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How about VermaelenHow is Hazard in that Belgian squad? He's been absolute garbage all year and is clearly fat and unfit.
Picked on his reputation totally.
Aside from Trossard and Teielemans they don't really have that many promising young guns coming up right now. Could be a few rough years for them once the current crop start retiring.Not many younger players in that Belgium squad, wonder if they might struggle this year.
Is he still knocking about? That's a name from the past, i'd forgotten he was still playing.How about Vermaelen
Yeah and better hope lukaku doesn't get injured.Aside from Trossard and Teielemans they don't really have that many promising young guns coming up right now. Could be a few rough years for them once the current crop start retiring.
England is top 3 favourites, don't care what anyone says. France, England and Portugal.If England didn't have Southgate as manager and had someone who would allow our attacking players to flourish then we could have made some serious noise in this tournament. Kane is one of the best in the business, as well all know excluding sammyspurs, and he can be complimented by Foden, Sancho, Grealish, Rashford, Sterling, Saka and Mount. That's some serious attacking talent, whoever you choose.
If we don't beat a slow and ageing Croatia side in the opening game then it will be extremely dissapointing. The World Cup was a few years ago and I believe we allowed the game to slip more than they won it in the end. Not to mentioned we have a much more balanced and talented squad now than 3 years ago.
England is top 3 favourites, don't care what anyone says. France, England and Portugal.
Then; Spain, Belgium and Germany.
But.. we aren't ageing side. We have only 5 players on the list of 26 who are above 30. Still, most of our players are in the best age, 24-30.
Livakovic - Vrsaljko, Lovren, Caleta-Car, Barisic - Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Vlasic - Perisic, Petkovic.
That's out lineup for England if all are healthy.
With our form in last 3 years, I would be happy with getting out of the group stage.Maybe not an aging side, but what I mean is your better players are now past their very best. Perisic, Rakatic and of course Modric are all the over side of 30. That's not to say they can't and still won't perform. I thought Modric was by far Real Madrid's best player in both games against Chelsea overall. I just don't see you being as good as you were a few years back.
You have a very good midfield. I don't see a lot to be petrified of in attack, although with our defense it might not take a lot! But that back line we can certainly get at. If Lovren has one of his worse days we could have a field day against him. Knowing him he's likely to be outstanding and like a wall in our game though, and a liability for the rest of your games!
With our form in last 3 years, I would be happy with getting out of the group stage.
But, most of the time we perform on the biggest stage, so probably 1/4 finals would be good result.
Yeah, just like yours, defenders are the biggest liabilty.
Phillips in the team over Foden seems like the kind of decision likely to age extremely badly.My 11, if everyone is fit:
Pickford, Walker, Maguire, Stones, Shaw, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Mount, Foden, Sancho, Kane.
Went for Ward-Prowse for his set -piece ability alone. With the likes of Sancho, Grealish, Foden and Sterling we should get loads of free-kicks in dangerous areas. I was tempted to opt for Bellingham but he's still 17 at the end of the day and I can imagine him being somewhat knackered after playing regularly for Dortmund this season. Nothing in it between Shaw and Chilwell but went for the former just because he doesn't play for Chelsea, and Chilwell's face annoys me. Walker worries me a bit with his lapses of concentration but 1vs1 he's unbeatable. I also can't help but to like Reece James as a player and would happily see him start though.
I like my 11. So much technical ability, skill and flair up front. Legs and energy in abundance in midfield. Not without quality too. Sheer pace to bring off the bench later on in games against tiring sides when required in Rashford and Sterling, and also Grealish when Foden tires, who is almost like for like.
Southgate's likely 11:
Pickford, Walker, Maguire, Stones, Chilwell, Rice, Phillips, Mount, Rashford, Sterling, Kane.
Still a good team but doesn't have anywhere near the same excitement or technical ability as mine. Might be a little more safe and defensively sound, but unless we're playing one of the other few favourites we should concentrate more on what we can do and less of what others are doing.
Phillips in the team over Foden seems like the kind of decision likely to age extremely badly.