Jumby wrote:I get your point but sides that win the league have to put up with other teams defending all game against them, if the team is good enough they'll deal with it. In tournament football you have to find a way to win, Germany do it, Spain do it.......I think England are better than Wales, in theory, but the problem is that England, and the manager in particular, think they're better but when sides play against them as if England are better England struggle to prove this, as we've seen. Two draws and an injury time winner against a side that started the game with one up front, a player released by Reading.
At the same time you have to factor in reputation and situation etc:
Round 1: Russia sat back as they didn't think they could beat us by attacking, and got a draw.
Wales and Slovakia both went for it a bit as they both felt they could win, making it easier for either team to win.
Round 2: Wales had a win, so could afford to sit back and go for a point.
Slovakia and Russia both again thought they could win, so went for a bit, making it easier for either team to win.
Round 3: Slovakia knew a draw was enough, so sat back.
Russia needed to win, so had to go for it, and got picked off.
When looked at that way our inability to win the Russia game kind of undid our entire tournament.