Sweden have been a difficult team to beat for a while now but England beat them convincingly. Really good performance from a team that is growing as the tournament goes on. Pickford excellent when called upon, Maguire a rock in defence, Kane such an intelligent leader of the line. Sterling adds something different but I certainly wouldn’t agree that what we need is more like him. To me man of the match though was Trippier. Excellent defensively and his final delivery into the danger area is regularly spot on.

DJ I didn't mean we need more like Stirling, just simply that we need more pace up front. I agree with all of your comments and for me Trippier and Pickford were joint MoM.
I believe now that we will make the final. Have we got enough to beat France or Belgium? I honestly don't know.

comment by GeminMallorca (U18318)
posted 51 minutes ago
Hope we play Croatia so the Russian knuckle draggers can kick the shat out of the Croation fans when they lose and leave our guys alone.
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have we enough time to get the thousands of protective anti-nerve agent suits to our brave supporters that they desperately need ?

comment by Cinciwolf--League 1>>>>>>>>England v Sweden WC quarter finals (U11551)
posted about 3 hours ago
Don't understand the grief Stirling gets to be honest, he may miss a few but he also makes things happen with his pace at times and nobody else would have even been on the end of those balls
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Agree. The abuse Sterling gets is a bit embarrassing.

He plays an important role in that side, pulling out wide and playing on the shoulder keeping the defence concerned about his running in behind. He is the reason there is so much space for Alli and Lingard to exploit in front of the opposition defence, as they sit deeper to counter him.

Players like Rashford come too deep, which stands on the toes of the attacking midfielders and Vardy isn’t good enough on the ball to play the role that is needed. Still, England always need a player to moan about regardless of how the team performs and you can guarantee that if Sterling scores in the next game; they will move on to Henderson as the next target.

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 30 minutes ago
comment by Cinciwolf--League 1>>>>>>>>England v Sweden WC quarter finals (U11551)
posted about 3 hours ago
Don't understand the grief Stirling gets to be honest, he may miss a few but he also makes things happen with his pace at times and nobody else would have even been on the end of those balls
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Agree. The abuse Sterling gets is a bit embarrassing.

He plays an important role in that side, pulling out wide and playing on the shoulder keeping the defence concerned about his running in behind. He is the reason there is so much space for Alli and Lingard to exploit in front of the opposition defence, as they sit deeper to counter him.

Players like Rashford come too deep, which stands on the toes of the attacking midfielders and Vardy isn’t good enough on the ball to play the role that is needed. Still, England always need a player to moan about regardless of how the team performs and you can guarantee that if Sterling scores in the next game; they will move on to Henderson as the next target.
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I think Raheem has everything a modern attacking player needs except the one thing most goalscorers have, composure, he misses lots of chances after getting into great positions and all the moron's booing of the lad is really going to help him.
Is it lads ? Is it really lads ? You know, coming home ?????
COE

comment by GeminMallorca (U18318)
posted 1 hour, 30 minutes ago
DJ I didn't mean we need more like Stirling, just simply that we need more pace up front. I agree with all of your comments and for me Trippier and Pickford were joint MoM.
I believe now that we will make the final. Have we got enough to beat France or Belgium? I honestly don't know.
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I think whoever wins out of France and Belgium will be favourites to win the final. But England are improving all the time as a team and key individuals are gaining confidence, so in a one off game who knows

Amazingly, Russia winning again. Are they getting the same pre match supplements as Russian athletes get? I am sure they won’t be caught out in Russia if they were

Croatia hit the inside of the post but still it won't go in!

How is it embarrassing when you can easily point out a players deficiency. He scores for fun at City, but it's more embarrassing seeing him miss chance after chance for his country. He may have pace, but often runs down blind alleys and his distribution leaves a lot to be desired for an International player. I'm sure if he continues to play games he may eventually score, but I'd rather see Rashford, who also has pace and scores goals too boot.

I've no problem with Henderson, as he does a great job in front of our back three. I just feel our weak link right now, is the one who couldn't hit a barn door with a bazooka.

England reach the World Cup semi final and all wolfie can post is moans about one of our players

2-1 Croatia

2-2 pens

R C
X G
G X
X G
G G
G G
Croatia win 4-3
COE

terrible first pen of the shootout set the tone

A few youngsters in the Wolves squad in Switzerland. Keeper Sondergaard, defender Cameron John, midfielders Goncalves and Watt, forwards Ashley-Seal and Giles

Wolves played out a 1-1 draw in a late arranged friendly against Neuchatel Xamax this evening. They fell behind to a penalty but equalised through Kortney Hause

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted about 2 hours ago
England reach the World Cup semi final and all wolfie can post is moans about one of our players
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Quelle surprise! I've long blocked the so I don't see his diatribes/ rubbish. Utter slice of gammon.

comment by Cinciwolf--League 1>>>>>>>... (U11551)

8 of 10 goals have come from dead ball situations so far and another was Kanes deflected goal, it ain't football but it is effective.
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Yes, it IS football. Intrinsically such. You'll be moaning about headed goals next. Oh, hang on...

Ruddy
Bennett, Coady, Boly
Doherty, Neves, Gibbs-White, Giles
Costa, Jota, Cavaleiro

This was the starting line up today, about as strong as it could be.

Søndergaard
Batth, Hause, John
Buur, Watt, Goncalves, Douglas
Mir, Bonatini

The second half eleven

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 5 hours, 10 minutes ago
England reach the World Cup semi final and all wolfie can post is moans about one of our players
=======================================

I'm over the moon that we're in the semi finals Mr Know it All. However, I'll continue to comment on players who I feel don't deserve a starting place. Shame you can never accept other posters opinions. My view is if Rashford can be given a start, we'll be a better side overall.

I also thought that todays game was the best I've seen from an England side for many a year.

Get used to my opinions about players whether we win or lose. That's what these forums are all about...opinions, you arrogant &^%#$@.

Can’t be anything but good news for England that Croatia had to go to extra time and penalties to get to the semis. A number of their players looked out on their feet in extra time and it was their second consecutive game decided that way. They have some good players particularly in midfield but I don’t think over all they are better than England and their fatigue makes England favourites to me. Whether we can beat Belgium or France is another matter but getting to the final would be a great achievement

Belgium and France will tire each other too. Croatia can control the midfield but don't have many goals in them

Oh and sterling is comfortably ahead of rashford who apart from a decent first 6 months to his united career has done nothing

comment by Cinciwolf--League 1>>>>>>>>England v Sweden WC quarter finals (U11551)
posted about 9 hours ago
Søndergaard
Batth, Hause, John
Buur, Watt, Goncalves, Douglas
Mir, Bonatini

The second half eleven
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Looks like a second half ten.

Rashford had his chance against Belgium and was largely anonymous. He drops too deep to collect the ball and wants to face a defender up rather than run in behind. Putting him in would change the system we have been playing all tournament.

Says a lot that someone can say the performance was one of the best they have seen from an England team, but then want to moan about a player who is key to the system and want to change it to put in the latest flavour of the month.

Personally, I think Rashford is more effective off the bench at the moment anyway. Not consistent enough to start and doesn’t fit the role Sterling plays.