England v Belgium, 28th June, 7pm(GMT)

[JJ1532]

This is it then, the decider. Whoever wins this game finishes top. If the game finishes in a draw, it'll be down to whoever has more bookings come the end. England currently have 2, Belgium 3. So if England can avoid getting a card, a draw is enough. If England pick up one more than Belgium, we'll have to draw lots.

Shaping up to be a fascinating game. England will be full of confidence after the 6 against Panama. Still plenty of question marks over them, this will be their real acid test. Come through this and even the doubters might start believing.

As for Belgium, they'll also be high on confidence. They, like England, have scored 8 so far and also have a man in form in Lukaku. With De Bruyne and Hazard also looking sharp, they'll be a real test for England. But saying that, Martinez has said they might ring the changes, as a few have fitness concerns. I find that hard to believe personally, but we'll see.

So, how will England get on in their first true test? Would you make any changes? Will Belgium field a weakened team?

 

[mase]

12-0 England win, easy.

(Probably a score-draw)

 

[AnimoEtFide]

You mean we haven't won the thing yet?

 

[AFCB_Mark]

All things being equal, Belgium win. They simply have better players in most departments. The circumstances as they are throws a variable in there around one or both teams possibly resting a few, but I would expect most of Belguim's big guns to play.

I fail to see any way we keep a clean sheet against that kind of creativity/firepower. So we'll need to score, probably a couple. Should be a good game.

I'd swap a few players in but wouldn't want to make wholesale changes. Quite a few of our starting 11 are borderline decisions with their counterpart on the bench, and mixing it up a little doesn't change us significantly.

For example:
Rashford from the start would be good to see, he'd make a good outlet on the counter, which will be important.
Dier in there somewhere might help us defend, perhaps in for Walker as the right centre back, or for Henderson as the deep midfielder.
Rose would probably defend better as a full back than Young.

 

[Laker]

In the first two games, we’ve had a lot of the ball but it’d be a good test for us to put out a side which is comfortable with the opposition having more of the ball. I’d like to see the likes of Vardy and Rashford start to see if we can play on the counter.

I would be hesitant to drop the keeper or any of the five at the back as they’re still learning how to play together. But I’d like us to change a fair few of the others to remove risk of injuries to the likes of Kane and Lingard.

I’d go something like:

Pickford

Trippier
Walker
Stones
Maguire
Young

Delph
Dier
Loftus-Cheek

Rashford
Vardy

 

[Son of Cod]

All things being equal, Belgium win. They simply have better players in most departments.

While that might be true, are they a better team than us? I'd say right now that's very much up for debate. They are ruthless at times against the "lesser" sides but, Portugal aside, shied away from giving themselves any particularly challenging friendlies and had a fairly straight forward qualifying campaign. Held to a 0-0 against Portugal, beaten by Italy in the Euros before being put out by Wales having not played anyone of real note between, they beat France admittedly but still conceded 3 in the process.

It's clearly Southgate's biggest test so far and will give us a better idea of where we're at, however I think this is an equally difficult match for Martinez.

 

[Abertawe]

While that might be true, are they a better team than us? I'd say right now that's very much up for debate. They are ruthless at times against the "lesser" sides but, Portugal aside, shied away from giving themselves any particularly challenging friendlies and had a fairly straight forward qualifying campaign. Held to a 0-0 against Portugal, beaten by Italy in the Euros before being put out by Wales having not played anyone of real note between, they beat France admittedly but still conceded 3 in the process.

It's clearly Southgate's biggest test so far and will give us a better idea of where we're at, however I think this is an equally difficult match for Martinez.

It's not up for debate jesus christ. If England can avoid defeat they've done well.

 

[SALTIRE]

I think that side playing the Belgians will win by a goal and then that's it - it's theirs to lose, how could they not do anything other than win the whole thing?

 

[Leo]

I think that side playing the Belgians will win by a goal and then that's it - it's theirs to lose, how could they not do anything other than win the whole thing?

......sarcasm does not befit you mate....Ian Blackford you aint.....

 

[SALTIRE]

......sarcasm does not befit you mate....Ian Blackford you aint.....

Well according to all the media, and it seems now the majority of the newly-behind English glory-hunter fanbase; it should be plain sailing from here on in; they are the only side left in the competition capable of winning it after all, since the media don't seem to be reporting about anything (or anyone) else other than when these Angles inevitably win it.

 

[Stevencc]

"All the media", "majority of the fanbase".

Did St. Juste or Abertawe figure out your password and decide to post some bitter, made-up nonsense under your name for a change or is the condition catching?

 

[Abertawe]

"All the media", "majority of the fanbase".

Did St. Juste or Abertawe figure out your password and decide to post some bitter, made-up nonsense under your name for a change or is the condition catching?

No. What you've put in speech marks is the truth.

 

[Bobbin']

What a seriously shit and miserable existence it must be being Scottish or Welsh.

 

[Nilsson]

"All the media", "majority of the fanbase".

Did St. Juste or Abertawe figure out your password and decide to post some bitter, made-up nonsense under your name for a change or is the condition catching?

They mostly seem angry that England fans are enjoying a major tournament for once. I might feel sorry for them if it wasn't so funny.

 

[Stevencc]

No. What you've put in speech marks is the truth.

Are gifs still not working? I can't be bothered to check - google that one of Larry David yawning.

 

[Stevencc]

They mostly seem angry that England fans are enjoying a major tournament for once. I might feel sorry for them if it wasn't so funny.

I can understand the misery, I'd be miserable watching this stage of the tournament without my country in it - it's the "hur hur, England fans think they are going to win it now...so arrogant" trolling that is the tedious part.

 

[Abertawe]

Inferiority complex or what. No wonder the rest of europe despises you - you've probably not experienced the non-english privilege when you go on holiday. "Oh you're not anglais" accompanied with big smiles. Every tournament you let yourselves down only this time non of you have the bottle to go because you've been brainwashed that the Russians are nasty.

 

[Leo]

What a seriously shit and miserable existence it must be being Scottish or Welsh.

They mostly seem angry that England fans are enjoying a major tournament for once. I might feel sorry for them if it wasn't so funny.

Now now lads....we're not all ABE's. Some of us can enjoy it as it goes. I'm Scottish, I'm British.....I can accept the fact that you guys are enjoying your team's performance and getting out of the group without whinging. Carry on with the good work.

 

[Stevencc]

Inferiority complex or what. No wonder the rest of europe despises you - you've probably not experienced the non-english privilege when you go on holiday. "Oh you're not anglais" accompanied with big smiles. Every tournament you let yourselves down only this time non of you have the bottle to go because you've been brainwashed that the Russians are nasty.

He's even trying to talk French to distance himself from the English now, Jesus.

 

[Leo]

Well according to all the media, and it seems now the majority of the newly-behind English glory-hunter fanbase; it should be plain sailing from here on in; they are the only side left in the competition capable of winning it after all, since the media don't seem to be reporting about anything (or anyone) else other than when these Angles inevitably win it.

Oh Salty....you have seriously been reeled in mate.....

 

[Bobbin']

Inferiority complex or what. No wonder the rest of europe despises you - you've probably not experienced the non-english privilege when you go on holiday. "Oh you're not anglais" accompanied with big smiles. Every tournament you let yourselves down only this time non of you have the bottle to go because you've been brainwashed that the Russians are nasty.

Fully lost it.

Think you might self-combust when football eventually comes home in July.

 

[Stevencc]

Fully lost it.

Think you might self-combust when football eventually comes home in July.

I just don't think they can handle the fact that our name has already been etched onto the Jules Rimet.

 

[Abertawe]

I can understand the misery, I'd be miserable watching this stage of the tournament without my country in it - it's the "hur hur, England fans think they are going to win it now...so arrogant" trolling that is the tedious part.

So you accept the reality that England cannot win? Anything else is delusion and typical of what has been said.

Cba to be honest - it's every single time it's beyond boring. I'll come back after the Belgian boys have shown you what's what.

 

[Son of Cod]

Must be proper shit being a Swansea fan this season, tbf. Relegated and England absolutely smashing it on the greatest stage of all.

 

[Stevencc]

So you accept the reality that England cannot win? Anything else is delusion and typical of what has been said.

Cba to be honest - it's every single time it's beyond boring. I'll come back after the Belgian boys have shown you what's what.

You definitely can.

 

[Nilsson]

I can understand the misery, I'd be miserable watching this stage of the tournament without my country in it - it's the "hur hur, England fans think they are going to win it now...so arrogant" trolling that is the tedious part.

It's weird but you've just gotta laugh at it. This tweet summed it up nicely:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1010899489534693381

 

[Son of Cod]

I'll come back after the Belgian boys have shown you what's what.

You do that mate Dafyyd, we'll try and get back to you before we play our 2nd round match.

 

[Bobbin']

Absolute scenes in here when J Lingz leaves Courtois on the ground crying as he sticks in the 4th and millly rocks in front of the sad welshman sat in the corner in his Belgium shirt.

 

[SALTIRE]

Oh Salty....you have seriously been reeled in mate.....

It only happens nearly every tourney either before they play, or they bag a few wins. Its just predictable mate.

 

[Chris FGR]

The reason these welshies and jocks are trying to piss on our bonfire is cos they're rattled. Rattled that we're smashing it, and rattled cos they know their mobs will never get near us and that even if we don't win it this time, we're clearly on the right track back to the top.