The immediate benefit of last night’s 0-3 win away to Alashkert, is that the manager can use Wednesday’s return game as an opportunity to get squad fitness to the required level, without having to worry about qualification.
We have 180 minutes football to get ready for Rosenborg or Valur. The former are 16 league games and five months into their season. And you do not need to be reminded, Rosenborg dusted themselves down after defeat to Celtic last season to end Ajax’ interest in European football before the end of August.
Did you notice Craig Gordon seemed anchored to his six yard box, allowing space between him and the defence for long balls to be pitched into? Not sure what the plan was here but it didn’t help. There is a newness about the defensive line-up which would benefit from the keeper taking a more active role.
Odsonne Edouard and Moussa Dembele looked a real handful. Both held the ball and withstood attention from multiple opponents. James Forrest got a goal and, technically, two assists, although his contribution to the opener was a shot he will try to forget. James produced the difference between Celtic and Rosenborg a year ago, his experience at this level will be valuable in two weeks.
There will be tougher tests for Lewis Morgan but his directness impressed.
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Croatia could play all day and not score.
Just in and catching up on the Motherwell v St Johnstone game……oh wai a minute,
Oddbod is wrestling Lovren and obstructing him at every set piece how the ref hasn’t seen this is any ones guess.(((
I think England are easily the better team and deserve to be ahead. Forget the commentators and the pundits; Croatia have been made to look ordinary and credit for that. IMHO, goes to the way England are playing so it needs a change of tactics from Croatia to turn the game around.
KTF
STARRY PLOUGH
exactly but he has seen it the other way round!! hugh Dallas masterclass
Appoel ,I think we’re a seeded team.
Anyone giving our defenders a hard time,how bad is Lovren.
This Referee very keen to give England free kicks all over the field.
Anyone please tell me how Mandzukic was ever called a footballer
England happy with 1.0, coached to the max about where to be when not in possession, Croatia havent got the pace to take them on , but will hit Sterling every time with a blooter up the park so thats what makes them dangerous, I wonder which Windsor will be in Moscow on Sunday afternoon.
It looks to me like the ol Sevvies have no chance against Ashley this time going by the bits of the contract that were in the 1st injunction.
The other retailer will pull out for the simple reason they have been lied to because there is no way they would allow an offer like that to be shown around to their only real competitor, so obviously Sevco haven’t told JDS (?) about Ashley being allowed to view and match any offer.
Hummel also might pull out if Mike insists on the 3m unsold strips he had, being sold 1st.
Added to that they haven’t sold a single player.
Green needed Ashley’s name on the share prospectus for it to succeed and as long as they’re alive they’ll be paying for it.
Cheers me up when England are winning.
DESSYBHOY on 11TH JULY 2018 8:17 PM
Probably Barbara!-))
The Old Bill will be praying England see this through. We’ve seen nationwide trouble before after a bad defeat.
Was it worth missing my evening grub for this shambles
Not wishing to sound too churlish but Croatia don’t need England to make them look ordinary. They are doing it all by themselves. Can’t pass a ball under pressure or otherwise, lacking ideas etc etc. Workman like and sticking to their assigned tasks.
The referee is bang at it
That should be England workman like and sticking to their assigned tasks
How did this mob reach a WC semi-final?
And Croatia are even worse!
Somebody mentioned Perisic earlier.The numpties on the commentary team were saying last game he would be going to the EpLhose idiots probably prepared to pay about 25 million for him.
YA FEKN BEAUTTTTTTYYYYYY
get in yessss on 67 minutes too
woooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooo
braw
TURKEYBHOY
Classic CQN:)))
HH
Poor mans Kieran Tierney with the error…..
fecking yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss come on the Croats
Harry ( I’m in pain ) Kane..gettin right oan ma thrupenny’s
Kane Irish connections or not is one diving bam
All level now but Croatia ahead on pretty girls. :-)
Worth every penny,that Perisic.LOL.
glendalystonsils on 11th July 2018 8:24 pm
How did this mob reach a WC semi-final?
And Croatia are even worse!
==================
I’m thinking the same, two.
France should fear neither.
Ah still think they will pull it off…but great to now hear all the pish stats……& oh nearly…
Perisic finally appears on the field.
1-1
I think he scored just to make me look foolish with my earlier comment.
Still think he is a fraud.
Has the skills but rarely involved.
We’ve seen the real England this second half. Lucky to be level after Croatia hit the post
those 3 girls just shown were never English. Never.
FFS All Croatia now:))
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shite
Should have been 2-1 Croatia.
Hingerland all over the place……just like the ole Empire.
These guys have a cause…whether it comes or not.
Brill….listenin to the fkwits on tv…
A wee bit of composure here and Croatia could score again!
As the fan dancer makes way for a real goal scorer:))
At least it’s livened up a pretty dire game.