Personally I try to channel all my jingoistic tendencies into places where it won't have negative consequences, like sporting competitions, so time to let loose and thrash those damn Swedes in the next round!
England are the only team in the competition not to represent a nation state - as would be true of Scotland & Wales had they qualified. Whilst we do now see Croatia and Serbia taking part , this was not permitted in the days when they formed areas within Yugoslavia. Why does GB - or the UK - have a special dispensation here? It seems something of an anomaly.
Because we invented the game!
One of our many gifts to the world.
There are loads of similar examples, eg Hong Kong, Greenland, Aruba and Macau. So what? England is a country - that it is in a union with other countries is immaterial.
Pickford's save just before their goal was the save of the tournament so far. I'm so glad he saved the penalty, he deserved it after that.
+1. It really was top drawer. We didn't get to see it replayed because they scored from the corner. Pickford was one of a number of brave calls Southgate has got right. Tonight was his 7th cap, and at 24 he could have another 3 WC's in him. Would have been easy to have persisted with Hart for his "experience".
Pickford's save just before their goal was the save of the tournament so far. I'm so glad he saved the penalty, he deserved it after that.
+1. It really was top drawer. We didn't get to see it replayed because they scored from the corner. Pickford was one of a number of brave calls Southgate has got right. Tonight was his 7th cap, and at 24 he could have another 3 WC's in him. Would have been easy to have persisted with Hart for his "experience".
Regardless of what happens now / even if he didn’t save the penalty, Southgate call on Pickford has been inspired selection. Solid and really good distribution from the back.
What have we learned so far - France best team so far ?
I'd put the teams in the following order:
France Brazil Belgium Croatia Uruguay England Sweden Russia
Belgium and Brazil very close though, probably Uruguay and England close too.
Yes but once you factor in the draw, your table gives in our half of the draw: Croatia > England > Sweden > Russia. One of that four will play in the World Cup final. And fwiw, the FIFA rankings have England 8 places above Croatia.
Those rankings aren't quite right - Switzerland 6th, Saudis over Russia ??
They weight heavily for competitive games (non-friendlies). Russia didn't have to qualify, so haven't played any. Asian qualifying involves a large number of games against v poor opposition. So Saudi do well out of it. The Swiss have a really good record recently. The system needs to be taken with a large pinch of salt, but is the best they can come up with. It has the advantage of being, at least, transparent, for seeding.
You could take a look at 538's predictor based on their own form assessment. England narrow favourites over Coratia to get to the final from our half of the draw.
Much as I would want to see England beat Sweden, we had hardly any chances from open play tonight. Sweden werent great going forward themselves,
Nonetheless the dream continues a little longer.
Croatia are significantly stronger than all the other 3 teams on their side of the draw. On the other side, I really don’t think there is much between them.
Just a shame Japan went out - great cleaners and littler pickers!
Pickford's save just before their goal was the save of the tournament so far. I'm so glad he saved the penalty, he deserved it after that.
+1. It really was top drawer. We didn't get to see it replayed because they scored from the corner. Pickford was one of a number of brave calls Southgate has got right. Tonight was his 7th cap, and at 24 he could have another 3 WC's in him. Would have been easy to have persisted with Hart for his "experience".
Regardless of what happens now / even if he didn’t save the penalty, Southgate call on Pickford has been inspired selection. Solid and really good distribution from the back.
One other interesting thing. Apparently Steve Holland is the brains behind the tactics / set plays. He has a stellar reputation as a youth coach, developing a lot of talent with Crewe and Chelsea, but failed miserably as a manager.
I have come to the right site, I hope? This used to be politicalbetting.com. Tonight it seems to be all about some guys I've never heard of playing children's games.
One other interesting thing. Apparently Steve Holland is the brains behind the tactics / set plays. He has a stellar reputation as a youth coach, developing a lot of talent with Crewe and Chelsea, but failed miserably as a manager.
The "line-out" at corners certainly is interesting. A conundrum for defences to solve. How do you mark your man if he is sandwiched between 2 team mates? Saw Australia do similar when they brought Cahill on in their final game. It is nice to see England being innovative, rather than trying to re-fight the previous tournament. Germany and Spain take note.
Pickford's save just before their goal was the save of the tournament so far. I'm so glad he saved the penalty, he deserved it after that.
+1. It really was top drawer. We didn't get to see it replayed because they scored from the corner. Pickford was one of a number of brave calls Southgate has got right. Tonight was his 7th cap, and at 24 he could have another 3 WC's in him. Would have been easy to have persisted with Hart for his "experience".
Regardless of what happens now / even if he didn’t save the penalty, Southgate call on Pickford has been inspired selection. Solid and really good distribution from the back.
A good article. As I interpret your point, hubristic overreach is when you take actions that your core supporters may like but the general public decide they don't, and so the pendulum swings.
What happens when politicians eventually have to confront the public and tell them some home truths? For example, interest rates will go up, our debt will cost more, and we can't keep on borrowing to pay for government expenditure with an increasing proportion of retired people? Over the next couple of decades will come a crunch point where people will have to work a lot longer and the state do a lot less. As a society we don't have a right to our relative standard of living - we have to earn it. So will we all then stick our fingers in our ears, vote for unicorns and magic money trees and hope something just comes up?
I have come to the right site, I hope? This used to be politicalbetting.com. Tonight it seems to be all about some guys I've never heard of playing children's games.
The government has a one off opportunity on Friday to deliver the softest of pro-business, pro-economy, pro-London, full FOM, EEA Brexit. I promise you all that, after tonight’s game, no-one is paying attention, and no-one gives a fucking shit.
17 million voted Leave, about as many as will have watched tonight's football, that is plenty who will
I have come to the right site, I hope? This used to be politicalbetting.com. Tonight it seems to be all about some guys I've never heard of playing children's games.
It’s only once every four years, Richard. Even I can bear a small amount of football at that interval.
That said, I got a bit bored during extra time and went out for a brief walk. Felt a bit like the beginning of 28 Days Later...
The government has a one off opportunity on Friday to deliver the softest of pro-business, pro-economy, pro-London, full FOM, EEA Brexit. I promise you all that, after tonight’s game, no-one is paying attention, and no-one gives a fucking shit.
17 million voted Leave, about as many as will have watched tonight's football, that is plenty who will
It’s more true to say that 13.6 million people voted for the dementia tax than it is to say that 17.4 million voted to leave the single market.
The government has a one off opportunity on Friday to deliver the softest of pro-business, pro-economy, pro-London, full FOM, EEA Brexit. I promise you all that, after tonight’s game, no-one is paying attention, and no-one gives a fucking shit.
17 million voted Leave, about as many as will have watched tonight's football, that is plenty who will
It’s more true to say that 13.6 million people voted for the dementia tax than it is to say that 17.4 million voted to leave the single market.
No it is not as the Tory manifesto contained far more than the dementia tax (which even many if not most Tory voters opposed) whereas all the 17.4 million who voted Leave voted to leave the EU and their key reasons for doing so were regaining sovereignty and reducing immigration according to all the polls, neither of which can be fully achieved by keeping virtually all the EU regulations and directives or by keeping free movement in place and staying in the single market.
Even if your argument were correct 52% of voters voted Leave with one of the core Leave campaign promises to leave the single market and end free movement but only 42% of voters voted Tory one element of the Tory manifesto being a dementia tax they have now dropped as they failed to win a majority of seats in the House of Commons.
Back to Brexit...yaaawn. This is political and betting remember...more money is being wagered on footy you know. In fact, I'd be willing to give you good odds on that...
The government has a one off opportunity on Friday to deliver the softest of pro-business, pro-economy, pro-London, full FOM, EEA Brexit. I promise you all that, after tonight’s game, no-one is paying attention, and no-one gives a fucking shit.
17 million voted Leave, about as many as will have watched tonight's football, that is plenty who will
Wrong. 28 million watched the game. Roll Brexit over. No-one gives a flying fuck anymore.
I have come to the right site, I hope? This used to be politicalbetting.com. Tonight it seems to be all about some guys I've never heard of playing children's games.
The government has a one off opportunity on Friday to deliver the softest of pro-business, pro-economy, pro-London, full FOM, EEA Brexit. I promise you all that, after tonight’s game, no-one is paying attention, and no-one gives a fucking shit.
17 million voted Leave, about as many as will have watched tonight's football, that is plenty who will
Wrong. 28 million watched the game. Roll Brexit over. No-one gives a flying fuck anymore.
I doubt 28 million watched, 17 million watched the Tunisia match for example and in any case both Remainers and Leavers will have watched the England matches and 17 million for Leave still beat 16 million for Remain and combined 33 million therefore voted in the EU referendum which is still higher than 28 million even if 28 million watched tonight
Personally I try to channel all my jingoistic tendencies into places where it won't have negative consequences, like sporting competitions, so time to let loose and thrash those damn Swedes in the next round!
England are the only team in the competition not to represent a nation state - as would be true of Scotland & Wales had they qualified. Whilst we do now see Croatia and Serbia taking part , this was not permitted in the days when they formed areas within Yugoslavia. Why does GB - or the UK - have a special dispensation here? It seems something of an anomaly.
Well we also have four votes out of eight on the International Football Association Board which formally sets the laws of the game, which is another anomaly - it's grandfathered in because we codified the game I guess.
And there are FIFA members who are not independent states in any case, like British Oversea Territories. It is theoretically possible, though highly implausible, that they could make it to a competition I guess.
And perhaps other countries within countries would be permitted to play separately if they wanted? Ours don't want to play united.
Faroe Islands have a team but are not a sovereignty state but an autonomous part of Denmark.
Personally I try to channel all my jingoistic tendencies into places where it won't have negative consequences, like sporting competitions, so time to let loose and thrash those damn Swedes in the next round!
England are the only team in the competition not to represent a nation state - as would be true of Scotland & Wales had they qualified. Whilst we do now see Croatia and Serbia taking part , this was not permitted in the days when they formed areas within Yugoslavia. Why does GB - or the UK - have a special dispensation here? It seems something of an anomaly.
Well we also have four votes out of eight on the International Football Association Board which formally sets the laws of the game, which is another anomaly - it's grandfathered in because we codified the game I guess.
And there are FIFA members who are not independent states in any case, like British Oversea Territories. It is theoretically possible, though highly implausible, that they could make it to a competition I guess.
And perhaps other countries within countries would be permitted to play separately if they wanted? Ours don't want to play united.
I passionately dislike football, but ages ago I heard that the bias in FIFA towards England came because we bailed out FIFA after WW2; it was also when we rejoined FIFA. It is something that many other countries are not very happy about.
Looking at wiki: "In 1946 the four British nations returned. On 10 May 1947 a "Match of the Century" between Great Britain and "Rest of Europe XI" was played at Hampden Park in Glasgow before 135,000 spectators – Britain won 6–1. The proceeds from the match, coming to £35 000, were given to FIFA, to help re-launch it after World War II. "
Personally I try to channel all my jingoistic tendencies into places where it won't have negative consequences, like sporting competitions, so time to let loose and thrash those damn Swedes in the next round!
England are the only team in the competition not to represent a nation state - as would be true of Scotland & Wales had they qualified. Whilst we do now see Croatia and Serbia taking part , this was not permitted in the days when they formed areas within Yugoslavia. Why does GB - or the UK - have a special dispensation here? It seems something of an anomaly.
Well we also have four votes out of eight on the International Football Association Board which formally sets the laws of the game, which is another anomaly - it's grandfathered in because we codified the game I guess.
And there are FIFA members who are not independent states in any case, like British Oversea Territories. It is theoretically possible, though highly implausible, that they could make it to a competition I guess.
And perhaps other countries within countries would be permitted to play separately if they wanted? Ours don't want to play united.
Faroe Islands have a team but are not a sovereignty state but an autonomous part of Denmark.
There’s actually quite a few differences between membership of FIFA and membership of the UN. Some will be down to political changes in countries over the years, others will be regions that always organised football separately and joined FIFA in their own right.
Sounds like a fun job for an historian to work through.
Interesting that while minds were all elsewhere last night, Newsnight aired an opinion piece somewhat counter to the hagiography of the NHS that seems to be everywhere else this week. https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1013901742394789889
Sounds like a fun job for an historian to work through.
There's always the CONIFA World Cup for teams that FIFA have told to go and get fucked. The team representing the Hungarian community of the Carpathians beat Northern Cyprus on penalties in the final this year.
Interesting that while minds were all elsewhere last night, Newsnight aired an opinion piece somewhat counter to the hagiography of the NHS that seems to be everywhere else this week. twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1013901742394789889
I'm not sure that it adds much to informed debate. The NHS is bad. America is worse. Some foreign systems are good. The market is a magic talisman. The End.
Just checked the rates on LadEx for the World Cup (outright). Mildly surprised France are 5.1 (second favourite) and Uruguay 18. Makes it appear the France/Uruguay match is a foregone conclusion.
Surely Uruguay stand a chance? France are evens to win it. Considering a hedging bet there.
(Marcy Wheeler is a serious journalists, not a conspiracy theorist.)
Reading the article and looking at the comments below is chilling. It seems that a serious journalist is at risk of harm - and this is in the United States, not a dictatorship.
I see that last night we reached that part of an (inevitably Scotlandless) international tournament where the touchy bleating about those traitorous Jocks not supporting plucky England has started. I love these fine old traditions.
Interesting that while minds were all elsewhere last night, Newsnight aired an opinion piece somewhat counter to the hagiography of the NHS that seems to be everywhere else this week. twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1013901742394789889
I'm not sure that it adds much to informed debate. The NHS is bad. America is worse. Some foreign systems are good. The market is a magic talisman. The End.
I’m just happy that the BBC are actually giving airtime to someone who doesn’t think the NHS is a religion, or that the only alternative to an NHS is the USA.
The IEA report is actually very comprehensive and has taken a good look at dozens of health systems around the world looking at what works best.
The government has a one off opportunity on Friday to deliver the softest of pro-business, pro-economy, pro-London, full FOM, EEA Brexit. I promise you all that, after tonight’s game, no-one is paying attention, and no-one gives a fucking shit.
17 million voted Leave, about as many as will have watched tonight's football, that is plenty who will
It’s more true to say that 13.6 million people voted for the dementia tax than it is to say that 17.4 million voted to leave the single market.
Given the vast majority that wants to reduce immigration, far higher than the Leave majority, it would be political suicide to maintain open immigration.
I see that last night we reached that part of an (inevitably Scotlandless) international tournament where the touchy bleating about those traitorous Jocks not supporting plucky England has started. I love these fine old traditions.
If England had lost the game, I expected a private members bill in the HoC preventing ITV from broadcasting England knockout games.
Just checked the rates on LadEx for the World Cup (outright). Mildly surprised France are 5.1 (second favourite) and Uruguay 18. Makes it appear the France/Uruguay match is a foregone conclusion.
Surely Uruguay stand a chance? France are evens to win it. Considering a hedging bet there.
Everyone stands a chance but how would you price up a Brazil vs Uruguay semi-final? That is, I think, the problem.
France is probably man-for-man the best team left in the competition but they are not managed well. Mbappe will probably be the best player in the world soon, as Messi and Ronaldo grow old (sorry, Neymar). Mbappe is 4/1 joint favourite to be named best player (Golden Ball) with Harry Kane and the Frenchman has far stronger claims. Kane is odds-on to be top scorer (Golden Boot) and I fear some punters have confused the two.
Interesting that while minds were all elsewhere last night, Newsnight aired an opinion piece somewhat counter to the hagiography of the NHS that seems to be everywhere else this week. twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1013901742394789889
I'm not sure that it adds much to informed debate. The NHS is bad. America is worse. Some foreign systems are good. The market is a magic talisman. The End.
I’m just happy that the BBC are actually giving airtime to someone who doesn’t think the NHS is a religion, or that the only alternative to an NHS is the USA.
The IEA report is actually very comprehensive and has taken a good look at dozens of health systems around the world looking at what works best.
But just as the destination needs to be clear, there does need to be a long transition to another system. The NHS is very much a curates egg, but as I tried to get at on Sunday's header, the real challenge to health care is demographic.
Recent politics does show that our politicians are not very good at major divisive problems. The NHS is likely to remain in the too difficult box.
Interesting that while minds were all elsewhere last night, Newsnight aired an opinion piece somewhat counter to the hagiography of the NHS that seems to be everywhere else this week. twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1013901742394789889
I'm not sure that it adds much to informed debate. The NHS is bad. America is worse. Some foreign systems are good. The market is a magic talisman. The End.
I’m just happy that the BBC are actually giving airtime to someone who doesn’t think the NHS is a religion, or that the only alternative to an NHS is the USA.
The IEA report is actually very comprehensive and has taken a good look at dozens of health systems around the world looking at what works best.
Consider the back to sleep campaign which cut infant deaths. What were the countries with low cot death rates doing differently? Answer: babies slept on their backs rather than face down. And I may be wrong but I think most of the initiative came from outside the NHS.
That is what I'd like to see more of. If the NHS scores badly on cancer treatment, then what are foreign oncologists doing that NHS ones are not? Instead we get the NHS is wonderful or its opponents who think good health care is all about insurance forms.
Interesting that while minds were all elsewhere last night, Newsnight aired an opinion piece somewhat counter to the hagiography of the NHS that seems to be everywhere else this week. https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1013901742394789889
Few really care about the NHS. They care about the brand and they care about free and accessible at the point of delivery but the mechanics of the system isn't important.
I see that last night we reached that part of an (inevitably Scotlandless) international tournament where the touchy bleating about those traitorous Jocks not supporting plucky England has started. I love these fine old traditions.
Why is Scotland rubbish at football? That's what the SNP should address. It didn't use to be. It cannot be that clubs can't match La Liga for wages because there are many SPL players at the World Cup: just not Scottish ones. There will be a Celtic player facing England in the quarter-final, for instance (assuming Lustig can play).
So what's gone wrong? Is it the schools? Grassroots clubs? That is what Nicola Sturgeon needs to find out and fix.
Interesting that while minds were all elsewhere last night, Newsnight aired an opinion piece somewhat counter to the hagiography of the NHS that seems to be everywhere else this week. twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1013901742394789889
I'm not sure that it adds much to informed debate. The NHS is bad. America is worse. Some foreign systems are good. The market is a magic talisman. The End.
I’m just happy that the BBC are actually giving airtime to someone who doesn’t think the NHS is a religion, or that the only alternative to an NHS is the USA.
The IEA report is actually very comprehensive and has taken a good look at dozens of health systems around the world looking at what works best.
But just as the destination needs to be clear, there does need to be a long transition to another system. The NHS is very much a curates egg, but as I tried to get at on Sunday's header, the real challenge to health care is demographic.
Recent politics does show that our politicians are not very good at major divisive problems. The NHS is likely to remain in the too difficult box.
Sadly the list of things in the too-difficult box is getting bigger. The experience of the social care proposals from last year means that situation isn’t going to change any time soon, any politician proposing outside-the-box ideas is more likely to be shouted out with pejorative terms by their opponents than listened to sensibly.
I see that last night we reached that part of an (inevitably Scotlandless) international tournament where the touchy bleating about those traitorous Jocks not supporting plucky England has started. I love these fine old traditions.
I think you're rather missing the point about the SNP's antics last night.
Still, it's good to see you're continuing the fine old tradition of Scotland missing: in your case the point, in the Scottish football team's case, the goal ...
I see that last night we reached that part of an (inevitably Scotlandless) international tournament where the touchy bleating about those traitorous Jocks not supporting plucky England has started. I love these fine old traditions.
I think you're rather missing the point about the SNP's antics last night.
Still, it's good to see you're continuing the fine old tradition of Scotland missing: in your case the point, in the Scottish football team's case, the goal ...
Ye shouldnae bother with the footba banter, it's no really your thing.
I see that last night we reached that part of an (inevitably Scotlandless) international tournament where the touchy bleating about those traitorous Jocks not supporting plucky England has started. I love these fine old traditions.
I think you're rather missing the point about the SNP's antics last night.
Still, it's good to see you're continuing the fine old tradition of Scotland missing: in your case the point, in the Scottish football team's case, the goal ...
Ye shouldnae bother with the footba banter, it's no really your thing.
F1: still only four markets up. Nothing especially tempts. Be interesting to see the classified odds, if they ever emerge, given Mercedes' double DNF, and problems for Red Bull and Renault as well.
Comments
It really was top drawer. We didn't get to see it replayed because they scored from the corner.
Pickford was one of a number of brave calls Southgate has got right. Tonight was his 7th cap, and at 24 he could have another 3 WC's in him.
Would have been easy to have persisted with Hart for his "experience".
https://twitter.com/mattzarb/status/1014190012446007301?s=21
LOL
It is nice to see England being innovative, rather than trying to re-fight the previous tournament. Germany and Spain take note.
What happens when politicians eventually have to confront the public and tell them some home truths? For example, interest rates will go up, our debt will cost more, and we can't keep on borrowing to pay for government expenditure with an increasing proportion of retired people? Over the next couple of decades will come a crunch point where people will have to work a lot longer and the state do a lot less. As a society we don't have a right to our relative standard of living - we have to earn it. So will we all then stick our fingers in our ears, vote for unicorns and magic money trees and hope something just comes up?
That said, I got a bit bored during extra time and went out for a brief walk. Felt a bit like the beginning of 28 Days Later...
https://www.emptywheel.net/2018/07/03/putting-a-face-mine-to-the-risks-posed-by-gop-games-on-mueller-investigation/
(Marcy Wheeler is a serious journalists, not a conspiracy theorist.)
Even if your argument were correct 52% of voters voted Leave with one of the core Leave campaign promises to leave the single market and end free movement but only 42% of voters voted Tory one element of the Tory manifesto being a dementia tax they have now dropped as they failed to win a majority of seats in the House of Commons.
52% though is a majority unlike 42%
In fact, I'd be willing to give you good odds on that...
Looking at wiki:
"In 1946 the four British nations returned. On 10 May 1947 a "Match of the Century" between Great Britain and "Rest of Europe XI" was played at Hampden Park in Glasgow before 135,000 spectators – Britain won 6–1. The proceeds from the match, coming to £35 000, were given to FIFA, to help re-launch it after World War II. "
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_FIFA#Post-war_expansion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-44707052
Sounds like a fun job for an historian to work through.
https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1013901742394789889
Mr. Sandpit, good. Worship of the NHS is bloody weird. I can see why people like it, but zealotry is not something I trust.
Mr. Palmer, indeed, though I do still like Davros' speech about the flaws of democracy and compromising in Genesis of the Daleks.
Surely Uruguay stand a chance? France are evens to win it. Considering a hedging bet there.
In all seriousness, hopefully just over caution due to recent events.
It seems that a serious journalist is at risk of harm - and this is in the United States, not a dictatorship.
The IEA report is actually very comprehensive and has taken a good look at dozens of health systems around the world looking at what works best.
With Pete Wishart objecting...
France is probably man-for-man the best team left in the competition but they are not managed well. Mbappe will probably be the best player in the world soon, as Messi and Ronaldo grow old (sorry, Neymar). Mbappe is 4/1 joint favourite to be named best player (Golden Ball) with Harry Kane and the Frenchman has far stronger claims. Kane is odds-on to be top scorer (Golden Boot) and I fear some punters have confused the two.
Interesting Golden Ball note. Might look at that myself.
Recent politics does show that our politicians are not very good at major divisive problems. The NHS is likely to remain in the too difficult box.
That is what I'd like to see more of. If the NHS scores badly on cancer treatment, then what are foreign oncologists doing that NHS ones are not? Instead we get the NHS is wonderful or its opponents who think good health care is all about insurance forms.
So what's gone wrong? Is it the schools? Grassroots clubs? That is what Nicola Sturgeon needs to find out and fix.
Your header was very good by the way.
Still, it's good to see you're continuing the fine old tradition of Scotland missing: in your case the point, in the Scottish football team's case, the goal ...