He’s only just started training again. I think the bigger question is if he was ever really fit enough to come in the first place.
Great group stage complete - 3 games, 7 points, 9 goals and 1st place 20 of the 23 outfield players had minutes in the games, 2 of the 3 who didn't weren't fit for each of the games and key players rested at times so we are probably as fresh as anyone going into the knockouts. Big selection decisions for Southgate most notably in the wide areas - all 4 players have scored goals and have given GS a headache which is exactly what you want
If this was not the World Cup I doubt he’d have missed a Leicester game. Not all situations are the same Southgate has sat back and allowed people to slate Maddison’s attitude for years, ignored him for at least 18 months when he was out performing everyone else bar Kane. Pretty much every England fan thinks Southgate doesn’t like him, he HAD to get Maddison on tonight to dispel all that because he’s not going to get the chance to in that scenario again. Does anyone on here think Southgate will look to Maddison if it’s 0-0 20 mins or less to go next match?
Who gives a shit? Guys been injured and the other guys have all scored or assisted in his absence. Seriously if you can't leave the club biases at the door in a world cup you never will. England won 3-0 in case you missed it.
Good win only caught the second half due to work. Senegal won’t be easy, can see it being a tight game but predict England will win 2-1.
Well, job done, was it ever in doubt Controlled the game from start to finish but just upped the tempo when needed in the second half and then went into control mode knowing they have Wales on the counter and it’s was easy to be honest. Senegal will be a tougher test on Sunday however…..
Gareth Southgate’s verdict In the first half we controlled the game but we didn’t create enough clear chances. We wanted a bit more thrust in the final third, to play forward a bit quicker. The second half, once we got the two goals, we knew that their spirit had probably gone. I thought we kept our discipline right until the end. It’s great for [Marcus Rashford]. He’s trained really well, I have to say, and he could have had a hat-trick. His free-kick was an incredible strike; that’s what he’s capable of. In moments I thought both [Rashford and Foden] were a bit quiet in the first half. We decided to switch them at half-time and they responded really well, and for them to both get their goals was great. I’ve played in front of England crowds like that. It’s an amazing feeling when you see them in such numbers, especially when you think how far they’ve had to travel. I thought we dealt with the pressure really well – we were calm and we showed our quality.
Ok, this has basically been 3 training matches. USA is decent, but Iran and Wales. Two of the worst teams in the tournament. Becoming no 2 in this group. I would say is a better path then winning the group. Why? Because of France in the quarter by winning vs Brazil in the Semis if No 2. But, if England can somehow beat France, the semi final will be not that bad. I figure Switzerland is a probable opponent there. Brazil, yeah England will have to beat them or Spain in the final, one of them will knock out the other, but there is little hope of anyone knocking them out.
I'm really glad we've got that game out of the way now. Not that I thought we were going to lose mind, just happy that the circus is over. The welsh players have been bigging this match up since before the tournament started and they had 2 games to play before us. Now we can move on and focus on playing a proper team.
That’s true. Through the Netherlands feel like the type of team this squad would do badly against while Senegal is a lottery. France could have to get past Argentina first.
I think much is made of the group... Iran, USA and Wales... primed for us to slip up. Looking at the rest of the teams, in the end we've managed the group pretty well. Onto Senegal, who are a good team but a winnable game.
Of course, but honestly, group A has been pretty bad too, and both Netherlands and Senegal are not the kind of teams you should prioritize to avoid if you have much ambition in in this Cup. France vs Argentina, that would be really cool. England cruising through the next round and those to teams batteling it out in a 120 min + 30 min extra time affair. I would love that!
I’ve checked Getty Images and I don’t think Ben White was even at the stadium tonight so I’m not sure how long it will be till he is training again. As Maddison was on the bench for the first two matches you don’t have to be named as a sub to be able to sit in the technical area,
I know. But I wondered if he had recovered enough to sit in the technical area as non named player - as Maddison did the first two matches