The Round Ball Game - II

[teamsaint]

Feel sorry for Sterling. Watched him closely all half. Huge amount of work, always available, getting involved, causing problems. He is worrying them, which matters.

I wonder if England decided to conserve a bit of energy early on. Playing well, only one team in this really.

[Stanfordian]

Sterling's on a different planet. But the pundits are saying how well he's playing! Bring on Rashford. Alli keeps giving the ball away. Lingard is having a quiet game. All the others are doing well

[Beef Oven!]

Sterling's on a different planet. But the pundits are saying how well he's playing! Bring on Rashford. Alli keeps giving the ball away. Lingard is having a quiet game. All the others are doing well

Sterling is indeed on another planet. Forget the pundits, most of them can't even kick a ball. What worries me is why Southgate keeps him in the side.

I'd forgotten Lingard, but you're right, he's on the pitch somewhere!

Alli managed an acute bout of agoraphobia from the cross and headed in!

Our 'keeper's having a blinder

[jayne lee wilson]

Oh my word, oh my sweet heaven....
we've done it! A World Cup semi final...!!

11 Stars!

Wonderfully controlled tactical performance, hard to pick out any individual - but Jordan Pickford, such skill (at least two crucial, wonderful world-class saves), spatial dominance AND sheer determination. Lingard never stopped, nor Trippier, nor Maguire...Kane never stopped working for possession, a captain's role... great team performance and saw the game through without undue risks (5' injury time was hard to get through, but they mostly kept us calm).
Sterling will get much criticism (still lacks that killer-finish instinct), but he does keep defences very busy... I still wonder why Rashford doesn't appear more, or earlier - we could have done with more strength & presence in the box. Is it something the coaches see, or don't see, in training?

I watched most of the game standing up, I couldn't keep still. Neighbouring gardens in uproar too....
Gotta go and calm down outside now, more comments later....after a few drinks!

[Beef Oven!]

England through comfortably.

First the Africans went out, then the South Americans (guaranteeing a European winner) and now with Sweden out, the Muslim countries are no longer represented.

[Beef Oven!]

Oh my word, oh my sweet heaven....
we've done it! A World Cup semi final...!!

11 Stars!

Wonderfully controlled tactical performance, hard to pick out any individual - but Jordan Pickford, such skill (two crucial, wonderful world-class saves), spatial dominance AND sheer determination. Lingard never stopped, nor Trippier, nor Maguire.... great team performance and saw the game through without undue risks (5' injury time was hard to get through, but they mostly kept us calm).

I watched most of the game standing up, I couldn't keep still. Neighbouring gardens in uproar too....
Gotta go and calm down outside now, more comments later....after a few drinks!

Totally agree about Pickford Trippier and McGuire

And yes, Lingard never stopped (whatever it was that he may have been doing!).

As for a 'wonderfully controlled tactical performance' I can only agree that the reliance on getting a corner, worked!

But the most important thing is that England are in the semis!

By the way, the Turkish commentary was hilarious (I've only got terrestrial TV here)!

[johncorrigan]

Very poor game...looked like Stoke v Watford!

[Beef Oven!]

Very poor game...looked like Stoke v Watford!

LMFAO!

[Beef Oven!]

Rumour is that Sterling has a hamstring injury

Maybe there is a god, after all

[jayne lee wilson]

Excellent BBC1 panel discussion, picking out Jordan Henderson's heroic contribution, all over the pitch...and underlining my comment above, about how Sterling always keeps going in for the ball, running at or into the defences.... this does create space for others... so come on Raheem, you're doing Ok, but - get out on the shooting practice range...

[eighthobstruction]

Very poor game...looked like Stoke v Watford!

I was actually thinking before the match it would be like Stoke v Spurs....Sterling definitely did more than a shift....Lingard too....both sacrificed themselves to the greater good....but appauling lack of poise once in or around the box.... loads of chances to set up Kane, but no composure, no vision....still overall they ran em ragged....

[Beef Oven!]

Excellent BBC1 panel discussion, picking out Jordan Henderson's heroic contribution, all over the pitch...and underlining my comment above, about how Sterling always keeps going in for the ball, running at or into the defences.... this does create space for others... so come on Raheem, you're doing Ok, but - get out on the shooting practice range...

I'm a big fan of Jordan Henderson. He's arguably our best guy out there, I thought this from the first game. But he is what he is - a solid cover midfielder. We also need some creative players, and we don't have them. Sterling is a great noodler, but we've no need for noodlers in this tournament.

[teamsaint]

Just love the way this young team has taken to its task with style, and great positive attitude.

Wonderful to see our still -football - mad country get a taste of the football good times. And this team sets such a great example to young people of how to do things well, and with class.

Sterling deserves a lot of credit, he worked his socks off, and made things happen. You simply cannot win games like this with passengers.

Happy days.

Well , the Undertones Song was good enough today, , and it may be four days till the Semi.., and so not strictly Wednesday Week......but who cares.?We can keep that Lightning Seeds record for Sunday Week

[eighthobstruction]

....Henderson has at last learned to pass forward [at last ]{at last} (at last)....now we must get the ball in the box....the Deli goal proved that....if 4 players have made the effort to get in the box, it's better to give it to them, than to not give it to them....

[teamsaint]

I was actually thinking before the match it would be like Stoke v Spurs....Sterling definitely did more than a shift....Lingard too....both sacrificed themselves to the greater good....but appauling lack of poise once in or around the box.... loads of chances to set up Kane, but no composure, no vision....still overall they ran em ragged....

Hopefully when it really matters, they will find that composure.