World Cup KO: En-ger-land, En-ger-land, En-ger-land (was 'Group G')

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Comments

  • IronHerbIronHerb
    That's ok. We can sacrifice Dier and Jones for the cause.
  • MrsGreyMrsGrey
    Tomw85 said:

    I was just saying the same with my work colleagues. It goes against everything I like in sports but I would suggest that we want to lose to Belgium.

    Like we've got a choice?

    ;lol

    Loving the confidence! Is this what it feels like to support a club other than West Ham?
  • chicagohammerchicagohammer
    edited June 2018
    I understand that there are those who have studied the tables and think that it would be a strategic advantage to lose against Belgium, however, I cannot count myself amongst them.

    I think it is a very difficult and dangerous game to play with players minds, even if you “succeed” and get yourself into an “easier” grouping, there is a danger that you start to believe your own press and that you simply have to turn up and win, there is a very fine line when competing at this level and there are many examples of teams imploding.

    You have to assume that the Germans fancied themselves today, was there slightly less effort on their part, did they think to themselves that their last minute goal the other day was enough as now they only had to face Korea and they were through, hard to say either way but it is beyond doubt that they are now out of the tournament.

    Assuming we go for the win and end up facing a more challenging route (on paper) to the final, the team will know that they will have to bring their A game on each and every occasion and be fired up for it, I actually think that is far better to have a positive mindset than deliberately looking to underperform and thinking that you will walk through the elimination rounds.

    go for it England!!!!
  • imagelostimagelost
    edited June 2018
    Bazshuayi said:

    Ok.... Momentum and all that other bluff talk aside by England, I am going to say that I want England to lose!

    Looking at the bottom half of the draw, surely its the better place to be. We could conceivably have to beat Spain or Croatia (if we get past someone from group H and one of Sweden or Switz?) to get to the final!

    Spain
    Russsia

    Croatia
    Denmark

    Sweden
    Probably Switzerland

    England
    Japan/Senegal/Columbia

    Top half has

    Portugal
    Uruguay

    France
    Argentina

    Mexico
    Probably Brazil

    Belgium if they beat us
    Someone from group H

    Do Belgium really think beating us is a good thing? No! If its a draw, we need to get some yellows and drop to second! I dont care if its stage managed o sneaky. You know other countries would do it. Be smart! If we go out to a team like Sweden anyway then fine. But we have real potential to go very far if we make the right group choice....

    England are good at losing , important matches, why go down that route when we have the feel good factor,,, wie have only played 2 games. In this competition
  • IronHerbIronHerb
    Not that I'm living with the Belgians. ;biggrin
  • BazshuayiBazshuayi
    Soooooo.... It's just me then ;lol I dont mind that. I am sticking by what I said though and I have zero desire to play Brazil if we get through the next round
  • OutcastLondonerOutcastLondoner
    For some reason I don't believe you're sticking by a decision.
  • PrestonHammerPrestonHammer
    Can someone make a rectangle so we can ask if VAR can be used to verify with Baz whether he is going to stick with his decision please?
  • Slaven_Cups_His_BeardSlaven_Cups_His_Beard
    2D690DFC-0735-4948-BF91-FC86645451C4
  • imagelostimagelost
    Slaven_Cups_His_Beard said:

    2D690DFC-0735-4948-BF91-FC86645451C4

    ;biggrin
  • BazshuayiBazshuayi
    I thought I was pretty clear ;hmm I want us to lose to Belgium (or draw if we get more yellow cards) and go into the lower half of the draw!

    You'll thank me when we get to the final with Brazil freakily knocked out before they could get there. We'll then beat Belgium in that final ;whistle ;barrera ;wahoo
  • MunichHammerMunichHammer
    I'm not so sure about the final. Don't forget we have a core of chokers in our team (Kane, Alli, trippier, Dier ...)
  • ASLEFshruggedASLEFshrugged
    I'd rather we lost tonight and took second place, that way we'd get Japan, Senegal or Columbia next followed by Sweden or Switzerland in the quarters with Spain, Russia, Croatia or Denmark in the semi.

    If we top the group we end up in the mix with Uruguay, Mexico, Brazil, France, Argentina and Portugal.
  • IronHerbIronHerb
    Of which only Uruguay look dangerous at this time. Bring it on!
  • BarneyBarney
    Play to win is my philosphy
  • grey_til_I_dyegrey_til_I_dye
  • BazshuayiBazshuayi
    Yes Mr Lineker. We havent looked like a 'team' for a good while either. But we're allowing ourselves to dream and I personally have seen us fall to penalties and quarter finals plenty of times to want to avoid Brazil.

  • alderzalderz
    We lost to Iceland two years ago, and yet people think Sweden or Switzerland will be easy? I think we have to play to win. I am going to the pub tonight, and I want to celebrate us winning.
  • BazshuayiBazshuayi
    Different team/manager/mentality/vibe.you name it

    Anyway, on that Iceland premise, even if we beat Belgium and went into the tough side with our confidence high surely what we were like 2 years ago is immaterial?

    Switzerland or Sweden will be easy... In comparison to Brazil (let alone subsequent top half teams)
  • baracks_a_hammerbaracks_a_hammer
    Looking to avoid a,b,c in favour of teams x,y,z is a complete myth. There is every chance England could end up facing an out of sorts Brazil or an inspired Senegal

    Play to win and keep up the momentum
  • LukerzLukerz
    Go for the win tonight

    No professional sportsman can surely play to not win a game
  • OldCastleSwiftOldCastleSwift
    Unless they want to respect the point... ;whistle
  • YeoldhammerYeoldhammer
    Smash the Belgian Waffle Kings.

  • Slaven_Cups_His_BeardSlaven_Cups_His_Beard
    Have to go for a win tonight, it keeps momentum going and belief in the players, there is no other way, of course there is a supposed easier side of the draw, but it is what it is. From what I’ve seen there is nothing to fear in this WC, personally I think it’s been one of the best I’ve watched since 1978....drama entertainment and no end of skill, only one 0-0 and that was two teams already through so forgive them that.

    ;scarveng
  • MIAHammerMIAHammer
    As has been proven numerous times this WC, there are no easy games. How many predicted the Portugal v Iran, Spain v Morocco or Germany v S. Korea? Argentina barely scrapped through. Brazil have hardly been impressive.
    Who knows which side of the draw will be easier? No point in playing for position, you just have to try and beat the team in front of you.

    Obviously neither team will want to pick up any injuries or yellow cards so it will probably be quite a tame game today.
  • adecokeradecoker
    It seems to me that things are reverting to type. Nobody had any expectations and nobody dared to dream.

    Germany go out of the World Cup and suddenly everything changes. Would it be better to face Brazil or Mexico in the quarter finals? Let's disregard the fact that England have yet to actually reach the quarter finals.

    Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, Croatia, Belgium, Argentina. No-hopers, the lot of them. Sweden, Switzerland, Senegal? Not even worth considering. There are others I'm sure, but who cares.

    Let's forget about the next four games and let Johnny Foreigner fight it out amongst themselves to see who we beat in the final.
  • alderzalderz
    adecoker gets it

    #It'sComingHome
  • Pearces_Left_FootPearces_Left_Foot
    People seem to forget we have not won a knockout game in any tournament since 2006
  • grey_til_I_dyegrey_til_I_dye
  • grey_til_I_dyegrey_til_I_dye
    And no, that tweet doesn't contain swearing.
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