June: The Euro 2020-ish Group Stages

[Ian]

Glad that Kane has decided to play himself in the Pirlo role.


By the way, is it a big shock that Maguire's playing? I hadn't heard mention of him being back before.

No, Southgate was always going to put him back in the team as soon as we he was fit enough.

Sadly given I feel obliged to keep watching both of their teams he seems to basically just be exactly like Solskjaer and it seems it physically pains both of them to change their first choice team if it can be possibly avoided.

[Don]

Steve Clarke just brought on McKenna instead of Cooper for Hanley (injury). Shocking sub but his first contribution was a wild tackle so he's now on a yellow. :D

This was good. I was wondering wtf Clarke was playing at but Petkovic is a unit tbf.

[Waffdon]

Liam Cooper is the worst player on the pitch every time he plays for Scotland. Absolutely useless.

We’re getting dominated here. Not a chance we get a 2nd. Miss Billy Gilmour so much in the middle, McGregor left on his own and only he can keep the ball. Armstrong and McGinn are runners and being wasted there. Get Dykes off and put a midfielder on.

[Magic]

Liam Cooper is the worst player on the pitch every time he plays for Scotland. Absolutely useless.

We’re getting dominated here. Not a chance we get a 2nd. Miss Billy Gilmour so much in the middle, McGregor left on his own and only he can keep the ball. Armstrong and McGinn are runners and being wasted there. Get Dykes off and put a midfielder on.

Nonce alert.

[randomlegend]

Glad that Kane has decided to play himself in the Pirlo role.



No, Southgate was always going to put him back in the team as soon as we he was fit enough.

Sadly given I feel obliged to keep watching both of their teams he seems to basically just be exactly like Solskjaer and it seems it physically pains both of them to change their first choice team if it can be possibly avoided.

At least Solskjaer's first choice team is actually our best team

[Mellberg]

Yeah, it’s very unlikely. Spain winning by three would do it too or some silly results in group F. We scored a goal and I saw us win a game so even if we go out, I’m happy with how we did. Think we were quite unlucky with the draw, but that was clear well before the first game. Hopefully this won’t be our last appearance in Euros.

Hopefully it goes your way :thbup:

Only observation from this game so far is the fourth official's tracksuit bottoms are too tight for an unblessed man.

[Spikey M]

I don't exactly pay attention to Arsenal at the best of times, and football has somewhat passed me by since Covid in general. So, Saka transforming from a promising left back to a shit hot winger / forward is a bit disconcerting.

He should be starting every game (based solely on this performance).

[Magic]

Croatia going home between games because they can't be arsed with Scotland's covid rules. :D

[SincereTheRebel]

This Scottish GK has made some good saves

[CJay]

Are Ukraine ahead of Finland in the 3rd place standings?

[Mellberg]

Sterling has come out second half determined to slow the play down and fuck about.

[Adramelch]

Are Ukraine ahead of Finland in the 3rd place standings?

Yeah better goal difference (but also more goals scored so it's not like Finland could sit back when they were 1-0 down).

Edit: That was a lovely goal from Modric.

[Magic]

Modric. :happycry:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bye Waff.

[Waffdon]

Nonce alert.

I know about your secrets, mate.

[Adramelch]

Now we need another goal from England (I know) for them and the Czechs to be completely level and it goes to their qualifier records or something.

Edit: It's discipline record, even better.

[Waffdon]

Can’t believe he didn’t make a change at half time. Been a training game all night long so far for their midfield

[Spoonsky]

Liam Cooper is the worst player on the pitch every time he plays for Scotland. Absolutely useless.

We’re getting dominated here. Not a chance we get a 2nd. Miss Billy Gilmour so much in the middle, McGregor left on his own and only he can keep the ball. Armstrong and McGinn are runners and being wasted there. Get Dykes off and put a midfielder on.

What a shitter. Biggest match in a decade and your best midfielder gets covid.

[Spikey M]

Stones and Maguire now bursting forward. Have we adopted Jimmy's lineup for the second half?

[Spoonsky]

A late Scotland equalizer would be hilarious. Murder-suicide.

[Adramelch]

A late Scotland equalizer would be hilarious. Murder-suicide.

Great timing that.

[Magic]

A late Scotland equalizer would be hilarious. Murder-suicide.

:eyemouth:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:wave: Scotland.

[Shindig]

It's been a great tournament for that. :D

[Waffdon]

Cannot believe Dykes is still on the pitch never mind playing international football. Fucking hell. Post the Trainspotting photo

[Waffdon]

:wave: Scotland.

Fuck you

[Lewis]

Scotland must be tired from the final.

[Max Power]

Cannot believe Dykes is still on the pitch never mind playing international football. Fucking hell. Post the Trainspotting photo

Him and O’Donnell wow. Think there is a decent side there somewhere but carrying too many.

[Magic]

Cannot believe Dykes is still on the pitch never mind playing international football. Fucking hell. Post the Trainspotting photo

Clarke. :drool:

[Waffdon]

Scotland must be tired from the final.

You English seem more bothered about it than anyone.

[Mellberg]

They'll always have Wembley.

[Waffdon]

Him and O’Donnell wow. Think there is a decent side there somewhere but carrying too many.

Yeah, Nathan Patterson is ridiculously good so should take over the right back slot in the coming months you would hope. Unfortunately even with that and Billy Gilmour being the best player in the world we don’t have a striker of decent quality other than Adams and he can’t finish

[Spikey M]

A late Scotland equalizer would be hilarious. Murder-suicide.

https://comb.io/8DQsX9.gif

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The second half of this game has been horrendous.

[Magic]

He's bringing on kids for their international debuts? What? :D

[Spikey M]

You English seem more bothered about it than anyone.

:happycry:

[Waffdon]

He's bringing on kids for their international debuts? What? :D

Patterson should have been playing every game tbf instead of a right back from fucking Motherwell

[Shindig]

Hend... ah, never mind. :D

[Lewis]

You English seem more bothered about it than anyone.

Yeah it was embarrassing.

[Max Power]

Bellingham is so good. Should be starting.

[Manc]

This cameo should see Rashford right at the bottom of the pecking order. Useless.

[Waffdon]

Yeah it was embarrassing.

Smart from Southgate. Had Mings and Sterling make O’Donnell and Dykes look like competent footballers so they’d play again today and ruin any chance of a win.

[Shindig]

If he lost against Scotland, the media would've crucified Southgate.

[Spikey M]

Some of the specimens in our crowd. There isn't a t-shirt in the world that could conceal that overhanging gut. :drool:

[Manc]

The Czech coach absoutley beaming at the whistle. Mission accomplished.

[Spoonsky]

Fuck you

Don't worry lad, you only have to wait till June 29 for this one.

[Lewis]

Kalvin Phillips played well the other day and won him praise; but Declan Rice has been linked with Chelsea. Southgate flips a coin to decide who Jordan Henderson replaces next week.

[Mellberg]

If Hungary beat Germany and France beat Portugal we party.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The Czech coach absoutley beaming at the whistle. Mission accomplished.

Yep, they clearly wanted to lose that match.

[Manc]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HAHAHAHA YOUS HAVE CONCEDED TO GAIL PLATT<br><br>🎶 YES SIR, I CAN BOOGIE 🎶 <a href="https://t.co/o0b7ugpsiW">pic.twitter.com/o0b7ugpsiW</a></p>&mdash; James🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (@ham_ezz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ham_ezz/status/1407433564510113792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Jimmy Floyd]

Absolutely delighted that Scotland are out. Real spring in my step.

[randomlegend]

The hate the English have for the Scots is what Giggles thinks/wishes we had for the Irish.

[Shindig]

Scotland's alreet. They did well to make it here but they're clearly just barely better than the Irish at the minute. Actually, I'll give them more credit. The Irish are royally knackered.

[Mellberg]

Luka Modric with the best finish since Braveheart there.

[Mellberg]

Scotland's alreet. They did well to make it here but they're clearly just barely better than the Irish at the minute. Actually, I'll give them more credit. The Irish are royally knackered.

Ireland are about to have the same barren 20 years Scotland have suffered. Zero talent. At least the Jocks have some quality.

[Jimmy Floyd]

England, on the other hand, are the dreariest team in existence. Southgate probably think it's been a triumph.

[Shindig]

Ireland are about to have the same barren 20 years Scotland have suffered. Zero talent. At least the Jocks have some quality.

Yeah, there definitely seems a proper drain on talent in Ireland. And they've picked some truly ghastly managers.

[Mellberg]

The rest of the British Isles do seem to go from 0 to whatever the mph equivalent of a group stage elimination is in tandem. At least we're consistently beige.

[Yevrah]

England, on the other hand, are the dreariest team in existence. Southgate probably think it's been a triumph.

Two goals in a group full of 'tired good' at best.

It's just absolute dog shit.

If we're still 5th in James' ranking I'm going to lose my shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I would actually put that group forward as one of the worst ever at a major tournament. England scored two goals and created zero excitement for their seven points. Czech Republic looked bang average. Croatia are old, tired and will go out in their next match. Scotland are a perennially atrocious side only notable because their fans are all alcoholics. It was just six games of utter shite.

I suppose it had the Schick goal, but even that was down to the Scotland goalkeeper being a totally incompetent clown.

[-james-]

Two goals in a group full of 'tired good' at best.

It's just absolute dog shit.

If we're still 5th in James' ranking I'm going to lose my shit.

Looks like about the 5th best goal difference in the tournament. :huhu:

Southgate is clearly just trying to Mourinho-ball the tournament because he thinks that sort of thing wins it. I don't like it either fwiw and it obviously makes him look awful if/when it goes wrong.

[niko_cee]

Main takeaway from tonight is do ITV have some SAP style alternative minority coverage for their games? If not, why do they have an entire alternate presenting crew pitchside to throw over to for a 3 minute segment post-game?

"Don't get me wrong, Mason Mount is the first name on the teamsheet if . . ."

Yeah, thanks Andros, maybe we don't need any more pearls from you.

Grealish has to start the next game. Saka give or take, although he does a prodigious amount of work off the ball/in defence so that's a feather in his Southgate cap. Can he not go back to playing leftback as Fatty Shaw is bilge? Thought Henderson was much better with the ball than Rice (christ, what an indictment that is) but maybe that's not what England are going to need going forward.

Talk of a back 5 for the next game? Managing to shit their way through the tournament with a series of dour 1-0s would be very ballsy.

[-james-]

I would actually put that group forward as one of the worst ever at a major tournament. England scored two goals and created zero excitement for their seven points. Czech Republic looked bang average. Croatia are old, tired and will go out in their next match. Scotland are a perennially atrocious side only notable because their fans are all alcoholics. It was just six games of utter shite.

I suppose it had the Schick goal, but even that was down to the Scotland goalkeeper being a totally incompetent clown.

Scotland are a good side and will be back, I think. Players hitting their primes and a couple of the problem positions look like they're on their way to being solved. Apart from the England game their games were pretty entertaining as well. Much more enjoyable being a Scotland fan than an England fan this past 10 days anyway lol.

[niko_cee]

Also, 5pm next Tuesday for the last 16 match? Get fucked with that.

[Yevrah]

Southgate is clearly just trying to Mourinho-ball the tournament because he thinks that sort of thing wins it. I don't like it either fwiw and it obviously makes him look awful if/when it goes wrong.

If only shitting your way to 1-0 victories over bang average teams translated to shitting your way to 1-0 victories over good ones.


It doesn't and it won't

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't work out who it's going to be. A France win over Portugal will give them an oh so exciting tie vs Switzerland. Would they rather that than England?

England v Switzerland is what the tournament needs to properly kill it off.

[-james-]

If only shitting your way to 1-0 victories over bang average teams translated to shitting your way to 1-0 victories over good ones.


It doesn't and it won't


May I direct you to Portugal 2016 and France 2018.

[Shindig]

Have we really looked under threat from the matches? I guess that's encouraging?

[Lewis]

France beat every other good team in 2018.

[Yevrah]

May I direct you to Portugal 2016 and France 2018.

We've been through this before. There is nothing, absolutely nothing in England's performances so far that puts them on a par with a Portugal team that actually did it through an entire tournament.

As for France, you mean the France that scored 14 goals?

[-james-]

Yeah England's attack looks absolute dogshit. As I said I'm not really a fan of it. Might work though.

[Yevrah]

Have we really looked under threat from the matches? I guess that's encouraging?

Under threat? The teams we've faced so far had no threat. None whatsoever.

Look, I don't expect us to win this and I know we won't. We're an average to good group of players with a manager who gets more out of his depth with every passing day, but in the absence of being a contender I'd at least like some enjoyment from watching my national team. I don't think that's too much to ask for given the calibre of league we have and there just isn't any. It's utterly unacceptable.

[Shindig]

2-1 v Australia
1-0 v Peru
0-0 v Denmark

4-3 v Argentina
2-0 v Uruguay
1-0 v Belgium
4-2 v Croatia

I'm a big believer in the winning teams growing into tournaments. The Argentina game was daft, I recall the Belgium one being a little bland and then they smashed the final. These things don't really start until the knockouts.

Watching England's not meant to be enjoyable if you're English. It's like me saying I enjoy watching Newcastle.

[niko_cee]

Portugal weren't stoic and workmanlike in the groups in 2016, were they?

Have England hit the post in the first 10 minutes of all their games so far? Given how things usually go for them after early goals I can't work out if that's a good thing or not.

[Yevrah]

Yeah England's attack looks absolute dogshit. As I said I'm not really a fan of it. Might work though.

Why are you directing me to France 2018 then? Do you think one of our players is going to turn into Mbappe?

[-james-]

Why are you directing me to France 2018 then? Do you think one of our players is going to turn into Mbappe?

No but in the absence of Mbappe I think not conceding is a decent start. There's enough talent there to hope for a goal from nothing when needed, that's basically what France do too.

England's group stage here is no way worse than France's in 2018 is my point really.

[Yevrah]

2-1 v Australia
1-0 v Peru
0-0 v Denmark

4-3 v Argentina
2-0 v Uruguay
1-0 v Belgium
4-2 v Croatia

I'm a big believer in the winning teams growing into tournaments. The Argentina game was daft, I recall the Belgium one being a little bland and then they smashed the final. These things don't really start until the knockouts.

Watching England's not meant to be enjoyable if you're English. It's like me saying I enjoy watching Newcastle.

I must be mistaken, for a minute there I thought you'd mapped out a World Cup winning team's (and best group of players in the world) results to suggest that England could be on course to do likewise.

And you didn't enjoy watching Newcastle under Keegan?

[Manc]

Yev really building himself up for a TOLD YOU SO rant this time next week. Why bother lad.

[Yevrah]

England's group stage here is no way worse than France's in 2018 is my point really.

Which is insane when you consider the players France have vs. the ones we do.

[Lewis]

https://i.imgur.com/KNAzR3e.png

[Yevrah]

Yev really building himself up for a TOLD YOU SO rant this time next week. Why bother lad.

I've already won the I told you so rant. I told you all we'd be shit and not to get our hopes up and oh, look, we've been shit.

Exactly the same happened in 2018 when people were claiming it was alright to throw games as it gives us an 'easy' route. It wasn't and we couldn't even beat Croatia.

I'd love to be wrong, but either way, the delusion England fans have is absolutely astounding.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As an England fan, I'm holding out hope that we will play more expansively in the knockouts. I doubt this will happen, as Italy and Holland to name two (with comparable squads to us) have played well already. If we had a dogshit squad then I could understand playing like this. However, we don't have a dogshit squad, especially up front (our strength), so Southgate is actively choosing to make us boring and bad, for which he needs the sack.

[-james-]

England are shit because Southgate is shit, but what manager at this tournament is getting a club job of any note whatsoever? It looks like it's going to kick-start Mancini's career and it's no coincidence Italy are the only side Yev would approve of. The problem is applying club football standards to international football.

[Shindig]

And you didn't enjoy watching Newcastle under Keegan?

Nah. Not in the moment. The stakes became so much higher. I went from being pleasantly surprised to the cold fear of them blowing a once in a lifetime chance. Now I can watch that stuff with glee but not back then.

[niko_cee]

We aren't going to be more expansive in any other way than maybe having the opposition coming onto us and leaving space . . .

Have I heard or thought this before?

Does this round of death tie leave us with a better looking quarter final or do we then play the winner or Belgium versus Brazil 1970?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I had a look just then and it looks like Italy on course to play Belgium in the quarters, we would play winner E or Ukraine/Czech.

[Yevrah]

England are shit because Southgate is shit, but what manager at this tournament is getting a club job of any note whatsoever? It looks like it's going to kick-start Mancini's career and it's no coincidence Italy are the only side Yev would approve of. The problem is applying club football standards to international football.

I probably approve of over half the teams in the tournament. I don't approve of us playing like this. It's just not acceptable. If I thought there was any chance we were just getting into our stride then I'd cool it, but we're not and the signs were so obvious from the first game alone. "Leave Harry Kane and the setup alone, it's only one game" were the accusations IIRC. Well it's three now and we have one of the best strikers in the world who could be replaced with me for all the difference it would make.

[Yevrah]

I had a look just then and it looks like Italy on course to play Belgium in the quarters, we would play winner E or Ukraine/Czech.

Is that in Baku? :D

Sporting integrity FTW!

[Jimmy Floyd]

Harry Kane's turn for that first half chance was worrying. Yes, he makes the turn and gets the shot away, but it was all so slow. First the upper body goes, then the hips, then the feet, and you've lost that split second. It was how Lampard used to turn in his 30s.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is that in Baku? :D

Sporting integrity FTW!

No, the Holland shitfest bracket is the one heading to Baku. Italy v Belgium would be in Munich, because why wouldn't it be. Our QF would be in Rome and then back to Wembley (not 'London', ffs).

[-james-]

I probably approve of over half the teams in the tournament. I don't approve of us playing like this. It's just not acceptable. If I thought there was any chance we were just getting into our stride then I'd cool it, but we're not and the signs were so obvious from the first game alone. "Leave Harry Kane and the setup alone, it's only one game" were the accusations IIRC. Well it's three now and we have one of the best strikers in the world who could be replaced with me for all the difference it would make.

Over half? How many are going to be in the knockout stages? Wales, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Croatia, Czech, Spain, Sweden, Slovakia, France and probably Germany are all varying degrees of awful to watch. Netherlands looked alright in the joke group.

[Don]

That's just prime vintage Harry Kane, I wouldn't critique him based off his lack of agility. No one knows how he does it but by God is it effective, if not graceful.

I just hope no upset happens and England do come crashing on Tuesday so I can soak up the scenes properly as I'll be in Wales for the quarters.

[Yevrah]

Over half? How many are going to be in the knockout stages? Wales, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Croatia, Czech, Spain, Sweden, Slovakia, France and probably Germany are all varying degrees of awful to watch. Netherlands looked alright in the joke group.

You're including a team who've scored 7 goals in their games and two teams who scored 4 in one game (as well as a handful of others who have little choice other than to play that way) as 'awful to watch'. Would you say anything to justify England's performances? At this stage I fear so.

[Yevrah]

And to respond to the Netherlands edit, our group was a joke as well. How can you not see that?

[Lewis]

With the exception of France and Spain those teams are still getting the best out of what they have. We aren't.

[-james-]

That Denmark game yesterday was one of the best in a very long time but remove the context (home game against a side desperately chasing qualification from a losing position against the backdrop of your star player nearly dying) and it's not remotely predictive of their next game. They do have way less attacking talent than England tbf so you can't blame them.

I've said plenty on England. They've done the job fairly comfortably. I was watching the interesting game tonight so I haven't had the same exposure tbf.

[Spikey M]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57575896

:rosebud:

[Kikó]

I hope one day Yev can enjoy watching England and have some BELIEF and PASSION and wait for the appropriate time to burn his Luke Shaw England shirt.

[Ian]

It's been nice to have some tournament games where we didn't turn even games against the shit into exercises in unbearable tension but it is a very weak group and for all that we've had a few bursts of decent player usually nearer the start of games there's not much to suggest we won't just go out to the first half decent team we face as per.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Strong England, Great Tactics
Strong England, Great Tactics
Strong England, Great Tactics
Strong England, Great Ta-a-ctics.

[Baz]

Just filled my wallchart in. Only one England game left, then. :happycry:

[Shindig]

One thing I do like is how Sterling and Grealish swap flanks. Everything's down the left still but at least Grealish is a different threat.

[CJay]

Just rewatched the first half there (a non-sleeping baby interrupted it last night :moop:). It’s amazing the difference two proper ball-carrying attackers (Saka and Grealish) makes. I’d be starting that side again against a better team - that’s exactly what you need if you’re not expecting to have total control of the game.

If I were an England fan I’d be delighted with the first half performance.

[Ian]

My problems with it (other than the fact that I'm a jaded misery-guts) are just that we still didn't exactly create a bunch of proper chances for all this 'much improved' attacking play and it's all well and good being set up to counter better teams right until the point when one takes the lead against us and they settle in to smother us.

I also loved Southgate talking about Sancho's lack of experience. I feel like since the last World Cup he's featured in.... what, two-thirds of our games? He's got 19 caps so it must be something like that. What was the fucking point in all that if he's now suddenly not experienced enough to play in this bang average group? Ah yes, he's played a load of Champions League games but he's never been kicked to death by Burnley, has he?

I'm not even a massive Sancho fanboy but the reasoning is mind-boggling.

[CJay]

My problems with it (other than the fact that I'm a jaded misery-guts) are just that we still didn't exactly create a bunch of proper chances for all this 'much improved' attacking play and it's all well and good being set up to counter better teams right until the point when one takes the lead against us and they settle in to smother us.

I also loved Southgate talking about Sancho's lack of experience. I feel like since the last World Cup he's featured in.... what, two-thirds of our games? He's got 19 caps so it must be something like that. What was the fucking point in all that if he's now suddenly not experienced enough to play in this bang average group? Ah yes, he's played a load of Champions League games but he's never been kicked to death by Burnley, has he?

I'm not even a massive Sancho fanboy but the reasoning is mind-boggling.

The Sancho stuff is bizarre. Like he made the Mings - Stones switch before giving Sancho a run out last night. Did he say that stuff last night? He's probably got better footballing experience than a lot of your players.

[Ian]

I saw it last night, he said it some time since Friday when asked about Sancho not featuring at all so far.

Sako starting last night - I thought it was odd (what the fuck is his actual position?) but it worked so fair enough, but don't say a guy with Sancho's experience is too green ahead of making that change for the Czech game, you just sound like either an idiot or a liar.

[Mellberg]

We've been through this before. There is nothing, absolutely nothing in England's performances so far that puts them on a par with a Portugal team that actually did it through an entire tournament.

As for France, you mean the France that scored 14 goals?

England are performing better than Portugal did at this stage. They drew there three group games against Iceland, Hungary and fucking Austria. Qualifying with 3 points in 3rd place.

[CJay]

That reminds me of another terrible quirk of the 3rd place teams qualifying: the teams that play in the last match days have the unfair advantage of knowing precisely what they need to do to to qualify. If Portugal lose 1-0 tonight and Hungary don't win are they still through? And Spain could draw 0-0 again and go through. Ridiculous.

[Waffdon]

Who do England want? France or Germany?

[Lewis]

We might be able to get at Germany. France could defend us all week.

[CJay]

Who do England want? France or Germany?

Hungary.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Germany would chuck their inappropriate swear words at us, leaving tasteful gaps for us to exploit in behind.

It's Portugal I don't fancy at all. France we could try and underdog at least.

[Ian]

Who do England want? France or Germany?

They'll both beat us but I think Lewis is right that Germany look, in theory, more like a team England might do something against.

Y'know, were it not for the fact that it's Germany.

[Manc]

It's Portugal I don't fancy at all.

Portugal are a team carrying two passengers when not in possession. I fully expect a hard working French team to run through them.

Germany could be anything.

[Baz]

Confirmed on 1 goal:
Finland
Scotland
Turkey

On 1 goal with 1 game left:
Hungary
Spain
Sweden

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've backed Finland for the same thing, so, not for the first time, I'm rooting for the very opposite thing to you, in order to slim down my dead heat.

[Yevrah]

England are performing better than Portugal did at this stage. They drew there three group games against Iceland, Hungary and fucking Austria. Qualifying with 3 points in 3rd place.

Of course, but is it just me that thinks comparing a team who we know actually won the tournament, to one that's just got out of the group stage in thoroughly unspectacular fashion, is a bit bonkers?

[niko_cee]

Of course it's not sensible in any sort of predictive way.

All it tells you is you don't have to be playing everyone off the pitch all the time. Just get through the rounds. England now face the prospect of a tough match. Successful teams in the past have generally overcome such matches, so if England want to be successful, they will have to as well. Stating the bleeding obvious. Their performance in the group has no bearing.

[Spikey M]

It's one thing if grinding out boring 1-0's is THE BRAND but when Southgate starts talking about aspirations of "Champagne Football" you have to start wondering.

[Yevrah]

Of course it's not sensible in any sort of predictive way.

Their performance in the group has no bearing.

This is the key bit for me and where I fundamentally disagree. It's because I'm harking back to past history, which I admit should have no bearing, but I've never seen us go from playing turgid football in the group stages to being good enough to beat good teams. I've seen it the other way around enough. So I guess there's something in the psyche of our players that's always there that somehow prevents us from doing so.

Now I know we could move up a gear, anything is technically possible, but as sure as one can be, I just know we won't from what I've seen so far.

[Manc]

What else do you know?

[Yevrah]

Absolutely nothing as sure fire as that.

[Manc]

I can almost see your erection emerging from the bubbles. Wind it in and support your country.

[Yevrah]

I can almost see your erection emerging from the bubbles. Wind it in and support your country.

I think you've either misunderstood or aren't capable. I absolutely support England and of all the things completely outside of my control, I'd pick England to win a tournament from them.

I just can't sit here and pretend everything is rosy, that those group stage performances were acceptable in any way and that we're somehow going to turn it on enough to beat either a genuinely good team or one with a bit of history.

As I always say with these things too, I'd love to be wrong and one day I obviously will be, I just don't think that day is now. I've thought we could win Euro 96 and 2004 while they were being played and 2010 (before it started) and had next to no chance in the others, but I've always wanted us to.

[Spikey M]

The only thing I know is that it's coming home.

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57581976

Spurs' manager search continues to go from strength to strength.

[SvN]

Yev on England is the same as Smiffy on United.

[Yevrah]

Ouch.

In a way it's good that we get someone decent early doors in the knockouts. Win on Tuesday and I may start to believe.

[Ian]

Playing Germany would give me the proper sense of tournament dread the two group matches I've seen have utterly lacked.

[Waffdon]

I’d be somewhat confident of beating Germany if I was English. Reece James isn’t going to give Gosens the freedom of the park for one.

[niko_cee]

Is that because James isn't going to be playing?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Surely it will be Walker who would be a complete bomb scare against Gosens.

[Don]

Imagine thinking Walker is a defensive liability :happycry:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:face:

Great start.

[Adramelch]

Masterful defending that.

[Don]

Thiago still benched is some going and they've started like the turgid shit they are. Nothing of value is coming out of this group.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Thiago still benched is some going and they've started like the turgid shit they are. Nothing of value is coming out of this group.

Isak.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Morata :lol:

[Adramelch]

Morata is the gift that keeps on giving, not gonna lie.

[Don]

It's easy to stick out as an Eritrean amongst 21 white men. He's just a fucking BLM Guidetti.

Morata :D

[randomlegend]

Christ, I almost feel sorry for Morata at this point.

[niko_cee]

Don't much fancy Spain if they end up in a shoot-out.

[Waffdon]

Morata has been signed by a club for £50m about 3 times. Money laundering at its finest.

Whoever wins the England v whoever game should make the final fairly easily being on that side of the bracket

[Waffdon]

Don't much fancy Spain if they end up in a shoot-out.

Missed 5 in a row apparently

[Yevrah]

Playing Germany would give me the proper sense of tournament dread the two group matches I've seen have utterly lacked.

I'd be bang up for it. Hope it happens.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How the fuck did that not go in?

[Manc]

Lolwandowski.

[Adramelch]

Doesn't feel like Slovakia have the defensive discipline to keep Spain at 0. Eventually something will go in.

[Adramelch]

That must be the most comical goal ever seen in Euros.

[randomlegend]

That must be the most comical goal ever seen in Euros.

Only way Spain were scoring.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What the fuck is he even doing?

[Manc]

Spain's celebration evidence of how small time they have become.

[Adramelch]

Honestly, they haven't been that bad today. A lot of good chances.

[Don]

Sun has blinded him there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1407739127378944003

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dubravka is shit.

[Manc]

He needs pulling. Head has completely gone.

[Adramelch]

I am not even buying the sun excuse, the sun is on the side.

[Kikó]

He mistimed the jump. He was up too early which fucked him when he tried to palm it

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:face:

Fuck.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Stunning strike.

'Mon then lads.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Slovakia are dogshit.

[Manc]

Has the door been opened for Ukraine?

[Adramelch]

Yeah Ukraine have been through since the 2-0.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has the door been opened for Ukraine?

They're in, and heading to a thrilling last 16 encounter with Sweden.

[Shindig]

At the minute, Slovakia and Finland are out, I think.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It will stay that way unless Portugal get humped 4-0 later, which would let Finland in.

[Adramelch]

Slovakia are definitely out. Finland need Portugal to lose by 4 and Germany to not lose.

[Shindig]

Yeah, it's all but settled. I can't see Portugal dropping that. But it would be fun to see.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yes.

One more.

[Adramelch]

I kinda want Poland to score, less for them and more so that Ukraine don't go through.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck :(

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Kulusevski has been brilliant since coming on.

[Waffdon]

Mahow :console:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mahow :console:

Fuck you.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think Poland should have really tried harder for a winner against Spain. They were comfortable thinking they would easily beat Sweden and Spain were there for the taking on the day.

[Lewis]

I think you should have bet against them and guaranteed it. You slag.

[Adramelch]

Surely Poland lost it against Slovakia to begin with.

[Foe]

Means England are likely to have a difficult R16 and then a relatively easy quarter if they win. Sweden v Czech and England v France/Portugal/Germany ?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Surely Poland lost it against Slovakia to begin with.
Well the biggest problem is that they just went in expecting to finish in the top 3.

[-james-]

Win the first knockout game and job is basically done tbh.

[Shindig]

Underestimate Sweden at your peril.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've got Sweden v Ukraine, but ITV were saying Czech. Who knows.

[Adramelch]

I've got Sweden v Ukraine, but ITV were saying Czech. Who knows.

Should be Sweden v Ukraine. Czechs are playing the Netherlands.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Czech are playing the Dutch.

[Boydy]

What game are people watching tonight?

[Browning]

The one without Hungary.

[Shindig]

Portugal - France unless Hungary get crazy.

[Baz]

I've backed Finland for the same thing, so, not for the first time, I'm rooting for the very opposite thing to you, in order to slim down my dead heat.
Finland can still qualify can’t they?

Just read up. Come on France.

[Reg]

Got to be Portugal v France, Boydy. Could be the best game yet. Portugal will be better than they were v Germany, I think, with the midfield changes.

[Manc]

Dropping Bruno for Sanches is top, top work.

[Jimmy Floyd]

WHY ARE FRANCE IN ALL WHITE

This is seriously triggering me. It's like there's a mandatory 'one team must be in all white' rule.

[Ian]

WHY ARE FRANCE IN ALL WHITE

This is seriously triggering me. It's like there's a mandatory 'one team must be in all white' rule.

Happened with Spain early too, equally unnecessarily.

[Bernanke]

Get fucked 'how.

Where is Maz when you need him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The magic Magyars :drool:

Needless to say they are also in all white and Germany are in all black. It must be some kind of evil dictat from on high but WHY?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Get fucked 'how.

Where is Maz when you need him.

Dickhead.

Although I am glad that Sweden went through.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a cracking ball in and header.

German defence is leaky as fuck this year.

[Shindig]

Alright, let's start this carnage.

[Baz]

Bollocks

[randomlegend]

Why didn't Mbappe run with that rather than shooting from so far out? So obvious where he was putting it with how he had to position as well.

Pogba --> Mbappe is a bit of a cheat code though.

[Adramelch]

He looked offside anyway, but his choice was indeed not the best.

[Trancemeister]

England - Hungary as it stands now?

[Jimmy Floyd]

At the moment it's England-Portugal and Belgium-Hungary. We need a French win to draw Hungary.

[Lewis]

Send him off referee.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Don't usually see those given. I do feel it's a penalty though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Great refereeing. If you don't get to the ball first, I'm afraid your fist becomes a weapon.

[randomlegend]

This ref is quality.

[Manc]

Fist? That was a fully fledged elbow smash. Lucky to still be on the pitch.

[Serj]

Great refereeing. If you don't get to the ball first, I'm afraid your fist becomes a weapon.

I do think he got to the ball first, though. Still a foul, I'd say.

[Adramelch]

He did get a whiff of the ball but it's reckless play at the very least.

[Manc]

The rain teeming down in Munich.

[Ian]

I am glad that penalty was given, otherwise the rule is "Yeah mate sometimes the goalie is just allowed to punch you in the fucking head lol."

[Shindig]

Germans look so iffy on the counter. Their high line is made for someone to get at.

What the hell is this weather? Torrential. :D

[randomlegend]

Renato Sanches looks like he might finally be fulfilling all that promise he was said to have a few years ago.

[Adramelch]

The French are on the verge of completely losing it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have moved over to Germany-Hungary, this is where it's at. Pissing rain, second balls bouncing everywhere, underdogs with something to hang onto and huge amounts of lebensraum in behind the German defence on the break.

[CJay]

France are crap. Their attack is totally dysfunctional with Benzema in there.

[Adramelch]

That's never a penalty.

[Waffdon]

England should batter the Germans if they get them

[Lewis]

That was a dive the little French girl.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cracking dive by Mbappe.

[randomlegend]

This ref is quality.

Never mind.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

VAR is a joke.

France with a gift.

[Manc]

The game has well and truly gone.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mbappe trying for another.

[Shindig]

First time I saw it, I thought the ref was right. Not so sure on repeated viewings. Actually, aye. Semedo's trying to block him with his arm.

[Don]

Mad to think a team can actually be improved by benching the world's best midfielder and all his goal contributions.

What the fuck is the point of VAR if Neymar lite gets away with that?

[-james-]

England are a France goal and 45 mins of Jogi-ball away from playing Hungary in the next round. Lol.

[Kikó]

First time I saw it, I thought the ref was right. Not so sure on repeated viewings. Actually, aye. Semedo's trying to block him with his arm.

Completely wrong. It's good defensive play which shouldn't ever lead to a penalty.

[Yevrah]

Anyone but Portugal in the next round please.

[Manc]

It's an absoutley horrendous decision.

[Shindig]

Ah, he's nowhere near his face. At speed, the first angle made it look stronger than it was.

[Waffdon]

England are a France goal and 45 mins of Jogi-ball away from playing Hungary in the next round. Lol.

You’re going to win the whole thing.

:sick:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's onside.

[Manc]

The nation has just switched on BBC2.

[Shindig]

Gary Linekar's warming up his Hungary Iceland puns.

[-james-]

England are fucked as soon as they play G̶e̶r̶m̶a̶n̶y̶ F̶r̶a̶n̶c̶e̶ P̶o̶r̶t̶u̶g̶a̶l̶ Hungary in the next round.

[Mellberg]

The nation has just switched on BBC2.

Had me almost to the minute.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If you're getting Hungary though they'll have drawn against France and beaten Germany...

[Mellberg]

The horror. I'm happy with any of them. Just REALLY happy with Hungary.

[Manc]

If you're getting Hungary though they'll have drawn against France and beaten Germany...

:happycry:

[Yevrah]

England are fucked as soon as they play G̶e̶r̶m̶a̶n̶y̶ F̶r̶a̶n̶c̶e̶ P̶o̶r̶t̶u̶g̶a̶l̶ Hungary in the next round.

Was always a good team, whenever that may come.

Although we appear to have forgotten Iceland.

[Lewis]

lol at that lad's seventies black man haircut.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:happycry:

Am I lying though?

[Mellberg]

Was always a good team, whenever that may come.

Although we appear to have forgotten Iceland.

:lol:

FFS Yev. Get a grip. For every Iceland there are 10 Swedens.

Edit: FFS France. Great group though.

[-james-]

https://i.imgur.com/EIAmmKM.png

“All they’ve got is the big lad, err Selloy… ohhh no”

[Jimmy Floyd]

This tournament has a classic array of bald refs. Really impressive selection from the UEFA goons.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

King Kai :cool:

[Manc]

Although we appear to have forgotten Iceland.

If you aren't on the take with this comment then you are truly broken.

[Bernanke]

Jimmys penalty bet is gonna come through at 15/45 scored instead of 15/20.