The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[Paddingtonwolf]

It is flirting with danger to try to avoid certain teams. Just try to win every game, and take it from there. The further any team progresses then the higher quality of opposition awaits them.

I am agreeing. If Serbia do England a favour then it is a straight fight with Belgium for that more favourable draw by winning the group. Especially if Germany bite the dust. Rather than trying to finish second to get a decent draw (which becomes more important after the Brazil and Germany groups are done and before England play Belgium, should results pan out that way)

 

[Jinky]

I am agreeing. If Serbia do England a favour then it is a straight fight with Belgium for that more favourable draw by winning the group. Especially if Germany bite the dust. Rather than trying to finish second to get a decent draw (which becomes more important after the Brazil and Germany groups are done and before England play Belgium, should results pan out that way)

All irrelevant as the Germans will (predictably) find a way to progress.

 

[PuntsWolf]

No point assessing groups after one game. Brazil and Germany are more likely to win the next two and qualify (and even win the group) as they are to draw.

Can assess it better after the second round of fixtures. However as stated, irrelevant anyway. Anyone at QF is a good team, just got to beat whatever’s in front of you.

 

[Boozad]

Alan lite

I’m a lot heavier than Alan.

 

[Johnny75]

This article by Romelu Lukaku is awesome - https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/romelu-lukaku-ive-got-some-things-to-say.

That's a great read.

 

[Lord Knows]

https://oscillatingwildly.net/reaction-england-2-1-tunisia/

Good stuff.

 

[Langers]

Absolutely loving some of the videos on Twitter of fans going mental in pubs at the late winner :icon_lol:

I'm pleased - I thought we played well overall (very well in the opening half hour or so) and created plenty of opportunities. It was much harder in the 2nd half but as other supposedly top teams have found already at this World Cup, patience and resilience is very important. We more than deserved the win and I daresay we looked like one of the better teams in the competition so far. Hopefully that late winner will give us some much needed confidence and self belief.

Trippier was my MOTM - thought he was outstanding. I ran out of expletives for Ashley fucking Young. Useless.

It's just nice to have plenty of positives to take from an England performance at a major tournament. Lots to improve on of course, but that's a decent start.

 

[b3h]

Free £2 bet on William Hill again. No strings.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I enjoyed the match last night, which is unusual when watching England in a tournament these days. I thought we were excellent in the first half and should have been a couple of goals ahead. Had one of the penalties against Kane been given then it would have been a lot more comfortable but it was a cracking header to win it at the end.

My daughter wanted to watch some of it so she watched the first half an hour with me which was nice as she was really trying hard to be interested. Although she did ask A LOT of questions, including 'why is the grass two different colours?'

Trippier was my MOTM - thought he was outstanding. I ran out of expletives for Ashley fucking Young. Useless.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. The difference between the performance of the two players was massive. Danny Rose for the rest of the tournament please.

 

[wanderer89]

A mate text last night and said he thought Young had a good game, put in some good crosses, and Trippier looked poor.

I'm reconsidering the friendship.

 

[b3h]

Didn't you see Young's excellent cross guys......

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

The lack of criticism for Young is astonishing, countless times he held up play for England due his total lack of a left foot.

As we know as Wolves fans, the wing backs are vital to a system that uses them, and having a right footed left wing back ruined a lot of our play, we kept trying to play the ball through Young too, which was very frustrating. He also gave away many needless attacks.

I've been largely impressed with Southgate, but Young is a blindspot for him, we'd have been better off playing Chilwell or Cresswell if Rose still isn't fit rather than a right footed Young.

One thing I guess that Young does have is ok set piece delivery, and there are only really Trippier and Young who have that ability throughout the team, so maybe that is why he is getting a place.

 

[b3h]

Young got a 6 on BBC but the 'your rating' was 4.91

 

[Jack Regan]

The lack of criticism for Young is astonishing, countless times he held up play for England due his total lack of a left foot.

As we know as Wolves fans, the wing backs are vital to a system that uses them, and having a right footed left wing back ruined a lot of our play, we kept trying to play the ball through Young too, which was very frustrating. He also gave away many needless attacks.

I've been largely impressed with Southgate, but Young is a blindspot for him, we'd have been better off playing Chilwell or Cresswell if Rose still isn't fit rather than a right footed Young.

One thing I guess that Young does have is ok set piece delivery, and there are only really Trippier and Young who have that ability throughout the team, so maybe that is why he is getting a place.

Lets face it Ryan Bertrand should have been in the squad in front of him. Had Bertrand been at Man Utd and Young at Southampton there is no way Young would have made the squad.

 

[YoungWolf]

Bertrand had a poor season. I am no apologist for Young, but Rose isn't 100% fit either as he has struggled for games this season. We can't afford to throw Rose into all three games in the group stage, no chance. I think Dan got his assessment of Young spot on in his blog.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

 

[Johnny75]

Bertrand had a poor season. I am no apologist for Young, but Rose isn't 100% fit either as he has struggled for games this season. We can't afford to throw Rose into all three games in the group stage, no chance. I think Dan got his assessment of Young spot on in his blog.

I agree with Dan's excellent blog and I think it's a mistake we didn't take another left back instead of Young.

I'm of a different view than most, we should be winning games like this and had this been a friendly or qualifier and we played like that then most of us would be disappointed in the second half performance. The first half performance was excellent and I'm sure the finishing will improve (John Stones airshot??) but then this is Tunisia and we should be beating them comfortably. No excuses.

The fact we have won and can play much better is a good thing and I hope everybody sharpens up for the next few games both on the field and on the sidelines. I thought Harry Kane and Trippier were excellent on the night and like DW was very impressed with Jordan Henderson.

 

[pavlosmacwolf]

I thought overall we were poor to middling. Young and Sterling should be packing their cases right now. We missed so many chances first half and seem to panic too much in front of goal, but none of the favoured sides had an auspicious start so I expect a huuuuge improvement against Panama.
Rashford should start and so should loftus cheek.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Penalty Japan, red card Colombia, three minutes!

 

[Langers]

What a start!!