Frendlies tell you fek all

Serious assessments can be made after the Serbia game

Smacks of desperation and confirmation bias this?

We were terrible against North Macedonia in November, clueless against Brazil, awful at Wembley v Belgium, pathetic against Bosnia and followed the trend when Iceland came to town (the same Iceland that Netherlands thrashed 4-0 a few days later)

Face facts, we don't have a hope in hell of beating anyone half decent with that defence. A draw against Serbia is a real possibility, then the pressure starts building.............

England can win the tournament. I'd fancy our chances a lot better under a different manager though

Got a feeling Spain might be dark horses & make it to the final this summer

Though I have Germany in my work sweepstakes, and Ive always supported Croatia since about 98, so come on Germany, Croatia and England!

Of course this England squad/ team is capable of doing well/winning this tournament. And yes we might even draw a group game. We and others often do. But you have got to expect England to qualify from that group with 2 going thro.

But there are also a couple of other teams as strong as England, that could still beat us on any given day and visa versa. Its a knockout cup compo in the end and the draw will have a big say in when these favourites meet each other. Winning the group should help here.

It's a lottery as to who will win it, there's maybe 5,6 teams who could and it could depend on a single ref call, a deflection etc England are most certainly in with as good a shout as the other likely winners

France 98 - Brazil only beat Scotland by 2 goals in the opening game, despite this set back they still made the World Cup final.

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Very good.

I know friendlies count for little but i fear we may be a bit undercooked going into the tourno.

Rice played one hour, the only minutes he's had since the end of the season. He looked rusty. Saka played even less and looked way off it. Stones who barely featured in the last 6 weeks of the season also played just one half, and the defence had about 6 different combinations in 90 minutes. Wharton played nothing in the last game and 30 minutes in the previous one.

I am sure all will raise their games and intensity when the real thing starts, but I am not impressed with Southgate's preparation, including the April friendlies, and feel like we have never put out our strongest team, or even close to it, or given the backup sufficient time within an otherwise full strength team to form any sort of understanding

* March friendlies

If we're using previous competitions as examples, the Ivory coast won AFCON after sacking their manager midway through the competition.

comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 18 minutes ago
France 98 - Brazil only beat Scotland by 2 goals in the opening game, despite this set back they still made the World Cup final.

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Very good.
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I thought it was too

comment by WeekendOffender (U22920)
posted 45 minutes ago
Smacks of desperation and confirmation bias this?

We were terrible against North Macedonia in November, clueless against Brazil, awful at Wembley v Belgium, pathetic against Bosnia and followed the trend when Iceland came to town (the same Iceland that Netherlands thrashed 4-0 a few days later)

Face facts, we don't have a hope in hell of beating anyone half decent with that defence. A draw against Serbia is a real possibility, then the pressure starts building.............
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We beat Bosnia 3-0, a few days later defending champions Italy scraped past them 1-0.

France just drew 0-0 with Canada

Portugal lost at home to Croatia

The 3 favourites are England, France and Portugal

comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 25 minutes ago
France 98 - Brazil only beat Scotland by 2 goals in the opening game, despite this set back they still made the World Cup final.

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Very good.
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Just a little gag, I will be cheering on Scotland as well as England

comment by 115 reasons why ours is better (U22832)
posted 8 minutes ago
If we're using previous competitions as examples, the Ivory coast won AFCON after sacking their manager midway through the competition.
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Excellent point - forgot about that one.

This England side is better than some would give it credit for.

Sure we’re not in great form, but all we need is for it to click during the group stage - or even the last 16 and a meeting with France in the semi is very doable.

France of course are very capable of beating absolutely anyone and that will be a huge test.

I don’t get the fear mongering from some over a patched up England side losing to Iceland again - we weren’t exactly full throttle.

My only concern is how much longer we’re going to be playing Trippier at LB - he is bloody useless in that position

Is any English person not going to be cheering Scotland on vs Germany?

comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 55 seconds ago
Is any English person not going to be cheering Scotland on vs Germany?
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The only reason i'd be cheering Scotland is because Germany as hosts could be a threat if we have to face them

I'll root for Harry Kane to win something.......if it has to be with England, so be it.....

comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 22 minutes ago
Is any English person not going to be cheering Scotland on vs Germany?
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The only time I don’t want Scotland to win is if they are playing us pr if I have bet against them.

I think they will get out of the group this time, Hungary are massively overrated

comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 25 minutes ago
Is any English person not going to be cheering Scotland on vs Germany?
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Hope Germany thump them

comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 10 minutes ago
I'll root for Harry Kane to win something.......if it has to be with England, so be it.....
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He won the Audi cup Ted - Messi hasn’t

This England side is better than some would give it credit for.
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Still don't like the defensive options but we'll see. Good to see Shaw training but presumably he won't be ready yet.

comment by Pun (U21588)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 25 minutes ago
Is any English person not going to be cheering Scotland on vs Germany?
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Hope Germany thump them
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OI I'm CERTAIN all Scotland fans, balanced as we are, will be right behind England

If you had a defence like the Terry, Ferdinand, Cole etc I'd have you as short odds favs, not that the current defenders cant do it imo its just that its the weakest part of a great squad