warspite1
Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
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Can England end 55 years of hurt tonight?
Well we have some decent players, we have home advantage – so we have a chance, but…….this is England and so even if we do triumph, it will likely not be an easy ride for anyone supporting the three lions…..
1966 – England’s only win in the Football World Cup – but despite being at home and being the better team on the day, England allowed Germany to equalise in the 89th minute. There was then the controversial linesman’s call before Geoff Hurst wrapped it up with the final kick of the game.
2003 – England’s only win in the Rugby World Cup – but despite being the clear favourites and out-playing Australia, the English forwards couldn’t put the game to bed with handling error after handling error, and it took a last kick of the game from Johnny Wilkinson to finally overcome the Aussies.
2019 – England’s only win in the Cricket World Cup – but despite being at home and playing New Zealand in the final (rather than the more fancied Australia or India) it took a super over and a boundary count back to separate the sides.
…so no, what we can I think guarantee, is that even if England prevail, it will be a nail-biting, rollercoaster of emotions that leaves everyone a nerve-shredded, quivering wreck, before we reach the end…..
But if that is a given, the question is, can they even actually win it?
I’d put our chances – playing as we have – as perhaps 20%. Just hope we take any chances that come and Italy have an off day. What is so frustrating is that that % should be much, much higher with the players we have, and if we play to our strengths then I would say this should be a real 50%/50% battle.
Tactics and mental frailty aside, both sides appear to have a good strength in depth. Italy will miss Spinazolla (what a player) and England have doubts over Foden – although he is an unlikely starter based on recent games, and more likely to be used as an impact player. I rate the Italian goalkeeper, Donnarumma, very highly, but Pickford has made some great saves in this tournament too.
If we attack Italy, balls in behind, balls over the top, run at defenders, then we have a good chance of victory because we have the players that can exploit such tactics. We need Shaw and Walker (I assume they will get the nod) to exploit space on the flanks in support of Sterling and Saka/Sancho(?).
Chiellini and Bonucci are highly experienced, top notch campaigners. They will simply lap up slow, predictable, build up play. But their age comes at a cost in mobility. The England wide forwards have to run at them while Harry Kane tries to pull them out of positon.
Which England will turn up tonight? If it’s the one that played Scotland then we might as well not bother playing the game. Because if we resort to square balls in front of the defence, sideways, backwards and unimaginative (Maguire walking everywhere), then Jorginho, Barella and Veratti won’t even need to break sweat.
But if England’s strong suit is pace in attack, Italy have shown just how quickly they can counter, and with Insigne – Walker’s pace may be required to help out Stones and Maguire.
The Italians will be, I suspect, the most ‘street-wise’ of any team we’ve played so far, and England’s defenders and defensive midfielders need to be careful they are not sucked into any tricks and clever play they may employ. That is easier said than done of course because the Italians have some very technically gifted players.
So all is set, in theory – assuming everyone plays to their ability - for a potentially classic encounter, a classic final. But what final we get will depend on so many things. It’s why we love (and hate) football.
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England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805  |
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