Semi-Final - Wednesday 11th July - Croatia (aet)2-1 England

[Eco]

1 minute ago, Blue said:

England are panicking. They are playing way too fast. They need to slow the pace down a bit and calm down or else Croatia will score again.

Funny how things change isn't it? I would have said the exact same of Croatia in the first half after the England goal. 

[Inverted]

Just need to calm down and realise that extra time is a big opportunity for them. No idea why England are panicking so much to regain their lead, its Croatia fighting the clock. 

[The Artful Dodger]

Pickford has been superb at dealing with some pretty haphazard defending by us at the back, he's really grown.

[Cicero]

Pickford is going to turn into an elite keeper 

[The Artful Dodger]

Jinxed him..

[6666]

Pickford having a poor game. Playing with uncertainty, too many mistakes. 

[carefreeluke]

Get the ball down and play! England!

[The Artful Dodger]

Just now, 6666 said:

Pickford having a poor game. Playing with uncertainty, too many mistakes. 

That was his first real one, a lot of the time he's having the ball aimed back at him by our panicking centre backs and he's doing well to clear it.

[The Artful Dodger]

Vida is a huge weak link. 

[carefreeluke]

I’ve loved him this tournament but Henderson is shitting himself under pressure.

[6666]

Just now, The Artful Dodger said:

That was his first real one, a lot of the time he's having the ball aimed back at him by our panicking centre backs and he's doing well to clear it.

He's come a few times when he shouldn't. The Perisic shot that hit the post came from one of those times. He's a good shot stopper but decision making is questionable.

[Fairy In Boots]

Just now, carefreeluke said:

I’ve loved him this tournament but Henderson is shitting himself under pressure.

He’s not the only one, my arsehole going 5p/50p as we speak

[The Artful Dodger]

Croatia surely be a bit deflated if this goes extra time? England can regroup but need someone in the midfield to be composed.

[6666]

Welbeck needs to come on for the save. Kane isolated, strong runner on the counter needed.

[Inverted]

Have Croatia made a sub? Might help them if it gets to extra time.

[6666]

1 minute ago, Inverted said:

Have Croatia made a sub? Might help them if it gets to extra time.

1 sub the whole game.

[The Artful Dodger]

How many have we made? Just Rashford?

[God is Haaland]

21 minutes ago, bozziovai said:

oh no !!!  suddenly it's not coming home ..................

>suddenly

I bet you cracked a smile when you wrote that down.

[El Profesor]

2 minutes ago, Inverted said:

Have Croatia made a sub? Might help them if it gets to extra time.

No. They have all 4 subs. It´s crazy they a player like Kovacic on the bench.

[Inverted]

Both sides presumably anticipating extra time.

[DeadLinesman]

Back to Big Sam football.

[Danny]

Just Rashford.

Yes a couple of decision making errors from Pickford but to say he's been poor means you're blind.

The long balls were great in the first half because they exploited the channels so well. Second half has just been panicking, need to stay strong and play our game.

Also need to avoid putting the keeper needlessly under pressure.

[Toinho]

Horrible second half by England. All this passing back to Pickford and him lumping it forward to lose possession has been demoralising to watch. Fair play to Croatia for stepping up in the second half.

Come on England! I don't want these dirty Croats in the final against the flopping French! 

[Machado]

If Croacia win the shoot out again they'll be the first to do it 3 times in the history of the competition.

[The Artful Dodger]

The half was awful, really bad. Croatia obviously would say the same about the first. Southgate has been very good at not overreacting but we need something here, a change to counteract them...I really have no idea what that would be so I'm not going to suggest.