5 teams undefeated in this tournament

Only 5 teams have failed to win a game. That must be a record low?

I think it's too early to talk about levelling up between the continents, but I think we're at the point now where you can't relax against anyone.

Brazil, France and Portugal may rest players, but their opponents have shown they can beat them if they do.
 
Brazil made 9 changes or something daft like that. I don’t think we can count them out just yet!
I kind of understand the philosophy of not fielding your strongest 11 for perhaps the least important game but you’d expect the players to do a better job.

France did the same with Tunisia and while it just maybe comes over as a meaningless game I do believe it’ll not be a good feeling for either Brazil or France to lose.

I guess we’ll see how much negative impact it has on both teams in the next round.
 
I would rather draw a game with our first x1 and then win convincingly in the next than lose the last one and lose any momentum, we are in a good position but i fear we may be heading home soon (must be the pessimist boro/england fan in me) hope im wrong like.
 
I think it's too early to talk about levelling up between the continents, but I think we're at the point now where you can't relax against anyone.
I don't think it is too early, brought this up the other day when people said that none of the top teams are exceptional anymore. I don't think it's that at all, it's that the minnows have caught up. They don't have the consistency, but they can put on a deccent performance, create chances, and be stubborn defensively, and if they take their chances they can beat anyone as a number of them have proven
 
Booooooo, boring! Why doesn't he play Foden, Grealish, Mount, Maddison, Gallagher, Saka, Sterling as a flat 7 behind the striker?!
Not this again to be fair I think the call for foden was justified when you saw the performance.

What do we’re do now though is the question. As we have options.
 
I think there’s an issue of sporting integrity as well as the sides facing Brazil b of France reserves are not facing that same obstacle as those who played them first or second in the group so where’s the fairness in that for the others still needing to quality.
 
Only 5 teams have failed to win a game. That must be a record low?

I think it's too early to talk about levelling up between the continents, but I think we're at the point now where you can't relax against anyone.

Brazil, France and Portugal may rest players, but their opponents have shown they can beat them if they do.
Completely agree, I think for some of the earlier kick off games the heat has been a bit of a leveller as well.
 
Winning games or not losing games is a good habit to get in to and we are one of just a handful of teams that managed to do that through the group stage.

I know some of the big teams shuffled the pack for their last game but as someone has already said a silly defeat in match 3 loses momentum regardless of who plays. I’m more than happy with Englands group outcome and can see no reason to fear anyone.

I think it’s a really open WC and there are plenty of teams with genuine ambitions and expectations of winning it.
 
I don't think it is too early, brought this up the other day when people said that none of the top teams are exceptional anymore. I don't think it's that at all, it's that the minnows have caught up.

I don't disagree with anything you say. My previous point was badly made

I agree the gap is narrowing; what I meant is it hasn't closed completely yet. Proportionally, Europe still dominates the second round, and when thrashings occur, they're always inflicted by Europe or South Americans on developing continents, never the other way around

So, yes, the gap us closing, but there's a way to go yet.
 
France didn’t even just rest players, they had players playing out of position as a test. It’s not a surprise there’s teams unbeaten on 7 but not none on 9.
If England had beaten USA we’d have probably rested a load of players, however Wales were so bad I don’t think they still would have won.
 
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