Third place is up for grabs. Will Raheem Sterling start for England? If so, will he score that one elusive goal he's been chasing ever since the start of the World Cup? Kane is more likely to score a couple to try and win the game. Lukaku is also favoured to score at least one goal. I'll go 1-0 to Belgium with a penalty scored by Batshuayi. In the event that Batshuayi does not play I think that Hazard would take the penalty and score.
-- Edited by wotsisname on Saturday 14th of July 2018 01:36:06 PM
Sorry I didn't login till after the game was over. Belgium had all the quality, England competed better 2nd half. In the next 2 years we've got to find a natural left back Sessegnon? Need a Bryan Robson/Gazza type in midfield. Strikers who do the job they are picked for. A lot better than I thought it would be for England. Brexit might have kicked in seeing more players qualified to play for England in the premiership. Don't rely on that happening though.
England never looked like scoring. Too many square balls and back passes. Belgium were too good for us. Quicker movement with the ball. England were very hesitant and there was no real creativity. It was a stuttering performance from England. They have been allowed to played better against inferior opposition. But hey, it was good while it lasted.
We huffed and puffed but we lack that little bit of individual sparkle that the better teams have. We don't have a De Bruyne, Hazard, Ericsson, Modric etc who can unlock a well organized defence. Southgate summed it up well - we are probably a top ten national side but not top five. We are improving, but whereas top club sides can buy in a Salah, Silva etc to add the magic dust a national team has to hope a club side turns one up. Which they don't do because they can buy one in.
Sorry to burst the bubble of congratulations but England were utter tripe today, Kane may as well have not been on the pitch, will Southgate please realise that Sterling is not worth persevering with, Dier is Dire, if Jones is an international Footballer I'll stand hanging.
Rip it up & start again. Cahill Jones Young Rose Dier Sterling Welbeck cast adrift. Cast the net, got to better coming through out there.
But we went as far as we could, got lucky to fall on the right side of the draw. Gave fans something to believe in. All was not lost. Far better than the Euro's 2016.
