2022 FIFA World Cup

**SkStu** · 10/12/2022, 7:49 PM

Agent Kane: return to base camp.

**SkStu** · 10/12/2022, 8:02 PM

Thank f that’s over. Can enjoy the rest of it now!

**NeverFeltBetter** · 10/12/2022, 8:04 PM

Kane doing well in giving the tabloids their designated villain

**pineapple stu** · 10/12/2022, 8:06 PM

Absolutely!

I think it's easy to say now, but England were unfortunate. Better side in general, but against that they didn't manage to score from play. They've a great squad and I'm not sure Southgate gets the most from them. He's done a good job when you look at who knocked them out in 2016/2014, but apart from Germany in the last Euros, he's beaten no-one of note in a major finals.

**seanfhear** · 10/12/2022, 8:09 PM

Southgate out-coached again at the highest level.

The commentator said that that France were missing five players that would probably be in the Team except for injuries ( Not even at the world cup due to injuries )

England need a coach that can compete against the top coaches in the big games.

Rice is slow for that level and for all the talk about Bellingham he too seems to lack a bit of pace ( well in that game today anyway )

**pineapple stu** · 10/12/2022, 8:12 PM

Originally Posted by seanfhear

The commentator said that that France were missing five players that would probably be in the Team except for injuries

Good point actually. Kante, Benzema. Kimpembe? Who else?

**seanfhear** · 10/12/2022, 8:16 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Good point actually. Kante, Benzema. Kimpembe? Who else?

Pogba ( Maybe )

~ England really crumbled after the penalty miss ~ ~ There was going to be at least 7 or 8 minutes injury time so that had probably 17 or 18 minutes to go after the penalty miss ~ ~ Plenty of time.

Southgate should not have taken off Saka ~ ~ Saka was destroying his marker.

**SkStu** · 10/12/2022, 8:19 PM

Agree with the sentiments here. England were better - very good all round. Saka the pick of their players I think and not sure why Grealish came on so late. Would have caused trouble and brought something different.

**seanfhear** · 10/12/2022, 8:23 PM

England did a pretty good job on Mbappé.

I wonder if Southgate goes and, who would the possible replacements for him might be ?

**NeverFeltBetter** · 10/12/2022, 9:49 PM

In the English managerial merry go round, it's now time to bring in Johnny Foreigner again, so Bielsa or Martinez maybe.

**seanfhear** · 10/12/2022, 10:02 PM

If I could pick one manager I would pick Carlo Ancelotti ~ ~ Not saying that he would have any interest in the England job mind.

The thing about Ancelotti is that he can do the toughest of jobs with so little fuss ~ ~ So used to doing big pressure jobs in Italy / elsewhere and just handles it all with out a fuss.

**joey B** · 10/12/2022, 10:04 PM

The sourest of grapes from Pepe, the ref was pretty good in that game I thought....

**ifk101** · 11/12/2022, 7:47 AM

Pepe missed a sitter at the end of their game. Maybe he wants to deflect from that. :-)

**NeverFeltBetter** · 11/12/2022, 7:52 AM

I did think refs left a lot go yesterday in both games. Maybe a reaction to the Argentina/Dutch game?

**seanfhear** · 11/12/2022, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

I did think refs left a lot go yesterday in both games. Maybe a reaction to the Argentina/Dutch game?

No harm either but I suppose ya need consistency and pretty much know what standards to expect from referees in such big matches.

**Stuttgart88** · 11/12/2022, 3:17 PM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

I did think refs left a lot go yesterday in both games.

All tournament I think.

I'm surprised Saka went off but overall I think England did more or less what they needed to do to win, but they just didn't win! Kane's one on one miss v Lloris in the first half was also poor by his standards. On replay it looked easier to take the ball with the inside of his left rather than the outside of his right. Had he done so he'd have got the lift needed to take it over Lloris. Gilt-edged Maguire chance from a free header, and he actually should also have scored after Lloris missed a cross - there was a big gap at the near post but he headed it back across goal. Second penalty...

I think Pickford was slow to read the curve on the first goal. I don't actually think he did see it late as Bellingham wasn't really in the way of seeing the ball. I think his dive was that of a keeper expecting the ball to be a few inches nearer to him. Griezmann's cross was magnificent but did Stones get caught under the ball again, like against Croatia?

Quite simply France won the big moments, including not being awarded a free just before France's first. Giroud had 2 good chances, took one (I'm not counting the low header at 0-0 as it was a poor cross), Kane had 3 and took one.

Jonathan Liew had a great article in today's Observer about this. France had big game / win tough know how, England didn't. If Kane's pen had gone in the momentum and belief was surely all theirs. It'd have taken some grit for France to steady the ship.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 13/12/2022, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

Wahl also said himself he was feeling very unwell on Monday and highly stressed after a cold he's had for weeks had become bronchitis. Without intending distress to anyone its curious timing, but I don't automatically see a murderous conspiracy.

Edit: I note he was also complaining of chest pains on Monday. Get yourselves checked up on the regular lads, this stuff comes out of nowhere.

Just to round this off, the brother withdrew his claims that Wahl had been killed yesterday, saying he made them while in shock: https://twitter.com/ziplamak/status/1601831945587261440

**NeverFeltBetter** · 13/12/2022, 6:55 PM

Argentina are doing quite well so far. Saw Messi rubbing his hamstring earlier: the temptation to take him off soon enough will be quite big for Scaloni.

**osarusan** · 13/12/2022, 8:05 PM

Comfortable in the end for Argentina.

Not sure about the penalty myself, but it was the second that really killed them. Croatia did so well for 25 minutes and suddenly they are 2-0 down.

But they couldn't get a sniff of a goal all night.