Only a gut feeling but I think Southgate can improve you know. I seriously doubt we’ll ever get to a semi final again or have a better opportunity to get to a final but I like his passion, modesty and waistcoat. I like what he said about not being a top team and no need for a home coming parade. I appreciated he was tactically outmanoeuvred in the 2nd half of the Croatia game and had zero answers. In fact I felt in that game with every substitution we got a little worse but I’m still interested to see what happens in the future. He may never improve but technically he’s been better than more established names like Roy who couldn’t win a game and Capello who couldn’t beat USA or Algeria.

Good analogy with league cup and had England won the World Cup it would not be mentioned. In the same way if rovers had been beaten in the semi by sheff Wednesday it would have been a big opportunity missed and anything but great.

And Sweden. The why I can’t stomach it isn’t because I think we’ve a divine right to win or “breeze through” but because once again in my opinion an inferior side knocked us out not a team we’d have no chance against. I don’t know but I’d wager they’re lower than us in the rankings. Hardly delusions of grandeur not beating a very beatable team. Also great World Cup? More fortunate draw I’d say. Could potentially have lost our 3rd match by close of play today in this great World Cup.

Not a fan of this 3rd place game that said I hope both teams play their strongest side as a barometer to see how far we’ve actually progressed. This World Cup has been successful in that it seems to have rekindled people’s passion for the national side but I don’t buy the notion that as we expected quarters, therefore, because reached the semis it’s successful. We only expected quarters because should have played Germany or Brazil. Had we drawn Croatia in last 16 and lost they’d have been slammed and Southgate could feasibly have lost his job. It was nice to dream for a couple of weeks and I did enjoy the national euphoria. But putting a negative slant on a tournament we scraped through vs a poor Tunisia wasting a plethora of chances, smashed a pub team, lost a reserve game, beat two average sides and then lost to a competently decent but not good side. I am exited to a certain degree to see what this group of players can do (far removed from Iceland and Brazil World Cup debacle) but at the end of the day we’ve lost to bloody Croatia to get into a World Cup final. Brazil, Germany et al I could stomach but Croatia. Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Portugal even Holland and Italy will never be as bad at this year. There will never be a better chance of a final and we bottled it. As we have so many times before in different stages.

Croatia and specifically their midfield will no doubt be the biggest test so far but from what I’ve seen I still think we’re better than them. I doubt we’ll ever face a team in a World Cup semi final where we’re the favourites again. Massive opportunity to get to a World Cup final and if we get there we have a punchers chance. Is the gap between us and France/Belgium any bigger than it was between Greece and Portugal or Portugal and France in France and domestically Wigan and citeh.

Pre tournament a semi final exceeds expectations but from this draw final all the way. I agree Belgium and France are better but both will give up 3 chances (same as us to be fair). So IF get to the final put away our chances and they miss ours who knows.

I don’t know how sterling scored 18 league goals. Can only assume 100 were missed.

Should be over this game.

Sterling and Alli terrible again.

Big day today. As a life long pessimist I really don’t know why I’m optimistic suddenly. Looking at it rationally we’re bang average, capable of losing to anyone. Even in this tournament scraped through vs Tunisia, beat a pub team, lost to Belgium reserves, beat a poor Columbia side without creating a chance in open play for 120 mins. Today playing a team we can’t beat. No logic to it but for some reason I’m confident. By and large (until pretty much the venkys) I’ve always said I want my clubs whether it’s football or cricket to win more than international sides but I feel there’s something quite special happening here. I feel like that kid in 1990 again with his esso coin collection, sticker book and blind faith.

Not a big fan of music or concerts but we went to Stuttgart last weekend to watch the Rolling Stones. Didn’t really know what to expect but those old timers were really very good. Surprised myself with how many songs I knew. For blokes predominantly in their 70s I bet they could give some of the young uns of today a run for their money.

I’m dreaming to the extent that I think it every team plays to their potential we should get to the final. But in terms of winning I think all 4 teams in the other half of the draw will beat us.

Best team won. Such a great opportunity for a World Cup final Sweden then Russia or Croatia.

Could be in a bit of a pickle now. Winning a game with dier and henderson on the pitch was never a game plan. Frankly I’d take Dier off.

As poor as we are we’re still miles better than this lot. Any justice in the world and quarters vs Sweden awaits.

This lot are the sort of team that has me routing for the oppo whoever they are.

They are such a horrible team

For once I’d love England to punch above our weight instead of massively under it. Even just performing par should see us past bloody Columbia, Sweden and Croatia/Russia. There will never be a better chance to get to a World Cup final in my lifetime. Just a shame we’re rubbish as well.

Should be 11 vs 10. Would definitely be if the rolls were reversed.

When talking optimistically about England’s chances always have to add the caveat a pub team can turn up at any point. But that said if looking at a punchers chance to get to a World Cup semi final this is the best chance we’ve had since 1990. I’d much rather face Columbia then Sweden/Switzerland than japan then particularly Brazil/Mexico to make it happen. If Japan can beat Columbia they’re for the taking, we beat Switzerland twice in euro 2016 qualifiers but admittedly the swedes do have the Indian sign over us.

Last time the Germans were eliminated in the first round was 1938 and they didn’t take that well. Whatever you do, don't mention ze VAR

Apparently Iran haven’t lost a competitive game in 4 years and have kept 18/22 clean sheets.

77/0-86/5. That was shaping up to be a good day 7 overs from the end. Then trademark panicking and pretty poor. Hameed needs dropping for the rest of the season. Regardless how he performs in the 2nd xi. Averaged 5 before today and a 0.

I think each team should get to review at least one decision. Eg Harry Kane rugby tackles x2. I’m up for giving referees as much assistance as possible but if the match officials and the VAR officials are just going to blatantly cheat then there’s no point whatsoever in having it. For those who don’t like VAR I believe the authorities also want it to fail and if they keep using it in the way they are doing it 100% will.

Given Worcestershire’s equally perilous position their ground staff would be mental not to produce a result pitch. In which case with the toss rules and our fragile top order, if there is any green or cloud at all, put them in. Would be nice to have the oppo on the back foot for once. We’ve been blitzed before at Worcestershire not least of all the 2011 championship winning season when Chapple unfathomably put us in and we lost in 2 days so keep him on the bus when looking at the pitch. Ha. Different game playing within the rules. That said when their cheats and injured (smith, Warner, starc, Cummings, hazelwood) are back they’ll be a very different animal next year in the World Cup.