World Cup Qatar 2022 - Desert Strike

[Danster]

I gotta vent somewhere... I'm fucking fuming about the cunts that broke into Sterling's house. What a bunch of absolute wankers, when he and his family should be enjoying his time on the biggest stage in the world - whether he played or not, just  being in the team would have been amazing. And he has to drop it all to go and support his family because of some ignorant selfish greedy pricks.

 

I hope his family are all okay and not too traumatised by it all. What a horrible thing to happen.

 

CUNTS!

 

[Boothjan]

3 minutes ago, Eighthours said:

 

It wasn't that, though - we were playing terribly for the first 35 minutes. Just awkward little passing triangles in our own half, very little movement ahead so we gave the ball away cheaply, often everything done at walking pace. And we had a couple of awful 'switching off' moments where dodgy passes led to Senegal getting in, and they were unlucky not to score. Whenever Senegal got the ball, they looked far more incisive than us in that first period. But the first goal changed everything, and from then on we looked great. Amazing what a bit of confidence can do at the very point where the other team feels hard done by. 

 

My problem with the first 35 was that we were always passing to the player immediately ahead, and when we got to the half way line the press made us have to pass backwards again. So many times! We needed to miss a man out, which as soon as we started doing, we had much more joy. The way to beat the press is for someone to beat a man after receiving the ball to draw out another opponent, or to bypass the nearest player and play a medium or long ball. When the tactics changed, everything changed.

 

But I really don't think it was that bad.  The first 20 minutes or so it was us in control - but then the period before the 1st goal was definitely our weakest and we were guilty of squandering possession too cheaply due to a lack of patience but it was far from 'terrible'. 

 

I agree a lot more with your 2nd paragraph though - Senegal do deserve a lot of credit for that period mind you, they weren't allowing our runners any space at all and they pressed excellently.  

 

But as you say, we combated that well.  We'll have to do better against France but we're a good team - there's no reason why we can't.

[ChewMagma]

18 minutes ago, Eighthours said:

 

It wasn't that, though - we were playing terribly for the first 35 minutes. Just awkward little passing triangles in our own half, very little movement ahead so we gave the ball away cheaply, often everything done at walking pace. And we had a couple of awful 'switching off' moments where dodgy passes led to Senegal getting in, and they were unlucky not to score. Whenever Senegal got the ball, they looked far more incisive than us in that first period. But the first goal changed everything, and from then on we looked great. Amazing what a bit of confidence can do at the very point where the other team feels hard done by. 

 

My problem with the first 35 was that we were always passing to the player immediately ahead, and when we got to the half way line the press made us have to pass backwards again. So many times! We needed to miss a man out, which as soon as we started doing, we had much more joy. The way to beat the press is for someone to beat a man after receiving the ball to draw out another opponent, or to bypass the nearest player and play a medium or long ball. When the tactics changed after the goal, everything changed.

 

This expectation that you can dominate every team for 90 minutes is unrealistic and unhelpful. You are playing the African champions, firstly have some respect for what they are doing. Secondly, it is just not how football works.

[Ork1927]

33 minutes ago, Danster said:

I gotta vent somewhere... I'm fucking fuming about the cunts that broke into Sterling's house. What a bunch of absolute wankers, when he and his family should be enjoying his time on the biggest stage in the world - whether he played or not, just  being in the team would have been amazing. And he has to drop it all to go and support his family because of some ignorant selfish greedy pricks.

 

I hope his family are all okay and not too traumatised by it all. What a horrible thing to happen.

 

CUNTS!

 

 

Maybe not, but you'd think the police will be going all out to find them given it couldn't have been more high profile a robbery if they'd tried.  

[Eighthours]

1 hour ago, Boothjan said:

But as you say, we combated that well.  We'll have to do better against France but we're a good team - there's no reason why we can't.

 

I think it'll be a better game simply because neither side's primary mission will be to avoid defeat and then counter-attack for a 1-0 win. Surely Southgate will have learnt that the only way to win is to play to our strengths, which is zippy attacking football. It may be a heart attack waiting to happen but I'd love this to be a 'we win when we score one more goal than you' game - I think it's our best chance.

[Eighthours]

1 hour ago, ChewMagma said:

 

This expectation that you can dominate every team for 90 minutes is unrealistic and unhelpful. You are playing the African champions, firstly have some respect for what they are doing. Secondly, it is just not how football works.

 

I'm not talking about domination, I'm talking about simple movement and decent passing.

[milko]

2 minutes ago, Eighthours said:

 

I think it'll be a better game simply because neither side's primary mission will be to avoid defeat and then counter-attack for a 1-0 win. Surely Southgate will have learnt that the only way to win is to play to our strengths, which is zippy attacking football. It may be a heart attack waiting to happen but I'd love this to be a 'we win when we score one more goal than you' game - I think it's our best chance.

 

I think you'll be disappointed then. Southgate will be incredibly wary of Mbappe catching them on the counter, and France won't want to suffer similar through Bellingham/Foden and Kane. They're both going to be cagey until there's a goal.

[ChewMagma]

3 minutes ago, Eighthours said:

 

I'm not talking about domination, I'm talking about simple movement and decent passing.

 

Right but Senegal are working to prevent those things from being easy as well, that is the part you are missing. The reason why Stones and Maguire have no easy passes is because Senegal are working hard to keep their shape and press and forcing turnovers because England have to take more risks.

 

By definition if you can unlock Senegal with "simple movement" and "decent passes" then you would be dominating them no?

[Eighthours]

11 minutes ago, ChewMagma said:

 

Right but Senegal are working to prevent those things from being easy as well, that is the part you are missing. The reason why Stones and Maguire have no easy passes is because Senegal are working hard to keep their shape and press and forcing turnovers because England have to take more risks.

 

By definition if you can unlock Senegal with "simple movement" and "decent passes" then you would be dominating them no?

 

Senegal were doing good work - I just think we were making things harder for ourselves, particularly in that period between 20 mins and 35 mins.

[Wallpaper]

The first half hour, however terrible to watch, shows that they learnt to be more patient from the USA game.  The US pressed heavily as well and it almost won them the game, but this time faced with similar, England just kept the ball in defence, basically refusing to play on Senegal's terms until they'd felt it out a bit more, like a boxer refusing to charge in on someone that they have the reach advantage on, jab and find your range first.

[Gotters]

Croatia are just such an ugly team to watch now, can't sustain much going forward for any length of time so are just another cynical cheating diving ref hassling team.

 

Hope Japan can get a goal here as the longer its goalless the more I fancy the cheating to win

[Boothjan]

Japan deserve their lead - they're the better side and I love watching them.

[Seanfl9]

Was at the England game last night at Al-Bayt. Total mission getting there (an hour from Doha centre). Atmosphere was generally quite poor. Out with a bunch of Brazillians at the moment, heading to the game tonight. So far it's been great fun mingling with lots of different groups of people. 

 

Got tickets for the England v France game Saturday too but again.. Al Bayt 😏

[Gotters]

The only thing Croatia have added to this tournament is Ivana Knoll. 

[Bacon Horsemeat]

Japan are such a fun side to watch

[ilpostino]

Superb cross and header. Game on!

[Bacon Horsemeat]

Great header, hopefully will kickstart Japan, they've been asleep this half

[Bacon Horsemeat]

WHAT A SAVE

[ckny]

45 minutes ago, Seanfl9 said:

Was at the England game last night at Al-Bayt. Total mission getting there (an hour from Doha centre). Atmosphere was generally quite poor. Out with a bunch of Brazillians at the moment, heading to the game tonight. So far it's been great fun mingling with lots of different groups of people. 

 

Got tickets for the England v France game Saturday too but again.. Al Bayt 😏

 

The Senegalese band and dancers looked fun. And at least you didn't have to listen to Lee Dixon telling us about David Seaman's cat.

[Bacon Horsemeat]

Cmon guys this is Qatar, let's see a 94th minute goal

[Bacon Horsemeat]

This is going to suit Brazil just fine

[Art Vandelay]

I'm at the end of my rope with the BBC coverage now. If it's not Jenas it's Murphy. And if it's somehow not them it's Chris Sutton, who I think genuinely might be brain damaged. 

[Fierce Poodle]

You hear more insight from a Jeremy Vine phone in.

[Fierce Poodle]

Magnificent effort!

[Bacon Horsemeat]

He was right about extra time though. Would love to see it go straight to penalties.

[Bacon Horsemeat]

lol sub got subbed

[deerokus]

I'm so happy for Daizen Maeda getting some recognition. He's a bit of a cult figure at Celtic, plays as a winger rather than a striker because he's not a reliable finisher and his technical skill is lacking... but the guy is world class when it comes to pressing.

[Gotters]

almost inevitable the Japanese losing on pens here and Croatia going on to stink up a quarter final.

[Fierce Poodle]

Penalties here we come.

[Calashnikov]

5 minutes ago, deerokus said:

I'm so happy for Daizen Maeda getting some recognition. He's a bit of a cult figure at Celtic

Subtext: he’s shite and you’s know it.