England v Panama

[dushanbe]

Ronaldo will carve our defence apart given the opportunity.

Maybe so, but Kane et al would more than carve them open. I don’t get it, why people constantly look at the negatives or what could be, it’s *almost* like you want England to fail.

[IanMcL]

A MAN A PLAN A CANAL PANAMA ? that's backwards!

That's clever!

[boatshed bill]

Maybe so, but Kane et al would more than carve them open. I don’t get it, why people constantly look at the negatives or what could be, it’s *almost* like you want England to fail.

i don't believe people want England to fail. It's only natural to be concerned about our weaknesses whilst to some extent taking our strengths almost for granted.
We have some exciting players in our current team though, quarter-finals an absolute minimum?

[tiger76]

At least in this World Cup England are entertaining,and trying to win games.Sure we might be suspect at the back but let's be honest things weren't exactly watertight under Woy. Too put today into perspective Panama were 0-0 at H/T against the Belgians,disappointing not to keep a clean sheet but 8 goals in 2 games is exciting.Harry Kane is top of the Golden Boot and has power to add.If it is Mexico next they will definitely be a tough test,the Germans looked workmanlike at best last night and are beatable,but you know they will raise their game in the latter stages if they progress that far.

[Steve1956]

1-1 another disappointing day watching England!

I will hold my hands up guys well played England,I have seen better teams turn out for Michelin in the Burnley amateur league better than Panama,we still arnt that shithot.

[I'maclaret]

it might be the best way to avoid Germany and Brazil until the final.

Germany and Brazil in the final? **** we will never win another world cup if they are going to stack the odds against us like that.

[RingoMcCartney]

Hare and hounds padiham.

Great day for all who attended..

Well done to each and everyone who organised the day!

Complete Control - slow down, just a bit. Otherwise, top notch from the last gang in town

[claret10]

If results go as expected this week we could be looking at Japan - Mexico- Portugal as a route into the final.

All games will be tough but you would definitely have taken that if offered.

Thursday versus Belgium has 0-0 and 13 bookings each written all over it as we scrap it out for the right to finish 2nd!!

[Rick_Muller]

I will hold my hands up guys well played England,I have seen better teams turn out for Michelin in the Burnley amateur league better than Panama,we still arnt that shithot.

Don’t apologise - you were spot on second half

[Hipper]

Agree about our sloppy defence. Panama caused issues for Belgium too though - they have some creative forwards who fortunately are not so hot in front of goal. Tunisia on the other hand caused us few problems defensively whereas they threatened Belgium's defence quite a lot.

Creatively I didn't think we were as good against Panama compared to the first half against Tunisia. My feeling was that generally we were aided by Panama's attempts at aggressive defending and a referee who did something about it. They saw Tunisia get away with it and thought they could.

Very satisfying win otherwise.

[Goodclaret]

Fantastic performance and result yesterday!

It is strange there is still the negativity - we have scored 8 and conceded 2! No ifs and buts, that's the stats. Everyone said how good Belgium were when they beat Panama 3 nil yet we win 6-1 and it's "oooooo, worried about the defence". Yes, Belgium will be tougher (of course) but the fact we are creating and scoring chances fills me with more optimism rather than worrying about conceding. We MAY concede 2 but score 3! That wins you a game I think?!

Anyway, I'm loving this WC. England looking good is a bonus but there have been some great games so far.

[Rick_Muller]

It is strange there is still the negativity

I'm overjoyed by the result, and I think this England team are playing well and importantly without fear of failure but, and this is the thing for me, already the media have gone from deriding Sterling and other players to all of a sudden "we can win the World Cup" all because we beat Panama emphatically.

Some of the apparent negativity I think is in response to this - we've beaten Panama 6-1 in the World Cup finals, that is magnificent and there are no "easy" games here (whatever KRBFC says about Asian teams), but it was a game we were expected to win, as was the Tunisia game. I'd like to temper the world beating enthusiasm and take it one game at a time - that mantra has worked for Burnley, and it will work well for England too.

Even Southgate could see we needed to improve in some areas, that is a good sign for me. I hope we can win it, I want us to win it, but lets focus on the next game - which I want to be a hard fought wake up call for the players - I dont want us to lose, but I also dont want us to win and then get ahead of ourselves.

[jlup1980]

The most impressive thing about yesterday was the mentality to stick to the plan even after being kicked about a bit!! The elbow on Lingard in the 5 minutes could have been a red. It was certainly calculated because of the defenders reaction to drop to the flow feigning a clash of heads. Then all the nonsense before the first corner could even be taken and the subsequent hauling to the ground of Kane and Maguire at every set piece. The petulant yellow card on Lingard was another. It would have been easy to become distracted, get involved in a physical battle and allow them to drag us down to their level (think Burnley vs Lincoln last season) but we didn't. We just keep going at them, kept scoring goals and ultimately had the game won within half an hour. Mighty impressive stuff. Fingers crossed we continue to improve and learn. At the very least we have a team to get behind this year. Brilliant stuff.

[Dyched]

Another great win yesterday.
Sometimes people get down on England or performancea against teams like Panama. Yet had that been Brazil/Argentina yesterday and Neymar/Aguero bagged an hat trick we wouldn’t hear the end of it “oh brazil are getting through the gears now, neymar is on fire”.

Only Belgium have really got going out of the “bigger” sides. Yet we have the same record over 2 games. Long way to go yet, but this England side is full of talented players. Because we see our players week in/week out and seen poor performances from them sometimes that dilutes how talented we perceive them to be. Other teams will fear us thats for sure.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Finishing second may have some banana skins (Colombia, Switzerland, Senegal and Mexico are all good). Finishing first though could see us play Colombia, Brazil, France and Spain in sequence. Given our record against top sides, we won’t win all them.

I would thus make 11 changes for Belgium but go for the win. I would also give Pope the second half. Uniquely, all our 23 would have game time, and playing every 4 days in this heat wouldn’t then be a factor. Win, we have momentum and rested players. Lose, we have the easier draw and it doesn’t harm confidence of the first XI.

[Goodclaret]

I'm overjoyed by the result, and I think this England team are playing well and importantly without fear of failure but, and this is the thing for me, already the media have gone from deriding Sterling and other players to all of a sudden "we can win the World Cup" all because we beat Panama emphatically.

Some of the apparent negativity I think is in response to this - we've beaten Panama 6-1 in the World Cup finals, that is magnificent and there are no "easy" games here (whatever KRBFC says about Asian teams), but it was a game we were expected to win, as was the Tunisia game. I'd like to temper the world beating enthusiasm and take it one game at a time - that mantra has worked for Burnley, and it will work well for England too.

Even Southgate could see we needed to improve in some areas, that is a good sign for me. I hope we can win it, I want us to win it, but lets focus on the next game - which I want to be a hard fought wake up call for the players - I dont want us to lose, but I also dont want us to win and then get ahead of ourselves.

Can't argue with any of that Rick

[Goodclaret]

Finishing second may have some banana skins (Colombia, Switzerland, Senegal and Mexico are all good). Finishing first though could see us play Colombia, Brazil, France and Spain in sequence. Given our record against top sides, we won’t win all them.

I would thus make 11 changes for Belgium but go for the win. I would also give Pope the second half. Uniquely, all our 23 would have game time, and playing every 4 days in this heat wouldn’t then be a factor. Win, we have momentum and rested players. Lose, we have the easier draw and it doesn’t harm confidence of the first XI.

I understand where you are coming from but I feel a settled team is the better way to go so I'd keep with the same/similar team. The Burnley way is to keep with what you believe is the best 11 and I feel Southgate would be wise to match it. All opinions, of course

[Steve1956]

Don’t apologise - you were spot on second half

Thanks for being so understanding Rick.

[FactualFrank]

I would thus make 11 changes for Belgium but go for the win. I would also give Pope the second half. Uniquely, all our 23 would have game time, and playing every 4 days in this heat wouldn’t then be a factor. Win, we have momentum and rested players. Lose, we have the easier draw and it doesn’t harm confidence of the first XI.

I think Martinez also has that in mind. I expect he'll make a handful of changes too, knowing 2nd place won't be that bad. He wouldn't admit that of course, neither would Southgate, but I bet it's gone through their mind.

[RalphCoatesComb]

2nd (understandably) wasn't anything special

It wasn't that understandable to me. Foot off the gas, Sterling still on the pitch and defended their goal atrociously. Apart from that, a good day at the office.

[Rick_Muller]

As the groups currently stand I think we would prefer to be second and take the path of:

Japan, then Mexico or Switzerland, followed by the winners of Spain/Uruguay or Croatia/Denmark - hence all being as it should a Spain Semi final to get to the final

I'd take that over the alternative for winning the group as below:

Senegal, then Brazil or Germany, followed by the winners of France/Nigeria or Russia/Portugal...

coming second in the group would mean losing the game or getting more yellow cards (currently we have 2 to Belgium's 3) - now I dont want the team to lose any games, so a few yellow cards by some players to ensure finishing second...? worth looking at if you're into betting odds...

Of course, we have plenty of football to come - so this will change I'm sure, but we will know before they play...

[Lancasterclaret]

I wouldn't worry about who we get.

If we can beat Belgium, we don't need to fear anyone.