WORLD CUP SEMIS

[Foxdiamond]

17 minutes ago, LanguedocFox said:

For those of us of a certain age (old farts like me) the news today of the death of Antonio Rattin brings back memories of an earlier Argentina, one that we beat. An omen?

 

Don't think it is an omen but certainly strong memories of Rattin and his antics at Wembley and a wonderful near post header by Hurst

[fox_favourite]

27 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

England will beat Argentina pretty comfortably imo. Argentina are nothing special, some genuine world class players in a team of otherwise 'meh.'

 

I know the Norway performance was underwhelming but it was also like 90000% humidity and a "feels like" 40+ degrees.

 

Aren't the semis all in air conditioned stadiums? Whether you'll beat France or Spain is another matter but I'd be genuinely surprised if you aren't in the final.

 

Atlanta so the nicely air conditioned Mercedes Benz stadium. A much needed relief from the attitude and, as you say 90000% humidity. 

 

But has those games knackered our players. Kane certainly looked out of sorts and drained. 

[Pliskin]

I’m not impressed with Argentina, they will also probably play in a similar way to Mexico, leaving the door open for England to hurt them. I too think England will beat them with some degree of comfort. 
 

I think they’ve gradually gotten less convincing throughout the competition too.

Edited 8 hours ago by Pliskin

[Pliskin]

Hopefully Bellingham punches one in…..

[Finnegan]

2 hours ago, fox_favourite said:

But has those games knackered our players. Kane certainly looked out of sorts and drained. 

 

That was always going to be the big question for England.

 

The way you're set up, the coach you have, the players you have, you're going to do best against the teams at the end of the tournament. The teams that won't park the bus. You're set up to counter the likes of Argentina, France and Spain.

 

But with a long tournament after a long season and the conditions sapping your players, are they going to have it left in the tank at the end? If you've got enough left in the tank this is probably your best ever chance at winning a world cup. But if you're somewhat knackered, especially if it's Spain you have to play in the final, that'll be a massive ask.

 

[Foxdiamond]

52 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

Hopefully Bellingham punches one in…..

You can bet it would be disallowed and a red card

[Pliskin]

2 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

You can bet it would be disallowed and a red card

Just claim Trump has riddles VAR with AI….

[Izzy]

2 hours ago, Finnegan said:

England will beat Argentina pretty comfortably imo.

 

Oh here we go 

[Finnegan]

39 minutes ago, Izzy said:

Oh here we go 

 

I knew you'd bite

 

But in all seriousness, I'd personally consider you favourites and I think most neutral people probably will?

 

@shen @EastAnglianFox @Jonezy @Nalis @The Doctor - England or Argentina favourites to win?

 

 

Edited 7 hours ago by Finnegan

[Jonezy]

21 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

I knew you'd bite

 

But in all seriousness, I'd personally consider you favourites and I think most neutral people probably will?

 

@shen @EastAnglianFox @Jonezy @Nalis @The Doctor - England or Argentina favourites to win?

 

 

I find it more 50/50 actually. Its gonna be another fine margins game. Neither Argentina or England has looked exceptionel.

[Izzy]

26 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

But in all seriousness, I'd personally consider you favourites

 

You are some piece of work Finners 

[Finnegan]

2 minutes ago, Izzy said:

You are some piece of work Finners 

 

I think the bigger issue is, why are you so uncomfortable being the favourites? 

[Izzy]

7 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

I think the bigger issue is, why are you so uncomfortable being the favourites? 

 

I think the bigger issue is that you play this card every time England progress deep in a tournament whether it's football, Rugby, or Cricket 

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Izzy

[EastAnglianFox]

34 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

I knew you'd bite

 

But in all seriousness, I'd personally consider you favourites and I think most neutral people probably will?

 

@shen @EastAnglianFox @Jonezy @Nalis @The Doctor - England or Argentina favourites to win?

 

 

England massively and it will be much more comfortable than the Norway game.

 

If Tuchel gets them at it from minute one then as I’ve said previously it will be 3 or 4-1 imo

[Muzzy_no7]

If both teams play to their potential both collectively and individually then Tuchels England should give them a bit of a lesson…but we all know this will be extra time with some very dodgy decisions and an uphill battle for England.

[Finnegan]

9 minutes ago, Izzy said:

 

I think the bigger issue is that you play this card every time England progress deep in a tournament whether it's football, Rugby, or Cricket 

 

 

 

 it's not a card. You're one of the best teams in the world at all three sports, you usually are amongst the favourites.

 

I've never actually said it falsely. Like I've never said "oh yeah, you'll absolutely pump South Africa, they're shit, you've got this lads ;););)"

 

[LCFCJohn]

46 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

I think the bigger issue is, why are you so uncomfortable being the favourites? 

It’s not even deflective/reverse psychology type stuff to say we are the weakest side left in this final 4. I mean Argies have laboured through the knockouts similarly to us so it could go either way but still looked a stronger squad. But the winner of the other semi final is clear favourites.

[LCFCJohn]

Problem is, FIFA have started behaving in a similar fashion to the global TV audience where it is all about player names, not teams. You have this nonsense where people follow players (we have seen it with the likes of Algerians and Mahrez and Bangladeshi fans with Choudhury). 

FIFA have followed suit where it is all about the likes of Mbappe and Messi and the stall has been set out to try and ensure that the final can be billed as such for the TV audience. Hence the dodgy decisions in favourite of particularly Argentina.

[Jattdogg]

8 hours ago, Pliskin said:

And following the corruption with the US, and the incredible luck the Argies keep getting, there’s bound to be some horrific injustice take place. 

Like camera cable gate? Lol

 

We are playing the 22 world cup champions who are also ranked higher. England are under dogs.

[Stuntman_Mike]

22 hours ago, Parafox said:

Sorry it didn't meet your standards. 

[Parafox]

9 minutes ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

Sorry it didn't meet your standards. 

Even though my standards are pretty low 

[Parafox]

1 hour ago, Jattdogg said:

Like camera cable gate? Lol

 

We are playing the 22 world cup champions who are also ranked higher. England are under dogs.

We're under dogs. Which dogs? And why are we under them?

[Tommy Fresh]

3 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

 it's not a card. You're one of the best teams in the world at all three sports, you usually are amongst the favourites.

 

I've never actually said it falsely. Like I've never said "oh yeah, you'll absolutely pump South Africa, they're shit, you've got this lads ;););)"

 

Don't put Wales down brother, you can be lumped in with England on cricket can't you 

[shen]

5 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

I knew you'd bite

 

But in all seriousness, I'd personally consider you favourites and I think most neutral people probably will?

 

@shen @EastAnglianFox @Jonezy @Nalis @The Doctor - England or Argentina favourites to win?

Yeah, England are favourites. But Rice needs to be fit. If he isn't then I see it as a 50/50. 

I was surprised by how Norway more than matched England. Conversely, Argentina have not looked great at all and judging by the theme this WC of the better teams progressing, I think they will come up short against England.

[Alf Bentley]

9 hours ago, fox_favourite said:

Atlanta so the nicely air conditioned Mercedes Benz stadium. A much needed relief from the attitude and, as you say 90000% humidity. 

 

But has those games knackered our players. Kane certainly looked out of sorts and drained. 

 

I wonder if Kane was just physically unable to be as mobile as usual, due to the heat and humidity?

Against Norway, he certainly seemed to drop deep a lot less than usual - which takes away a big part of his game, if he's just a striker sitting on defender's shoulders and trying to make moves in the box.

Hopefully conditions will be more helpful in Atlanta....