The Card Cheat
Well-known member
Italy and Ukraine will do well to win all their games. Especially as they have to play each other.
England vs N. Macedonia
- Thread starter TheYorkshireTerrier
- Start date
Italy and Ukraine will do well to win all their games. Especially as they have to play each other.
Rofesleg
Well-known member
Very good, but you know what I meant. Whatever applies to Italy also applies to Ukraine. They have both only lost one game.
Corcaigh_the_Cat
Well-known member
Aren't all league systems pretty similar. We know at the start of each season which 2 or 3 teams are going to be challenging for top honours across each country.Because they don’t provide a stern enough test before going into a knock out tournament. North Macedonia and Malta playing against some of the best players in the world.
It’s no good for anyone England beating a team 7-0 tonight in a qualification game.
These groups are a reflection of that.
I'd sooner see a full knock out tournament without seeding, like the FA Cup, with the last 32 knock out games played in one country but only over one leg each, straight knock out.
It's good for those wanting to see a few goals that England won 7-0.
The Card Cheat
Well-known member
Because they don’t provide a stern enough test before going into a knock out tournament. North Macedonia and Malta playing against some of the best players in the world
It’s no good for anyone England beating a team 7-0 tonight in a qualification game.
That the false perception that because England beat them 7-0 they must be completely rubbish. That’s literally the most goals they’ve ever conceded in their entire history. They also reached the final play off game of the world cup qualifiers.
Maybe, just maybe England won so comprehensively, because they played very very well.
joeydiaz
Well-known member
England didn’t have to get out of second gear to beat them 7-0.
Frozen Horse
Well-known member
Because they don’t provide a stern enough test before going into a knock out tournament. North Macedonia and Malta playing against some of the best players in the world
It’s no good for anyone England beating a team 7-0 tonight in a qualification game.
I've seen England stutter in qualification enough times to know that fans don't turnround and praise the strength of the qualification process; they say "England have no chance in the finals".
Macedonia aren't minnows: they did qualify for the last euros, and have had some good wins. Beating them is not like putting 7 past San Marino.
However, I do think 24 teams qualifying is too many. I also think the true minnows would benefit from playing some competitive pre-qualifying tournament.
LowMoorBoro
Well-known member
Agree, North Macedonia aren’t exactly a top team but they did qualify for the last tournament so are of a standard you’d potentially play in the group stages.
What would be the alternative, putting all the top teams in one qualifying group? more friendlies?
BoroMart
Well-known member
We beat Italy Away in this group already, that’s a stern test and we passed itBecause they don’t provide a stern enough test before going into a knock out tournament. North Macedonia and Malta playing against some of the best players in the world
It’s no good for anyone England beating a team 7-0 tonight in a qualification game.
BoroMart
Well-known member
If we are arsenal challenging for titles but rarely winning then, N Macedonia are Sheff Utd. Hard working and professional but not enough quality players to compete. Still, you wouldn’t expect Arsenal to bang 7 past Sheff Utd either.
atypical_boro
Well-known member
See, the flaw with this argument is that had England had to dig deep and scraped a 5-4 victory with a last minute own goal, nobody would have been saying “England didn’t have to get out of second gear” but it would probably have been a pretty poor defensive performance.
I was there tonight and England very much, in my opinion, got into sixth gear and that’s exactly why they absolutely demolished an opposition who are no slouches. They blew them away. Honestly I felt sorry for Jordan Pickford, I think I had to do more.
Diego
Well-known member
Agree, I was there too and honestly we were electric. Thought the atmosphere was superb too which I wasn’t expecting
r00fie1
Well-known member
Never mind our "lucky" win.
Seems like our Paddy an the bouys were booed off after a late winner for Kazakhstan at Windsor Park.
Northern Ireland have amassed just 3 points from their last 4 games.
Seems like our Paddy an the bouys were booed off after a late winner for Kazakhstan at Windsor Park.
Northern Ireland have amassed just 3 points from their last 4 games.
atypical_boro
Well-known member
Yeah the crowd seemed more bothered than I expected, def agree about that! I guess that’s the benefit of not playing every game at Wembley.
Cardiffdaffs
Well-known member
The group is effectively a 3 way shoot out and the other 2 are cannon fodder.
Corcaigh_the_Cat
Well-known member
I've heard this 2nd gear nonsense so many times on here regarding England and Boro. They played to the best of their abilities last night, hence the result.
The resonse to that is, this is a poor Italian side - they didn't even qualify for the World Cup!!!
If England beat a top nation its because that top nation is no longer as good as it was previously, if we beat a minnow, well we should beat them. They keep this going until we do lose to a top nation like France and then its typical England choke at the first real test.
People dont like Southgate and for whatever reason are anti England its pointless trying to argue.
This England team is the best in my lifetime, its like watching a club team. All these players from rival clubs getting along like best mates, its fantastic. Having so many options to come on and change a game and goals coming from all angles.
Very impressive performance against a team that yes we should beat but are in a know way a walkover as they have proven over the past couple of qualification campaigns.
Marvanelli
Well-known member
Fantastic performance and result. And this is without our best midfielder.
We have Jude, Foden, Grealish, James all within touching distance of starting for England. Our strength in depth is looking good.
We're still light at CB as without Stones I seriously would be worried going into a KO tournament. I'd like us to start trying other options to Maguire as he's not good enough. He never has been, and never will be. He tries his best, but bottom line is, he's not good enough.
As for going forward, we have one of the best #9's in the world, and the pace surrounding him is frightening. Kane dropping deep and allowing the wide players to run inside is deadly. Saka, Rashford, Grealish, Foden. Some fantastic options there. I don't think many teams (if any) would be happy going up against our striking force.
I honestly think we will go into the Euro's next year as 2nd favourites behind France and rightly so. I think us and France are well ahead of the rest of Europe at this moment in time.
Hopefully Southgate continues with Alexander-Arnold in that midfield role because his range of passing is KDB like. Jude/Rice/TAA has to be our main trio in midfield, with Henderson in reserve.
Gallagher and Phillips aren't good enough....and if it wasn't for them playing for big clubs, they'd be nowhere near the squad.
We have Jude, Foden, Grealish, James all within touching distance of starting for England. Our strength in depth is looking good.
We're still light at CB as without Stones I seriously would be worried going into a KO tournament. I'd like us to start trying other options to Maguire as he's not good enough. He never has been, and never will be. He tries his best, but bottom line is, he's not good enough.
As for going forward, we have one of the best #9's in the world, and the pace surrounding him is frightening. Kane dropping deep and allowing the wide players to run inside is deadly. Saka, Rashford, Grealish, Foden. Some fantastic options there. I don't think many teams (if any) would be happy going up against our striking force.
I honestly think we will go into the Euro's next year as 2nd favourites behind France and rightly so. I think us and France are well ahead of the rest of Europe at this moment in time.
Hopefully Southgate continues with Alexander-Arnold in that midfield role because his range of passing is KDB like. Jude/Rice/TAA has to be our main trio in midfield, with Henderson in reserve.
Gallagher and Phillips aren't good enough....and if it wasn't for them playing for big clubs, they'd be nowhere near the squad.
TheYorkshireTerrier
Well-known member
I don't get the hate for Maguire, he's had three really good major tournaments in a row now.
He needs to move clubs this summer though, otherwise the fury at him being selected for England will just get even worse before Germany next year.