The World Cup 2018

[Phoenix07]

Like I've said already, they have pace, power, technical ability, a world class goalscorer, so they do stand an excellent chance of winning it.

My only concern is with fitness and conditioning. If Southgate can keep them fresh, then that's great. None of the other major contenders have shone yet, but is that because they follow a similar model of work to Benitez, Rodgers, Mourinho, Van Gaal, Simeone, in that their methods are designed to flourish in latter stages of competitions? If so, you could expect the likes of France to shine later on. If England can focus on what they're good at, and utilise that as often as possible, then they can win, regardless of their defence.

I'm trying to detach myself from the 'this squad is crap/we're going to win the World Cup' bollocks that will no doubt come out if they win or lose tonight, and try to appreciate the team as a footballing fan. It's an interesting 'project'.

[The_weatherman]

If Spain don't progress to the final, one of the following teams will:

Russia, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, England, Japan, Senegal, Colombia.

Bonkers

Croatia are a very, very good side though, I wouldn't bet against them going far, Belgium are excellent and England are decent as well. But it shows how luck plays a part, if Iceland had been luckier with the group it might have been different.

[lickedlollipop]

Can someone explain me why there's so much hatred towards England football team from most of you? (as you may already know I'm not from England).

[Reece]

Can someone explain me why there's so much hatred towards England football team from most of you? (as you may already know I'm not from England).

I don't hate them exactly, I just got to the point that I didn't really give a ****. I think this is mainly a result of a series of terrible managers (Hodgson, Allardyce), alongside finding it difficult to get behind players who I dislike ("JT", Rooney etc).

But at the moment I'm pretty much on the same page as Shaggy (and I imagine a few others). For the first time in ages this seems like a largely likeable squad and certainly a likeable manager (IMO at least). I certainly won't be that bothered if (when) they go out, but I've decide to get behind them whilst they are in it at just try and enjoy it.

That is all coming from someone who many years ago used to put England flags on his car

[Kenneth]

I don't hate the England team as an institution at all. But I can't start supporting ******s like Ashley Young just because he's playing in white. It's just a club rivalry thing I guess, I'll cheer on Liverpool players whoever they're playing for, and the opposite for Manc players, irrespective of who they represent.

[BillobShaisley]

Are we going to see us and Belgium in a contest to see who can score the most own goals. Lining up at opposite ends and banging crosses into the keeper as a target man to score in his own net.

Or just a boring kick fest as we see who can get the most cards whilst still having a team for the next round?

[red g]

The hype around England this morning is ****ing mental this morning.

I think Southgate is doing a decent job, but so far all that has happened is they have played well against two of the worst teams in the competition.

Can they win it... etc?

**** knows, we've certainly not learnt anything so far. 2 games against absolute **** where they have still let in 2 goals. Will be interested to see what happens when that defence is put under any pressure.

We could quite easily lose the next 2 games and have gone out by hammering the worst team in the tournament and getting a last minute winner against Tunisia

Perception is that we are doing great, dont see it myself. We are just not doing **** for a change

[Kenneth]

We could quite easily lose the next 2 games and have gone out by hammering the worst team in the tournament and getting a last minute winner against Tunisia

Perception is that we are doing great, dont see it myself. We are just not doing **** for a change

Russia, Saudi, Japan and South Korea are lower ranked teams than Panama. And the Tunisia game was a comfortable win if refereed property. But yes, we haven't played anyone who should be a threat and haven't looked particularly good in either game so far. But then we have a crap team on paper with the worst squad in living memory so are doing alright in the circumstances. But it hasn't really started yet.

[labourRed]

Can someone explain me why there's so much hatred towards England football team from most of you? (as you may already know I'm not from England).

So, from someone who is not English it stems mostly from commentators and the media's hype of England which filters down to the fans who think it's their year, every tournament. You could be watching Saudi Arabia vs Ukraine and the commentators would still bring up England every ten minutes (until they inevitably get thrashed by a half decent team).

The typical English fan isn't something you want to associate with either.

Some others may bring colonialism into it or raping of xyz country but it's only football and English fan is nothing more than a mild irritation for me.

Some wider issues here from a Liverpool POV: https://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2013/...ouse-in-order/

[McDermotX]

I wouldn't overthink the whole English football fans not supporting England national team thing...........even those who distance themselves will be well onboard if they progress into the late stages, perhaps understandbly, as a furvour is just a natural reaction.

Personally, as an Irishman, it's probably always been more so down to the media hysteria and hypocrisy that tends to get swept along, as opposed to any sort of national rivalry. I like to see our own lads doing well no matter who they turn out for so I've always kept an eye out on their performances. Squad members have never had any bearing on it for me as I'm just as nonplussed/hating the current crop just as much as any in modern times - don't really see the difference TBH. Southgate is a bit of a non-entity for me, but when even a great football man like Bobby Robson could be slighted by sections of the media in the past, I don't think they'd have much of a problem taking down Southgate should the team have ****ed up.

As for whether they could win it.......quarter-final material probably in terms of players and approach, but it's not like unfancied teams haven't succeeded (not so much in the WC, but nobody would have ever fancied Denmark and Greece in any international tournament). At a knockout stage they could easily slip through, find themselves with a huge slice of luck, have the game of their lives etc......so who knows ? Couple of stalwarts are nowhere to be seen this time around, and overall the quality isn't as high as in the past.
I do know the media reaction would be insufferable till the end of time, so

[danperkins]

I wouldn't overthink the whole English football fans not supporting England national team thing...........even those who distance themselves will be well onboard if they progress into the late stages, perhaps understandbly, as a furvour is just a natural reaction.

Personally, as an Irishman, it's probably always been more so down to the media hysteria and hypocrisy that tends to get swept along, as opposed to any sort of national rivalry. I like to see our own lads doing well no matter who they turn out for so I've always kept an eye out on their performances. Squad members have never had any bearing on it for me as I'm just as nonplussed/hating the current crop just as much as any in modern times - don't really see the difference TBH. Southgate is a bit of a non-entity for me, but when even a great football man like Bobby Robson could be slighted by sections of the media in the past, I don't think they'd have much of a problem taking down Southgate should the team have ****ed up.

As for whether they could win it.......quarter-final material probably in terms of players and approach, but it's not like unfancied teams haven't succeeded (not so much in the WC, but nobody would have ever fancied Denmark and Greece in any international tournament). At a knockout stage they could easily slip through, find themselves with a huge slice of luck, have the game of their lives etc......so who knows ? Couple of stalwarts are nowhere to be seen this time around, and overall the quality isn't as high as in the past.
I do know the media reaction would be insufferable till the end of time, so

this is exactly my feeling about it.

[Lecter]

International football is muck

[baitman]

i have a dislike for the old boys FA network and how that has filtered down to the england set up and team and the managers chosen for being yes men.
playing the semi finals at wembley just to generate more income was a cop out and diluted the value of the domestic cup competitions and has shown the fa to be a bunch of money orientated corrupt suits.

they have often called up our players [and maybe others] who are not fully fit or needing special treatment due to ongoing injury issues and slow recovery only to have them break down in training or not get used sparingly and get subbed off.

[Tee]

England are just so **** and slow on the ball, they are so robotic and there is no flow to their football. Just a matter of time before they are exposed and the hype revert to type

[Tee]

By the way, Sweden...**** yeah!!!