Czechs v the Englisch..

17 come on keep up theyve only mentioned it 3 times already lol

 

They've conceded five and scored one. What's the good crack?

 

why ? we got the points, we are top of the group while Scotland are flat bottom, might not have been exciting but that’s not part of the rules,

 

Big difference next week, it's knockout football. I'm expecting a huge difference. Got to remember we hammered the Dutch in 96 and then against Spain were awful. Its all about peaking at the right time.

Oh and 3 clean sheets, not bad that.

 

We 5pm or 8pm on Tues?

 

8pm

 

Excellent, don't need to get out early. Ta.

 

Only other team with 3 clean sheets is Italy. Mind you, I think Italy are my favourites to win it now having seen how good even their B team was.

 

So have Italy and scored 7 goals! And won all their matches!

 

We'd have had more tonight but Czechs didn't chase it due to goal difference. They wanted 2nd place, if Stones scored against Scotland who knows how it would have ended.
If we'd won 2 times 3-1 and got a 2-2 draw folk might be giddy but worried about our defence. Either way it would be 7 points.
I want the attackers to come to life in the knockout stages, something they've failed to do in recent years.

 

I'm starting to like Roy Keane more and more. "football's a running game" too true - we look most dangerous when we're running at people, not playing tippy-tappy.

Saka was a breath of fresh air, really liked the look of him and Grealish.

 

If that's the criteria then Foden should be sent home now

 

True but if they go out in round of 16 it means nothing. Folk will say they were a pleasure to watch unlike previous Italian teams who were built on attrition, precision and stubbornness but they'd be out.
They do look good, but what happens if they fall behind to a well organised team? Same with the Dutch, the Germans against Portugal for me so far is the best performance. However they did look dodgy at the back. We've had chances against us but not guilt edge ones, part of me thinks the team have learned plenty from Russia. They were knackered against Croatia in the semi and seem to have paced themselves this time around.

 

Fergie said to Keane, you can run tackle and pass which means you're a good midfielder. He was right, he could run and made lots of runs into space or to close down space.
Like he says it's a simple game really, that's all Guardiola asks his players to do. He's also got lads with amazing close control who play with their heads up which helps massively.

 

As I said, anything can happen in the knockout stages.

 

17

 

Dull. Just dull.

 

His game management is nuts for someone that young, made sure he run the Czech lads down blind alleys and took the sting out of the game. Didn't give the ball away in open field, he's going to be a star that lad.

 

They did the job, managed it fine and won the group comfortably. No risks, no fireworks, but perhaps nothing learned about how to fit together an exciting group of attacking talents. That may come back to haunt us, we ought to have sorted out our front 4 by now.

We're going to play a really good side next, and that's the test of whether we're any good - not the last 3 or the qualifiers. Win it and we'll be full of confidence we can go all the way. Lose it and we'll be the same old sh*te England with a crap mentality.

Team for me would be:

Pickford

Walker Stones Mings Shaw

Henderson Mount (or Rice if not available)

Saka Foden Sterling

Kane

Key for me is need to be able to play forwards from midfield as well as putting a foot in, that's what gives our best players (the forwards) their best chance. Grealish can replace any of Saka/Foden/Sterling as the game goes on. Saka has done enough tonight to be undroppable.

Personally, I'm looking forward to next Tuesday.

 

It is but if we win the next 4 games 1-0, ride our luck at times we win it. We'll be called the Arsenal of Europe but I'll happily wear the matching vest and pants.