Curtis would fit in perfectly in the Spanish midfield to be fair.
If we are beaten by the better team on the day then fair enough, Iâll take it on the chin. Weâve had a great tournament.
But I fully expect Argentina to indulge in the usual playacting and other dark artsâŠ
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These fannies wouldnât last 10 minutes in the Army
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In fairness, they probably wouldnât have lasted 10 minutes in the English 1st Division in 1982.
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How long before the introduction of 3-minute time-outs every 10 minutes?
I canât stress enough how much I despise Infantino and his americanization of the sport for the sole purpose of earning more and more $$$.
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Just a quick questionâŠdo you honestly believe when Kane or any other player is tapped in the penalty area and goes to ground screaming and rolling in pain as though they have stepped on a landmine that this does not count as play acting ?
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Yes of course. Pretty much all footballers do it these days. We have had our fair share of divers at Liverpool⊠and they should be called out and punished by the officials.
Funnily enough the worst offender this season has been McAllister⊠I will be watching him very closely tonight 
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Yeah i agree, to me this wc has been the worse for all described above, from trump interferring, the whole advertising of the thing to the breaks etcâŠofficiating has been disgustingâŠbut the main thing is not one match has been one that will be described as a classic.
Honestly thought yesterdays match could have been up there with what i think was the best game i ever saw ( brazil vs Italy 82)âŠit wasnt sadly.
Regardless of the score tonight, given who it is against, i really hope no morons cause trouble .
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The real crime is that official jerseys are being sold for upwards of ÂŁ100 now. It costs about ÂŁ3 to make them. Disgusting.
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@Sportbilly1966 answered this.
However, I think your point needs some clarity
Hopefully Iâm reading your comment asâŠ
Most people were fed up of the lack of control we had in matches, as in our propensity to lose possession, not find passes and get caught out of position. Slot may have wanted more controlled play than Klopp, but he didnât achieve it.
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Thatâs one area of the game I know will be very evenly matched: the playacting. Both teams excel at it.
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Like I said, few teams are at the level of Spain wrt technical control.
My reference to Slot is wrt his philosophy and his game model which is based on control.
His team showed that template in his championship season.
Iâm referring his philosophy of the game, and which he was able to achieve in the championship season, but even then, not consistently, and certainly not at the level of Spain
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Iâm not sure may of us derided his philosophy of the game. We were more concerned with a lack of said philosophy for his second season.
Plus, we have and had players at the level of Spain, except Rodri maybe, so that notion of being way below their level isnât a personnel issue
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Only for the 1st 6 months, then teams worked us out and we really struggled.
His philosophy might have been right but he lacked in the application in the end.
If you want control, Ibou shouldnât have been a regular starter and he shouldnât have got rid of Quansah, a far better CB on the ball.
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Itâs both. We do not have anywhere near the midfield of Spain. Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Pedri, Gavi. They would pass rings around our current midfield.
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They would but theyÂŽre not Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets level. Their level should not be unattainable and it should we what we aim for, but England and some other countries are obsessed with athleticism and dynamism and now pressing in midfield.
They are important things of course but we should be even more focused on how our midfield uses the ball. Spain is and thatÂŽs why they constantly produce great midfields. You see it on this forum. Almost nobody wants better passers in our midfield, instead calling for a physical Dm they think will save us, like what France have.
But yes, England lacks these players and the mentality. Even Bellingham who is a fine player, doesnÂŽt have great passing play. HeÂŽs more box to box. England has kinda figured half the puzzle (ball retention) but not the other half (working it forward properly without just hitting long diagonals).
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