Group D - Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Scotland

[sledger]

It's been a pretty effective way to stop Modric. They don't really look threatened much at all when Croatia are in possession. I feel like it's got England on the ball more in the first place as well.

Out of interest how warm is it meant to be there?

Yeah but England on the ball have been cack

It's about 27 celcius apparently

 

[speirz]

28C.

Ha, the commentary I've got is making out like it's mid-30s at least. Obviously not comfortable but they're all professionals at the end of a season, aerobic fitness should be fine. God knows what we'll have to deal with in Qatar.

Really wondering if both sides are just happy to stay this cagey and take a point.

 

[Spark]

grealish for sterling ffs

Sterling hasn't been very good this year but he's been by far England's biggest attacking threat. Their only attacking threat in the last twenty minutes, really.

 

[James]

Really wondering if both sides are just happy to stay this cagey and take a point.

Wondering the same thing, its very dull

 

[speirz]

Yeah but England on the ball have been cack

It's about 27 celcius apparently

As much to do with the left back selection I reckon. Rice is spending half his time on the ball distributing from where Mings should be. Croatia are just pressing on one side of the pitch and waiting for England to turn back on the other side.

 

[Uppercut]

Sterling hasn't been very good this year but he's been by far England's biggest attacking threat. Their only attacking threat in the last twenty minutes, really.

This is kind of what he’s been like all season. He gets into good positions with clever movement but doesn’t use the ball well when he gets there.

Grealish is the opposite.

 

[speirz]

I thought there'd be a few more tackles flying in from England's attackers as well, they've so much depth there that you don't lose much if you have to pull a player who's on a card.

 

[Uppercut]

Ha, the commentary I've got is making out like it's mid-30s at least. Obviously not comfortable but they're all professionals at the end of a season, aerobic fitness should be fine. God knows what we'll have to deal with in Qatar.

Really wondering if both sides are just happy to stay this cagey and take a point.

It’s not that 28C is physically challenging in itself, but it’s hot enough to strongly favour the Croatian style of play.

England have been dire. Second favourites for the tournament my hole.

 

[Spark]

This is kind of what he’s been like all season. He gets into good positions with clever movement but doesn’t use the ball well when he gets there.

Grealish is the opposite.

Yeah pretty much. But he's at least gotten the ball in space and destabilised Croatia's defence. Harry Kane seems to be moonlighting as a defensive midfielder half the time, not sure I've seen him do anything of substance at all, and Foden drifted out of the game after that first chance, though he hasn't been helped by the midfield being shut out after about 20 minutes and Walker not being able to hit a barn door.

 

[thundaboult]

Sterling is great when it comes to running right into defenders. But he will keep getting chances from southgate

 

[James]

England have been dire. Second favourites for the tournament my hole.

Only because of the location of their games surely?

 

[Uppercut]

Only because of the location of their games surely?

Yeah that’s the thinking but this game is at Wembley and, well…

If their problem is experiencing a massive adrenaline dump after 20 minutes then playing at home might not actually help. Gets the refs on side though and stuff I guess.

 

[thundaboult]

ohhh tripppiyaaaaa

lucky lucky he got away with that one

 

[sledger]

Haha this is just such a typical Engand in tournaments match

Bad/negative team selection followed by a terrible to watch stodgy and ploddy performance

 

[thundaboult]

dont tell me southgate is waiting to sub people in at the 85th minute

 

[thundaboult]

PHILIPS YOU BEAUTY! THANK YOU RAHEEM! PROVE US WRONG LAD

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

someone delivered

 

[Uppercut]

Sterling proving us right by scoring with a fantastic run and kinda crap finish.

 

[thundaboult]

Oh no kane nooooo

hope he's ok

 

[sledger]

Sterling proving us right by scoring with a fantastic run and kinda crap finish.

Haha yeah I was about to say there was more than an element of good fortune about it