11 Jul 2018 22:30:47
It is was it is. We have proven as a team that we can grind out results when we don't really play well. We exceeded my expectations and we should be proud as a nation. I am as frustrated as anyone else but not disheartened. Let's keep these boys together and kick on from here. Gareth Southgate should take a bow. He has been absolute class and shown real respect off the pitch. Maybe the only thing we lacked was a bit of nerve at the end. Fair play to all the players noatter what team they play for it doesn't matter. Hopefully though the city and spuds lads will have a long.layoff now which they thouroughlly deserve and miss the first 36 games of the season as they recuperate. 😀 Well done England. 👍

1.) 11 Jul 2018
11 Jul 2018 23:19:47
You have played two good teams and were beat by both.
Easy group and flattered to deceive.
Not tactically good enough not smart enough.
Oh dear won't have to hear we won the world cup for the next 52 years.

2.) 11 Jul 2018
11 Jul 2018 23:42:24
“You” says it all 😴.

{Ed007's Note - The guy's from Belfast, what do you want him to say?}

3.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 06:12:00
@Paul from Belfast. If you said to me before the tournament that we would lose in extra time in the semi final I would have snapped your hand off. You can only beat what is in front of you as they say. Unfortunately that goes for Croatia as well. Did we get ahead of ourselves as a nation. yes. But do you honestly believe that the Irish wouldn't either? We lost our first game 1-0 but hardly looked like we tried to win. Last night was just nerves. We did ok all we need to do is learn from it and keep going.

4.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 08:23:07
The youngest side in the tournament gets to the semi final, now if that was Brazil Germany France or anyone else then people would be saying how well theyed done and what a positive tournament theyed had, a bit like if Scotland Ireland or Wales made the qualifying play offs and narrowly lost.
The fact that so many Irish Scots and Welsh fans were so relieved last night says just how well England did.
I totally get the rivalry between the British nations but I just don't get English people being happy we lost, why? So they can say I told you so? Really! Now that is sad.

{Ed001's Note - no they would not. All we would have heard about is how easy their progress was and how lucky they were to get to face the easiest route to a World Cup semi-final of all time. No one would have been talking them up. England, as usual, were full of 'we are the greatest' after beating dross. It is embarrassing the arrogance that exudes from the media and public every time England fluke, and I do mean fluke as not creating a decent chance in open play and relying solely on set pieces is not quality play it is relying on luck, a victory. That World Cup was ruined for me because they had English commentary on every game, no matter who was playing, and all they bloody talked about was 1966 and how wonderful the incredibly crap Southgate is. He couldn't make a sub to change a game if his life depended on it. He couldn't get a team to play football or put them in their correct positions or defend against even an exhausted Croatian attack with half their players limping. They played bloody awful percentage football of the kind Sam Allardyce and Jose Mourinho are crucified for but it is ok because they fluked an easy run to the semis. This World Cup has been the lowest in quality terms of any I have ever seen, it has been abysmal and I am so glad it is nearly over.}

5.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 09:00:01
Spot on Ed. Would Arsenal fans want Southgate to manage our team?
The tactics were poor, the players poor.
It comes as no surprise that very few, if any English players or managers are employed overseas at top clubs.

6.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 09:26:43
I've no idea if over countries had English commentary or not on every game but it's only natural that all games in this country should be broadcast in English and the players and the manager aren't responsible for the media only for themselves and what they do and in my opinion they did the best they could and better than most thought they were capable of.
Yes the draw fell kindly for them and had they had drawn France Brazil Argentina in the last 16 then they probably would have caught the first plane home after the group stages, but they didn't.
How many England teams have struggled to beat easier opposition in previous tournaments but merely strutted their stuff and lived off their premier league reputation.
I thought the first 45 minutes last night the team looked excellent and as good as I've seen from England for years and Kane and Lingard both had first half chances that were created for them.
Yes I personally decided to get on board the optimistic train and enjoy the possibility that we really might make the final and it was fun with people all over the country enjoying our best world cup for 28 years, people were buzzing hoping and getting excited at the possibility of England being in a world cup final, what's wrong with that?
People everywhere were sayng
it's coming home
I think most of us knew there was a real possibility it might well not be (coming home) but we chose to enjoy the ride while it lasted.
I think Gareth Southgate did a fantastic job, is he now a Pep Gardiola? No and never will be but he and his totally written off team did themselves and their country proud, we had a great experience that none of us ever expected to have and if fortune fell our way with the draw? What we're we supposed to do ask fifa for a more difficult route to please the critics.

{Ed001's Note - I really wonder how beer soaked your goggles were that you think that crappy performance in the first half was great. They were getting dominated by half time with no clue how to turn it around. Sorry but this England side was no different than any other, just luckier.}

7.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 10:21:38
By City and Barcelona standards our football quality wasn't at the races no question about that but by England standards I thought the first 45 minutes was pretty good and they were the better team, obviously the next 45 they lost their way completely and in extra time they were like a boxer who was out on his feet just trying to hang on, but we've seen a lot lot worse from England teams over the years.
Before the competition started we were mid table championship standard but by the time it ended we were championship promotion contenders, where it goes from here who knows maybe back to square one or maybe we will follow up with a good euro 2020, for me this group of players represented their country to the best of their ability and if they over achieved by getting to the last 4 then surely that's the aim of every team, to be the best you can be and more if possible.
As much some people are going ott about the future all I know is they gave a lot of people a lot of enjoyment they weren't expecting to get this summer and Gareth Southgate and his young team deserve their 5 minutes in the spotlight simply because they did their absolute best for their country, much like an Olympic athlete who gets a totally unexpected bronze.

8.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 10:55:04
Ed. we beat Sweden who were narrowly beaten by Germany. The current world champions who weren't at their best admittedly. We beat Colombia who who have recently beaten France we beat a spirited tunisia, we lost to Belgium when we weren't really bothered about the result anyway. Luck is a massive part of the game. Italy and Holland didn't even qualify, nor the likes of Chile. We were in control in the first half last night but our nerves kicked in. It happens to all teams. Why can't people get behind the team and say well done for getting into the semi finals and taking it into extra time?

{Ed001's Note - how were they in control in the first half? I am sorry but that is just bias talking. They were the better side and had England pegged back after the initial shock of going behind. England sneaked past a dreadful Sweden, who has Larsson, who is not good enough for the Championship, as their key man. And how was it done? Set pieces. The team is all about set pieces and offer nothing in open play. They deserved nothing and got nothing.}

9.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 11:03:51
Sorry ed07 . I thought Belfast was in England. I only thought that because a mate of mine is from there and he says “we” 😂.

{Ed007's Note - Some of them over there are a pretty strange bunch... and we'll just leave it at that I think :)

10.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 12:23:25
Have to say spot on ed01, it truly has been embarrassing, the total over hyping of this team has been unreal. Describing Loftus-Cheek as a world beater did it for me.

6 shots on target in 10 hours of football says it all. It’s not a case of I told you so it’s what happened.

Panama, Columbia and Sweden was our limit. 🙄

Now let’s get on with the new season. 😁.

{Ed001's Note - I just don't get it mate. Maybe it is because I am living abroad so not being force fed crap by the media, but I just do not see why people were so excited.}

11.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 12:47:38
What's wrong with using set pieces?
Surely you play to your strengths who ever you are
This England team is not the new Brazil 1970 or the new Holland 74 and 78 and they are not even the new Germany 2014, they are a bunch of you lads who gave thier best for their country, no one is saying they were the best team ever playing the best football ever but just representing their country to the best of thier personal abilities .
I fail to see what is wrong with that or people back home buying into their efforts and enjoying a tournament for a very nice change, what is so wrong with a wave of optimism fun and enjoyment sweeping the nation? It made a very very welcome break from hearing about Brexit 24/ 7.
These England players and manager gave it their best and yes there were failings and short comings within the side that were plain to see all the way through the competition but last I heard they never claimed to be perfect, they never said they were brilliant they just lived every school boys dream of playing for their country in a world cup and got close to the ultimate achievement of representing their country in a world cup final.
I just can't see why people want to knock them or the fans for dreaming of what looked impossible 3 weeks ago when they got so close.
If having a bit of luck along the way was outlawed then every team that ever achieved anything would be deleted from the history books, especially in knock out competitions.

12.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 12:54:27
Haha lol ed07. I’m sure there is mate 😂.

{Ed007's Note - Have you ever been? It's like stepping through a time warp in some places.}

13.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 14:59:33
Getting to the semis is great. 2 wins 2 loses and a draw against mostly average sides, not so good. Typical england finals results really.

14.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 15:02:55
I haven’t mate. My dad was posted there and did a few tours in the 70’s and said it was the only time he was ever genuinely scared of anything.

{Ed007's Note - It's a lot better than back then and is actually a lovely city to visit - except in July.}

15.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 17:29:05
Steve Surely they had 3 2 draws and 1 defeat or 4 and 2 defeats unless you want to call the Colombia game a draw but if you do that surely then so was the Croatia game a draw too so 3 wins 2 draws I defeat because they played 6 games mate.
You can insist the Colombia game was a draw because of penalties but the Croatia game wasnt because it didn't go to penalties in order to paint the darkest picture possible i suppose if that's what makes you happy I suppose.
What if they win Saturday? Will that be a nothing game :-) but should they lose it should definitely be counted in the against column I guess?

16.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 18:21:31
Gunner its not about painting a picture, its about putting things into perspective. They got to the semis but they weren't that impressive or good. We scored most of our goals from set pieces and we let in goals every game. We never looked convincing at all, we had a few good periods but that was it. People are jumping on the media hype band wagon. Sorry for having an opinion that isn't media fuelled.

17.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 18:54:10
I'm not asking you to have an opinion that is media fuelled mate just to the young lads a bit of slack, they were not the best team at the start or at the finish but they did much better than anyone thought they would plus they enjoyed it and on the whole the country enjoyed it, there was a feel good atmosphere for a couple of weeks that most people football fans or not bought into, people put their day to day troubles aside for a bit and dared to dream and I see nothing but good about that.
To make the final would have been a brilliant occasion for the country and I'm sure there would have been Street parties that went into and beyond the night, sadly it wasn't to be but they gave their all trying to make it happen and deserve credit for doing so.
No high profile wags no circus just young lads doing their best for everyone both in Russia and back home.

18.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 19:03:26
Surely they lost to belgiam and croatia and drew with columbia.

19.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 19:20:21
Ed001 I agree with all that you said there especially the part about not being able to make a sub and change things.

{Ed001's Note - that was what cost England last night. Modric, Rakitic et al were out on their feet before extra time, but he had no idea what to do to take advantage.}

20.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 19:21:30
Bond July is a great month in Belfast if your a bit mad in the head😀.

{Ed007's Note - Well that's one way of putting it I suppose.}