Pure DFC Archive

What a nice equaliser Spain have just scored from a lovely long ball.

Didn't see that game, but have just witnessed the first half of the France Vrs Australia. I must admit that France was a strong fancy of mine and I know it's early times. But the French are certainly good at rolling around when it comes to a bit of physical. Very poor. I hope that Australia hold out for a deserved draw but expect France to UP their game for the second half which I'll miss.
As for earlier games, none of which I have watched, it's all going to plan.

Managed to watch Germany vrs Mexico. Quite a good entertaining game. A hiccup as far as the German camp is concerned, and Mexico looked very dangerous on the break. If they meet up again at anytime I wouldn't think the Germans make the same mistake again.

I know we struggled last night against Tunisia but felt we were up against a very poor referee as well. If he could give a penalty for a stray arm, what was he thinking on the two rugby tackles made on Kane? A similar penalty in a previous match for arms around a striker was given, so once again 'no uniformity' in refereeing at the WC.
For me Sterling could do with a bit more than a rifle on his calf, like a bomb tattooed on his arse. Would like to see Rose in at wing back against Panama as Young turns his marker only to find he's on his weak foot and hasn't really got a clue what to do then. Didn't think a lot of Maguire either.
Lingard and especially Trippier played very well.
We got that one out of the way and now maybe we can put a few past Panama, but I'm not holding my breath. As for Belgium
We may win the group if we put our minds too it and no stray arms in the box as wiley forwards will play to it if it's their only way of getting a goal.

The trouble with England;is our players still play by the gentleman's rules, VAR will only be used if our players take a leaf out of the Spanish,Italian,German, and all the south american teams, and surround the ref and let their feelings known about the decisions going against us , the referee then feels pressured to act, That Said: i thought we played some of the best football at this WC so far, and on another day we could of been 4-0 up at HT. Cant fault the spirit they showed, and i think Panama might be dreading Sunday?

Anyone watching the France v Peru game? What the Christian Fuchs is that around Patrice Evra’s neck? Some kind of enormous novelty clip-on spinning dickie-bow? Sack the stylist Pat and have a word with the sartorial Adonis that is Ian Wright

The French looked very good against Argentina and upped their game when it looked like they were losing it early 2nd half. Like the look of them, Kante and Pogba upping their game.

I know there is huge excitement around the exploits of the England side, but really, struggled against a poor Tunisian side and relied on a last minute goal. Had to put out the first team to save embarrassment against a woeful Panama side. The third game was non-descript as both teams were practically the 2nd string.
Struggled against probably the lowest ranked in the last 16, and looked dead on our feet in extra time. When finally Colombia realised that they didn't have to cheat or get up to their antics and could actually play football they took us to task. When Henderson passed the ball tamely to Ospina the whole country were thinking 'oh, here we go again', and we had to rely on one off the bar and an excellent save from Pickford to get us through.
We now have Sweden, who will no doubt give us a run for our money, and the critics and commentators telling us what would/could happen if....blah de blah.
As much as I have enjoyed some of the games I have largely given a lot of them a miss and sometimes wish I could have done the same with England matches. But no, I stuck with it, and now feel that of the eight countries left we are largely the under dogs. Fitness will have a lot to do with Saturdays game and judging by the way we faded after 90 minutes, Sweden may just aim for extra time.
A great achievement by the England team I admit, but the Semi's will be a step too far.

I thought we left the substitutions much too late last night (where have I heard that before?). In contrast to the night before when Martinez saw that things were not going right for Belgium. He realised that changes were needed and he made them. I thought that Dele Alli & Sterling were a waste of space. Alli was clearly not fit from the start. I heard a commentator say a few days ago that we should persevere with Sterling in case we need him in the later rounds. Well, we won't need him if we're knocked out and we don't need him if he's not playing well.

The more I see of young, the more I dislike him, and I hated him from the start. On the plus side, if you suffer from insomnia, watch England play.