It's just too good to be true

jackvern · Post by **jackvern** » Sun 08 Jul 2018 6:40 am

Are we all holding our breath and afraid to mention it in case the dream turns sour.. Yes folks England have reached the semi finals of a World Cup in a very long time. Watching them last night they appeared to be a team and played some really good football. Even the wife has got caught up in the euphoria and having watched a few matches she of course knows more about the game than anyone. Well done England you have done us proud and even if you progress no further can return home with pride. It would be ironic if we played Befgium in the finals. Come on you boys.

EnjoyingTheSun · Post by **EnjoyingTheSun** » Sun 08 Jul 2018 9:01 am

Yes after a golden generation that did nothing we have a national side who many doubted would get out of the group looking like potential winners.

Croatia are playing us after going to extra time and penalties in their last two matches. That has a habit of catching up with you.

Then hopefully onto a final against France or Belgium, either of whom has come through the hard half the draw and had some hard games. That also has a habit of catching up with you.

It might be coming home!

frontalman · Post by **frontalman** » Sun 08 Jul 2018 2:04 pm

My Russian neighbour's gone a bit quiet. I didn't see anything for us to worry about from Croatia's last two games. It seemed liked a different team to the one that whupped Argentina.

jackvern · Post by **jackvern** » Sun 08 Jul 2018 4:07 pm

Frontal man beware the magic of Modric. The midfield,general of Croatia with the devastimg left boot.if we leave him room then he can put a ball on a sixpence. Brazil snuffed out Eden Hazard but forgot De Brun.. I am sure General Southgate has this in mind.

Bob 4 · Post by **Bob 4** » Mon 09 Jul 2018 1:14 pm

I think everyone needs to take a large dose of reality here. I havn't seen anything in their performance to indicate they are capable of winning this. They were in the weakest group in the weakest half of the tournament. They just won their first game and the fact they put 6 goals past Panama (a very weak team) has apparently gone to everyone heads. They beat Colombia, with the aid of the ref and I almost fell asleep watching the Sweden game, neither team looked as though they wanted to win. The only team of any quality they have played was Belgium and they lost that. If they can get past Croatia then anything can happen, but I doubt it.

EnjoyingTheSun · Post by **EnjoyingTheSun** » Mon 09 Jul 2018 1:34 pm

Bob 4 wrote:I think everyone needs to take a large dose of reality here. I havn't seen anything in their performance to indicate they are capable of winning this. They were in the weakest group in the weakest half of the tournament. They just won their first game and the fact they put 6 goals past Panama (a very weak team) has apparently gone to everyone heads. They beat Colombia, with the aid of the ref and I almost fell asleep watching the Sweden game, neither team looked as though they wanted to win. The only team of any quality they have played was Belgium and they lost that. If they can get past Croatia then anything can happen, but I doubt it.

We squeeked past Columbia but don't think the referee influenced it unless you don't think it was a penalty?
The Sweden win was a pretty solid performance. Our keeper did well but Sterling wasted a few good chances as well.
Our reserves lost to Belgium's reserves. Not saying we are a better team than them, but that game proved zero.

A nice draw, organisation and a bit of luck along the way are often more important than having the best team.

The best team doesn't always win the tournament;
1974 Holland.
1978 Holland again.
1982 Brazil.
1986 Denmark
2006 Germany or Argentina
2010 Spain lost to Switzerland in the first round.
2014 Germany needed extra time to beat Algeria in the knockout phases

Think back to the Euros, were Greece in 2004 the best team?

We are playing a good Croatia team who must be mentally and physically tired after winning their last two games on penalties.
If we get through that we play France or Belgium who are going to have a really hard match against each other following other hard matches. So who knows what the winner of that game is going to have in the tank.

erol · Post by **erol** » Mon 09 Jul 2018 2:50 pm

Bob 4 wrote:I think everyone needs to take a large dose of reality here. I havn't seen anything in their performance to indicate they are capable of winning this. They were in the weakest group in the weakest half of the tournament. They just won their first game and the fact they put 6 goals past Panama (a very weak team) has apparently gone to everyone heads. They beat Colombia, with the aid of the ref and I almost fell asleep watching the Sweden game, neither team looked as though they wanted to win. The only team of any quality they have played was Belgium and they lost that. If they can get past Croatia then anything can happen, but I doubt it.

With all due respect I personally could not give two figs for your 'reality' or your, or anyone else's, 'armchair punditry' either. The reality I see is that England are in the semi finals of the world cup, something that has only ever happened once in my 52 year (- 19 days) lifetime. Even if we lose to Croatia on Wednesday this will still be a better result than England achieved in 1970,1974,1978,1982,1986,1994,1998,2002,2006,2010 and 2014. That is just a fact - in reality.

For me this has already been an incredibly joyous world cup for me as an 'England supporter', based on actual real results already achieved and against the background of decades of lesser achievement by England in the world cup in my lifetime. So you go ahead and doubt that England can go any further if that floats your boat but for me I will continue to revel in what England have already achieved in this world cup and continue to dream and hope and yes even believe that they can yet still go further right up to the very last second that such is no longer possible, Not based on analysis, punditry, statistics or odds but on nothing other than pure desire to see such an outcome.

You doubt England can beat Croatia on Wednesday. Did you also doubt that South Korea could beat Germany 2-0 to knock them out of the world cup in the group stages as well I wonder ?

Come on England !

And for a bit of humour and for those who have not seen it, can always rely on Eric Cantona

erol · Post by **erol** » Mon 09 Jul 2018 4:44 pm

Having said I do not really give two figs for any punditry, if I were to give any figs, then the views of Luka Modric would warrant more figs for me than those of many other pundits, armchair or otherwise.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... nd-croatia

frontalman · Post by **frontalman** » Mon 09 Jul 2018 7:12 pm

I think belief and the will to win mean the most at this stage. Hopefully England have that this time. As long as they die trying, giving it their best, I will be happy.

tingtang · Post by **tingtang** » Mon 09 Jul 2018 8:42 pm

Re Msg No 5,

Spot on Bob.

I want a pair of those rose tinted glasses that Erol uses to watch these matches.

tt.

erol · Post by **erol** » Mon 09 Jul 2018 10:09 pm

tingtang wrote:Re Msg No 5, Spot on Bob.

Everyone seems to know the score, they've seen it all before
They just know, they're so sure
That England's gonna throw it away, gonna blow it away

tingtang wrote:I want a pair of those rose tinted glasses that Erol uses to watch these matches.

Nothing rose tinted about the plain and simple fact that England are in the semi finals of the world cup for only the second time in 52 years. In any case you would seem to be missing my point. That feeling when England score, that moment of 'joy', of elation, that rush, that leads to me jumping up from my chair, pumping my fist and screaming 'yes' - that is not related to how well England may or may not have been playing up to that point or in games previously, not related to how 'easy' a group they may have ended up in, or how the knockout stages have panned out. It is, for me, a glorious feeling regardless and sadly one that in my 52 years has been oh so infrequent. It is not about stats and statistics , fifa rankings or logic or reason. It is about passion and emotion and England have delivered to me more of that 'rush' in this world cup than at any time previously in my 52 years other than 1990. You can spend the time that remains till the Croatia game telling yourself and others that England are not good enough to beat Croatia, if you like. You can even find all the 'logic' and 'reason' you like to support your prediction of inevitable England failure. I personally just do not care about any of that because for me it just is not about any of that. If 52 years of hurt have not stopped me dreaming, and it has not, then some sourpuss armchair analysis (no offence intended) is not going to either. What ever your personal prediction the result will be what it will be regardless. I myself would rather spend that time, on edge, dreaming and hoping and believing that we can still yet go further and end up being wrong than spend it believing that we will lose , be that right or wrong in the end. For me, when it comes to being an England football supporter, hope is as with love and it is better to have hoped and lost than to have never hoped at all.

Come on England !

Keithcaley · Post by **Keithcaley** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 5:48 am

That's our Erol !!

PoshinDevon · Post by **PoshinDevon** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 6:30 am

England have done nothing to make me jump out of my seat, salivating at their skill and how they play the beautiful game. Even the Panama win didn’t really excite me.

However; I see a young squad, who are playing patient football and striking decisively at key moments in the game. They are also dangerous from set pieces. The team keep marching onwards and seem very together. The semi finals of a World Cup are to be savoured and who knows the 50 years of hurt could be coming to an end.

frontalman · Post by **frontalman** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 8:25 am

Lots of hats to be eaten on Sunday night methinks. Come on ENGLAND!!!!!!!

erol · Post by **erol** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 8:48 am

Wild dreams and hope and belief of a coming glorious future, recapturing past supremacy, based on a fervent English nationalism and divorced from any and all objective reality or calm rational assessment of what is actually possible or achievable.

But enough about Brexit.

Time for football to come home. Come on England !

iancrumpy · Post by **iancrumpy** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 9:47 am

erol wrote:Wild dreams and hope and belief of a coming glorious future, recapturing past supremacy, based on a fervent English nationalism and divorced from any and all objective reality or calm rational assessment of what is actually possible or achievable. But enough about Brexit.

Very clever. Very funny

Come on England !

waddo · Post by **waddo** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 10:44 am

When it comes down to penalty shoot outs we probably have the best side - well we have so far.

EnjoyingTheSun · Post by **EnjoyingTheSun** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 11:38 am

waddo wrote:When it comes down to penalty shoot outs we probably have the best side - well we have so far.

Can't see Croatia winning a third penalty shoot out on the spin.

Bob 4 · Post by **Bob 4** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 12:38 pm

I am fairly confident there won't be any hats on the menu on Sunday night, maybe a nibble or two tomorrow. England so far this tournament have beaten the great footballing nations of Tunisia (ranked 21) 2-1, Panama (ranked 55) 6-1, Columbia (ranked 16) 1-1 (taken to penalties), and Sweden (ranked 24) 2-0. This has happened almost every year since 1970, the sporting press and media build up their chances beyond realistic expectations and the average supporter ends up let down. Some of the England players of the past have been very good but as a team they have not delivered. My initial comment related to not having seen anything outstanding about this team. However, a bit more luck and you never know, maybe France, Belgium or Croatia will bottle it.

EnjoyingTheSun · Post by **EnjoyingTheSun** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 1:13 pm

Bob 4 wrote:I am fairly confident there won't be any hats on the menu on Sunday night, maybe a nibble or two tomorrow. England so far this tournament have beaten the great footballing nations of Tunisia (ranked 21) 2-1, Panama (ranked 55) 6-1, Columbia (ranked 16) 1-1 (taken to penalties), and Sweden (ranked 24) 2-0. This has happened almost every year since 1970, the sporting press and media build up their chances beyond realistic expectations and the average supporter ends up let down. Some of the England players of the past have been very good but as a team they have not delivered. My initial comment related to not having seen anything outstanding about this team. However, a bit more luck and you never know, maybe France, Belgium or Croatia will bottle it.

Greece in 2004 played the dullest football ever seen but worked hard were organised and generally nicked a goal from a set piece. Sound familiar?
They beat the reigning Euro champions France, a very good Czech Republic side and a very good Portugal side in the final and also in the group stage where they also drew with Spain. The Portuguese side they beat were a better side than won the Euros two years ago.

Tunisia are at 21 and only two places below Italy. If they play in the near future I'll back Italy and give you Tunisia with a two goal start. If you believe in the FIFA world rankings that much you should bite my hand off on that bet.
If you knew much about football you would know that the World Rankings aren't really worth a light. Play an experimental team in a friendly and lose and you can drop ten places. Currently Switzerland are above France and the U.S.A. have been as high as fourth in the past.

Bob 4 · Post by **Bob 4** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 1:59 pm

Flash Alec, your point is ?

iancrumpy · Post by **iancrumpy** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 2:31 pm

Bob 4 wrote:Flash Alec, your point is ?

EnjoyingTheSun's points are that rankings don't really mean that much and that England's style of football is very similar to that of the unfancied 2004 Greek team, who actually ended up winning the Euros that year.

As for me, I feel England's campaign has brought people together ... in particular it has brought wives and girlfriends into the fray. Provided we don't lose too heavily tomorrow (or maybe on Sunday), I don't think anyone now will be too upset with how it pans out for England.

So, let's be optimistic and ... come on England!

EnjoyingTheSun · Post by **EnjoyingTheSun** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 2:34 pm

Bob 4 wrote:Flash Alec, your point is ?

That directed at me?
You can go doom and gloom and not enjoy the moment so you can say I told you so if that is what makes you happy.
The point is the best team doesn't always win an international tournament.
I wouldn't argue that France and Belgium are better teams than England but would you have backed them over Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, Spain and West Germany before the tournament started?
Or even Switzerland if you go by the FIFA rankings

frontalman · Post by **frontalman** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 3:04 pm

Anyone watched that programme 'Miserable Old Gits'?

erol · Post by **erol** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 4:37 pm

Remembering World Cup Italia 1990.

Group Game one - England 1 - Ireland 1
Group Game two - England 0 - Netherlands 0
Group Game three - England 1 - Egypt 0
Last 16 - England 1 - Belgium 0 aet
Quarter Finals - England 3 - Cameroon 2 aet
Semi Finals - England 1 - West Germany 1 - aet penalties England 3 - West Germany 4

That was then ....

Come on England !

iancrumpy · Post by **iancrumpy** » Tue 10 Jul 2018 5:03 pm

EnjoyingTheSun wrote: You can go doom and gloom and not enjoy the moment so you can say I told you so if that is what makes you happy.

Well put ETS ... enjoy the moment ... even if your head tells that you could well be a little less happy at some point in the next five days.

EnjoyingTheSun · Post by **EnjoyingTheSun** » Wed 11 Jul 2018 11:48 am

BELIEVE

jackvern · Post by **jackvern** » Wed 11 Jul 2018 3:49 pm

Not long to go now and and am having a sundowner or two to steady the nerves. Wife may even stay up and watch the match. No matter what happens I have really enjoyed this world cup with its twists and turns and of course the exit of those cheating,hugging and desperate South American teams love to,watch Brazil,but they can put it about. Come on boys make us even prouder. You have to be init to win it. If we lose we play Belgiun. That's ironic.

jackvern · Post by **jackvern** » Fri 13 Jul 2018 4:34 pm

So I am over the disappointment of losing to Croatia. Now looking forward to see If England have come of age. I really want us to show a spirited match against Belgium. We still need A midfield general. Are we sure that Iniesta of Spain hasn't got an English mother or Modric has not got some English blood. Tomorrow we will see If our team was just luckiy or have done us proud. Come on you boys you have put the E back in England.

Art · Post by **Art** » Fri 13 Jul 2018 5:59 pm

The boys have done us proud but with only 38% of the number of premiership players being British we can never expect the team to be world beaters.

It’s about time the FA capped the number of foreign players !

Home grown talent is the way forward.

Bob 4 · Post by **Bob 4** » Sat 14 Jul 2018 10:17 am

It's been very quiet on this page for a few day's now but England are due a change of luck. It's the old hard luck story again, Kane could have sealed it and put them in the final if he hadn't missed 3 open goals from the six yard area and the ironic thing is he will probably pick up the golden boot award.

EnjoyingTheSun · Post by **EnjoyingTheSun** » Sat 14 Jul 2018 10:26 am

Bob 4 wrote:It's been very quiet on this page for a few day's now but England are due a change of luck. It's the old hard luck story again, Kane could have sealed it and put them in the final if he hadn't missed 3 open goals from the six yard area and the ironic thing is he will probably pick up the golden boot award.

Don't think Kane was in particularly good form overall but I can't think of one open goal he missed let alone three.
Sterling however...………….

Bob 4 · Post by **Bob 4** » Sat 14 Jul 2018 12:02 pm

The misses I'm thinking of is he hit the post from about 6 feet away, hit the rebound and missed an open goal. There was a third missed open goal from about the penalty spot that went flying over the bar, and I think that was Kane as well. The point I am making is at this level you have to be capable of taking the few chances that crop up. that is the difference between winning and going home early.

David · Post by **David** » Sat 14 Jul 2018 12:44 pm

Overhyped average team, very workmanlike but no creativity in three knockout games Kane did not have one shot on goal, need a playmaker to link things up..manager so naive to think we we can get by on set piece chances thats a tactic for an under 14s team will never work against a decent team. Played two teams that can play football and lost both. As for Deli Ali ......

EnjoyingTheSun · Post by **EnjoyingTheSun** » Sat 14 Jul 2018 12:56 pm

Bob 4 wrote:The misses I'm thinking of is he hit the post from about 6 feet away, hit the rebound and missed an open goal. There was a third missed open goal from about the penalty spot that went flying over the bar, and I think that was Kane as well. The point I am making is at this level you have to be capable of taking the few chances that crop up. that is the difference between winning and going home early.

The first one was offside anyway but when he hit the post he had little to aim at anyway.
England lost because they long balled the ball to the forwards and gave away too much possession. It was obvious early on the Croats had us beat in the air but we didn't test them on the ground where we were probably quicker.

jackvern · Post by **jackvern** » Sat 14 Jul 2018 3:58 pm

Well half time and nothing to write home about. Same old,same old, pass the ball across the field and then back to to goal. Nobody wants to hold it and push forward. Sterling is really annoying me and Harry Kane well,say no more. Unless we shape,up in the second half we will be slaughtered. This is our chance to shine take it England put the smile back on our faces. Get a grip Southgate

David · Post by **David** » Sat 14 Jul 2018 10:44 pm

Too many poor players for England, Southgate is deluding himself if he thinks he has the makings of a good team..try scoring from open play rather than set pieces that is for the dark ages and junior football. Get rid of Ali, Kane, and Sterling and find some decent players. Tripperi was their most consistent player by far. Learn how to play from other teams dont play schoolboy football its not a crime to score from open play !!

David · Post by **David** » Sun 15 Jul 2018 6:16 am

Southgate has no idea about tactics at all they continue to play an outdated version of football lots of changes needed. In my opinion a very average team. Put the playstations away boys and have another look at yourselves.

kibsolar1999 · Post by **kibsolar1999** » Sun 15 Jul 2018 8:32 am

take it easy.
it was a quite young team... and they made it.. good. i favoured ENG- FRA or ENG-BEL.
look to others... eg argentina. or germany. or Italy.
a german "ex-player-expert" said that he was very disappointed with this championships. all stuck in tactics, no new ideas.. leading to many "standart situation goals", as freekicks, corners, penalties. somewhat boring. true.
i only can hope that France will make it.. , which is together with belgium the best team... as i can not support teams which need one or even two times (et +) penalties (or 3 times today??) or.. get a penalty in the 95th minute... to become champion.
(that was the reason i have the opinion that germany deserved the title 2014... exept vs ghana (2:2) they won all matches in "normal playing time" without any penalties)

EnjoyingTheSun · Post by **EnjoyingTheSun** » Sun 15 Jul 2018 10:01 am

David wrote: Get rid of Ali, Kane, and Sterling and find some decent players.

They didn't have great tournaments but are all good players.

If Tottenham wanted to cash in on Ali and Kane they would pocket £300 million from Spain who can spot a decent player.

But if you don't rate them where do you suggest we get replacements from?
If we excluded Tottenham the other teams that challenge for Champions League places can probably rustle up half a dozen English players between them.
Lallana and Barkley are injury prone.
Wilshire cant get a game for Arsenal, Drinkwater will be cover at Chelski.
Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sturridge are nowhere near as good as Kane.
Apart from those I'm struggling to see an English player who wasn't there.

As for the future Foden looks a good player but has only just turned 18 and it will be interesting to see if he gets many Premiership games over the next couple of years.

Maybe now we are out of the EU we can introduce a quota system to get more game time for English players in the future.

Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Join us