2018 World Cup

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Locke

Precisely my point, similarly to Russia they're just playing the Tournament Game. Theres no shenanigans on either side, its just a little luck and some strategy.

Can it really be called strategy if you lose to a team that should beat you anyway?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The tournament game will be worse with 16 groups in 2026. They want to introduce shootouts in the group stage to avoid this.

fyp. They could simply make it a draw for the last 16 to eliminate any shenanigans. If you cannot predict who you play, you cannot plan.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

Imagine a world in which England wins the WC and the TML win Lord Stanley. Might have to move to Mars.

England with a good 2nd goal against mighty Sweden.

Not going to be far enough. Jupiter or bust.

[savemedrzaius]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

Imagine a world in which England wins the WC and the TML win Lord Stanley. Might have to move to Mars.

England with a good 2nd goal against mighty Sweden.

The best world. I imagined it and it was beautiful.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

I hate the English goalie. He looks like a chav and acts like one too.

They all do. Kieran Trippier's haircut has been labeled a Crime Against Humanity.

Except Maguire....he looks like Lurch.

[spuzzum]

Originally Posted by Locke

Not going to be far enough. Jupiter or bust.

It's bust then. Unfortunately no place to stand on Jupiter. It's more like sink or swim there.

[devo22]

love Pickford. After enduring Hart, James, Robinson and friends, it's so nice to finally have a solid goalkeeper.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

They all do. Kieran Trippier's haircut has been labeled a Crime Against Humanity.

Except Maguire....he looks like Lurch.

It’s funny because most of the English team is pretty average in terms of their hair. I mean I guess Delph or You g are below average, but overall they’re hardly in the level of Neymar when he started the tournament.

Anyway, England is just underrated. Everyone expects them to lose spectacularly and in the most heartbreaking manner. They might actually be a decent team though? They have a lot of good young players and those players are performing well.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Slava

It’s funny because most of the English team is pretty average in terms of their hair. I mean I guess Delph or You g are below average, but overall they’re hardly in the level of Neymar when he started the tournament.

Anyway, England is just underrated. Everyone expects them to lose spectacularly and in the most heartbreaking manner. They might actually be a decent team though? They have a lot of good young players and those players are performing well.

Sweden have more shots on target than England do. England aren't terrible, but if they had to go through the other side of the bracket they'd be out in the last 16. In open play they really haven't been all that good. England probably need a Russia win to make the final, Croatia have far more quality than anyone England have played.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

It’s funny because most of the English team is pretty average in terms of their hair. I mean I guess Delph or You g are below average, but overall they’re hardly in the level of Neymar when he started the tournament.

Anyway, England is just underrated. Everyone expects them to lose spectacularly and in the most heartbreaking manner. They might actually be a decent team though? They have a lot of good young players and those players are performing well.

England being underrated? Has hell frozen over? They're usually the most overrated team in the world.

People expect them to lose in a spectacularly heartbreaking manner because they've basically made a habit of exactly that for the past 50 or so years.

They might be a decent team, but its going to take more than they've shown so far, they've barely even played against a competitive side.

[devo22]

England reaching the semifinals thanks to two headers. Somewhere in England, Sam Allardyce is drinking wine from a pint glas while shedding a tear.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The best is that an England team with prime Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham and Ferdinand never made a major tourney SF, but one with a guy who looks like lurch, a guy who barely speaks English, a guy who had a bird #### in his mouth, Fabian Delph, and are winning with anti-football goals, are going to do it.

[GirlySports]

It's the manager. Southgate is playing a the style of the 90s when England were last successful.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Sweden have more shots on target than England do. England aren't terrible, but if they had to go through the other side of the bracket they'd be out in the last 16. In open play they really haven't been all that good. England probably need a Russia win to make the final, Croatia have far more quality than anyone England have played.

Lol. England have more possession, more shots and way more chances. This is anti-football? I have no idea what you’re talking about. Maybe we aren’t watching the same game?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

England being underrated? Has hell frozen over? They're usually the most overrated team in the world.

I think Slava has a point though - there is a point when the whole world continually calls you the “most overrated football nation” that you actually become underrated.

And with this team I don’t think anybody was overrating them. Most of the pundits were saying “too young” , “midfield isn’t good enough”, and “defence is weak”.

But they have done what they had to and are now in the semi finals.

Also don’t think their win over this Sweden team is getting enough credit. Sweden beat Italy in the playoff, had a good group stage, and then beat a strong Swiss side in the round of 16. They weren’t pushovers and England easily handled them and gave up nothing.

Also that Anti-Football take is horrendous. They have not parked the bus at all and have tried to play an attacking style for most of the tournament. Terrible take.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Slava

Lol. England have more possession, more shots and way more chances. This is anti-football? I have no idea what you’re talking about. Maybe we aren’t watching the same game?

It's Sweden. Play like this against Belgium or France and Brazil might be off the hook for 7-1 being the most humiliating loss in WC history.

[Beninho]

Congrats to England, not the prettiest nor most difficult path to the semis but they are in the Semis nonetheless. Hoping for an England-France final, if Russia wins this game with Croatia I would be very worried about the safety of fans in the next game in and around the stadium. Russia hasn’t showed its dark side yet but I’m afraid a tie with England would bring it out.

[troutman]

Quite the sausage party - any female English fans in the crowd?

[scotty2hotty]

If I’m Southgate, I replace Pickford with David Seaman next game.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Slava

Lol. England have more possession, more shots and way more chances. This is anti-football? I have no idea what you’re talking about. Maybe we aren’t watching the same game?

Honestly, he’s new. He regurgitates, and tows the populace. You’re not gonna got originality.

You know who had a great match? Hendo

My MoM, Maguire.