Arena The *Official* 2022 FIFA World Cup Thread

Man if Senegal doesn’t figure out how to stop that Kane/Saka cross attempt quickly it’s going to connect before this is over.

 

I liked that had Lloris saved the 2nd penalty, it still would have been disallowed. STAY ON YOUR LINE!

 

HENDO!

Wait I wanted Senegal to win this.

… HENDO!

 

Bellingham is a bit good

 

Bellingham is a lot good. Considering England's slow start, I'll take 2-0 at half time.

 

Once again I miss two crucial goals when putting Her Ladyship to bed... But whatever, I'll take that!

 

Phil Fodens a bit good

 

Sakaaa!!!!

 

What a lovely, lovely goal. Perfect control.

 

If Southgate can resist his natural instinct to play a 9-1-0 and instead lets his squad play more like this, England - France should be terrific.

 

Maddison isn't going to play a minute at this WC is he?

Grealish for his third match in a game thats won or bring on Maddison who's so far on a jolly

 

I thought he was coming back from injury but I could be wrong.

 

Another game that has echoes of a past conflict, this time The Hundred Years War

The quarter finals are gonna be great

 

Mbappe v Maguire, it’s what we’ve all been waiting for really

 

It's either going to be embarrassingly bad or Maguire will somehow channel his inner Rio/Terry/King/Adams and puts Mbappe in his pocket

I'm leaning towards the former.

I expected to go out in the quarters anyway, I just hope we don't get utterly embarrassed ala Brazil/Germany.

 

Disagree. France are very much beatable, but we can't be cautious and allow Mbappé anywhere near a chance (i.e. play like the first 30 minutes of the Senegal game). Look how vulnerable they looked in the opening of their match against Poland. Be confident, go forward and they will seem a lot less threatening.

 

England can beat France, I don't disagree. My worry is really only Mbappe. The space he was given today against Poland was unforgiveable (his first goal was just offensively bad defending) and whilst I don't expect him to get that sort of space, I worry that Southgate will revert to type and nix the attacking intent like he did against the USA.

Mbappe can undo any defence and while I think Maguire is much maligned (massively out of form at club level but seems ok on the international stage). I do worry that Saturday is the day where Mbappe hits his next level and Maguire goes all United on us.

If we can keep Mbappe quiet we have a very good chance.

 

I'm just happy the Netherlands don't have to go up against England and France.

 

They'll have enough trouble with Messi.

The thing with France is they're great across the board. The defence is great, midfield is great and the forward line is great.

England have a great midfield & forward line but the back is suspect.
I expect Giroud & Mbappe to have a much easier time against Maguire & Stones compared to Kane & Rashford against Varane & Upamecano/Kounde

Any really good attacking side with movement and good crossing like France will totally bulldoze England if they play like they did in the first half.

 

Disagree

Mbappe will be aces against ANY side in the World Cup

Giroud will come un stuck against a well martialled defence. Giroud doesn't bother me (within reason, still a great player who can cause issues) and line him up against Stones/Maguire and I's expect our defence to keep him quiet nine times out of ten.
Ask them to do that with Mbappe and it drops to 50/50

Mbappe is (so far) the only real threat that France have. Giroud has scored against teams during concentration lapses but outside that, its all Mbappe. England will cause the French defence turmoil IF given licence to attack. The question is, will Southgate buck the trend of the last 2 tournaments and attack? I don't think he will and that will be our undoing. France sucker punch in the last 30mins is the likely outcome

@heels, Dembele so far has been all speed minimal end product. Granted I've not watched most of the matches (barely any in all honesty) but from the highlights I've seen, Dembele is full of running but not much at the end of it so far. Dangerous but not beyond containing with Shaw/Walker

 

I can't hold back any longer - there were some dreadful haircuts.