International Friendlies May/June

The difference between him and Rabiot is striking! :D
That's one thing Deschamps got right.

Come on, he is one of yours!

I have to say Lucas and Pavard are impressive, they haven't had a bad game in their young international career.
 
Come on, he is one of yours!

I have to say Lucas and Pavard are impressive, they haven't had a bad game in their young international career.
He derserves it! And I'm one of the Paris supporters who think Rabiot's troubles are a good opportunity to renew him on good terms while most want him gone.

I like Pavard and Hernandez too. Umtiti and LLoris were the ones guilty on the goal.
 
France are still not gonna win the WC though. They are just a bunch of big talents, not a squad.
 
Predicted England XI vs Nigeria

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

Think Oxlade will be a big miss, as he was perfect for the way Southgate wants to use his centre midfielders. In terms of running in behind, but also having the ability to play in between the lines.

Lingard is also fantastic at doing this, so assuming Southgate continues with the 3142, then he has to think about whether he will play Alli or Loftus Cheek with Lingard.

Alli is currently the better player, but to me, Loftus Cheek is more suited to that role, in my opinion, and impressed big time against Germany, if I remember correctly.

I think in the two friendlies, we'll see both, Loftus and Alli partnered with Lingard to see how they get on.

There's still a lot of places up for grabs, though.

Apart from Kane, Sterling, Lingard, Walker and probably Stones, i'd say everyone else could be under threat, which I guess is a good thing.
 
Austria - Germany starts in half an hour

DesezeNX0AAf4SF.jpg
 
 
what kinda crazy formation are England playing ... 3313?
Will be usual 3421. Guessing Dele to partner Dier in midfield but could just as easily be Lingard.

Pickford

Walker Stones Cahill
Trippier Dier Dele Young
Sterling Lingard
Kane​
 
It's the same 3-4-2-1 that Southgate has been using for a while. Similar to the way Spurs often line up.

I think what the weird thing is, is that Dier is a one-man midfield there.
 
I think what the weird thing is, is that Dier is a one-man midfield there.
Yeah, Dele and Lingard really aren't suited for a 2 man midfield so will be interesting to see how it goes.
 
Do people not watch England play (probably be a no)?

Southgate has been playing a 3142 for a while now, including against Brazil, Italy, Germany and Netherlands.

The lineup will be:

Pickford
Walker Stones Cahill
Dier
Trippier Alli Lingard Young
Sterling Kane​

Sterling will be slightly behind Kane.
 
Do people not watch England play (probably be a no)?

Southgate has been playing a 3142 for a while now, including against Brazil, Italy, Germany and Netherlands.

The lineup will be:

Pickford
Walker Stones Cahill
Dier
Trippier Alli Lingard Young
Sterling Kane​

Sterling will be slightly behind Kane.
Is that likely to be the starting XI for the world cup or do you expect any changes?
 
Do people not watch England play (probably be a no)?

Southgate has been playing a 3142 for a while now, including against Brazil, Italy, Germany and Netherlands.

The lineup will be:

Pickford
Walker Stones Cahill
Dier
Trippier Alli Lingard Young
Sterling Kane​

Sterling will be slightly behind Kane.
He's played Ox who is more of an orthodox midfielder than Ali so it may be difficult to get the balance right
 
Man that England team is dire. Walker's our best full back but plays in a back 3, trippier and Young as attacking fullbacks is very uninspiring. Will really struggle to create from wide positions.

Stones - Maguire - Cahil
Walker Rose

Is a much stronger back 5 and provides far more creativity.
 
Just out of curiosity, do we expect the XI to start today to be the same XI in our WC opener? Or is that too risky given players can potentially get injured today.
 
Man that England team is dire. Walker's our best full back but plays in a back 3, trippier and Young as attacking fullbacks is very uninspiring. Will really struggle to create from wide positions.

Stones - Maguire - Cahil
Walker Rose

Is a much stronger back 5 and provides far more creativity.

In fairness, the system relies on wingbacks rather than full backs. Young has never had the creative freedom to operate in a wingback role but given his value added from the full back role, youd expect him to thrive in it.
 
Gündogan plays for Germany? I thought he played for Turkey. I'm not intimate with international football anymore.
 
He's played Ox who is more of an orthodox midfielder than Ali so it may be difficult to get the balance right

I agree, and I mentioned that in my post earlier that Ox will be a massive miss. However, with the way Southgate wants his midfielders to play, i.e. running off the ball, drifting wide and playing in between the lines, I think Alli will be fine.

That said, it will mean the holding midfielder (Dier or Henderson) will need to be able to control the game and pass in between the lines. A Carrick/Pirlo type would be more ideal, in my opinion, especially against the team we'll dominate. I would have taken Shelvey.


Is that likely to be the starting XI for the world cup or do you expect any changes?

From that team, I'd say the starters are:

Pickford
Walker
Stones
Trippier
Lingard
Sterling
Kane

Others:

Rose for Young
Henderson for Dier
Maguire/Jones for Cahill
Loftus for Alli
 
Never knew Iwobi played for Nigeria! Thought he had opted for England.