Tonight's game Croatia VS England What do you think of it

[diable rouge]

No, he was referring to whether they relaxed properly in their own downtime. Did the buzz of winning and getting through the stages, something new to them, sap some of their energy before they had even stepped onto the pitch? Not hard to imagine a lot of the young players would rather spend time on social media and gaming, rather than having an afternoon kip..:)

[diable rouge]

Lots of rumours go around about Pep's teams and their 'nutrition'... ;-)

[Alan Medic]

Is there any truth in the notion that players of a certain older age reach a level of stamina young players just can't have?

[diable rouge]

No idea, but I remember Fergie once saying that young players are inconsistent and their game time needs to be managed well, so he would rest them. Southgate more or less played the same team except for the Belgium game, understandable as they were winning, but in hindsight some changes may have been beneficial. Even during the Croatia game in the second half he didn't see fit to change the formation. I felt that 3 central defenders against one Croatian striker was ok when we were knocking the ball around in the first half, but when the Croatians pressed in the second half, they panicked and started hitting it long. I think it would've helped to have gone to a flat back four and put an extra body in midfield which was getting overrun and stretched by Modric and co. Overall it's hard to criticise when they played well above expectations and became enjoyable to watch again...

[edcam]

No self-loathing here, just loathing of the behaviour of some "nationalists" and how emboldened they are becoming due to the status quo. If you haven't observed this it's slightly frightening.

See the behaviour of those who invaded the Ikea after the Sweden match and those who vandalised an ambulance.)

BrandNewGuy Wrote:

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> edcam Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > However I?m pretty relieved that rampant and

> > misplaced nationalism won?t be unleashed by

> > greater success. Because that undoubtedly would

> > have happened.

>

> Nah. English self-loathing is almost as

> unattractive as 'rampant nationalism'. If we had

> won, we could have rightly felt proud of the team

> and would have celebrated accordingly. That's it.

[rendelharris]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Is there any truth in the notion that players of a

> certain older age reach a level of stamina young

> players just can't have?

It certainly is in other sports, in cycling it's axiomatic that younger riders haven't got enough miles in their legs to win a grand tour, GT winners are nearly always over 25 and are generally at their best between about 27-32. Male runners run their fastest marathons, on average, aged 27, women aged 29. So I reckon yes, quite a lot of truth in it.

[Alan Medic]

I found these stats which certainly suggest it could apply to football too RH:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44757871

[diable rouge]

They used to say that a footballer reached their peak at around 28, often retiring by their early 30's. But with the introduction of sports science/improved diets etc players retire later nowadays...

[rendelharris]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> I found these stats which certainly suggest it

> could apply to football too RH:

>

> https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44757871

Very interesting - bodes well for England 2022 then, and Qatar will certainly demand stamina (everyone seen the ridiculous news today that it will take place between November 21st and December 18th? How f&*%ing absurd is that?).

[malumbu]

Wow, this thread is as underwhelming as the match. So much to talk about.

1. Just come back from France - what a week for news, Trump, Cabinet resignations, seeing both footy matches in a French bar (and such different experiences) and the amazing cave rescue.

2. What appears to be a total over-reaction to the World cup fueled I expect by non-football fans including those posting here. The reality check is that we did not beat any decent team. My memories of 90, 96, 98 and even the disappointment of going out to Brazil is that there was a much greater expectation (and team, and matches). But there again was it the lack of expectation this time that led to the national hype, ie that there wasn't any. We licked our wounds in the aforementioned tournaments, and in the mid to late 90s there was a genuine belief that we would go onto succeed.

Great piece on a morning show on BBC on why on earth BBC reporters knowing nowt about footy and with nothing to add were presenting from Russia. And thank heavens I was restricted to five live and Radio 4 in France and didn't hear that sycophant Chris Evans.

The 5live phone ins were interesting on the morning after as anyone who dared to do a reality check was lambasted.

3. Brexit. I was worried too that the national hype would affect that. Thought the ideal result was to make the final and be beaten in a good match by Belgium. Neither of course will happen. But I think us snowflakes (what a silly word to use to castigate those with an informed view) were unduly worried.

4. The match. Yes the match. The team were good enough to win this. None of our stars shined (cometh the hour, cometh the man, I was willing you on Jamie) and a fairly average team got their tactics right.

5. The past. Not a patch on that brilliant Owen goal against Argentina. Oh where oh where were the goals from open play.

6. The future. Yes good to have genuine opposition and happy for the boy from Watford (with some genuine lessons on leadership). Bucking a trend when the main reason we suffer is the greed league (aka Premiership) and for what ever reason the failure of grass roots and the academy system to turn out world class footballers.

Postscript - I've been more elated by the ashes 05 victory, the whole of the 2012 Games, and the Murray Grand Slams. They will be making a film of the Thai cave rescue, not I expect England's 2018 campaign.