Went to the England game last night. Even though it was only a friendly I couldn't resist with it pretty close by. Hope they play more games around the country. Decent atmosphere but not a great performance or game overall. Surprised Vardy didn't use it as a farewell game, being at Leicester. Rashford and Rose the standouts for me.
2018-19 International Breaks
- Thread starter bluesfan94
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Gecklund
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Surprised no one is talking about the straight red right after. It was a clear red but it was still a bullshit foul and if done in club play then he would be suspended at least 3-5 games.
John Pedro
Registered User
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
That was a terrible game, but its always important when we play Mexico. Beating them when our program is in turmoil is a huge win for us. I don't care if its a friendly where both teams were playing back ups. And while it was a bad game, we were the better team.
Duchene2MacKinnon
In the hands of Genius
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Rumors say tomorrow will see Ndombele get his first senior NT selection. Well deserved.
Sakho should replace Rami (who should never be on the team), Zouma should be back too.
Finally, DD made the weird choice of picking Digne over F. Mendy to replace B. Mendy.
Sakho should replace Rami (who should never be on the team), Zouma should be back too.
Finally, DD made the weird choice of picking Digne over F. Mendy to replace B. Mendy.
Sancho, Mount and Maddison called up. Didn't think Southgate would but it's good to see. Mount should be in the PL.
Barkley, Chalobah and Winks are back. Alli, Lingard, RLC and Delph are injured. Will Hughes unlucky not to be called up seen as he's played every game for Watford and Chalobah has barely played.
Goalkeepers
Marcus Bettinelli, Jack Butland, Alex McCarthy, Jordan Pickford
Defenders
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Harry Maguire, Danny Rose, Luke Shaw, John Stones, James Tarkowski, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker
Midfielders
Ross Barkley, Nathaniel Chalobah, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Harry Winks
Forwards
Harry Kane, James Maddison, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Danny Welbeck
Barkley, Chalobah and Winks are back. Alli, Lingard, RLC and Delph are injured. Will Hughes unlucky not to be called up seen as he's played every game for Watford and Chalobah has barely played.
Goalkeepers
Marcus Bettinelli, Jack Butland, Alex McCarthy, Jordan Pickford
Defenders
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Harry Maguire, Danny Rose, Luke Shaw, John Stones, James Tarkowski, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker
Midfielders
Ross Barkley, Nathaniel Chalobah, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Harry Winks
Forwards
Harry Kane, James Maddison, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Danny Welbeck
Rebic and Kramaric will be back for Croatia vs England.
Hopefully Lovren will be fit enough to get some playing time as well.
The distaster in Spain aside, this side will be much closer to any sort of ideal starting-11 Croatia can put together at the moment.
(depending on the fitness of several players... Lovren... and Vrsaljko will likely be out, which is a massive hit)
With everyone fit:
Kalinic - Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Pivaric - Modric, Brozovic, Rakitic - Rebic, Kramaric, Perisic
Without Vrsaljko (very likely):
Kalinic - Vida, Lovren, Mitrovic, Pivaric - Modric, Brozovic, Rakitic - Rebic, Kramaric, Perisic
Kovacic is getting quality playing time in Chelsea, but there's no way he'll start in place of any of the midfield 3.
Brozovic is already a top regista and is only getting better, it's amazing what Spaletti moving him to that role has done for him.
Brekalo, Vlasic and Caleta-Car would likely get invites, but are left out to be included in the deciding match of U-21 qualifying vs Greece.
....
I don't expect much from the game vs England, playing in front of an empty stadium has a way of draining energy out of both teams.
Hopefully Lovren will be fit enough to get some playing time as well.
The distaster in Spain aside, this side will be much closer to any sort of ideal starting-11 Croatia can put together at the moment.
(depending on the fitness of several players... Lovren... and Vrsaljko will likely be out, which is a massive hit)
With everyone fit:
Kalinic - Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Pivaric - Modric, Brozovic, Rakitic - Rebic, Kramaric, Perisic
Without Vrsaljko (very likely):
Kalinic - Vida, Lovren, Mitrovic, Pivaric - Modric, Brozovic, Rakitic - Rebic, Kramaric, Perisic
Kovacic is getting quality playing time in Chelsea, but there's no way he'll start in place of any of the midfield 3.
Brozovic is already a top regista and is only getting better, it's amazing what Spaletti moving him to that role has done for him.
Brekalo, Vlasic and Caleta-Car would likely get invites, but are left out to be included in the deciding match of U-21 qualifying vs Greece.
....
I don't expect much from the game vs England, playing in front of an empty stadium has a way of draining energy out of both teams.
robertmac43
Forever 43!
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I don't either, especially when Dalic basically said the Nations League doesn't matter (although with the way results are going Croatia could fall to Pot 2 in the upcoming Euro qualifying draw, which maybe won't be end of the world in a 24-team tournament but not ideal).
HNS is putting way too much emphasis on this U21 tournament, Suker has this fetish of wanting to qualify for the Olympics when we very well know the best players wouldn't be released for that tournament anyway
Qualifying for these U21 tournaments is not the be all end all, that generation under Ladic with Lovren, Rakitic, Vrsaljko, Vida, Kramaric, Perisic, Kalinic didn't qualify but there you go, practically a third of the World Cup finalists. If qualifying for the U21 Euros consistently meant anything then Serbia would be a top 5 team in the world by now
Live in the Now
Registered User
Leon Bailey just decided to play for Jamaica.
Jetzt doch: Bailey spielt für Jamaika
Always interesting to see what great talents do with lesser countries.
Jetzt doch: Bailey spielt für Jamaika
Always interesting to see what great talents do with lesser countries.
robertmac43
Forever 43!
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Sucks for Canada.... but man is Bailey going to look good in those new Jamaica kits.
robertmac43
Forever 43!
- Mar 31, 2015
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Really enjoying watching this go down! Dunk deserved a call up, he has been amazing for Brighton. Amazing to see someone who is Brighton born make his way up to the Three Lions!
Lewis Dunk called up for England’s matches against Croatia and Spain
Lewis Dunk called up for England’s matches against Croatia and Spain
Duchene2MacKinnon
In the hands of Genius
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So, Dybala is rumoured to be starting as a STRIKER with his partner being Martinez. I say he bags his first with the NT in under 20 minutes.
Juve
Registered User
Juve
Registered User
Just announced the starting 11 for today's' Italy game.
This starting line up is very small but it is quite exciting compared to the last few years.
This starting line up is very small but it is quite exciting compared to the last few years.
Juve
Registered User
End of the first half. Italy: 0 - Ukraine: 0
I have to say this is the best performance I've from the Italian side in a long time. They play very well, dominating possession, creative passes, crisp passing, defending well and creating chances.
Edit: Bernadeschi scored! 1-0 Italy
Edit: Lead was short lived. 1-1
I have to say this is the best performance I've from the Italian side in a long time. They play very well, dominating possession, creative passes, crisp passing, defending well and creating chances.
Edit: Bernadeschi scored! 1-0 Italy
Edit: Lead was short lived. 1-1
Last edited:
bluesfan94
Registered User
He wasn't eligible for any other country, right? Still, going to make CONCACAF qualifying all the more difficult. They're fairly clearly in the mix now. Not much of a midfield, but their defense, goalie, and now attackers should be fairly solid.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
Couldn't play for England. Could've played for Germany, but not yet. Likely a few years wait.
Duchene2MacKinnon
In the hands of Genius
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Argentina were stuck on first gear for first half but came to live early in the second. Not surprising that's when Dybala start getting involved more and played more centrally. Had 2 good chances but thwarted by a great save and the other going just wide.
Martinez took his goal well for a guy that isn't really tall he gets some good air time and is powerful in the air. Other than that though he wasn't heavily involved in the build up play. Liked what I saw from Bustos, Paredes and Sylvio.
Martinez took his goal well for a guy that isn't really tall he gets some good air time and is powerful in the air. Other than that though he wasn't heavily involved in the build up play. Liked what I saw from Bustos, Paredes and Sylvio.
At least the Brazil/Saudi Arabia friendly went off without any major incident or protest. Great tune up for the Brazilians.
