I started this World Cup believing that England had the expertise, focus and supervisor to make them world champions. I completed watching final night time’s defeat by France gutted and pissed off, however they didn’t let anybody down.
On the highest degree, video games get selected advantageous margins and that utilized within the first half final night time. It was tight, with England dominating possession and photographs, however France took the important thing probability they’d.
There’s two methods of seeing that opening objective, one among which is it ought to by no means have occurred. Play ought to have been stopped for a foul on Bukayo Saka because the transfer that led to the objective started.
France’s first objective got here after Dayot Upamecano appeared to foul Bukayo Saka within the build-up
France took full benefit as Aurelien Tchouameni fired dwelling a long-range stunner
I watched it after which on the replays it seems clear that Dayot Upamecano brings Bukayo down but it surely wasn’t given and if it was referred to VAR then they didn’t agree with me.
Upamecano then ran off with the ball, and with a speedy swap of play, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann all bought concerned.
The conclusion? A very nice end from 25 yards or extra, at actually greater than 100kph, by Aurelien Tchouameni.
The second means of seeing that objective is that you simply play to the whistle, and as quickly as Upamecano is off and working, then all consideration should swap to what’s taking place within the assault and the best way to cease it.
France are an excellent workforce, and it was at all times going to be the case that England would have to be on it, centered, for the complete match to include them.
The advantageous margins had been additionally seen when Harry Kane had what I assumed was a legit penalty name after 25 minutes. It was Upamecano once more. It seemed like a foul, whether or not simply on the sting of the realm, or on the sting and carrying into the realm. Once more it wasn’t given, and there was a VAR examine that stated no.
Harry Kane might have had a first-half penalty after being introduced down by Upamecano
England lastly bought a giant choice of their favour, rightly, not lengthy into the second half when Tchouameni fouled Kane. Harry completely walloped the spot-kick previous his Tottenham team-mate Hugo Lloris and sport on.
England reached the quarters with what in the end proved to be a breeze previous a proficient Senegal. Jordan Henderson, Harry and Bukayo all scored however the workforce efficiency is what impressed me, the management of possession, no less than after the primary 20 minutes or so, and one other clear sheet.
Morocco surprised Portugal yesterday to make historical past by turning into the primary nation from Africa to achieve a World Cup semi-final.
They’ve bought aptitude however crucially they’ve had clear sheets, largely. They’ve conceded one objective of their final 9 video games, and that was an personal objective towards Canada. Clear sheets are demonstrative of fine workforce spirit, indicative of working collectively to maintain targets out in addition to rating.
People who find themselves quite a bit older than me can inform you that being an England fan down the years has typically been a rollercoaster journey — and aside from 1966, falling in need of profitable that trophy in a serious event. We bought shut in 2018, actually so shut, and I can inform you that it hurts.
The England gamers shall be devastated however they’ve finished their nation proud in Qatar
I used to be lucky to play in Gareth Southgate’s workforce in Russia 4 years in the past, and we believed we might win. After which when, towards Croatia, we fell quick within the semi-finals, it was so painful. I’m not speaking about a number of days, however weeks and longer.
Having stated that, how have Croatia bought on in Qatar? Their doggedness and refusal to present in are one thing else. England had been within the ascendancy at 1-1 final night time, rising into the sport, and I felt they might catch France on the counter and nick a lead going into the latter levels.
Bukayo, Harry and Phil Foden had been getting increasingly more concerned however then Olivier Giroud headed in from Antoine Griezmann’s cross to place France forward.
England then bought a second penalty for Theo Hernandez’s blatant barge on Mason Mount. Harry smashed it over the bar Such pressure. Such disappointment.
However this England did us proud.
Bonding in Athens
I’ve spent the final seven days at a Nottingham Forest coaching camp in Athens. We’ve been again at work for a few weeks, together with a coaching match towards Stoke at Loughborough College.
However that was very a lot approached as getting again into it, and we flew to Greece as a result of the boss, Steve Cooper, needed a aggressive sharpener, final night time towards European opposition.
Forest’s proprietor Evangelos Marinakis additionally owns Olympiakos, who’ve been taking part in Europa League video games this season, so it made quite a lot of sense. Their squad has bought some tasty gamers in it, together with former World Cup stars James Rodriguez of Colombia and Marcelo of Brazil.
Steve Cooper has been placing Nottingham Forest via their paces throughout the World Cup
We’ve had a number of gamers from the membership on the World Cup, together with Cheikhou Kouyate of Senegal and Brennan Johnson amongst these with Wales. Brennan joined up with us in Athens. Regardless of the outcomes, he savoured the Qatar expertise. You need to attempt to take pleasure in each second as a result of the World Cup is the top.
Arguably a very powerful facet of this week has been workforce bonding. We’re just about nonetheless attending to know one another! Transfers are half and parcel of soccer, however I used to be one among 22 arrivals at Forest between June and September.
As you get to know every higher off the pitch, you’re employed higher collectively in it, in my expertise. The week has been glorious in that means, arduous work, and good downtime, whether or not taking part in playing cards, or PlayStation, or sightseeing at The Acropolis. We had been beginning to click on at Forest earlier than the hiatus and we have to hit our groove once more shortly after we get again.
Star high quality
The World Cup is a showcase for the perfect footballers on this planet however in a unique life I reckon a lot of them might have excelled in numerous sports activities. Definitely once I was youthful I performed all the things in school.
Equally, I do know I’m not alone as a footballer following quite a lot of completely different sport, not simply because I really like watching elite gamers however as a result of typically you find yourself attending to know and be taught from them.
Tyson Fury has taught me that it is doable to bounce again from low factors in life
After Tyson Fury beat Derek Chisora, Tyson reposted my Instagram story saying how effectively he’d finished. I bought to know him via my brother and have been ringside to look at him. He’s been via his effectively documented troubles up to now, together with psychological well being points — a topic near my very own coronary heart. However he’s turned his life round and there’s a lesson there. I’m planning to begin a podcast within the New 12 months and I’d like to have him on it.
Again to sport, I really like watching Wimbledon tennis, NFL, basketball, F1, you identify it. I’ve been to an NFL sport in London and to the NBA’s Summer season League in Vegas. I’ve bought to know Odell Beckham Jr, the previous NY Giants, Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams huge receiver.
I’ve been to the F1 in Abu Dhabi and noticed Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. I’ve not met Max however I’ve messaged backwards and forwards with him on Insta, eager to know what makes excessive performers tick.
