Disappointing performance

Agreed about rashford and loftus cheek.

 

He's scored 15 goals in 25 games for England. Maybe we should play someone else?

 

Didn’t say that, but I’ve yet to see him take hold of a big game for Spurs or England when it matters.

 

Then you must not watch a lot of football.

 

What a difference a 'd' makes.

 

Champions league, premier league when the title was on the line, England at tournaments?

 

You don’t think scoring the number of goals he does isn’t enough?
Most ‘tap ins’ don’t just happen by fluke and anyway that header was a lot more than a tap in, he lost his marker, then wrong footed the keeper by spinning it inside the post, most players would have gone for the biggest target

 

When it matters is the question and he has the chance to prove it this tournament doesnt he.

 

He's scored goals in big games in the champions league and the prem. The last tournament he played in for England almost everyone was **** in the euro's and he's a much better player now. He's just scored 2 goals on his world cup debut. Bloody hell mate what do you want him to do, win games trophies for spurs and England on his own?

 

That header of Kane's was a cracker. The lad is pure class...

 

It didn’t matter last night, taking that header knowing it was likely to be one of the last chances?

 

Top players do that. Trophy cabinet is bulging isn’t it?

 

He has to have the players around him too. Did Shearer get us to the semi finals of euro 96 on his own?

 

If he gets us to the semi finals I will say fair play for turning up, but the last 16 knockout is nailed on.

 

I've not seen England play since we were knocked out by Iceland and Id barely read a report aside from seeing qualifying scores - because I'd lost the will to live. So it's fair to say my expectations were fairly low.

That said it's fair to say I was pretty impressed by a team that with no exceptions were really good on the ball. Nobody looked frightened in possession, nobody was looking for the hoof ball down field and we actively tried to play the way we as fans wished they'd have been playing years ago when we'd sit around saying, "Why can't England players pass it like that? Why can't we keep hold of the ball? Why don't we build up from the back instead of bypassing midfield? etc. etc....." So the first half was especially good and with some better finishing we could have been 3-0 up. Also interesting to see them impressing with that quick press after losing possession - this was really effective.

Second half Tunisia dropped really deep (and to be fair they had to as they'd have been pulled apart) and made it more difficult as there simply weren't any spaces to pass into and around. Yes we laboured around and the ball wasn't moved about as quickly as it should have been and we lacked someone really creative in midfield to play a really cute pass to unlock a defence, but we kept going were patient and got a reward ironically enough from another set piece. Defensively I thought we were ok without being really tested. Players who could pass was a definite advantage with all 3 centre backs looking good on the ball, but the jury is out if we play a better attacking team. Walker at right centre back did ok apart form the goal where he was caught out and that's the problem at this level, you cant get it wrong once or you'll be punished. I'd probably like to see Rashford replace Sterling. Ali had a quiet game and Loftus-Cheek was certainly more dynamic when he came on. I'd like a left footed, left wing-back. Nothing against Ashley Young, but crosses fro mthat side to Kane would be better with a left footer. - but I suspect Southgate will stick with the same starting 11.

7/10 - Solid performance, some much better football than many recent tournament performances even if it reminded me of an Arsenal team trying to overplay the ball instead of attempting a killer pass or shooting (which we didn't do enough of). Best thing - we won an opening game in the WC for only the third time!

 

I'm sure he'll be deeply moved by your indifferent gratitude

 

The problem with the World Cup is that there are too many countries involved. Teams like Iceland are an utter disgrace to the game. No intention of trying to play and win, just looking to block and bend the rules as much as they can get away with. Make no mistake Tunisia were trying to do to us what the Icelandics did to the Argies.
I hope we can win the thing but if we don’t I hope we go out to a country like Spain playing some good stuff and deserving the victory

 

There's a basic misunderstanding about football and tactics if you think there's something "utterly disgraceful" about this style of play. If a really good team can't beat a poorer one, that's their own fault.

 

I don’t disuagree with you Watcher but the World Cup should be about much more than what Tunisia had to offer. Are Tunisia a poor team? It will be interesting to see how they get on against Belgium who are by common consent regarded as the strongest team in the group but l’m guessing the game will be similar to ours

 

England were in a lose/lose situation last night as far as people like the OP are concerned.

Win by 4 or 5 “it was only Tunisia”
Win by 1 or 2 “disappointing performance”
Draw “disgrace, bring them all home”
Lose - I don’t even want to think about the reaction.