England v Iran

[NRC]

So that’s twice that it’s been too easy to cut through us

[KRBFC]

Hows that you whiners, nevermind half of you didn't watch in boycott

[Spijed]

England are fantastic going forwards but struggling against mediocre teams defensively.

[Vegas Claret]

England are fantastic going forwards but struggling against mediocre teams defensively.

We will struggle against decent teams

[RVclaret]

Cannot believe VAR is giving that a pen and not the Maguire one first half. What a joke

[Milltown1882]

VAR in this World Cup is dangerous.

[NRC]

How is that more than the one not given in the first half?

[taio]

Wow

[Conroysleftfoot]

What is going on after the bear hug on Maguire in the first half!!!!

[wilks_bfc]

Well that’s just a ******** decision

[NRC]

Wow is right

[Milltown1882]

We will struggle against decent teams

We’ve got three top 20 ranked teams in our group. Can you not just accept that we’ve played well? So many people constantly want to run England down.

[Bosscat]

Penalty VAR yet 1st Half 2 falls and a submission on Slabhead not reviewed ... what a joke

[tiger76]

you must be an awful lot older than me if you can remember those games T !! I probably watched the Germany game out of all those. Like I said - that I remember (that's the detail !)

No I just Googled, the only ones I knew from memory were the El Salvador, Scotland naturally and Zaire.

I'd even forgotten the Germany-Saudi Arabia game TBH. and I think I also watched it.

[RVclaret]

10 minutes added was bizarre as well.

[Lancasterclaret]

No complaints with that very dominating performance

[Vegas Claret]

We’ve got three top 20 ranked teams in our group. Can you not just accept that we’ve played well? So many people constantly want to run England down.

you might want to go back and read what I've put throughout the thread, I've done nothing but said we've done well. If you think we've just beaten a good side then you are delusional

[Tricky Trevor]

Usual pen. Toe of standing foot points exactly where it’s going.

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[tiger76]

England are fantastic going forwards but struggling against mediocre teams defensively.

Sums it up perfectly, and that's why I for one am not carried away.

[Stantheman]

What a joke that penalty decision if you don't give us a penalty when maguire got hauled to the ground??

[RVclaret]

you might want to go back and read what I've put throughout the thread, I've done nothing but said we've done well. If you think we've just beaten a good side then you are delusional

No one has really said that. But England were excellent and I’m not sure how ‘we’ll get beat off a decent team’ even comes into it. Surely after just winning 6-2, any ‘decent team’ should be fearing us?

[evensteadiereddie]

Hows that you whiners, nevermind half of you didn't watch in boycott

That makes sense....

[tiger76]

What a joke that penalty decision if you don't give us a penalty when maguire got hauled to the ground??

Bonkers decision and made 100 times worse by the refusal to award the one on Maguire in the 1st half.

I thought the whole point of VAR was to eliminate these errors, and if they are giving a pen for the shirt tug by Stones then where's the consistency.

[Spijed]

No one has really said that. But England were excellent and I’m not sure how ‘we’ll get beat off a decent team’ even comes into it. Surely after just winning 6-2, any ‘decent team’ should be fearing us?

I think it's the fact that Iran could have scored another couple is a bit worrying.

[tiger76]

I think it's the fact that Iran could have scored another couple is a bit worrying.

Precisely!

[Quickenthetempo]

Great start for England. So many getting the confidence booster of an early goal in the tournament.

Both were penalties.

Slight concerns over the defence but this team should be all about attack.

[RVclaret]

I think it's the fact that Iran could have scored another couple is a bit worrying.

Yet in the Euros we didn’t concede a single goal from open play all tournament.

Today we played with more attacking freedom (which was great) and it left a few spaces at the back.

[Clive 1960]

If we had a decent defence I think we could go all the way .

[Vegas Claret]

I think it's the fact that Iran could have scored another couple is a bit worrying.

exactly and Southgate doesn't seem too impressed by that either

[Swizzlestick]

Wow, some of you lot can moan. We're evidently not going to play like that in all the games - it was clear what Iran's set up was going to be, so we played with more freedom. As the game wore on, you could perhaps argue there was a little bit of complacency but saying we 'can't defend' and that's that is just odd. This was meant to be a tough opponent, ranked 20 in the world, and we've put six past them. Their goals were a nice passage of play and a dodgy penalty.

A very strong, positive start to the tournament. Great we could get some minutes for the subs too.

[4midable]

Some absolute shite posted in here 95% of the time

[Newcastleclaret93]

That was excellent. Probably up there as one of the best england performances I’ve seen at a World Cup.

Complete and utter destruction. Only played in gear 2 for the majority as well.

[Tall Paul]

Moans when Southgate lines up defensively and wins 1-0 and moans when he goes more attacking and we concede a couple but score 6

[Newcastleclaret93]

I think it's the fact that Iran could have scored another couple is a bit worrying.

Surprised your watching spijed? Shouldn’t you be boycotting

[Spijed]

Surprised your watching spijed? Shouldn’t you be boycotting

I've not said I'm boycotting.

[Milltown1882]

Why do people nail Southgate for being defensive then still strive for criticism when we’ve just pumped a team with 6 goals? Just enjoy the tournament.

[claretspice]

Still got a problem at centre back, and personally I'd like to see Foden for Mount cos Foden is the best manipulator of a football we will have and against better teams we'll need that ability - but that aside there's a template for England in this tournament there. Oodles of physicality and pace makes for an absolutely suffocating press.

Personally I'd slot White in at centre back alongside Stones I think (Dier worries me in a back 4 and Maguire just worries me full stop) and with that Foden tweak England won't be too far off the best teams.

[Malvern claret]

I remember most of the games on tiger 76 list but the most remarkable hammering I remember was Hungary 8 West Germany 3 in the group stage from 1954 but in the final a much changed German team beat Hungary 3-2. Strange things can happen.

[Vegas Claret]

Why do people nail Southgate for being defensive then still strive for criticism when we’ve just pumped a team with 6 goals? Just enjoy the tournament.

good forbid people discuss tactical issues for a football team on a football forum

[Burnley87]

We could have won 10-0 and some fans would find a reason to criticise. If England play like that they will cause anyone problems at this World Cup. Love how hungry they were to keep scoring

[Milltown1882]

good forbid people discuss tactical issues for a football team on a football forum

We won 6-2.

[Devils_Advocate]

good forbid people discuss tactical issues for a football team on a football forum

I think his comment was aimed at the inconsistency of some posters who for example moaned our defence was nowhere near good enough for the Euro's and then when we hardly let a goal in moaned we were too negative and boring and now we have played attacking football and hammered a team is now moaning about the defence again.

I dont think thats discussing tactical issues but just finding any excuse they can to criticise Southgate and his England team.

[Vegas Claret]

We won 6-2.

we did, and played well as I've said on multiple occasions. I guess you choose to ignore all the mistakes then. I've lost count of the amount of times this season Kompany has said we need to improve and picked holes in our performances after a win - it's common sense if you want to improve.

[basil6345789]

I watched it; England 6, Falling-Over Blind School 2

[tiger76]

we did, and played well as I've said on multiple occasions. I guess you choose to ignore all the mistakes then. I've lost count of the amount of times this season Kompany has said we need to improve and picked holes in our performances after a win - it's common sense if you want to improve.

Exactly even Southgate mentioned we should have defended better, and although conceding 2 to Iran isn't a problem, ultimately against the better sides it might prove costly.

It might come across as nit-picking but if England have genuine designs on lifting the World Cup these are the small details that could make all the difference in tight games.

[Vegas Claret]

Exactly even Southgate mentioned we should have defended better, and although conceding 2 to Iran isn't a problem, ultimately against the better sides it might prove costly.

It might come across as nit-picking but if England have genuine designs on lifting the World Cup these are the small details that could make all the difference in tight games.

exactly, I'm not being critical, just discussing the frailties I saw as well as the positives I saw but it seems some people can't handle it. I've just seen that Argentina play the Saudi's tomorrow - that could be a cricket score !

[SouthLondonexile]

We have some wonderful young players. A great win.
Trippier better than ever.
VAR showing itself to be a useful tool but in bad hands today. Ridiculously inconsistent almost to the point it is becoming worthless.

[RVclaret]

exactly, I'm not being critical, just discussing the frailties I saw as well as the positives I saw but it seems some people can't handle it. I've just seen that Argentina play the Saudi's tomorrow - that could be a cricket score !

Interestingly at the last World Cup Argentina ragged a 1-0 win against Iran thanks to a late Messi wonder goal!

[Vegas Claret]

Interestingly at the last World Cup Argentina ragged a 1-0 win against Iran thanks to a late Messi wonder goal!

really ? wow that's bonkers

[Conroysleftfoot]

Moans when Southgate lines up defensively and wins 1-0 and moans when he goes more attacking and we concede a couple but score 6

It's a little like the fans who complain that Burnley's defence is poor and completely ignore the fact that we only lost twice in 21 games.