Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

[danny.]

It was 100% a penalty for me. Thought it was in real time and looked even worse on the replay. Clear contact and didn't win the ball.

[Number 6]

I think emphasizing "patience" is wrong when you know the team are going to sit back. If you get an early goal you absolutely destroy their plans. Might mean countenancing a goal against, which would obviously play into their hands, but I'd have loved to see their response if we'd come out of the blocks with real intent.

 

Instead I think we spent the first 5 mins knocking is across the back line. Makes me think Tuchel may not have been too sad about a draw after the Croatia result. He'll be judged on how we do on the tournament as a whole, and I guess that is all that matters.

[FoxesWalk]

3 hours ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

The important games will be box to box though. Group stage is a means to an ends. 

Yep, he has picked a squad for the knockouts to beat teams that come out and play. Not so well suited to breaking down a low block. It’s not a terrible strategy in a knockout tournament… 

[Dan]

7 hours ago, jayfox26 said:

Whilst you can praise Ghana for their work ethic and defensive solidity, they made it an absolute bore fest. Of course they will be happy to have taken a point but for fans, it was a dreadful watch! 

I can't blame them. They were a real mess going into this tournament and have pretty much secured qualification with a game to spare, not conceding a goal. They did really well. I wasn't expecting them to be that well organised. Life under Queiroz for you I guess.

[martyn]

4 hours ago, Number 6 said:

I think emphasizing "patience" is wrong when you know the team are going to sit back. If you get an early goal you absolutely destroy their plans. Might mean countenancing a goal against, which would obviously play into their hands, but I'd have loved to see their response if we'd come out of the blocks with real intent.

 

Instead I think we spent the first 5 mins knocking is across the back line. Makes me think Tuchel may not have been too sad about a draw after the Croatia result. He'll be judged on how we do on the tournament as a whole, and I guess that is all that matters.

I thought the same when i heard various players and Tuchel suggesting the need for patience.

 

It almost subconsciously feeds into a style where you slowly probe and don't try and force it or take risks. It doesnt mean you need to go gung ho, but at the very least try and move the ball quicker, take fewer  touches and be prepared to switch the play with more intent to get wingers one on one before the covering defender can shift over.

[RowlattsFox]

To be fair to Tuchel you could see how annoyed he was at the pace we were playing at. 

 

Surprised at the comments from them that they were surprised by Ghana tactics. They were always going to sit back.

[martyn]

11 hours ago, Fox92 said:

Said it before but I don’t rate Guehi. Would be nowhere near the side for me. Our lack of good centre backs will bite us I’m sure.

Guehi is ok, but has benefitted from being labelled England's best centre back by default almost. 

 

I always thinks he looks robotic on the ball, can be vulnerable to balls over the top, and isnt that dominating in the air either. Decent when in a duel or doing last ditch stuff though.

 

I don't really like him and Konsa as a pair.

[RowlattsFox]

Harry Maguire might've been handy from set pieces last night 

[whoareyaaa]

1 hour ago, RowlattsFox said:

Harry Maguire might've been handy from set pieces last night 

100% he has ballsed up a bit with some selections Palmer and Maguire should be there even Trent tbh

[Pliskin]

Tuchel is a terrible choice. Depending on who England get next they won’t go far, is it Mexico? If it is, no ****ing chance they beat Mexico on their own turf…..

 

 

[Super_horns]

25 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

Tuchel is a terrible choice. Depending on who England get next they won’t go far, is it Mexico? If it is, no ****ing chance they beat Mexico on their own turf…..

 

 

That might be Round if 16.

[Lionator]

28 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

Tuchel is a terrible choice. Depending on who England get next they won’t go far, is it Mexico? If it is, no ****ing chance they beat Mexico on their own turf…..

 

 

Well he’s not. And the Croatia game is proof of that. We got over excited after that game as Croatia were poor yet still scored two goals, few sides would’ve broken down Ghana last night. 

[The Bear]

Just checking the fixtures and if we win the group (which we should) then we play next Wednesday evening with a 5pm kick off time. Thats gonna be chaos for bosses with people wanting to leave work early. 

 

If we somehow manage to not beat Panama and draw then we'll finish second (even if Chana v Croatia is a draw) and play at Midnight 00:00am on Fri night/Sat morning.

 

Croatia need to win their match. Ghana and Croatia playing out a draw even if we lose is no good for Croatia as we've already beaten them. If Croatia beat Ghana and we lose 1-0 to Panama then we'll be level with Ghana on GD. We drew with them but have a better Goals Scored so should still go through. If we lose 2-0 and Croatia win  though......  We'd be qualifying in 3rd I think, and play Saturday 02:30am against Group K winners (Colombia or Portugal). 

[Samilktray]

2 hours ago, Pliskin said:

Tuchel is a terrible choice. Depending on who England get next they won’t go far, is it Mexico? If it is, no ****ing chance they beat Mexico on their own turf…..

 

 

Is he?  

Who would you have preferred?

[Pliskin]

29 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

Is he?  

Who would you have preferred?

No one because I don’t follow England! But he is terrible…. 

[skolfoxes]

16 hours ago, RowlattsFox said:

Surprised at the comments from them that they were surprised by Ghana tactics. They were always going to sit back.

All feels very Pep and Man City, doing what they did was their best chance to get a result.

 

Go toe to two with England and you'd have put 3 past them comfortably. Missing a couple of technical players capable of operating more in tight spaces, understand not taking Palmer and/or Foden after the season's they had for their clubs, but they'd have been more useful than Madueke against a team set up as Ghana did.

[Samilktray]

8 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

No one because I don’t follow England! But he is terrible…. 

Fair play but he’s arguably the best coach at the tournament I’d say 

[Footballwipe]

Honestly the result doesn't mean much. Draws in Euros 2020 and 2024 and still got to the final. Argentina and Spain lose in 2022 and 2010 and win the thing.

 

How he does in the knockouts will dictate. I was as worried as anyone about Mexico in Mexico but honestly what have they done that's impressed you? It's only the (fully middle-class happy clapper) home support and the altitude that we're really worried about.

 

Don't think we'll win it but Ghana game didn't register for me worry wise. Just a shame it was such a boring match really.

Edited Thursday at 10:26 by Footballwipe

[Pliskin]

44 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

Fair play but he’s arguably the best coach at the tournament I’d say 

Club coach maybe, but international I have reservations…… England look so suspect defensively, they’re going to have to outscore everyone in my opinion. Ghana should have scored if they possessed better quality in attack. It just takes another off performance from Kane and co against a better team and I think England get beaten somewhat comfortably. This team gives me Capello vibes, can’t put my finger on why, but I just thing they’re there for the taking against a better opponent…….

[ClaphamFox]

3 minutes ago, Footballwipe said:

Honestly the result doesn't mean much. Draws in Euros 2020 and 2024 and still got to the final. Argentina and Spain lose in 2022 and 2010 and win the thing.

 

How he does in the knockouts will dictate. I was as worried as anyone about Mexico in Mexico but honestly what have they done that's impressed you? It's only the (fully middle-class happy clapper) home support and the altitude that we're really worried about.

 

Don't think we'll win it but Ghana game didn't register for me worry wise. Just a shame it was such a boring match really.

I think we'll beat Mexico in Mexico if that's a game we have to play. I've watched their games—they're really not very good. And they'd have to attack us, which would play into our hands.

 

It would be even better if Scotland get to play Mexico on Tuesday and beat them, meaning we'll be playing them if we get through our r32 game. A nice prospect, but unfortunately a highly unlikely one.

[AKCJ]

6 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

Club coach maybe, but international I have reservations…… England look so suspect defensively, they’re going to have to outscore everyone in my opinion. Ghana should have scored if they possessed better quality in attack. It just takes another off performance from Kane and co against a better team and I think England get beaten somewhat comfortably. This team gives me Capello vibes, can’t put my finger on why, but I just thing they’re there for the taking against a better opponent…….

For me it's the exact opposite.

 

I think we're better suited to play sides that want to come at us.

[Bert]

2 hours ago, The Bear said:

Just checking the fixtures and if we win the group (which we should) then we play next Wednesday evening with a 5pm kick off time. Thats gonna be chaos for bosses with people wanting to leave work early. 

 

If we somehow manage to not beat Panama and draw then we'll finish second (even if Chana v Croatia is a draw) and play at Midnight 00:00am on Fri night/Sat morning.

 

Croatia need to win their match. Ghana and Croatia playing out a draw even if we lose is no good for Croatia as we've already beaten them. If Croatia beat Ghana and we lose 1-0 to Panama then we'll be level with Ghana on GD. We drew with them but have a better Goals Scored so should still go through. If we lose 2-0 and Croatia win  though......  We'd be qualifying in 3rd I think, and play Saturday 02:30am against Group K winners (Colombia or Portugal). 

We aren’t going to lose against Panama. 

[Deeg67]

1 hour ago, Samilktray said:

Fair play but he’s arguably the best coach at the tournament I’d say 

That's an interesting topic. In terms of club pedigree I guess you'd have to say he and Poch are the top two. But Bielsa is pretty much revered as a God by a lot of coaches. Think he's past his prime though.

[Detroit Blues]

3 hours ago, Deeg67 said:

That's an interesting topic. In terms of club pedigree I guess you'd have to say he and Poch are the top two. But Bielsa is pretty much revered as a God by a lot of coaches. Think he's past his prime though.

Ancelotti? 

[AKCJ]

3 hours ago, Deeg67 said:

That's an interesting topic. In terms of club pedigree I guess you'd have to say he and Poch are the top two. But Bielsa is pretty much revered as a God by a lot of coaches. Think he's past his prime though.

It's Ancelotti without being close.