England v Croatia

The Red Robin said:

nth london addick said:

Sterling divides the Opinions because for Citeh he scores for fun

Citeh is full of quality top to bottom so it’s not just sterling to worry about

Right now England have 4 attacking players to worry about

1 Kane is seemingly bang in form although against Sweden looked out of Salts against his own high standards

2 linegard scores a great goal set up the winner and is a constant threat

3 Ali not played well at all but got on the score sheet

4 sterling troubles every team we play yet to score or hit the heights he does for his club

If Ali and sterling Kane and linegard turn up on weds we win at a canter

We have t had the best out of sterling or Ali yet and are in the semi finals

Imagine what can happen if they turn up at the max of their game potential

We should have peppered their goal a bit more.

That idea is not to be sneezed at.

Looks like the media witch hunt of Sterling has actually been effective in muddying opinions about him.

I've said it before, like everyone else, but his presence occupies more than one defender. This allows other players more freedom of expression on the ball. When he's on the ball, he'll be double marked - same as when he's off it. And every team seems to have done well to neutralise him, which is only to the detriment of focusing on Kane/Lingard/Alli. It's a team game and Sterling supports the other ten guys fantastically.

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." ~ Aristotle

nth london addick said:

Sterling divides the Opinions because for Citeh he scores for fun

Citeh is full of quality top to bottom so it’s not just sterling to worry about

Right now England have 4 attacking players to worry about

1 Kane is seemingly bang in form although against Sweden looked out of Salts against his own high standards

2 linegard scores a great goal set up the winner and is a constant threat

3 Ali not played well at all but got on the score sheet

4 sterling troubles every team we play yet to score or hit the heights he does for his club

If Ali and sterling Kane and linegard turn up on weds we win at a canter

We have t had the best out of sterling or Ali yet and are in the semi finals

Imagine what can happen if they turn up at the max of their game potential

Its not that at all, its his finishing. I do think he is the scapegoat, but he is not playing in his City position. He is a winger who comes in and normally scores a few from the play coming down the opposite wing. For England he plays sort of up top/ free role of the striker, he has obviously created space and chances but its a different role to what he is used to.

I have said all tourney we should play Rashford instead, however we cant really change things now. I am hoping he has a big part to play either getting us to the final or in the final, everyone has a part to play and he just stands out more as he isn't putting the chances away.

In Southgate we trust!

I've seen quite a lot of people assuming this is a routine win for us, have to disagree. Their quality in midfield is incredible for a small nation. Modric, Rakitic, Perisic, Kovacic, Brozovic, all kinds of ic. Then they've got players across the rest of the park like Jedvaj, Mandzukic, Corluka, Lovren, Subasic, Kramaric, Vida etc. It feels very much like when we are up against a smaller club and we assume we will win because we are the bigger club. I am an England optimist and said from the start of the tournament that this is the best chance in my lifetime but this is a big challenge and a bit of a pick em' game imo. We could have some real trouble in the midfield and it's where I am concerned most. I can see them having more of the ball but hopefully I am wrong. The one thing I will say is don't be surprised if Sterling finally gets it done. If it's any game it's this game, Croatia will fancy themselves against us and our top players will get more freedom. If Russia can put two past them you would like to think we could do more. Southgate has taken us this far and I trust him to take us further, if we can stop Rakitic and Modric pulling the strings in midfield then we can do it, if we can't then it's gonna be very nerve racking.

I'm absolutely buzzing either way, I'm 27 so I haven't experienced England doing well like this till now and there's a real good vibe when you're out other than the idiots smashing up cars and public transport. Hope everyone enjoys their evening and we all get to see the lads make the final, I'm going 3-2 England in extra time, dramatic equaliser by Sterling in normal time.

killerandflash said:

On Sterling, what I don't agree with is the idea that it's a "media" witch hunt, when from comments on this board or elsewhere on social media, many England supporters are just as critical.

Personally I think he is making a positive contribution, but has been slightly lucky to keep his place. The poor attacking performances against Belgium by the alternatives Rashford, Vardy and Welbeck have probably made this decision easier for Southgate.

Sadly I think a lot of the negativity towards Sterling on social media is people jumping on a media bandwagon. I thought he played well against Sweden getting inbetween the lines and stretching their defence which opened up space for others. You need that against a well organised defensive side.

I don't think Rashford is ready to be starting games at this level yet and is better coming off the bench against tired legs and playing Vardy encourages too many long balls into the channels which tend to come to nothing. I am yet to see any reason why Sterling shouldn't be in the starting line-up given his performances so far and the alternatives available.

ValleyGary said:

Justin Timberlake is at the O2 tomorrow and he’s opening the doors early to allow fans to watch the game on the big screen. Nice touch and can imagine a few dads will be happy.

And happy to watch the game as well.

ValleyGary said:

Justin Timberlake is at the O2 tomorrow and he’s opening the doors early to allow fans to watch the game on the big screen. Nice touch and can imagine a few dads will be happy.

..a few husbandswill be happy too. JT - you're a legend!

ricky_otto said:

On the sterling debate, not his biggest fan, however, if it upsets the balance of the team, dropping him now wouldnt make any sense. He did ok on Saturday, yes he missed chances, but he didn’t hide (in fact he never does) and continued to get himself in dangerous areas. It will come for him. First goalscorer bet for me tomorrow.

I had £5 on Sterling to score first and 2-0 on Saturday, think I might do the same again.

JohnBoyUK said:

Anyone going to the semi-final showing at Hyde Park tomorrow is going to be treated with The Lightning Seeds playing beforehand.

did try getting in the ballot but it kept crashing, think i will watch down the local ( red barn barnehurst )

carly burn said:

nth london addick said:

Sterling divides the Opinions because for Citeh he scores for fun

Citeh is full of quality top to bottom so it’s not just sterling to worry about

Right now England have 4 attacking players to worry about

1 Kane is seemingly bang in form although against Sweden looked out of Salts against his own high standards

2 linegard scores a great goal set up the winner and is a constant threat

3 Ali not played well at all but got on the score sheet

4 sterling troubles every team we play yet to score or hit the heights he does for his club

If Ali and sterling Kane and linegard turn up on weds we win at a canter

We have t had the best out of sterling or Ali yet and are in the semi finals

Imagine what can happen if they turn up at the max of their game potential

Now I’m not knocking Sterling because in Southgate we trust. But in reference to Kane, although top scorer, he has had very little in terms of chances in open play.
And one of the main reasons for that is his playing partner imo.

Well that's 2 of us who can see that point.

carly burn said:

nth london addick said:

Sterling divides the Opinions because for Citeh he scores for fun

Citeh is full of quality top to bottom so it’s not just sterling to worry about

Right now England have 4 attacking players to worry about

1 Kane is seemingly bang in form although against Sweden looked out of Salts against his own high standards

2 linegard scores a great goal set up the winner and is a constant threat

3 Ali not played well at all but got on the score sheet

4 sterling troubles every team we play yet to score or hit the heights he does for his club

If Ali and sterling Kane and linegard turn up on weds we win at a canter

We have t had the best out of sterling or Ali yet and are in the semi finals

Imagine what can happen if they turn up at the max of their game potential

Now I’m not knocking Sterling because in Southgate we trust. But in reference to Kane, although top scorer, he has had very little in terms of chances in open play.
And one of the main reasons for that is his playing partner imo.

Who needs open play goals when you score at nearly every single set piece you have?


...Oh and who wins a load of corners and dangerous free kicks...? Sterling.

LenGlover said:

No easy games at this stage.

However I do feel that if we can stop Modric then we have a very good chance. I might even consider starting Dier to be all over him like a rash.

Dier hasn’t got the brain to do that. He gets dragged out of position so easily, look what happened against Colombia when he was played in the holding position. Modric would be far too intelligent for him, let them worry about us.

Modric is only one player ,a good one I must admit but I would rather the team concentrate on what they are trying to do than worry too much about him.

ValleyGary said:

LenGlover said:

No easy games at this stage.

However I do feel that if we can stop Modric then we have a very good chance. I might even consider starting Dier to be all over him like a rash.

Dier hasn’t got the brain to do that. He gets dragged out of position so easily, look what happened against Colombia when he was played in the holding position. Modric would be far too intelligent for him, let them worry about us.

Really?

Can I remind you that this season Spurs fielded a midfield pair of Dier and a young Harry Winks against Real Madrid and Modric at Wembley with Sissoko alongside them (and trust me, that counts as a handicap) and Modric was taken off with 10 mins to go as he was in Dier and Sissoko's pocket.

I don't remember Henderson being able to say the same thing in the CL final?