Kind of crazy that Morocco's path has been through Spain, Portugal, and now France. Obviously they have a political history with Spain and France. Bot sure about Portugal, but being neighbours, there is probably some kind of rivalry between them.
Their fans have been pretty nuts though. Apparently before the game today, a lot of ticketless fans tried to rush the stadium and their were injuries.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
As said, Southgate plays not to lose.
I said after the US match, that mentality was horrible and will come back to haunt them. He doesn't have a champions mentality or killer instinct.
Can you play safe all the way to a World Cup? I don't think so
Not to defend Southgate or anything, I don't think he's good enough either, but who is really out there? The two guys I assume most England fans wanted after the Euros, Howe and Potter, are no longer available, Howe likely not for a long time, Potter we'll see. It's a high pressure job with an insatiable fanbase, I can't imagine there are a ton of top managers who want the job. Maybe take a run at Enrique if he's interested, although I assume he'll be back into club football now.
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
Not to defend Southgate or anything, I don't think he's good enough either, but who is really out there? The two guys I assume most England fans wanted after the Euros, Howe and Potter, are no longer available, Howe likely not for a long time, Potter we'll see. It's a high pressure job with an insatiable fanbase, I can't imagine there are a ton of top managers who want the job. Maybe take a run at Enrique if he's interested, although I assume he'll be back into club football now.
I'd stick with Southgate if he can learn to grow a pair.
What he has in his defense is his squad and people management skills although he must be grinding on Grealish's nerves.
Compared to the days of the so called golden generation when the players then are stating now that the main issue was a fractured squad he has at least created a spirit of cohesiveness.
This isn't a bad exit. They were the better team on the wrong end of VAR. They could very easily been one up at HT as opposed to one down.
And huge props for keeping the apparent Ben White drama out of the press.
Depth in the squad was England’s advantage over every team in this tournament IMO.
I don’t think other teams have the game breaking talent on the bench England had available to them.
Not making a sub until the 80th minute once you’re down 2-1 wasted that advantage completely.
IMO Portugal had some similar issues. Leao, Vitinha, Cancelo, could have been starting in a more attacking oriented squad IMO. And it’s always tough to not start Ronaldo and then lose a game 1-0.
Yeah, pretty much bang on.
Honestly? When I am looking at England's squad depth and the first World Cup ever to my knowledge to allow 5 subs?
That should have been a lethal combination.
The ability to re-tool and re-structure half of your outfield? With those guys sitting on the bench?
He should have been like a drunken redneck waving a loaded gun with all of the bullets at his disposal.
Too cautious.
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
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If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
I'd stick with Southgate if he can learn to grow a pair.
What he has in his defense is his squad and people management skills although he must be grinding on Grealish's nerves.
Compared to the days of the so called golden generation when the players then are stating now that the main issue was a fractured squad he has at least created a spirit of cohesiveness.
This isn't a bad exit. They were the better team on the wrong end of VAR. They could very easily been one up at HT as opposed to one down.
And huge props for keeping the apparent Ben White drama out of the press.
Yeah unless he resigns I expect he'll get 2024, might be a win or bust tournament at that point. And there's a cruel irony to this exit because this tournament is easily the best they've looked of the three he's managed, but it's the earliest exit.
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
Lots of English talk they are gone thankfully time to move on. No one cared to breakdown the other games this much.
This might be the worst final 4 in a long time in terms of what they have put on the field so far, even if England advanced I would say the same thing.
Lots of English talk they are gone thankfully time to move on. No one cared to breakdown the other games this much.
This might be the worst final 4 in a long time in terms of what they have put on the field so far, even if England advanced I would say the same thing.
1. Who's blaming VAR and
2. Who's English?
3. Bolded. Lol! Who cares? You whiny about that?
It's hard not to envision France taking it this year. I think they were most people's pick before it even started and their path looks very doable at this point. But there have been some pretty unexpected turns so far, so I won't make any predictions.
There was one analyst that I heard before the tournament that said not to sleep on Morocco and that he said he thought they might go far. I wish I could find the video now, because the guy looks like a genius now. He also had Croatia as his dark horse to win the whole thing.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
