englandtilidie

Denmark are a good team. England are not sorted out – yet.

Kane scored and Denmark blazed in a lovely equalizer – in off the post.

Rice was struggling until Gallagher came on and the England left side forward play does not exist without either Sterling or Rashford even in the squad. Maybe Gordon will be an answer. Twinkle toes Foden was absent again.

It really does not matter. We have qualified for the last sixteen.

Another group game, Slovenia, then the fun begins.

Come on, England.

England drew 2-2 with Belgium, Bellingham scored in the final seconds.

Wembley had emptied out. The majority of supporters had left with England losing to the highly rated Belgium team. Pickfords’ gross error was doubled by Dunk getting skinned by Lakaku and you would always bet on Toney from the penalty spot. So it was odds on another Wembley loss to pile the screws onto Southgate.

By the 90th minute proud captain Rice was flagging and flapping in a spring deluge and the pens in the press box were poised to poison the atmosphere, to crush the spirit of the Three Lions. Foden was fighting a tired battle withdrawing into the centre and all look gone and hapless.

There was a last thin “Come On England” chant from the supporters and a corner and surely when that ball broke away it was all over. But no. One last push and they got the ball back and Madison and Watkins played and Bellingham buried it.

What did it matter ?

It mattered to Rice that he was not a losing Captain. It mattered to Foden that he could affect the game and it mattered to Bellingham. England came back. In a meaningless friendly in a half empty stadium the England players fought to the end and delivered. It was driven by pride. And it rained and rained.

You never know what will happen. We hope Kane and Saka will be fit for the Euros in Germany and that Bellingham will shine. There is no certainty about who will play and who will be available. It is definite that there will great teams in the competition. Germany are winning, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands plus more.

Something did happen at Wembley. Something special. They talk about confidence. Its a self belief. Could it be something else. An understanding that if you keep going and going and doing it right and have the talent things will come right. As right as they can be.

Its Easter. Time to believe and keep faith.

Come On, England.

Brasil celebrate at Wembley – Vinicius Junior and 17 year old Endrick.

It was a privilege to watch the footballers from Brasil cruise past a second rate England. The stadium rocked to the samba beat of their fabulous supporters and Vinicius Junior strolled around ripping the Three Lions apart.

Wonderful though it was to learn that Brasil still have the magic, the England team looked disjointed, dispirited and disorganised. It is a rotten pill to swallow when you leave a game thinking that the manager has not really tried to win it.

Maybe someone thinks Watkins, Gallagher, Chilwell, Dunk and Bowen are international quality footballers. Does Southgate think eighty eight thousand people have turned up to see him watch his second string squad players. ..Is the team throbbing with aggressive ambition and pride as we set off for our mission in Germany ?

Gordon tried and Foden tried and Bellingham did enough ploughing around for the Brasilians to have to trip him up occasionally. Stones and Pickford did their duty and Rice led the team. Mainoo looked comfortable. The fans left quietly.

There was a tiredness about Southgate in the post game interviews. Harry Kane is not playing. Saka is not playing. Maguire looked less than match fit. Is there an unanswered question hanging in the air around the team and the coaches ?

It was a night to appreciate Brasil and to hope their fans enjoyed celebrating at Wembley. They have superb footballers.

It was not good enough from England. There is something not right.

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Southgate.. 

…must have read Englandtilidie and understood his selection mistake and has duly added teenage midfield pivot Mainoo to his squad.  As advised Declan needs a water carrier. Keep reading Gareth.

VAR – no-one likes us

Of course West Ham fans weeping into their beer having had a last minute goal wiped off may amuse some other Londoners but does any football fan want this nonsense to continue?

As the London Stadium held its breath for 5m and 17 seconds 3 or 4 or more “officials” made a decision about the “goal” scored or not scored by Soucek in the final minute.  A classic case of anotherlayer of management achieving absolutely nothing.  People pay money to watch a game of football not to sit around waiting for a committee of tedious individuals to decide who gets the points.  

Points of conflict – Everton had ten points deducted under some complex financial rules that now have 4 points taken off Nottingham Forest. Someone needs to remember it is supposed to be a football league not a competition between trickster accountants. 

And somehow none of this applies to Manchester City who many would accuse of being the kings of financial doping. As in all these things no-one really cares about the supporters.

And In Another World ..Many clubs are being destroyed by their owners. Up and down the country greedy and unpleasant individuals steal the football ground that has been the gathering place of football supporters and sell it to make little fortunes for themselves.  In this nasty business sometimes the committee men step in to help the bad guys and thats how 105 year old Southend United get ten points deducted.   

But You See …  It is the English football league and whatever they do they cannot break our traditions and our way of life.  They can try all they like but Wimbledon won the FA Cup and Portsmouth is sold out all season and however fearful it feels at Scunthorpe and Torquay you know they will come back.  Sharing the footballing fortunes of the young men who represent your town or city or country is bred into our bones.  It been like this for a very long time.

So His Majesty’s Government ..… can do whatever vote seeking they want with a Football Governance Bill or whatever is whatever but the game belongs to us.  Forever.  Simple as. 

Now  – winter has been long  ..  

… but Brasil are coming to a sold out Wembley.  It is what it is.  The game of sunshine and samba up against the grey and the damp of our industrial lands.  Contrasts and a friendship.

Pele and Moore.  

Come On England   

It begins today .. in the Italian stadium in Naples named after Maradonna..

England need to re-balance a few things and boss this group.

Here we go ..

Come On, England.