Match The ENGLAND thread

[Deuterz]

Think France will walk this tournament.

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Doubt it. A team very rarely walks a tournament like this and all it takes is a slip up. Their team now is very talented but not nearly as good as the World Cup winning one.

It’s them and Spain as favourites I think, with any of Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, England etc having more or less similar levels of squad.

 

[Belgrano]

The England lineup (with no injuries) will be Pickford, James, Guehi, Konsa, Hall, Anderson, Rice, Bellingham, Saka, Kane, Gordon. You might see a Palmer or Rogers for Bellingham depending on fitness/form or Rashford for Gordon/Livramento for Hall but that’s it.

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This looks very likely. I'd prefer more experience at the back (Stones or even Maguire) partnering Guehi.

But it is a balanced 11. Kane is our best player, and this gives him the wide runners to make the most of his passing/playmaking.

 

[Deuterz]

This looks very likely. I'd prefer more experience at the back (Stones or even Maguire) partnering Guehi.

But it is a balanced 11. Kane is our best player, and this gives him the wide runners to make the most of his passing/playmaking.

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I’d want Stones personally but I am doubtful he will be fit and ready for the World Cup. I don’t think we start Maguire but it’s a tough one.

I think we have the most balanced team tactically we’ve had in a long while with the best coach. But we also don’t have as many in form players, especially in terms of really dazzling attacking power.

 

[Perryman]

You could try arguing the facts.

Who of Trafford, Livramento, Spence, Tomori, Maguire, Henderson, Garner, Foden, Rashford, Madueke & Solanke do you think will start at the World Cup?

I can tell you now at absolute best Livramento might. Most of those aren’t even making the squad!

It’s a hodge podge of players with a whole bunch of subs. Obviously it’s disjointed. Obviously it’s lacking the entire actual England team spine.

The England lineup (with no injuries) will be Pickford, James, Guehi, Konsa, Hall, Anderson, Rice, Bellingham, Saka, Kane, Gordon. You might see a Palmer or Rogers for Bellingham depending on fitness/form or Rashford for Gordon/Livramento for Hall but that’s it.

Now that team probably isn’t winning a World Cup - I can agree on this. But it is a lot better than the shambles that was put out against Uruguay and has combinations who have actually played together..

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When you putout a team like that it is never going to perform. It never happens. No understanding., never played together. Spence might make it into the squad if James is out because of injury, he doesn’t want Trent.
Livramento and DJed might be it for right back . Imagine DJed being a pain if he goes and hardly plays.

 

[Deuterz]

When you putout a team like that it is never going to perform. It never happens. No understanding., never played together. Spence might make it into the squad if James is out because of injury, he doesn’t want Trent.
Livramento and DJed might be it for right back . Imagine DJed being a pain if he goes and hardly plays.

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Yeah I didn’t watch for this reason. I have no interest in watching a bunch of reserve England players who haven’t played together. It’s just going to be clunky, average football and frustrating.

I don’t think Djed will go - reports have James coming back sooner than expected. He will wrap himself up in cotton wool before the tournament, especially as Chelsea’s season has gone up in smoke.

 

[Belgrano]

I’d want Stones personally but I am doubtful he will be fit and ready for the World Cup. I don’t think we start Maguire but it’s a tough one.

I think we have the most balanced team tactically we’ve had in a long while with the best coach. But we also don’t have as many in form players, especially in terms of really dazzling attacking power.

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It think it's all about maximising Kane. And Kane is bang in form.

He doesn't need Bellingham or Palmer in form, as the creativity is coming from Kane. Rogers is the better tactical fit as 10 anyway, as he won't clog up the space for Kane like the others. He has the pace/power to run off Kane when he drops. And if Saka fails, Madueke is also a good fit.

Tuchel has repeatedly downplayed Bellingham and Palmer and it makes sense if his idea is maximise Kane.

 

[Tyyy]

You could try arguing the facts.

Who of Trafford, Livramento, Spence, Tomori, Maguire, Henderson, Garner, Foden, Rashford, Madueke & Solanke do you think will start at the World Cup?

I can tell you now at absolute best Livramento might. Most of those aren’t even making the squad!

It’s a hodge podge of players with a whole bunch of subs. Obviously it’s disjointed. Obviously it’s lacking the entire actual England team spine.

The England lineup (with no injuries) will be Pickford, James, Guehi, Konsa, Hall, Anderson, Rice, Bellingham, Saka, Kane, Gordon. You might see a Palmer or Rogers for Bellingham depending on fitness/form or Rashford for Gordon/Livramento for Hall but that’s it.

Now that team probably isn’t winning a World Cup - I can agree on this. But it is a lot better than the shambles that was put out against Uruguay and has combinations who have actually played together..

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As long as he’s fit I’d still have Stones in there. Even when injured for City he’s always been available for England every summer, and is still our best CB. I’d probably go for Konsa over Guehi myself as for me he’s a bit more well rounded. But if it’s Konsa/Guehi I’m fine with that. Just as long as Dan Burn is nowhere near the team.

 

[Deuterz]

As long as he’s fit I’d still have Stones in there. Even when injured for City he’s always been available for England every summer, and is still our best CB. I’d probably go for Konsa over Guehi myself as for me he’s a bit more well rounded. But if it’s Konsa/Guehi I’m fine with that. Just as long as Dan Burn is nowhere near the team.

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Guehi is one of the first names on the team sheet imo.

 

[CroSpurs]

He’d walk in to Croatia’s team for sure.

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Of course.
That’s not what you were saying in recent years though.

 

[Deuterz]

Of course.
That’s not what you were saying in recent years though.

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What a weird point.

I’m a huge Kane fan. He was dreadful at the last euros and he needed dropping for it. If it was Ronaldo himself playing and he’s clearly all over the place then he should not start.

Kane is obviously levels ahead of Watkins and always has been. But at the Euros he offered nothing and was being substituted early a lot for it.

You can rate Kane very highly while accepting reality.

 

[CroSpurs]

What a weird point.

I’m a huge Kane fan. He was dreadful at the last euros and he needed dropping for it. If it was Ronaldo himself playing and he’s clearly all over the place then he should not start.

Kane is obviously levels ahead of Watkins and always has been. But at the Euros he offered nothing and was being substituted early a lot for it.

You can rate Kane very highly while accepting reality.

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You don’t replace your best player at tournaments. Watkins scored one important goal for England and that’s it.
You eere shitting on Kane for years though.

 

[Tyyy]

What a weird point.

I’m a huge Kane fan. He was dreadful at the last euros and he needed dropping for it. If it was Ronaldo himself playing and he’s clearly all over the place then he should not start.

Kane is obviously levels ahead of Watkins and always has been. But at the Euros he offered nothing and was being substituted early a lot for it.

You can rate Kane very highly while accepting reality.

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Because Southgate never got anything like the best out of him, same as all our other best players. Also Kane went into the last Euros with a back injury he rushed back from. He should have only played a bit part role in what should have been a relatively easy group to qualify from.

 

[Deuterz]

You don’t replace your best player at tournaments. Watkins scored one important goal for England and that’s it.
You eere shitting on Kane for years though.

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You’re chatting absolute shit. I was critical of Kane in a tournament he was poor in. You absolutely do replace your best players if they’re clearly suffering with fatigue - Kane was a shadow at the Euros!

I have sung Kane’s praises and defended him on here to the hilt. He has also played very badly for England at times and rational people can criticise that.

Watkins isn’t 1/10th the player Kane is .. you’ll never see me claim otherwise. But Kane wasn’t 1/10 the player he can be at that Euros.

 

[Deuterz]

Because Southgate never got anything like the best out of him, same as all our other best players. Also Kane went into the last Euros with a back injury he rushed back from. He should have only played a bit part role in what should have been a relatively easy group to qualify from.

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Yeah he ran on empty that tournament, hence why I wanted to see Watkins in the team later on. A very clearly shattered Kane who couldn’t run wasn’t of use to anyone.

 

[Tyyy]

For me, Spain and France are the obvious favourites. I know a lot of people say Argentina, and they are the current World champions, but I can't help but look at their team and be far from wowed. Fernandez isn't anything to write home about. Mac Allister has genuinely been dog shit for Liverpool this season. Julian Alvarez has scored a grand total of 16 goals this season. I know they have a great team spirit but I'd still only put them in the same bracket as England, Portugal and Brazil.

I genuinely don't give Germany much of a chance. You're not winning anything with Havertz and Woltemade as your number 9 options. Also Musiala will go into the World Cup off the back of a nasty injury and might not even have got his place back in Bayern's starting 11 by the summer. I think they'll have a much better chance at the Euros in a couple of years.

 

[Deuterz]

This looks very likely. I'd prefer more experience at the back (Stones or even Maguire) partnering Guehi.

But it is a balanced 11. Kane is our best player, and this gives him the wide runners to make the most of his passing/playmaking.

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^ a correction to this is I think O’Reilly will end up being the starting left back. He’s been extremely in form for Man City this season so has probably nudged in front at LB.

 

[todd1882]

James is world class

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Availability is the best quality...popping up every 5th game to look good in your top team isn't WC.

Anderson (probably off to city in the summer Rice (pl player of the year minimum inbound) and one of Bellingham, foden or Palmer. All of which walk in to your NT without even having to think about it.

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You said proper 6, 8, and 10...only Anderson is close to proper and I think you have him as a 6 here...not proper FFS. And Foden is shit and not a 10! Bellers is Dele MKII and overrated. And Palmer has 1 promising season, 1 so-so season that didn't properly back up his previous season, and this present season which is nothing write home about.

Tell me more about your proper MF...

Nevermind, Barney is already on it...

Tuchel’s England? Maybe they are just not as good as we would like them to be | Barney Ronay

The Three Lions have not beaten a good side under their coach and no A-list players have emerged since the last World Cup

www.theguardian.com

 

[Deuterz]

Availability is the best quality...popping up every 5th game to look good in your top team isn't WC.

You said proper 6, 8, and 10...only Anderson is close to proper and I think you have him as a 6 here...not proper FFS. And Foden is shit and not a 10! Bellers is Dele MKII and overrated. And Palmer has 1 promising season, 1 so-so season that didn't properly back up his previous season, and this present season which is nothing write home about.

Tell me more about your proper MF...

Nevermind, Barney is already on it...

Tuchel’s England? Maybe they are just not as good as we would like them to be | Barney Ronay

The Three Lions have not beaten a good side under their coach and no A-list players have emerged since the last World Cup

www.theguardian.com

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Reece James has played 1897 minutes in the league. He is available. He’s had his first injury in well over a year and is meant to be back with plenty of time.

Anderson is a proper 6, Rice is the best 8 in the world, and whilst Bellingham or Foden aren’t in form, they’re both proper 10s and excellent players.


Barney hates England. He is obnoxious.

 

[Michaelspurs]

At long last the truth has come out about why White thought he was too good for Southgate’s England squad. He is a cunt

 

[Richard Splash]

Think we will make the semis comfortably - but Spain will probably win overall.

Think we might win Euro 28 though as it’s on home soil and we’ve been very close the last 2 times - surely get over the line at some point.

My dark horses for those are the Dutch, got a feeling they could go far