Today's Football 2018-19 Season

[MikeH72]

They might have beaten them both since, but in relatively low-pressure games. Croatia, when they needed to deliver, bummed England at the World Cup.

I agree England have improved a lot, but that they still have to use players such as Henderson and Dier so often is quite a concern. Also, if Kane gets injured they have no proven target man up front to come in. Sterling's added goals is huge though.

The penalties from the last World Cup were a great psychological hurdle to overcome.

I'd like to see them getting in the mix for a trophy in my lifetime. I don't count getting beaten in the only difficult game in the last World Cup as having been in the mix, though, and found it embarrassing at the heroes welcome they got upon their return to England.

They didn’t bum them mate, they won 2-1 after extra time. England have also since improved in a few areas, namely left back where they had a geriatric Ashley Young at the World Cup, and in the wide areas. The Nations League was also something that Spain were taking massively seriously, as you could tell by watching the two games.

I think they’re in really good shape to go far in major tournaments for the next decade, with the crop of talent that’s coming through, you just have to look at the attacking options they’ve got now and the age of those players. Sancho, Hudson-Odoi, Sterling, Kane, Rashford. That’s a world away from having to bring Danny Welbeck and Jamie Vardy off the bench to save a game, which wasn’t too long ago.

 

[longers]

Can you really imagine Barkley controlling a midfield against a Spain or a France?

Wouldn't say he controlled it but he played well against Spain In their back yard only a couple or so months ago, outperforming whoever they had in midfield at the time. Granted it's not big tournament football and it may not have been Spains best midfield (I can't remember) but it was a competitive match and he did play well.

 

[YoboCopter]

Why cant people just be happy there doing well, always looking for negatives

 

[Kurt.]

Why cant people just be happy there doing well, always looking for negatives

*they’re

 

[YoboCopter]

*they’re

The grammer sheep

 

[Kurt.]

The grammer sheep

Just looking for the negatives

 

[summerisle]

The grammer sheep

*grammar

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Wouldn't say he controlled it but he played well against Spain In their back yard only a couple or so months ago, outperforming whoever they had in midfield at the time. Granted it's not big tournament football and it may not have been Spains best midfield (I can't remember) but it was a competitive match and he did play well.

Spain played their strongest available side that night.

The Nations League is going to be huge in years to come, it has by far the best format with relegation or semis on every match and no interminable series of one sided qualifiers or over bloated 36 or 48 team finals

You could see how much it meant to Spain who were visibly shell shocked when England went 0-3 ahead, Ramos was fuming and led their second half fight back.

It was a real statement from England, confirmed later when they beat a full strength Croatia at Wembley to reach the semis.

Beating a well motivated and confident Spain, who picked their strongest available side, in their own backyard, just confirmed that England have made substantial progress since reaching the World Cup semis. Barkley is one of a few that are now beginning to fulfill their potential, he was composed and incisive against Spain. Overall though it's perhaps more than anything the increased pace of progress of this England side that's so impressive.

This is now a far better England team playing a different formation with new young raw talent that can only improve further.

England are going places, they're on the verge of winning things and are already listed among the world's elite group of teams.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

England will obviously qualify at a canter. Probably get to the quarters at least of the next competitions, as they should. But I think you can't expect them to get so lucky with the draw again and bigger teams undeperforming.

England are far better since the World Cup, reaching the Nations League semis, playing 4-4-2 rather than three at the back and bringing in a generation of raw young talent has increased both strength in depth and in the first eleven.

They are now ranked in the top five and are probably better than Croatia atm and with Brazil also struggling, could well be in the top three very soon.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

While England do look pretty good, I am certain as soon as they come up against a semi decent opposition they'll lose, similar to in the World Cup.

Can you really imagine Barkley controlling a midfield against a Spain or a France? Or the likes of Keane and Maguire being able to keep Neymar, Messi, Suarez or Mbappe at bay? Or Kane finding time and space around the likes of Ramos, Godin, Varane, Chiellini or van Dijk?

Can't see it myself, but I suppose it's nice to see them swotting awful teams away with relative ease.

Keane and Maguire, why no John Stones? England's defence last night was arguably all second string reserves, with Chillwell, Stones, Gomes, Alexander-Arnold, even Smalling on current form all unavailable, not even mentioning Trippier or Valencia who could play against lesser opposition as attacking full backs.

I could imagine Barkley having a key role, he's at last beginning to fulfill the potential that was always there, with Rice behind providing security and Stones bringing it out of defence.

Kane did find space as recently as this year in England's statement victory in Spain, providing service to Sterling and Rashford who's electrifying pace destroyed Ramos and company.

England have improved immensely and have a realistic chance in not just the Nations League or even the over bloated overlong Euros or equally ruined World Cup after that, but for many tournaments to come. This is building for the long term not short-termism.

 

[blueconverse]

Why cant people just be happy there doing well, always looking for negatives

Its edgy to hate the England team. Scouse not English larrrrr. I like this current England team. All seem to be pulling together.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

They might have beaten them both since, but in relatively low-pressure games. Croatia, when they needed to deliver, bummed England at the World Cup.

They are far from low pressure games, they're far more important than boring qualifiers against nonentities. The Nations League is going to be huge, sides have to field their strongest available teams and every match is against decent competition with relegation and the semis at stake.


In my view the other competitions will become increasingly marginalised, the imperative of chasing delegates votes and making more money will just take over.

Why is that you may ask? Well seeing the finals expand to ridiculous sizes, 48 teams proposed, what next? 64 teams maybe 80 even, and the mind numbingly boring qualifiers become absolutely irrelevant is mainly why, quality will be sacrificed for quantity and attack vs defence will prevail as outclassed teams try to stop being embarrassed. Borefests for all.

The Nations League where every match means something, and is against top quality full strength opposition will become the favourite competition and the one to watch.

 

[Nymzee]

That Franch kit was sexy last night.

 

[Barnfred 55]

They didn’t bum them mate, they won 2-1 after extra time. England have also since improved in a few areas, namely left back where they had a geriatric Ashley Young at the World Cup, and in the wide areas. The Nations League was also something that Spain were taking massively seriously, as you could tell by watching the two games.

I think they’re in really good shape to go far in major tournaments for the next decade, with the crop of talent that’s coming through, you just have to look at the attacking options they’ve got now and the age of those players. Sancho, Hudson-Odoi, Sterling, Kane, Rashford. That’s a world away from having to bring Danny Welbeck and Jamie Vardy off the bench to save a game, which wasn’t too long ago.

The following full Internationals are still eligible to play for the current Under 21 side in this years tournament. Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Rice, Chilwell, Cook, Dele Alli, Sancho, Hudson-Odoi and Rashford. Add the lad Foley to the midfield and Dean Henderson (who I would seriously love at Everton) in goal, and that's some team. Add in other young players like Stones, Kane, Sterling, Barkley, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Pickford, even Loftus Cheek, all of who are 25 or younger and that's the nucleus if a squad that has another 4 tournaments in them. Plus there are other potentially very good young players coming through on the conveyor belt.

England could potentially be the Spain of the twenties. I'm sure France will have something to say about that though. The young talent they have is frightening.

 

[roydo]

The following full Internationals are still eligible to play for the current Under 21 side in this years tournament. Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Rice, Chilwell, Cook, Dele Alli, Sancho, Hudson-Odoi and Rashford. Add the lad Foley to the midfield and Dean Henderson (who I would seriously love at Everton) in goal, and that's some team. Add in other young players like Stones, Kane, Sterling, Barkley, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Pickford, even Loftus Cheek, all of who are 25 or younger and that's the nucleus if a squad that has another 4 tournaments in them. Plus there are other potentially very good young players coming through on the conveyor belt.

England could potentially be the Spain of the twenties. I'm sure France will have something to say about that though. The young talent they have is frightening.

That is an incredible bunch of players there. Perhaps the FA deserve some credit for putting some plans down about 10 years ago. Because it seems that most of them have actually developed more under the England age teams, rather than with their clubs. With a few notable exceptions.