New International Football thread

[mikesiva]

Kane and Sterling and Sancho!

A good start to the European qualifiers.

[Gingerfinch]

We haven't won yet

[Durhamfootman]

well that was an extremely odd game. Looked great going forward against iffy defenders, but then looked awful in defence too. Good to see Kosovo having a go, though, and not just trying to park the bus. Did us a favour there by highlighting how poor Keane, Maguire and Rice looked as a unit when the full backs were away up field.

In attack, Sterling was excellent, by far the best player on the pitch

Lots of controversy in the game. Shocking bit of theatre for the Kosovo penalty... he even had to look to see where the outstretched Maguire's leg was before touching it and going down like a sack of spuds. Barkley won one back in dubious fashion although not as outrageously as the other. There were hints at offside for the first Sancho goal.

It seems odd after introducing VAR to have the European Championships VAR-less, but then maybe that's part of the plan. Introduce it... have loads of controversy, then don't have it, so that whenever there is a controversial refereeing decision, everyone demands to know where VAR is, before bringing it back again for the WC qualifiers in a year's time, so that everyone can feel grateful for its inclusion.... genius!

[Gingerfinch]

It was nice watching a free flowing game without VAR. Our penalty was soft but you get some now and again.

[Durhamfootman]

strewth... England were diabolical in that first half

hopeless, hapless and helpless

the 3 H's

[Durhamfootman]

you know they're in trouble when half an hour into the match the players are yelling at each other

they can barely get hold of the ball.... when they do they can't keep it. Crikey.... even when they get a throw in there's no-one to throw it to, so they just throw it away. Sterling is the most explosive player on the pitch and he has to come back into his own half to try and get hold of the ball, because no-one can get a pass to him.

Henderson and Rice are just standing around. Maguire and Keane can't get their heads on any set piece delivery. The full backs are nowhere to be seen going forward and nowhere to be seen going back. Kane is having to play more like a centre mid than a centre forward and so far none of Mount, Sterling and Sancho are seeing anything of the ball

really, really bad

[Durhamfootman]

England are crying out for a change of shape, but can Southgate deliver?

[Durhamfootman]

I can't watch the second half, because Mrs DF is watching masterchef. I could go to another room and another telly, but I don't think I really want to. Not sure my blood pressure could cope. I'll watch the highlights later if England manage to turn this around

[Gingerfinch]

We're looking more likely to score at present.

[Gingerfinch]

Nice finish.

[Durhamfootman]

We're looking more likely to score at present.

wah, wah, wah, waaah!

[Durhamfootman]

remind me... isn't this the team that England beat 5-0 earlier in the comp?

[Durhamfootman]

Ah well... thank goodness the system was fine, and the players who were picked were the right ones

I'll probably find that we were just a bit unlucky

one of those things

other teams always raise their games when they play us

on another night we'd have scored 10

nothing to worry about

at all

the BBC live feed commented on Abraham being 'thrown on' with 2 minutes to go 'to try and salvage something'... pretty much sums up Southgate's tactical nous

and his intent too.... he was clearly happy with a draw in that game and thought he could get one with a bit of luck

[mikesiva]

Hmmm. ...

Bulgarian fans subjecting Sterling to what could be racist abuse.

I hope the officials take this seriously.

[Gingerfinch]

Hmmm. ...

Bulgarian fans subjecting Sterling to what could be racist abuse.

I hope the officials take this seriously.

Not just Sterling, and very much racist abuse.