Ha! Don't say I didn't tell you so.
What is is now ? Wales v Croatia and England v Portugal?
We'll find out tomorrow.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36581015
Absolutely abysmal, 70% possession with no goals. If Germany or Spain (or Wales even) had the same possession stats, they'd win by 3 or 4.
Played well in all 3 games but the lack of end product has been frustrating. Now it's the knock out stage we need to start putting more of those chances away.
Ha! Don't say I didn't tell you so.
What is is now ? Wales v Croatia and England v Portugal?
We'll find out tomorrow.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36581015
Bump.
I'd appreciate an answer before the last 16 draw is announced.:winking:
You told us we wouldn't get anywhere near the semi finals. We're now only 1 game away from being near to that. What exactly did you tell us?
Why? When are you going to answer my question?
Just a shame the match will be on Monday night instead of Saturday night in Paris.
Absolutely abysmal, 70% possession with no goals. If Germany or Spain (or Wales even) had the same possession stats, they'd win by 3 or 4.
Watching England is like having sex whilst you're drunk. Lots of banging away without any end result.
Ignoring the delight from certain quarters that we didn't run away with the group, I'm relatively happy with where things are as tournaments and the teams playing in them tend to evolve. We're now set up perfectly for what's to come.
In 3 games, we've had 3 teams park their buses to thwart our attacking intent and, bar wales, they've been successful. Anyone with even a passing interest in football should know how difficult it is to break through when teams put 10 men behind the ball and the number of late goals in the tournament are pretty much a testament to that. Granted, against Russia, we should have done better even though you'd have to consider us very unlucky to have come out of that one with just a point.
You could argue we got what we deserved against Wales but not against Russia and Slovakia, but the argument only holds so much water. Whatever the opposition are doing (and playing for a draw is a valid approach), you need to create and take chances.
Either way though, it all might well have played into our hands. If as it seems we'll be playing Hungary, Iceland or Portugal, I believe these teams will also predominantly sit back. Portugal certainly did at Wembley and we struggled to break them down. In a tournament game with Ronaldo back in the team, they may be more adventurous but then we're a better side in a more open game. Point is, we're well set to play against a team that plays a more open game but, if they want to sit back, we've just been through three real-tournament practice games to work out how to do it. We might not have cracked it 100% but we've certainly had a chance to work out some of the kinks. The group stage might have been very kind to us in a number of ways.
Either way though, it all might well have played into our hands. If as it seems we'll be playing Hungary, Iceland or Portugal, I believe these teams will also predominantly sit back. Portugal certainly did at Wembley and we struggled to break them down. In a tournament game with Ronaldo back in the team, they may be more adventurous but then we're a better side in a more open game. Point is, we're well set to play against a team that plays a more open game but, if they want to sit back, we've just been through three real-tournament practice games to work out how to do it. We might not have cracked it 100% but we've certainly had a chance to work out some of the kinks. The group stage might have been very kind to us in a number of ways.
I think it is pretty unlikely that we will play Portugal. From what I can tell it would require both final group games to finish draws but for Portugal to score two or more goals MORE than Iceland. So I imagine it will be one of the other three sides.
I actually think if we can get through the second round and run into France in the last eight we'd match up very well with them. I wouldn't fancy us against Germany or Italy but think England on the counter would cause France a big problem and Cahill & Smalling are perfect to play against Giroud.