What should Gareth Southgate do?
I’m sure publicly the manager will ensure that the country thinks we’ll go out to win every game but I just wonder whether deep down, he’ll significantly change the team and by change, I mean weaken - so as to ensure we finish runners up.
I’ve got to say, a potential quarter final against Swiss or Sweden is a golden opportunity to get to the final 4 of a World Cup.
I understand the mentality of playing every game to win and maintaining confidence but if you go out in the quarters to Brazil then what difference does it make?
Maximise your chances I say and finish runners up. England would be in a great position to get to the last 4 of a competition that comes around once every 4 years.
No Italy, no Holland, no Germany - that’s a huge boost already. Take advantage of it instead of being proud and going home in the quarters.
Would anyone else prefer runnners up spot in the group?
To Throw or Not to Throw
posted on 28/6/18
FFS what a car crash of an article, what difference does it matter if you get to the semis and get knocked out, or you only get to the QF and get knocked out. If you don't actually win the competition. It doesn't matter if you get knocked out in the group.
posted on 28/6/18
comment by IAmMe (U18491)
posted 6 hours, 31 minutes ago
No interest in England, but it is a cup competition - anything can now happen.
England have a pretty awful side and are thru so far
Germany actually had a very good side (despite those now pretending otherwise) and they are out
England could win the thing with the poorest team they have sent out in decades.
throwing games is a pointless exercise
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Germany have their worse team they have had for decades. England have one of their better sides, no prima donnas as in previous tournaments, and the best current striker in world football.
posted on 28/6/18
comment by Alexis The King Sanchez (U10026)
posted 7 hours, 57 minutes ago
We’d have probably been better off facing Belgium in our first or second game, Baz.
I think there’s a lot of indifference around the game as it does on paper look more favourable for the tean tbat finishes second. I guess we’ll see how badly each team wants to win the game if and when they go behind.
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If we’d lost to Belgium first, beat Panama and then needed to beat Tunisia, I’m not sure we would.
On the same token, totally agree about your points about playing Brazil, maybe this group is different, but we tend to have an inferiority complex against:
Italy
Brazil
Germany
Probably others
posted on 28/6/18
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 2 hours, 17 minutes ago
FFS what a car crash of an article, what difference does it matter if you get to the semis and get knocked out, or you only get to the QF and get knocked out. If you don't actually win the competition. It doesn't matter if you get knocked out in the group.
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Spoken like a man unfamiliar with winning competitions.
Very telling.
posted on 28/6/18
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 27 minutes ago
comment by Alexis The King Sanchez (U10026)
posted 7 hours, 57 minutes ago
We’d have probably been better off facing Belgium in our first or second game, Baz.
I think there’s a lot of indifference around the game as it does on paper look more favourable for the tean tbat finishes second. I guess we’ll see how badly each team wants to win the game if and when they go behind.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If we’d lost to Belgium first, beat Panama and then needed to beat Tunisia, I’m not sure we would.
On the same token, totally agree about your points about playing Brazil, maybe this group is different, but we tend to have an inferiority complex against:
Italy
Brazil
Germany
Probably others
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thought of Neymar up against Trippier and Walker is a pretty terrifying one. They struggled against Panamas winger.
However you have to play big nations to win a world cup. Embrace it.
posted on 28/6/18
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 3 hours, 5 minutes ago
comment by IAmMe (U18491)
posted 6 hours, 31 minutes ago
No interest in England, but it is a cup competition - anything can now happen.
England have a pretty awful side and are thru so far
Germany actually had a very good side (despite those now pretending otherwise) and they are out
England could win the thing with the poorest team they have sent out in decades.
throwing games is a pointless exercise
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Germany have their worse team they have had for decades. England have one of their better sides, no prima donnas as in previous tournaments, and the best current striker in world football.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Whatever sandy you old fool.
posted on 28/6/18
In my opinion you should always try to win every game because you might not win another.
When did we last outright win three games at a tournament?
posted on 28/6/18
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 3 hours, 58 minutes ago
comment by IAmMe (U18491)
posted 6 hours, 31 minutes ago
No interest in England, but it is a cup competition - anything can now happen.
England have a pretty awful side and are thru so far
Germany actually had a very good side (despite those now pretending otherwise) and they are out
England could win the thing with the poorest team they have sent out in decades.
throwing games is a pointless exercise
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Germany have their worse team they have had for decades. England have one of their better sides, no prima donnas as in previous tournaments, and the best current striker in world football.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
harry claim the best striker in world football?
two penalties and a ball that he didn't see hit him and go in.other than that invisible.
posted on 28/6/18
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 2 hours ago
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 27 minutes ago
comment by Alexis The King Sanchez (U10026)
posted 7 hours, 57 minutes ago
We’d have probably been better off facing Belgium in our first or second game, Baz.
I think there’s a lot of indifference around the game as it does on paper look more favourable for the tean tbat finishes second. I guess we’ll see how badly each team wants to win the game if and when they go behind.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If we’d lost to Belgium first, beat Panama and then needed to beat Tunisia, I’m not sure we would.
On the same token, totally agree about your points about playing Brazil, maybe this group is different, but we tend to have an inferiority complex against:
Italy
Brazil
Germany
Probably others
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thought of Neymar up against Trippier and Walker is a pretty terrifying one. They struggled against Panamas winger.
However you have to play big nations to win a world cup. Embrace it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The thought of Kane up against the Brazil defence is even more terrifying.
posted on 28/6/18
"The thought of Kane up against the Brazil defence is even more terrifying."
True, Sterling, Kane and Lingard will cause anybody problems.
Let's not forget, we beat Belgium and suddenly teams worry about us, that's the mentality we should have.