Some really foolish comments on here. I think Cohen largely has it right, though I'm less sure that penalties comes down to character--they're more about practice and a bit of luck. No English person thinks we had the best team, but after endless disappointments, after all those wretched celebrity-stuffed teams and soul-crushing penalty shoot-out defeats, just to have a bit of success and bit of luck really was magic. Football's coming home was a fun, catchy song from 1996, full of ironic, self-deprecating lyrics .And for goodness sake, the idea that Kane dived against Columbia is idiotic. He was thrown to the floor!
2
Cohen’s analysis is largely sound. But he may be mistaking what he happened to witness, for inevitable destiny.
I agree Croatia’s midfield was superior to England’s. But in the first half hour, England might well have gone up 2-0, or even 3-0. In that event, what would Croatia’s midfield edge have counted for?
So much of what we take to be the profound and implacable lessons of experience are actually just contingencies. Like the excellence of the Croatian midfield, they are very important — but they do not make the outcomes inevitable. Had things gone differently, as they might well have, the factors we are now poring over would, instead, be forgotten, as if they never existed. Of course, that bias is always the weakness of how we absorb the lessons of experience.
— Brian
2
As a third generation ethnic croat who couldn't care less about futbol, and only care about Croatia as it relates to the family of man, I still gotta say, "ha, ha!" Nice to see you get to write a column that does not deal with our ongoing dystopian nightmare.
Talk about getting carried away. The truth is that England managed to beat four weak teams (Colombia without James does not amount to much) sometimes barely, and they fell against the only two teams of relevance that they faced. They got to the semifinals most because of the luck of the draw. Their soccer style is that same brutish, unsophisticated one that it has always been, and with it, they predictably fold against competent teams. The only difference between this world cup and previous international events this century is that, this time, they were at least able to beat the minnows.
2
Good riddance. England were the least deserving team and are simply not good enough to even be in the semis. They had a very lucky passage to the semis and never played any of the good teams. The first time they played a half-decent team, Colombia, they should have lost but won thanks only to Harry Kane's acting job and referee bias. Croatia have also been lucky to be here in avoiding all of the top teams so far, but they are not as undeserving as England.
2
Poor England. Losing to Croatia and having to suffer through a visit by Trump in the same week.
5
The Croatian team's desire to win the match against England was exemplified by defender Vrsaljko. Not only did he make a great save with his header at the mouth of the goal late in the match, he immediately upped the intensity of his defense and stymied England's effort to get the ball back into scoring position. Great stuff.
2
You ain't seen the worst yet. Wait until the English cricket team gets whacked by the Indians this summer.
After Harry Kane's fake fall in the penalty box on a corner kick in the Colombia game, with the resulting undeserved penalty kick scoring England's only goal, this team merited only subsequent defeat.
5
Great analysis, Roger. I usually like your columns but who knew you had this one in your bag? Ole! However, you generously, perhaps kindly, ignore a big reason for England's failure by letting Harry Kane off the hook. He virtually never shows up in big games, for club or country. He amassed his Golden Boot totals with goals against hapless Panama (the spot team USA would likely have occupied) and every England penalty shot. His winner against lowly Tunisia was the only crunch time tally he made. Given two opportunities at putting England up two goals against Croatia, he choked. When Tottenham, his club team, was in position to overtake 5000-to-1 shot Leicester for the Premier League title he came up short. Once that title race was over, he scored 7 meaningless goals in two games against weak opposition to guarantee himself the scoring title. Neither Tottenham nor England can depend on him until he starts putting his team ahead of himself.
1
I wish I knew what was said at halftime to change the weak-as-water Croatian midfield of the first half into its winning strength in the second half when Rakitic and Modric asserted their La Liga level skills.
1
Americans enjoy soccer when their children play it... because it's their children playing it.
2
England live in this dream that being English it is a foregone conclusion they are born winners that includes all other sports. Everyone knows tactics used to proclaim 1966 World Cup. Psychology and propaganda empolyed against other teams to demoralise. Earlier they were claiming had to fight against stronger teams to climb up the ladder now basically came against teams from new countries and their performance was abysmal. Same format is used for the last forty years or so score one goal then crowd around the the goal area try to stop opposte team from scoring. Belgium were smart they started taking shots from far towards the goal post and scored. Crotia team was even smarter did not panic after England scored took a shot from far and levelled the score eventually won. So here is your strong English team?
What England had in mind to come up against France then proclaim look we had beaten Napolean being born winners. So much full of animosity sour grapes.
5
Excellent analysis of british people
There's always "that guy."
Millions of people in the USA care about the sport of soccer. No, it's not going to - nor does it care to - overtake the NFL, so you can put your pacifier back in your mouth.
3
Football was first created in China (cuju) in 200 AD, not England. It was never "coming home".
2
@ Stephanie — Sports played on large fields involving kicking balls toward a goal have been invented independently in many societies, in many eras. And a lot of chauvinistic claims have been raised that those ancient games are the ancestor of modern soccer. But the resemblance of those ancient sports (including China’s “cuju” (蹴鞠)) to soccer does not warrant the inference of an actual ancestral lineage. Such claims are no more valid than would be a proclamation that the koala is the ancestor of the panda.
It is well documented that modern soccer actually developed in Great Britain in the 1800s. It is directly related to a variety of football games that long been popular in the British Isles — some scholars have identified traces of such sports there as early as the 8th century (A.D.). But, the coherent codification of the game’s rules did not emerge until about 150 years ago.
And there is •no• evidence suggesting that those early British sports, or Association Football as it emerged in the 19th century, were influenced by any game played in China, or anywhere else outside of, perhaps, immediately adjacent areas of Northern Europe.
So, as much as many people yearn to deny the English any credit for anything, the fact is that England •is• the home of the modern game of soccer.
— Brian
5
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/man-who-likes-to-po...
1
There's not enough going on in the world right now, so Roger Cohen had to pretend he's a sportswriter focused on futbol in general, and the English national team in particular.
Trump's in the UK, after insulting everyone at a gathering of honchos from the countries in NATO.
Japan just had almost 200 people die from unprecedented rainstorms while many parts of the USA just set temperature records, a terrific opening for a shpiel about climate change.
Congress just grilled an FBI agent in a scene reminiscent of a McCarthy witch hunt against commies.
And we get this column in the Op/Ed section which wasn't nearly good enough to even merit being in the Sports section.
1
Dude, take a deep breath... It is ok for Mr. Cohen to write about football once every four years... It was well written, even if a bit harsh on Harry Kane...
And the political commentary was there, in the next-to-last paragraph...
2
Love the NY Times. The political columnist writes about a sporting event, and the sports columnist writes about the politics of the event's location.
5
I thought Roger Cohen was a naturalized American citizen. So why the long face?? The American soccer team didn't make it into the World Cup this time!! Except for the World Cup and the Olympics Americans don't pay attention to soccer.
"… Luka Modric … Ivan Rakitic … They held the ball, they probed, they taunted, they created — and in the end they overwhelmed an English side that just ran out of ideas."
How else might the English side have responded?
"England desperately needed a left-sided player to track, or pin back, Vrsaljko: Sterling could have played that role, as could his replacement Marcus Rashford. Instead England continued to play two upfront."
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/world-cup-2018-en...
Well written Roger
6
Roger - you know your football.
4
"That, of course, is the only time England has won soccer’s most prized trophy." England didn't "win" the 1966 World Cup! It was declared World Champion by a Soviet linesman! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofiq_Bahramov
2
@ Albert — I think the linesman (an Azerbaijani, to be precise) probably did err in ruling that Hurst’s second goal (the first in extra time, which put England up 3-2) completely crossed the goal line.
But the big picture is, England won the World Cup in 1966 because they were the better team on the field. Claims that officials gifted the Cup to England that year are dismissed by those who know best. West Germany’s great star Franz Beckenbauer delivered the definitive verdict, stating: “England beat us in 1966 because Bobby Charlton was just a bit better than me.”
— Brian
2
Mandzukic looked crazy to me. I wonder what Roger thinks will happen if Croatia wins the World Cup? Has he not heard jingoism in Croatian?
4
Great comment, Vivien!
Far-right ultra-nationalism is a much greater problem in Croatia than in England (or the rest of the UK for that matter).
2
"The ball is round . . ." European football fans used to say, meaning that the proud will fall, sooner or later.
This well-deserved loss by England reminds us of another time, in the 1950s, when the supremely confident English team was humbled by a team from small Hungary 6 to 3. And the next year by 7 to 1.
Croatia may have only 4.5 million citizens. But their team has an undeniable spirit --- so eminently missing in the perishing republics of the West.
3
I'm not sure why there is so much expectations on England - that not winning is considered "long suffering." Such expectations could easily be placed on the Netherlands, which actually went to the finals 3 times, only to lose, or reached the semi-finals plenty of other times. It is the nation that invented "total football" under Johann Cruyff (who also helped launched Spain's talent). The same could also be said of Mexico, who again could not get past the quarterfinals for the 7th straight world cup. Or the USA, which has suffered under league dysfunction and league real politik since the 1930s. What I'm saying is that England has done well this world and past world cups - I'm not sure why they are expected to do more.
2
You guys think too much. The English squad was young and were never expected to get to the semi-finals. The fact is that they had a fairly lucky draw. Anyway, tying sports to politics and history, as some commentators have done, is puerile.
1
Let's not give Croatia too much credit here. England blew a couple of really easy scoring opportunities that would have give them a 2-0 lead and probably iced the game.
4
Well, as a Belgian, I kind of relish a rematch.
I'd hoped for a second meeting in the finals, not for the consolation match.
It wasn't to be.
Anyway - I hope both teams field their best available players this saturday. And I hope that the Belgian team will hand England their behinds, again.
And sign off with: 'here's your Brexit" - Enjoy.
5
I was literally saying the same thing to a friend yesterday - that at least we don't have to hear all the Brexit imperialists crowing about the empire for the next four years. That and the fact that Lovren should have had two yellows.
4
The England team, dressed in virginal while, looked like choir boys against the black-clad guerrilla warriors from the Balkans who were casually underestimated by the British press and public. Now, hopefully, the British have learned a lesson often repeated from their football history. Arrogance and over-confidence leads to a fall; perhaps there is a lesson in this for the Brexiteers who often display the same folly and their result will likely be the same. Mr Cohen is correct to say that an English win would have resulted in intolerable bombast from the British press which support leaving Europe. That's why I was cheering for Croatia, a team of talent and character.
3
I was rooting for England. I really didn't want Croatia to win. The Croatia players were overly aggressive and not at all pleasant to watch! They acted as if they were defending a literal English invasion or something! Relax! It's just a game! It's one thing to play with a heart, but another thing to play with malice! I mean, just look at the their first goal! The reckless aggressiveness of it! The English player is trying to clear the ball with his head, but no, the Croatian sends his leg like a missile and scores a goal! How is that fair? Imagine the horror had his metal-bolted shoe caught the poor guy's head! Yeah, they won, but at what cost? So unfair! And now I can't wait for team France to put them in their place - small!
1
I absolutely agree! England was conscientious in their style of play as opposed to the aggressive Croatian mindset. The composure displayed by the English team throughout the game, even when things turned sour, is highly commendable. In the end, they came up against a better team, and I think they can learn from this experience. They are the second youngest team in the world cup, so they still have a chance to succeed come 2022.
You know more than anyone that flexing muscles on hapless Panama and Tunisia were a mirage that's bound to be exposed. And sure enough, Belgium did just that in the group stage. I trust you agree have either Iceland, Mexico, or even Nigeria was in the same group, England would have never advanced out.
it's a miracle they went that far.
Dreaming of "football coming home" I'm afraid, will have to wait another 60 years, maybe longer.
7
Very good analysis.Croatia,pop 4 million.Amazing.
6
England got past Colombia because James was injured and missed the game. Otherwise England would not have got as far as it did, undeservedly so.
2
Wonderful read.
Yet Cohen might had been more daring by not omitting the ugly fact that England ended up with Donald Trump rather than the World Cup.
"Sad!", as the Disgusting one would have tweeted, the only play he musters.
2
England had a subpar team and everyone knew it. For this author to believe otherwise is totally disingenuous. England also played subpar teams and that made them and their followers into a false narrative. And what about losing the game against Belgium on purpose so they could play in the “easy” bracket? No mention of that? I’m sorry but to real knowledgeable soccer fans, England was not a top tier team. I understand how the British fans feel but in reality, they were dreaming and not living in reality.
6
Some genuinely terrible thoughts here. "It did not have a midfield to speak of". Have you not been watching this tournament? Dele, Lingard and Henderson kept things ticking over game after game. Just look at the possession stats until they came up against a world class midfielder in Modric. Pathetic analysis. Completely missed the point on the nature behind this team here too.
1
I think you are actually supporting the author's point by noting that Modric is "world class". Meaning Dele, Lingard, and Henderson are not.
1
Um, you mean the Belgian team whose starting line-up is comprised mostly of players who play in the English Premier League?
Funny, all this sentimentality in the press about England's "brave" young lads etc. I've watched most of the tournament in Europe, with crowds of people of all nationalities. What we saw was an ugly, chippy, entitled team that benefited from generous refereeing and that, by the end, only the Brits in the crowd were rooting for. For a team that was supposedly humble coming in, they developed a remarkably flattering self image. Croatia outplayed them by a wide margin, and Harry Kane had the gall to say it was an "even" match that England lost only because of bad luck. Good riddance.
5
While Mr. Cohen's nostalgia for England is commendable, I hope he has the opportunity some day to watch the team play on the telly in an Irish Bar in New York city where nearly the entire place is rooting against the English. We Irish Americans do not forget the sad history of England's subjugation of the Irish.
4
The reason I root against England is that the world (and the press) is infinitely more interesting when they lose. Soccer writers in particular get really carried away, as if the knife-edge of a 1-goal extra time semifinal with rattled woodwork is actually a vast chasm revealing the true destiny of the contestants. The bad news of defeat is more inspiring than the good news of victory. The only calculus is how high you want them to climb before the inevitable fall. This one was pretty sweet.
2
I largely agree with the analysis here of the game and England's performance in the tournament but I think a technical analysis of the England team's shortcomings misses the really interesting point of this whole story - namely how England re-ignited the passion of their fan base. Since the 1990s, that passion has waned as the team appeared more and more aloof, self-interested, arrogant and ignorant meaning that, absent more than one or two good performances, many England fans drifted away, lost interest and stopped caring. The Premier League took on way more importance to most.
Through a lucky combination of factors - e.g. no big stars demanding to be picked, youth, an articulate and emotionally intelligent coach, more realistic expectations, a fortunate draw which allowed them to notch up a couple of early wins, etc. - the English public got behind them and actually got excited again. This was great to see and be part of, including the dancing in the streets, the memes, the feeling of pride and patriotism without the normal accompanying liberal guilt. I personally can't remember an atmosphere like it since Euro 96. It also helps that it hasn't rained for two months...
That's the real story of this World Cup in England - I don't think it will happen again for a while as I imagine the next tournament will bring over-inflated expectations and a superior set of opponents. But it was good while it lasted.
6
Kane is 24. Many of the great players in England are younger. In 4 years, in Qatar, England's chances of a good run are high, baring the Gods of Football sneezing. Many of today's greats (Modric, Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo) are unlikely to appear. Not sure who will be strong there, but England's side will be formidable. France as well for the same reasons.
1
A perfect summary of the English team and the 2018 World Cup.I cannot fault any word or conclusion. Loads of positives but you have not sugar coated any of the negatives. Well done!
2
Yet again, Roger Cohen gets England wrong. And football. I would advise him, in future, to draw on other sources in addition to his nephew and The Daily Mail. Progress in this year’s World Cup was salve against the ongoing trauma of Brexit – a chance to think of something else. And – for many – Gareth Southgate and his team epitomised an alternative England to the country portrayed by Brexiteers – one that was humble, thoughtful, and inclusive. The team was also young – one of the youngest squads in the tournament – and their youth told when they came up against an experienced and battle-hardened Croatia team. But Southgate – and most of his squad – will be back in 2022. Together, they far exceeded people’s expectations and we are proud of them.
9
Did we watch the same game? Sure, England put exactly one shot on frame (Kane off the post) other than the goal, but there were chances a plenty in the first half. It wasn't until around minute 60 that Modric and Rakitic took over. You're right about the need for a midfielder but they played much better than you're giving them credit for.
5
This column is EXACTLY why I watched the game of England-Croatia with such satisfaction. It was sooooo good to watch England get handed its head on a platter. The scrappy Croatian team, the skunk at the garden party, were bad-mannered enough to interrupt the coronation of the obvious winners. It was so clear, from Sunday last to Wednesday, that England had already won the World Cup, and those other teams merely had to acknowledge the superiority of the England side.
Funny thing about sport. The pretensions and assumptions last until the first whistle, then you must demonstrate your fitness. England was outplayed from 6:00 on. They had fewer shots, less possession, less good chances.
The saying is "No military strategy survives the first shot". Never more true than here. No pretentious assumption of superiority in WC elimination rounds should be made. Come with the attitude of "never give up". Croatia did, and now they play for the Cup.
14
World Cup is really World Cup. I am going to get World Cup Withdrawal Syndrome. If I had my choice of employment it would be FIFA. I just love the game and the joy it brings to the world. Let us continue to enjoy the game and the unity it brings to humanity.
2
Croatia's midfield has indeed been a site to behold. Luka Modric is the man of this tournament.
Roger is correct in that the English side wasn't as spectacular as the enthusiasm suggested. Let it not be forgotten that they shared a group with mighty Panama and Tunisia, and then beat a James-less Colombian side in the Round of 16. Not exactly the stuff of legends.
But no matter. Being half Mexican myself, I know the joy of getting caught up in World Cup hysteria. Mexican partisans were dreaming big after defeating Germany and South Korea in the group stage, only to be brought crashing down to earth with a shellacking by Sweden, and a hard-fought defeat at the hands of Brazil. It was exhilarating while it lasted.
I'll pat myself on the back and say that I predicted the French would reach the final. And I'm glad they did. Their fast, elastic style is fun to watch, and Mbappe, Greizman and Giroud are solid threats up front. Despite Pogba's understated brilliance in this tournament, I think the midfield edge again goes to the Croats. And with Modric and Rakatic quarterbacking (if you'll allow the gridiron expression) the pitch, they're going to be a tough side to beat.
Can't wait till Sunday.
8
What England need for soccer is precisely what Brexit and Trump will deliver: a terrible economy that produces a huge class of youth with nothing better to do that spend those tens of thousands of hours mastering jukes and feints.
The French now have what Brazil has long enjoyed, a huge class with little to dream of besides soccer. The US is getting to that state too, with ironies of race, immigration and class status that have reached the boiling point. Britain outta be there within 2 cup cycles.
1
That was a long way to make a 'political point'!
BTW: if I didn't watch match & know result ... after reading your somewhat informed opinion ... I would have guessed it ended 5 to 1 Croatia. [Your placed Pogba on same level as Modric?] England had ample chances to win - before being beaten by a goal in the 2nd period of Overtime.
Every squad has degrees of skilled players at different positions. Of course when unable to develop desired talent in Country ... there's always the time honored tradition of convincing a Player to change Citizenship. But who does that?
In meantime the Country enjoys a level of play in its English Leagues & Cup play that's loaded with World class footballers playing along side their English teammates.
Go Croatia!
5
An excellent, spot on analysis, of England on the World Cup pitch! Especially, focusing on the feeble English midfield!
3
It is not a bad thing that they lost. Cohen, you are right, there were some obvious gaps that could be developed to make them a more complete team.
My comfort with their loss is also just plain mean-spirited - if England ever wins the World Cup again we won't stop hearing about!
France and Spain have won the World Cup more recently and they don't talk about it as much!!!!!!
With this in mind. I say, "Go Croatia!!!" Let's hope that doesn't tick off the Serbians ...
2
Roger Cohen, your reason for finding solace in defeat is exactly the reason so many of us wanted England to lose.
11
i watched my first world cup in 2006. long before downton abbey, i thought i might route for england. and there was wayne rooney, with the o'niell phrase of "the map of ireland written all over his face", keeping quiet during the singing of God save the Queen. Wait, what, colin kaepernick comes to mind. I became a fan of football. I worked in construction. If i met a pole, a brazilian or an ecuadorean. I would check what footballer they admire. Did they admire a milquetoast or a gritty guy. Need to know info before i set to toil. and so my spanish is passable now. latin america dominates the entertainment in my mind. build the wall but i love mexican football. (i tell them trump would be a chivas fan, no immigrants allowed, dig?). and of course, i am a fan of la liga and pep. i wanted the three lions to do well. but when croatia scored, the irish hater came out. i had avoided that until. three lions all stolen from africa. change the name. But come christmas i will watch 'love actually' and downton abbey.
3
How good is Croatia´s midfield? Modric is an absolutely ungodly midfielder and they had him in the 10-slot. That´s how good Croatia´s midfield is. Still and all, next Saturday it won´t be enough.
3
I was elated that we appeared to be about to get through a column that was refreshingly free of the oh-so-familiar political targets. And we got within three sentences of it, when Bam!, we had to have a free shot at the supporters of Brexit.
Bam! The supporters of Brexit deserve all the stick they get from whatever quarter. Roger's right: The Daily Mail would have gone all-in Little England.
5
Whatever you like. But Times readers deserve just the occasional article that is free of political opinion. A sporting event seemed like a reasonable possibility.
Easy for the Croatian team to claim genius - they won. But their's was a mediocre team that capitalized on England's complacency after having led for much of the time. Furthermore, England missed some good opportunities to extend their lead. Perhaps, the English team should have been injected with some senior players after half-time or should have beefed up their midfield.
2
"Football Isn't Coming Home...……"
Let's eschew obfuscation- IT'S SOCCER NOT FOOTBALL!
Only joking of course. With globalization and time, I'm sure it will gain popularity in the "Good Ole USA". That is, if Trump doesn't "Make America Great Again" by creating yet another word war.
3
Roger,
I was an American 14 year old vacationing with my family in Carinthia in Austria,amongst hordes of German supporters, when England won. I was delighted with the result as Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton were, for me, representatives of the best English sporting values.
I'll be rooting for Croatia on Sunday but hoping that England will not have to endure another half century before our wishes are fulfilled!
Let’s hope England never wins again!
1
I was disappointed that the US and Rep. of Ireland didn't make it, but then England lost and all is right with the world (of sports) again.
7
I was hoping for an England win for two reasons:
1 - My daughter and her family live in England and are serious fans;
2 - Maybe England would stop nattering about 1966. Alas, my hopes are dashed.
1
As an England fan.....suffering since at least the semis at Italia ‘90 this team provided sunshine and laughter.
A commodity certainly missing in the U.K. today.
And the funny thing is I don’t really care about sport......but the World Cup.....it’s just something more.
I remember watching Maradona use his “hand of God” in ‘86. I still curse him although it was genius.
It’s like a book of history you pick up every 4 years to reconnect.
Anyway, thanks England 2018.....you provided many great memories.
England team members you probably don’t understand this now but as people approach you in the coming decades and discuss with you where they were when.......you probably will how much this means to so many people much better.
Thank you.
4
Really, really enjoying England’s suffering. Maybe the English can propagandize this loss into a victory like they did with Dunkirk!
3
I love sports. Baseball, football, tennis, golf. I had never been interested in soccer. But watching yesterday, intermittingly with Wimbledon, I got really excited and hoping that England would win. They did not have a good end half and a better Croatian team beat them. Now I have to root for France on Sunday to beat the Croats. ps. I lived in England and France for years so I have a vested interest.
2
Well written and a spot-on analysis. It was, indeed, a hurtful loss. But there is hope for the future with a young team and a great coach. No one expected they would reach the final four. England should be proud of what they accomplished.
5
Football Isn't Coming Home After All by Roger Cohen
After reading this article the most interesting item of discussion I found was that the coach of the current English Team played for England. Also, he lost England a game by missing a penalty kick. This is extremely interesting because from him to go from player to coach gives him a unique perspective on how the players feel and think in stressful moments of the game.
1
After the fall, the tabloids will scheme to raise even more jingoism-driven expectations in the next campaign.
3
Questionable coaching at the midfield. Henderson was over-matched and should have been pulled much sooner.
2
I'm a scot who's still rooting for this young English side against Belgium. I'll be looking for them to advance further in 2022 and beyond.
4
Cohen offers one opinion concerning the game but I watched the game and was left with an entirely different opinion. England reverted to a "prevent defense" after about 35 minutes. The prevent defense, most people know, is more likely to prevent a victory than to prevent the opponent from scoring.
Sloppy passes didn't help but the continual long-ball kicks to one attacker and five defenders that always resulted in a turnover was a main reason for the loss. In other words, England stopped playing the game that allowed them to reach the quarterfinals.
10
Oh Roger. If the Croatian midfielders are such "geniuses" and the Croatian team so wonderful, why did the games against Russia (the lowest-ranked team in the Cup) and Denmark have to go all the way to penalty kicks?
14
Before the match the English were insufferable, acting like they were already in the Finals and spouting their obnoxious "Bringing it home". They played better until the Croats scored, when they realised it wasn't going to be as easy as they imagined, and then they fell apart.
The Croats are an excellent team, and France will need to play their very best game to beat them.
27
Left out of this article is that England actually dominated play in the first half. The referee was inferior and passed up many appropriate opportunities to issue yellow cards to primarily Croatian players who were frustrated and argumentative -- because they were consistently getting beat to the ball. England created opportunities but were wide of the mark -- or the outcome might have been different. The 2nd half transformation of the Croatian game was impressive, England did indeed revert to going impotently for the long incomplete pass, and in the end Croatia was indeed the better side and deserved to win. It will be interesting to see what happens when they are up against talent like Pogba and Griezmann. I expect we'll see more frustration and physicality from Croatia, and let's hope we have a referee with courage for the final.
37
Roger misses some key points here. Firstly, England had the easiest schedule in getting to the semis. Secondly, they barely beat Tunisia in the last minutes of the game and went to penalties against Colombia (which was playing without their key player, James). The Panama result so inflated the team's strength that the media started this nonsense "coming home" meme. Secondly, once the Croats started taking over the game, the English coaches had no answers. Henderson in the English midfield was useless. The long passes he floated in went awry. His late replacement, Dyer was no better. The substitution of Sterling made no sense as speed was replaced by speed, instead of adding more speed. All should have been the one replaced as he was ineffective. The team was poorly coached. The bottom line is that the team is still far away from being a WC contender. Southgate is not the answer for England. However, this point will be overlooked in the emotion of " a young team, ... next WC, ...well plain lads, ... blah blah" etc. Yes, they are going home and most likely will stay there.
28
But Roger does concede a favorable draw and a flat midfield...
3
Kit seems unlikely your points were missed, merely left unsaid. As for Southgate, there will be a next season to watch.
The ‘coming home’ song has been around since 1996 and has appeared at every World and Euro Cup. It’s a song about sentimentality and times past, clearly you’ve misinterpreted it.
By "national" dejection or uniting a "nation" I presume you only mean England. Welsh, Scots and Northern Irish probably didn't care.
22
That is obviously what he means, especially with the late reference to Brexit, which is only favored by the English. If the four so-called "Home Nations" would field a unified team they would have a serious shot at the Cup, given the talent on Scotland and Wales right now.
2
Who cares? This is not an American sport, and yet the mainstream media tries to shove it down our throats. How about some more opinion pieces about baseball, the great American game.
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The World Cup is the most popular sporting in the world, and one of the most colorful. The world is passing you by Ron, in more ways than one!
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Thank you for the last paragraph. I too supported England and dreaded the jingoism that would have accompanied an England win. Quite happy the way it turned out without controversies. On the day the best team won.
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Um, apparently enough people care given the coverage across the media world. This is a sport played by millions around the world and requires nothing more than something to use as a ball. Many places they can't afford a ball.
What's left to be said about baseball, a sport most of the world could care less about? Anyway, baseball gets written up plenty over a painfully long schedule of 150+ games plus spring training and playoffs.
36
I wouldn't call this English team merely average. It had a not-great second half against a determined Croatia team and paid the price. But the first half showed what England had showed for most of the tournament -- this is a talented group that plays with much more spark than the stereotype of longball English football.
The margins in soccer are so fine. Had John Stones not switched off for a moment, or had Mandzukic not gotten his strike so perfectly, or had Pickford been positioned just a half-step to his left, then that second Croatia goal may not have happened and it would have gone to penalties. A cynic would say that England would have reverted to its penalty-losing self then. But really, who is to say? England came that close to having a chance of winning a penalty shootout and going to a World Cup final with a young team that was four years early.
11
“There is a tide in the affairs of men / Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.” I guess this wasn't that tide, even though I'd been practicing up on my St. Crispin's Day speech, just in case! Well done, lads, especially the Spurs lads who scored goals (Kane, Trippier, Alli) or PKs in shootout (Kane, Trippier, Dier) for England! Now let's see our Spurs captain Lloris hoist the WC for his nation, France!
15
If one word were to sum up Croatia, it's 'grit.' They were relentless in their pursuit of victory over England. It was a curse for England to have taken the lead in the 5th minute. You could see that the intensity went down by at least 3 notches after that goal. England was totally overplayed in the second half. They lacked imagination. Kane should have scored in that close call but even when missing, he seemed not quite there. Holding on to a slim 1-goal lead for about 50 minutes, hoping fervently that the lead would stay, is a recipe for defeat. England will rue this missed chance because every 4 years, it's a brand new ball game, with new teams ready to tear the old guns apart. England was lucky to reach the semifinal, as was Croatia. The only difference: Grit, another name for character. As for Croatia against France, it is unlikely Croatia's luck and grit will hold up against France's talent and speed. Still, may the better team be crowned the King of Soccer this Sunday. What a respite it has been from Trump's tweets and his relentlessly reckless ways.
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I bet it's more like billions around the world!
Amen. I too was "gutted" by England's defeat but it's probably all for the best for the reason Roger Cohen stated. The let-down of England's exit could be a salutary lesson to Brexiteers for the much worse let-down they will feel when and if they get what they wish for. And they are mostly English - the Welsh voted much more narrowly for Brexit, and Scotland and Ireland voted Remain. I just hope the Remain side can avert Brexit with a late move that eluded the England team. Otherwise, it does not bode well for the future of the UK, which could easily break up.
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On the bright side, after the breakup of the U.K., the current tradition of allowing the U.K. to have four different teams (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) instead of just one national team will finally make sense.
15
You do realise that when it comes to football the for countries you list all okay separately. So we are already there.
The thing that stands out to me as we head into world final is that most teams have shown class, civility, courtesy and played sports on a world stage with heart and soul. Even fans of opposing teams have mostly shown support to each others’ teams (*except some Russian fans who mass-heckled Croatia’s Vida).
In this time of global trade wars, political uncertainties, sociological changes, this sport competition has had a surprisingly balming and conciliatory effect, bringing out the best in most people.
15
This is the highest value for sport of all kinds in all places.
Viva sports!!
2
Just for the correct historical record:
The third English goal in the 1966 final wasn't in and the fourth was illegal due to people on the pitch.
Not that the result can be changed but that match created the English sense of superiority that is still haunting them today.
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@ Ronald — I agree Hurst’s second goal, which put England up 3-2 in extra time, probably didn’t actually go all the way over the goal line. But your assertion that England’s fourth and final goal “was illegal due to people on the pitch,” is completely bogus.
Under the laws of the game, the presence of unauthorized people on the pitch does not automatically bring play to a halt. The response to an incursion is at the discretion of the referee, who •may• whistle play dead, but who may decide that the “pitch invaders” are not affecting play, and are likely to be removed quickly by stadium security.
In the 1966 final, referee Dienst decided that the presence of a few people who had dashed onto the pitch, but away from play, did not require whistling a halt to action. That was his call to make, and, having made it, the continuing play, including Hurst’s final goal, was perfectly •legal•.
And in substantive terms, the notion that the handful of fans — perhaps four or five people — who ran onto the pitch just before end of the match affected play, is just utter nonsense. They were on the other side of the field from where Hurst was making his run; even Hans Tilkowski, the W. German keeper, has never suggested that he was distracted by their presence.
But the big picture is, those quibbles over the goals are just weak excuses. Germany’s great star Franz Beckenbauer recognized this, stating: “England beat us in 1966 because Bobby Charlton was just a bit better than me.”
— Brian
3
The most satisfying aspect of Croatia’s victory in Moscow came moments after the win, when Domagoj Vida -- a former player for Dynamo Kiev, proclaimed on the air, “Glory to Ukraine” Reportedly, Vladimir Putin was extremely annoyed.
Vida later apologized for his remark, but he did not retract the sentiment.
2
“Slava Ukrayini!” or "Glory to Ukraine!" has been adopted by far-right forces in Ukraine in recent years.
Croatian fans also chant far-right slogans and wave banners stemming from their fascist government during World War 2 (they have been disciplined a number of times by FIFA for this).
So, I wouldn't call it satisfying. I'd call it pretty scary stuff.
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