World Cup England WC games

[bert]

Good couple of minutes there. 2-0 before half time, the second was a good goal.

 

[Foley]

Great goal. Madueke has been excellent.
Rogers looks very good at creating chances

 

[Cass63]

2.0

 

[SteMerritt]

Yes, but Andorra are only in the competition because they are a country with a football team. Oxford United are playing teams at a certain level because they have earned that right. Not the same at all really. If we (OUFC) were playing a scratch side from Stanton-St-John in the 'All Oxon Football Clubs Cup' and cocked it up, I think we should be beating #clubslikestantonstjohn!

Will never happen. Stanton-St-John would never have got past Forest Hill in the previous round.

 

[holdsteady]

Yes, but Andorra are only in the competition because they are a country with a football team. Oxford United are playing teams at a certain level because they have earned that right. Not the same at all really. If we (OUFC) were playing a scratch side from Stanton-St-John in the 'All Oxon Football Clubs Cup' and cocked it up, I think we should be beating #townslikestantonstjohn!

I actually enjoyed watching a nil nil draw between Scotland and Denmark the other night because it was a tight game between two teams who might qualify in a four team group, so it mattered. If you got rid of the diddy “nations” then you could probably have every group like that and vastly improve international football. No need for San Mario, Andorra etc to be in with big and medium sized countries, just let them have there own tournament.

Lovely goal by Madueke.

 

[Cass63]

Will never happen. Stanton-St-John would never have got past Forest Hill in the previous round.

Only because you had the advantage of the slope.

 

[Paul Cannell]

No need for San Mario, Andorra etc to be in with big and medium sized countries, just let them have there own tournament.

Lovely goal by Madueke.

San Marino and Andrea, shirley? Very good goal.

 

[Foley]

Well that was the best half of football I have seen from England for a long time.
A number of the young players have come in and played really well

More of the same second half please

 

[stokeu]

No need for San Mario, Andorra etc to be in with big and medium sized countries, just let them have there own tournament.

Stan, Mario, Ann, Dora and Luigi?

 

[tonyw]

I actually enjoyed watching a nil nil draw between Scotland and Denmark the other night because it was a tight game between two teams who might qualify in a four team group, so it mattered. If you got rid of the diddy “nations” then you could probably have every group like that and vastly improve international football. No need for San Mario, Andorra etc to be in with big and medium sized countries, just let them have there own tournament.

I'm not sure I love not letting the diddy nations play at all - the World Cup is like the FA Cup, everyone should have their shot.

But you should just do what the Asia and North/Central American confederations did - start with a 'pre-qualifying' round in which all the low ranked nations play each other (you could probably take Tiers C & D from the Nations League, use those and seed them) and then just have the winners go through to the main group stage.

So for your San Marinos and Andorras to get into the group stage, they'd have to beat someone like Finland or Slovakia over two legs first (which they likely wouldn't). But they at least get their shot.

 

[holdsteady]

I'm not sure I love not letting the diddy nations play at all - the World Cup is like the FA Cup, everyone should have their shot.

But you should just do what the Asia and North/Central American confederations did - start with a 'pre-qualifying' round in which all the low ranked nations play each other (you could probably take Tiers C & D from the Nations League, use those and seed them) and then just have the winners go through to the main group stage.

So for your San Marinos and Andorras to get into the group stage, they'd have to beat someone like Finland or Slovakia over two legs first (which they likely wouldn't). But they at least get their shot.

I was thinking a tournament for the minnows where the top couple replace the bottom couple from the previous qualifiers, would add relegation threat to the groups, give them a chance to play some games they might win as well. Plus if Scotland ever got relegated would be hilarious.

 

[holdsteady]

Well after me worrying we put in a fine performance, hopefully this is a sign of what will happen when the going gets tougher.

 

[tonyw]

It doesn't matter IF you can then play better against the better teams when you need to. And the only clues you have as to whether they can do so, is to watch how they play in other games.

So far, based on what we have seen, I don't think any of us are convinced that this collection of players have got a snowball's chance in hell of suddenly becoming (literally) world-beaters.

The best rated team we have played recently was Senegal (rated 18th in the world) and we lost at home.

Still, we have just gone one up against Serbia

I think it's almost two completely different games.

One is how good are you against a low block, with an opponent that gets 10 men behind the ball at all times (and Tuchel's England don't look very good at this).
The other is how good you are against a genuine peer that actually comes after you and tries to score goals.

Serbia isn't quite that - I don't think this iteration is as good as the side they had a few years ago - but they have at least got a few decent players, and a bit of pride which means they're not just willing to go for damage limitation from minute one. And this is clearly, by some distance, the best performance of the Tuchel era.


Right now, I look at the prospective squads for next summer, and if I'm thinking about who is definitely better than us, I've got Spain, maybe France (although they're overdue one of their classic major tournament meltdowns), maybe Argentina (I don't think they are on a player-by-player basis, but they often find a way to be more than the sum of their parts)......and I think that's it. I'm not suggesting that we're definitely going to win it - but we 100% ought to go into the tournament with that target, and we shouldn't get excited about anything less.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

But you should just do what the Asia and North/Central American confederations did - start with a 'pre-qualifying' round in which all the low ranked nations play each other (you could probably take Tiers C & D from the Nations League, use those and seed them) and then just have the winners go through to the main group stage.

So for your San Marinos and Andorras to get into the group stage, they'd have to beat someone like Finland or Slovakia over two legs first (which they likely wouldn't). But they at least get their shot.

Exactly this. Getting through the pre-qualifying round in itself would be a huge success for any of the smaller teams and that has to be good for football in that country. Nations being beaten time in time out and forever coming bottom of whatever group they are in must be so disheartening.

 

[Mojofilter]

Its curious how bored i am during this game, which we are storming. Am I right that this game is drab or am I just sick of the England team in general

 

[CaptainOx]

Reading a lot of media coverage talking about what the squad could be at the World Cup which feels a bit ahead of time given we've still got Serbia to play twice in qualification and only the winner qualifies automatically.

There needs to be a significant improvement to what's gone before under Tuchel for us to get there, I think we're lucky that Serbia drew in Albania, but I don't think them taking 4 points off us and sending us to a March playoff is entirely impossible.

Both games versus Andorra have been uninspiring and it's those types of performances that switch people off from the national team outside of tournaments.
These qualifying games are generally straightforward and good for trying different players and systems. But you're guaranteed at least a couple of stern tests in each group, Serbia away is definitely one of those. Think this a really interesting and important game for Tuchel.

On a betting note, you could get over 4/1 on Serbia winning tonight as recently as this morning.
England 1/25 to win the group with Serbia at 11/1 also seems nuts given the fixtures.

Fair play to Tuchel and squad on tonight's performance versus the two Andorra games.

 

[Foley]

Its curious how bored i am during this game, which we are storming. Am I right that this game is drab or am I just sick of the England team in general

Surprised anybody who likes football couod be bored.
I thought it was excellent. Very entertaining- loved watching how good the younger players were

 

[EastStandKieran]

I thought that was the most entertaining England have played for a long time it was good we didn't just sit back after going 2 -0 and we kept going until the end

Were Serbia that good nope but you can only beat what's in front of you and there will be trickier games to come

 

[tonyw]

Though if we're talking about entertaining.....

......Norway, knowing that their group with Italy could come down to goal difference, really went at it today and beat Moldova 11-1!
(Thelo Aasgard - he of formerly Wigan and Luton - only came on in the 64th minute and scored four goals)

Looking increasingly likely that the Italians will have to go the playoff route once again.....and win this time if they're not going to miss their third successive WC.

 

[WarwickOx]

The difference being that Andorra, with all due respect, haven't earnt the right to be treated as equals at this level. The nature of international football qualfiers produces these mismatches.

They're the international equivalent of Stalybridge Celtic competing against Leeds in the Cup.

Whereas we're the club equivalent of Switzerland at a major tournament. Proud history, a relatively recent modest rebirth - and certainly not out of place at this level.

Which is why 'teamslikeoxford' is so distasteful.

Twas a Tongue in cheek comment.

 

[Foley]

Though if we're talking about entertaining.....

......Norway, knowing that their group with Italy could come down to goal difference, really went at it today and beat Moldova 11-1!
(Thelo Aasgard - he of formerly Wigan and Luton - only came on in the 64th minute and scored four goals)

Looking increasingly likely that the Italians will have to go the playoff route once again.....and win this time if they're not going to miss their third successive WC.

And Haarland only scored 5!

 

[Left Wing Cross]

I was thinking a tournament for the minnows where the top couple replace the bottom couple from the previous qualifiers, would add relegation threat to the groups, give them a chance to play some games they might win as well. Plus if Scotland ever got relegated would be hilarious.

That's how the Nation's League works

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Club over country.

 

[holdsteady]

Club over country.

Cheers for that.

 

[PottersRightBoot]

Splendid performance. We played with great purpose and that centre back partnership is superb.

Serbia no mugs; they’ve turned over some big teams in that bearpit. Big credit to Tuchel tonight.

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

And Haarland only scored 5!

48 goals in his first 45 games for Norway!

 

[holdsteady]

Splendid performance. We played with great purpose and that centre back partnership is superb.

Serbia no mugs; they’ve turned over some big teams in that bearpit. Big credit to Tuchel tonight.

Guehi is a top class centre back, if he played for one of the bigger prem clubs (obviously nearly did and will very soon) he would/will be getting all sorts of praise and hype, Konsa not to far behind.

What was a bit of a weak area recently has become a strength if those two stay fit.

 

[Sarge]

A rather satisfying England win that was

 

[Lost Marbles]

Club over country.

Someone needs to start spray painting the Ox head on roundabouts. That I could get behind.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Someone needs to start spray painting the Ox head on roundabouts. That I could get behind.

I started doing it in North Wales but they just thought I couldn't draw a dragon.