England Vs France: QF

[chrissivad]

Sat 10th Dec
KO 19:00

 

[BorjeSpurs]

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Southgate going with a back five with Trippier/Walker combo to try and stop Mbappe.

 

[Marty]

It's a real shame the two best performers so far meet this early, but to win this thing you have to beat the best.

 

[Nine while nine]

Looks like Phil Foden is gearing up to inspire the English against the French with his rendition of 'Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George'...

 

[easley91]

Hugo v Harry. We have the two captains and one will be a semi finalist at the very minimum.

I suppose this was the minimum expected of England right? Majority thought France in the quarters would be it. Anything from here is a bonus.

 

['O Zio]

Hugo v Harry. We have the two captains and June will be a semi finalist at the very minimum.

I suppose this was the minimum expected of England right? Majority thought France in the quarters would be it. Anything from here is a bonus.

I reckon so.

France are definitely beatable so I'm not completely ruling us out, but i just mean if we do go out to them there's no shame in that as long as we put a good performance in. Unlike the last two tournaments, we're meeting a genuinely top tier team (even with their extensive injury list) earlier on so expectations have to be relative.

 

[1882andallthat]

Hugo v Harry. We have the two captains and June will be a semi finalist at the very minimum.

I suppose this was the minimum expected of England right? Majority thought France in the quarters would be it. Anything from here is a bonus.

It would be so ironic if England won a penalty in the dying minutes of the game that would see them through if Harry scores or it takes it to extra time with Hugo being the one who can snatch it all away.

How many times would that have been played out in training, all that pressure literally put on the line and winner takes all in one kick or save based on two characters who literally know each others game inside out and back to front, who will blink first.. who will prevail you couldn't beat that for drama...knowing they have to face each other very soon as they return from being adversaries in that moment to teammates again. Oh to be a fly on the wall for the first reunion at Hotspur Way....


It's already gonna be as weird and as special at kick off as they shake hands and swap pendants at the kick off.

On a slightly different note the way results have gone so far in the last 16 make it even more likely now than not that Spurs players are highly likely to feature on opposing sides in the World Cup finals. (Son, less likely but still theoretically possible, Romero, and Richarlison and Peresic, on one side of the draw, Hugo, Harry and Eric Dier on the other) yes Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands could dash that scenario, but it is looking very possible indeed....

 

[Wig]

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Southgate going with a back five with Trippier/Walker combo to try and stop Mbappe.

Pity. I'd rather we set up to cause them problems (eg. Exploit the space behind Mbappe) rather than change our game to contain them.

They're beatable.

 

[Trix]

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Southgate going with a back five with Trippier/Walker combo to try and stop Mbappe.

Imo that's why he gave Dier minutes last night.

 

[dontcallme]

It's a real shame the two best performers so far meet this early, but to win this thing you have to beat the best.

And France will.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

Pity. I'd rather we set up to cause them problems (eg. Exploit the space behind Mbappe) rather than change our game to contain them.

They're beatable.

Had a look at his lineups in the Euros and he played
Back four against: Croatia, Scotland, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Denmark.
Back five against: Germany and Italy

Just feels like the thing Southgate would do, even do I agree England might be better off focusing on their own strengths.

 

[Frank Blank]

I hate to say it, but if there's an obvious weakness in this French team then it's Hugo. Given how woeful his distribution is - even the Water Carrier aknowledges that - I would expect Kane et al to press him to death.

Saying that, we'll probably get done anyway if, as usual, we're slow out of the starting blocks and allow the French to play.

 

[Marty]

And France will.

France are favourites but they're relying a lot on just having a good structure and letting Mbappe do his thing.

I wouldn't say they're bigger favourites than 60/40.

 

[Japhet]

Imo that's why he gave Dier minutes last night.

Maybe play Rice and Phillips too. Those 2 with Bellingham in midfield would be pretty good.

 

[Trix]

Maybe play Rice and Phillips too. Those 2 with Bellingham in midfield would be pretty good.

You think he won't start Henderson after last night?

 

[Styopa]

France were not wholly convincing yesterday despite the result. Poland had some meaningful spells of pressure and decent chances. A more clinical team (like England) may well have taken those chances. I have watched all of Poland’s matches this World Cup and they probably had more space against France than against any other team. Poland certainly seemed to play more on the front foot yesterday than they did against other team even Saudia Arabia.

No question about it, this is a massive test for England, not least because of the threat posed by Mbappe. But I would agree with @Marty I don’t think France are massive favourites.

 

[Kingellesar]

Yeah I think a back 5 will be how we set up even though I think the only way to get at France is attack and put them on the back foot.

Lloris needs to be targetted at corners and goalkicks, press them like mad.

 

[Frank Blank]

You think he won't start Henderson after last night?

Indeed, he will start Henderson. I expect him to field an unchanged team.

 

[Trix]

Indeed, he will start Henderson. I expect him to field an unchanged team.

I agree the more I think about it the more I think he will do just that for the rest of the tournament. I think he brought on the boys last night that he'll be looking to bring on from this point on. Rashford, Grealish and Mount if we need a goal and Dier and Philliops if he wants to solidify our position. I genuinely don't see anyone else coming into the side unless there are injuries now.

 

[Japhet]

You think he won't start Henderson after last night?

Probably will. Phillips and Rice were very good previously though. Southgate's got a few tricky choices for this one.