Sorry to take you there.
But my original point is about past history affecting current players .
But the trend can be broken. Just look at Spain .
England Discussion | Finish 4th
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
But my original point is about past history affecting current players .
But the trend can be broken. Just look at Spain .
I’d put England slight favourites against Colombia but if they don’t turn up all this planning ahead could blow up in their faces spectacularly. After three games we still don’t really know much about this England side, whose to say Belgium B wouldn’t have beaten England’s best side anyway? We just don’t know.
Wanting to win a World Cup by trying to take the “easier” path sends a message that you don’t really believe you’re good enough to beat the very best
Wanting to win a World Cup by trying to take the “easier” path sends a message that you don’t really believe you’re good enough to beat the very best
every single team would take the supposed "easier" path if it was given to them.
Think most England fans realise they're not good enough to beat the best.
Not yet, not just yet, get to the semi's and lose on penalties please.
England will get dumped out by Sweden after the media has talked you up as soon to be world champions. 
Colombia looks exactly like the type of team that usually eliminates England. Don't know if James will play though.
Thanks for clearing absolutely nothing up
In theory anything can happen, but with England, it's usually what you expect.
Until this year of course, when it comes home.
Until this year of course, when it comes home.
This is exactly what I was referring to yesterday when I stated that, for all Southgate’s words to the contrary, the message will be loud and clear within the England camp: our management does not fancy us to beat Brazil, Argentina, France, Portugal etc. It also ramps up the pressure v Colombia as they are now, psychologically, expected to deal with them with ease as per the narrative.
It’s an absolutely catastrophic miscalculation by Southgate and his management team, and it’s one which will haunt them for a long, long time.
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Well yeah I'm just predicating on everything being equal England wouldn't expect to beat the best.
When has that ever applied in any game of footy? The best can lose any game at any time. But it's easy for miserable sods to moan about how shite England are and how they won't beat any decent teams.
Well majority of the time the best teams do end up beating weaker teams so it's fair to have some form of expectation.
Might put a bet on a Colombia win just in case.
England have a good chance to progress to the Semis.
This world cup, no one looks stand out great.
If we do not become cautious again and play attacking football, who knows.
This world cup, no one looks stand out great.
If we do not become cautious again and play attacking football, who knows.
Very bitter post alert...
I feel like that too but then in fairness other than Iceland in the Euros, England always end up going out to one of the big teams. Usually on penalties.
Belgium were indeed better but England didn't try. Its obvious to see if you were really watching.
England "didn't try" in the form of making eight changes to the first team.
England B lost to Belgium B.
All it proves is the Belgium second string is better than the England second string. At the end of the day, it counts for shit.
Foreign United fans slagging off England. It’s like immigrants slagging off the Uk but will happily take the benefits.
Most brexit post of 2018 goes to...
I voted to stay. I just don’t get all this hate for England, when United was built on British values and players.
Loftus-Cheek actually needs to start.
Colombia's attacking four have the ability to tear us apart so we need two defensive mids for off-the-ball situations.
Their central midfield however is absolute cack so we also need to wrestle control of that and cut the supply lines to their forwards by taking the game to them, for which a more ball-playing partner for Henderson than Dier/Delph is needed.
Loftus-Cheek is that perfect blend.
Colombia's attacking four have the ability to tear us apart so we need two defensive mids for off-the-ball situations.
Their central midfield however is absolute cack so we also need to wrestle control of that and cut the supply lines to their forwards by taking the game to them, for which a more ball-playing partner for Henderson than Dier/Delph is needed.
Loftus-Cheek is that perfect blend.
I actually rate England and think they are a good side.
However I think they would of been better suited to playing a team where they were underdog.
I think Columbia will have their number unfortunately.
However I think they would of been better suited to playing a team where they were underdog.
I think Columbia will have their number unfortunately.
Sterling, Lingard and Kane have attributes that are far, far more dangerous than anything Columbia possesses. England will concede because Stones, Maguire and Pickford are shit. But they WILL score goals (plural).
Just need to keep the subs as far away from the main team as possible, barring Rashford.
Just need to keep the subs as far away from the main team as possible, barring Rashford.
I swear many people just want to troll/annoy you guys, grab a popcorn and watch the meltdown.
Glad to have been of service.
England - Columbia: both camps really fancying their chances, so it must be pretty even, isn’t it? I would say that England have 2-3 world class players who are able to make the difference with a single move (Kane, Alli, the CBs with headers) but Columbia are better overall as a unit and potential-wise. I am expecting and end-to-end game and fine margins, Columbia snatching a 2-1 late win / in extra time.
If James is fit i consider Columbia favorite, but if not England has an easy route to the semis.
Colombia please 
I think everyone is really doing a disservice to Switzerland (if they beat Sweden). I wouldn't call them "easy" at all and think they're more than capable of beating any team at this tournament.
England modernized football and gave us the original set of rules but they've been many forms of football played across the globe for centuries. Evidence exists of a ballgame played by ancient Mayans and Aztecs from Mexico that historians generally call 'Mesoamerican ballgame' and informally pok-a-tok. It was a life or death sport. They played with rubber balls and many of these have been recovered at ancient burial sites and its thought they were buried ritually with the winners. The object was to score as many goals as possible through a raised cement hoop (you can still see them today in the fields they played in) by any means possible. Headers, shots, hips, hands. They also wrestled and tackled the ball off opposing players.
The ancient Romans had a similar violent ball game sport called Harpastum. The ancient Chinese ball game of Cuju has actually been recognized by FIFA as the earliest version of the game. Football in England before the 1860s didn't look much different from these renderings of the game. Scotland actually invented the passing of the ball forward and the English called it the 'combination game'. Without them football wouldn't be quite the same
Hey, you failed to make it to US 94 but made the semis of the Euros two years later, your last good performance in a major tournament. France played a basically U-20 US team in their final friendly before the world cup in Paris and they were held 1-1, needed a late equalizer. The future is bright
We didn't want to go to America in 94 because we knew it'd be a shit tourney.....and it was.
Columnbia will be a tough test but I haven't been overly impressed by them, although if James turns up it could be difficult
Tbh I wouldn't mind if England didn't bother with the next World Cup