Hogan
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Posts: 2,711
Likes: 1,053
Team: Liverpool FC
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Post by Hogan on Jul 11, 2018 21:53:09 GMT
Think I watched porn that looked like that A load of fellas?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2018 21:54:06 GMT
I thought Rakitic was by far the worst player on the pitch tonight, carrying on from a really poor season personally for Barcelona. Been interesting if he starts the final surely Kovavic is a better option?
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Post by Memento Mori on Jul 11, 2018 21:55:56 GMT
Gonna copy/paste my thoughts from elsewhere, as I'm too lazy to write anything up again.
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Hard to not feel despondent, especially after taking the lead and looking comfortable for the entire first half.
And as much as it's easy to be critical of everything that happened after half-time, the players gave everything they could and brought us more relative success than most of us ever thought was likely.
Overall, this World Cup has been one that has been hugely positive for England and we should not rush to forget that positivity!
That said, there are fooballing observations to be made in hindsight.
The players showed their collective inexperience today, and were far too sloppy, even before the fatigue kicked in.
Southgate showed his inexperience too, and was somewhat naïve in resisting making changes. That first goal was coming for a long time before it actually did.
And for all he got right with the squad, we were really hampered with a lack of a plan B. The changes helped us regain a foothold, but they didn't change the game; they couldn't - all our creative outlets in midfield were already on the pitch.
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Post by Memento Mori on Jul 11, 2018 21:57:04 GMT
How far it's come from arguing wheather or not to take Jonjo Shelvey. Funny thing is, I was watching the latter stages of the game today with a feeling like he might have been a useful option to have off the bench in this one.
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Post by daveyposhboy on Jul 11, 2018 22:21:34 GMT
Also, not to rain on any parades too soon but we've had a piss easy draw and lost to the only two decent teams we've faced. A semi is a semi and you can only beat who you get paired with but I don't think this should be taken as some sort of coming of age "We've arrived" for this team because in 2 years time they'll actually likely have to beat the likes of Belgium and Croatia just to get out of the group stage. Me and my dad were talking about this and both said, mainly him, that at the end of the day its not a competition that you can say "well, the opposition was guff so you learned nought" as you might in say the champions league or uefa europa league. Instead, you just have to enjoy the fact that you played the teams in front of you, got to the semi or whatever, and in 4 years you just go from there. There is no "we go again" at international level, just take what comes and try to smash it. Great summer, probably the best summer since the last world cup staying up til 4 watching greece ivory coast with my old man. What a fucking sport boys
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Post by Visar Musliukas on Jul 11, 2018 22:36:50 GMT
Croatia taking some of Russias dope juice and im standing behind that. Unreal stamina
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notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,470
Likes: 5,697
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Post by notpropaganda on Jul 11, 2018 22:57:42 GMT
I thought Rakitic was by far the worst player on the pitch tonight, carrying on from a really poor season personally for Barcelona. Been interesting if he starts the final surely Kovavic is a better option? he’s been poor all tournament I’ve thought and was shocking for about an hour tonight. I did think he started playing quite well as Croatia improved though
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Post by daveyposhboy on Jul 11, 2018 23:01:11 GMT
Just seen on twitter tonight was his 70th game this calendar year, and sure you've gotta feel like he's entitled to one or two subpar games at that rate. But he must be running on empty. Seventy games ffs
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2018 23:03:25 GMT
How the fuck has he played seventy games in 6 months? That’s insane. Surely can’t be true?!
What a player Modric is though. How Madrid have managed to take two of the best midfielders in Premier League history in Alonso and Modric for a combined £60m is beyond me. Through what little I did see of the game because of work, I don’t think either side deserved to lose. Just not sure England had enough creatively to win. Kane’s chance was a sitter and has sort of summed him up for large chunks of the tournament. Golden Boot or otherwise, I think he can improve on this tournament, which is great for England.
Not smug or anything about it, after Kiev I was heartbroken and nothing is more irritating than having your nose rubbed in it. Delighted for Degsy though. Been superb for months now and hopefully continues this streak of silencing big names in the final.
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Post by daveyposhboy on Jul 11, 2018 23:13:12 GMT
Didn't even think of that
They must have intended calendar year as if it meant july 2017 to now, I know he played about 50 games for Barca
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Exonerator
Starter
Posts: 3,405
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Team: Liverpool
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Post by Exonerator on Jul 11, 2018 23:13:36 GMT
France will absolutely batter Croatia in the final.
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Post by Germany's Top Scorer on Jul 12, 2018 0:15:15 GMT
Did Putin come in at half time and threaten their mams or something?
Shite in the second half until the goal and thereafter it looked like they were trying to help Croatia score.
Don't care how impressive they were against shithouse teams or beating Colombia and Sweden. After the equaliser they were a fucking embarrassment. Pathetic.
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Post by Memento Mori on Jul 12, 2018 0:31:59 GMT
France will absolutely batter Croatia in the final. Should do. Hope so. I (reluctantly) decided to bake some cakes at full time tonight and now I'm hoping to trade them in for some gateau.
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constant
Regular
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Likes: 345
Team: Sheffield Wednesday
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Post by constant on Jul 12, 2018 4:00:33 GMT
It's an odd feeling to be completely gutted and so proud simultaneously. I want to Monday Morning Manage Southgate's second half choices a little bit after we were so imperious in the first half but I just can't because these past few weeks have brought me so much joy.
That said, the one thing that I will never quite understand is why Kane was working so, so deep over the past few matches. It is akin to letting him take corners, you don't take one of the best finishers in the world and make him play a false 9 in service of players who aren't creating or finishing.
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Post by you give me rrrroad rrrrage on Jul 12, 2018 7:09:20 GMT
I think Croatia could beat France. They have by far the more creative team and if France find themselves behind I really think they’ll struggle to think their way out a bit like the Euro 2016 final v Portugal.
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