Euro 2016

[Raoul Duke]

One thing I've (not) noticed is that there are practically zero shots of fit European birds in the crowds. Did all the pervert cameramen get sensitivity training or is this some sponsor-enforced clampdown? :sherlock:

[Boydy]

I noticed that too.

Could've done with some during some of the shite that's been played.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Can someone who watched it explain to me how Hungary beat Austria? The former are one of the worst teams I've ever seen and the latter were meant to be good.

[Byron]

Because a team will always beat 11 individuals. See: Iceland donning Portugal.

[Magic]

Austria were like a shit Belgium.

Albania are the worse I've seen along with NI.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I did see the end of Portugal and Iceland. Ronaldo is a total clown of a bloke.

[Serj]

Can someone who watched it explain to me how Hungary beat Austria? The former are one of the worst teams I've ever seen and the latter were meant to be good.

Essentially, Austria have deteriorated massively ever since the thumping we gave Sweden. Since then we've relied on sporadic good moments, but didn't seem to have a gameplan beyond give it to Alaba/Arnautovic/Junuzovic and attack quickly, and it was the same here. The first ten-fifteen minutes were good with quick attacks, but after that, Hungary were just better. They tackled better, passed better, and found a way to involve their lone striker in counter-attacks, while the Austrians got nervous and messed up simple five-yard passes and unchallenged first touches. Our entire right wing went missing (as was expected, those two players had shit seasons) and our defence seemed caught up in the way they played for their clubs - Fuchs isn't used to play so high so he messed up his positioning, while Hinteregger (centre-back) was eager to challenge and left big gaps behind him, leading to the first goal.

I heard that the Hungarians had an intense six-week preparation program focusing on fitness and strict adherence to specific tactical setups. It didn't look like that was the case for us. As Byron above said, they played really well (within their means) as a team, Austria didn't.

EDIT: To add to this, we have no plan B. The first one didn't work, because the Hungarians man-marked and challenged Alaba/Arnautovic/Junuzovic successfully, but we have no one to replace them. Couple that with Koller's extreme reluctance to change formation, and any chance of adaptability goes out the window. I think the only game in the last years that we've won after going behind was against Montenegro, and that was due to a red card for them and a penalty for us.

[Kikó]

The Austrians are famous for their right wing strength.

[SincereTheRebel]

The Austrians are famous for their right wing strength.

Arnautovic is a cornball.

[Bernanke]

Austria were like a shit Belgium.

Albania are the worse I've seen along with NI.

The Russians were terrible as well. :baz:

[Mazuuurk]

Essentially, Austria have deteriorated massively ever since the thumping we gave Sweden. Since then we've relied on sporadic good moments, but didn't seem to have a gameplan beyond give it to Alaba/Arnautovic/Junuzovic and attack quickly, and it was the same here. The first ten-fifteen minutes were good with quick attacks, but after that, Hungary were just better. They tackled better, passed better, and found a way to involve their lone striker in counter-attacks, while the Austrians got nervous and messed up simple five-yard passes and unchallenged first touches. Our entire right wing went missing (as was expected, those two players had shit seasons) and our defence seemed caught up in the way they played for their clubs - Fuchs isn't used to play so high so he messed up his positioning, while Hinteregger (centre-back) was eager to challenge and left big gaps behind him, leading to the first goal.

I heard that the Hungarians had an intense six-week preparation program focusing on fitness and strict adherence to specific tactical setups. It didn't look like that was the case for us. As Byron above said, they played really well (within their means) as a team, Austria didn't.

EDIT: To add to this, we have no plan B. The first one didn't work, because the Hungarians man-marked and challenged Alaba/Arnautovic/Junuzovic successfully, but we have no one to replace them. Couple that with Koller's extreme reluctance to change formation, and any chance of adaptability goes out the window. I think the only game in the last years that we've won after going behind was against Montenegro, and that was due to a red card for them and a penalty for us.

Also, Sweden suffer from the same problem both Austria and Belgium and a few others seem to do now - basically they are very bad at playing possession football, but do it anyway. Sweden - despite having no real good midfielders, very often keep the ball much more than they should, and shove their fullbacks forward - ending in them letting in counter attack goals a lot despite in fact being the weaker side (exactly how Austria beat us if I remember correctly).

Only very few teams actually manage to keep the ball a lot and wear down the opposition. Spain, maybe Germany. Portugal kind of had the same problem a bit yesterday as well.

[Shindig]

Alright, lads. Russia watch is on.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I have a feeling that Slovakia will take this quite comfortably.

[igor_balis]

I was thinking the same but I have 2-0 Russia in the predictor so they better fucking not.

[Magic]

I hope Russia go far and cause absolute chaos just so UEFA can't say 'we were going to kick them out but they didn't get through so...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That blonde Russian :drool:

[igor_balis]

is slutski having a heart attack

[Magic]

Easily the worst game.

[Serj]

The Slovaks seem completely unwilling to close the Russian defenders down, who then go on to lump it at a dangerous-looking Dzyuba. I don't think the Slovaks stand a chance here if they don't change their setup. I tipped you to win, you bastards.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The Russian coach :D

[Serj]

Seems pressing is also not that good an idea. :D

That pitch looks terrible, as well. Did it rain a lot before the match?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Weiss :cool:

What a fucking ball in though by Hamsik.

[Serj]

Much better.

[Magic]

:cool:

[leedsrevolution]

I hope they show another shot of the Russian manager after that goal. I think he might actually die.

[Magic]

The ball by Hamsek was wonderful as was the run and cut back. Star players important in shit games like this. Take note Ronaldo.

[Serj]

When did the Russians turn into a bunch of diving twats?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a fucking strike that was.

[Magic]

Holy shit.

[Serj]

:drool: Potential goal of the tournament so far.

[igor_balis]

Hamsik is awesome. We weren't as good against Russia as I thought, it is just that they're fucking awful.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/7200310/Hes-a-sore-loser-he-fannies-about-and-dives-around-Iceland-hero-Kari-Arnason-hits-back-at-Cristiano-Ronaldo.html?CMP=spklr-_-Editorial-_-TWITTER-_-scotsunsport-_-20160615-_-SunScotNews-_-494404667-_-Imageandlink

He said: "Ronaldo says we parked the bus?

"He's just a sore loser. He didn't want to lose the game.

"What does he expect? For us to play like Barcelona against him?

"He fannies about and dives around."

:cool:

[Shindig]

Loving this. Wales putting the Russians out would be grand. Providing they don't smash the joint up out of spite.

[SvN]

I'd actually say best case scenario is Russia go out, the fans kick off, and they get the World Cup taken away.

[Bob Sacamano]

:face:

https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/743050912822763520

[Pepe]

:face:

https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/743050912822763520

I lolled.

[-james-]

This is quite good in response to Ronaldo being a bellend:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck_x2KLWkAA11YX.jpg

[Adramelch]

This is quite good in response to Ronaldo being a bellend:


That's a pretty shit metric.

[-james-]

I'm not sure there's any intent for it to be standardised.

[Magic]

Three dreadful games today I think.

[Bernanke]

Hopefully the French scores early against the Albanians and then play out their A-game. Whatever that is.

[Magic]

2-2? :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Flare going off in the Russian end.

Send the bastards home :drool:

[John]

Looks like the Russians may have stumbled onto a tactic in that England game. Be as shit as possible for eighty minutes then suddenly be quite good, and nobody will know what to do.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Had Shatov taken a sniff Jogi Low would have been proud.

[Magic]

Long ball long ball long ball. Get it fucking in. Big Sam tactics nevermind intricate play.

[Magic]

45 year old Berrezutski bombing down the wing. PEDs at half time?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The Russian mob should burn the stadium down.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh and Skrtel is fucking retarded.

[Magic]

Hour gaps between games are too long. Bored as fuck. :(

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Apparently Shaqiri is thinking of switching to Kosovo because he wasn't made captain for the Euros, lol.

[John]

Apparently Shaqiri is thinking of switching to Kosovo because he wasn't made captain for the Euros, lol.

All he said was that if Kosovo asked him to go be their captain he'd consider it. All the other stuff about him being miffed at Lichsteiner being ahead of him has been extrapolated from that.

What is tremendously lol is Jack Wilshere's explanation for Harry Kane taking corners.


“He practises a lot on his free-kicks. He’s got a special free-kick. He’s got that technique where it goes all over the place. Not many players can do that."

What he actually means is obvious, though I'm not sure what use a mad driven corner nobody can predict is, but it could equally be read as Wilshere having a dig.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What an utter shit finish that was.

[Bob Sacamano]

Seferovic is appalling, I remember him being particularly poor at the last World Cup, he seems to miss EVERYTHING

[John]

Seferovic's whole career is built on that screamer he scored against Lyon a few years ago.

I've backed Romania here but the start hasn't filled me with confidence.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If the Swiss had a competent finisher up top they'd be a damn good side.

[Magic]

I really hate the Swiss. Boring cunts.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a mong Lichsteiner is.

[Magic]

:harold:

[igor_balis]

hilarious defending, fucking hell

[Pleb]

Not sure that was a penalty to be honest.

Looked a bit soft.

[igor_balis]

my mate said the same thing. i think that is a stonewall penalty, it is only seen as soft because of cowardly refereeing conditioning you to think it isn't.

[leedsrevolution]

Yeah no doubt that was a penalty.

[Pleb]

That Swiss defense is a bit lol.

[The Merse]

All he said was that if Kosovo asked him to go be their captain he'd consider it. All the other stuff about him being miffed at Lichsteiner being ahead of him has been extrapolated from that.

What is tremendously lol is Jack Wilshere's explanation for Harry Kane taking corners.



What he actually means is obvious, though I'm not sure what use a mad driven corner nobody can predict is, but it could equally be read as Wilshere having a dig.

Having listened to Jack the lad plenty a time in Arsenal TV (TM) EXCLUSIVES, that doesn't surprise me in the slightest. He'd fail an Oral English exam.

[Waffdon]

Potential for it all kicking off again going by Colleymore's twitter. Nice.

[Boydy]

I was top of my prediction league this morning.

Hopefully this stays 1-0 now for some more points. And then 3-0 to France later as well would be lovely. Wasn't even close with Russia and Slovakia though.

[John]

Other than that mad game at the World Cup where he scored a hat trick, has Patton Oswalt ever actually done anything important for Switzerland? He seems to do plenty of running around with those little legs, but any time he gets on the ball it seems to be a failed nutmeg or an overambitious run that sees him dispossessed by the eighth player he tries to skin.

[Magic]

There's a live RT feed from Lille. Can feel the tension through it.

[Vim]

His decision making and general football IQ is abysmal. No point having his incredible speed and power for such a small man if he does the wrong thing with it.

[Boydy]

Why are ITV and BBC's online streams such shit quality?

[Magic]

https://ruptly.tv/live-event/45269

[Magic]

Do penalties not count as attempts?

[Lee]

I like these Romanians.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is anyone else struggling to understand Norman Whiteside?

[Spoonsky]

I like these Romanians.

Me too. The Swiss on the other hand are shite.

None of the supposed dark horses have exactly covered themselves in glory thus far, have they? Switzerland, Belgium, Austria all struggling.

[Shindig]

Romania look good for this. Seferovic can get into all the positions he wants but he's not putting anything away. I also don't see this finishing 11-a-side.

[Magic]

Me too. The Swiss on the other hand are shite.

None of the supposed dark horses have exactly covered themselves in glory thus far, have they? Switzerland, Belgium, Austria all struggling.

Belgium are hardly a dark horse.

[Lee]

http://i65.tinypic.com/2lna5aq.jpg

Bollocks is it "unconscious" you dirty cunt. It looks like a hobby.

[Magic]

:D

What a poor bastard. People will be watching him more than the game.

[Magic]

Also was there a question there or has he just come out with that on Twitter or something?

[Lee]

Question apparently. Must be at the press conference. Podolski has defended him sayimg we all scratch our bollocks from time to time. Yeah, but I don't pick stuff out of my arse crack and have a sniff in public, mate.

[Magic]

Has anyone else seen Collymore on periscope running around with a camera pointing out Russian fans that were throwing bottles to police and them getting arrested? I'm losing my shit over it.

[Shindig]

Frankly, if one of them takes out Stan, give Russia the trophy.

[Waffdon]

Swiss :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Foot like a traction engine :drool:

[Magic]

Question apparently. Must be at the press confereence. Podolski has defended him sayimg we all scratch our bollocks from time to time. Yeah, but I don't pick stuff out of my arse crack and have a sniff in public, mate.

He really should do the conference in a KEEP CALM ITS ONLY SMELLZ efukt T-shirt.

[Lewis]

He should have lolled it off. Quoting Andreas Lubitz just makes him sound weird.

[Magic]

These two matches are putting me off the Euros tbh. Bloody dreadful.

[Spikey M]

http://i65.tinypic.com/2lna5aq.jpg

Bollocks is it "unconscious" you dirty cunt. It looks like a hobby.

:D It's the high/low point of my whole year. Someone needs to show him the rest of the videos. The filthy vagrant.

[Spikey M]

Question apparently. Must be at the press confereence. Podolski has defended him sayimg we all scratch our bollocks from time to time. Yeah, but I don't pick stuff out of my arse crack and have a sniff in public, mate.

And the fucking rest. He had a fucking chew on the leading nail.

[Bob Sacamano]

Mehmedi is a Casey Affleck double

[mugbull]

After 14 games, no team has scored 3 goals or more. After 14 games,

7 games at WC 2014 had a team score 3 or more
4 games at Euro 2012 had a team score 3 or more
1 game at WC 2010 had ...
4 games at Euro 2008 had ...
4 games at WC 2006 had ...

So teams in this tournament are playing even shitter than they did in 2010. Nice.

[Shindig]

Or they're playing similar enough to each other to prevent the gaps. :dc:

[Spoonsky]

You can't just equate number of goals to quality of play. 2014 had some shocking goalkeeping and defending, for instance.

Not that I'd dispute that the quality has not been great, but it's only the first week.

[Waffdon]

'14 was pretty great, fool.

[Trancemeister]

Pogba & Griezmann on the bench

[John]

Stan Collymore fucking loves it.

In his latest Periscope he was about to say the Russians had lobbed a grenade into the England fans before he thought better of it.

[Lewis]

lol at Paul Pogba. The Face of the Tournament.

[Waffdon]

Giroud over Griezmann is nearly as bad as Josh Magennis being at this tournament and Fellaini starting.

[Manc]

This Bartoli/Saha combination is woeful.

[Magic]

This Bartoli/Saha combination is woeful.

It was the unsexiest thing ever.

[John]

Bartoli looks about fifteen years older than she is.

[Magic]

Karembu looks more like a retired Olympic wrestler.

[John]

That young black mascot's smile there looked like it was supposed to alert the cameraman that he'd been kidnapped.

[Magic]

That was Kante, mate.

[Lee]

A minute of FUCKING APPLAUSE for victims of terrorism? Jesus fucking Christ.

[John]

I was going to ask what that minute was about, assuming they couldn't possibly be applauding that.

Silence unless it's an elderly person who'd achieved plenty and died of natural causes.

[Manc]

I suspect this Coman fella is a chancer.

[Waffdon]

I suspect this Coman fella is a chancer.

He's won about 15 trophies already, m8

[Magic]

A minute of FUCKING APPLAUSE for victms of terrorism? Jesus fucking Christ.

Literally exactly what I said. Classless.

[Manc]

PSG, Juventus and Bayern. :harold:

[Serj]

I'm not sure what Matuidi is supposed to offer. I know he plays at PSG, but he seems to be doing everything Kanté is doing, just with less energy. For an opponent like Albania I think they should have someone more creative in that spot.

[Waffdon]

PSG, Juventus and Bayern. :harold:

There's a reason he's played for these teams, m8

[Bernanke]

Martial is awful so far.

[-james-]

France definitely not justified their status as favourites, been the worst "big" side so far (not including Belolgium in that).

[Magic]

These smoked paprika rice cakes I've got taste like accidentally inhaled bong water.

[Magic]

Three dreadful games today I think.

:clap:

[Magic]

Fantastic skill from Coman, far more important than his pathetic cross in to no man's land in the box.

[Serj]

I've been right on the money with my guesses today so far, but I don't think the 3-0 I had for this one will happen. France are an uninspired mess.

[Spikey M]

Martial is such a fraud.

[Vim]

Just stick Pogba and Griezmann on, please.

[Jimmy Floyd]

France definitely not justified their status as favourites, been the worst "big" side so far (not including Belolgium in that).

People having them as favourites are literally moronic and haven't learned from decades of the best lists of names on paper not winning tournaments. Not that these French players are all that, most of the top ones are mercurial individuals propped up at club level by much more dependable team mates. Kanté and Payet are quality, the rest, meh.

Albania are having a bit of a party here. Legends.

[mugbull]

When was the last time there was a genuinely good international team for the whole of a tournament? Germany had their moments in 2014 but they were also pretty average in a lot of games (Algeria, France, the final). Spain, sure, but it's not like anyone was excited about them, and most of their games were always within reach anyway. It's so rare these days to be a good international squad for some reason.

[Jimmy Floyd]

When was the last time there was a genuinely good international team for the whole of a tournament? Germany had their moments in 2014 but they were also pretty average in a lot of games (Algeria, France, the final). Spain, sure, but it's not like anyone was excited about them, and most of their games were always within reach anyway. It's so rare these days to be a good international squad for some reason.

Twas ever thus. Brazil 1970 obviously, France 1984 maybe.

[Vim]

Fucking hell, we're winning this.

[Magic]

Deschamps' tactical genius on full display here. :harold:

[Vim]

I've got to find whatever drugs Deschamps has taken.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fucking hell, we're winning this.

You are, and what's more I'm on the bandwagon.

[Serj]

Yeah, this is the first time I'd be fully okay with Italy winning it.

[Pleb]

I wouldn't mind an England-Italy final now that we're mentioning it.

[Bartholomert]

When was the last time there was a genuinely good international team for the whole of a tournament? Germany had their moments in 2014 but they were also pretty average in a lot of games (Algeria, France, the final). Spain, sure, but it's not like anyone was excited about them, and most of their games were always within reach anyway. It's so rare these days to be a good international squad for some reason.

I've said this before and I think it's still true, international soccer / soccer in general is objectively just not as good as it used to be.*

Only team that has looked impressive is Germany, with Italy a distant alright second (but still a far cry from the Italy of old).

*Alternative theory is that the relative difference between the 'big' nations and the 'small' nations is smaller due to societies in general being wealthier and there being diminishing returns to quality of play at the upper ends.

[Raoul Duke]

Matuidi is pointless. Pogba is five times the player.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't really want England to get to the final. We play piss and wind football. The best thing about it would be that Roy Hodgson had got us there.

[Lewis]

Stop abusing the :harold:, Magic, you loser.

[Pleb]

:harold:

[Magic]

Stop abusing the :harold:, Magic, you loser.

I've only used it once on this page you freak.

[Vim]

I wouldn't mind Italy shitting a shameful, violent draw against Sweden, I prefer when people are salty rather than together with us on the bandwagon.

[Raoul Duke]

Bilic has nearly every hair colour on his head.

[Spoonsky]

I've said this before and I think it's still true, international soccer / soccer in general is objectively just not as good as it used to be.*

Only team that has looked impressive is Germany, with Italy a distant alright second (but still a far cry from the Italy of old).

*Alternative theory is that the relative difference between the 'big' nations and the 'small' nations is smaller due to societies in general being wealthier and there being diminishing returns to quality of play at the upper ends.

You have to take the opposition into account, Italy played far better than Germany.

You almost fancy Albania to nick one here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Billic is brilliant.

[-james-]

Bilic is absolutely DYING to nut Wrighty here.

[Spikey M]

Bilic would let Payet fuck him. Make no mistake about that.

[Shindig]

I'm a big believer in a sport getting better over time. I think more teams have now figured out how to organise. Albania were edgy as owt during the opener but they're looking more comfortable. Obviously, the French have some serious nerves going on but they've got a game plan and they're glued to it.

All of this is Spain's fault, really.

[Spikey M]

Martial off. Praise the lord.

[Pleb]

Shit just got real.

Pogba on. Martial off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Not sure why Griezmann is still on the bench and Matuidi is still on the pitch.

[Spikey M]

The standard of modern football is much better than of old. Both in big and small scale. Players are faster, stronger and more capable on the ball in every position.

Pele would be bang average if he played now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not sure why Griezmann is still on the bench and Matuidi is still on the pitch.

Because then they'd be ludicrously unbalanced?

[Spikey M]

If that header had gone in it would have been the greatest goal of all time. :D

[Serj]

That was some seriously comical defending.

[Lewis]

The standard of modern football is much better than of old. Both in big and small scale. Players are faster, stronger and more capable on the ball in every position.

Pele would be bang average if he played now.

Similarly, put Lionel Messi in a sixties game and he cries off injured after five minutes.

[Reg]

When was the last time there was a genuinely good international team for the whole of a tournament? Germany had their moments in 2014 but they were also pretty average in a lot of games (Algeria, France, the final). Spain, sure, but it's not like anyone was excited about them, and most of their games were always within reach anyway. It's so rare these days to be a good international squad for some reason.
People were definitely excited by Spain. It was only 2012 that people began to get bored.

[Spikey M]

Romania are the embodiment of that 'passion over ability' idea Mert was talking about (regarding Turkey). They could do them here.

[Spikey M]

Similarly, put Lionel Messi in a sixties game and he cries off injured after five minutes.

Yeah, that too.

[Ian]

People were definitely excited by Spain. It was only 2012 that people began to get bored.

They were excruciating in 2010.

The best thing they were involved in all tournament was Switzerland donning the shit out of them with that filthy performance.

[Lewis]

This is like watching United. The midfield has no creativity (does every French team still play an appalling 4-5-1 with three African lumps in midfield?), the forward is crap, and they're looking at two players to do everything. I think everyone was blinded by Griezmann and Pogba mate.

[Magic]

How do people remember this stuff?

[mugbull]

You have no idea how much I want Albania to win.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If Pogba wasn't a selfish bastard that could have been a goal.

[Magic]

Why do they keep saying terrific cross/ball/header etc when they never hit the intended target?

[Magic]

Lol the refereeing has been weird some blatant fouls been let off.

[CJay]

You're not referring to that Albania dive just now, are you? :cab:

[Jimmy Floyd]

One thing that always annoys me about the coverage of major tournaments is that the commentators and pundits are always well up for the hosts tearing up, often to the point of actual bias, because they are there and caught up in it, and have forgotten that the viewers at home are largely lolling them on to failure.

[Lewis]

How did Gignac end up in Mexico?

[Bob Sacamano]

Isn't Gignac just a shit/less good looking Giroud?

[Raoul Duke]

The refereeing in this tournament has been ace. There's basically been zero "controversial" shitty decisions and the games have flowed much better.

[Magic]

https://ruptly.tv/live-event/45269

Holy shit lads. RT following England round chants of we're coming for you. It's going to kick off.

[Bartholomert]

Albania = Lower-middle class Italians from central and south central Italy

[Pleb]

Woof.

[Ian]

Fuck off you shit twats.

[Spikey M]

Cunts.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're going to spend the whole tournament getting pikey late winners, aren't they.

[Serj]

People still can't seem to keep their balance on these pitches.

EDIT: My stream was behind. :moop:

[Lee]

Wankers.

[mugbull]

Jesus christ

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://ruptly.tv/live-event/45269

Holy shit lads. RT following England round chants of we're coming for you. It's going to kick off.

lol at the chap who tried to storm in/goad loads out of a bar.

[Lewis]

Payet has had a proper good player who plays for a shit team game tonight. Pass it, mate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

These two games have confirmed what I thought during the English season by the way, that N'Golo Kanté is by far the best midfielder in the world with a very big gap to the next one.

[-james-]

Saving me a lot of money there (I am an idiot) but that is fucking gutting.

[Pleb]

If Albania equalise now :drool:

[Magic]

Anyone watching RT? Some English tried to haul some Russians out of a bar but police stopped them. It's on.

[Waffdon]

Griezmann is life.

Giroud would have somehow hit that over

[Bartholomert]

That feel when you knew a goal was coming because the entire neighborhood erupted 30 seconds before your shit stream.

At least I won money.

[Lewis]

These two games have confirmed what I thought during the English season by the way, that N'Golo Kanté is by far the best midfielder in the world with a very big gap to the next one.

Calm down. That twenty million release clause is looking pretty lol though. Everyone should have already activated it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Anyone watching RT? Some English tried to haul some Russians out of a bar but police stopped them. It's on.

It was great the security in the bar trying to close the shutters whilst he was keeping them up only for a policeman to barge the fucker.

[niko_cee]

France wasting all their last minute winners early doors. I'd say they'll get mugged by the first decent team they come up against, but is there one? I suppose Italy could Italy them, but that result the other night was probably an outlier owing to just how shit Belgium were.

[Raoul Duke]

Calm down. That twenty million release clause is looking pretty lol though. Everyone should have already activated it.

If that is true, it's bonkers that no-one's made a move yet. £20m for a young France international is buttons.

[Pleb]

Well that escalated quickly.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I had money on Payet to score first :(

What a don he is though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Calm down. That twenty million release clause is looking pretty lol though. Everyone should have already activated it.

I suppose he doesn't score many, but now the Barcelona crew have slowed down and the Germans are all plodders, I can't see many challengers.

[Vim]

Spain, Germany, Italy, Croatia even would beat this France side.

[Lee]

He'll be going. There is no player in the world as good as he is at what he does. If any of the major English clubs sign him this summer then they win the league. He's that good; by far our most important player.

[Vim]

I had 2-0 in my tip group so whatever.

[Reg]

He's always going to come inside, he's been doing it all game, you plum of a defender.


They're going to spend the whole tournament getting pikey late winners, aren't they.
Would you not be praising their mental strength if it were Italians/Germans?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Would you not be praising their mental strength if it were Italians/Germans?

Yes, but it's the French, so it can't possibly be that.

[phonics]

Bilic is a legend.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bilic is a legend.

He's the best pundit ever, probably.

[Byron]

Bilic is a legend.

Anything in particular or just being a don?

[Lee]

People were definitely excited by Spain. It was only 2012 that people began to get bored.

Nah. 2008 was the peak. They bored the world shitless in 2010. Great team but probably the dullest World Cup win ever. At least in 2012 they had a go at scoring some goals in the final. 2010 was ideological football and it fucking stank.

[Max Power]

The Beeb need to nab King Claudio as a pundit. Kante + Payet winning the Euros whilst their managers talk about it on TV.

[phonics]

Anything in particular or just being a don?

In the montage of the Payet goal celebrations they showed him climbing onto the table and praising the sun.

743189706591051776

[Magic]

Holy fuck it all just started to kick off properly then the feed cut out.

[Magic]

That was miles more exciting than the football tbh.

[Magic]

https://www.periscope.tv/w/1PlJQjwboDzxE

It's kicked off BIG TIME.

[Magic]

Tear gas going in :drool:

[ItalAussie]

Nah. 2008 was the peak. They bored the world shitless in 2010. Great team but probably the dullest World Cup win ever. At least in 2012 they had a go at scoring some goals in the final. 2010 was ideological football and it fucking stank.

Yup. They were fantastic to watch in 2008 though, and no amount of revisionism is ever going to take that away.

[7om]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36543498

[SincereTheRebel]

Just nasty

[Andy]

Spain games during the 08-12 domination where boring because no one wanted to play against them. Managers thought the only way to beat them was the Mourinho/Inter template. That created 90 minutes with 11 men behind the ball and Spain camped inside the opponents half.

If one side is determined to play with 11 behind the ball the game is going to be shit, you might find some enjoyment in the result in the end or with a moment of magic but the game will be shit.

[ItalAussie]

That said, the big difference between 2008 Spain and 2010 Spain is that the 2008 event was the beginning of Torres losing his mojo.

Spain with a firing Torres and Villa up front was worth fearing, because they were capable of going through defences when the passes weren't getting around them.

[Spoonsky]

That said, the big difference between 2008 Spain and 2010 Spain is that the 2008 event was the beginning of Torres losing his mojo.

Spain with a firing Torres and Villa up front was worth fearing, because they were capable of going through defences when the passes weren't getting around them.

What are you talking about? Torres was top-notch in 08-09. It was 2010 where he began to lose it all.

(Maybe you just made a typo.)

[Raoul Duke]

Torres scored the winner in the final in 2008

[ItalAussie]

What are you talking about? Torres was top-notch in 08-09. It was 2010 where he began to lose it all.

(Maybe you just made a typo.)You're right, I misplaced a few years there. In 2008 he was at his best. It was just before the 2010 World Cup where things started to go south, and it showed in the tournament.

[Adramelch]

Spain games during the 08-12 domination where boring because no one wanted to play against them. Managers thought the only way to beat them was the Mourinho/Inter template. That created 90 minutes with 11 men behind the ball and Spain camped inside the opponents half.

If one side is determined to play with 11 behind the ball the game is going to be shit, you might find some enjoyment in the result in the end or with a moment of magic but the game will be shit.

They were really boring even against big teams that didn't necessarily look to park the bus.

[Spammer]

New Mars advert is brilliant :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Anyone else going to just flat out miss the England game at work?

[Spikey M]

Yep.

[Boydy]

Nope. Booked a half day.

[Baz]

I'll be in a carehome from 2 til 5, or thereabouts. Hopefully they've got it on but I won't get to watch it properly.

[Disco]

Might be able to keep tabs on my phone but at work all day. If I take a late lunch I may just catch the start at home.

[Shindig]

Off for the rest of the week. And I think we'll have the Slovakia game on in the office.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'll probably have to follow it via this thread, as there are no decent live text things for football.

The only problem with that is Magic or Mahow will post 'Kane :drool:' and you don't know if he's scored, had a glaring miss, dropped his pants in the centre circle, or all of the above.

[Magic]

On course to be finished by 2pm, though it looks like I'll have to sit in the car, tether my phone and stream it via iPlayer.

[SvN]

We've been told we can have the afternoon off. The office lot are all going to the pub to watch it.

[Lewis]

I'll probably have to follow it via this thread, as there are no decent live text things for football.

The only problem with that is Magic or Mahow will post 'Kane :drool:' and you don't know if he's scored, had a glaring miss, dropped his pants in the centre circle, or all of the above.

I've got the day off, so I'll post proper updates if you want.

[Kikó]

I'm going to try find a bar in Lisbon. Might smash it up afterwards.

[Magic]

I wish for the day where even a single Kiko post doesn't have some pretentious geographical location reference.

[Danny]

I'll probably have to follow it via this thread, as there are no decent live text things for football.

The only problem with that is Magic or Mahow will post 'Kane :drool:' and you don't know if he's scored, had a glaring miss, dropped his pants in the centre circle, or all of the above.

Goal.com isn't perfect but their live text commentary is usually good enough

[Kikó]

I wish for the day where even a single Kiko post doesn't have some pretentious geographical location reference.

I'm actually in Hatfield with Hazza.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Goal.com isn't perfect but their live text commentary is usually good enough

Yeah but I'm spoiled by cricinfo. Stuff like 'D.Alli drills a cross in from the right channel, but J.Foreigner is there to meet it' doesn't cut the mustard.

[Yevrah]

Any news on the team yet?

[Byron]

Our office is basically going to empty and crash into a local pub :drool:

[igor_balis]

I don't even have a job! Take that suckers!

[-james-]

Watching this in Glasgow again. The cheer for the Russia goal the other day was about five times louder than for Dier's goal, fucking worms. Hopefully this being on a Thursday afternoon rather than a Saturday night evens things out a bit.

[Magic]

Come on BT you absolute fucking cunts, I'm finished here.

[niko_cee]

Any news on the team yet?

It's going to be the same again, isn't it?

So Pirlo, Blondie and whoever else are just going to keep the ball off us for 90 minutes whilst Wazza 'pulls the strings'.

[Spikey M]

I'll probably have to follow it via this thread, as there are no decent live text things for football.

The only problem with that is Magic or Mahow will post 'Kane :drool:' and you don't know if he's scored, had a glaring miss, dropped his pants in the centre circle, or all of the above.

I want to watch it when I get home, but the chances are I'll be following it via the the gob of some loud bint that doesn't actually like football but 'likes to get involved'.

[SincereTheRebel]

Dave edwards is going to run circles around the english midfield.

[igor_balis]

I don't even have a job! Take that suckers!

Got phoned by a recruitment agency literally 5 minutes after I made that post. Looks like i'll be temping in some customer service job for two weeks starting on Monday. Pride comes before a fall, but somehow after I finish that the quarters will have only just started. I forgot how long these fucking competitions go on for.

[SincereTheRebel]

Thats timing :D

Hopefully someone gets fired to within the next 30 minutes to complete the full cycle.

[Magic]

Lol @ Sterling's inclusion in the first team. :harold:

[phonics]

Four pundits and John Hartson is the most interesting one of them...

[Pleb]

Rashford and/or Vardy needs to make a cameo here lads.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Don't worry Jimmy, wont be many 'Kane :drool: updates from me.

GP at 2:40 and then I have to take my cousin to the airport.

I'll only get to watch about 20 minutes.

[Magic]

It's not happening lads. I've got a 15 minute drive to the place I've earmarked for lunch and I bet I don't even get fucking 4G there.

Shit!

[SvN]

I'm off to Tesco to buy some beers ready for the match. Bad luck Magic.

[Magic]

I hope you enjoy seeing Bale run riot fam.

[SvN]

As long as it's not a shitfest I'm not too bothered. I'd rather we lost 4-3 than drew 0-0.

[Magic]

#inb4it'saresultsbusinesscliche