SWLondon Saint

We'll definitely concede if we play like this, so passive and defensive. No idea wtf we're doing.

I just find in tournament football their style is so dominant and 1 sided it's boring. In the PL at least teams are built to play against that kind of Pep-ball now so it's gone out of fashion a bit, but it's hard to build a counter to it with a national team. France didn't press or defend well at all though from what I saw before I volunteered to do the bins instead of watch Spain slowly throttle the life out of the game.

Spain bossing it. God they're boring as hell to watch though.

Watkins on for Kane for me, Kane looks knackered, and doesn't look like he can trouble these CBs right now. Watkins can at least press like a nutter for 30 mins.

I absolutely was saying England were lucky with late goals during the last Euros!

Spain have been lucky with the last minute goals but not sure it will matter against France anyway - they have too much quality and have been lucky with no injuries.

It's like they can't even be arsed to pretend they're not corrupt any more, there's actually no way for the FA to even appeal the ban. 🤡 show.

Think chatgpt is just talking shite as it often does, Norway won their qualifying group and were comfortably 2nd in their group stage. Definitely not a Denmark situation, that would be more like if Sweden were on a run since they finished bottom of their qualifying group and only got in via the Nations League route.

Again, it's a bit hard to say how much danger as Brazil's defending was complete crap. The first goal by Haaland happened because I think Endrick (?) was on the winger and just let him go by, it was shocking lack of effort, then he had momentum towards the left back, he could easily cut back onto his right foot for the cross which wasn't even challenged at all. The second one is barely an assist, it's just a simple pass to Haaland who's dropped off the back 4 and no-one went with him.

Think it's hard to tell much from the Brazil game other than Haaland is on another planet. Brazil were incredibly passive in a way I can't imagine any other team left in it being. Reckon a lot of it is because Casemiro really can't run anymore so they don't feel they can press in midfield.

I only switched on in the 75th minute, good timing! Both goals as the cross / pass came towards him it just felt like everyone was thinking 'He couldn't, could he...?' Yes. Yes he could. The David Squires cartoons with him as a Nordic death robot are just genius.

Definitely epic, but dunno why pundits are talking about games after that. Mexico have to be favourites, at home, been playing well and the altitude advantage is gonna be a massive point in their favour.

Fully expecting Ghana to be in park the bus mode against us. The Havertz goal was the model for scoring against these low block teams though, inswinger with both the striker and then someone behind him also attacking the ball is tough to defend even with everyone back. Still need the threat of someone going to the byline though which Germany just didn't have.

Let's be honest though, that was a pretty horrendous game. Also obvious that all the underdogs are gonna play exactly like that 😵

Yeah, I was thinking that, he's an absolute monster! Also catches the ball on crosses well.

I think they've lost on pens in the Euros though haven't they? But yeah, a lot of poor pens today. Surprised noone went down the middle, both keepers were going early to the sides.

Yeah, it was Tanaka of Leeds who won it then gave it away. Sugawara did OK against Vini Jr but Japan got what they deserved I think, they were far too passive after scoring when they should have gone for a second. Reminded me a lot of Southgate-era England actually.

After that pinball in the Japan box when they somehow kept it out, they broke and should have made it 2-0 but muffed it. Was thinking 'they'll regret that mess up' but didn't think it would be that quickly!

If you want to point fingers, I'd be looking at Casemiro, absolutely zero attempt to close down the runner from midfield. Or maybe he was trying and didn't have the legs, either way not great....

Ironically that second was a classic bit of wing play except from a centre mid instead of our wingers 😂 Good run into the channel, good ball and control, face up the defender, nice bit of skill to the byline, cross, excellent striker's header from Kane. Old school!

What I don't get is why the players on the pitch can't show a bit of initiative, for example Saka and Rashford could try swapping wings and going on the outside. It's too predictable with them always cutting back inside.

I think against super defensive teams like this, you need to have someone like Bellingham on the ball instead of Anderson at the base of midfield. Anderson needs to be a bit more ambitious, but also I don't think Kane is the right player for this kind of setup, you need someone who'll move the defence around like Watkins would, running the channels and running in behind instead of always coming short.

They're clearly signing him to be the Rodri replacement, and I think he could get to that level. Rodri does none of those things you mentioned and yet Man City were a significantly worse team when he was out, so if they've got the cash then he's worth it to them. Yes daft money but that's sportswashing for you...

Spot on about the wingers. I thought they and the full backs were far too tentative, to break down a super low block like that you have to have width and runners going again and again. But to be fair, Ghana couldn't have been more obvious about parking the bus, and Spain couldn't break down Cape Verde doing the exact same thing - and Ghana are a better team with better players.

The entitlement of some people on here is just mental. Ghana have some decent players and they have been so, so defensive. I'd say they've had less attacking intent than we did in the cup against Man City, at least we broke forward with numbers a few times. This lot have barely bothered going forward at all, you can't expect to score easily when every time it goes near their box they've got everyone back there except the striker and he's halfway between their box and the centre circle.