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Clearly they turn up at major tournaments. They’ve topped their last two group stages with Germany and Spain in them. They also topped our group in 2002, for good measure.

Agreed. Whilst losing to Germany on Tuesday wouldn’t be apocalyptic, you’d like to see Southgate have a strong showing in 2022 to show we’re track before offering a new contract.

Sweden topped a group this tournament with Spain in it. Colombia were also everyone’s ‘dark horses’ going into the tournament. Some ridiculous revisionism here. We got to a semi final of a World Cup for the first time in my lifetime and people moan.

Good to see you’re decisive in picking the team! Joking aside, I don’t think we should match them. Personally, there’s no need to change a defensive shape we’ve not played in this tournament, especially since we haven’t conceded yet! With the current setup, Rice drops between the centre backs...

I don’t think he’d be an automatic starter. Tyler Walker, Godden and Waghorn would certainly be an improvement to what we had last season. Last season was a disappointment for him, but his record in the Championship is generally quite good. We definitely need some more Championship experience...

Personally, I think as a nation, we have this inferiority complex against the bigger international teams. Germany have got some good players, but they’re not the team they were between 2008 and 2016. We need the psychological boost of beating someone like Germany in the knockout game to propel...

Agreed. I would absolutely love it if we humiliated Germany in the way they humiliated us in 2010. I believe we would’ve beaten them in 2018 had we played them - but that’s conjecture. They’ve conceded 5 goals in the group stages, so we need to exploit that shaky defence. Yes, I am invoking...

Just as we beat Columbia on penalties to break the curse, beating Germany would give us a huge psychological boost for years to come. We’re stronger defensively and I genuinely believe we can beat Germany. I just don’t think it’s a sackable offence, frankly.

Would losing to Germany in the Round of 16 be apocalyptic? Not really. I’m advocating patience. If we see of Germany, and beat the winner of Ukraine/Sweden*, we would be in with a v good chance of another semi final. Would you U-turn on your previous opinions on Southgate? *Interesting that...

He won Serie B with Juventus. Just to clarify for the audience. Deschamps is a good manager, but was undoubtedly in the managerial wilderness before going to France. In fact, lost to Hodgson’s England and knockout at the quarters in 2012 and 2014. Then, things started coming together for...

I did not realise you were being sarcastic!

Exactly. Before his success he was criticised quite heavily for his negativity. Tolisso is playing on the right. They have the likes of Dembele, Martial, Coman and so on in that slot. Matuidi started on the left wing in their world cup winning side. Even if France go on to lose (I don’t think...

The same France that has also scored the same amount of goals as England and a draw against a minnow... Shouldn't Deschamps get the sack?

International management is not the pinnacle of a managerial career anymore. Even the 'qualified' managers in the field are there after poor spells with clubs e.g. Mancini and Luis Enrique. By every metric, Southgate has outperformed more 'qualified' candidates to manage England. Which goes to...

Under Southgate we’ve been to two semi finals too, which no England manager has done for a long while. Since Southgate’s club record has been brought up, I’d like to point out Joachim Löw’s career highlight in club football is managing FK Austria Wien. If we get thrashed by whomever we play...

Germany battered Portugal in the group stages and followed it up with a draw to Ghana and a 1-0 win over the USA. Germany and France were favourites for both of those World Cups having come very close to winning major trophies previously and we’re not at that level, yet. We’ve got a good...

I travelled around France for Euro 2016 and watched the France games with a few French mates. They had similar things to say about Deschamps as we do about Southgate now. He’s a negative manager with a team with great attacking talent. Well, he’s done alright since. Despite starting Giroud...

Southgate has a very pragmatic view of international football. Even recently successful international teams have bored fans en route to success. 2010 World Cup - Spain won every game by 1 goals, bar a 2-0 win v Honduras. 2016 Euros - Portugal, drew all their group games. Won in ET v Croatia...

The Czechs were launching it from distance, and the source of their best chance. Structurally, we were sound, we looked quite good, if not particularly special. Germany had more shots than France, but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who genuinely thought Germany were the better team. Far...

I’m sure everyone was quaking their boots after Portugal came 3rd in their Group in 2016. The same team that failed to get a win against Iceland, Hungary and Australia won the championship. We’ve got a good chance of progressing deep in this championship, but we’re by no means the best team in...