Everyone suddenly overly positive.. I have a bad feeling Sweden's experience may triumph tomorrow.

no, 3-0 england

Wile E Coyote wrote:no, 3-0 england

You obviously don't know England's history Vs Sweden.

3..0 England.

With our shots on target ratio, I'd be surprised at 3-0.. I'd take it though.

Sneaky one nil win for England.

Great day of sport ahead. Fantastic weather. Tour de France startingl. It’s what summer’s are for

I'm not an England fan but can't help but foresee a pretty comfortable win for them today. Anyway, I'm looking forward to watching it with a beer in the park! Gee I love world cups!

Good luck Tripps

We never beat the Swedes. Will be very difficult to break down their IKEA formation. The flat pack four!

Can’t wait. Come on England. Nervy 2-1 win.

CRY GOD FOR HARRY, ENGLAND AND SAINT GEORGE!

2-0.

History and previous jinxes against Sweden got put to bed after the penalty shoot out. That said, all it does is level the psychological playing field and gives our players a bit more belief. Sweden are a hard working yet not overly skilful it will be a tough match, but I think we’ll be too much for them and nick it with the odd goal.

A real tough one for England against a well organised Sweden.. Southgate has got them going.. they believe... no daft high expectations from the fans, just hope and quiet confidence.
We have the best squad on paper, stuffed full of Premier League players.. not too many big names for Sweden, though that guarantees nothing of course..

Come on England..

2-0 to us I think.

2-0 win for me too.

And a massive **** off to those who before the WC thrived in telling us how poor England are, how they've no interest in watching them and how they'd rather Burnley win a corner, along with similar stupidity, than England win the WC.

We should play Stan Collymore for this game - nobody's better at knocking out Swedes!

2 nil also what i thought. I was there last time we played sweden in a competetive game. We tubbed them. Well kind of. 3-2 best game ive been to watch england in.

England will **** this

If it goes to penalties will we use the ABBA system?

two average sides and could go either way but its the first time for donkeys we've got ourself in a position for everyone to get over-hyped and the country to get a real buzz about England so lets embrace it and enjoy it as long as it lasts even if it turns out to be a false dawn

We should play Stan Collymore for this game - nobody's better at knocking out Swedes!

Well I laughed anyway!

We'll win. Two early goals will be enough.

1-0 to England with Harry Kane scoring will be just fine thank you. No mate drama today please.

An early goal would force Sweden to change their game plan,and commit bodies forward,thus giving England's technical players more space to play,time for Sterling or Alli to step up to the plate,they have underwhelmed to put it mildly.

I forecast a nervy 1-0 to England,there is good news i have only watched one England match due to other commitments,and that was the defeat to Belgium,alas i will miss today's game due to work,if we win i may have to avoid the semi-final as well,don't want to jinx things.

Far too much at stake to enjoy the game. It will be a very tight affair. I hope they can just overcome all the pressure and move the ball quickly. I'm going to be a nervous wreck which I'll combat by getting thoroughly, happily drunk. Come on England

Japebe43 wrote:With our shots on target ratio, I'd be surprised at 3-0.. I'd take it though.

My mate said this too me earlier in the week “ no shots on target v Colombia”

It’s ******** we had some cracking chances v Colombia Kane Rose Dier off the top of my head for starters,, just they weren’t on target. And McGuire was two pieces of outstanding defending off having free headers.

We’ve actually created more than I expected us to.

A ball trickling to the goalie like Colombia did twice is a shot on target but the Rose effort just past post isn’t but was clearly a better chance and very well created.

1-0 England. An absolute beast of shot by Henderson from 35 yds like a soviet space exploration rocket from the 70’s.

YEAH

We'll have to score twice as we aren't good enough to keep a clean sheet. Our defence is a touch overrated by many in England.

Confident but incredibly nervous. Can we break a resolute Sweden down? I don`t see them causing us many problems other than at set pieces where their height may count.

I really think it is time for Sterling to show some club form and for the obviously out of form and injured Alli to be dropped. He has been nothing more than a passenger. We really need to stretch `em as I doubt they`ll be opening the main gate.

2-0 for England in a 3-4-2-1 formation

Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire
Trippier Loftus-Cheek Henderson Rose
Sterling Lingard
Kane

COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think our defence is rated that highly by most pundits,we couldn't even keep a clean sheet against Panama,the defending from set pieces will have to improve that is a major weapon for the swedes,and nearly every game has had goals or big chances created from corners and free-kicks.

HiroshimaClaret wrote:Confident but incredibly nervous. Can we break a resolute Sweden down? I don`t see them causing us many problems other than at set pieces where their height may count.

I really think it is time for Sterling to show some club form and for the obviously out of form and injured Alli to be dropped. He has been nothing more than a passenger. We really need to stretch `em as I doubt they`ll be opening the main gate.

2-0 for England in a 3-4-2-1 formation

Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire
Trippier Loftus-Cheek Henderson Rose
Sterling Lingard
Kane

COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't see him making any changes. I'd love him to bring in Rose for balance on the left plus Loftus-Cheek and Rashford for Sterling and Ali. Sterling and Ali have been passengers so far. They've had their chance and not taken it

Japebe43 wrote:You obviously don't know England's history Vs Sweden.

History is there to be changed

[quote="Rumbletonk"]I can't see him making any changes. I'd love him to bring in Rose for balance on the left plus Loftus-Cheek and Rashford for Sterling and Ali. Sterling and Ali have been passengers so far. They've had their chance and not taken it[/quot

Wouldn`t argue with the inclusion of Rashford for Sterling at all. I DO fear you`re right though regards no changes. Southgate`s only blindspot is Alli and to a lesser extent Sterling. I think it would be a mistake to play Alli.

Rumbletonk wrote:I can't see him making any changes. I'd love him to bring in Rose for balance on the left plus Loftus-Cheek and Rashford for Sterling and Ali. Sterling and Ali have been passengers so far. They've had their chance and not taken it

Rose should get a start England will dominate the ball and he is more likely to create than Young,Rashford's been lively in his brief cameos,i'm not convinced about Alli's fitness,Loftus-Cheek for Sterling is a big call but Gareth has shown he will drop big names if he sees fit.

Time to make a couple of brave decisions. At the very least drop one of the two

tiger76 wrote:Rose should get a start England will dominate the ball and he is more likely to create than Young,Rashford's been lively in his brief cameos,i'm not convinced about Alli's fitness,Loftus-Cheek for Sterling is a big call but Gareth has shown he will drop big names if he sees fit.

Sorry I meant Rashford for Sterling, LC for Alli

tiger76 wrote:I don't think our defence is rated that highly by most pundits,we couldn't even keep a clean sheet against Panama,the defending from set pieces will have to improve that is a major weapon for the swedes,and nearly every game has had goals or big chances created from corners and free-kicks.

And beware of the idea that they'll just sit back. Sweden 3 Mexico 0

I think Stirling is the man to unlock the Swedes defense. Bit like playing us movement at speed causes issues to us and moving between the lines is key to breaking down rigid robust back lines and let us be honest there bank of two will be very tight and we need players playing quickly in small spaces for me he is key today.

watsonsclarets wrote:I think Stirling is the man to unlock the Swedes defense. Bit like playing us movement at speed causes issues to us and moving between the lines is key to breaking down rigid robust back lines and let us be honest there bank of two will be very tight and we need players playing quickly in small spaces for me he is key today.

I'd agree if we'd seen anything like his City performance levels. For some reason he's been nowhere near that. Trying too hard and running into blind alleys and losing possession is all he's achieved so far. Rashford has the pace and skill to cause serious problems plus slotting that penalty will have boosted his confidence no end. Needs to start

Sweden will be a tough nut to crack as they are a very organized and defensive team.
Score first and the game is yours though

Devils_Advocate wrote:two average sides

I agree, DA. The game is still fabulous entertainment but the standard of TEAMS does appear to have dropped. Probably why so much is made of the superstars.

A 2-0 for us today and know sweating.

piston broke wrote:I agree, DA. The game is still fabulous entertainment but the standard of TEAMS does appear to have dropped. Probably why so much is made of the superstars.

A 2-0 for us today and know sweating.

Or maybe we have the causality the wrong way around.

Anybody know if we are in red or white today?

piston broke wrote:Anybody know if we are in red or white today?

Red, i'd imagine.

Can’t see the Swedes beating us, I don’t think they’re quite good enough to stop us scoring ,and I can’t see us losing if we get ahead here . Of course anything could happen but these nancy boys wittering on about “ our history against Sweden” sound like hysterical housewives .History has zero influence on the result however it ends up .

At a wedding so going to miss first half but prob couldn't stand tension anyway.

Supposedly an unchanged side. Amazed to be honest. Southgate`s blindspot is Alli - a passenger so far. Let`S hope he show`S me how wrong I am. The heavens have opened again here in Hiroshima after over 50 hours non-stop rain on Thursday and Friday...many deaths. BRING ME THE SUNSHINE, ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awful attempt at a through ball by Ali then.

Looks like they know the threat of Tripps, as soon as he gets a sniff, they have 3 men on him

Alli`s an absolute waste of space in this current role - hell he was out of form for most of the season in his preferred role. Either get him playing where Sterling is or get him off the pitch. He contributes nothing. And breathe...

We look tired (Kane especially).

COME ON!!!!!