June: The Euro 2020ish Knockouts!

[Waffdon]

What the fuck is that team. :sick:

Apparently it’s Saka over Foden as well. :lol:

It’ll be brutal but you’ll be fine.

[Don]

Saka over Foden would indicate some astuteness so I doubt it.

I put in a 'it's coming home' in AOB of my last call today like the gammon banter king I am. I'm now truly one of you.

[Dave.]

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

My opinion is based on our goalkeeper. We've won our last two penalty shoot outs in knockout tournaments and with Pickford in goal, I see that continuing.

[SvN]

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.

Game was 2-2, the penalties were 5-3

[Jimmy Floyd]

Whatever website I was looking at needs to be shut down, in that case.

[Yevrah]

Apparently it’s Saka over Foden as well. :lol:

It’ll be brutal but you’ll be fine.

I'll take that if the alternative was having Foden as a wide player in a 3 behind the lummox.

[SvN]

Saka was excellent against the Czechs, so I'm happy about that.

I think we'll win fairly comfortably tonight. And if we do, I reckon - for the first time since pre-tournement in 2010 - that we have a genuine chance of winning the entire thing.

[Yevrah]

Saka was excellent against the Czechs, so I'm happy about that.

I think we'll win fairly comfortably tonight. And if we do, I reckon - for the first time since pre-tournement in 2010 - that we have a genuine chance of winning the entire thing.

Agree completely. If we win tonight we can genuinely win the whole thing.

[Waffdon]

Your squad depth is ridiculously good. Might come in handy the further you go

[-james-]

Agree completely. If we win tonight we can genuinely win the whole thing.

:happycry:

[Ian]

All this optimism.

Must be exciting following the national side in a tournament for the very first time.

[niko_cee]

Yev's on the banks of the Rubicon.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

My opinion is based on our goalkeeper. We've won our last two penalty shoot outs in knockout tournaments and with Pickford in goal, I see that continuing.

https://theathletic.com/2674454/2021/06/26/goalkeepers-best-penalty-record-euro-2020/

And yet Germany have a better keeper at penalties and haven't lost a shootout since the 70s.

[Yevrah]

The if in 'if we win tonight' is a huge one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We are due one, let's be honest.

6-0 England.

[Dave.]

https://theathletic.com/2674454/2021/06/26/goalkeepers-best-penalty-record-euro-2020/

And yet Germany have a better keeper at penalties and haven't lost a shootout since the 70s.

They will lose a shootout today. Historical shootouts are irrelevant. No one from the 1970s (or even from Euro 96) is playing today. Neuer is good but Pickford will be our trump card, both scoring and saving penalties.

[Waffdon]

Putting your faith into Jordan fucking Pickford is a brave move.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They will lose a shootout today. Historical shootouts are irrelevant. No one from the 1970s (or even from Euro 96) is playing today. Neuer is good but Pickford will be our trump card, both scoring and saving penalties.

Well he saved two in Germany's last shootout.

[niko_cee]

Saka's in, all out defence.

:drool:

[niko_cee]

Did Sterling masquerade as a wingback for City at some point?

[7om]

If we lose can we please have a Yevrage?

[Don]

No Gundo , shame Musiala doesn't start but I'm sure he has a late winner in him still :drool:

[Ian]

Why is Calvert-Lewin not even on the bench?

[Mellberg]

Southgate has actually managed to go even more defensive than I thought he would. It's his call and he's paid to make tough decisions, but his job needs to ride on this game now.

Anyway, 'mon.

[-james-]

Why is Calvert-Lewin not even on the bench?

You're only allowed a matchday squad of 24 despite there being 26 called up. They've been rotating who's been left out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why is Calvert-Lewin not even on the bench?

A failsafe in case he ever starts to doubt Harry Kane, Our Lionheart.

[Dave.]

Putting your faith into Jordan fucking Pickford is a brave move.

Why? He was the best goalkeeper at the last World Cup and has yet to concede in this tournament.

[SvN]

Seems ridiculous to leave out one of our only goalscoring threats off the bench. At least we've got 2 central defenders to bring on.

[Ian]

You're only allowed a matchday squad of 24 despite there being 26 called up. They've been rotating who's been left out.

He's our only other actual striker and he's barely played so he can't be tired.

I'd like to repeat the question.

Unless we're just going with Jimmy's answer.

[Waffdon]

Why? He was the best goalkeeper at the last World Cup and has yet to concede in this tournament.

It’s Jordan Pickford.

Surprised Werner is playing. Kyle Walker has been a mess against him and Havertz though so it does make sense especially at Wembley.

ja, mein Herr, ich kann Boogie tanzen

[Yevrah]

Southgate has actually managed to go even more defensive than I thought he would. It's his call and he's paid to make tough decisions, but his job needs to ride on this game now.

Anyway, 'mon.

It's the most defensive line-up I've ever seen anyone play in any game ever. I also don't like this pissing about with team selections to this extent. Find your best line-up and stick with it. Even I'd concede we're playing an average German team by their standards, so treating them like we're facing Brazil 1970 is either genius or insanity. Southgate maybe many things, but a genius he is not.

[7om]

That's it, Yev. This is good. Let the rage flow.

[Ian]

Scotland once played the Czech Republic without any strikers on the field so at the very worst this is the second-least defensive line-up ever along with every other time Southgate has done this.

[-james-]

He's our only other actual striker and he's barely played so he can't be tired.

I'd like to repeat the question.

Unless we're just going with Jimmy's answer.


Oh right. Yeah I suppose both Mings and Coady is perhaps unnecessary. He's just sure of us being 3-0 up rather than the other way round, you'd think.

[Yevrah]

Oh right. Yeah I suppose both Mings and Coady is perhaps unnecessary. He's just sure of us being 3-0 up rather than the other way round, you'd think.

:D

I enjoy the consistency with this madness.

[Yevrah]

That's it, Yev. This is good. Let the rage flow.

I'll never top Algeria 2010. Reason being is I went into that tournament thinking we not only could actually win it, but we might well. Despite the atrocities against football we've committed so far (and are seemingly trying to best this afternoon) the rage just isn't there as I fully expected something horrible.

[Ian]

Harry Kane is famously hard to injure I suppose so it makes sense that you wouldn't want another striker in the matchday squad.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think he sees Marcus Trashford as his second centre forward.

[Kikó]

That team is deeply depressing.

[wullie]

It's a weird ruling that you can have three extra squad players this year, but a handful of them can't be on your bench which has two goalkeepers.

[Yevrah]

I think he sees Marcus Trashford as his second centre forward.

I guess someone has to, I'm not even sure I see him as a footballer.

[Manc]

Southgate ensuring we neither win nor lose the battle down the flanks.

[Lewis]

That line-up and the likely substitutions has a whiff of the Croatia semi-final to it.

[Spikey M]

This is going to be parking the bus with Kane giving Saka and Sterling balls to chase.

Might just work too.

[Lewis]

Decent boos for the German anthem it's on lads.

[7om]

Booing anthems. Fucking hell that’s trashy.

[Spikey M]

They were all saying boo-urns.

[Waffdon]

Look at Declan Rice trying to be all Italian with that chest

[Lewis]

I'm convinced they're messing with the sound when they start booing the kneeling. The sound goes a bit Smackdown.

[Waffdon]

Jermaine Jenas :sick:

[7om]

I'm convinced they're messing with the sound when they start booing the kneeling. The sound goes a bit Smackdown.

They should pipe in Goldberg chants as well just for the lols.

[Lewis]

That might be seen as pro-Israel.

[Mellberg]

Early signs are concerning.

[Yevrah]

Our impregnable defence has started well.

[randomlegend]

This line-up is awful. Southgate is an absolute mess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Does Saka look good because he's actually good or is it because he hasn't had the positive runs, energy, etc beaten out of him yet by the English coaches?

[Jimmy Floyd]

What vegetable suits Southgate? The marrow, perhaps?

[Waffdon]

Muller is a bit shit

[Lewis]

German Danny Welbeck.

[Lewis]

There is an alternate reality where Ed Woodward spends a hundred million quid on him and then has to resign after three years of movementing and workrating his way to seventeen goals.

[Lofty]

Does Saka look good because he's actually good or is it because he hasn't had the positive runs, energy, etc beaten out of him yet by the English coaches?

Saka is the best player that will ever graduate Arsenal's academy. But yeah no-one has told him to stop running at people yet.

Hopefully since Martinelli does the same Arteta is encouraging it, supposed winger specialist that he is.

[Yevrah]

This Germany team are so there for the taking.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This Germany team are so there for the taking.

It's painfully obvious that this formation doesn't play to the German's strengths yet Low insists on it.

Far too easy to break them down.

[-james-]

I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm not sure Harry Kane has had a touch.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm not sure Harry Kane has had a touch.

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1553545/Live/International-European-Championship-2020-England-Germany

He's had two.

Edit; He's up to 3!

[Adramelch]

He's been drawing defenders on him, or some silly excuse like that.

[Serj]

Who is the co-commentator on the BBC? He has a knack for mispronouncing German names that I find oddly charming. Cruise, Goosens, etc. The main one seems to be trying at least.

[Mellberg]

Jermaine Jenas.

[-james-]

The back three have been good, especially Walker. Declan Rice looks like he's running through treacle while on ketamine.

To be honest I'm not sure I can take three and a half more games of this.

[-james-]

Kane for Sancho and Rice for Bellingham/Mount?

[mugbull]

KalPhil very lucky not to get sent off there

[Lofty]

Kane's touch there was vomit inducing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why didn't he just try the shot with his left?

[Lewis]

Declan Rice will get sent off and Palestinian flag Twitter will be bumping his IRA tweets all week.

[7om]

Germany look toothless. What has happened to them

[Yevrah]

I’d sack Gareth Southgate at half time.

[Serj]

Jermaine Jenas.

Cheers.

Both sides insisting on five at the back is a bit odd. At least Germany have a proper wing-back in there with Gosens, but the other three being played in that position have had their best spells as overlapping full-backs, as far as I remember (which might well be wrong).

Germany look like an accident waiting to happen at the back though. 1-0 England is on.

[Yevrah]

Rancid German team and we’re passing backwards and sideways into being knocked out.

[Waffdon]

Gnabry for Muller. Surely.

[phonics]

My Dads reached the age where I think he’s slagging off England by referencing Butch Wilkins. I say think because I have no idea whether he thinks a player who retired years before I was born is a good or bad thing.

[Waffdon]

John Stones from a set piece all over this.

[Baz]

Was eating my tea in the first half so let’s hope for more 0-0. I notice both holding midfielders are booked. Get Hendo on.

[Lewis]

1409917123443499008

I might consider it for the World Cup, but not the Euros, and definitely not this shit farce Euros.

[Vercetti]

At least we've got options off the bench if Kane continues to Helen Keller his way through this game...

[Mellberg]

Recognise the name from an Eminem song, but no fucking clue.

[Shindig]

1409917123443499008

I might consider it for the World Cup, but not the Euros, and definitely not this shit farce Euros.

Fuck that Mafia bullshit. That's just not British.

[Shindig]

Recognise the name from an Eminem song, but no fucking clue.

Kasey Keller's wife. His deaf, dumb wife.

[Lewis]

Recognise the name from an Eminem song, but no fucking clue.

Pards, one of the cretins/gombines from the Old Board.

[Yevrah]

We have got to go for this. Subs will be so key and need to happen around 60 mins.

[Mellberg]

Pards, one of the cretins/gombines from the Old Board.

:D I know it's Pards.

And get why you'd think Vercetti would be in an Eminem song over a blind American author.

[Lewis]

We have got to go for this. Subs will be so key and need to happen around 60 mins.

Fiver sez Henderson for Rice and Foden for Saka.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fiver sez Henderson for Rice and Foden for Saka.

Rashford for Kane.

[Mellberg]

I think Germany have realised we're shit.

[Waffdon]

Kane getting injured doing his backing into you pish. Such a shame

[Yevrah]

Fiver sez Henderson for Rice and Foden for Saka.

Yep. At 75 minutes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Werner is crap.

[Adramelch]

Muller has been an active hindrance in this Germany team.

[Shindig]

Sterling will be a great player when he learns to look up.

[Mellberg]

Sterling will be a great player when he learns to look up.

He's 26.

This isn't good enough and I'm bored. Southgate has effectively killed off the Grealish brigade though. I'd take any of him, Foden and Mount (it'll be Mount) at this stage.

[Yevrah]

Sterling is perfectly fine when being played as he should be and not as a main creative focus in a team.

Have to hand it to Gareth, he’s found new ways to make watching England appalling.

[Spikey M]

"He's looking for options" :D

He had Kane and Saka right there.

[Foe]

This game is rubbish.

[Mellberg]

Yes Jacky boy!

[Shindig]

"He's looking for options" :D

He had Kane and Saka right there.

He slowed right down as well. He's got pace for days but has to have a man in front of him to challenge. Brainless. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

One useless player at the top taken off for Germany but another (Muller) is still there.

[Yevrah]

You know, this is so bad, win or lose a rant might well be coming.

[Boydy]

You know, this is so bad, win or lose a rant might well be coming.

:drool:

[7om]

Yeah I’m bored shitless.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Reece James warming up to replace an injured Trippier.

He does not want to deviate from this formation.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:moop:

Ugh.

[-james-]

Easy.

[7om]

Love you southgate ��

[Spikey M]

IT'S COMING HOE YOU SLAGS :drool:

[Boydy]

Time to fall back, defend deep and concede an 89th minute equaliser.

[Danny]

Shaw doing it for Mourinho.

[Spoonsky]

Get in lads. Germany are rancid.

[Yevrah]

Hold me. We’ve actually scored at the ‘right time’ too. :D

[Lofty]

Slabhead gonna slab.

[Waffdon]

This is going to be a horrible summer.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Muller is shocking.

[Waffdon]

How the fuck is Muller still playing

[-james-]

How the fuck is Muller still playing

He's somehow only 31.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck off.

[Lewis]

lol at Faghow.

[7om]

Get Baddiel and Skinner for a remix now

[Serj]

Two shots on goal this half. :D Gareth Southgate is going to live off this forever.

[Lewis]

He needs the England Band. We all do.

Well well well.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

lol at Faghow.

I did say Germany were your best bet from that group.

They're horrendous defensively and their attacking options are pretty toothless. Still thought they'd win mind.

[Vercetti]

Tactical masterclass.

:uhoh:

[7om]

Brexit ball wins again.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

England still wont win the thing but this is absolutely their best chance of doing so.

[Vercetti]

Muller looks like a reanimated corpse.

[Mellberg]

Thomas Muller having a tantrum. What was he saying about trying to talk ourselves into self-confidence before the game :lol:

CUNT

[Spikey M]

Isn't Low leaving now? Off you go lad.

[7om]

This is why I voted leave.

[-james-]

Pretty much perfect from big man Gaz. We move.

[Lewis]

I did say Germany were your best bet from that group.

They're horrendous defensively and their attacking options are pretty toothless. Still thought they'd win mind.

'...but at least I got to see Ukraine.'

[Boydy]

1409929734041997313

I see Igor managed to get a ticket.

[Shindig]

I did say Germany were your best bet from that group.

They're horrendous defensively and their attacking options are pretty toothless. Still thought they'd win mind.

I always expected them to turn it around, though. Havertz is the only forward they have that's switched on. Even with that, they created the better chances. We just happened to put ours away and, to be honest, controlled the game.

[Yevrah]

Ok. We can win this now. And actually, there’s no excuse for not at least reaching the final.

[Lewis]

Alright, get off the pitch before we get the loser mentality back.

[Kikó]

That was some performance. Sterling, Maguire and Shaw were superb.

[Disco]

Get off the pitch you twats, you haven't won anything yet.

[Manc]

Jack fucking Grealish. :drool:

[Waffdon]

Thank god for the muting words feature on Twitter.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We're over-celebrating this ffs.

Miserable outlook from me in the circs but we are.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

'...but at least I got to see Ukraine.'

Who I think could beat your lot.

They'll actually look to attack.

Sweden will be a lot easier for England to cope with.

[Browning]

So the group of death is..... dead?

[Lewis]

'your lot'

Chinny Hill

[Shindig]

Ukraine could Yarmalenko us to bits, Sweden could organise the arse off us. But we have the potential to biff them. All bets are off, to be honest. Italy look fine and Spain have scored their way out of trouble. Everyone else is so close together.

[Yevrah]

It’ll be interesting to see what happens when our 8 defenders come up against a team who’re more than happy with a 0-0 draw, which all our road to the final opponents will be.

[Spikey M]

It’ll be interesting to see what happens when our 8 defenders come up against a team who’re more than happy with a 0-0 draw, which all our road to the final opponents will be.

Champagne football.

[7om]

We’ve looked small time since the final whistle. Declan Rice said in his interview that we’ve “created history”. Fucking hell.

[Kikó]

Fuck off you miserable bastards.

[Shindig]

Aye, these occasions don't come around too often. If Switzerland can blow horns for six hours, so can we.

[Lofty]

We’ve looked small time since the final whistle. Declan Rice said in his interview that we’ve “created history”. Fucking hell.

When was the last time England beat Germany in a knockout match at a tournament?

[Yevrah]

We’re a small time footballing nation that once won a World Cup, let them have their moment.

[Lewis]

When was the last time England beat Germany in a knockout match at a tournament?

Before we joined the European Union. No coincidence.

[Yevrah]

When was the last time England beat Germany in a knockout match at a tournament?

Outside of 66 this is the best win in a knockout match we’ve ever had.

[Ian]

Well, I still don't know how Muller missed but fucking hell we've only knocked Germany out.

[Spikey M]

Beating Germany in the knockout stages of a tournament was always going to get this reaction you miserable fucks.

Gascoigne missing the cross, Southgate and Pierce missing penalties, etc. They even had more comfy trenches in WW1. Bastards. Subhuman scum. They've benefited from our misery too many times.

BREXITS COMING HOME

[Manc]

We’ve looked small time since the final whistle. Declan Rice said in his interview that we’ve “created history”. Fucking hell.

:happycry:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It’ll be interesting to see what happens when our 8 defenders come up against a team who’re more than happy with a 0-0 draw, which all our road to the final opponents will be.

Ukraine will actually attack. Although they did struggle a lot against a very organised Austria.

Denmark is a toss up, they should go for it but I can see them being a bit passive considering it would be a semi-final.

Sweden and the Czechs would be more than happy for a 0-0 to penalties I feel.

[7om]

Fair play to Southgate though. Everybody’s calling him a goofy cunt when the team sheets come out but he’s getting the job done.

(I reserve the right to edit this post should we get bummed by Shevchenko.)

[7om]

:happycry:

:harold:

[Spikey M]

Fair play to Southgate though. Everybody’s calling him a goofy cunt when the team sheets come out but he’s getting the job done.

(I reserve the right to edit this post should we get bummed by Shevchenko.)

This typo made me look and Shevchenko is 44 now.

We're so old :(

[Spoonsky]

I thought Southgate did decently. It’s easier to imagine them coming out a bit more attacking and end up getting torn apart 2010 style. As it is they managed to largely frustrate Germany and created one crucial chance. Bringing on Grealish also turned things. I’d say Grealish is what Southgate thinks Sterling is (creative spark), and it turns out that Sterling is what Kane normally should be (clinical one-touch finisher).

Luke Shaw was man of the match though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fair play to Southgate though. Everybody’s calling him a goofy cunt when the team sheets come out but he’s getting the job done.

(I reserve the right to edit this post should we get bummed by Shevchenko.)

The tactic helped to nullify Gosens who was their biggest threat in previous games.

Making it so Muller and Werner had to do something was a top move.

[Spoonsky]

Also, real 2018 vibes with this bracket. No excuses for not making the final from here.

[Shindig]

This typo made me look and Shevchenko is 44 now.

We're so old :(

Had the chance to see him play at Steve Harper's testimonial. I was all excited to see him and then it turns out he sacked the game off to appear in a golf tournament. Paulo Di Canio filled in, played the game of his life and ruined Steve's occasion. 0-0 (lost on penalties and Di Canio scored his) Shevchenko finished his golf tournament in last place. :D

[Waffdon]

I have no idea who I’d rather face England. Sweden I guess for the chance they shit fest their way through. Ukraine are entertaining but will concede for fun against England

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Big fan of Kulusevski starting, he was brilliant off the bench in their last game.

[Yevrah]

Saying Southgate got everything right assumes the choices were binary and there was only one way to win.

[Mellberg]

Saying Southgate got everything right assumes the choices were binary and there was only one way to win.

True, but completely justified in his selection and maybe we wouldn't.

[Manc]

Kulusevski looking like a SoundCloud rapper.

[Lewis]

Saying Southgate got everything right assumes the choices were binary and there was only one way to win.

Well done mate you've become James.

[Foe]

It’s an interesting tactic for Southgate. The football is so dull, but as long as they don’t concede, which they haven’t yet, they can’t lose on anything other than pens (lottery). If it works he looks like a genius, if it doesn’t he’s crucified for wasting a plethora of attacking talent to play 8 glorified defenders.

What a terrible match.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It’s an interesting tactic for Southgate. The football is so dull, but as long as they don’t concede, which they haven’t yet, they can’t lose on anything other than pens (lottery). If it works he looks like a genius, if it doesn’t he’s crucified for wasting a plethora of attacking talent to play 8 glorified defenders.

What a terrible match.

It's not a lottery though. If it was then you wouldn't have nations that are far better than others at them.

[Yevrah]

Well done mate you've become James.

Fair point. Gareth absolutely did what he set out to do so fair play to him. Begrudgingly so as it was horrible to watch for 75 minutes.

[Manc]

Guardiola has ruined Zinchenko. A player devoid of imagination seeking only to play the percentage pass.

[Ian]

Percentaged right into the old onion bag.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a quality goal.

[Bernanke]

Balls.

[Manc]

What's happened to Malinovsky?

[Bernanke]

Forsberg is immense today.

[-james-]

Well done mate you've become James.
:happycry:

[Spikey M]

1409948250048770048?s=19

[Mellberg]

Look how shit it is being posh.

[Shindig]

He really is just a giant baby.

[Ian]

What a goblin.

[Spikey M]

It's the equivalent of what I'd look like if I went to the Ballet. "Did you see that? That was a big jump."

[Shindig]

Just do what I do with art galleries. Look at a thing, pretend I know what I'm looking at but don't say a word. Move on. As soon as someone asks me for an opinion, I'm out of there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Forsberg is brilliant, could have easily had a hattrick today.

[Disco]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

[Jimmy Floyd]

England game. It was an interesting watch. The first 20 minutes I thought we were going out in a ball of flames. After that we got the ball down a bit better but we were absolutely not a threat, because all we had was a massive fifty yard gap between Rice/Phillips and the atrocious Kane. Defence made a couple of howling collective mistakes and would have been punished if Werner hadn't had his testicles removed.

Then we brought Grealish on and everything instantly changed purely because we had that extra man popping up between the German lines and getting touches. He didn't do anything outstanding but his mere presence opened it up for us. Then we scored and that was game over, because Germany are a poor side and really have little to offer.

In hindsight Southgate gets the plaudits, and fair play to him, but in reality I think we got a little bit lucky with that ultra-defensive strategy, as we really offered nothing and had we conceded and the Germans been able to adjust their approach, I think we might have struggled. However, we didn't, so fuck it and fuck the Germans.

I think we should roast either of the yellow teams currently playing on account of just being much better, but a semi-final vs Denmark would be a very different challenge. All in all, though, we should reach the final from here.

MotM: Sterling. Brilliant on the ball and brilliant runs to offer us an out ball, without which we might have succumbed to getting stuck on our own lines.

[Ian]

Forsberg is brilliant, could have easily had a hattrick today.

The tragedy is that now football clubs are packed with nerds and statisticians and easy access to previous games for players nobody (I'm thinking Liverpool, maybe Spurs) are going to blow their load on him off the back of a handful of tournament games.

[Shindig]

We were really lucky but one hallmark of Southgate's tactics is that we don't create a lot. I think he banks on us having the ability to take our chances rather than creating a glut of them. With a front three of Sterling, Kane and Grealish, we'll create something. Maybe more if Kane decides he's getting nowhere as the man up top and decides to supply one of the wingers. And at least we know we can change things reliably from the bench with Saka, Sancho, Bellingham, Foden and Mount.

Pickford kept us in that match, too. Not called into action much but still alert.

[Ian]

Not sure why I separated nerds and statisticians in that context, I assume that venn diagram is basically a circle if you work for a football club.

[Spikey M]

Grealish should be starting and it's laughable that he isn't.

Or, maybe he's seen as a super sub by design?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Grealish should be starting and it's laughable that he isn't.

Or, maybe he's seen as a super sub by design?

I can't see us sticking to that shape against a 'lesser' team, surely they go back to the 3 behind Kane.

It springs to mind that the last time England played in Rome was 'then one night in Rome...'. This whole tournament is like a whistlestop tour through the 90s. I think it might be coming home.

[Lewis]

He has to be off for that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a shocking tackle.

Ukrainian lad is lucky if he hasn't broken his leg.

[Ian]

If this twerp Danielson was going to get himself sent off he should have at least do a Crane Kick.

[Bernanke]

Well then. If we pull this out of the bag with two players down including Berg...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Can the woman/girl who is screeching right by a microphone be put down please?

[Shindig]

Get a flight and shut her up, Mahow.

[Bernanke]

Well then. If we pull this out of the bag with two players down including Berg...

Make that three.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Looks like England might have a bye in the next round, everyone is going down injured.

[Ian]

The more knackered they are the more worried I'll be.

[Bernanke]

This is turning into a parody.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1409980441860452353

1409982245222428677

:cab:

[Manc]

Sweden resorting to shithousery is a real plot twist.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Unless I've forgotten one, I'm pretty sure Ukraine are 1/1 in penalty shootouts, which was of course THE greatest game of them all.

[Spikey M]

The more knackered they are the more worried I'll be.

If England win this you will be the luckiest bastard alive. Almost endless Scots to wind up. We will of course repurpose the TTH Sustainment Fund for your funeral.

[Ian]

I'm just glad that whoever we play they'll be too broken and knackered to beat England, just like Croatia were when we won the World Cup in 2018.

[Baz]

Didn’t watch the first half of England and then drove home from my parents on the hour mark. Thought nobody cared about England cos the roads were busy and saw some builders sat outside a pub, clearly not watching/listening to football.

But then when Sterling scored I was going past a different pub and it was going wild.

Was a bit surreal though cos I had talkSport on on my shitty AM car radio and heard the goal, and then literally over 20 seconds later it must have gone in on TV.

[-james-]

I don't think it should be a red but it's pretty hard not to give. It's just pure bad luck for the defender.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mother fucker has denied us penalties.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Thoroughly deserved that. Sweden are just a bunch of shitkickers.

[Baz]

Fucking VAR.

[Yevrah]

Why is that Ukranian wearing a bra?

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's right Sheva, give some to that speccy bastard. Legend.

[Spikey M]

Hopefully Russia complete the invasion and we play them instead.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ukraine could give England problems as they do like to attack but they struggle to break down organised teams and their defence is crap.

Plus at least half their team is now dead it seems.

[Shindig]

I definitely wouldn't start Grealish against this lot. He'll not walk again.

[Raoul Duke]

Why is that Ukranian wearing a bra?

It's sensors and stuff for data tracking

[Spikey M]

Ukraine could give England problems as they do like to attack but they struggle to break down organised teams and their defence is crap.

Plus at least half their team is now dead it seems.

We'll be ok as long as we don't forget our coats.

SvN will be sound.

A 2 tier injoke there. You're welcome.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've never really thought of Freddie Ljungberg as being Swedish (he more belongs to the Nation of Arsenal) but that voice is a proper Ikea bookshelf brogue.

[Baz]

The comments on the lineup announcement tweet (https://twitter.com/england/status/1409886564851892241?s=21) aged well.

[Waffdon]

так, сер, я можу бугі

[Shindig]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2E11/production/_119139711_2a96c194-51a5-4ec5-8b76-4f73da959ae6.jpg

He's under 24 hour care and no photo can convince me otherwise.

[Lewis]

Having those bins so close together explains a lot.

[Baz]

Deffo has the SD channel on.

[phonics]

I've never really thought of Freddie Ljungberg as being Swedish (he more belongs to the Nation of Arsenal) but that voice is a proper Ikea bookshelf brogue.

I always thought of him as a bit of a thick diva but Saka doesn't exist without him. Took him from the u15's to the u23's and then got him training with the first team.

[Magic]

Deffo has the SD channel on.

Only thing worse is people boasting about it being on UHD on iPlayer.

[Kikó]

Why is that Ukranian wearing a bra?

I bought one over the summer for my football. It's a GPS tracker from statsport. Cool gadget if you're a geek.

[Magic]

I bought one over the summer for my football. It's a GPS tracker from statsport. Cool gadget if you're a geek.

Of course you did.

[Kikó]

Sorry fun police.

[SvN]

Only thing worse is people boasting about it being on UHD on iPlayer.

One of my friends watched it on iPlayer for this reason, then moaned at our WhatsApp group for posting 'spoilers' because he was on a lag.

[Lofty]

As a dedicated 4K shagger not sure what benefit UHD offers over HD for sport, especially at the cost of a delay (as if you wouldn't have the spoilers for an England game of hearing your neighbours react anyway). UHD, especially with HDR 10+, Dolby Vision etc is about increasing the vibrancy of colours and deepness of blacks. Amazing for cinema, limited for football.

[Don]

Deepness of blacks, you say?

[Shindig]

One of my friends watched it on iPlayer for this reason, then moaned at our WhatsApp group for posting 'spoilers' because he was on a lag.

I just do it so I can multitask without needing a second screen.

[Lofty]

Deepness of blacks, you say?

I knew as I typed it you would be all over that :D

[Kikó]

Deepness of blacks, you say?

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTgipdBRYFIAZwZCa4O-OOw1_IkukFfZSPd1A&usqp=CAU

[Jimmy Floyd]

I watched it in a bar, but weirdly kept checking the TTH thread on my phone, as you lot are much better company than FUCKING FORWARDS RICE etc.

[Ian]

Weird thing for me is that usually for England tournament games I feel horribly tense. I dunno if it's the narcolepsy-inducing group stage performances that caused it I even felt this way yesterday..... right up until we scored. Before then I was so busy assuming we'd find a way to fuck it and when we suddenly had the league, THEN the nerves kicked in.

[Lewis]

I watched it in a bar, but weirdly kept checking the TTH thread on my phone, as you lot are much better company than FUCKING FORWARDS RICE etc.

TTH Final Meet get it booked 'Daws' nowhere shit thanks.

[Kikó]

That would be pretty cool actually. I'll wear my sports bra.

[Manc]

More folk coming out today lamenting the Danielson red card. Bonkers.

[Kikó]

I actually can understand though similar to Gary Lineker's tweet. He has cleared the ball and the player has ran into his leg and it looks awful. He's not actively gone to tackle him or hurt him and the follow through can happen because he's trying to get power on the clearance.