FIFA World Cup 2018 - GROUP G [Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England - 18/23/24/28 June] **spoilers**

[arctine]

I don’t understand how there is ambiguity in what England are going to try and achieve tonight? Everyone from the club who has been asked, including team members and Southgate himself has said they’re playing for a win and given the exact AND GOOD reason why.

Yet every other post here is someone speculating they’ll play for a draw or loss...

England is playing for a win to keep momentum and confidence going for an inexperienced side with unknown potential. End of discussion.

You cannot say who the strongest teams are based on previous tournaments and respective league performances. People make this mistake time and time again. It’s about chemistry. Brazil got beat 7 - 1 last time and Germany didn’t even leave the group this time. Portugal and Spain look average. Yet people still refuse to change their minds.

The closer truth is that England and Belgium are two of the strongest looking teams in the tournament. They have great chemistry and are playing well together. They’re both playing to win.

This is tournament football, stop using league football and previous tournaments to make predictions. Look at current form and performances.

There is no doubt both teams want to win tonight. None at all. The end.

 

[arctine]

I don't understand, what's the idea of them trying to get bookings?

If they draw on points the decision is made on fair play. The team with the most bookings comes first.

Ignore his nonsense.

 

[elmuzzy66.]

Random draws would be logistical nightmare for everyone, teams ,fans and Fifa, imo

 

[mmj_uk]

arctine they aren't going to admit to going into a match with the intention of not winning, it's known as match fixing and it's a crime.

 

[arctine]

arctine they aren't going to admit to going into a match with the intention of not winning, it's known as match fixing and it's a crime.

They could easily emphasise how little the game matters.

They’re instead emphasising how much it matters to them to win it. If they now lose then they’ve already admitted it’s not because they didn’t care about winning.

They are going to play to win. Both sides are. It’s more important than a supposed easier route which is nonsense anyway.

 

[Mr.E.]

If they draw on points the decision is made on fair play. The team with the most bookings comes first.

Ignore his nonsense.

The team with the most bookings comes second

 

[arctine]

The team with the most bookings comes second

Typo.

 

[Randomface74]

Yeah it should be randomised. Clearly something wrong with the format if you can ever be better off losing.

 

[robfosters]

Loads of England changes. Hopefully Belgium do the same.

 

[MooMoo444]

Loads of changes after he said he wouldnt?

One side of the bracket looks so much weaker though. Both teams want to lose perhaps

 

[explicit4u]

9 changes for England, 10 for Belgium.

I'm not going to bother going out for this one

Edit: official line ups say 8 for England, 9 for Belgium

 

[robfosters]

9 changes for England, 10 for Belgium.

I'm not going to bother going out for this one

Barely worth having half a lager indoors tbh.

 

[Rroff]

Does increasingly sound like neither team is in a hurry for first place :s

 

[bloodiedathame]

Ok so it's 0-0 after 90 mins. Do we score an own goal in order to finish second (and have a far easier run in)?

 

[Mr.E.]

There is no doubt both teams want to win tonight. None at all. The end.

Roberto Martinez: "We want to perform well but the priority is not to win.

 

[Mr.E.]

Ok so it's 0-0 after 90 mins. Do we score an own goal in order to finish second (and have a far easier run in)?

No, keeper gets booked for time wasting !

 

[arctine]

Roberto Martinez: "We want to perform well but the priority is not to win.

Erm, thanks but that changes nothing.

I maintain, there is no doubt that both teams want to win.

Nice selective quoting though, you should be a Daily Mail writer.

 

[Mr.E.]

Whats selective about it ? Martinez can make any excuses he likes about players on yellow cards, he doesn't want to win the group. He said it, not me !

 

[Ricochet J]

I really, really, really do not see what this fuss is about.

BOTH sides of the last 16 face strong teams!

 

[arctine]

Whats selective about it ? Martinez can make any excuses he likes about players on yellow cards, he doesn't want to win the group. He said it, not me !

No, he said it's not a priority. He didn't say he doesn't want to win the group, he in fact said the the opposite.

In the same discussion your quote is from he said that he wants to win the group.