CFCSnowy

Thomas Tuchel officially delivers England’s best World Cup finish since 1966. Gutted we didn’t go further and Tuchel did 100% get it wrong against Argentina but there is a platform to build from. Nations League next which imo Tuchel has to win. And then onto Euro 2028… for now, disappointed and upset but ended on a high. 🥉🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@howard65080445 @henrywinter So why are you praising finishing 3rd if it's a meaningless game?

@CFCSnowy @henrywinter Wow ,you have to be realistic, don’t care who is manger we would not beat Spain , or France in a meaningful game.

ENGLISH LESSONS FROM THE 2026 WORLD CUP... RISK/REWARD. Be bold. England left the tournament with bronze medals and a skipful of regrets. The tournament was ultimately a disappointment. They wanted to reach the final, they have plenty of talent, a front six now traded for more than £600m and heaven knows what Jude Bellingham is now worth? £200m? Thomas Tuchel’s defensive response against Argentina – no outlet, no pace - cost England the golden shot of the final. Wasted opportunity to end the years of hurt. England’s defence is not strong enough to hold out – especially against elite opponents - so go on the front foot more. No pressure existed in the bronze match but imagine if Tuchel had been so attacking against Argentina, continually, including with his subs. The frustration of the underused Bukayo Saka was understandable. Boldness includes squad selection. England’s most creative right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and one of their most creative midfielders in Adam Wharton ignored. So wrong by Tuchel, indicative of negativity. Tuchel lamented England’s “passive” mindset – well, he contributed to it. STARS OF THE SHOW. 1. Jude Bellingham. Wants to be James Bond one day. Scored 007 goals. For now, a real all-action hero for his country. Became the England international to score most at a finals. Constant force for England: goal against Croatia; broke deadlock against Panama; diving header then 1-2 with Kane in the Azteca; led comeback against Norway with equaliser and winner; calmed nerves with brilliant run and finish against France. Leader, creator, goalscorer. England’s next captain. Class act - consoled Mexicans after full-time. KEEP TUCHEL BUT HOLD THE PRIDE. Players like Thomas Tuchel, whatever the understandable frustrations some feel over his defensive response against Argentina. Expensive for FA to pay off, especially after naïve decision to extend contract. No obvious successor. Dan Ashworth working on trying to find/develop potential home-grown successors. For now, they have Tuchel. He’s an A-list coach who had a deeply costly aberration against Argentina, the negative subs and the failure to use Saka. He’ll surely learn from that. He’s engaging, open in press conferences, but he really needs to dial down his huge pride and acknowledge shortcomings. STARS OF THE SHOW. 2. Elliot Anderson. Tireless in midfield. £116m is a huge fee but he’ll continue to mature and add to his game. Manchester City fans will be excited. ELITE DEBT TO EFL. Look at where the stars were shaped. Morgan Rogers in West Brom’s academy, also on the field at Middlesborough, Lincoln and Blackpool. Anderson at Bristol Rovers. Harry Kane at Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester. On it goes, Bellingham started out at Birmingham City before going abroad. Jordan Pickford learned at Burton, Carlisle, Bradford and Preston. Ezri Konsa started at Charlton. The Premier League (and La Liga and Bundesliga) needs the EFL. Support them. STARS OF THE SHOW. 3. Djed Spence. The pick of England defenders, just ahead of Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa. Spence’s selection was criticised (including by me) but the full-back vindicated Tuchel’s faith, playing both left and right, getting forward exuberantly and even winning a penalty against France. INJURY-PRONE. Don’t take those with suspect injury records. Sadly, nobody was surprised when Reece James’ hamstring went and he missed three games. Ditto Tino Livramento, terrific full-back but needs a clear run of games going into a tournament (he was replaced). STARS OF THE SHOW. 4. Anthony Gordon. Two assists against DR Congo, won the pen against Mexico, assist against Norway, scored against Argentina. Removing Gordon proved one of Tuchel’s more calamitous decisions in that fateful second half in Atlanta. Performances will have excited Barcelona fans. DRAFT IN ASHLEY COLE. There is nobody on Tuchel’s staff who truly understands the emotion wrapped up in the Three Lions. Tuchel’s trusted No 2, Anthony Barry, delivered a heartfelt message about the players playing with “broken hearts” against France. Cole, an England centurion, is a highly respected coach who’s worked successfully with Lee Carsley and might bring an important dimension and perspective to England. Tuchel effectively brought Jordan Henderson in in the role. Why not Cole? STARS OF THE SHOW. 5. Harry Kane. Harry Houdini. Scorer of six goals, setter of standards on and off the field. Dropped too deep against Argentina but was simply trying to help out. FANFARE. As usual, England fans turned up in their 10s of thousands. Many were locals, ex-pats, but the many of the traditional faithful reported for duty, those who support England in qualifying, home and away, friendlies too, the Top Cappers and Block 109ers. They are there despite the costs, logistical demands, and likelihood of a long time away from home, especially with a week extra because of the warm-up games in Florida. Behaviour levels deserve relief-filled applause. Gone are the days when a section of England’s support embarrassed themselves, the team and the country. The trip to the baseball in Atlanta and adoption of Braves' Michael Harris II won them even more friends. So did their camaraderie with Mexicans during that epic trip to the Azteca. Now a credit to England. THE FUTURE. Euros are two years away. Nations League games against Spain are no time for experimentation but the Jordan Pickford succession has to be considered at some point. That means game-time for James Trafford but in a big qualifier? Pickford is 32, had the occasional moment of uncertainty in the tournament, but will still back himself to make Euro 2028 at least. The Harry Kane succession is less pressing as he will doubtless play the Euros at 34, but more worrying as there simply doesn’t appear any obvious successor. Elsewhere Rio Ngumoah and Max Dowman need more minutes in the age-groups before their inevitable immersion (Ngumoah already has a cap). England have talent present and future. They have a shot at the Euros on home soil in two years if Tuchel has truly learned from the World Cup. But England players and fans will be watching the final with an element of envy and feeling of "if only". #ENG #FIFAWorldCup

10th place Chelsea are going to take Rogers and Lacroix from Premier League title winners Arsenal.

@JacobsBen Reasonable price. Get it done Chels 🔵

Chelsea have now held formal talks with Crystal Palace over a move for Maxence Lacroix. #AFC also appreciate Lacroix. Palace value the French centre-back at at least £55m. Jan Paul van Hecke's move to Spurs being used as a yardstick.🇫🇷

I’m Tuchel’s biggest fan, I was 100% on board with him being England manager and still am. But, Tuchel was brought into England for two games. The semi-final and final. He was brought in to take the two steps Southgate couldn’t. To make the difficult decisions and tactical decisions that en elite world class manager has the ability to do. Tuchel failed at the first hurdle in the semi-final. There’s no shame in losing to Argentina, it’s the way we lost. Waving the white flag as soon as we scored (which isn’t only Tuchel’s fault). But his subs were cowardly and something we all criticised Southgate for.

@CFCSnowy @henrywinter Thomas Tuchel’s record as England manager: Played 22 Won 17 Drawn 2 Lost 3 Goals scored 51 Goals conceded 17 Win rate: 77.3% After 22 matches, Gareth Southgate’s England record was: Played 22 Won 12 Drawn 7 Lost 3 Win rate: 54.5

@howard65080445 @henrywinter The target was to win it man and we didn’t.

@CFCSnowy @henrywinter It’s not a failure if it the best finish since 1966 . 👍

@mark_v1 @henrywinter It’s the way we surrendered against Argentina. There’s no shame in losing to Argentina but the way we did was cowardly.

@CFCSnowy @henrywinter We was but so was Argentina

@mark_v1 @henrywinter Considering we were 5 mins away from the final, we were capable of more. 👍🏻👍🏻

@CFCSnowy @henrywinter Who do you think we are? We are behind Spain and Argentina. The tournament went as good as we was capable of.

@howard65080445 @henrywinter Only the English could think 3rd place is a success 😆😆

@CFCSnowy @henrywinter Southgate quarter finals, this time best finish since 1966 . Tournament a failure 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@stokaljona this country has a specialty in awarding and accepting defeat

Jesus

djed spence, though i know we will have to part ways after this match due to your allegiances, i have grown very fond of you

Is this real? 😳😬

@TheTalissan @brfc407 @tommytwolittle @CFCDaily He has hired to not make that tactical mistake, that's the point. But bottom line is it was his first tournament and he's got to learn from. He has to show he's learnt in the Nations League. If that flops then i dont think he should get Euro 2028 tbh

@CFCSnowy @brfc407 @tommytwolittle @CFCDaily I find it insane that in his first outing as England manager at a major tournament, he makes 1 tactical mistake but gets the team to finish 3rd in a tournament that has had some seriously questionable bias towards Argentina. Yet because he didn't win he's shit? Idiots.

Best finish since 1966. Football heritage.

Biggest success in 60 years but still a failure. Especially because of the cowardly way we went out in the semi-final. Things to learn from I’d say for Tuchel and he has to show he’s learnt in the Nations League.

5 minutes plus stoppage time away from the World Cup final. My heart aches 💔

Nations League and Euro 2028 feel like the last opportunities to bring a trophy home. Really hope we can get over the line in those two competitions because I feel the hunt for a World Cup is over. 2030 I don’t think we will have as much of a chance as we did this time.

@tommytwolittle @CFCDaily If Tuchel and the players didn’t shit themselves after scoring against Argentina we’d be in the final 🤷🏼

@CFCSnowy @CFCDaily Yes he won’t be sacked because they signed him knowing damn well they weren’t winning shit so 3rd for England is great

What are you talking about? What has England’s National Team achievements got to do with my personal achievements? You’re just trying to act smart and try and take the upper ground for not having a sustainable argument. I could flip it and say why do you think 3rd place is a success based on your personal achievements but that would be utterly pathetic because we’re talking about England. 😆

@CFCSnowy @brfc407 @CFCDaily How am I being stupid you think 3rd place is a failure so you have to have achievements in real life to back it ?

@tommytwolittle @brfc407 @CFCDaily Well now you’re just being stupid and deflecting. Grow up mate 😅

@CFCSnowy @brfc407 @CFCDaily No I’m saying what achievements do you have in your life to see 3rd place as a failure

We don’t have any achievements because we keep failing?! Tuchel was hired to change that. I’m not sure what you’re trying to argue here? There’s no shame in losing to Argentina in the SF. They’re the reigning world champions. It’s the way we lost. Cowardly. We didn’t win, end off. We now go again in the Nations League.

@CFCSnowy @brfc407 @CFCDaily Yep 3rd place is failure for you name your achievements