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Post by femark on Dec 5, 2022 12:42:08 GMT
It's all about finding the right balance for me. We've been slightly cautious all tournament and it has paid off apart from against USA.
Walker needs to have a blinder to keep Mbappe out but he can't do it on his own, we need to get the shape right as well.
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Post by stokie223 on Dec 5, 2022 13:11:16 GMT
If we go at them, I genuinely think we can beat them - but we've got to be brave. Take off the handbrake. Should we try and sit back then I think we'll end up losing because we're not good enough to hold out Mbappé / Dembélé / Griezmann. It's very close, but with the plethora of attacking talent available to us, I think we have a better overall squad. Kyle Walker needs to have the game of his life. It’s the midfield battle that’ll decide it. Our defense is poor, so if we throw everything at them, we’ll also fall right into their hands. This is a huge game for Rice, Henderson and Bellingham, who will each need to be sweating buckets by the end of it to ensure that they stay in more control. Completely agree. I don't think, at a World Cup, you can just throw the kitchen sink at any team, but I fear that if we just solely attempt to nullify their threat then we'll end up losing (Italy in the Euros). For me - if we go at them and try to make them worried about our threat, then I think we have every chance. Midfield will be key - and I think ours more than matches up to theirs. Tchouaméni looks a prospect, Rabiot blows hot and cold. Griezmann is world class on his day and Rice (and likely Hendo) will have to be on top form but player-for-player I'd pick us. Rice and Bellingham must be two of the most sought after players in the world. The only kicker is that they have Mbappé. If you look at the top 50 players in the world we've got far more of them than France in my opinion, but Mbappé is in the top 3. Stop him and we win I reckon.
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Post by foxysgloves on Dec 5, 2022 13:27:32 GMT
I’d say it’s pretty even. I’d take their defence over ours. Midfield pretty even. Forwards petty even too. Mbappe is the key. Keep him quiet and starve him of possession then we can go through. Not sure we can or at least not for 90 minutes Just have to score more That’s the way I see it too. But does Gareth…..?? If ever there was a game to just go for it this is it. We are a much better attacking side than a defensive one. Hopefully it’s a classic and we come out on top.
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Post by biddulphchav on Dec 5, 2022 14:31:41 GMT
Can’t see us winning this one, I think it’ll be tight but France are fantastic going forward and Maguire worries me now that he’ll be up against some top quality players. Don’t think our defence will stand up to the test and in fairness, we haven’t really been tested by top class attackers. Pickford, Walker and Shaw are reliable but the two CB’s have a mistake or two in them.
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Post by OldStokie on Dec 5, 2022 14:54:28 GMT
England are a Jekyll and Hyde team. If they perform like they did in the 1st 20 minutes then France will win. If they can do exactly what they did for the rest of the game for the entire game then we can beat them. I'm really nervous about this one. It could go either way.
OS.
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Post by milton58 on Dec 5, 2022 14:58:35 GMT
Do you think on a french football message board they will be discussing how to stop our best players..of cause they will.. we have more players who could turn any match more than the French have.
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Dec 5, 2022 17:47:40 GMT
Our squad depth will see us through
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Post by shakermaker on Dec 5, 2022 18:37:28 GMT
Can’t see us winning this one, I think it’ll be tight but France are fantastic going forward and Maguire worries me now that he’ll be up against some top quality players. Don’t think our defence will stand up to the test and in fairness, we haven’t really been tested by top class attackers. Pickford, Walker and Shaw are reliable but the two CB’s have a mistake or two in them. It’s a tale of two banks of defence. Varane has been a cultivated mainstay in Madrid’s defence for several years and Upemecano an excellent, hard tackler. Maguire and Stones are good players but not on that level, and neither are even regulars at their clubs right now. Our chances depend on how well those two are protected. Perhaps going 4-2-3-1 (at least to begin with) may be the more pragmatic approach.
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Post by bamber01 on Dec 5, 2022 21:50:14 GMT
Well I have gone for the following bet:
England to win Both teams to score 11/2 Bet: 50 Euro Pays: 308,75 Euro
Come on England
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2022 21:55:11 GMT
Sounds a bit obvious but nothing between the sides for me and a case of who takes their chances.
I actually fancy England
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Post by JoeinOz on Dec 5, 2022 23:34:09 GMT
Sounds a bit obvious but nothing between the sides for me and a case of who takes their chances. I actually fancy England Kylian is between them.
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Post by Rick Grimes on Dec 6, 2022 7:20:59 GMT
If both teams continue to line up the same way then our midfield 3 of Bellingham, Rice and Henderson should have the edge over Griezmann, Tchouameni and Rabiot. Walker is also more than capable of keeping Mbappe quiet.
It’s tough, but definitely winnable.
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Post by jimmygscfc1234 on Dec 6, 2022 12:18:15 GMT
What you don't do is give Mbappe an open invitation to shoot like they did the other day. He struck the ball well but they made no attempt to close him down.
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Post by GreaterGlasgowstokie on Dec 6, 2022 12:53:56 GMT
I don't trust Maguire in this one, we'll mess it up.
I think Southgate should stick to his guns, go defensive and go with 3 center backs, sit in a bit and deny them space on the counter, try and do to them what they want to do to us.
In fact, it could end up being pretty dull as both teams will want to other to boss possession and don't try to press high up.
Could just be down to one bit of brilliance, probably from Mbappe
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Post by jimmygscfc1234 on Dec 6, 2022 12:59:03 GMT
It's as likely to go down to a fluke, a bad decision or penalties. Anything could happen and probably will. I think all of us would take any defeat better if they give it their best shot.
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Post by werrington on Dec 6, 2022 13:50:54 GMT
I don't trust Maguire in this one, we'll mess it up. I think Southgate should stick to his guns, go defensive and go with 3 center backs, sit in a bit and deny them space on the counter, try and do to them what they want to do to us. In fact, it could end up being pretty dull as both teams will want to other to boss possession and don't try to press high up. Could just be down to one bit of brilliance, probably from Mbappe So not use our biggest threat which is our attack Typical Stoke worrying like fuck about the opposition instead of utilising what we’ve got and getting them to change their game plan Mbappé is brilliant but fuck me he’s not a robot and PSG don’t win the champions league every season and roll teams over every time they come up against decent and similar talented sides ….the love in and fawning over him is making me puke Ask Saudi Arabia about Argentina with Messi in their side He’s just a footballer ffs
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Post by werrington on Dec 6, 2022 14:10:50 GMT
Let’s hope England are white shirts, blue shorts, white socks
No reason why not
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2022 14:20:59 GMT
Let’s hope England are white shirts, blue shorts, white socks No reason why not They're the designated home team so get to choose apparently.
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Post by werrington on Dec 6, 2022 14:47:51 GMT
Let’s hope England are white shirts, blue shorts, white socks No reason why not They're the designated home team so get to choose apparently. Is that a thing when it’s on neutral territory and both teams topped their groups and won the knock out match?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2022 15:07:49 GMT
They're the designated home team so get to choose apparently. Is that a thing when it’s on neutral territory and both teams topped their groups and won the knock out match? I saw on I think talksport site earlier. They still have a designated home team re shirts ...was news to me also .
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on Dec 6, 2022 15:41:42 GMT
Can’t see us winning this one, I think it’ll be tight but France are fantastic going forward and Maguire worries me now that he’ll be up against some top quality players. Don’t think our defence will stand up to the test and in fairness, we haven’t really been tested by top class attackers. Pickford, Walker and Shaw are reliable but the two CB’s have a mistake or two in them. Yeah, agree about Stones and Maguire. To be fair, they've both done pretty well so far and I like the fact that both can bring the ball out (provided they do so sensibly), but I worry about them up against real pace. Probably being a bit superstitious, but another thing that worries me is the fact that we've not even had a booking so far. Which, if the gods of football have their usual way, means a sending off is coming... I really hope England get through because I think France are the best side on our half of the draw, that we'd have a great chance of going further if we get past them and I'd love to see an England Brazil final!
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Post by mattador78 on Dec 6, 2022 18:52:07 GMT
It’s on itv and we are going to have to listen to Sam Matterface aren’t we. I’d rather travel home with the Cardiff fans if I’m honest, than listen to that.
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Post by salopstick on Dec 6, 2022 19:08:30 GMT
The winner of this game should get past Morocco Switzerland or Portugal easy.
We shouldn’t be fearing France either. Mbappe is brilliant but it’s not as good a team as 2018
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Post by lordb on Dec 6, 2022 19:18:55 GMT
Outrageous goal
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Dec 6, 2022 21:16:46 GMT
We ain't going to stop Mbappe, so we need to score more than they do. It's that simple.
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Post by milton58 on Dec 7, 2022 4:35:55 GMT
Just watched Becks at the England training camp nice bloke..but our players what a honest bunch of lads how they came across all of them looked like there football hero had just turned up...can't get over saka saying sorry for interrupting but can I have a photo with you
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Post by cdf on Dec 7, 2022 10:17:45 GMT
Just watched Becks at the England training camp nice bloke..but our players what a honest bunch of lads how they came across all of them looked like there football hero had just turned up...can't get over saka saying sorry for interrupting but can I have a photo with you Have you seen the Arsenal documentary on Netflix? I know its Arsenal but Saka became my favourite Premier League player after watching it. He's so down to earth and its all about the football to him and nothing else
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Post by franklin on Dec 7, 2022 10:29:22 GMT
Winner of this game wins the Cup.
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Post by scfc75 on Dec 7, 2022 10:31:31 GMT
We ain't going to stop Mbappe, so we need to score more than they do. It's that simple. Yeah, we need to do more goals than them. Classic football tactic. Hope Gaz realises this.
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Post by Gary Hackett on Dec 7, 2022 10:42:17 GMT
Winner of this game wins the Cup. You didn't watch Portugal last night? Then possibly Brazil in final. If we do win the tirnanent it'll be fully deserved and Southgate will be a national hero.
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