FIFA World Cup: Russia 2018 [Archived] Soccer • Page 31

I've Got Some Things to Say | By Romelu Lukaku

Great read

 

Big day for Spurs plays. Son, the Belgians, then England.

 

The media absolutely eviscerated England after the last World Cup for failing to get out of their group, so yes, there was definitely an expectation.

I've always felt it was unfair - Hodgson played the exact formation and players I would have played in both games against Italy and Uruguay, we just came up against better opposition on both occasions. Then we had a dead rubber against Costa Rica, who turned out to be a surprisingly good package.

But because England will be England, we can't have that. Frankly the media never forgave them - they were very much pushing for Hodgson to be sacked - and I think the pressure got to the entire squad which is what led to Euro 2016 being such an unmitigated disaster and brain waves like Harry Kane taking corners.

 

The media are shits and always will be though. Even with the charm offensive the squad has been playing in recent weeks, we've still had the bullshit of the Sterling tattoo. We can go on about expectation and inexperience however much we want; if England don't win tonight, the media will turn.

 

The English media will be a gold mine if England drop points.

 

Man, that's a mess of feels.

Really gets me down when you read of an upbringing like that in a country as well developed as Belgium.

Not a comment on Belgium specifically. I'm sure it's true of plenty of places.

 

Can already see the scapegoat being Sterling. After the backlash against the tattoo story a few weeks ago, the media are gagging to pile in on him based on his performances.

 

Well if he will keep eating breakfast.

 

Hoping for a nice solid 8-0 today. Nothing spectacular. Easy stuff.

 

Hodgson failed, there really was nothing unfair about the criticism. There are extensive problems with much of the English football media but Hodgson was in a job he should never have got and, to be honest, got off relatively lightly for longer than the previous few managers would've done.

 

Thinking of getting a Costa shirt when I go Spain next weekend but unsure if that's a good idea considering the whole Spain/Catalonia thing.

 

Turns out the German press can be just as savage as the British...

 

I don't understand this "Hodgson was always a terrible manager" narrative, for the reasons I've given above.

I suppose the most important thing is thank Christ Allardyce got himself sacked.

 

Nikola Kalinic sent home from Croatia squad - Apparently he refused to come on in the Nigeria game!

 

You get the feeling that Croatia have peaked and are going the way of Turkey.

 

Since he’s Brazilian/it’s during the World Cup, you’re probably fine. (Assuming you’re in Barcelona. They’re used to tourists.)

 

I might have to get a Son WC Jersey. Those look nice.

 

BELGIUM FOR THE WORLD CUP!

Is my emotional, just teared up reading this response.

 

This game is kinda wild

 

Bleh

 

The flopping...

 

Finally, sheesh

 

Should’ve been their second penalty.

For all the fuss about VAR going in, it’s been used to perfection thus far.

 

Due to being away this weekend, that's the first live use of VAR I've seen. Works really well I think, improves the game like it does in rugby.

 

Yeah, I've been impressed by VAR so far. Makes a big difference having it on the screens in the stadium. Any future use of it must continue to include this or it will never work efficiently.