World Cup.. Russia 2018.

[Saxo1man41]

I like watching football, and I do have an interest. But I just don't get excited about watching Spurs players etc.
Not to mention the fact they will ultimately let us down. Spurs are failures, and the basis of this squad are failures.
Harry Kane isn't world class, neither is Deli Alli or Sterling etc etc.
I don't see us going too far, as we aren't that good. We may even struggle to get out of the group.
Southgate is so limited as a coach. Once we come up against anyone half decent, they will easily suss out what our formation is, and match it. We will have no plan B and struggle to break teams down. There are several who are way off being good enough, Loftus Cheek etc etc
Stones has a huge mistake in him. Walker is a liability defending. Vardy is a non league player with pace, and no footballing brain. And the Spurs players will not be good enough when things get tough. Which is what Spurs are experts at. There are no winners in this crop of players. And the manager is simply way off being tactically good enough. I see the same as always.

Wales got to the semis of euro 2016 minus any 'winners'.. England emulate that and we can be pretty pleased surely..?

[AucklandRover]

Wales got to the semis of euro 2016 minus any 'winners'.. England emulate that and we can be pretty pleased surely..?

I'm really looking forward to the Belgium game, Saxo.
I'm glad we're playing them last, because of our tendency to start tournaments slowly.
It would be nice to see them come out fired up, and take a game by the scruff of the neck.
As Champs was implying, though, I'm not sure we've got a real terrier-type leader in midfield.

[Saxo1man41]

I'm really looking forward to the Belgium game, Saxo.
I'm glad we're playing them last, because of our tendency to start tournaments slowly.
It would be nice to see them come out fired up, and take a game by the scruff of the neck.
As Champs was implying, though, I'm not sure we've got a real terrier-type leader in midfield.

The way I see it, we have NO real 'names', but opportunity knocks. This is an opportunity to make a name for themselves, like Paul Gascoigne at Italia 90.

[Acido]

I'm really looking forward to the Belgium game, Saxo. I'm glad we're playing them last, because of our tendency to start tournaments slowly. It would be nice to see them come out fired up, and take a game by the scruff of the neck. As Champs was implying, though, I'm not sure we've got a real terrier-type leader in midfield.

And remember Aucks it will be almost 28 years ago to the day since we last played Belgium in the World cup.
Remember in Italia '90, Tuesday 26th June, David Platt's last minute volley against them at the end of extra time, that was almost our first ever penalty shoot out by the way!!. Ohh, and it WAS my 19th birthday as well. Thats why that match will always go down as my favourite all time England international memory.

Surely we will get through this group, but there is pressure on us because of the expectation to do better this time around.

[Saxo1man41]

And remember Aucks it will be almost 28 years ago to the day since we last played Belgium in the World cup.
Remember in Italia '90, Tuesday 26th June, David Platt's last minute volley against them at the end of extra time, that was almost our first ever penalty shoot out by the way!!. Ohh, and it WAS my 19th birthday as well. Thats why that match will always go down as my favourite all time England international memory.

Surely we will get through this group, but there is pressure on us because of the expectation to do better this time around.

Theres a fair bit of arrogance about a few of these players. I don't think characters like that feel pressure too greatly. The only question then is, do they have the ability?

[Acido]

Theres a fair bit of arrogance about a few of these players. I don't think characters like that feel pressure too greatly. The only question then is, do they have the ability?

Thats a good question Sax, and the jury is still out of course as to whether they are good enough and what they are capable of.
I don't mind the touch of arrogance actually, because we should be setting ourselves targets, otherwise whats the point in even wanting to qualify.

[AucklandRover]

Thats a good question Sax, and the jury is still out of course as to whether they are good enough and what they are capable of.
I don't mind the touch of arrogance actually, because we should be setting ourselves targets, otherwise whats the point in even wanting to qualify.

I don't think arrogance is the same as confidence myself. And I don't think either works alone, anyway. You need to have a work-ethic and team spirit too.

[Acido]

I don't think arrogance is the same as confidence myself. And I don't think either works alone, anyway. You need to have a work-ethic and team spirit too.

I was also talking about our own ideas as fans Aucks mate, whether we as England fans should be arrogant as well.
Arrogance tends to go along with confidence doesn't it as you've suggested, and we can and do often mix the two together as fans.

[champs95]

Wales got to the semis of euro 2016 minus any 'winners'.. England emulate that and we can be pretty pleased surely..?

Correct ....and Gareth Bale. A champions league winner on numerous occasions. Apart from that winner, your correct.
England have absolutely no winners. And players with huge ego's. Like Alli and Sterling who you simply cant depend on. Wales didn't have any ego's and one match winner, who turns up in big games.
England don't have that mentality. No team spirit, just lots of hugely over-paid players who specialise in failure.
We could not be far removed from wales. They have a world class player. Greece is a far better example, who had no quality players, but a very good team unit (who also won the Euro's unfaniced) or Denmark (who also won it unfaniced) .....the list is pretty long. Even South Korea once got to a WC quarter final. Its not even that big of acheivement. I wouldnt hold your breath expecting our hugely over-paid Spurs players to do something they have never managed before, being winners.

The trouble/difference over here in comparision to Greece, Denmark, wales etc .....you are paid £250k a week to not be any good. Finish 4th or 5th is considered an achievement. Once these young lads get into a tournament we will be exposed. As we will only have one style of play. Anyone half decent will soon figure us out. And out we will go with a whimper. And I struggle to get alongside Kyle Walker running around like a headless chicken with no footballing brain whatsoever. We are an international Spurs. We talk the talk, we don't walk the walk. Masters of failure.

[Saxo1man41]

Correct ....and Gareth Bale. A champions league winner on numerous occasions. Apart from that winner, your correct.
England have absolutely no winners. And players with huge ego's. Like Alli and Sterling who you simply cant depend on. Wales didn't have any ego's and one match winner, who turns up in big games.
England don't have that mentality. No team spirit, just lots of hugely over-paid players who specialise in failure.
We could not be far removed from wales. They have a world class player. Greece is a far better example, who had no quality players, but a very good team unit (who also won the Euro's unfaniced) or Denmark (who also won it unfaniced) .....the list is pretty long. Even South Korea once got to a WC quarter final. Its not even that big of acheivement. I wouldnt hold your breath expecting our hugely over-paid Spurs players to do something they have never managed before, being winners.

The trouble/difference over here in comparision to Greece, Denmark, wales etc .....you are paid £250k a week to not be any good. Finish 4th or 5th is considered an achievement. Once these young lads get into a tournament we will be exposed. As we will only have one style of play. Anyone half decent will soon figure us out. And out we will go with a whimper. And I struggle to get alongside Kyle Walker running around like a headless chicken with no footballing brain whatsoever. We are an international Spurs. We talk the talk, we don't walk the walk. Masters of failure.

Well I'm not talking about winning it, that's a massive ask. I'm just talking about giving a good account of themselves, ala wales, which I believe they could do.