Czech Republic v England Match Preview

[outwoodclaret]

After our stirring displays against Croatia and Scotland I can hardly dare contain myself thinking about Gareth’s line-up for this Group table topping clash. We already have 4 points so however badly we f*ck up we are guaranteed to finish in at least 3rd place. A point will see us comfortably finish second so I predict our team will kneel on kick off as follows

GK: Pickford. He was indeed England’s MoM v Scotland.
RB: Walker. He went missing v Croatia and did not return for the Scotland game so Gareth must have been keeping him back for this clash.
CB: Stones & Mings. We have yet to concede a goal in this tournament so they will keep their places until Maguire returns.
LB: Chilwell. It must be his turn surely.
DMF: Phillips & Rice. While spoil a good thing.
MF: Mount, Foden.
F: Sterling, Kane.

This is surely not the time to start experimenting with the team. Big decisions need to be made here and not reckless gambles. Nevertheless I will be spinning a coin to see whether I will watch this on BBC or ITV. I may even change channels at half-time if I am not happy with the game so far.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I'm going with:

Pickford, Trippier, Mings, Stones, Chilwell,
Grealish, Rice, Mount,
Sterling, Kane & Foden.

[outwoodclaret]

I'm going with:

Pickford, Trippier, Mings, Stones, Chilwell,
Grealish, Rice, Mount,
Sterling, Kane & Foden.

If anyone of that defensive duo gets the chop then Rice has surely had his chips unless he has found some way of currying favour with the jacket potato or GS as he is otherwise known. That apart BT we seem to agree on most things with the team. I really don’t expect Kieran who is our best right back to actually get selected at right back. That would be ludicrous surely.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

That would be ludicrous outwood.

[sinkov]

When Gareth took over initially there were quite a few in the squad who seemed un-droppable, Joe Hart was a fine example, he seemed to think he was England's No1 keeper by god given right. Gareth put a stop to that, cleared out the deadwood and brought in new, younger faces. Sadly he seems to have fallen into the same trap he once extricated us from, and the un-droppables are back. Rice has to play in front of the back four, Sterling and Kane have to play up front, he has to use two holding midfielders, first change up front has to see Rashford come on. He's gone stale, he's set in his ways, unless the 2018 Gareth re-surfaces, we're fecked.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

When Gareth took over initially there were quite a few in the squad who seemed un-droppable, Joe Hart was a fine example, he seemed to think he was England's No1 keeper by god given right. Gareth put a stop to that, cleared out the deadwood and brought in new, younger faces. Sadly he seems to have fallen into the same trap he once extricated us from, and the un-droppables are back. Rice has to play in front of the back four, Sterling and Kane have to play up front, he has to use two holding midfielders, first change up front has to see Rashford come on. He's gone stale, he's set in his ways, unless the 2018 Gareth re-surfaces, we're fecked.

Face it sinkov, we are f*cked.

[sinkov]

Face it sinkov, we are f*cked.

Not necessarily BT, we have better players now than three years ago, and we got to the semis then. The big problem is that Gareth seems to have lost the plot, if he gets his act together and starts playing a team to win games, it could be last four again. But you're probably right, he is what he is now, he's not going to change, so we are fecked.

[Norder]

.

Engles are through already , as is Zech....so just about position (yawn) - so if I decide to watch a game, it'd be Scot v Roati.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Just bought my Croatian shirt from Sports Direct.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I'm going with:

Pickford, Trippier, Mings, Stones, Chilwell,
Grealish, Rice, Mount,
Sterling, Kane & Foden.

Chilwell and Mount are now in Covid isolation after hugging their Chelsea teammate Billy Gilmour after the Scotland match, who himself will miss the Croatia game after testing positive.

How long will this madness continue?