The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[Langers]

I don't think it's as black and white as that TBH. We've done better than I expected and I fully agree that there's been a connection between the camp and the fans/media that's been sorely lacking for far too long. Without doubt there is something to build on in future tournaments and that's been a pleasant surprise. Yes, we should have been Tunisia and Panama but I think it's a bit unfair to just brush those performances aside - especially Panama when we were so clinical in that first half. Other supposed big sides struggled against dirt opposition - including Uruguay (who plenty of people have backed to win it) v the Saudis, France v Australia etc.

Colombia can be a good side on their day, and IF we lose, it's hardly a national embarrassment. So even if we do lose, it's not like we'll be coming home with no positives to take from the tournament. Kane may also yet win the golden boot!

Absolutely it'd be a missed opportunity, but I wouldn't go as far as to call it a failure - certainly not in the same vein as 2016, 2014, hell - not even 2012 or 2010.

It's say it's neither a success nor a failure - unless we play dogshit and rival the Iceland game for gash-ness.

I'm preparing myself for the ridiculous hyperbole after tonight's game, no matter what the result.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Absolutely it'd be a missed opportunity, but I wouldn't go as far as to call it a failure - certainly not in the same vein as 2016, 2014, hell - not even 2012 or 2010.

It'd be worse than 2012, surely. We entered that tournament having lost our manager mere weeks before it started and Lampard got injured and missed the whole thing when he was still very much a key player (16 goals for Chelsea that season and won the Champions League). Despite that we drew with France, beat Sweden and Ukraine and were only beaten by Italy (who made the final) on penalties.

 

[Langers]

It'd be worse than 2012, surely. We entered that tournament having lost our manager mere weeks before it started and Lampard got injured and missed the whole thing when he was still very much a key player (16 goals for Chelsea that season and won the Champions League). Despite that we drew with France, beat Sweden and Ukraine and were only beaten by Italy (who made the final) on penalties.

Oops, wrong year - I meant 2008!! Which was TBF a bit of a disappointment...

 

[Tony Towner]

Failure to win tonight makes the tournament a failure. With the draw we had from the outset quarter finals was success, anything short of that failure. Anyway it's all irrelevant as we are going to the Final.

 

[machin05]

If we lose tonight then there's no glossing over the fact that this tournament would be a failure. I also think Southgate should get sacked for trying to play god with the draw and throwing the Belgium game. I can NEVER get behind a team doing that and Southgate's subsequent press conferences and interviews about it are just really awkward and weird.

 

[Langers]

I love stuff like this.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1530605832

 

[machin05]

I love stuff like this.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1530605832

Apparently the fans were doing the same in the stands. It's deeply ingrained in their culture. Brilliant stuff.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

If we lose tonight then there's no glossing over the fact that this tournament would be a failure. I also think Southgate should get sacked for trying to play god with the draw and throwing the Belgium game. I can NEVER get behind a team doing that and Southgate's subsequent press conferences and interviews about it are just really awkward and weird.

But if we win?

 

[wanderer89]

I've seen a stat although I'm not sure if it's true or not. Cyber will love it if it is.

England have only won 1 World Cup match in the last 20 years that has been shown on ITV.

DOOMED I TELLS YA, DOOOOOMED!

 

[White Wolf]

I've seen a stat although I'm not sure if it's true or not. Cyber will love it if it is.

England have only won 1 World Cup match in the last 20 years that has been shown on ITV.

DOOMED I TELLS YA, DOOOOOMED!

Another reason to end their shit coverage of us!

 

[Sniffer]

I've seen a stat although I'm not sure if it's true or not. Cyber will love it if it is.

England have only won 1 World Cup match in the last 20 years that has been shown on ITV.

DOOMED I TELLS YA, DOOOOOMED!

Correct - against the might of Trinidad and Tobago.

If my memory serves me correctly our 2 losses in 1998 were on ITV too!

 

[Sniffer]

Correct - against the might of Trinidad and Tobago.

If my memory serves me correctly our 2 losses in 1998 were on ITV too!

Edit - The Argentina game was on ITV

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3839067.stm

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

England World Cup results by TV channel since 1998

BBC: P13 W9 D1 L3 (Win ratio - 69%)
ITV: P11 W1 D5 L5 (Win ratio - 9%)

#CurseofITV

 

[machin05]

Although last time we played Colombia in the World Cup we beat them 2-0 playing a 3-5-2 formation...

 

[Donegal Wolf]

If we lose tonight then there's no glossing over the fact that this tournament would be a failure. I also think Southgate should get sacked for trying to play god with the draw and throwing the Belgium game. I can NEVER get behind a team doing that and Southgate's subsequent press conferences and interviews about it are just really awkward and weird.

Looking at the game last night, this might came back to bite England on the arse like it almost did to Belgium, their players hadn't played a competitive game for 6 weeks or so and then had two strolls in the sun before the reserves game, then they came up against a side who had played 3 competitive fixtures and were "match ready", whilst the Belgians looked disjointed.

A combination of luck, being physically stronger and a bit of tactical naivety at the end by Japan got them out of jail.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Edit - The Argentina game was on the BBC

Don't think it was? Brian Moore and Keggy Keegle on comms, with the infamous "Quickly Kevin, will he score" before Batty stepped up.

 

[Sniffer]

Don't think it was? Brian Moore and Keggy Keegle on comms, with the infamous "Quickly Kevin, will he score" before Batty stepped up.

I've since edited the post. I was thinking of the John Champion commentary which was on the BBC, but for the highlights only.

 

[machin05]

England's tournament penalty history:

 

[White Wolf]

Interesting debate on radio 5 just now. If England are knocked out tonight, would you consider this tournament to have been a failure?

Lot of the pundits on there are saying no, it wouldn’t be a failure due to the job Southgate has done reconnecting with the fans & media etc. Thoughts on that? Surely it should be judged on results?

For me, if we are knocked out tonight then I would deem that a failure. Long story short we should be beating Panama and Tunisia. Belgium was one of the strangest games of football I’ve seen, but a knockout defeat to Colombia wouldn’t be good enough, in my option. Particularly when you look at the way the tournament has panned out.

I certainly wouldn’t be calling for Southgate to be sacked, but if we were eliminated tonight then I personally would consider that a failure.

Not for me. I predicted us to finish 2nd with just five points and get knocked out by Colombia in the last 16 before the tournament and still think the second part is what will happen. I wouldn't call it a failure, they just matched my very low expectations because of how bad and attackingly blunt Southgate's England had been until now. I had a bet on us to draw with Tunisia too, which I forgot to cash out and Kane lost me my money...

Despite how Japan did I think we would have beaten them, we aren't as unstable at the back as Belgium. But then I am certain that a QF against Brazil ends in failure. Quarter-finals would be okay but can't say I would have been that amazed as we would have just beaten three poor sides and lost to a decent one. If we lose today we have beaten two poor sides and lost to a decent one. In terms of performances I don't see it as that big a difference, and as we have a better chance of beating Colombia and Switzerland/Sweden than Brazil, seems a reasonable risk to have taken. I would rather we did it than lose to Brazil and think, what if we had finished second?

I think saying Southgate has reconnected to the fans based on three games is a bit of an overstatement. Before now they have been bored out their minds for the entirety of Southgate's time in charge, a good ten minute spell against Tunisia and a strong first-half against Panama is not that impressive. Lose to Colombia and that connection is swiftly over and people go back to being apathetic, the only reason so many fans are supportive is because it's a heart says yes/head says no situation where you sometimes can't help but dream. Media are only setting him up to tear him down anyway. I like how he handles the media but lose to Colombia and they will want his head.

Whether or not I want Southgate to stay depends on how well we play. If we play badly I want him gone as the performances throughout his time here just have not been good enough. If we do well or win, we'll see how it goes. End of the day I do not rate Southgate as a coach, so unless he surpasses expectations I would rather see him go as I don't think 2 more years of him will improve us. I'd rather see us give the job to a coach I have some faith in that he can improve us over a 4 year spell like Michael O'Neill but obviously that would never happen.

 

[Kenny]

If we lose tonight then there's no glossing over the fact that this tournament would be a failure. I also think Southgate should get sacked for trying to play god with the draw and throwing the Belgium game. I can NEVER get behind a team doing that and Southgate's subsequent press conferences and interviews about it are just really awkward and weird.

I don't think he tried to play god and throw the game at all. Lets not forget, Belgium did exactly the same as us and made a shit load of changes. I think we went in with the attitude "What happens, happens" rather than go out and lose. If Rashford had his head screwed on, we would have drawn that game and finished top.

We will know very well as Wolves fans that mass changes to a team generally = a poor level of performance (unless Nuno is in charge of course). Also take away the goal of qualifying, as it was done, it removes an element of the motivation (again see Wolves final 2 games for an example of how the performance changes when the main focus is gone)