Apart from the doom and gloom I hate football merchants, how will England do? I am predicting semi finals
I am not sure we will get out of the group stage. We play too defensively. I just hope that people will say that they played their socks off rather than become frit defensive bores like previous competitions.
England to crash and burn in the first game after the group stage. France and Brazil will underwhelm. Senegal to be the surprise package. Germany to win
I rather suspect that this year's World Cup will be noteworthy - not for the football, which will underwhelm, but for what happens off the pitch and away from the TV cameras. Many young Russians will seek to punish travelling fans because of their governments' reactions to the Skripals' poisonings and the Dutch apportioning blame to the Russian military for shooting down Malaysian flight 370. Many Russians are very nationalistic and encouraged to be so by Putin; such accusations are slights against their nationalistic pride. British fans got a taste of the Ultras' punishment at the Euro 2016 championship and again last weekend in Kiev. But I believe those were mild foretastes of what may occur to those fans brave stupid enough to travel to Russia because this time the Ultras are 'playing' at home and the partisan Police will be more inclined to protect them than the travelling fans.
I have a feeling Russia will become a police state during the tournament with no quarter given to troublemakers. Putin will not take a chance on anything besmirching his reputation at home.
Given our record of underperforming at major tournaments , I would be happy to get to the semi 's @Mattecube , so I hope your prediction is correct . I expect Germany to be strong as always and make the final against maybe one of the South American teams , with Belgium maybe surprising a few people .
If Southgate can set up a good solid back three with two good wing backs (we have 2 good’uns) and use Pickford in goal as (as you Toffees fans will know) a ball playing goalkeeper, we have some good fire power up front. It’s just disappointing there is not much creativity in the middle. Loftus Cheek excepting. I also think Southgate will run a better “camp” than some of our more recent managers.
It is hard to say how far England will go in this tournament and it is two weeks to go. I have lost all enthusiasm now after nothing to be excited about since 1966. Perhaps I will get excited as the start draws nearer but the squad looks boring to me.
I gather Southgate has called upon an Olympic judo coach, should they come up against Spain in the knock out section.
I am thinking quarter finals and at a push the semis,as think we are underrated this time and the team will play better,this is a younger and faster squad and probably the best counter attacking team we have had.
Am not sure we should be surprised by Belgium. They have a fantastic squad. It is just a case of can they pull it together in the tournament as a team. England will find them a tough challenge.
Southgate the modern day Ramsey Rashford to score in the last minute of the final with the score at 1 each.
Yes. I remember Ramsey. And have thought about that comparison. There is a big similarity there. As a manager he deals with the media very well, or so far anyway. He also has 57 caps for England and played all through Euro 96 where Venables played a strong back three and two very forward leaning wing backs. He did put one over the bar for England but then should not have taken that penalty. I expect him to have them well drilled at penalties.
They will get out of the group stages, Belgium being the favourites to win the group stage. After that who knows, if they avoid Germany, Spain, Argentina, Iceland. lol