England Prediction Thread

[halifax_baggie]

Just after GK went off the BBC commentator described a minor incident as a "vociferous challenge" wtf did the Iranian player do? Shout at England full back Shaw or merely stand on his toe?

Decent knowledge of vocabulary and definitions would not go amiss, how do they get these jobs and demand £'000000 per year salary

[ericlegrisly]

Just after GK went off the BBC commentator described a minor incident as a "vociferous challenge" wtf did the Iranian player do? Shout at England full back Shaw or merely stand on his toe?

Decent knowledge of vocabulary and definitions would not go amiss, how do they get these jobs and demand £'000000 per year salary

He also described Carlos Queiroz as being "non-demonstrable" whilst at Man Utd.

I think he meant something else.

[Duffers]

An excellent start against a team set up to frustrate, spoil and grind out a 0-0. The sort of game we’ve struggled with in past tournaments but we absolutely battered them.

On to the Yanks.

[DemonicBaggie]

How on earth are Iran ranked 20th in the world? Like watching Pulisball. No ambition

We've made them look bad.

They've also been really really bad.

Just waiting for someone to liken Iran to Qatar and without a hint of irony call them a 'pub team'.

They beat Uruguay and drew with Senegal in September. They've just not remotely shown up today.

Qatar.... pubs.....Iran.... pubs....

[Duffers]

Might be worth acknowledging how well we played rather than focusing on how bad the opposition were.

[Big Daddy Cool]

Might be worth acknowledging how well we played rather than focusing on how bad the opposition were.

It's almost like a team playing well can make the opposition look poor.

[Fido]

Might be worth acknowledging how well we played rather than focusing on how bad the opposition were.

This may appear overly critical but there were times where we could have broken more quickly in attack. But positioning of midfield and defence meant we picked up the ball almost every time in the centre of the park and really strangled them.

[Calgary_Baggie]

Superb performance. 

I find it hard to be critical. What do people want?

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Nice story behind Grealish's celebration too.

[Duffers]

For those complaining about the two goals conceded it’s worth remembering that we played a back four yesterday, which makes us better attacking (six scored) as we had five attack minded players on the pitch but weakens us defensively.

Southgate is often criticised for his pragmatic style and I’m sure had we gone 5-3-2 and ground out a 1-0 he would have been hammered again. I’d imagine we’d go more pragmatic if and when the tougher tests come along.

[Ted Maul]

For those complaining about the two goals conceded it’s worth remembering that we played a back four yesterday, which makes us better attacking (six scored) as we had five attack minded players on the pitch but weakens us defensively.

Southgate is often criticised for his pragmatic style and I’m sure had we gone 5-3-2 and ground out a 1-0 he would have been hammered again. I’d imagine we’d go more pragmatic if and when the tougher tests come along.

I wouldn't have hammered him for a 1-0 in fairness.

Telling that the comments from both Southgate and Tripper after the game showed their frustration at the two goals conceded. They didn't come from us being more open. Two individual mistakes, perhaps we can let Maguire off if he wasn't feeling well and the clumsy shirt pull from Stones (plus some VAR madness). It's overly critical but again, it was one of the first things Tripper mentioned after the game which is a good sign.

In a seven game shootout perhaps we should throw caution to the wind and try to out gun teams, I had a scroll through the squads yesterday and Brazil/France aside I don't think any of them have as good a group of attackers as we do. Germany are young and untried, same with the Dutch, Spain are rebuilding still, Argentina (who I fancy for the tournament, oddly) will rely on Messi but if he doesn't fire who knows? It's a real pisser the draw would look to have us against France in the quarters as I'd fancy us more against any of the others.