Footaball again? The Euro 2024 edition

Southgate did take them to the final of the last Euros. I’m not sure the quality of the players at his disposal has decreased dramatically sine then, has it?

Looking back, Germany was the only Tier 1 nation they beat 3 years ago..

Southgate did take them to the final of the last Euros.

Yeah and they lost after Southgate tried to be clever by bringing on a load of kids for the penalty shootout.

Actually thinking about that final is how they’ve played this time. Score early, retreat, and eventually succumb.

I think I’d play Mainoo with Rice. Spain don’t have any issues chucking kids in if they’re good enough and Kobbie’s shown his class already. Foden false 9 ??? I know it’ll never happen!

Yeah and they lost after Southgate tried to be clever by bringing on a load of kids for the penalty shootout.

In the first major final since 1966. He does deserve some credit…

I think I’d play Mainoo with Rice. Spain don’t have any issues chucking kids in if they’re good enough and Kobbie’s shown his class already. Foden false 9 ??? I know it’ll never happen!

Two obvious options. Foden in no 10 position, drop TAA and move Bellingham back to midfield with Gordon on the left. Or drop Foden and TAA for Gordon and Mainoo. I guess it all depends how much of a prima donna Bellingham has become and whether he’d accept not being the centre of attention. I can see why Southgate wants to build the team around him but he needs to choose between him and Foden and that should be a no-brainer.

Of course he won’t do either. I’d put money on him starting with exactly the same team with Gordon and Palmer sitting on the bench for 90 mins.

In the first major final since 1966. He does deserve some credit…

They beat an awful Germany, Ukraine and Denmark in the knock-out phase.  It’s hardly beating Spain, France and Netherlands

They’ve never beaten anyone of note in normal time in the knockout stages of any tournament. It’s why the hype and expectations are so mis-placed.

Anyway, France Netherlands should be a decent watch.

no one covers the ground so easily and effortlessly as N’golo Kante…. it’s like having an extra player

He’s a very good, completely player.

I’m not sure if anyone here is old enough to remember England pre Southgate… it wasn’t exactly a long path of glory. Who to replace the second most successful England manager ever ?

They beat an awful Germany, Ukraine and Denmark in the knock-out phase.  It’s hardly beating Spain, France and Netherlands

SF, final and QF of his three major tournaments, but sure, it’s all because of the opposition.

There is no pleasing some people.

They’ve not beaten a tier 1 team in 90 mins in a tournament for a very long time

They’ve not beaten a tier 1 team in 90 mins in a tournament for a very long time

How many tier one teams have they ever beaten in the knockout stages of a major tournament?

-7

Aside from 1966, I can only think of Germany in 2020 and Spain in 1996.

Argentina 2002.

That is a ridiculous decision. No prizes for guessing the nationality of the VAR official. Took ages as well.

Argentina 2002

That was the group stage.

I also meant in normal time or without relying on pens. Beat Spain on pens in 1996.

Anyway, France have scored once so far in the tournament, an own goal, wonder if their fans are raging like the English?

Argentina 2002.

My wedding day….

Bit of a bore this one, not helped by a preposterous goal decision.

I also meant in normal time or without relying on pens

I think that leaves Portugal and Argentina in 1966, and Germany in 2021.

I thought it was quite an entertaining game – the Netherlands should have had the VAR decision.

Fancy Austria to beat the Dutch, that Rangnick bloke has assembled a decent squad, grafting and pressing like mad.

I reckon this current England team would batter France or the Netherlands. Tier 1 my arse

I am going to defend VAR for the Dutch non-goal – and believe me as someone who has seen many a game ruined by Anthony Taylor that takes a lot of typing.  The lino flagged offside and the ref is obliged to follow that signal in the circumstances.  And the man was undeniably in an offside position from the lino’s point of view.  So the debate moves to interfering with play.  The ball wasn’t especially close to the goalie but it was reachable.  In that case there needs to be overwhelming evidence it was actually a clear and obvious error by the officials on the pitch and the fact we can debate the degree of interference suggests not, so VAR isn’t going to overturn the decision.  It would (almost) be interesting to know what Taylor was going to signal do had the lino not flagged, because had he awarded the goal I suspect VAR would have allowed the goal to stand.

Still think England are gonna win it. Ideally they have another dodgy game on Tuesday and their odds slip a bit from 5/1 and I’ll get my hundred quid on

Ah, the silver lining to every cloud.

It would (almost) be interesting to know what Taylor was going to signal do had the lino not flagged, because had he awarded the goal I suspect VAR would have allowed the goal to stand.

The Dutch are moaning, when VAR has taken an inordinate amount of time looking for ways to overturn a perfectly reasonable onfield decision against them.

Was offside and interfering with play, IMO, the goalie would have had to clatter him (or himself) to get down and attempt a save.

Was offside and interfering with play, IMO, the goalie would have had to clatter him (or himself) to get down and attempt a save.

Nah. I agree with Alan Shearer for a change. If you  look at the goalies feet position it would have been impossible for him to attempt to dive & the ball was past him before he could move.
I was also about to say there seem to have been lots of own goals, but Lee Dixon  has just said it for me.

That’s an interesting point. ‘His feet were wrong and he couldn’t have saved it’ – could anyone have saved it? How far do you go with the Minority Report type processing before deciding whether it’s material?
**

“VAR to Ref: he’s definitely onside when the ball’s played

Ref: OK, so does the defender pull him back?

VAR: yes, there’s a clear pull

Ref: and the left back, is he getting across to cover?

VAR: no, he’s too far away, it’s a clear run on goal

Ref: OK so it’s a clear foul, and a clear DOGSA, so I’m seeing freekick and a red card, do you agree?

VAR: No

Ref: No? Why no?

VAR: It’s Darwin Nunes. He couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo.

Portugal look imperious.

Their squad is immense!

What kinda fool would put a general election in the middle of a football tournament?

Still think England are gonna win it.

It would be the greatest turnaround of all time if they do given how good other teams look already.

So, who to watch? Scotland or Germany?

A draw suits Germany and Switzerland, Scotland and Hungary both have to win. Seems obvious to me which you’d watch.

Watching the Scotland game, more jeopardy.

This looks nasty for the Hungarian player.

His replacement is a unit, bloody hell. Looks more like a rugby player!

That was a clear penalty