June: The Euro 2020ish Knockouts!

[Ian]

Why is Ole willing to spend £30-40m on Trippier as backup for AWB when Dalot can do that job?

He's clearly not liked him since day one. I know not why but it's silly.

[Bernanke]

That Fraud Fernandes dropped again I see

Seemingly for good reason.

[Spikey M]

Cry Baby Giraffe. :drool:

[7om]

Still not convinced by Belgium. They don’t look that good considering what they’ve got on paper.

[Don]

That final 15 mins was as good as the sport has to offer.

[Waffdon]

Seemingly for good reason.

He’s fucking honking.

Shaun Maloney being in the Belgium coaching staff has confused the fuck out of me. What’s he doing there? :D

[Manc]

Another piss poor team advances.

[Magic]

Still not convinced by Belgium. They don’t look that good considering what they’ve got on paper.

Biggest team of individuals ever.

[Bernanke]

Still not convinced by Belgium. They don’t look that good considering what they’ve got on paper.

Potentially missing both De Bruyne & Hazard for the quarters as well. It's Italy's to lose.

[Waffdon]

They Belgium squad must have an average age of about 32.

Doku really needs to start their next game.

[igor_balis]

Terrible game management at the end from Belgium but it made it fun to watch.

[Shindig]

Old Wigan Boys Club.

Good match, that. Belgium didn't really create much but, under the cosh, they always have Lukaku to hold it up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Belgium v Italy should be a classic, unless the latter revert to type and have a massive cry after being far too passive and losing 1-0.

[Lewis]

Those are two shit looking games tomorrow.

[Adramelch]

I would have liked to see Italy vs Netherlands for a full crybaby match but alas it won't happen.

[randomlegend]

Why is Ole willing to spend £30-40m on Trippier as backup for AWB when Dalot can do that job?

He's clearly not willing to spend that much. Looks like we thought we might be able to get him for somewhere around £20m, but Atletico have said "pay his release clause or fuck off". It won't happen.

[Don]

I finally heard the full version of that Krept and Konan England Euro anthem and by christ it's shit.

If you ain't supporting France on the off-chance you hear their WC song again, you're doing it wrong.


https://youtu.be/wW2n3umJuaE

Imagine the gammon brigade of Maguire and Kane in comparison to that black swamp of swagger :happycry:

[Kikó]

He's clearly not willing to spend that much. Looks like we thought we might be able to get him for somewhere around £20m, but Atletico have said "pay his release clause or fuck off". It won't happen.

The MEN said he'd settled into Manchester already with his family so it'll probably happen.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Tragic attempt at a finish from Koke.

Have a feeling that 1 goal will be enough but we might not even see that and could be destined for penalties.

[Adramelch]

Spain the gift that keeps on giving. One of many in this tournament.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That attempted header by Morata :lol:

That own goal :lol:

[Bernanke]

Spain are tragic.

[Waffdon]

How does Marcos Llorente not get in this team?

The kits are also tragic.

[Don]

Serves you right for starting a bum in place of Brighton and Hove Albion FC's number 1.

God I want to see France-Spain so bad in the Quarters. They're pressing farmer teams and looking superb for it but there'll be a Brazil 1-7 Germany type affair if it happens.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Another all white v all black... it must be a seedy UEFA directive. I just don't understand why.

[Waffdon]

The referee not allowing an advantage there when Croatia would have been on the break from a corner is a joke

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1409549280650596355

Over/under 11.5 by the end of the tournament?

[Adramelch]

Ye it was a bad call.

On a similar note, I know the linesmen are allowed to not raise the flag to see how the play evolves, but half of them don't raise the flag even when the player is like 3 metres offside.

[Bernanke]

Livakovic almost had that one too. :(

[Jimmy Floyd]

Please let Spain win this. I really can't stand Croatia.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ye it was a bad call.

On a similar note, I know the linesmen are allowed to not raise the flag to see how the play evolves, but half of them don't raise the flag even when the player is like 3 metres offside.

It's one of those directives - a bit like the handball stuff - which makes total sense on paper but in an actual football match is completely stupid.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"Dave" having to show Morata how to score.

[Lewis]

Look at Luis Enrique in his Blair-era jeans.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Hervé Renard outfit has increased their tournament chances by about 40% (Southgate's stupid M&S slim fit is dragging us down).

[Don]

I'll revise my view on Pedri, sensational artistry. Still no excuse to bench Thiago obvs and will ofc be eaten alive against the French Africans but still, delightful player.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Every single time I've seen Rebic play he's been useless.

Does he only score against goat herders?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

You just know a flag is coming when Morata scores.

[Waffdon]

That touch from Morata was incredible

[Jimmy Floyd]

Croatian number 21 looks like a bog find.

[Waffdon]

Feels like he’s been around forever and hasn’t changed one bit in looks

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Shame it took Croatia 80 minutes to start playing.

[Shindig]

Binmen never work this late in the day.

Can we get Copenhagen to host it next time around?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just as well they've brought on Dani Olmo and Oyarzabal really. Useless twats.

[Don]

They're built different, these Croatians :cool: Like the antithesis to England's soft shite brigade.

[mugbull]

Spaniards need out of this tournament. I forgot just how divey these Med cunts are

[Waffdon]

Group D really was the group of death. Scotland should be proud of their valiant effort.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just as well they've brought on Dani Olmo and Oyarzabal really. Useless twats.

At least they've still got Morata.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The dive there from Morata :D

[Waffdon]

Pau Torres has been a mess. Man Utd made him look like Jaap Stam

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a save by Simon.

Spain are all over the place right now.

[Waffdon]

Orsic has been phenomenal since coming on

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Of course he fucking scores a banger and by far the hardest chance he's had.

[Waffdon]

That was always going to happen

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was an epic goal. Vamos chicos.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

ffs.

[niko_cee]

This has been a wild game. Some people in here need to have a look at themselves for bringing this Spain comeback about.

[Manc]

They're built different, these Croatians :cool: Like the antithesis to England's soft shite brigade.

Your best effort yet.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This has been a wild game. Some people in here need to have a look at themselves for bringing this Spain comeback about.

I'll hold my hands up for the Morata goal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I hadn't seen that Taz effort.

I'm taking no blame for this after that.

[Shindig]

Taz is our psychic Octopus.

[Don]

5-5 deffo still on here :drool:

[Boydy]

These commentators on ITV today are fucking awful.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Thought that was in.

Croatia wont lie down.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

5-5 deffo still on here :drool:

Just fuck off.

[igor_balis]

These commentators on ITV today are fucking awful.

I think she's really good, she actually talks about the mechanics of the game, rather than narrative matterface shite.

[Waffdon]

Yeah, she’s decent. Probably better off at being a pundit though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

She is good but all I can think when I hear her speak is that'll be two ninety nine darlin', do you want a receipt? Cheers darlin', have a good evenin'.

[Don]

Just fuck off.

Lad, watch how you address me. Go take your assburgers medication and have a lie down.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

She'd be a lot better if she worked on player pronunciations.

[Baz]

I love Dani Olmo, me.

[Lewis]

The fishwife is very good, but she does that new commentator thing of always thinking they need to be adding loads. Was it Stan Collymore who used to just read out trivia he had found on the internet?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hopp Suisse etc.

[Serj]

Why did I have to work during that game. :moop: I fear we're in for a bit of a stinker with this one. Early signs are not too bad though, both sides trying to attack with speed.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:drool:

Get fucked France.

[niko_cee]

The decision to give that freekick to France should see this ref barred from all future games.

[CJay]

Have the likes of Mbappe or Lukaku ever scored a free kick? Why is Mbappe taking one over the likes of Pogba who has actual pedigree?

This French side are going out. Getting outplayed all over the park.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Free kick allocation seems to be done on ego these days.

Embolo is in awe of playing France, which could cost them later on. Rest of them have been great so far.

[CJay]

The decision to give that freekick to France should see this ref barred from all future games.

It was a window into a lot of refereeing calls - given based on how loud a player shouts.

[Waffdon]

Isn’t half looking good for England. Everyone looks shit and they get potentially 3 home games which should help.

Kai Havertz is our only hope.

[Disco]

Why is it still reffed by a single middle aged nerd running after millionaires? How do we not have David Elleray surrounded by monitors talking in his ear telling him who to dole out cards to etc.

[Shindig]

Yeah, they need to bellow instructions over the PA.

[Manc]

This is embarrassing from the French. Zero pressure on the ball.

[CJay]

This is embarrassing from the French. Zero pressure on the ball.

Is this when all the Athletic takes about France taking it easy in the group get found out and it transpires they’re just a bit boring?

[niko_cee]

Have France changed their formation to match Switzerland somehow or have they just done it under their own initiative? If it's the former then hopefully Gareth Southgate Badger is watching as I fear he might have sucha scheme in mind himself.

France'll probably sort it out at some point (or the ref will sort it for them), the Swiss will shit the bed if they get close.

[Waffdon]

Happily show a man getting CPR but not a pitch invader lolz

[Jimmy Floyd]

This game has the whiffs of upstairs intervention in the second half to keep the banlieue boys in the pot. They remind me of the 2002 side, i.e. absolutely convinced of its own greatness in the most Gallic tradition of all.

[CJay]

Xhaka for Switzerland is such an upgrade on Xhaka for Arsenal. Kind of like the way John Obi Mikel somehow became a roving playmaker when representing Nigeria.

[Waffdon]

France need to get Giroud back in. Key to victory.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Are there no concussion protocols in this tournament? Everyone keeps coming back on.

[Baz]

Xhaka for Switzerland is such an upgrade on Xhaka for Arsenal. Kind of like the way John Obi Mikel somehow became a roving playmaker when representing Nigeria.Like the opposite of John Barnes (Brazil goal aside).

Actually has there been anyone better for England than their club? Seems quite common in other international teams but I can’t think of anyone really good for England but not so much for their club team. Maybe Darius Vassel? lol

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Are there no concussion protocols in this tournament? Everyone keeps coming back on.

Each team signed up for various protocols but none have been followed.

[Kikó]

Like the opposite of John Barnes (Brazil goal aside).

Actually has there been anyone better for England than their club? Seems quite common in other international teams but I can’t think of anyone really good for England but not so much for their club team. Maybe Darius Vassel? lol

Trevor Sinclair, Danny Mills and Owen Hargreaves(until he wasn't).

[Jimmy Floyd]

Heskey in a certain phase of his career was a don for England and crap in the league. I loved him.

[Don]

Gary Neville trying to go in on the French team because they conceded a cross and inshallah goal :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Get VAR on that ffs.

[Adramelch]

Cya French friends. Zuber has been incredible all tournament. Well I guess in those last two games. 4 assists and a penalty earned.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wait, the Argentine referee? I knew something was up. Stop the exchange programmes ffs.

[Lewis]

BOTTLED that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Shit penalty from Rodriguez.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have we still not banned left footed penalties?

[CJay]

Not scoring a penalty past Lloris 🤦🏻

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Switzerland have bottled this.

[Adramelch]

Ok that was incredible. I am fine with France going through just for that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That first touch is ludicrous btw.

[igor_balis]

Missed his last two? I know that tunnel vision self belief is what makes a lot of players as good as they are, but how the fuck are you taking that? Two missed should be insta removal from penno duties.

[-james-]

That's goal of the tournament.

[Jimmy Floyd]

- Left foot
- Missed last two
- Pony tail

The ultimate bottle job concoction.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This is all on Ricardo Rodriguez.

[SincereTheRebel]

This is all on Ricardo Rodriguez.

If he was Columbian....

[Jimmy Floyd]

He was also standing around like a lemon for that goal.

[Adramelch]

That was also a great goal in terms of build up.

[Manc]

Sommer well off the pace for that first goal. Soft wrists for the second.

[Waffdon]

Mon the french

[Don]

Haha, put the fucking Beefeater gin on ice you dirty gammons, it's not coming home.

[CJay]

Madness. If he outscores Ronaldo then I’ll be happy. So stupid actually that the golden boot tie break is on assists. It’s not a best player award, it should solely be about goals scored. Share it.

I want to see the equivalent Owen / Dublin / Sutton

[igor_balis]

I hope Alberto del Rio kicks his head in later.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's not offside and that should be 2-2.

One of them has to leave it for the other.

[Adramelch]

That's not offside and that should be 2-2.

One of them has to leave it for the other.

It was a foul on Varane.

[CJay]

Pavard is a bit of a lumberjack.

Getting donned by a Frankfurt reserve player.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That is some hit by Pogba.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It was a foul on Varane.

Yeah I think VAR would have ruled it out.

I didn't spot the foul live.

[Waffdon]

Another phenomenal goal. Pogba for France is an absolute monster

[Manc]

Silly strike.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You could see it nestling in the top corner before it even left his boot. Magnificent hit.

France v Spain and Belgium v Italy on Friday night is going to be lit, as I believe the youngsters now say.

[Lewis]

Those are two shit looking games tomorrow.

:lewis:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a lovely cross and header.

I could do with another extra time.

[Waffdon]

There has been nearly more goals that Euro 2016. I was expecting 0-0 every other game. Tiredness and fans being in the grounds has probably helped

[Adramelch]

There has been nearly more goals that Euro 2016. I was expecting 0-0 every other game. Tiredness and fans being in the grounds has probably helped

Not nearly. There's been half a dozen more goals.

Gavranovic seems permanently offside.

Edit: As a matter of fact we are at 117 now, as opposed to the 108 of Euro 2016.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gavranovic :cool:

[Bernanke]

That is fantastic.

This day is insane.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This must be the best day of tournament football for about 40 years.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Another belting goal.

[Adramelch]

That's a carbon copy of the previous game. One goal up for the underdogs, to 1-3 to 3-3 with two late goals.

[Waffdon]

Beautiful goal. Feels like that bloke scores every time he’s on the pitch, granted half them are offside

[CJay]

Amazing. :drool:

How can France have been caught so open like that?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I know everyone's saying it but Tyldesley/McCoist is THE commentary pairing, they are so far ahead of the other shitheads, in every respect. Clive is great. 'Nobody's going to bed yet...'

[Adramelch]

Their defence has been garbage all tournament long. The problem is Switzeland have a shitton of attacking players on the pitch now, so 30 more mins like that will be awkward.

[Manc]

Xhaka. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Thought that was going in when he hit it.

[-james-]

Well this has been fun.

[Serj]

My stream is about 30 seconds behind the TV broadcast and there's a Swiss fan somewhere in the next building who screams at the top of his lungs whenever they score, so I'm always informed ahead of time. I'd be mad, but it's also oddly great.

[Lewis]

Amazing. :drool:

How can France have been caught so open like that?

Didier Deschamps is a binman.

[CJay]

Xhaka. :drool:

Man of the match.

[Don]

Shame about this end bit as at 3-1 there was a serious risk France woulda reverted to the 4-4-2/4-2-4 with Coman nd Greazy from the outset from now on which is jizzworthy.

[-james-]

Spain and France with about half a million matched at 1.01 on Betfair. Someone's done well.

[Adramelch]

Switzerland having 3 more days of rest could actually play a role here.

[niko_cee]

This must be the best day of tournament football for about 40 years.

Aye, it's been mad.

All set-up nicely for England v Germany to serve a game as bad as the last time they met in the Euros tomorrow, I'd take it if the outcome was the same.

[Baz]

You lads realise Love Island is on right?

[Spikey M]

This must be the best day of tournament football for about 40 years.

We moved house today and the cunts before us had Virgin. Can't watch TV until the geezer has been tomorrow (to fit a satellite so we can live like civilised people).

You're welcome.

[Spikey M]

You lads realise Love Island is on right?

On the other hand; every cloud...

[Jimmy Floyd]

If they go on to lose this I'm quitting my job and beaming that Pogba celebration onto the nearest branch of Le Pain Quotidien 24/7.

[Adramelch]

France will have about 9 players left even if they go through.

[Boydy]

We moved house today and the cunts before us had Virgin. Can't watch TV until the geezer has been tomorrow (to fit a satellite so we can live like civilised people).

You're welcome.

Is there no normal tv aerial?

[randomlegend]

The MEN said he'd settled into Manchester already with his family so it'll probably happen.

MEN is absolute dogshit.

[Spikey M]

Is there no normal tv aerial?

There is. But no cable, just the port.

On the plus side, today's effort has earned me the brownie points to watch the England game on the village pubs OUTDOOR SCREEN tomorrow night. Buzzing.

Apologies for the awful match we are about to experience. And the rain.

[CJay]

France’s Mike Maignan has a 24% save rate for penalties in his career. Loris’ save rate before tonight was 8.5%.

https://imgur.com/FEFMmEK

https://imgur.com/FEFMmEK

Article from The Athletic. Don’t know how to do images on mobile. :moop:

[Adramelch]

What a ball that was from Pogba.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mbappe in the bin.

[Lewis]

Get a load of French Theo Walcott faking an injury.

[SincereTheRebel]

What a ball that was from Pogba.

Man Utd need to cash in.

[Spikey M]

Guys, I'm trying to make this thread all about me. Could you show some respect please?

[Lewis]

Man Utd need to cash in.

Watch him miss a penalty with his cunty run up.

[Waffdon]

Varane’s injuries have caught up with him. He’s looked shit every time I’ve seen him in the past few months. No wonder Madrid aren’t arsed he’s leaving.

[igor_balis]

MEN is absolute dogshit.

Save it for twitter you snowflake

[Yevrah]

What an evening this has been. The two games looked absolute wank as well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

These keepers are both beta males. Could be a long one.

[Don]

Bruh I better not be deprived of seeing more of Pogba and his all star team in exchange for watching a bunch of Albanian carwash workers.

[Waffdon]

Get this camera angle to fuck

[Yevrah]

Why must we have this camera angle?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was some penalty from Pogba.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They must be watching twitter as they have left it after 3.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I thought Giroud was going to miss as he took so long.

[Adramelch]

Great set of penalties so far.

[Yevrah]

Best use of Twitter ever.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Has Mbappe asked to be fifth? If so 100% miss.

[Lewis]

He's missing this.

[Lewis]

I'll take that as a miss.

[Adramelch]

Mehmedi's hairline is all over the place.

[Lewis]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Has Mbappe asked to be fifth? If so 100% miss.

:harold:

[Magic]

He's finished. Mentally done for. :drool:

[Yevrah]

Has Mbappe asked to be fifth? If so 100% miss.

:hail:

[Ian]

Well well well.

[Waffdon]

9 quality penalties

[Waffdon]

Some absolute dud is winning this. Mon the Denmark

[7om]

Wow. Mbappe overrated, better than Robson-Kanu?

[Baz]

I’d fancy Switzerland to beat Spain too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

France collapse and go out from a seemingly unassailable position, after that Pogba celebration, oh boy who could have seen this coming.

I'll be dancing to work tomorrow morning. Just fantastic to see them lose.

[Yevrah]

9 quality penalties

It does go to show how easy penalties should actually be.

[Shindig]

I'm still excited by Mbappe's pace but he needs to get his head back.

[Gray Fox]

Incredible.

[Lofty]

Mcrappe.

[Waffdon]

Wow. Mbappe overrated, better than Robson-Kanu?

I’m sure he’ll be fine with his winning World Cup goal lol

[Manc]

Haha, put the fucking Beefeater gin on ice you dirty gammons, it's not coming home.

Never in doubt lads

[Waffdon]

England the only team that haven’t really looked like conceding. I’d fancy them tomorrow if he plays Grealish

[Yevrah]

I'm still excited by Mbappe's pace but he needs to get his head back.

He could be one of the best strikers ever, but he needs to get out of that bollocks league he's inexplicably wedded to.

[Yevrah]

England the only team that haven’t really looked like conceding. I’d fancy them tomorrow if he plays Grealish

Probably the only team that hasn't been tested yet either. If Southgate plays Sterling in the hole I'm going to get a copy of the anarchist's cookbook. This tournament is absolutely there to be won. Fucking go for it.

[Gray Fox]

Get on the blower Jurgen. We'll still take him. Milners taking the fucking pens though.

[niko_cee]

France collapse and go out from a seemingly unassailable position, after that Pogba celebration, oh boy who could have seen this coming.

I'll be dancing to work tomorrow morning. Just fantastic to see them lose.

For all his brilliance in the game on the ball, it was him who was robbed of the ball for the Swiss equaliser as well wasn't it? Liability.

Obviously the main factor in all this was the commentator's saying Xhaka needn't worry about missing the next game when he got booked.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm loving the highlights. That Benzema goal was wonderful, just my sort of goal. I live for those little finishes, don't see them enough nowadays.

Looking back with no seethe involved, the Lloris save from Rodriguez was actually a really good save, not a huge amount wrong with the pen. Mbappe's miss was a poor penalty, hit the easy middle height and didn't go wide enough.

Stone cold classic game that one.

[Bernanke]

Xhaka is out? That's a shame. Is there an overview for the bans somewhere?

[Lewis]

I'd love to tell Roy Keane he's a crap pundit.

[-james-]

1409616212624031744

[Jimmy Floyd]

Between the Spanish pair and Varane/Kimpembe we saw some seriously inept centre back pairings today.

[Waffdon]

I'd love to tell Roy Keane he's a crap pundit.

He’s pretty awful. His rant towards Joao Felix was odd

[Lewis]

1409629408789422080

lol at Crybaby Giraffe.

[Don]

Tomorrow is my last day of work for the week, spots booked at the local for 4pm, coming off a storming dy of football and the England hype train is making HS2 speeds look pedestrian. What a fucking day in store. I LOVE DIS GAME.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Even my boss has let us leave at 4.30 to watch (if we work through lunch) and I can tell you it was through fucking gritted teeth. I'm all over it though.

To establish this he went around every desk in the building saying 'Do you follow the football?' and taking a tally.

[Boydy]

1409231419478528005

[Lewis]

1409639709828030467

[Jimmy Floyd]

'Stick the chips in the oven' got a midnight-proximate lol out of me.

[phonics]

This video was taken about 15 minutes after the win. It is still going strong if not stronger now.

https://streamable.com/i7v170

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is beating the cheese botherers considered a rival win there, or is that reserved for the von Trapps?

[phonics]

For my part of the country, massive. 40% of the city are immigrants and and most of those are French and Portuguese so you can imagine the amount of schadenfreude going on. Also factor in that the entire team are Balkan refugees. Everyone’s very happy. Apart from the french.

[Bernanke]

I got a friend in Bern and I'm seeing some proper scenes.

[Waffdon]

England have to be the only country in the world that leak their team hours/days before a game. Athletic/Matt Law do it every time before a big England game. 3 at the back tomorrow, no real surprises there.

Pickford
Walker Maguire Stones
Trippier Rice Phillips Shaw
Saka/Foden Kane Sterling

WORKMANLIKE

[phonics]

Pretty crap leak that if you picked 12 players.

[Luca]

1409639709828030467

What a crap song. They did bars for about 5 players and then just listed the rest of them at the end.

This is of course the standard-bearer of the genre from the 2006 World Cup:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vqpyZk2tOc

[Kikó]

1-0 tonight either way. Garry's boys to stink it out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Another of my bets (honestly fuck all the missed penalties) is for exactly 131 goals in the tournament, I went into last night a few goals behind pace, now I desperately need a load of borefests.

[Shindig]

I'm sure Sweden and Ukraine will provide. And they'll both wear yellow just to further compound it.

[Ian]

But those would be their home colours, and that's not allowed.

They'll both wear white.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've just done the homework, and of the 42 games so far, 24 have featured one of the teams wearing all white.

13 different teams have done it, so more than half the teams in the tournament.

[niko_cee]

How are the All Whites going in the last 16? Switzerland, Spain and Czech Rep all on the white side of history. Suppose Portugal letting the side down a bit but they've compromised it with those hoops. Were the Danes in white as well?

:sherlock:

Guess we'll be rolling out the indigo tonight. :moop:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Portugal are 'teal' apparently so not counted. The only teams with actual all white colours are England and Finland, I think (though Finland should have blue shorts normally, but for this mysterious directive).

Tonight is England in all white vs Germany in all black.

[Waffdon]

Pretty crap leak that if you picked 12 players.

The leak was the fact it’s 3 at the back and no Grealish. It just seems utterly weird to happily break team news 20 hours before they play.

[Ian]

As if tonight wasn't going to be bad enough the fucking England Band are back.

[Waffdon]

Lewis has just made a mess in his pants

[Disco]

As if tonight wasn't going to be bad enough the fucking England Band are back.

Quite glad I'm missing half of it now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've written a short poem to commemorate the occasion.

England till I die,
I'm England till I die.
I know I am,
I'm sure I am!
I'm England till I die.

[Don]

The carnage if you limp out with a back 3 and no Grealish :drool:

[Lewis]

The England Band. :cool:

[Yevrah]

The England Band. :cool:

That's cemented it. Jesus fucking Christ.

[Yevrah]

England have to be the only country in the world that leak their team hours/days before a game. Athletic/Matt Law do it every time before a big England game. 3 at the back tomorrow, no real surprises there.

Pickford
Walker Maguire Stones
Trippier Rice Phillips Shaw
Saka/Foden Kane Sterling

WORKMANLIKE

What the fuck is that team. :sick:

[Baz]

Hopefully Kane doesn’t turn up in invisible wellies and jeans again.

[niko_cee]

£2 a pint until the first goal goes in, 'mon Gareth you defensive bastard!


What the fuck is that team. :sick:

That, my friend is 7, maybe 8, defensive outfield players.

Shit or bust territory.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What the fuck is that team. :sick:

It's the exact team Gary Neville picked on twitter 5 days ago, which makes me worry somewhat.

[CJay]

What the fuck is that team. :sick:

It reads like those old Italian lineups with 7 defensive players and then 3 superstar attackers trying to make things happen up front. It generally didn’t work very well.

[Yevrah]

Against the Germany who're supposedly not very good? Itching to hear Manc and James take on this one.

[Ian]

Back three to let Fatty Shaw run wild down the left flank.

Waistcoat is a genius!

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I might go back to supporting England if a fan ever decides to shove a tuba up the arse of just one member of the England band.

If they manage to do it to all members I'll get Foden's haircut and tattoo three lions on my forehead.

[niko_cee]

Against the Germany who're supposedly not very good? Itching to hear Manc and James take on this one.

We're not playing Germany the football team as much as Germany the football myth/legend.

Or it's just Garethball.

[Yevrah]

Given Harry Kane is broken, we're looking at basically two actual attackers in the team, possibly one if Foden gets the nod over Saka.

If we're going to play like this the only acceptable outcome is we win the tournament, anything else is just wasting the entire England public's time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The theory goes that we're scared of Gosens and whoever their other wing back is, so the best way to counter this is by matching up in shape, letting Rice-Phillips defend against Kroos and Gundogan, and then hoping that the front three nick us a goal.

I suppose if total passivity is your thing then it might work.

[-james-]

Germany are weak in defence to about the same extent that England are (/have been!) in attack.

I presume Germany will dominate possession and England will occasionally launch balls for Sterling/Saka to chase. Watching them huff and puff to get past Willi Orban & co. is quite heartening.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/c4l9HSY.png

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Dave.]

https://i.imgur.com/c4l9HSY.png

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I agree with him. It might be 0-0, 1-1 or 2-2 after extra time but England win this on penalties.

[Yevrah]

Do we even have good club penalty takers or are people just being contrary for the sake of it?

[Baz]

Milner’s not gone.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fritz haven't lost on penalties since 1976, which was the Panenka one when they lost 7-5 to Czechoslovakia, which is odd as that sounds like an impossible penalty scoreline to me.

Maybe it was like the world snooker finals of the same era and it means 7 shootouts to 5 in a best of 13 series.