The Poolie Bunker

Ther was something lightweight about England last night, a lot of long winded dilly dallying and tediously protracted passing moves that produced little in the way of attacking….and physically a step below their opponents strength.
Of course nothing is won by adopting siege tactics and hoping for a draw, but the key to the door of opening them up was not in Englands tool box…it’ll be interesting to see if Croatia has the ability to crack the Ghanaian resistance.

To much reliance on certain players in particular Declan Rice while an excellent player no variance at free kicks and corners, look what happened with the quick thinking at the free kick by Portugal. Well done Ghana for an excellent result.

suppose the media will be in meltdown today and the experts who never watch a game live will be putting in there 10 pennorth and boring football fans at work crazy.

A tedious watch after the uplifting 2nd half performance against Croatia. Has Southgate returned?
Saka should be starting, he's the only one capable of opening up a solid defence. Gordon isn't consistent enough and Madueke gets into great 1 on 1 positions but almost always turns back. James is a lazy lazy footballer, again hardly played a forward pass all game just knocked it back to the CBs mostly, and his aimless crosses were shocking.
Apart from Kane's miss he was hardly seen, we've got one of the best finishers in world football and he's starved of any service.
They need a huge kick up the arse, and probably some of the players on the bench deserve a start ahead of the non performers. Hopefully Tuechel doesn't fall into the trap of giving them too many chances to improve.

Croatia v Ghana will be a different game because Ghana will try to win it. They won't put 10 men behind the ball, it will be an open game that either side could win.

England will have another 100+ minutes of pure tedium against Panama but should beat them. The only worry is Pickford having another rush of blood to the head and doing something really stupid - Panama are quick on the break, like Ghana were.

England's players were lazy last night, you have to take players on rather than take the easy sideways pass which we did all night, I'm not complaining as I got 13/2 for the draw.

don,t you know thats the only way the game has to be played nowadays. it happens every week from the premier league downwards and helps to shore up the main stat of the game, possession.

Well done to Newcastle for getting £70 million for Gordon. When he can outpace a full back he can be a game changer but when he can't he looks very ordinary. Gordon and Madueke look impact subs at best. Lots of huff and puff in midfield from Rice and Anderson but the creativity wasn't there from Bellingham. We were lucky Pickford wasn't sent off and we could have conceded a penalty late on. Not sure why Ollie Watkins didn't get some minutes. Still there's a long way to go.

Let's be honest Kane missed a sitter, don't know if it's the balls but lots of shots and free kicks are going well over the bar from players who should know how to keep it down?

England very fortunate in the end, pushing forward for a goal, then the Ghanaian forward outpaced the defenders and was unlucky not to get a penalty, they have changed the VAR rules I believe and only the ref. can ask for it, he definitely got caught on the knee and there was no contact with ball.

Can't give a penalty for an offence outside the box but Pickford definitely fouled their man and should have had a red card.
Thought the challenge from Ghuehi (I think) when he flew in from behind was a pen though.

There’s a lack of characters in the team…… don’t recall such an anonymous collection, unless my complete lack of interest on the Premiership is clouding my vision.

I suspect that they believed their own publicity after the Croatia game and vastly underestimated Ghana. They're not alone, I for one predicted 5-0 to the missus.

Even the eventual winners rarely win every game.

Highly delighted with the so far points return.

Keep the Faith.

PTID. Saka isn’t starting because he’s carrying an injury, it’s said he should be fit for Saturday.

Tuchel said yesterday morning he was fit, feeling no pain, and ready to go but he didn't say wether hed start or be sub. So looks to me as if it was a choice to keep him on the bench.
He certainly doesn't look to be carrying an injury during his 2 sub appearances.

many teams struggle in the early group stage and go on to win the competition. its an england thing where they have to win every game to keep the press and part time fans off there backs. if pools average 4 points out of 2 games through the season we will all be delighted.