England

[El Prontonise]

that was a million times better than anything under sir Gareth softcock to watch mind.

[Drewboy74]

Excellent 2nd half but we aren't winning the WC with Stone, Konsa and OReally.

[St. Maximin]

England continuing to show what the World Cup has shown so far - international football isn’t boring and defensive and it doesn’t have to be played that way. Pure entertainment. 

[Virtua Stiva]

Rashford as a Specially Selected Range Harvey Barnes against knackered defenders could be very dangerous if he’s on it 

[Big Geordie]

Enjoyable game and off to a good start  

[SAK]

2 minutes ago, Wilson said:

 

It's devastating as a Newcastle fan like. 

 

Obviously love to see him doing well but fuck me, so much to get annoyed about. 

I console myself with the hope Miley could potentially be the better player in the long term.

[leffe186]

1 minute ago, LionOfGosforth said:

Understatement of the week, we'd be fucked without Kane like. 

I genuinely think we’d be OK. Not as good obviously, but I think Tuchel is a serious coach and i think he has a plan. We have so much pace and dynamism in the team when it clicks and I’d expect them to be effective enough.

[Big Geordie]

BTW - lets hope ITV bin off the tactics truck revival. Woeful all round. 

[Mikky]

The Anderson/Rice pivot is excellent - it’s been such an achilles heal for Eng - it’s the fact both can keep the ball moving forward and it’s not sidewards and backwards passing 

 

The Kane and Jude rotation was impressive also which allowed Madueke a lot of freedom to run in behind - not so much Gordon this game but both flanks are well resourced 

[LionOfGosforth]

Just now, leffe186 said:

I genuinely think we’d be OK. Not as good obviously, but I think Tuchel is a serious coach and i think he has a plan. We have so much pace and dynamism in the team when it clicks and I’d expect them to be effective enough.

 

Ok let's rephrase...I wouldn't like to find out and be trying to win a tournament without him. Watkins or Toney do not inspire any confidence at all. He's borderline irreplaceable,

[leffe186]

Thought Spence did great when he came on. James effective enough in midfield. Saka a class act. I do think O’Reilly settled in a bit towards the end of the match but he remains a concern.

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

Anderson showed his class as well. Kept it moving all game.

[leffe186]

Madueke’s run there to support Bellingham is great too. Man it’s good to have serious pace all over.

[M4]

Just now, leffe186 said:

Madueke’s run there to support Bellingham is great too. Man it’s good to have serious pace all over.

 

Yeah he ensures Bellingham only has a 1v1 to deal with.

 

 

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

Anderson, Rice, Bellingham, Kane and Saka are the 5, I think.

[samptime29]

Really enjoyed that. 

[El Prontonise]

Honest appraisal for me, England did look really good going forward but Croatia scored 2 goals fairly simply.

[joeyt]

3 minutes ago, Super Duper Branko Strupar said:

Anderson, Rice, Bellingham, Kane and Saka are the 5, I think.

 

Madueke was really dangerous i thought

[Mattoon]

7 minutes ago, Super Duper Branko Strupar said:

Anderson showed his class as well. Kept it moving all game.

 

I love how he runs full pelt in a players blind spot and nicks the ball away, he broke up play so well and was great going forward too.

[Moose]

Good game, good win against a good team with lots of good performances across the team which puts us in a good position for the rest of the group stage.

 

Say good more.

 

Good.

[STM]

Both our next 2 games will be easier. Ghana will be good physically but nowhere near the smartness of Croatia.

 

Gordon and Madueke should continue to start. They are doing the donkey work. Rashford won't press the ball the way we need.

[Maggies]

Really enjoyable anpproach and style to our play. Even enjoyed the half time interview with the assistant coach - makes such a difference having a serious manager!

[McCormick]

Good win and definitely a lot of positives, but I always thought we'd have too much athleticism for this Croatia side and it showed in the second half.

“The real test” is always against teams that can match us physically. Encouraging performance, but I'll get more excited when we do it against that level of opposition.

[Robbo2]

Love him or hate him, Bellingham gives a fantastic interview 

[ElDiablo]

Good test and we passed it which is positive. They pressed us well and we did look uncomfortable playing out at times. I'm not convinced about a Stones + O'Reilly left hand side at the back.