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29th Nov 2022

Damien Duff hammers England and Wales at half-time of World Cup clash

Robert Redmond

“What is it, 56 years since they won it?”

Damien Duff hammered Wales and England at half-time of their World Cup clash on Tuesday night. England went on to beat their rivals 3-0 and qualify for the last 16 by topping the group.

Marcus Rashford (2) and Phil Foden scored the goals for Gareth Southgate’s team, who will play Senegal on Sunday.

At half-time, however, Duff and fellow pundit Liam Brady were deeply unimpressed with both teams.

“England have been diabolical,” Brady said on RTÉ before Duff hammered both sides.

“It’s been so bad from both teams. Wales are just there waiting to be beaten, so enough said on them,” the former Republic of Ireland winger said.

“England, I said before the game that it’s a must-win game and another reason why, they’ve won one in eight in the Nations League, which they’ve just come off the back of, they didn’t win any games.

“Is there a reaction to the USA game? No, you wouldn’t really say. Yes, they’ve dominated possession, 80 per cent, yeah that’s because there’s been no pressure on the ball.

“Needless touches all the time, taking two, three, four, five touches and then just passing the ball. The second half should be simple. Two touch or dribble.”

“You look at them, and it looks like they have the weight of the world, the weight of the nation, the media, the fans, absolutely everything (on their shoulders).

“And then you look at rival teams that are looking to win the World Cup, your Spains, the French, they play with a rhythm, a speed, a tempo – a freedom, and you believe in them. Whereas they’re just so structured, robotic.

“And what is it, 56 years since they won it? They’ll be waiting a long time if this is England going forward. And the Welsh, 64 years since they were in it last, they’ll be waiting another 64 years. Such a poor game with some of the best players in the world on view.”

Read next: World Cup 2022 Day 10: All the major action and talking points.

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