World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 28 (11 July)

[mark87]

Would you have preferred Modric?

Gazzaniga if I had a choice.

 

[SdB]

One of the players of the tournament for me trippier, probably top 3 afer mbappe & modric. Tough to see his pain at the end. He gave everything.

Yep, been superb in all games.
Maguire comes out with credit
Really unsure of Pickford before the tournament but he performed way better than expected as well.

I'm struggling after that to come up with really outstanding performances by our players.

 

[SdB]

Lol at Roy Keane

Talking sense I thought and pretty much spot on

 

[dtxspurs]

Another game where you realize just how important the midfield battle is. England had the better defense and forwards but it didn't matter because of how much the midfield was outclassed.

 

[markiespurs]

A lot of people have made some very good points about what England lacks, where Southgate struggled tactically, etc. but we seem to be avoiding the main problem. ITV is our Jonah. The football gods won't be appeased until Sam Matterface and Clive Tyldesley are sacrificed.

Hoddle is only spared because he was such a fantastic player for us.

As a commentator though,he gets right on my tits.

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

Allez Les Bleus !

Badly want to see Hugo with that winners medal...

The alternative is Lovren and Modric - unbearable.

Modric.

'Me no likey chicken badge, ratboy, Chelsea-loving, English dream destroying, Madrid fuckwit'

Unless of course he were to rejoin us in the summer when all would be forgiven...

Well apart from the Chelsea and dream destroying bits. For those he would still be a ratboy.

 

[absolute bobbins]

ITV what the actual fuck was that trail?

That’s a lead in from the break, not something that should be anywhere near the actual broadcast

 

[Dharmabum]

I generally agree with this except I have Trippier contributing to both their goals.

Yes, he did get beaten by a much taller Perisic leading up to their 2nd goal by a much - and in retrospect Trippier should have floored him. But Stones was the main "culprit" as he lost his man far to easily and before that Walker made a rather poor clearance.

 

[Gilzeanking]

. Harry does look a bit leggy. Disappointing we didn’t knit more together in the final third third as the game wore on but they played better than I thought they would tonight

For me , Harry has not been right since his injury

 

[DEFchenkOE]

England's main problem is that the defenders are more comfortable on the ball than the midfielders

 

[ljinko888]

Overall it's been a great experience and the lads did themselves proud. Gareth Southgate has led them superbly.

The one issue that has been noted before but cost us finally is the lack of creativity in the middle of the park. I thought Henderson has had a very good tournament overall but the fact is we were having Kane dropping in there to play to the strengths of Lingard, Alli and Sterling. Those three behind Kane have terrific movement but how many chances did they create? The biggest threat has been Trippier by far, followed by set-plays. The approach play from the back has been wonderful to watch but at times we play more risky passages in our own half than the opposition.

That's not to absolve Kane of criticism. Tonight he was lost. It looks like he will be made the scapegoat for tonight for not putting the chance away. Opposition fans were waiting for one moment like that and they've got it. Hopefully he has a good break and comes back firing from the start for us. It's going to be mentally exhausting that chance playing back on his mind.

 

[PLTuck]

So proud of them. Considering our limitations as a team we really can't ask for more.

A Modric in our midfield and we'd be winning tournaments.

England's player of the tournament Tripper or Pickford for me.

 

[rightwayup]

Rashford was unbelievably poor when he came on....I find it hard to believe he followed the coaches instructions unless it was to stand in the same place with minimal pressing or movement.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

And my excuse is the medication - 23 tablets so far today, with 2 more to go.

Apologies for my idiocy.

Never apologize. Just smile, and wave....

 

[mrlilywhite]

For me , Harry has not been right since his injury

Totally agree. He was never blessed with pace, but he always had the ability to turn and beat his man. Something is missing since that injury, and was certainly back a lot quicker than he should have been.

 

[ohtottenham!]

Whisper it, but I still think from a deeper role Kane could have offered a bit more, maybe we even should have expected it. Some good hold up play and classy touches at times, but we never got 'run through brick walls' mode Kane - especially when he is captain. And his extra time efforts were rather limp. It would be interesting to know if he still isn't 100%.

I don't think we've had a "'run through brick walls' mode Kane" for months. Not a question of his desire, 'cause that's not a question...it's a physical thing. You can see the slowness in his movement, his pace, his turn of pace. His former strength of using his physicality in backing off and turning defenders has turned into simply waiting for contact and a ref's whistle that may or may not come. His quickness in shifting the ball to either foot to get a shot off hasn't been seen for a while.

Think he just needs a long rest, and a viable, non-Llorente alternative in our line up to give him that rest.

 

[The Apprentice]

First comment I’ll make all
World Cup.

Think we’ve over performed considering our talent and boy could we do with an Eriksen or even a Coutinho.

Still don’t understand why Kane played the last two games as a 10? He should lead the line. He was shagged by 60.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Another game where you realize just how important the midfield battle is. England had the better defense and forwards but it didn't matter because of how much the midfield was outclassed.

It was awful to watch, overrun in central midfield and all we did was bring on more attacking players. Southgate dropped a bollock with this one, no plan B.

 

[mpickard2087]

I don't think we've had a "'run through brick walls' mode Kane" for months. Not a question of his desire, 'cause that's not a question...it's a physical thing. You can see the slowness in his movement, his pace, his turn of pace. His former strength of of using his physicality in backing off and turning defenders has turned into simply waiting for contact and a ref's whistle that may or may not come. His quickness in shifting the ball to either foot to get a shot off hasn't been seen for a while.

Think he just needs a long rest, and a viable, non-Llorente alternative in our line up to give him that rest.

I agree. It's been masked somewhat by him still being a very good player so at the end of the season for Spurs he was still picking up tap ins and now with England he's been poaching, drilling home penalties, and been at the forefront of this nice journey through the tournament..... But lets draw a line now, I don't want this subdued version of Kane back at Spurs in the new season. I want him at 100% roughing up defenders, being a complete striker and focal point up top. If he needs a long rest, if there is something (eg. his ankle) that still needs fixing, then I hope we get it done - rather than keep flogging him to death as short term measures.

 

[Dov67]

Come on France, come on Hugo

The thought of that arsewipe, Lovren with a world cup winners medal is too horrible to contemplate.