The difference between Iceland and Croatia is that Croatia have reached the Semi-Final on three of the last seven world cups (1998 (their first world cup since separating from Yugoslavia), 2018 and 2022), with one final in 2018. You don't get to that many world cup semi-finals + one final in 30 years without being a good team, and Croatia had some excellent players during the 2010s and early 2020s.
England had also gone from consistently reaching quarter finals and being seen as potential winners in the early-mid 2000s to awful showings between 2007 and 2016 that shattered the confidence of both supporters and pundits alike. The fact we finally made a deep run in one of these tournaments for the first time in decades was a pleasant surprise, and when we did lose to Croatia there was at least optimisim with Southgate and the squad going forward.
... As opposed to the Iceland loss where everyone was happy we didn't have to face Portgual and the nation thought they had a free pass to the quarter finals. Then the loss actually happened and everyone was justifiably furious with Roy Hodgson and the national team for making the country a laughingstock. People were hyped about the potential of the players that were coming in and were badly let down. Then Big Sam happened and that killed any pre-tournament expectations.
PaulG235
| Finished in the Top 2 of GotD2010's Second Chance Bracket
Sadly, there are no second chances in the Guru, azuarc doesn't need one.