The_jagster

I wouldn't say you were playing in a particularly high-risk way or anything, you were quite happy for England to pass it around their defence and then pressed a lot more once it came into midfield. Not just sitting back, sure, and I don't think the onus is on USA to win but I wouldn't describe the approach as that attacking.

Glad I supported one of the teams else I'd have died of boredom. People moaning about Foden are missing the point about the team a bit, every attacking player will look bad when we play like that, a set defence most of the time and Maguire looked good when able to just head everything away and step in knowing there was cover. USA also held back in the second half a bit, I think @Astafjevs was right early in the thread saying Southgate was hoping to pick them off when they tired. But we were so slow that they didn't get tired because we weren't moving them about. May as well just have Grealish on from the start because for some unknown reason every opposition player loves fouling him, the free kick that Kane cleared wide was utterly braindead from the defender (as was the late free kick USA decided to pass down the line and won a throw from ) However, there weren't even any edgy moments from the US defence where you think if only the pass had been a bit better we're in there, for me the epitome of the match was Maguire stepping forward with the ball, having nothing on, and playing a stupid through ball for a slow Kane to chase. There is no point playing for the counter if you don't even have any decent countering options. USA played well but even that Mckennie chance wasn't that good, neither team was prepared to go for it but if you're the US I think that's fair enough. But I don't want to be going to penalties against Ecuador or Senegal which is likely if we play this cautious game. Found our pass map too.

Tyldesley filling time talks a lot more nonsense than usual

BBc sounds, about 40:25

Yup, the squad are playing it! He calls it Wolf

Don't think much of Senegal, comedy howlers the only entertainment during my lunch break

Pathetic stuff, even the finish was a scuff

Incidentally I think the defender is an idiot but I dislike it when engineering a pen is rewarded. Just take the shot rather than stopping and moving unnaturally across the defender.

Take the ****ing shot not play for the pen

Aspire academies forgetting to employ GK coaches then.

Did you not see Rob's earlier post

Yes it's like Nevin on 5 live, he sounds enthusiastic about football. I actually don't mind Danny Murphy that much tbh, he's not great but I can bear him, he offers opinions even if they aren't groundbreaking. Whereas for Keown or Dublin I don't get why they even bother, just say what you see.

Luke Shaw mansplaining Werewolf on 5 live! Presenter pretending to be really interested

So if England beat USA, how tasty would an Iran-USA match be with qualification on the line

We were seeded for 1982 on "security grounds"

SEND HIM OFF! SEND THE DIRTY GIT OFF! GET HIM OFF THE FIELD!

At least it sounds like a proper world cup match, no forced viking claps

I'm guessing Wales are as bad as it sounds on the radio?

In that situation it makes sense to try for the win more imo. Chances are Argentina will be playing hard in both games and so you are hoping that you beat Saudi Arabia, Argentina drop points elsewhere either to you or the other team, and the other results don't end up with you needing to beat Argentina. Surely beating Mexico or Poland is more likely than drawing against Argentina needing a result?

I think this could be the cagey game I was expecting England to be. Would be good for Wales if they can score a set piece early on so Iran have to try something.

Thank you!!

Friday 25th November Group A 13:00 Qatar v Senegal 0-2 16:00 Netherlands v Ecuador 1-0 Group B 10:00 Wales v Iran 0-0 19:00 England v USA 1-0 Saturday 26th November Group C 13:00 Poland v Saudi Arabia 2-0 19:00 Argentina v MMexic 2-0 Group D 10:00 Tunisia v Australia 2-1 16:00 France v Denmark 3-0 Sunday 27th November Group E 10:00 Japan v Costa Rica 2-1 19:00 Spain v Germany 2-1 Group F 13:00 Belgium v Morocco 2-0 16:00 Croatia v Canada 1-0 Monday 28th November Group G 10:00 Cameroon v Serbia 1-1 16:00 Brazil v Switzerland 3-0 Group H 13:00 South Korea v Ghana 1-1 19:00 Portugal v Uruguay 1-0

I'll just give thoughts because I've only seen the evening games in full apart from Monday. France looked really good. Maybe some defensive lapse sees them losing but I can't see anyone taking them apart, they are physically strong all over and have Mbappe up front. Southgate will go to a back 5 any time we play a side considered equal/close/better and the Iran game is of little insight however enjoyable I found it. Germany still had a lot of chances against Japan and on the radio it sounded like Japan only got their act together late on - I wouldn't write them off yet. Canada and USA basically played the same game, look good in general but fade quite badly in the second half. Belgium need some pace up front, maybe De Bruyne actually playing well would make them look better. Instead you have Hazard who can turn and shift his body but can't run anymore and Batshuayi just standing next to the defenders.

They are so slow once they get forward too, can't see how they score other than a cross or set piece.

Mitro clearly just going for the barge there