Qatar Hero - The World Cup 2022 thread

[Zip]

To continue the TV theme I well remember one of the darkest days for English football on a dark autumnal evening in 1973 when they only drew at home to Poland and therefore failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup.

The commentator was Hugh Johns.
The game was live on ITV.

[Loafer]

that was one of the best headers I have ever seen

[Sutekh]

To continue the TV theme I well remember one of the darkest days for English football on a dark autumnal evening in 1973 when they only drew at home to Poland and therefore failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup.

The commentator was Hugh Johns.
The game was live on ITV.

Oh dear though you could argue the reason for the failure to qualify for the 74 tournament was just as much down to the equally poor 1-1 at Wembley v Wales (what’s the betting that was also on ITV).

[bcubed]

To continue the TV theme I well remember one of the darkest days for English football on a dark autumnal evening in 1973 when they only drew at home to Poland and therefore failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup.

The commentator was Hugh Johns.
The game was live on ITV.

A dark day indeed
And they had a clown in goal!
Norman Hunter just take him out ffs

But now we know it's all down to ITV

[Mr Angry]

What a turgid display by England last night; fair shout to the USA - they looked up for it from the off, were more inventive than us and had it finished 1-0 to the Americans no England supporter could have complained. The US midfield were busy with lots of movement and always in support of each other - everything our midfield wasn't, where Mount, Bellingham and Rice always appeared isolated and a yard off the pace.

As for the Stamesque tactic of Stones to Maguire to Stones to Maguire ad nauseum, anyone else waiting for one of them to screw up and gift the Americans a goal??



England looked leggy and complacent; Zip used the word "entitled" earlier in the thread and that applies as much to the players as it does to us fans.

Simply not good enough from England, but trying to take any positives out of the performance, that should give them the kick up the arse to not take anything for granted at this level.

It also makes that England v Wales game even more important than it was at 7pm last night.....

[South Coast Royal]

England didn’t play badly. This game was simply the result of global factors, not least the effects of the pandemic and Putin's illegal war in Ukraine.

Southgate interview was pathetic, talking about being delighted with the build-up from the back.
What build-up?

Very impressed with Fulham's Robinson who attracted a lot of interest from an Italian club when at Wigan but IIRC had a heart problem and failed the medical.
He had Saka in his pocket and still had time to scoot past Trippier a couple of times-the same Trippier who is supposedly in the side because he is a better defender than Alexander-Arnold-Really?

I noticed Kane playing once at right-back and once at left-back which surely is not his game.

As for Mount, my Chelsea supporting son tells me that he has been poor all season so obviously loyal (to the point of nonsense) Southgate picks him.
Obviously last night doesn't matter much and we just have to remind ourselves that watching England is something that we feel we have to do as football fans and now and again we will be entertained-last night was not one of those times.

Lastly, all that going on about having never beaten USA in world Cups before the game-FFS we had only ever played them twice in the past 72 years .

[Royal Rother]

It rarely works out this way but you’d have the think USA will be a force in the coming years if they can keep their young team progressing (and, all importantly, find a striker).

[Zip]

To continue the TV theme I well remember one of the darkest days for English football on a dark autumnal evening in 1973 when they only drew at home to Poland and therefore failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup.

The commentator was Hugh Johns.
The game was live on ITV.

A dark day indeed
And they had a clown in goal!
Norman Hunter just take him out ffs

But now we know it's all down to ITV

Nearly 50 years ago and I remember it clearly. Brian Clough and the clown comments etc. Tomaszewski was a bit of an oddball and he does hold some pretty backward views.

[Zip]

To continue the TV theme I well remember one of the darkest days for English football on a dark autumnal evening in 1973 when they only drew at home to Poland and therefore failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup.

The commentator was Hugh Johns.
The game was live on ITV.

Oh dear though you could argue the reason for the failure to qualify for the 74 tournament was just as much down to the equally poor 1-1 at Wembley v Wales (what’s the betting that was also on ITV).

Maybe wrong here but I don't think England v Wales was live on TV. Perhaps it was but I just can't recall it. Just for balance Poland's 2 -0 home win v England earlier in the group was on the Beeb with David Coleman commentating.

[bcubed]

I like this line from Liew

One point gained or two hours lost?!

https://amp.theguardian.com/football/20 ... food-chain

[Franchise FC]

England didn’t play badly. This game was simply the result of global factors, not least the effects of the pandemic and Putin's illegal war in Ukraine.

Thank you , Jeremy Hunt

[Sutekh]

I like this line from Liew

One point gained or two hours lost?!

https://amp.theguardian.com/football/20 ... food-chain

Quite agree, two hours lost on an utterly pointless evening of Southgate safetyball. Dull negative twonking about more concerned with not conceding than taking a game to a side who play in a region of the world where Mexico and Canada are the hardest games they get to play. Really wasn't expecting to rack up goals but was stupidly expecting a lively performance that'd would yield more than 2 pathetic attempts on target and the after feeling that the US were just so much better.

Based on that Brazil, France, Netherlands even Ecuador will have no problems beating the supposed cream of English talent again, yet we know that England can be so much better when they play to their strengths of the attacking side of their game. Just wish that there was a preferably English manager somewhere that would consistently play to those attacking strengths and "be brave" when it's called for rather than runaway into a defensive shell every time there's a slightly difficult looking game or if England manage to get ahead in a game.

[Ascotexgunner]

Cmon Poland.....Brilliant fron Sir Chesney.
Great double save. One or two decisions seem to be going Saudis way. Some strange refereeing on occasions.
If Lewansowski had carried on and scored they would have had to look at VAR and seen it was a clean tackle. He should have played on.

[bcubed]

I like this line from Liew

One point gained or two hours lost?!

https://amp.theguardian.com/football/20 ... food-chain

Quite agree, two hours lost on an utterly pointless evening of Southgate safetyball. Dull negative twonking about more concerned with not conceding than taking a game to a side who play in a region of the world where Mexico and Canada are the hardest games they get to play. Really wasn't expecting to rack up goals but was stupidly expecting a lively performance that'd would yield more than 2 pathetic attempts on target and the after feeling that the US were just so much better.

Based on that Brazil, France, Netherlands even Ecuador will have no problems beating the supposed cream of English talent again, yet we know that England can be so much better when they play to their strengths of the attacking side of their game. Just wish that there was a preferably English manager somewhere that would consistently play to those attacking strengths and "be brave" when it's called for rather than runaway into a defensive shell every time there's a slightly difficult looking game or if England manage to get ahead in a game.

Yep

And I don’t think this is anyway an entitled view to hold.
Look at our world ranking
Look where our top players are playing. The best judges of football think these are good players
Foden, ironically, being the best example.
And yet we turn out a performance like that against the US.
It’s not unreasonable to expect better, is it?

[Dirk Gently]

It's a reaction to losing those two goals to Iran - that was Southgate's focus in post-match interviews after that win, so you can be sure that was the focus of the training session inbetween the two games, and once you focus more on not conceding than on scoring the whole emphasis changes and any freedom up front goes out of the window.

[South Coast Royal]

When you hear current players or read their post-match comments it is clear that they all have this positive mindset that so many think is necessary in sport.
You hear it time and again not just from footballers but from cricketers and rugby players as well when they dwell on the positives and make no negative comments.

Perhaps that is just the way in the modern Western world and when they do lose a game they look shell-shocked and just can't believe it has happened.
BTW Rice yesterday was quoted as saying that we played well and restricted USA to one that hit the bar and a few corners and Maguire said that it was a good performance and just needed our forwards to take advantage of their chances-er, what chances?

The draw has been kind to us in recent times for both the Euros and World Cups so qualifying has not been a problem nor will it be this time, it is just beating some of the better sides at later stages that is difficult and I expect much of the same again when it comes to the crunch when once again, with their positive thinking they will just think they are unlucky when they lose and everything will be fine next time.

[Royal Rother]

It's a reaction to losing those two goals to Iran - that was Southgate's focus in post-match interviews after that win, so you can be sure that was the focus of the training session inbetween the two games, and once you focus more on not conceding than on scoring the whole emphasis changes and any freedom up front goes out of the window.

Good point, well made.

Commentators said that Southgate was very grumpy post match after conceding 2.

He does my head in. As always focusing on the wrong things.

[Sutekh]

When you hear current players or read their post-match comments it is clear that they all have this positive mindset that so many think is necessary in sport.
You hear it time and again not just from footballers but from cricketers and rugby players as well when they dwell on the positives and make no negative comments.

Perhaps that is just the way in the modern Western world and when they do lose a game they look shell-shocked and just can't believe it has happened.
BTW Rice yesterday was quoted as saying that we played well and restricted USA to one that hit the bar and a few corners and Maguire said that it was a good performance and just needed our forwards to take advantage of their chances-er, what chances?

The draw has been kind to us in recent times for both the Euros and World Cups so qualifying has not been a problem nor will it be this time, it is just beating some of the better sides at later stages that is difficult and I expect much of the same again when it comes to the crunch when once again, with their positive thinking they will just think they are unlucky when they lose and everything will be fine next time.

And then you look at the talent in French squad and wonder just what the **** are they doing over here that, while improved on what it was, still doesn’t quite produce the very best in the game.

But then France play with such power and pace and know what they’re good at and so don’t fanny about worrying they might concede a goal or two now and again or what the opposition might do - though it does help having defensive players (Hernandez x 2, Konate etc) who are actually good at defending (and no Gareth Southgate).

[Sutekh]

It's a reaction to losing those two goals to Iran - that was Southgate's focus in post-match interviews after that win, so you can be sure that was the focus of the training session inbetween the two games, and once you focus more on not conceding than on scoring the whole emphasis changes and any freedom up front goes out of the window.

Good point, well made.

Commentators said that Southgate was very grumpy post match after conceding 2.

He does my head in. As always focusing on the wrong things.

Really?! He does realise the object of the game is simply to score more than whoever it is you’re playing and not to keep clean sheets doesn’t he?

[LUX]

Pleased for France, ( hey, I have a French passport ). Also guaranteed to piss jealous little englanders off. Srsly.

France without Benzema ( ballon d’or) and Pogba ( ok, he’s been poor recently, but on form a world beater).