Very poor after the first 30 minutes, just kept giving the ball back to them and allowing pressure to build. Really should have tried to fix it by hooking Lingard and bringing on a proper midfielder (Delph would've been ideal), Lingard's had a good tournament but was a total passenger today.
Even then I feel Walker would've attacked the equaliser a bit more if he wasn't carrying the injury (you have to move towards the ball when defending those crosses, the bad knee slowed him down and Perisic got in front). Also Maguire screwed up for the winner, you have to make sure the other defender knows when you are passing the defender over. Stones had no idea he was even there.
Backing the Croats in the final, živeli! _________________ "I got Wheaties!"
And to think Modric and Rakitic didn't even play their usual game. _________________ “Properly read, the bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.”
― Isaac Asimov
Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 679 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 4:43 pm Post subject:
Croatia deserved that win, as much as pains me to say it. England let off the gas pedal, especially in the 2nd half and just looked tired. The match between France will be a different one, but hope Croatia have enough in the tank to make it a good match. Would hate to see them roll over especially after what they endured to get there.
I’m going for France with the Win. _________________ I Don't Give A Damn About My Bad Reputation.... Joan Jett
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 52624 Location: Making a safety stop at 15 feet.
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 5:01 pm Post subject:
Mockerfab4 wrote:
Croatia deserved that win, as much as pains me to say it. England let off the gas pedal, especially in the 2nd half and just looked tired. The match between France will be a different one, but hope Croatia have enough in the tank to make it a good match. Would hate to see them roll over especially after what they endured to get there.
I’m going for France with the Win.
Yeah, Croatia earned it for sure. I know I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said by others, by that early score was part of the problem for England. They started to slide into a mode where they were out of sorts just trying to make sure they didn't screw up, which of course lead to them screwing up. The point I knew things were not going to go well was when England blew that tremendous opportunity just before the 30 minute mark. By the time the match was in the early minutes of the second 45, it was clear that things were snowballing in the wrong direction for England.
I have a certain fondness for France from my visits there, but the Brit in me will always have a certain distaste for the frogs. And my sister is currently vacationing in Croatia, so I'm all in for Croatia at this point. _________________ You thought God was an architect, now you know
He’s something like a pipe bomb ready to blow
And everything you built that’s all for show
goes up in flames
In 24 frames
Croatia deserved that win, as much as pains me to say it. England let off the gas pedal, especially in the 2nd half and just looked tired. The match between France will be a different one, but hope Croatia have enough in the tank to make it a good match. Would hate to see them roll over especially after what they endured to get there.
I’m going for France with the Win.
They seemed to go into a defensive shell after the first goal which is never good when it comes 5 minutes in.
Tough loss for England, but I agree with those who said Croatia deserved it more.
France is going to be heavily favored in the final, maybe talking myself into Croatia on the MoneyLine. _________________ Love, Laker Lanny
Croatia deserved that win, as much as pains me to say it. England let off the gas pedal, especially in the 2nd half and just looked tired. The match between France will be a different one, but hope Croatia have enough in the tank to make it a good match. Would hate to see them roll over especially after what they endured to get there.
I’m going for France with the Win.
England couldn't finish....they were so close to getting that 2nd goal so many times. As far as Croatia goes, the fact that they pulled out another W in a 3rd consecutive ET time game means that aren't just going to roll over. Now they might be tired but unless France goes on attack mode the entire game, Croatia will definitely muster whatever energy they have left for the final game.
Joined: 25 Apr 2015 Posts: 31789 Location: Anaheim, CA
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:35 pm Post subject:
Watching England today reminded me of so many United States games I've seen. Lacking in midfield creativity, and lacking that final finishing quality when dangerous opportunities did come about. England never had another shot on frame today after their goal, believe it or not.
Croatia did deserve the win, as they were much the better side after halftime. I thought that the first 10-12 minutes or so of extra time was OK for England, but then Croatia re-asserted itself late in that first half of extra time, and it was all Croatia in the 2nd half of extra time. It had to be devastating for that injury, too, when they couldn't sub another guy in, knowing you need a goal and you're playing with 10 men. Brutal.
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 35750 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 7:50 am Post subject:
Shoutout to that one guy on Croatia who scored an own goal for France, then redeemed himself by scoring a goal, then proceeded to undo that by touching the ball with his hand, giving France a goal via penalty kick. _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
France does almost nothing, yet has two goals. Croatia is the team playing football, but let's see if they can keep it up with all the pressing, since they've played so many extra minutes this tournament. _________________ ¡Hala Madrid!
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