The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[Deleted Cyber]

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!

This season however has been the season which by and large we ended so many "curses" so why not for England too?

And the answer to the penalty shoot out is not to go to a penalty shoot out.

 

[Langers]

Beckham's outlier :icon_lol:

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Beckham's outlier :icon_lol:

The penalty spot in that game was fucked :icon_lol: Like a rugby tee.

 

[Langers]

My favourite stat of the day:

There have been 9 90th minute winners so far in this World Cup.

There were a combined total of 10 in the past 5 World Cups combined!

 

[machin05]

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)

From his post-match comments about "double objectives", I think as soon as Belgium took the lead he had no intention of trying to win the game.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

999 days since Raheem Sterling last scored for England.

 

[YoungWolf]

That will change today (I bloody hope so anyway). Feel sorry for him so far in an England shirt. He's put in some impressive performances yet I'm not sure we have ever truly played to his strengths. Had we play a 3-4-3 in this tournament I think he'd have been much better so far. He is dangerous in the role behind Kane without looking really getting into the positions he does for City in the penalty area. Southgate seems to trust him though

 

[Tony Towner]

Anyone that thinks there is the remotest chance that Southgate is going to be sacked irrespective of tonight's result is going to be disappointed.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Anyone that thinks there is the remotest chance that Southgate is going to be sacked irrespective of tonight's result is going to be disappointed.

We already guaranteed his job before the tournament, even if we lost all the group games. Ludicrous really.

 

[White Wolf]

We already guaranteed his job before the tournament, even if we lost all the group games. Ludicrous really.

I still don't get why FAs do that. Why did Low get a new contract on the eve of the tournament, only for them to fail and now be stuck with him for another four years when they could have ditched him at a much lower cost if they hadn't extended the deal?

 

[lemonjelly]

My favourite stat of the day:

There have been 9 90th minute winners so far in this World Cup.

There were a combined total of 10 in the past 5 World Cups combined!

that repetition of combined risks entry into the annoy thread...:icon_wink:

 

[YoungWolf]

Not nervous about tonight at all to be honest, last 16 is about as I thought we would get. Colombia are a good side. I'm generally pretty impressed by what Southgate has done, so I don't see why he shouldn't continue really. I'd like to see us getting into the habit of winning knockout games though, as in four years time we could have a fantastic squad and that would only help the younger players coming through who have also had success at youth tournaments with England.

 

[AndyWolves]

I'm not sure what to feel about tonight.

It seems like a lot of the hype is based on other results and our potential route through, which will mean naff all if we lose to Colombia

So far we've beaten Tunisia & Panama and played very well against them but you'd expect us to beat those teams.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

I said it before the tournament, this team looks like a far better Team than any we have had since 1990....
the players look happy together, the manager has been a breath of fresh air, and is doing as well as I thought he would.

He knew the players from the u21's, they all like and respect him.
No matter what happens this tournament is a success because he has given some hope and pride back....
We have a young team we see, them enjoying playing for England, we see them trying chasing working hard.
Too many times we have seen players scared to try something, these players are not scared.

As a massive England fan, I am excited by the team, and proud of the team, they are doing exactly what we want.

They hopefully will be greater than the sum of there parts by virtue of teamwork and effort.
Something sadly lacking over the previous 20 years, and something the players admitted was missing.

 

[Lord Knows]

The knockout stage is usually the time when England players feel the pressure, so I'm looking to see if they can do the basics right and avoid individual error. No hiding place.

 

[Johnny75]

It all depends how we play as to people's reactions but my guess on the media reaction would be:

• Play like we did against Belgium and lose on pens then it would be failure and shows Southgate can't do big tournaments.
• Play well and lose against a better team. Them's the breaks and a par performance as nobody really expected us to do that well.
• Play badly and win. Tournaments are all about winning football and Southgate's a tactical genius and fully justified the shit show that was the Belgium game.
• Play well and win. Football's coming home

Personally I haven't been impressed by us yet. Too long and lacking creativity in midfield, but then that's what a Southgate team is, lacking diagonal movement and running off the ball to create space and more dependent on set plays and winning the ball back high up the pitch.

I still think he's a bang average manager.

 

[Tom Hark]

I think we stand a good chance tonight. Colombia are a decent 'second-tier' South American side; we're a decent 'second-tier' Euro side. Both have played well so far. I don't think we're the 8/15 favourites the bookies make us, but I certainly wouldn't back us to lose. If we do lose, though, I hope for (and expect) us to go out with a bang not a whimper.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Never use bookies' odds on England as a barometer of probability.

Colombia aren't as good as they were in 2014, not by a long shot, but essentially we can't shithouse this one. We have to play well if we're to win. Because we essentially rested everyone vs Belgium we have no idea if we're up to the task.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

It all depends how we play as to people's reactions but my guess on the media reaction would be:

• Play like we did against Belgium and lose on pens then it would be failure and shows Southgate can't do big tournaments.
• Play well and lose against a better team. Them's the breaks and a par performance as nobody really expected us to do that well.
• Play badly and win. Tournaments are all about winning football and Southgate's a tactical genius and fully justified the shit show that was the Belgium game.
• Play well and win. Football's coming home

Personally I haven't been impressed by us yet. Too long and lacking creativity in midfield, but then that's what a Southgate team is, lacking diagonal movement and running off the ball to create space and more dependent on set plays and winning the ball back high up the pitch.

I still think he's a bang average manager.

you've not been watching the same game as me then.
Movement from Kane, Lingard, Alli, and Sterling has been superb for both games they have played.

first 20 against Tunisia should have been 4 up and that was down to movement. It was always going to be hard against a team who defended with 10 camped on the edge of the box.

Panama

Goal 2 Penalty caused by open play
Goal 3 superb movement and passing to score
Goal 6 deflection but from open play.

The corners how did we get them? we got them by creating chances from open play.
We have not played long in any game barring Belgium, against Tunisia in the second half I would argue we were too short and did not go long, admittedly they never got out their half in the 2nd half

 

[Johnny75]

Yep, certainly watching a different game to me. But kudos to you for being optimistic and seeing any movement there. The second half against Tunisia was especially poor as was the entire Belgium match.

Walsall would beat Panama.