England Vs Croatia

[Currywurst and Chips]

Starting XI, looks like the Grealish/Rashford debate was a waste of Internet

--------------Pickford------------------

Walker, Stones, Mings, Trippier

----------Rice, Phillips--------------

Sterling, Mount, Foden

--------------Kane---------------------


Croatia at 6/1 looks generous

[Max B Gold]

M'on the boys in red and white chequered shirts reminiscent of the Orient shirt of the 90s.

[Give it to Jabo]

Gotta have Super Jack in the team. We should not need a flat back four and two defensive midfielders..

[Monkey Boy]

Surly no more evidence is needed that this so called manager is off his f—-ing trolly, enjoy your barbecue this afternoon instead

[Still wrong]

The cowards line up. 4 2 3 1.
6 defensive players.
How the hell did Southgate get anywhere near the England job.

[Give it to Jabo]

The stage is set and Southgate lets us down...like he has done before..

[Give it to Jabo]

If Rice and Phillips are world-class.....well..

[Max B Gold]

The stage is set and Southgate lets us down...like he has done before..

Why are they so scared of the opposition? They have decent attacking options. Who dares wins.

[Mistadobalina]

He's such a cautious manager. Phillips over Bellingham is an odd one as well - one was has been a mainstay in a team that's made the quarter finals of the champions League, the other for a team that finished midtable. That choice basically cedes midfield to Croatia.

Less fussed about Sterling starting. He's reliable for England and is good on the counter, which is what we're playing for today.

Trippier at left back is plain baffling. Have to assume there's method in that madness cause we have two of the best left backs in Europe available.

[Still wrong]

Unbelievably defensive against opposition who have won 2 out of 6.
Playing Trippier at left back is a joke. Doesn’t Southgate know that he has played right back all season? Absolutely baffling.

[PoundhillO]

I’ll give it 30 minutes and if we are playing the same old boring style of play I’ll be back to laying in the sun in the garden.

[Still wrong]

I’ll give it 30 minutes and if we are playing the same old boring style of play I’ll be back to laying in the sun in the garden.

Square pegs in round holes.
It’s like Orient under Ross.

[Millennial Snowflake]

Most tournament winners in recent times have played with 2 defensive midfielders. Trying to cram in all our attacking options would be more square pegs in round holes.

But hey, let’s all jump to conclusions before the game has even started

[tuffers#1]

Why the Booing of an Opponents National Anthem ?

Just Why ?

[gshaw]

Ahhhh it's good to be back talking football matches. Let's hope we don't see 90 minutes of backwards and sideways football. And Sterling FFS square it to Kane this time...

[gshaw]

Foden / Gazza hits the post

[Currywurst and Chips]

Sterling's lack of a left foot is proving troublesome

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Phillips over Bellingham is an odd one as well - one was has been a mainstay in a team that's made the quarter finals of the champions League, the other for a team that finished midtable. That choice basically cedes midfield to Croatia.

Yeah, he should only pick players from the top teams.

[BoniO]

Why the Booing of an Opponents National Anthem ?

Just Why ?

Probably the same bunch who booed the knee, and have been booing some Croatian players. England do have their fair share of brain-dead mutants supporting them. Always have done.

[Stowaway]

Unbelievably defensive against opposition who have won 2 out of 6.
Playing Trippier at left back is a joke. Doesn’t Southgate know that he has played right back all season? Absolutely baffling.

Never has your username been more accurate.

[Kitch’s Magic Toes]

Sterling's lack of a left foot is proving troublesome

So is Foden’s lack of a right foot. Keeps the pitch bafflingly narrow against a low block. Like watching Orient so far. Relying on Mount or Foden/Wilko or Kemp doing something clever individually rather than any established pattern of play. Kane isolated. Tyrone Mings to give away a penalty, Happe-style.

On the plus side, Rice and Phillips are a f***-sight better than Cissé and Clay.

[Stamford O]

More back passes to gk than the 3 national league play off games i watched so far

[Currywurst and Chips]

Walker cost us possession too many times

[The Mindsweep]

Engery, running, pressing, boring, yawning, winning f all, playing like that.

Once again, unfortunately English managers are tactically on a lower level that others.

[BoniO]

Never mind everyone, Shearer was "very impressed" with the first half display from England