England - the future....

[Pepe the Horseman]

Is Novakovich injured? Seems odd that USA have only got two strikers in their squad.

[Hoop Blah]

A decent enough performance for England last night in Rooney's testimonial.

Sancho and Alexander-Arnold the two main winners on the night for me. I don't think either centre back really enhanced their chances of pushing Southgate's first choices, and Delph and Winks just performed on par with expectation really.

Sancho had the swagger of a player who looks comfortable in an England shirt and looks a great prospect. The thought of him and Sterling either side of Kane in a 4-3-3 is quite exciting.

I watched the under 21s vs Italy as well. Lewis Cook and Phil Foden both played well, with Sessegnon looking a threat at times and putting in a great cross for Solanke's goal.

[Victor Meldrew]

Watched the Croatia v Spain game ahead of our game v Croatia on Sunday.
A very entertaining and competitive game with Croatia back to the competitive team of last Summer.
Sunday should now be well worth watching with something at stake.

It sounds as though Callum Wilson did o.k.?
Had a chat with him about golf a couple of Mondays ago-couldn't believe how short he is .
Looking at Wiki it has him at 5ft 11 in but , as we have felt when signing new players and questioning such details, he can be no more than about 5ft 8 ins tall.
Not that it matters but was a bit of a surprise bearing in mind that he plays as a central striker but looks more like a winger..

[Hoop Blah]

So, Croatia at home on Sunday. I'm assuming that Southgate will stick with the 4-3-3 he's adopted recently which means...

Pickford

Walker
Gomez
Stones
Shaw or Chilwell

Barkely
Henderson
Alli?

Sterling
Kane
Rashford

I'm assuming Sancho didn't do quite enough to force Rashford out of the front 3. Only other positions for debate are probably left back, but I'm guessing he'll go with Shaw, and the make up of the midfield 3 where perhaps Wink or Dier could put pressure on my predicted starters depending on what Southgate is looking to do.

[Hoop Blah]

Pickford

Walker
Gomez
Stones
Chilwell

Barkley
Dier
Delph

Sterling
Kane
Rashford

Cracking first half from England, with Delph outstanding and the front three causing all sorts of problems for Croatia, if only we could that little bit more clinical in front of goal. Not sure why Alan Smith seems to have such a dower on Sterling though.

[BR0B0T]

England on the verge of turning it around with late goals from Kane and an absolute screamer from Lingaard

[sandman]

England are the second coming of Greece in 2004. Organised team with limited talent scoring mostly from set pieces.

[glass half full]

Yes! 2-1.
No more than England deserve.

[BR0B0T]

England are the second coming of Greece in 2004. Organised team with limited talent scoring mostly from set pieces.

tw@t

[tidus_mi2]

This Nations League is much better than pointless oxf*rd friendlies.

[Ascotexgunner]

England are the second coming of Greece in 2004. Organised team with limited talent scoring mostly from set pieces.

"Limited talent" Really? Young yes but their all coming through and their all, except Sancho, PL player and good ones.
You want to see limited talent, watch Wales.....Greece 2004 really was limited..and terrible to watch. This is a decent side that plays good football and are with the elite now. That pains me.

[Scutterbucketz]

ICH

[sandman]

England are the second coming of Greece in 2004. Organised team with limited talent scoring mostly from set pieces.

tw@t

They have a base to build on and will need to hope the likes of Sancho and Foden continue to develop into creative and technically proficient players if they want to continue the momentum they have recently gained.

[windermereROYAL]

Is Friar street closed ?

[sandman]

England are the second coming of Greece in 2004. Organised team with limited talent scoring mostly from set pieces.

"Limited talent" Really? Young yes but their all coming through and their all, except Sancho, PL player and good ones.
You want to see limited talent, watch Wales.....Greece 2004 really was limited..and terrible to watch. This is a decent side that plays good football and are with the elite now. That pains me.

They play effective football. At younger age levels they have a lot of talent, that if it continues to develop could see them take that next step to becoming a real power in International football. However, this team are limited despite a good run of recent results. Results that are unsustainable unless they start to manage games better in open play.

There is potential there coming through but this team is just a building block.

[glass half full]

Modric -what do you say now?

[sandman]

Modric -what do you say now?

"Look at my Champions League winner medals"?

[glass half full]

Modric -what do you say now?

"Look at my Champions League winner medals"?

Yes but are England as bad as he thinks they are?

[Royal Rother]

This is the most enjoyable team / squad to watch that I can remember playing for England.

(‘66 and ‘70 are a bit dim in the memory, and although we’ve had moments (most provided by Gascoigne) on the whole it’s been damn near 50 years of frustration, false hopes quickly scuppered and irritation. This lot are young, interesting, exciting with the promise of lots more to come.)

What Southgate has done is pretty remarkable really.

[Tails]

Modric -what do you say now?

"Look at my Champions League winner medals"?

What's that got to do we England/International football?