I think that’s better for us, playing Russia in Russia with trump, Brexit and Novochik going on would have been foil hat fodder.
When we lose to Croatia we know it’s just “a better team” rather than political shenanigans.
I agree. I wouldn't have ruled out Putin using it as cover for something awful too.
I know Southgate will keep the shape as it is, but I want to see us be more compact else Modric will pull our midfield apart.
Sterling is the most frustrating player. He makes good runs, is a nuisance for the opposition, finds space for himself - then just doesn’t seem to know what to do next. Either makes the wrong decision or dithers so that the right option is no longer there.
Yet at City he scored what - 20 goals this past season? He’s clearly not useless but either it’s not clicking with England or he is truly shot for confidence. I think the rest of the team really want him to score. But it’s not happening so maybe the SF is the time for Southgate to drop him and give Rashford a start.
Don’t think that’s true as he scored a lot of winners and important goals
What is different is he has more competition and he also has a lot less touches. He has less time and it’s more instinctive
Great players create time and lesser players need time
Wasn't Sterling's path to Kane blocked by a big guy in yellow? Sweden were good with their scrambling defence and blocking. They stopped any second chances. Even the few pinball moments led to no clear chances for England.
What Sterling did was scare the Swedes with his pace. Nothing specific came of it, but Sterling and the rest of the front four asked many questions of the Swedish defence. By the second half they were collectively knackered and England had far more space.
Well, that's me sexless for a month or so unless Croatia beat England... brick.....
Very high probabilities we will have a World Cup winner in the ranks next season.
Who was the last? Klinsmann?
I know Southgate will keep the shape as it is, but I want to see us be more compact else Modric will pull our midfield apart.
Christian Ziege I think.
I know Southgate will keep the shape as it is, but I want to see us be more compact else Modric will pull our midfield apart.