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**Unregistered** · 07-09-2018, 11:08 AM

Spain is an example of never overdoing things. They kept possession alright but never took a shot on goal. keeping possession is key but you must go forward and try to score. Possession without a purpose is "worthless". Thanks Spain for the remainder. Brazil in the other hand showed that they still have the "jogo bonito" they were unlucky in their own goal against Belgium but with that said, LUCK! is also a huge part of the game.

**Unregistered** · 07-09-2018, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Spain is an example of never overdoing things. They kept possession alright but never took a shot on goal. keeping possession is key but you must go forward and try to score. Possession without a purpose is "worthless". Thanks Spain for the remainder. Brazil in the other hand showed that they still have the "jogo bonito" they were unlucky in their own goal against Belgium but with that said, LUCK! is also a huge part of the game.

I think Brazil was best team in the tournament. Shame they are out and all people now remember is neymar's antics. Because the team was very very solid especially with casemiro.

I dont think england has played anyone good. colombia was probably their toughest opponent and they were outplayed by colombia without james. it's a better england than in prior years but honestly they are through to semi-finals on luck.

**Unregistered** · 07-09-2018, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Spain is an example of never overdoing things. They kept possession alright but never took a shot on goal. keeping possession is key but you must go forward and try to score. Possession without a purpose is "worthless". Thanks Spain for the remainder. Brazil in the other hand showed that they still have the "jogo bonito" they were unlucky in their own goal against Belgium but with that said, LUCK! is also a huge part of the game.

spain needed a player that could take a pass and instead of passing back use his skill to pressure the offense and shift the defensive line, even if it means possibly losing possession. it could have been isco but he seemed for some reason tentative. it is what a young iniesta always did in the past. without this type of player, they could not get any attack going. also some of the younger players that are huge talents - asensio for example - play better in a more open system, not in the tiki taka that del bosque/ guardiola used in the past. they could use players like asensio to play more like belgium - sometimes possessing the ball, but sometimes pushing forward quickly on a counterattack. bottom line i think spain's problems all relate to coaching/ tactical. they had more than enough talent to be in semis.

**Unregistered** · 07-09-2018, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

While watching the England game against Colombia, there was an aspect of their game that it was clearly different from the past, the absence of the long ball. It was refreshing to see them play from the back and being patience on their build up. This new style of actually keeping the ball and not just give it away, I think has been the key to their success so far.
I welcome their new approach as it has been long overdue for them to start playing the way the rest of the world plays. This is a short tournament and you don't get many resting days in between matches. Keeping possession is key on not running yourself to the ground and out of the world cup. Well done England!

I thought the same thing. Nice to finally see England possessing more to build up the attack with more purpose and luck.

**Unregistered** · 07-10-2018, 09:30 AM

Not a favorite but they are solid. Defense has been above average, midfield solid but nothing spectacular and world class upfront with Kane. They need Sterling to deliver. He can't be missing chances like the one against Sweden. At this level you are only going to get one or two chances a game and you must deliver.."Batistuta"

**Unregistered** · 07-10-2018, 09:37 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Not a favorite but they are solid. Defense has been above average, midfield solid but nothing spectacular and world class upfront with Kane. They need Sterling to deliver. He can't be missing chances like the one against Sweden. At this level you are only going to get one or two chances a game and you must deliver.."Batistuta"

My thoughts exactly.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2018, 06:51 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Not a favorite but they are solid. Defense has been above average, midfield solid but nothing spectacular and world class upfront with Kane. They need Sterling to deliver. He can't be missing chances like the one against Sweden. At this level you are only going to get one or two chances a game and you must deliver.."Batistuta"

You aren't the only one who has been down on Sterling's performance when he gets his chances. He needs to be more than just a decoy and setup man and actually score when he gets the opportunity.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2018, 05:49 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

You aren't the only one who has been down on Sterling's performance when he gets his chances. He needs to be more than just a decoy and setup man and actually score when he gets the opportunity.

Hard to know if pulling him out was the best thing to do. Too bad they had to play with ten most of OT. England used the long ball too much with not enough possession and connections in the midfield.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2018, 06:04 PM

Well England got as far as they could. Great start and first half. Maybe unlucky as Kane had a great chance to score a second. In the second half they struggled and perhaps the coach failed to recognize that the continuing crosses eventually will hurt you. The nerves were evident after Croatia scored. England went to extra time as a boxer hoping for the bell. They seemed composed at the start of extra time but they were slow to react in the second goal. To be honest once they review the tape, they are going to be disappointed to give away those goals. At the end the better team won. England has improved and there was no more long ball. Now they need to find more offensive midfielders as to create chances. They only had one shot on goal and you can't win like that. They were masters of the set piece, but is not enough at this level. They need to find a natural left back, another forward to go with Kane and a play maker on midfield. They lost today but the future is brighter then before.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2018, 07:33 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Well England got as far as they could. Great start and first half. Maybe unlucky as Kane had a great chance to score a second. In the second half they struggled and perhaps the coach failed to recognize that the continuing crosses eventually will hurt you. The nerves were evident after Croatia scored. England went to extra time as a boxer hoping for the bell. They seemed composed at the start of extra time but they were slow to react in the second goal. To be honest once they review the tape, they are going to be disappointed to give away those goals. At the end the better team won. England has improved and there was no more long ball. Now they need to find more offensive midfielders as to create chances. They only had one shot on goal and you can't win like that. They were masters of the set piece, but is not enough at this level. They need to find a natural left back, another forward to go with Kane and a play maker on midfield. They lost today but the future is brighter then before.

Great analysis but they were relying on long balls more today than the last games. Kane was holding back too far and needed to play higher.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2018, 09:07 PM

True. Kane barely if any had any crosses to him. He did missed the one chance he had and I am sure he will think about that one for a while.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2018, 09:29 PM

Kane was poor today. Why did we sub Sterling? Instead he shall have brought in an extra midfielder to help in the middle. Grizeman and Giroud help more in the recovery for a France so I don't think Croatia is going to have the space they had the last three games.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2018, 10:01 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Kane was poor today. Why did we sub Sterling? Instead he shall have brought in an extra midfielder to help in the middle. Grizeman and Giroud help more in the recovery for a France so I don't think Croatia is going to have the space they had the last three games.

Kane was poor cuz Lovren was immense. Sterling, after a few dangerous moments early was locked down by Vida. Henderson relied too much on that first time ball over top. British press were whacking it at the thought of what happened when Kane and Lovern they met in the prem back in September. Holden, the England apologist, had Lovren sent off after tackles that the English praise when it's there guys getting in but when it happens to them it's anti football. I hope Lovern took Kanecout if his pocket before the his kit went into the wash. Lovern also earned a pen late in first half that wasn't called.

England took that space from them earlier from them butvrelinquished upma goal. Very naive from south gate