De Gea has dropped more clangers than Pickford so far. And let in two more goals.

We've got more chance of seeing the queen topless than we have of getting to the WC finals

Why do we continue with the illusion we are a quality team, since 1996 we've won the grand total of six knockout games, with Spain being the biggest scalp amongst them and the other behemoths include Paraguay and Ecuador


If players like Rashford and Henderson are the answer, I'm buggered if I know what the question being asked is

Yeah I thought they were a bit harsh on the goal but he did make a bit of a meal out of most the other stuff he had to do.

...and 2 in total for England.

I've seen him playing for England and Man City and his final ball is regularly awful for both. I'm sure if you looked at the stats he probably had a lot more goal scoring opportunities for Man City than Aguero last season.

People often use the argument "well Pep rates him" and he clearly does but I'm sure he'd also expect him to be more clinical. I actually don't dislike him as player but he is so frustrating and could be so much better.

In a much harder group, yes. Their toughest game saw them up against Ronaldo at his best, our hardest game was Belgium reserves and a striker who couldn't kick the ball in the net from 1 yard out from out of his hands!

A clanger is a clanger is a clanger. Joe Hart and just about any other goalie since Shilton/Seaman specialised in those. Pickford is still learning how to throw a match away. He'll need to study Karius if he's serious about it.

Spot on!

France v Argentina. Good game to watch but I was rather wishing both sides could lose!!!

What an odious cheating man Suarez is, it seems as though the more skill you have the more you roll around and fake an injury, they ruin a game and scream like a wounded stag for a bairns fart of a tackle, RIP football.

France's first half-decent game. Were they good or was it Argentina's defence that made them look good? That spell where they got the three goals reminded me an awful lot of Brazil vs Germany 2014. The difference being Germany didn't park the bus until they were 7-1 up.

In terms of the football and entertainment this is shaping up to be one of the great World Cups, I agree with you about some of the nonsense and cheating but it’s far from RIP football but they have got to do something about players behavior on the field though we need a better culture of respect for officials and opponents. If this VAR bobbins is to continue this has got to come into that. You don’t even have to stop the game to retrospectively book someone for cheating just speak in the refs ear to book them at the next pause in play any dissent as well needs to be a instant yellow, it would soon stop. I don’t like it but it’s probably here to stay and one way VAR could improve the game would be to stop players behaving like bellend toddlers, ironed out and used properly it could.

Are there two levels of foul in football?
It appears that minor infringements by attackers are readily penalised but the same foul by a defender in the penalty area is not penalised or if it is there are claims that it was a soft penalty.

I would say the blame lies with the referees, they have been trained, pass tests and cannot tell when somebody is taking the piss, I have no training but can see virtually every one, they have more technology than ever before and it just gets ignored, maybe it is the FIFA way but it ruins a good game.

The linesmen are virtually invisible with their contribution, the game is a shadow of what it used to be, remember fair play

Bit of both Argentina played a high line against probably the fastest attack in the World Cup. It's the first time France played to their strengths in the first half. I actually felt sorry for Messi, it's undoubtedly the worst team he's played in and they never stood a chance if France showed up and they did.

I reckon Uruguay will win the competition. The right level of unit-ness, narkiness, and quality finishers.

Croatia have looked the best for me. But I wouldn't write off Spain.

agree about croatia but they seem to press a self distruct button if things go against em. france will take some beating on yesterdays performance.

Thinking about buying an England shirt but may wait till Wednesday.

What is with the whispering behind hands, has somebody been lip reading and got in bother?

The so-called 'best' team in England's half of the draw has gone too now - what a World Cup!

Now in Denmark can just see their way clear to turning over Croatia...

Loads of reasons to be happy, Germany, Argentina, Portugal & now Spain gone, with the added bonus that sly c*nt Ronaldo is off home along with that other cheating tw@t Maradonna.

What a start! 1-1 inside 4 minutes.

Is there a top level goal keeper who hasn't made a high profile mistake in the last year? They're all at it.

Pickford hasn’t.

Bollocks I’ve just jinxed him.

I know the biggest burden is on the goalie in a shoot-out but De Gea made it easy for the Russians. He seemed to just sit on his arse as quick as possible and hope they'd shoot straight at him. And they practically did. And he still didn't save any.
Mind you, that last Spaniard who went was comedy gold. The Russians didn't really need de Gea's help.

I am absolutely thrilled to see the potential demise of tika taka. Spain are boring with their sideways passing and fifty two passes where two will do. If they had been more aggressive and brave in their approach they would probably have been still in the competition.
The France v Argentina game was a perfect example of how the average fan wants to see the game played with excitement, skill and gripping attacking play.
Tika Taka switches me off and I'm glad that it is now under scrutiny.

Howler

Not saving a shot is hardly losing possession in the opposition half or letting the ball go straight through you but don't let that get in the way of your need to have an England escape goat. We've not been knocked out yet, no need to blame anyone.

I reckon theirs been a double overreaction towards Pickford, maybe trying to say he should have saved the goal was over the top but I think concerns about his performance were fair. He was pushing routine saves back into danger, basic stuff. But nobody’s slaughtered him either so those defending him on his behalf are probably also over reacting as well. The goal wasn’t a howler at all it was one of those that was a good strike but you’re looking thinking ‘could he have done better’

He might be one day but he’s not an International class keeper yet, he’s not proven himself as a top quality Premier League keeper yet really. His potential is clear though and I can see why Southgate is picking him it’s bold and it fits into his style of play because his distribution is just about the strongest area of his game. It’s great to see an England manager being brave in selection and progressive tactically and wanting us to play football. If Fat head Sam was in charge I’m sure a shot to bits Joe Hart would be in goal and Rooney captain. So I’m not saying drop him or he shouldn’t be there it’s just where England are keeper wise at this time.

In time I’m sure he can tighten up the other areas of his game but for now in this in this tournament aspects of his performance were a concern against Belgium. I can see where Gary Neville was coming from as an ex England defender with 85 caps regarding his performance but I’m sure everyone is behind the lad and wants him to do well though.

One thing's pretty clear - whoever beats Croatia needs to do it in normal time. Their keeper Subasic has got a psychological edge in penalty shoot outs after last night. Of course he can be beaten by a really good penner but any taker feeling the pressure is in big trouble.

could not agree more. i want a team who shows skillful attacking football to win the competition. one that plays 50 passes in their own half and in the end looses the ball aint for me. its not just spain that play that way either and its even creaping in to some non league clubs also. used to call it tip tap football but at least you can go for a pee knowing you will not miss anything in the game.

Yes down with players like Iniesta and Xavi what have they ever achieved or this terrible style of Spanish play.

“I loathe all of that passing for the sake of it”

Who’s that quote from? Fat Head Sam? Tony Pulis? No it’s Pep Guardiola actually. Spain weren’t playing ‘Tika Taka’ yesterday they were just pretty clueless in breaking down an eleven man defence, Tika Taka is not playing as slow a tempo as Spain did yesyerday. Man City broke all records in the Premier League implementing most of its principles so it’s neither dead or boring to watch.

Russia did what they had to it was the only way they would possibly beat Spain, Spain had no plan B but to give balance they played sensational football against Portugal it was one of the best games I’ve ever seen.

Spanish triangles are what England were doing for most of the second half against Panama.
We scored five in the first half and one fluke in the second.
Not saying there's any relation beween those two facts or owt.

Spain played the way they did and paid the penalty (no pun intended). I firmly believe they could have beat Russia with a different approach ( as has been suggested, no plan B). They have to be able to mix it up. There are times when a quick long ball pays dividends and there are times when keep ball does. I was thrilled with Bobby Moore's long ball to Geoff Hurst for England's fourth in '66 and my favourite all time goal for Pools was Eiffion's second against Darlo after Mickey Barron played him a long ball. Because of what it meant played a big part in me selecting it.
I also get thrilled by slick passing moves which culminate in a score.
I like all aspects of attacking football but if whatever is done isn't working then somebody has to try something else. Why a team like Spain resorted to dozens and dozens of across the park passes when such a tactic ( or lack of an alternative tactic) ended up in them being dumped out of the competition at the hands of the lowest ranked team God only knows but, in my eyes, it was absolutely criminal. I just can't see it any other way.

Loved the Russia match. It was like watching a lower division side beat a premier league team in the FA Cup - you could see who the better footballers were but Russia fought for everything, defended well and rode their luck. Spain, like a few of the 'bigger' countries, seem to have forgotten that whatever way you play you have to earn the right to do it.

I'm hoping I can skive a bit this afternoon to watch Mexico and Brazil because I want to see what happens when a determined, fast attack show Brazil's defence no respect. I think the superstars are going to know they've been in a match.

Brazil looked very stretched at times but Mexico were wasteful in front of goal. Class won out in the end but Neymar is a sly c*nt, to use Mr. Aptid's memorable summation of Ronaldo.

Japan looking quite the team.

This World Cup has had some bonkers results! Long may it continue!

Tough on Japan but what a great game. What a great World Cup!

That for me was hands down the best game yet.

Brilliant match settled by a brilliant goal but I feel sorry for Japan. Brazil v Belgium could be good though.

It just shows playing Japan wouldn’t have been ‘easy’ or even ‘easier’ they got through because in the group stage they were probably as good as Columbia and any World Cup knockout game is going to be tough as the opposition are playing in a lot of instances the biggest game they ever have. Every team in this World Cup now thinks this is a great opportunity and wide open.

Win tonite then I believe we can go all the way.
The other teams left in don't worry me one bit.
Come on England.

So the mighty England have beaten Tunisia and Panama and the B team played Belgium.
Tonight will be a big test.
Thought Japan were brilliant and in the end were overpowered by Belgium physically.

"There are no easy games at this stage of the competition."

Ron Knee, Football Manager.

A special mention for the refereeing last night.
Mind, the ref had it easy without any Latin hysterics or simulations to contend with.

This afternoon's ref is a bit random. I hope the Swiss fight back. I'd quite fancy them if we manage to beat Shakira's lot.

As Neymar was simulating having a bloody stump where his ankle used to be after the 'stamping' incident, would the Mexicans have been allowed to bring a hacksaw onto the pitch?

Good use of the VAR at the end even if it didn't matter a fuck.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of whining, diving choppers. I'd still of wanted them to lose if they were playing someone other than England. Surely a talented team should never be reduced to similar tactics as Panama employed but they got what they deserved in the end.

Credit for finally winning a penalty shootout and to Dier for putting it away, but I really thought Southgate had stuffed it up with his misuse of substitutions. Waited far too long to make a change and then Dier for Alli was ridiculous, conceding the initiative to Colombia and inviting them to see if they could wipe out a 1-0 lead - how feckin' inevitable did it feel when they equalised in injury time?