfactory, fair, adequate.

Talented - have a natural aptitude, skillful, accomplished, brilliant.

I agree he shouldn’t have been hyped as much as the press have done this tournament but more because that is awful pressure to put on a youngster and it rarely works out well.

The extent of his talent is what I questioned. We're obviously talking about international players here so to think I meant he had no talent is being purblind.

 

[Billy Dean]

What happened to Pavard? Is he that much out of favour with Deschamp?

He had a great WC last tme round.

Injured in their first game I think?

 

[roydo]

Teams England have beaten in knockout World Cup ties since '66: Paraguay, Belgium (1990 version), Cameroon, Denmark, Ecuador, Colombia, Sweden & Senegal

Pretty modest, but they have also beaten Argentina France and Germany in tournaments. Did they do Spain on pens as well?

 

[davek]

Isn't it possible for people to just accept that the talent and squad isn't as good as they want to believe it is?

Like how many of England's XI get into the French side? You could argue Kane over Giroud, but not over Benzema. Pickford possibly over Lloris. That's it.

Bellingham maybe in a few years if he keeps up his development, but not yet.

We had people fawning over Foden and he was completely ineffective when it mattered, and I'm not buying that Rice is this top quality central midfield player.

Kane is past his peak and there is not a striker anywhere that looks like they may be the next big thing. Rashford, Sancho, Calvert-Lewin, Wilson, no, not at all.

This "one more crack at Euro 2024" lark - unless huge amounts of good fortune, England will struggle there.

France are amazing now and they genuinely have some top notch younger players. Genuinely wouldn't be surprised to see them win back to back WCs, and again in 2026.

The English media before the French game were focussing on Mbappe and maybe Griezmann, as if the rest of the team are luggage. But they are all better at what they do than their English counterparts.

I said loads of times how hyped up that English team was and that they would be knocked over by the French easily enough.