Croatia vs England - (SF) - 19:00 - 11/07/2018

[ddraig]

There are 4 million people you need to direct your apology to. I am not one of them.

But you said i'd made an error so you know what the error is
At least I tell people how they've spelled Colombia wrongly (and only knew from doing it wrong myself and being corrected)

 

[Favelado]

anyway, im out, its been a great comp, good fun, some great matches and seemingly no violence off pitch in Russia .
Euro 2020 look fun, being held in 12 different countries.

Good luck to Hrvatska in the final!! They'll need it

I think France will be a tough ask for Croatia. I'd guess 3-1 to France in the final. I'm amazed that there was little violence too, but I guess Putin just decided he wasn't having it, so it never happened.

 

[pocketscience]

Less so than you might think. Outside of penalties when did big teams lose to lesser teams (we all know who those are)?
Germany lost to Korea and Argentina lost to a team now in the final, the golden Croatian generation. Other than that its pretty much gone to the form book or as good as.

You're forgetting Spain with their last minute equaliser against Morroco, Japan made Belgium look like idiots for 80mins, Portugal vs Iran again last minute, France weren't exactly convincing against Australia - remember that dodgy VAR penalty, Spain were run ragged by Russia, etc etc etc...

Sorry theres no way of getting away from it, England had an easy a run as it is possible to have in the world cup, and credit to Southgate for making sure that happened.

Selective thinking me thinks. Germany had an easy group ... Spain had the easiest R16 game... Croatia the easiest quaterfinal (got lucky in penalies) ... Easy runs and easy games are evidently easy to fuck up. We didn't...

 

[Humberto]

I've said numerous times that Wales aren't good enough, where's the bitterness?
Not sad or obsessed, loving the result tonight, quite happy, you're wrong on all counts

LOOK how offended I am. As I shit up every thread.

 

[Favelado]

See above post. Haven’t seen Uruguay in an elite international semi final recently and I very much doubt that rugby has such a pull on a limited pool of talent. I’ll stay happy if that’s ok with you, perhaps more so now I’ve clocked how pissed off you are

2010 World Cup they made the semis. And they've won it twice.

 

[keybored]

But you said i'd made an error so you know what the error is
At least I tell people how they've spelled Colombia wrongly (and only knew from doing it wrong myself and being corrected)

Don't you just.

 

[xenon]

Can’t be arsed with the anti-English, and reciprocal anti-welsh stuff. But I a down with annoying Wallys.

 

[bendeus]

2010 World Cup they made the semis. And they've won it twice.

Ok, I stand corrected but my point still stands. They won it quite a long while back, IIRC.

 

[ddraig]

Don't you just.

View attachment 140960

Yes and? (e2a 6 posts in 7 years! )
I've apparently made and error with "Croatian" it would have taken you less time to correct me that to search, take a screen shot and upload it
I take your word i've made an error so it would be good if you could let me know what the right spelling is, thanks

 

[Favelado]

Ok, I stand corrected but my point still stands. They won it quite a long while back, IIRC.

I've nothing against Wales, or you, really, but I think ddraig winds people up so often we're allowed to give him a bit of a dig back.

 

[keybored]

Yes and?
I've apparently made and error with "Croatian" it would have taken you less time to correct me that to search, take a screen shot and upload it
I take your word i've made an error so it would be good if you could let me know what the right spelling is, thanks

I'm laughing too fucking hard right now. Sorry x

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Ok, I stand corrected but my point still stands. They won it quite a long while back, IIRC.

It doesn't really. Uruguay have also won the Copa America loads of times, including recently. For such a small country, their record is absolutely amazing.

 

[bendeus]

I've nothing against Wales, or you, really, but I think ddraig winds people up so often we're allowed to give him a bit of a dig back.

Thanks and understood

 

[bendeus]

It doesn't really. Uruguay have also won the Copa America loads of times, including recently. For such a small country, their record is absolutely amazing.

I agree, but I would still say that Wales reaching the semis of a major tournament is a huge achievement for a country of our size with the player resources it has. It won’t be happening again any time soon, that’s for certain.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I agree, but I would still say that Wales reaching the semis of a major tournament is a huge achievement for a country of our size with the player resources it has. It won’t be happening again any time soon, that’s for certain.

I'm not disputing that either. Comparing with Uruguay is a bit unfair given that there are larger nations where football is bigger than it is in Wales that have never got as far as Wales. *cough* Scotland *cough*

Uruguay are exceptional.

 

[pocketscience]

I agree, but I would still say that Wales reaching the semis of a major tournament is a huge achievement for a country of our size with the player resources it has. It won’t be happening again any time soon, that’s for certain.

Croatia have very respectable handball and basketball teams. They excel at tennis & skiing as far as individual sports go. There's really no way out of this one - as a Welshman you should be rightfully ashamed.
/ddraig mode

 

[Wilf]

Back on the match, England barely had a functioning forward in the last 3 games. Ironically, Keane* will probably get the golden boot, but he was really poor today. Couple of bad choices when he had a chance, but utterly disappeared later in the game. Vardy was hopeless when he came on and though he was better today, Sterling didn't make any telling contributions. Rashford ditto, though when he came on today he was having to cover the left and right. Dele All, not great, Lingard went off the boil last couple of games.

Day after Edit: Kane, not Keane.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Back on the match, England barely had a functioning forward in the last 3 games. Ironically, Keane will probably get the golden boot, but he was really poor today. Couple of bad choices when he had a chance, but utterly disappeared later in the game. Vardy was hopeless when he came on and though he was better today, Sterling didn't make any telling contributions. Rashford ditto, though when he came on today he was having to cover the left and right. Dele All, not great, Lingard went off the boil last couple of games.

Sterling played very well today, I think. Numerous times he won the ball and England either built an attack or had a corner/attacking throw-in.

Plus, and this isn't being played up much, he really should have had a penalty when England were still winning.

 

[pocketscience]

Well disappointed with Henderson. His legs were gone at the 40min mark. Hindsight and all, but we really needed fresh legs at half time. Dier, RLC & Rashford (or Delph) for Henderson, Dele & Sterling

 

[Humberto]

The FA are shite though. Hodgson/ Allardyce anyone?

 

[Wilf]

Well disappointed with Henderson. His legs were gone at the 40min mark. Hindsight and all, but we really needed fresh legs at half time. Dier, RLC & Rashford (or Delph) for Henderson, Dele & Sterling

Yeah, that. Was relentless watching the game turn and England's passing and movement getting worse and worse throughout the game. Easy to say, but Southgate needed to do something to change it.

 

[Celyn]

What Croatian things can I smash up?

Many! Do as you will. (And harm no-one)

What Croatian things may you smash up? That is a bit different.

 

[William of Walworth]

Back on the match, England barely had a functioning forward in the last 3 games. Ironically, Keane will probably get the golden boot, but he was really poor today. Couple of bad choices when he had a chance, but utterly disappeared later in the game. Vardy was hopeless when he came on and though he was better today, Sterling didn't make any telling contributions. Rashford ditto, though when he came on today he was having to cover the left and right. Dele All, not great, Lingard went off the boil last couple of games.

That's a pretty good analysis Wilf , but I have no idea whatsoever how you're capable of posting it so soon after such an absolute bloody frustration of a match!!

 

[Thaw]

You've got Spain and Croatia in the European Nations League thing - rematch in October

 

[JimW]

Woken after too little sleep to think of what might have beens. One of those chances first half goes in and maybe Croatia wouldn't have got going fast enough. Still surprising ungutted if disappointed.

 

[krtek a houby]

Afternoon all. That was something else, wasn't it? Might find myself watching more England games in future. It was great to see a balanced and capable young team giving it their best.

 

[donkyboy]

england threw it way.
couldn''t keep position after the goal
wasted chances
walker too early header attempt for croatia goal was comical
stupid comments about croatia playing extra time and would be tired in this game was laughable. tired is excuse used by england-always. doesn't seem to affect any other country

 

[fizzerbird]

Threat to who??

What I meant was a partner/house mate, Croation or innocent member of the public by containing the abuse and anger here

No threat from me so your report is pathetic and laughable

I read it as you meant it ddraig...as in keeping it all here stops the real thing happening.

WTAF is going on with you and a few others on here?

By posting it on this post not attaching blame to you but it doesn't even appear to be comprehensive debates.

To me it appears like male posturing and it's childish and unnecessary from all involved.

I'd put you all on ignore if I didn't like you all individually but maybe you should all put each other on ignore.

Some of the comments thrown about are distasteful and quite frankly I'm actually shocked that an otherwise intelligent and eloquent bunch of humans are seemingly resorting to playground politics...for why?

It saddens me

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Hear hear

 

[planetgeli]

Yes, the better team won. I've been consistent on here in saying England weren't good enough to realise people's dreams. They got the run of the draw, occasionally played some decent football, and did well to be a losing semi-finalist.

I have no problem accepting all of that.

I'm English, not particularly proud of it because of political history. But in sport you follow those you know best don't you. That's why we haven't got thousands of screaming badminton fans on here, but if it was a Malaysian board we would have. I have, however, lived in Wales the last 15 years. That's over a quarter of my life. Consequently, I follow Wales too. Some of the political history isn't as bad as England's, and I feel association with the country by dint of being closer to Welsh people and culture than I otherwise would be if I didn't live here.

I'm quite pissed with the behaviour of ddraig and others who definitely take anti-Englishness to a level beyond humour and gentle rivalry, spilling over into barely concealed hatred of people like me for having the gall to follow what they know. There was a lot of deliberate provocative behaviour that in other contexts, as someone else said, would see them banned from these boards. Certainly behaviour that would see fights started if the behaviour happened in real life.

I'll continue to support Wales and England, because it is what I know. And if your life can only get kicks from negativity, hundreds of posts on here of negativity (and yes ddraig I do think the same about others who similarly, shallowly taunt you in other threads and contexts) then may your God help you because your life must be in some parlous dreadful state if that's what makes you feel better.