England's Group
Anyway, this is England's group and I might as well start with us. I genuinely like this squad of players and particularly our good-guy manager. We don't seem to have the obnoxious types who have ground down many England fans over the last 20 odd years, and I am surprised that I still sense a feeling of ill-will towards the team when I think they are being blamed for the sins of others.
As for our ability level, well let's not get carried away but neither should we be too down about things. There is certainly some talent in here, but also areas where you think we could do with one of those scumbags that used to play for England. Stars are clearly in attack, Kane will score goals and if he hits form the way that he can then a burst of goals could carry England far. Our next 2 key men have unfortunately struggled to replicate club form for England lately, namely Sterling and Alli. They will both need to make more of an impact to support Kane. Kyle Walker could also hurt opponents so it is surprising that Southgate has nullified that by moving him away from the wingback role.
The defence looks shaky and central midfield lacks passing quality. These things are likely to cost England in the end. But that's ok- with recalibrated expectations we shouldn't be thinking we should win the thing anyway. A first knockout match win in 12 years should be achievable, and then a gallant defeat without humiliation to probably Germany or Brazil in the quarters and I think the players can hold their heads up high. If our star players hit the heights in the quarters then we might dream of even getting past that stage. It would be silly to think we could repeat that twice more and get the trophy though. That can wait for when this side is augmented by our age group teams who seem to be finding winning habits.
Belgium are in a different situation. Packed with star quality throughout the squad, the doubt seems to be about Martinez's ability to gel them together properly. They look like a really exciting team, but the memory of the way they bumbled their way to defeat against Wales in Euro 16 shows that there's something there that means they don't add up to the sum of their parts. There are doubts that the full backs really match the quality of the rest of the side but no tournament winner is perfect so that isn't a huge concern specifically. I think that the sheer array of talent at their disposal will mean they should walk the group- where you can imagine England labouring against parked buses in the opening 2 games against the group minnows, Belgium have so much invention in the shape of Hazard, De Bruyne and the rest, combined with the power of Lukaku, that they'll find it relatively easy to get a high goal difference from those games, then top the group with a draw or win against England. Qualifiers from Group G will probably be up against Colombia or Senegal I imagine and will be favourites against either. I'd be very surprised if Belgium didn't reach the quarters, then the test really starts for them. If they have found their groove thought then they have the armoury to even win the tournament although I do not think this likely. In any case, a talented team that could be involved in some classic games when they meet other heavyweights, worth keeping the diary clear for their matches I'd say.
Tunisia and Panama, well I've listened and read a lot of tournament previews so this is my algamation of all the info I've soaked up, I won't pretend it's original thought.
Tunisia are joint 28th out of 32 among the bookmakers (1000-1), so as 3rd ranked team in the group this makes this probably the weakest group of all- they are not really dark horses that happen to have a good side you haven't heard of, they just aren't up to much. They apparently have a pretty defensive outlook too and have a bunch of injuries which have weakened them further. They did however hold Spain at 0-0 until 84 minutes the other day in a warm up so I have visions of a tough day for England in the opening match. This has got to be their plan to get out of the group- hold England, lose to Belgium, beat Panama and hope they can get the goal difference to edge out England. Unlikely, but you never know. In tournaments things like this do happen, but even if they did qualify then they'd surely get no further. However, in all likelihood they are going to be looking at that Panama game as a chance to get some glory from a dead rubber and avoid embarrassment in the other games. Players to watch include Wahbi Khazri who didn't do much for Sunderland but is apparently more lively for his national team and Ben Youssef who will offer a limited threat on the counter attack.
Panama are joint 31st with bookies (2000-1). They are proper minnows. They have a couple of strikers in Blas Pérez and Luis Tejada who have been around the block for them for ages and might have been useful in their day, but are now aged 37 and 36 respectively. They can't even plot an obscure qualification route and will just be looking to enjoy themselves here, although they might end up on the wrong end of a thumping from at least one opponent, possibly all three.
Prediction:
Belgium and England to play out a draw after both take 2 wins from the first two games. Both to lose in quarter finals, Belgium closely to Brazil, England 2-0 to Germany in a game we never look likely to win.
Panama to have the worst goal difference of any side in Russia.
As for our ability level, well let's not get carried away but neither should we be too down about things. There is certainly some talent in here, but also areas where you think we could do with one of those scumbags that used to play for England. Stars are clearly in attack, Kane will score goals and if he hits form the way that he can then a burst of goals could carry England far. Our next 2 key men have unfortunately struggled to replicate club form for England lately, namely Sterling and Alli. They will both need to make more of an impact to support Kane. Kyle Walker could also hurt opponents so it is surprising that Southgate has nullified that by moving him away from the wingback role.
The defence looks shaky and central midfield lacks passing quality. These things are likely to cost England in the end. But that's ok- with recalibrated expectations we shouldn't be thinking we should win the thing anyway. A first knockout match win in 12 years should be achievable, and then a gallant defeat without humiliation to probably Germany or Brazil in the quarters and I think the players can hold their heads up high. If our star players hit the heights in the quarters then we might dream of even getting past that stage. It would be silly to think we could repeat that twice more and get the trophy though. That can wait for when this side is augmented by our age group teams who seem to be finding winning habits.
Belgium are in a different situation. Packed with star quality throughout the squad, the doubt seems to be about Martinez's ability to gel them together properly. They look like a really exciting team, but the memory of the way they bumbled their way to defeat against Wales in Euro 16 shows that there's something there that means they don't add up to the sum of their parts. There are doubts that the full backs really match the quality of the rest of the side but no tournament winner is perfect so that isn't a huge concern specifically. I think that the sheer array of talent at their disposal will mean they should walk the group- where you can imagine England labouring against parked buses in the opening 2 games against the group minnows, Belgium have so much invention in the shape of Hazard, De Bruyne and the rest, combined with the power of Lukaku, that they'll find it relatively easy to get a high goal difference from those games, then top the group with a draw or win against England. Qualifiers from Group G will probably be up against Colombia or Senegal I imagine and will be favourites against either. I'd be very surprised if Belgium didn't reach the quarters, then the test really starts for them. If they have found their groove thought then they have the armoury to even win the tournament although I do not think this likely. In any case, a talented team that could be involved in some classic games when they meet other heavyweights, worth keeping the diary clear for their matches I'd say.
Tunisia and Panama, well I've listened and read a lot of tournament previews so this is my algamation of all the info I've soaked up, I won't pretend it's original thought.
Tunisia are joint 28th out of 32 among the bookmakers (1000-1), so as 3rd ranked team in the group this makes this probably the weakest group of all- they are not really dark horses that happen to have a good side you haven't heard of, they just aren't up to much. They apparently have a pretty defensive outlook too and have a bunch of injuries which have weakened them further. They did however hold Spain at 0-0 until 84 minutes the other day in a warm up so I have visions of a tough day for England in the opening match. This has got to be their plan to get out of the group- hold England, lose to Belgium, beat Panama and hope they can get the goal difference to edge out England. Unlikely, but you never know. In tournaments things like this do happen, but even if they did qualify then they'd surely get no further. However, in all likelihood they are going to be looking at that Panama game as a chance to get some glory from a dead rubber and avoid embarrassment in the other games. Players to watch include Wahbi Khazri who didn't do much for Sunderland but is apparently more lively for his national team and Ben Youssef who will offer a limited threat on the counter attack.
Panama are joint 31st with bookies (2000-1). They are proper minnows. They have a couple of strikers in Blas Pérez and Luis Tejada who have been around the block for them for ages and might have been useful in their day, but are now aged 37 and 36 respectively. They can't even plot an obscure qualification route and will just be looking to enjoy themselves here, although they might end up on the wrong end of a thumping from at least one opponent, possibly all three.
Prediction:
Belgium and England to play out a draw after both take 2 wins from the first two games. Both to lose in quarter finals, Belgium closely to Brazil, England 2-0 to Germany in a game we never look likely to win.
Panama to have the worst goal difference of any side in Russia.
