Three Lions Roar Into The Semi Finals

I must admit that I was working at the time of the game. Following via score updates never gives quite the same emotion as watching the ebb and flow of a match. Their attempts on our goal, and our efforts missed are not lived through with the rather boring display of 'ten minutes gone, 0-0'.


I say this because, when watching the game later, I was extremely relaxed. Now, sometimes, even when I know the score I still get frustrated at passages of play, mis placed passes and poor attempts on goal. This was different, and I am not sure if it was because I already knew England were in the Semi Finals or whether England just dominated the game from start to finish essentially.

I did think that Harry Maguire is growing in confidence. Yes he scored the opening goal but his passing out of the back has become more accurate. In early games I was critical of a few wayward passes which put England under pressure. Against Sweden though, Maguire looked as if he had 100 caps for his Nation, not the 10 or so he has now.

Dele Alli too is starting to make his presence known. A couple of loose passes in the first half aside, he did score the goal to make things a little more comfortable for Gareth Southgate. Still there is more expectation on him to run at defenders and influence the game more. If he finds that level in the next game then we have a good chance.

The whole side are becoming one unit rather than the eleven individuals we are used to seeing at tournaments. Southgate has picked a formation, and then selected the best players in each position for that formation. Previous England mangers have done the opposite by picking the top eleven, and then trying to negotiate a formation around them.

Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart were big omissions for Southgate. However, Rooney's legs had gone and that was clear to see with his performances for Everton during last season. Now at DC United I think he will even struggle to make an impact there. As for Joe, well he certainly wasn't Pep's choice for his style of play and he isn't Gareths. His form may improve next season, but even if it does I do not think he returns to the Three Lions fold.

Jordan Pickford had an amazing couple of games after, like Maguire, a shaky start. His penalty heroics against Colombia, and that save in the 90, were followed up by three decent saves against Sweden. He has claimed his spot as England number one in these last two games in particular.

The only negative was Raheem Sterling. Not the player, but rather the social media abuse for the Manchester City player. Yes, I know, he failed to score that one time he was through, but he offers so much for the side with and without the ball. Ask people about Paul Gascoigne in that 1990 World Cup and they would say he was young but our most talented player, making things happen.

At 23, the same age Raheem is now, he scored not a single goal in the whole tournament. What he did though was terrify opposition defenders and provide assists and occupy defenders. Like Raheem does in this tournament. Providing an assist for the Lingard goal is just the tip of the iceberg.

In the four games played, Raheem has covered almost 36km. 11.8km of that has been while not in possession of the ball. Dragging two defenders one way while the ball goes another, or trying to get into position but then not having the pass come.

He has completed 82 out of his 93 attempted passes and has delivered the ball, or dribbled the ball, into the penalty area ten times. I agree scoring has not been his strong point this tournament, but he causes issues for the opposition. Who would bet against him scoring a vital goal now though, when it really matters? Maybe even a Cup Final winning strike?

I do know that whatever happens, this England side has gone further than any other English side for 28 years. Not since Bobby Robson led Gary Lineker, Terry Butcher, Stuart Pearce, David Platt and, of course, Gazza has any England senior side made it this far.

And, despite that, you feel criticism is only one bad result away. Talk prior to this World Cup was that Gareth Southgate was not the man, and this inexperienced England side could be embarrassed. Expectations grow and the bar gets raised every time England do something we didn't expect. Three weeks ago pundits and some fans were saying we'd be embarrassed and home early. Those same people are now saying Croatia are beatable and in the final anything can happen.

I, like before the tournament, think no matter what happens next we have to stick with Southgate. He is building somehing special here which can last for the next two Euros and World Cup at least. Even defeat against Croatia should not result in calls for Gareth out.