The Official FIFA World Cup 2022 Megathread

[lemonjelly]

It’s a better defense than how they deal with long throws

Defence...

 

[Tom Hark]

Defence...

De-fence

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Senegal have looked largely atrocious to be honest.

 

[BillyDee]

De-fence

 

[HanDoJin]

Didn’t know Sterling was born outside of England. Tomori too.

We‘ve had heaps born outside of England in fairness:

Butcher
Hargreaves
Barnes
Regis
Blisset

Knock yourself out arguing, I wanted Wales to qualify (just not at our expense)

 

[Alan]

Defence...

Fresh one.

 

[1986]

Not easy to assess a strong nation when they take on and easily beat one of the weaker ones . Look at Spain v Costa Rica - then you watch Spain v Germany and you're left wondering .

England looked strong and confident last night . Very good on the ball .

Wales unfortunately have been a huge disappointment in all their 3 games , so it wasn't just that they froze last night , they didn't , they have just gone way back and Bale/Ramsey are well over the hill .

Rashford looks well up for it , has matured a lot I think and is a better bet than Saka right now I think and Sterling . Foden as well .

England have every chance of going deep in this tournament if they release the handbrake .

 

[The Bear]

You can't change that front three of Rashford-Kane-Foden after last night. It's our most effective three so far in the tournament.

Southgate will no doubt play 2 DMs in every game from now on so that's Rice and Henderson in on a lock. I guess Bellingham stays in based on the fact there's no-one else as good who can play that role needed to support the front three and also sit deep at times.

CBs pick themselves, so the main question is the full backs. Shaw is probably a lock as there isn't a natural LB to replace him. Walker did ok but I'd still rather have someone like Trippier. Southgate will go for the most defensive option and will probably stick with Walker, especially if he needs any sort of pace down that side.

 

[Tony Towner]

I still think he'll go 3 at the back if we make the quarters onwards, I think that's why Walker got a run out yesterday

 

[Carrotdude]

Henderson played furthest forward of the three as far as I could see. He’s basically playing the Coady cheerleader role on the pitch. He runs a lot and shouts at everyone but all he does on the ball is hook it towards the corner flag.

 

[sycophantia]

Thought Rashford was terrible first half, much improved second (aided by Ward), looked a different player. Foden offers something different, so I would stick with that front 3 for the next game. I'd expect the midfield to be as last night, he might play Phillips instead of Rice or Henderson if he wants someone to kick people.
As TT says I wouldn't be surprised if we go 3 at the back with Trippier and Shaw WBs.

 

[Tredman]

Rashford's first 15 mins were pretty terrible, but he massively improved from that point onwards. I've not been his biggest fan, but he offers something different to Saka/Foden/Sterling - I'd keep him in.

 

[Del Woppio]

I think Henderson made a difference yesterday, his pressing was outstanding and really set the tone, with Foden and Jude also pressing really well.

I actually don't think he'll go to five at the back at any point, I think he values consistency of shape, particularly as it's working well, and if he's playing two DMs then I think that's enough cover.

Great for Walker to get some minutes as he'll surely start against France as he's one of the few defenders in the world that would have half a chance against Mbappe in a foot race. Hard to imagine that front three changing, though it must also be said that if Wales had a semi-decent keeper, Rashford wouldn't have scored one, never mind two.

 

[Langers]

Thought it was a good performance last night - looking back on this thread and it was like a Wolves matchday thread with it's crazy OTT negativity during the first half

First half was okay, better than the USA game and it was only ever a matter of time before we scored and once we did, we were ruthless and played some good stuff. And I still think we held something back - but we got the job done pretty emphatically in the end.

Really nice to have some genuine selection headaches - think I'd keep Rashford and Foden in after yesterday, but no issues with Sterling or Saka either.

If it wasn't England they were playing, I'd have felt sorry for Wales but they really have been abject this tournament with no game plan and very little quality. Really hoped they'd have done better and gone through with us.

 

[Johnny75]

I think Henderson made a difference yesterday, his pressing was outstanding and really set the tone, with Foden and Jude also pressing really well.

I actually don't think he'll go to five at the back at any point, I think he values consistency of shape, particularly as it's working well, and if he's playing two DMs then I think that's enough cover.

Great for Walker to get some minutes as he'll surely start against France as he's one of the few defenders in the world that would have half a chance against Mbappe in a foot race. Hard to imagine that front three changing, though it must also be said that if Wales had a semi-decent keeper, Rashford wouldn't have scored one, never mind two.

I thought Henderson was really poor first half yesterday (he wasn't alone). But you could hear him organising and motivating.

He improved second half as did the whole team when Southgate shocked me and made an in game change.

Swapping Foden and Rashford was an obvious but needed change and it worked along with that rare thing, tempo change.

I wouldn't change formation, just keep the tempo as we did in the second half.

 

[Jinky]

I don't think Southgate switches formation now. Certainly not from the start. But lets imagine a scenario where we're 1-0 up against France, going in to the final 20 minutes - I guess we *might* see him switch to a back 5 at that point to try to see a game out.

I would stick with the team from last night with the exception of Henderson. I'd be happy with either Phillips (who looked very good when he came on) or Mount taking his place.

I know I posted this during the game, but Stones & Maguire were excellent again last night, albeit against average opposition. I don't think there's any need to shove another defender in there for now.

 

[Banjo]

I'd have felt sorry for Wales but they really have been abject this tournament with no game plan and very little quality. Really hoped they'd have done better and gone through with us.

It was an awful tournament from Wales. Ashley Williams said the tactic in 2016 was to keep it at 0-0 and rely on Bale and Ramsey to do something special. That tactic doesn't work when (i) the other 9 players are nowhere near as fit, cohesive, or good as the other 9 were in 2016, and (ii) Bale and Ramsey play like the semi-retired has-beens that they are.

The only players to come out with any credit IMV are Joe Rodon and TWF favourite Keiffer Moore.

 

[AndyWolves]

Is Kieffer Moore the most fully named player ever? Most other players simply get a surname, or in some cases a first name but Kieffer Moore is always called Kieffer Moore.

 

[Del Woppio]

Harvey Barnes has got to be up there

 

[Alan]

Jamie Vardy almost exclusively gets the “full name” treatment over here.