Messages

Was really hoping Croatia would win but France were more clinical in front of goal even though Croatia dominated possession for the first hour.  Big dive by Griezmann for the free leading up to the first goal and with the pen, I don't think anyone could be 100% sure so probably shouldn't have given it.  Having said that France beat Argentina, Uruguay, Belgium and Croatia in the knockout phase so deserved winners of the tournament.  Mbappe is already a class act and is going to be some player in a couple of years.  Very good World Cup to watch, helped by the crackdown on the pullin' and draggin' in the box at corners etc.  FIFA really need to get to grips with diving and play acting next.

Well done SS.  Like many's the World Cup team I was solid in the group stages but had a disastrous knock out phase!  Thanks to Dinny too for setting it up.

[France has a much better development system. Plus I think they grant citizenship to promising African footballers]

For England to improve I feel they have to restrict the number of overseas players in any team in the premiership and championship. Be interesting to see how Brexit will affect players coming here, or do they get special treatment?

France and Crotia most of their players play abroad. Doesn't do them any harm

9/23 of the France squad play in France
2/23 of the Croatian squad play at home

England has the richest League in the world which is a problem for the national team. There is almost always a better player somewhere else
France has a much better development system. Plus I think they grant citizenship to promising African footballers.
Mbappe has the potential to become a galactico.

Of the French squad at the World Cup only two weren't born in France.

[They can build on it.]

I think England were more solid psychologically this time. They can build on it.
France are very impressive. It would be amazing if Croatia won. Such a small country.

Maybe so, but Brazil, Germany, Spain, Argentina etc won't all be as bad again in the same tournament. Nor will England get as handy a draw again.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Engerland. Let's hope we never have to worry about them ever getting close again.

I agree.  I don't think they'll get as good a chance for a long time.

England over achieved here and it reminds me of Ireland in Italia 90.  Most of us remember it for the craic, the excuse for a few drinks and a bit of a sing song, we got to the quarters.  Brilliant.  Some pundits mistook this a a sign we were one of the good teams now and it would always be like this.  I get the impression that some of the English pundits now think Eng are back in the big time.

I like what Southgate is trying to do with this Eng team and he comes across as a likeable, intelligent character.  But one of the problems for England is that it's in their DNA to value a player who puts in a good shift (e.g. Henderson) more than a fancy dan ball player, one who might take the ball past an opponent and make a killer pass.  There remains little creativity in this England side and in English players generally.

Thought Perisic was the pick of the players on the pitch

Sterling is completely useless

A lot of people wanted to believe Croatia were an excellent team.

They really f**king aren't. Shane McGowan has more teeth up front.

Yes, very poor from Croatia. Again England dominate without doing anything spectacular

Croats look flat and leggy.  Modric and Rakitic look like they'd rather be elsewhere

Pathetic goalkeeping

Yep

We'll see if Croatia have anything now

I don't get people saying they only score from set pieces. Set pieces are a huge part of the f**king game, massive. England have obviously done a tonne of work on them and it's paying off. Comparing it to Kane taking the corners at the euros, it's night and day.
I also think it's very hard to counteract that strength on the bounce. Teams take months or years to get the right structure defending corners. It's not like saying we'll double mark Modric or we'll push up on Mansuckic.

Fair play to England

'We'll'😂 England have as much chance of winning World Cup as Mayo have of winning Sam😎

Well there's only three teams who can win it and one of them is England.

I fancy England for this.  Croatia haven't impressed in the knockout stages, they're mentally (and defensively) a bit flaky.  They weren't able to beat pretty ordinary Danish or Russian teams even with extra time.  England aren't a great side and it's true they haven't really been tested yet, but they're confident and have a bit of momentum and it's obvious you don't have to have a great team to win this World Cup, you just need to be the best of a bad bunch.

I think Fermanagh have a chance here.

[England were crap in Italia 90]

don't worry they won't let us down... it'll end in England tears and the laughter of our children

Will it though QF is mission accomplished for them. Sweden are pretty average. England are a better team than Sweden so SF and maybe beyond in play. England were crap in Italia 90 too yet people remember it as some massive success.

I remember at the quarter final stage the press and pundits were saying they'd stuff Cameroon.  Took a dive from Lineker to keep them in it when Cameroon were 2-1 up with 7 mins to go.  But yes, echoes of 1990 here when a poor England team got to pens in the semi final.  Mind you, Arg got to the final!  For all the Irish exploits, quality wise it was very poor football.

Bump.  Round of 16 was not kind to me