That thinks we’ve failed again? We lost to a very average Croatian side. We proved that after 30 minutes if you press them and play a quick passing game they cannot compete, but then we reverted back to type, by sitting back and inviting them on for the inevitable to happen. Yes we are a young side, yes it is the best position we’ve reached in a World Cup for many years and yes we have restored a bit of pride in our national football team, however we have just thrown away probably the best chance we will ever have to reach the final of a major tournament. I’m personally very disappointed and frustrated and think a number of players will wake up and be thinking could I have done a little bit more?
I agree entirely. Praise and credit where it's due for getting there but I agree that they choked a winnable game.
31 out of 32 teams fail to win the world cup. Germany, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Belgium. All apparently failures. In every tournament football game 50 percent of the competitors fail to win. Id say losing in extra time in the semi final of he world cup is a great achievement for a small country on an island
I don't think that the original post suggests that the loss is the start and end of failure. If we had been utterly blitzed by a much better side then I wouldn't have considered it a failure - just beaten by the better team. The way we started the game showed that we were more than capable of beating them. I think the suggestion is that the failure is in not capitalising on a winnable game. We got our noses in front and then failed to go through the gears. That's how I read it. None that should be construed as a criticism of what went before it. I agree that the team has surpassed expectations in getting there and should be given credit, at the same time, passing those expectations doesn't mean that one game in isolation cannot be commented on either.
Did we sit back, or did Croatia change tactics in the 2nd half to counter our game? First half there was only one side likely to win. 2nd half it was the other team.
I don't know much about their current team, though Modric and Rakitic are well known in La Liga, and Mandzukic has played in various European countries, but I suspect they play across numerous countries. Whereas our players are all in England. Many of our players don't really experience different cultures of football, even less than they used to in the 90's.
Stop it!! As regards the OP I think Croatia are anything BUT an average side. Full of quality experienced players, very fit and well organised. Modric has been outstanding this WC and the midfield are excellent.
Two evenly matched teams played a game of football. One lost in extra time. I don't think it needs over analysing.
The Croatian manager's Half-Time team talk would have been, "They've been all over us and we're only one down. We're not out of this, go out and turn it round!" and they did, simple as that.
Italian players and teams have played a tight defensive set up with a continental possession style for decades. England haven't.
We lost because we failed to take our chances in the 1st half Kane should have scored or squared the ball to Sterling for a tap in.
End of the day its fine lines. Kane scoring or the Stones header going in and we were in the final. At the same time they hit the post and on another day we wouldn't have seen extra time.
Our early pressing made them look average but we obviously can’t keep that up for 90 minutes. It’s physically impossible. Eventually their world class midfielders got on the ball & they were the better side for most of the game. I don’t think there was a lot we could’ve done differently. Walker & Stones have took a bit of stick for Perisic & Mandzukic’s goals but the timing & movement for both are top class from two top class players. Just wish that Kane would’ve took that chance or squared it to Sterling to make it 2-0 & then it’s a different game where they have to really come at us leaving gaps for Sterling, Lingard & Alli to exploit. I don’t think it helps that we’ve not got much depth in attacking midfield positions either. Both Rashford & Loftus-Cheek are talented but aren’t at the standard required yet. Could’ve done with Oxlade-Chamberlain in the form he was showing for Liverpool before his injury.