The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[Del Woppio]

If we're offered that route to the final before the tournament and don't make it, it's a failure. So that's what it is.

Next cunt to tell me to cheer up/there's always next time/they did well to get there gets an elbow in the throat.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Nonsense. There were no expectations this year and they've played well, giving many people a lot of hope for the future.

I'm very proud of them - this World Cup will rightly be remembered as a success and the tournament that saw the public all unite behind the national team for the first time in decades.

It's not about being proud. Of course we are proud. As I have said we over performed but those players will see this as a missed opportunity. If not they are not human. Still, I am not getting into a langers bun fight. It's been far to good a world cup for that. But some perspective.

We have still not beaten anyone of note with this squad competitively
We could finish 4 th in the world cup with a record of won 3 drawn 1 lost 3
Ashley Young and Raheem Sterling and Delle Alli haven't delivered over the whole tournament. Flashes but not consistent
Lack midfield creativity

Positives
Pickford Maguire and Trippier outstanding
Southgate vindicated in his selection and seems to get what being England manager is about
We over performed and could finish third.

Bloody brilliant three weeks!

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

https://oscillatingwildly.net/england-1-2-croatia-end-of-a-journey/

 

[Nando]

https://oscillatingwildly.net/england-1-2-croatia-end-of-a-journey/

Absolutely spot on, Dan. Top work as always.

 

[machin05]

https://oscillatingwildly.net/england-1-2-croatia-end-of-a-journey/

Brilliant, as ever mate. Sums it up perfectly for me.

 

[Tredman]

https://oscillatingwildly.net/england-1-2-croatia-end-of-a-journey/

Excellent article, very much agree with the summary - this tournament is a starting point, we shouldn't see it as an achievement in itself.

 

[wanderer89]

That made for an excellent read, Deutsch.

 

[NoodleWolf]

Great read, thanks for sharing.

Considered pitching/submitting that anywhere?

 

[WolfmanOz]

https://oscillatingwildly.net/england-1-2-croatia-end-of-a-journey/

Super read and spot on.

Yes its gut-wrenching and disappointing to lose but the key point is we now have pride back in our national team. I am hopeful Southgate can build on this for the 2020 Euros.

 

[jd1981]

Waking up this morning the disappointment is kicking I think there’s nothing worse than waking up the morning after losing a big game.
Again it’ll be another what if, but over 120 the better side won. Just hope this is a stepping stone to better things and not like 90 when it went downhill rapidly.
Think the big difference was the experience in the Croatia and the world class ability of Luka Modric.
Although I don’t agree with his post match comments about The English media who from what I’ve seen gave Croatia plenty of respect before the game.

 

[Johnny75]

Outstanding read Dan. Spot on.

 

[Jabbawolf]

Dan - a sound article, especially the 3rd bullet about the error in not bolstering the midfield.

 

[Lord Knows]

https://oscillatingwildly.net/england-1-2-croatia-end-of-a-journey/

As always a fair and interesting piece.

 

[Lord Knows]

Watching Henderson after watching Neves at Wolves you realise how spoiled you are at club level to have such a player who is able to play short or long with accuracy also having the ability to dictate the tempo of the game. Meanwhile Henderson smashes possession away in a hopeful long ball manner inviting the opponent to lay siege once again.

 

[playtheace]

Hope this was a starting point because 6 shots on target in the entire knockout stages is dismal.
I did have some slight hope we were going to shithouse our way to the final.. ala Greece in the euros...not to be.
Whilst Southgate can organise a solid defence in some manner,he cant pick a midfield for the life of him and its the inability
to see that area of the pitch that has cost us....out of position players and not recognising tiredness/obvious injury is a major bugbear for me.

We could have got there, doubt the major teams will be so shit for quite a while, so sadly..weve missed a big opportunity.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Fact of the day: Raheem Sterling now has the exact same number of England caps and goals as Martin Keown.

(I actually thought he played quite well for most of the tournament, but that record...)

 

[Trips]

I like Sterling, but that record is horrendous. He really needs to sort out his output for England.

 

[YoungWolf]

Yeah it is an interesting conundrum. I think it will improve with time (the amount of caps he has for his age is incredible) but he certainly needs to become more effective for England, much like he did for City last season when he had previously not been quite so impressive in terms of goals and assists. 23 goals, 11 assists I think? One of the great things about him at City is the positions he gets himself into on such a regular basis but apart from the Sweden game he didn't really do that in this world cup. Whether that is a system issue or himself, to be consistently good at tournaments we need quality players like him getting it right in the big games.

 

[Langers]

David Squires' take on the World Cup.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...s-of-world-cup-woe-and-reasons-to-be-cheerful

 

[The Bear]

I think the main issue for him in an England shirt is that Alli and Lingard aren't David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. He misses plenty of chances for City too but he gets so many more of them that he scores plenty.