Official (TM) England - Belgium thread

[sasguru]

Coming second in this group means avoiding the big beasts.
How to do that, though?
No team ever trains to lose - it must be extremely hard ....

[barrydidit]

I don't remember which pundit was on the telly last night addressing this point. He said it wouldn't happen because it just wasn't in the English psyche to go out aiming to lose.

You can supply your own comeback to that

[sasguru]

You can supply your own comeback to that

Plenty of practice has been had at losing?
I guess one way to do it would be to send in the subs with a non-coherent game philosophy.
In my mind this is a test of Gareth's nous and authority.
By all accounts Kane is desperate to play because he wants to be the Golden boot.
But winning this game is detrimental to England's chances because it would give them harder challenges going forwards.
If ENgland are to win, there must be focus on only one goal: the easiest route to get to the final.
Plus I think resting the A-team and keeping them fresh is an added benefit - it's been quite hot in some of the matches.

[Mordac]

Is there a prize for spotting a mention of this match as the "Brexit Derby"?

[Hobosapien]

Sterling to start.

It's a win win. Either he continues his poor effort at keeping his place in the starting line-up, helping England finish second in the group, or he comes good and helps them win the whole thing.

[sasguru]

Sterling to start.

It's a win win. Either he continues his poor effort at keeping his place in the starting line-up, helping England finish second in the group, or he comes good and helps them win the whole thing.

No, no no ... this is not the game for anyone to come good.
Where's good old donkey England when we need it, punting long balls down the field?

[Hobosapien]

No, no no ... this is not the game for anyone to come good.
Where's good old donkey England when we need it, punting long balls down the field?

Hoddle is doing the commentary these days.

Now they just pass the ball side to side and backwards as they're all too crap to run past players while also retaining the ball. If only Gazza had opened a school of football instead of Beckham. They went for the sleeve tattooed mopey stick insect fetishist over kebabs and lager.

[psychocandy]

Heres my prediction if England win:-

1. Will be mention that maybe England can win world cup now.
2. 1966 will be mentioned a few times.
3. Everyone else in the UK outside of England will want them to lose the next match even more because of (1) and (2).

[sasguru]

Heres my prediction if England win:-

1. Will be mention that maybe England can win world cup now.
2. 1966 will be mentioned a few times.
3. Everyone else in the UK outside of England will want them to lose the next match even more because of (1) and (2).

So to summarise, ENgland should REALLY REALLY lose this match and field a B-team because:

1. Coming second opens up the easier side of the draw
2. It rests the A-team
3. It lowers expectations again, which is necessary.

[sasguru]

Hoddle is doing the commentary these days.

Now they just pass the ball side to side and backwards as they're all too crap to run past players while also retaining the ball. If only Gazza had opened a school of football instead of Beckham. They went for the sleeve tattooed mopey stick insect fetishist over kebabs and lager.

I think that's a bit harsh to be fair. I know they've only played weak teams, but some of their football has been as good as anything I've seen.
I'm not one of those who reckons they'll win the WC, but they should get further than usual if they get the easier side of the draw.