|
Croatia are a GOOD side.
But - they are one of the top 20 in the world, but not one of the top 8. England's perception of itself is as a top 8 team... based on performances we simply are not - based on potential... I believe we are. But you can only claim to be a sleeping giant so long.
No disrespect to Croatia at all, they are well drilled, were comfortable on the ball, and have quality all over the park... these boys have a better record in the last 20 years than England probably.
BUT... if you think you a big team, the kind of team that is gonna challenge for championships - and you have a must win game against Croatia at home - you HAVE to win it. Full stop. Defeat was unthinkable.
We didnt win, we arent a big team right now, and we arent going to challenge for championships.
Game Over.
I think I want to say again, cos all of the talk of how disappointing we were is disrespectful to a degree - Croatia came and did a job on us, they played better, with more control, more skill, and ultimately more fire - they deserved to win, and good luck to them.
As for other comments people have made... I appreciate the strength of Serb and Croat nationalism... but playing for your country should be the highest honour in the profession of any sportsman. A big World Cup Game, literally, should be more important than your wedding day or children's births... you shouldnt need a legacy of civil war and human rights abuse to have some fucking pride in wearing your countries flag across your breast.
We didnt go into this game with a desperation to win... we went into with a terror of defeat.
I dont want to see people dying on the pitch, but I want to see people playing like they fucking care, like if they are gonna be beaten they are gonna crawl off the pitch with nothing left when it happens. There were tears after the game, where was that emotion when we needed it?
__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."
The Gospel of Thomas
|