England v Columbia

[hickybank]

Brilliant result last night, well done lads
Just like watching a wildlife programme as 3 Lions beat 11 Cheaters

[musselsandfries]

Married to a Belgian....2 nights running of late night drama....

Still at least we still have both flags up blowing in the wind !!

[earthmaiden]

I was at work. One of my colleagues is from Columbia ...

[Ratatouille]

My nerves were in shreds by the end of full-time. DS rang to tell me not to worry because they had shown such a brilliant attitude despite the provocation. He was right

We're going to have a bit of a dilema if they do get all the way and end up playing France

[karadekoolaid]

When Dier scored the final penalty, I screamed so loud, I frightened the dog!
Great result against yet another crowd of thugs!

[TeresaFoodie]

I have put myself through that many failed England penalties over the years that for the first time last night, I got up and went out! Nipped to the Co-op. Pavements empty, no cars, Co-op empty, the noise of people screaming at their TVs from inside their houses was deafening. Then I thought 'What are you doing, you idiot!' Turned round, ran back, walked back in, Dier popped the fourth in! So that's the plan going forward I think. Far less stressful!

Finally we are getting fair referee decisions. That's rare! I think this is helping our team to remain calm and not retaliate to all the fouls. Let's hope it stays that way.

[hickybank]

I think last nights ref lost control of the game through intimidation of the Colombians, waste of time having VAR if it is not going to be used correctly

[TeresaFoodie]

Last night the ref should have sent at least three very aggressive Colombians OFF for the way they were trying to intimidate him.

[northleedsbhoy]

At times though they did rip England apart with their speed, especially in extra time. Most European teams falter against the pace of a lot of South American teams due to their inherent slow build up before getting into a scoring position.

Cheers
NLB

[karadekoolaid]

Last night the ref should have sent at least three very aggressive Colombians OFF for the way they were trying to intimidate him.

Dead right. The Ref should have handed Falcao a red card for screaming in his face after Harry Kane was scrambled all over by Sánchez. But I agree - the Ref lost control. I´d love to have seen Pierluigi Colina reffing that game - or the German Ref ( can´t remember his name) from the other day.
NLB - yep, they definitely were faster than us; and that´s something I fail to comprehend. Rashford, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose and Dele Alli are all quick - so why didn´t Southgate use them like that?
Mystery!!

[dennispc]

Positives, well they can score penalties and good to see Kane running first to Pickford, so glad the boy came good. I wonder whether that top corner save made the Colombians nervous about the penalties.

Young impressed me with his efforts to stop England players getting involved.

Referee badly let down by VAR, fourth and fifth offcials. Howard Webb, our top referee, couldn't do much in 2010 when the Dutch kicked the Spanish all the over the park. At least with Sweden it'll be good honest fouling that they're used to in PL!

Hope FIFA do something about surrounding the ref., the shoulder barge off the pitch on Sterling, taking free kicks from the right place and scuffing the penalty spot.

Won't hold my breath but the main positive for me is they've shown they can win matches.

But … one nil up, with a few minutes to go, if you have a free kick and goal kick you do not go long. You keep the ball, tippy tappy amongst friends.

[dennispc]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... d-colombia

[hickybank]

In 1996 Gareth Southgate missed a penalty in the shoot-out for England.
We lost to Germany in the semi-final of the Euros at Wembley. The hopes of a generation died that night.

Now England manager last night he showed the grand old English trait of being gracious in victory and magnanimous in defeat.

Remember how the German coaching staff took the piss out their Swedish counterparts after Germany scored the winning goal in the last second.
Remember how Maradona stuck not just one, but two middle fingers, up at the Nigerian dignitaries when Argentina scored a late winner to send their opposition home.

Well this is how we do it in England. This is perhaps the most iconic sports photograph ever taken. 

Gareth Southgate opting to console a distraught Colombian who had missed a penalty in the shoot-out instead of leaping about with his players in our moment of victory. 

The greatest story ever told in a single picture.

[suffolk]

Gareth Southgate is a real gentleman, but he doesn't just do the right thing because it is the right thing ... he does it because he feels it and means it

[StokeySue]

Jake Humphrey told a lovely story about Southgate on Twitter, you don't need to sign up to read

Check out @mrjakehumphrey’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/mrjakehumphrey/status/1014059047702626305?s=09

[Zosherooney]

We are British and proud of it........ Let's hope we can hold our heads up again tomorrow and not join in the cheating and conniving tomorrow.

I shall be in the dog house later, we will be on the Avon Gorge trip in the middle of the England game tomorrow. Well I did not know when they were playing when I booked it !

[TeresaFoodie]

I don't know if this was a good or bad omen, but last night Co-op had just two items RTC. Two cheap swedes.

Just noticed last night a neighbouring flat has an imitation World Cup trophy on their living room windowsill.

Getting a bit jittery here ahead of tomorrow's QF already! It was very nice having two days off to recover though!

[TeresaFoodie]

Crikey, this tournament is really hotting up! The first two semi finalists definitely deserve to be there.

For those of you still enjoying watching your paint dry I heard someone on the radio today who's come up with an even better way of avoiding the world cup by cleaning and cataloguing his ping pong ball collection.

[KC2]

For those of you still enjoying watching your paint dry I heard someone on the radio today who's come up with an even better way of avoiding the world cup by cleaning and cataloguing his ping pong ball collection.

[earthmaiden]

Oh no ....

[StokeySue]

Blow Columbia ... 2 - 0 Sweden, yay!

[TeresaFoodie]

How very civilised was today's game? I thought every single second was an absolute delight to watch. Can anyone fault a single England player? I can't.

Right now we will see Croatia on Wednesday unless Russia can pull something back.

This is wonderful, wonderful stuff!

[PatsyMFagan]

I note from the tv magazine that footie seems to be on both bbc and itv at 6.30 on Wednesday … I ask because while we were (early) lunching at the White Bear (Raymond Blanc's gaff at Ruislip) yesterday, they said that they are offering 50% discount on food if you eat there DURING the time England are playing ….. so, is this when both semi finals are being played (at the same time ?) …

[musselsandfries]

Belgium's semi final with France is Tuesday at 7pm English time and Englands on wednesday at 7.

[Busybee]

We have a family meal out booked with visiting Australian rellies at 7pm Wednesday...........it’s going to be quiet, I just hope the chefs are not too busy watching the football to cook our tea!

BB

[suffolk]

We have a family meal out booked with visiting Australian rellies at 7pm Wednesday...........it’s going to be quiet, I just hope the chefs are not too busy watching the football to cook our tea!

BB

Think it'll be a menu of sandwiches and cold cuts BB

[StokeySue]

I just double checked the online Radio Times which is usually updated, both BBC1 and ITV1 are showing the England - Croatia match from 6.30 pm on Wednesday and the same on Tuesday for France - Belgium.

So pick your pundits and pour yourself a drink (possibly iced water in this heat)

[TeresaFoodie]

I'll always choose BBC over ITV for sport. Ad breaks being squeezed in at every opportunity annoy me.

[PatsyMFagan]

Belgium's semi final with France is Tuesday at 7pm English time and Englands on wednesday at 7.

Ah, thanks …. I may make a phone call to the restaurant

[Zosherooney]

It's Mr. Z's Birthday week and as he is at work on the actual day, we have booked to go to our fave restaurant in East Chisenbury on Wed. lunch time, no doubt we will be home for the game

[Ratatouille]

The France-Belgian match is on ITV on Tuesday and the England -Croatia match is on BBC on Wednesday.

The only thing missing (thank goodness ) from the Englan Sweden match was, as Tezza said bodies rolling around clutching various parts of their anatomy. What a refreshing change I fear it will not be thus on Wednesday.

[Grasshopper]

Not a football fan, but this just MIGHT be our year - you never know.
And , yes, I read the report about the Colombia game. Where were the red cards? They were a disgrace!

Grasshopper

[KC2]

I just saw something on the BBC website about some England fans trashing stuff in Ikea .... I can imagine what Gareth Southgate would have to say about that sort of stupid and disgraceful behaviour!

[Grasshopper]

VERY idiotic behaviour!

Grasshopper

[WWordsworth]

Maybe this should be on the other thread but why do some footballers think it is acceptable to feign injury.
Aren't they paid enough?
And don't get me started on the spitting
Urgh.

[TeresaFoodie]

The smashing of Ikea stuff is disgraceful, those responsible should be named and shamed and banned! GS will be very disappointed. Hoping that this behaviour is not going to put a negative on what has so far been such a positive England experience. Hooligans, not fans, and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Spitting does not bother me. It's something that has to happen as part of a very heavy exercise session, in some! I mean, you don't see Harry Kane spit so I'd love to know how he manages to keep it in!

Regarding blatant fouls and dives. If the coach allows such filthy play to disgrace his team, a player takes a chance when he decides to try and trick the ref. I can't remember which player it was, or which match, but he was going in for a header just outside the goal and was so busy trying to make a fair defensive move on him look like a penalty that he missed the header. What a numpty because had he scored a fair goal, it would have turned the whole result around for his team and country! Boooooo!

[dennispc]

IKEA’s twitter feed said
“We are aware of a small group of fans celebrating the match result in one of our stores. Being both British and Swedish, we were on the edge of our seats during the game and we would like to say ‘grattis’.(that’s congratulations in Swedish) to the England team for getting through the semi-finals. In celebration, we’ve put one of our nation’s favourite dishes, fish and chips, on offer for just £1.”

That’s more than decent.

However, the main story shouldn’t be IKEA but some fans trashed an ambulance car - parked in case anyone needed medical help. There are photos of a woman jumping on the bonnet and another of two men jumping on the roof. The photos are clear so Police should be able to find them - I’d charge them with criminal damage and pay the cost, that's a NHS emergency vehicle out of action.

In contrast, some of you will have seen footage of Japanese supporters clearing up their litter and the Japan team tidied up their dressing room and before leaving left a letter to thank the Stadium staff for looking after them. What an example.

[StokeySue]

There's a picture going round of a stupid young woman dancing on an ambulance service vehicle in the Borough (Southwark) during post match excitement. She and her imbecilic chums did a lot of damage to an emergency vehicle and the Met are trying to identify them

[PatsyMFagan]

Latest on this is that Millwall Football club have started a collection to repair/replace the ambulance

[Grasshopper]

Yes, the Japanese are a shining example of good behaviour, are they not. I sometimes come across oriental students at 'W' and they are VERY polite.

Grasshopper

[WWordsworth]

A cabin crew pal enjoyed Tokyo flights as the aircraft cabin was still clean and tidy on landing.

[TeresaFoodie]

Well done France.

Eek!

[Ratatouille]

You should have been here last night Tezza. Eeeeeek indeed