Footaball again? The Euro 2024 edition

If it’s a foul in the penalty area, it’s a penalty. Studs up, went for the player not the ball.

Watched it on a campsite in Brittany with many German clients on it, we were the only couple supporting England. Adopted the softly-softly approach to celebrating, mindful of Stuart Pearce’s post-Italia 90 drugs test story.

Just watching Southgate’s interview. We can be very negative even after a win like tonight – as well as the goals we hit the bar, had one off the line, a disallowed offside, couple of decent saves too….. we’ll look at goals scored and margins of victory but we are creating chances.

Lovely to see the players meeting their wives and girlfriends (and mums for some of them by the looks of it, Kobbie Mainoo !)

There’s a decision to make that’s even bigger than any Southgate has to make, do you watch on bbc or itv on Sunday?

I think Walker will look after Nico Williams. I’d play Shaw at left back, if he’s fit enough, against Yamal. Going the other way Saka will cause Cucurella bother, I’d also play a mobile forward like Watkins but pretty sure Kane will start. Just need someone to crock Rodri early on!

Far better performance,  good first half but second half they slipped and were not the better side in long spells.  I felt the penalty wasn’t, but. Great strike from Watkins.

Foden, walker, saka doing really well.  Tripps too given he is out of position.

Final eh!  We didn’t expect that 7 days ago

The only weirdness was wondering where the hell Kane was for a fair chunk of the second half, then spotting him over on the right wing while someone was on the other side wanting to put a ball into the box.

He gave the ball away repeatedly as well whenever it went near him. He’s clearly not fit, whether this is temporary or permanent, I’m not sure. He remains a master at winning penalties though!

See now as a spurs fan if I want to find Harry my first look is normally between our own box and the centre circle.

As a side note, I haven’t noticed a single shoddy trumpet version of the ‘Great Escape’ theme this tournament.  Am I just tuning it out, or did those buggers get their passports confiscated?

do you watch on bbc or itv on Sunday?

Always BBC as long as it’s HD – the grass isn’t greener on the other side

This was the first game I’ve watched in this championship. I enjoyed the first half, but oh dear, the second half was poor. As a Villa season ticket holder I was pleased to see that only the second last minute England winner in a major knockout competition was scored by another Villa player. The last being David Platt in Italia 90.

do you watch on bbc or itv on Sunday?

BBC for the game as Guy Mowbray is ok and I think Shearer is pretty good on the co-comms (infinitely better than Matterface and Dixon anyway) but maybe ITV for Wrighty, Neville and Keane at half time.

Is Ally McCoist mainlining whiskey throughout the match?

One of the things we’ve been noticing about watching Engerland during this tournament is just how absolutely bonkers Jordan Pickford is. I know all keepers are nuts, but he’s played a blinder

Jordan Pickford… ?? pic.twitter.com/yEMjfa7RM0

— Sunday League Footy (@SundayChants) July 11, 2024

I don’t know what everyone’s got against Dixon. I quite like him. Funnier and more insightful than most of the other ex-player commentators. And indeed Sam Matterface, come to that.

And having him and McCoist both on commentary gives Matterface slightly less time to tell us exactly how many other fixtures on German soil between Eng and NL in a major tournament knockout match hosted on a Wednesday have been 1-1 at half time, or whatever other inane bollocks he can’t resist guffing on about

Interesting comparison stats between Spain and England, courtesy of UEFA.

https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/teams/comparison/39/122/

On Sunday, it’ll be three weeks since Scotland were out the Euros, these tournaments go on for a bit, eh?

Spain played; Croatia, Italy, Germany & France pretty much a who’s who of the European heavyweights.

England will play it’s first heavyweight.

Well Netherlands are above three of those teams (and Spain) in the world rankings so they could maybe be considered heavyweights.

Hardly Caher. Croatia are spent and Italy were so poor. Not England’s fault they won their group and had an easier route than say, France.

Given that Scotland humbled Spain 2 nil in the qualifiers a victory for Spain means that Scotland are the best team in Europe and a 1 goal win for England means that Scotland are better than England.

Here we go…

Like in 1967 when Scotland beat England at Wembley and therefore, logically, became world champions!

Ireland were the first team to beat 2003 England rugby world cup winners, so also world champions.

Won’t be watching it (I don’t watch any sports), but I hope whichever team wins they do it before penalties…that is no way to determine the winner as it could save the time before a d just go straight to them. Hopefully a good game and the winning team will be decided by most goals during play.

And we’re off. Spain looking pretty possessive at the moment.

All set up here…. Bottle of Morrelino Di Scansano on the go….

A fine Italian. I have a cheeky Spanish…

For Christ’s sake who let the sheff weds band in? It’s been so nice this tournament not having them droning on.

Nice rugby tackle from Rice.

Rodri being Rodri so far….

I’m drinking Chilean wine… vicarious support

England have shown naff all so far. Meaning they’ll win.

Much more of a match than I expected. Still on a Breton campsite, still the only English in the room – and very, VERY glad it’s still a game… 🙂

Need some possession. Being Man City-ed a bit at the moment.

No Rodri, now we have a chance

That aged instantly!

That aged well

Just seen the goal. Someone check the bog , I think one of the England defenders must still be in there since the break

Gtfi!

Now it’s aged well.

Playing like most sides play against Man City now, sit back then counter, but it’s incredibly hard to get the ball off Spain

I’m not aging well…