World Cup groups placings

[MAD_MAGPIE]

It is true, and all England had to do was hang on to their six goal advantage to be ahead on actual GD. Not only did they fail to do that but they pretty much gave up trying to restore it. Call me over critical but I think Southgate was pissed off about it too.

I’d agree I reckon Gareth Southgate is like Kevin Nolan in that a clean sheet means a lot which it does. I guess the half time team talk would have been more about keeping the clean sheet as we had no issues with scoring goals. Also it probably would have been about trying to top the group in the second half.

We are in a tournament so I think we just need to approach the Belgium game with the aim of beating them. Keep the momentum going. I can understand the merits of squad rotation, but with a core of a team working together they can grow with every game. Plus beating Belgium would be a massive confidence boost going into the knockout stages.

On paper it might seem easy to play those who are deemed lesser teams in the knockout stages but at the end of the day we are at the World Cup finals knockout stages so no game is going to be easy in my opinion no matter who we play.

[irish_pie]

With Poland being so shockingly poor you'd have to expect Japan to top that group. Colombia should beat Senegal and finish 2nd.

Colombia are a far better side than Japan and would have beaten them had they not gone down to 10 men in the first 5 mins, which potentially makes England v Belgium a very curious game indeed. There could be a very clear advantage for the losers of that match. Pundits will spout the usual rubbish about "You always want to play to win and top the group", but in this case you really don't if Japan finish top.

I have a sneaky feeling that Columbia wont go through, Senegal are a decent outfit and they know a point will send them through, If Japan also get a point from a dreadful Polish outfit then thats Columbia on the plane home... its going to be very interesting indeed, Senegal and Japan going through would be very good news for you guys as I can see you beating either with the minimum of fuss.

[Airborn Pie]

I've seen no one, that England should be afraid of so far. As long as we don't give the ball away too often, playing across the back line or, giving away stupid free kicks in dangerous areas. It's fair to say that our defence, hasn't been tested really but has still looked decidedly shaky on occasion when it has, marking for Panama's goal was non existent.

At times, Pickford has looked like Stan Butler, he's trying to play the 'sweeper keeper' role but he's simply not good enough to pull it off either positionally or technically with the ball at his feet.

We have to wise up as well, most of our likely opponents have no problem at all with cheating and I think it's become abundantly clear, that we can't trust te application of VAR to produce the correct decision.

[the_anticlough]

I have a sneaky feeling that Columbia wont go through, Senegal are a decent outfit and they know a point will send them through, If Japan also get a point from a dreadful Polish outfit then thats Columbia on the plane home... its going to be very interesting indeed, Senegal and Japan going through would be very good news for you guys as I can see you beating either with the minimum of fuss.

Yes, Columbia v Senegal will be a cracker. Not easy to call, but I think Columbia get the win.

[Wedgie_pie]

Don't give a damn who we place to be honest, just glad we made it to the knock out rounds....Mrs W being Italian I'm taking great joy in letting her and the Italian side of the family know how I'm feeling at the moment....(Mind, I've been relegated to the spare room to sleep until the world cup is over )

[the_anticlough]

Don't give a damn who we place to be honest, just glad we made it to the knock out rounds....Mrs W being Italian I'm taking great joy in letting her and the Italian side of the family know how I'm feeling at the moment....(Mind, I've been relegated to the spare room to sleep until the world cup is over )

Don't let her drive a wedge between you

[Wedgie_pie]

Don't let her drive a wedge between you

Not heard that one before....

[ReadWarbler]

I don't get this easier route nonsense. All teams in the next stages are there on merit, there are no easy teams.

People would rather play Mexico than Germany ? But Mexico have already beaten Germany so would it be any easier?
Croatia stuffed Argentina. Portugal or Spain which is easier. Brazil haven't been exactly great.

Who ever we face will be up for it and it will be a tough match. Don't forget that easy game we had against Iceland.

Just get behind England and let's see how far we can go

[Bohinen]

I have a sneaky feeling that Columbia wont go through, Senegal are a decent outfit and they know a point will send them through, If Japan also get a point from a dreadful Polish outfit then thats Columbia on the plane home... its going to be very interesting indeed, Senegal and Japan going through would be very good news for you guys as I can see you beating either with the minimum of fuss.

I thought Senegal looked decent too, but I enjoyed watching Columbia more than any team in this World Cup. Good football doesn't guarantee success but I think they'll get through with a draw, maybe with Poland beating Japan. That would put Columbia second, and I don't fancy our chances against them. Mind you, Senegal are no pushovers. Japan would be the easiest of the three. England should aim to win their group and worry about that later.

[tarquinbeech]

I don't get this easier route nonsense. All teams in the next stages are there on merit, there are no easy teams.

People would rather play Mexico than Germany ? But Mexico have already beaten Germany so would it be any easier?
Croatia stuffed Argentina. Portugal or Spain which is easier. Brazil haven't been exactly great.

Who ever we face will be up for it and it will be a tough match. Don't forget that easy game we had against Iceland.

Just get behind England and let's see how far we can go

The qualifying rounds are more strategy than out-n-out footie....trying to avoid injuries, rotating a few players and trying to avoid bookings....the next round is knock-out football and it's a Cup Final for everybody...one of the dangers of playing someone like Japan instead of say Spain or Germany, is the tendency for players to mentally assume that they have an "easier" game...IMO, it doesn't work like that....a 100% "up-for-it" Japan is just as dangermouse as an 80% Spain, Germany or Brazil who are probably still trying to save a few tricks for the final.

Personally, I think that's what happened in the Mexico-Germany game where Mexico came out all-guns-blazing and Germany tried to pace the game....by the time Germany got serious mid-way through the 2nd half, it was too late and Mexico clung on.

I personally don't care who we get in the next round, as long as we don't prove to be a damp squib