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

[Ebeneezer Goode]

What are the papers saying today?

They're probably criticizing Rashford for his game-changing misses just as aggressively as they did Sterling for his offside one. I mean why wouldn't they...

 

[Leo]

What are the papers saying today?

Up here the headlines are.....

"Onefootballforum Scottish whisky drinking moderator to quit site when England triumph in World Cup final.....brave talk from Braveheart'.

 

[Pagnell]

I reckon Rashford missed that one on one deliberately. [/Bilo]

 

[Leo]

Yep I'm not a unionist (we all know why you are ).

Salty mate....in certain respects you are so naive.

 

[Stevencc]

Up here the headlines are.....

"Onefootballforum Scottish whisky drinking moderator to quit site when England triumph in World Cup final.....brave talk from Braveheart'.

Asked for his take on the matter, the man in question slurred "they may take our World Cup, but you ain't touchin' my dram, so get it right up ye".

 

[Leo]

Asked for his take on the matter, the man in question slurred "they may take our World Cup, but you ain't touchin' my dram, so get it right up ye".

 

[SF_]

Well that was shite, two reserve teams playing out a friendly.
Great goal by Januzaj, shocking miss by Rashford.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

It was a good strike, one of those where from the moment it was hit you knew it was heading in.

I worry for us with Colombia. We could do it but we'll need to hit heights that England haven't hit in some years. It would be a superb result if we manage it, but they should start as favourites. James Rodriguez being out might help, but it's quite possible they are intentionally overstating his injury to then surprise us. We'll see.

 

[SF_]

Aye, knock out situation, i'd be amazed if they don't risk Rodriguez.

 

[Benji]

I don't particularly rate Januzaj, and didn't realise he had been called up until De Bruyne tried to kill him. It was a lovely goal, but he was very Januzaj for the rest of the game. England didn't really do much, but I quite liked watching Vardy trying very hard the whole time.

 

[Gassy]

It was a good strike, one of those where from the moment it was hit you knew it was heading in.

I worry for us with Colombia. We could do it but we'll need to hit heights that England haven't hit in some years. It would be a superb result if we manage it, but they should start as favourites. James Rodriguez being out might help, but it's quite possible they are intentionally overstating his injury to then surprise us. We'll see.

Agree with all of this post.

IF we do manage to beat them, there is no reason why we couldn't make the Semi-Finals. Just personally, I think Colombia are a better team than England, Sweden & Switzerland.

 

[Bilo]

Absolute rubbish. You just sound like some bitter sad England hater.

Mate I am many things but a "bitter sad England hater" I absolutely am not. I was just pissed at yesterday's shitshow.

 

[Gassy]

Tbf, I actually agreed with most of what Bilo was saying.

Just 2 things really imo;
1. Came on too strong
2. Over confident/pretty arrogant about Sweden

 

[Abertawe]

I supported Wales once England crashed out I’ll have you know. I support a Welsh football club, I’m not Welsh myself, but I don’t have a weird obsession with Wales failing like you seem to have with England. You want to say that England getting to the Semis wouldn’t be an achievement because of the opposition, then I’ll throw the same right back at you.

On paper, yes that Belgium side has some talent. Did they play like it? Absolutely not. They played like individuals and De Bruyne had not become a world beater yet as I’ve already said.

You're talking rubbish. De Bruyne doesn't become a world beater over night. Likewise the rest of their world class & elite players.

 

[Bilo]

2. Over confident/pretty arrogant about Sweden

Yeah well I get one chance every twenty years so come at me

 

[Gassy]

Yeah well I get one chance every twenty years so come at me

Let's talk after the Switzerland game, after all - you did lose to the worst team in your group...

 

[Bilo]

Let's talk after the Switzerland game, after all - you did lose to the worst team in your group...

This is true. But although it comes across as arrogance, you have to realize it's about once in a decade I get the chance to have any kind of dreams regarding Sweden. So when I get the chance I make sure that I get carried away, it's the very best way of doing it. We've already outdone ourselves, and while going out to Switzerland would hurt in the moment it's been an amazing ride since the start of the qualifiers.

But we'll beat them. Then you. Then you know Spain is mostly has beens. And the final is a one off game anything can happen ...

Better take a few days off work after the final. Just to be sure.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

This is true. But although it comes across as arrogance, you have to realize it's about once in a decade I get the chance to have any kind of dreams regarding Sweden. So when I get the chance I make sure that I get carried away, it's the very best way of doing it. We've already outdone ourselves, and while going out to Switzerland would hurt in the moment it's been an amazing ride since the start of the qualifiers.

But we'll beat them. Then you. Then you know Spain is mostly has beens. And the final is a one off game anything can happen ...

Better take a few days off work after the final. Just to be sure.

It's the same for us though, this is our first knockout game at a World Cup since 2010; trouble is when we say this sort of thing we are accused of been typical arrogant English and the like(Not by you but the wider footballing world), but if any other country does it it's fine, typical double standards. Particularly by the Scots on this thread who pulled us up for been arrogant but not yourself, although we should be used to it by now from them, they enjoy sucking lemons up there.

 

[St. Juste]

Abertawe how shit are Wales if they drew 1-1 with Panama, a country we declared with 6 on shortly after HT?

As for the jocks, when was the last time they qualified for a major tournament? Such a small mind mentality from our neighbours. Must be depressing always having to live in our shadow.

We're living in the shadow of the biggest underachievers in international football history.

Felt awful cold when you were hammered by Germany, or given the runaround by Italy, or finishing bottom of your last WC group, or losing to Iceland. Lots to be jealous of there.

England are a much bigger country than Scotland or Wales, doing better than us is the same as Scotland doing better than Latvia. It means nothing. Your peer group is who you should be comparing yourselves to, France, Italy, Spain etc. Once you start consistently doing better than them you will know you have turned a corner.

Like I've already said, for someone who has a lot of content in their bitter ramblings, you really are a bit shit at this.

Where has anyone said, in a serious fashion that wasn't taking the piss out of people like yourself, that "football is going home"?

What a truly fucking sad life you must lead to spend so much time bitching about an England team and its fans that are simply enjoying the moment. Abertawe is on a windup, I actually find his posts funny. But you actually mean the shit you come out with.

It's good you escaped from the statement that no side can ever have a good qualifying campaign without qualifying. Saved by the lock.

Anyway, I have no particular skin in this game and Englands group went pretty much as I expected with them finishing second and facing Colombia.

It will be key if James is fit, but it's an incredibly tough tie and I really rate this Colombia side. If England win, fair play they will deserve it and will face an easy QF.

As for the comments on set pieces, nobody was saying they shouldn't count as goals, but rather the perception that scoring a lot of them is considered "positive football". I'm not sure it is. Scoring a lot of free flowing goals, and creating a lot of chances, absolutely but I haven't seen a moniker applied to, say, Rory Delaps long throw goals.

As for the posts implying I'm bitter, consider the relative tone of my posts relative to others. You all seem much more upset about this than I am, see the response to the suggestion scoring goals from set pieces not being considered "positive football". Some posters seem to take everything as an unforgivable slight.

 

[Bilo]

It's the same for us though, this is our first knockout game at a World Cup since 2010; trouble is when we say this sort of thing we are accused of been typical arrogant English and the like(Not by you but the wider footballing world), but if any other country does it it's fine, typical double standards. Particularly by the Scots on this thread who pulled us up for been arrogant but not yourself, although we should be used to it by now from them, they enjoy sucking lemons up there.

Mate no offense but you’ve got a good four or five players worth more than our entire squad. The situations aren’t remotely comparable. For example, we weren’t at the World Cup in 2010. Or 2014.

So while I realize times have been tough on England, and I’ve said myself this is one of your weakest squads I’ve seen, the expectation on England is miles, miles ahead of us. We weren’t expected to make it out of our qualifying group, let alone make it here.

 

[Leo]

Particularly by the Scots on this thread who pulled us up for been arrogant but not yourself, although we should be used to it by now from them, they enjoy sucking lemons up there.

Only by the nationalists mate....remember that......

 

[St. Juste]

It's the same for us though, this is our first knockout game at a World Cup since 2010; trouble is when we say this sort of thing we are accused of been typical arrogant English and the like(Not by you but the wider footballing world), but if any other country does it it's fine, typical double standards. Particularly by the Scots on this thread who pulled us up for been arrogant but not yourself, although we should be used to it by now from them, they enjoy sucking lemons up there.

Yes, because this story has repeated itself for decades.

And then when they lose they pretend its only the media are arrogant and the fans are down to earth and don't buy the hype.

At least that myth is comprehensively disproven.

You would expect Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Italy etc. to be arrogant because they have actually achieved something in living memory. For most of the England fans on this thread the greatest achievement they have seen is a QF, or that one semi final achieved in the last 50 years.

For them to win it, it's a great leap of imagination they all seem easily capable of.

 

[Bobbin']

doing better than us is the same as Scotland doing better than Latvia

This is a fair point. When do you think we can expect this to happen?

 

[Gassy]

This is true. But although it comes across as arrogance, you have to realize it's about once in a decade I get the chance to have any kind of dreams regarding Sweden. So when I get the chance I make sure that I get carried away, it's the very best way of doing it. We've already outdone ourselves, and while going out to Switzerland would hurt in the moment it's been an amazing ride since the start of the qualifiers.

But we'll beat them. Then you. Then you know Spain is mostly has beens. And the final is a one off game anything can happen ...

Better take a few days off work after the final. Just to be sure.

I was only joking fella

You've done very well to get out of the groups, never mind in 1st. I reckon you'll do Switzerland, they're a boring and rigid team (from whenever i've seen them). Pretty sure you'll have Colombia in the 1/4's where you'll go out.

Either way, enjoy it while it lasts - you're a Liverpool fan right? Its a bit like me if Bristol Rovers do well in the FA cup, its the most exciting this in the world

 

[Gassy]

This is a fair point. When do you think we can expect this to happen?

10/10

 

[Bilo]

I was only joking fella

You've done very well to get out of the groups, never mind in 1st. I reckon you'll do Switzerland, they're a boring and rigid team (from whenever i've seen them). Pretty sure you'll have Colombia in the 1/4's where you'll go out.

Either way, enjoy it while it lasts - you're a Liverpool fan right? Its a bit like me if Bristol Rovers do well in the FA cup, its the most exciting this in the world

Liverpool and Gefle in the Swedish second division mate, I know the highs and lows! But yes the FA Cup is brilliant in that sense.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Mate no offense but you’ve got a good four or five players worth more than our entire squad. The situations aren’t remotely comparable. For example, we weren’t at the World Cup in 2010. Or 2014.

So while I realize times have been tough on England, and I’ve said myself this is one of your weakest squads I’ve seen, the expectation on England is miles, miles ahead of us. We weren’t expected to make it out of our qualifying group, let alone make it here.

If we do then all are far over priced except Kane, although that doesn't shock me with our players.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Yes, because this story has repeated itself for decades.

And then when they lose they pretend its only the media are arrogant and the fans are down to earth and don't buy the hype.

At least that myth is comprehensively disproven.

You would expect Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Italy etc. to be arrogant because they have actually achieved something in living memory. For most of the England fans on this thread the greatest achievement they have seen is a QF, or that one semi final achieved in the last 50 years.

For them to win it, it's a great leap of imagination they all seem easily capable of.

There is nothing wrong with having confidence in your own country/or club, I just find it hypocritical that some who don't like us pull us up calling us arrogant, and not others. Achievements are irreverent as Arrogance and having confidence aren't necessarily the same thing.

 

[Bilo]

If we do then all are far over priced except Kane, although that doesn't shock me with our players.

Not really, there’s only a handful I’d value over £10m. So just off the top of my head, say you’re trying to buy everyone of our 23 man squad I’d hazard a guess at somewhere just shy of 100 million (Forsberg skews the number). Tottenham would laugh at that for Kane.

 

[Bilo]

Oh, and by the way, I find the English of our generation anything but arrogant. I’ve travelled a shitload and the English, bar the absolute nobheads in minority (you do nobheads best tbh) it’s usually a down to earth fan base, rather apologetic for an arrogance that I’ve never really experienced.

You’ve got nothing on Italy and Brazil in that regard. Even Argentina beat you, but they’re more demanding than arrogant I’d say.