Third Place: Belgium vs England

[ilikecheese]

Kinda makes me sad watching Kante for France. Not a creator as such, but a huge upgrade on anything England have.

As someone said in the semifinal he is the best in the world at what he does. His reading of the game is second to none.

 

[Walken]

Two words:

Dowell.

Euro2020.

one word, championship

 

[davek]

I often agree with you Dave but claiming Shelvey would’ve improved this team is laughable

...better than Dier punting 50 yards downfield though as your outfield open play instigator.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

The midfield playmaker is desperately needed to orchestrate the parts and bring together the defence and attack, to complete the system he's trying to play.

Not having one was beyond his control and it meant we reverted to type in the second half against Croatia, we lost our way without possession, we lost our grip and were forced back.

It is the crucial link that can make us truly competitive and operating without one is a tough ask whoever the coach is and whatever tactics employed.

We weren't anything like ready and had all too many obvious faults, missing crucial players in crucial positions normally so vital for tournament success.

It's difficult to deny, as hard as i might try and with as many qualifications as I might use, that to reach such an advanced stage without such attributes, despite being 'not ready' and so lacking in such crucial areas, is a very notable triumph.

That we've done it with these players for all their faults and shortcomings is remarkable. With a better or a more skilled team we may have even have gone further. For me the achievement (taking advantage of all the lucky breaks going) is getting so far with such a team, with such disadvantages and seriously lacking in the all the raw material needed.

They will improve for it and the switch to this style and formula has every chance of being the corner stone and foundation of a brighter future.

 

[davek]

That's not really how chances work. If you do that then every single cross and through ball counts because the guy could have got there.

I still don't know if you're serious with what you say on here but I will make the point that one of the biggest problems with looking at performances in the world cup is how people look at results when the small number of games opens up luck to play a huge part. Germany going out, Brazil's loss, and Japan getting to where they did all had huge swaths of luck both bad and good. Over say a Premier League length season that evens out. In 7 games it doesn't and teams can over perform easily

You're putting Roberto's team's WC campaign down to "luck" and I'm the one not being serious?

Ok.

 

[USABlue]

 

[roydo]

Ok, Lallana could have been takern.

The point is an obvious one and a good one: he took a squad with not one creator amongst them. Good idea or not?

You make it sound like he decided against taking one of the multitude of players available to him. In reality, he took all the available English players he could from City, United, Spurs and RS. The only 3 keepers he realistically could, Vardy and Maguire. And Welbeck.

Got them playing, got to a semi. Not sure what else he could have done.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Ok, Lallana could have been takern.

The point is an obvious one and a good one: he took a squad with not one creator amongst them. Good idea or not?

Obviously not in an ideal world no.

But we didn’t live in one and yes even with the benefit of hindsight I think Southgate probably made the best of the options he had on hand as I don’t think the replacement of any on that team with either Shelvey/Wilshere/Lallana would have got us to the final.

 

[davek]

Obviously not in an ideal world no.

But we didn’t live in one and yes even with the benefit of hindsight I think Southgate probably made the best of the options he had on hand as I don’t think the replacement of any on that team with either Shelvey/Wilshere/Lallana would have got us to the final.

IMO - Southgate doesn't care for a playmaker. He sees them as iffy.

Just my hunch. We'll see as he builds for the Euros.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Kinda makes me sad watching Kante for France. Not a creator as such, but a huge upgrade on anything England have.

Means the other midfielders can focus so much more of their concentration on creation knowing that unlikely anyone going to get past Kante

 

[davek]

You make it sound like he decided against taking one of the multitude of players available to him. In reality, he took all the available English players he could from City, United, Spurs and RS. The only 3 keepers he realistically could, Vardy and Maguire. And Welbeck.

Got them playing, got to a semi. Not sure what else he could have done.

As said above: I suspect he is not a fan of players who's task is to loiter between lines. And I think we'll see that in the next qualifying campaign for Euro2020.

 

[Billy Dean]

As said above: I suspect he is not a fan of players who's task is to loiter between lines. And I think we'll see that in the next qualifying campaign for Euro2020.

He played Dele All and Jesse Lingard in every game who do exactly that.

 

[LinekersLegs]

IMO - Southgate doesn't care for a playmaker. He sees them as iffy.

Just my hunch. We'll see as he builds for the Euros.

Will certainly be interesting- at least we’ll be able to ageee if he leaves Dowell out if he is playing well it is a travesty

 

[roydo]

As said above: I suspect he is not a fan of players who's task is to loiter between lines. And I think we'll see that in the next qualifying campaign for Euro2020.

I wouldnt imagine he is fixated on one when he hasnt actually got one to pick.

 

[ilikecheese]

...better than Dier punting 50 yards downfield though as your outfield open play instigator.

It's kinda weird that in hindsight he had the best goal scoring opportunity. Beat the keeper, and if not for some last ditch defending, he would have equalized for England.