Quarter Finals

[Goat]

Dont think many English folk would neither. Cant recall who said it, ages ago, but "England invented football, (we didnt, Scotland did), and the rest of the world showed us how to play it." Kinda.

England invented football, Scotland invented smack.

 

[Kurt.]

Dont think many English folk would neither. Cant recall who said it, ages ago, but "England invented football, (we didnt, Scotland did), and the rest of the world showed us how to play it." Kinda.

They’re capable of beating anybody on their day.. unfortunately them days are few and far between and they just never seem to get over that final hurdle in the way the top teams do.

 

[stipe]

It wasn’t a dig by the way, I just don’t see how they can be classed as one of the major nations when they’ve only won 1 trophy in their history. Undoubtedly they are a top 10 team but I don’t consider them to be classed in the same bracket as Brazil, Argentina, Germany or France.

France and Spain (especially) were also considered underachievers. France started their ball (truly) rolling with their World Cup win on home soil in 1998.

Spain with that Xavi and Iniesta tika-taka generation when they won everything, until then they always were failing.

Its Germany who were usually the constant one, always sniffing around the top even when playing bad.

 

[roydo]

England invented football, Scotland invented smack.

England codified the Laws, and were the first FA, hence "The FA", not England FA.

 

[Rita_Poon]

France and Spain (especially) were also considered underachievers. France started their ball (truly) rolling with their World Cup win on home soil in 1998.

Spain with that Xavi and Iniesta tika-taka generation when they won everything, until then they always were failing.

About ten years before, when they invested so much in the national youth setup to find and teach the best prospects they could find. Been a conveyor belt ever since.

 

[Goat]

England codified the Laws, and were the first FA, hence "The FA", not England FA.

We gave it to the world.

Not like those Americans who keep their sports to themselves so they can excel.

 

[roydo]

About ten years before, when they invested so much in the national youth setup to find and teach the best prospects they could find. Been a conveyor belt ever since.

Which is what England did about 10 years ago. The last 3 tournaments have seen the results, to a degree.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Why, do you think they did well? And what ever wumming means I'm only saying what i saw. Iran, USA Wales and Senegal ensured us a spot in the last eight, so I can't honestly see what praise I should be heaping on them like the rest of the country seems to be doing.

I believe France is going to win it again, and have done since the the group stage.

That England gave them a decent game, came back from a goal down (rather than folding) and for periods were the better team with the scoreline/chances very close I think deserves praise. Bellingham score that lovely shot, a few cm to the right for Maguire’s header, Kane doesn’t sky his 2nd penalty - one of those and at the least the game would have gone to extra time.

If France perform poorly from now on I will probably reassess but for now I believe they got knocked out by the eventual winners rather than “first good team they met”.

 

[roydo]

We gave it to the world.

Not like those Americans who keep their sports to themselves so they can excel.

That we did. Unfortunately, those pesky Brazilians started playing it on beaches.

 

[Billy Dean]

Lots of young talent in England right now.
As a neutral, I enjoyed watching England during this World Cup. Saka and Bellingham in particular are brilliant players.
In the long term, a strong replacement for Henderson is needed and a successor to Kane. I’m not sure who that would be. Abraham? Toney?

No idea mate. Hopefully Kane will be around for another couple of tournaments and in that time hopefully others will emerge. There are some good ones in the youth but they've got a long way to go. Otherwise it's the likes of the ones you mentioned I guess

 

[royalblue66]

England invented football, Scotland invented smack.

And mars bars in batter.

 

[stipe]

We gave it to the world.

Not like those Americans who keep their sports to themselves so they can excel.

Basketball is only American sport that managed to really spread around the world. While its not popular in UK and Scandinavian countries, its quite popular through rest of Europe, here in ex-Yugoslavia its the second sport after football.

American football and baseball i just don't understand, start and stop sports are really not hot here.

 

[wm02]

Basketball is only American sport that managed to really spread around the world. While its not popular in UK and Scandinavian countries, its quite popular through rest of Europe, here in ex-Yugoslavia its the second sport after football.

American football and baseball i just don't understand, start and stop sports are really not hot here.

I guess it depends. Baseball clearly hasn’t caught on in Europe but is very popular in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Caribbean, Venezuela.

I was amazed by how many baseball fields I saw during my time in Japan

 

[FrenchDarrenBent]

Which is what England did about 10 years ago. The last 3 tournaments have seen the results, to a degree.

Disagree.
This was the 04-06 generation.
James, Neville, Terry, Campbell, Cole,
Beckham, Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard, Owen, Rooney.
Look at that defence. Later on Ferdinand would join them. Campbell and Cole were both on the invincibles. Terry didnt lose a home game in three years....
Rooney in his prime is worth three Harry Kanes...
All of them were world class in their position. Owen and James aside, all of them competed in at least one champions league final as a starter.
The bench was nothing to scoff at either.

Maybe it's because there was/is too much internal rivalry and a reluctance to go deep for the country. Talent was never the problem.

 

[sbbefc]

It wasn’t a dig by the way, I just don’t see how they can be classed as one of the major nations when they’ve only won 1 trophy in their history. Undoubtedly they are a top 10 team but I don’t consider them to be classed in the same bracket as Brazil, Argentina, Germany or France.

Suppose it depends on your definition of a major country. If it's trophies won, the four you mention are obviously well ahead (I'd include Spain and Italy). But you have the likes of England, the Dutch, Portuguese who have a strong football tradition and are there or thereabouts in most tournaments.

What I was trying to say is that, England should really be up there with those you mention. A population similar to that of France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Argentina. A developed country with football by far its national sport. An FA who could easily splash out on a top tier manager, top training facilities etc.

Sure, quarters isn't a bad result, but over 28 major tournaments you'd expect a country like England to have won a trophy or two.