July: The end of the Euros and.... friendlies?

[thommo]

Sam Matterface. He's always been utter shit, and he clearly felt he had to get a "defining speech" in towards the end of extra time which was incredibly embarrassing.

[Yevrah]

He started that shit with three minutes to go too. He has watched England before, right?

[Lewis]

Clive Tyldesley sat on the bench as well.

[Waffdon]

Get Ally McCoist in for the final with Clive.

I’ve just noticed two balls being on the pitch for that penalty. Lolz

[Spoonsky]

Sam Matterface. He's always been utter shit, and he clearly felt he had to get a "defining speech" in towards the end of extra time which was incredibly embarrassing.

It was just begging for a Denmark equalizer. :D

The final's going to be really fun.

[Yevrah]

Oh and I would advise any of you that care about England winning this to put however much money you can afford to lose and not care about/would happily lose to see England win on Italy. I'll be putting at least a grand on the opposition.

[Yevrah]

It's double your money at the moment.

[Yevrah]

2.1 appeared and couldn't resist.

https://i.postimg.cc/Hnv0gjWv/Euro-2020.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Yevrah]

Actually, how do I make this approach go viral? I could make a grand doing nothing before kick off if it does....

[Bam]

. I'll be putting at least a grand on the opposition.

Alright, calm down big man.

[Yevrah]

If you care as much as we do about England winning, it makes perfect sense. I've been waiting to do it for years, but oh...

2 grand is showing no balls on my part whatsoever.

[Yevrah]

Actually I think I might go big on this. Enough people are going to work it out for themselves anyway to materially change the odds and if it goes viral (from any source) you're talking about life changing money before the game has even kicked off.

[START OF MESSAGE]

This is the full logic:

If you want to either enjoy England winning on Sunday, or have a few more quid in your pocket do the following, but only with as much money as you can afford to lose/don't care about losing/would gladly pay to see England win:

Place whatever that amount of money is on Italy winning EURO2020, this has to be to win the tournament. DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT, PUT IT ON ITALY TO WIN IN 90 MINUTES. If you do you'll get better odds, but you could end up with the absolute opposite of what this is designed to do. i.e. Italy win the tournament in extra time or on pens, you lose the bet and you lose your money.

Who do I think will win? I think England will win.

Why on earth are you telling me to back Italy then?

Multiple reasons:

If they do you'll win some money, which will soften the blow of England losing.
If they don't you'll lose some money, but only as much as you care to lose and you'll enjoy seeing England win a major tournament for what will probably be the first time in your lifetime.
Bookmaking is a thoroughly repugnant and utterly immoral business model. It works on getting people hooked, all hidden behind 'gamble responsibly lies' and millions chucked at household and trusted names like Harry Redknapp.
If Italy win and millions or even billions are placed on them, the bookies will lose fortune. But, get in quick as as soon as they get a whiff of this they'll slash the odds or withdraw the book entirely. Thus further proving the point above. The house always wins, or at least tries to stack the odds in their favour through manipulation.
Even though I think England will win, the odds on them doing so are a perfect example of this. i.e. they're far too short. Italy are a much better team and have played far better than we have throughout almost the entire tournament. We are at home, but that could prove to be a hindrance more than a help.

Will you make money out of this?

Yes. How much depends on two things. Firstly whether Italy win and secondly whether enough people take this up. If enough people take this up the odds on Italy will be slashed to the point where I can back England for the same amount and it will be impossible to lose.

Basically I could lose my bet and money staked (like all of you who follow this), or I could win enough to cover a lovely holiday, right up to a small fortune. I want to be completely transparent about this and will happily reveal how much (somehow) when it's all over.

What's the catch?

Nothing. Either England win, the bookies do well out of it (as they will anyway if England win), we all get to enjoy that and we've only lost an amount of money we don't care about or Italy win and we make a few quid (should be about double your money) to offset the heartache of England losing. And the morally repugnant bookies get completely screwed.

Just don't bet more than you don't care about losing and we all win in some way. And if you're new to gambling, absolutely ignore any enticing introductory offers, withdraw the money (if Italy win), close the account and never place another bet again in your life.

[END OF MESSAGE]

[Yevrah]

Can you gents sense check that for any factual errors/nonsense/flaws before I (and hopefully we) start sharing?

[Yevrah]

If you're all in bed cunted while we snooze on the biggest TTH windfall in our history I'm going to be mildly annoyed. We've got 3 days to land this.

All criticism, constructive or otherwise is welcome. Just do what you normally do when I post something.

[Ian]

Have you had any sleep, Yev?

[Yevrah]

I have a question. How would the bet be voided where you wouldn't get your stake back? Is that possible? Terrorist attack on the England band? Both buses get stuck in front of Extinction Rebellion?

[Ian]

Priti Patel retroactively enforcing her immigration rules and half the team getting deported.

[Yevrah]

Have you had any sleep, Yev?

No. I was absolutely pumped after we won. But that's not important. Your thoughts? Other than Sincere, we must have some viral experts on here?

[Ian]

Oh I'm absolutely not in any position to offer any advice other than that I really do think you should get some sleep. The betting lads will be along at some point to offer their insight I'm sure.


Other than Sincere, we must have some viral experts on here?

:D

[Gray Fox]

https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/030/338/New.jpg

[Kikó]

Right, time for some real talk.

We were good for 6 minutes of injury time and for the first half of extra time, for the rest of it we were abysmal, interspersed with moments of ok. Denmark looked dangerous every time they came forward and our much lauded defence was shaky at best.
Kane continually dropping deep or wide must have been intentional and it's an absolute nonsense. When he was in the middle, he looked dangerous and we were good. No coincidence that was only for about 20 minutes.

While I was rightly corrected by James that losses in the past, with completely different players, have any bearing on the here and now, there is clearly something that's in our psyche that doesn't lend itself to knockout football for England. Pickford's looked solid all tournament and was a complete shambles tonight. Kane's penalty was absolutely horrific - an effort I'd have been disappointed with. Interesting that we also played far better than any other game away from Wembley.

But, but, but, we won, and on balance I'd say we deserved to and I think we'll win on Sunday too. My primary reasoning is that it just feels like it's time, but if you want a footballing one, 8 at the back with Sterling and a.n.other pace merchant terrorising their ageing backline will be enough to see us through. I think we'll concede, but will probably score a couple. The 8 at the back should keep Kane up front and centre too, which will help hugely.

Which then leads me onto Southgate, he'll be knighted and righty so, but we should part ways with him at the end of the tournament and get someone else in who can play football with a plan that involves some attacking intent. I got it wrong against Germany, he set out what he wanted to do and the players executed it superbly, but there was no plan tonight and (let's be fair, against a second tier team) we were pretty shocking for most of it, with the second half of extra time an abomination of an approach. This approach and style of football will never be good enough to win another tournament, where we'll be facing at least two good teams, another with historical significance and if we're lucky, one poor one over a four game knockout run. Against that calibre of opposition we'll never win anything playing like this and we'll never get another run in a tournament against such wank or knackered opposition as we've faced here. Which is also why we'll be the worst winners of an international tournament in my lifetime, and by some margin.

But on Sunday at least, that won't matter. It'll have come home.

:happycry:

[Yevrah]

Forget about that shit, it's last night's chip paper. What's wrong with my plan?

[Yevrah]

Oh I'm absolutely not in any position to offer any advice other than that I really do think you should get some sleep. The betting lads will be along at some point to offer their insight I'm sure.



:D

Cheers. I'm in work now anyway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yev, you've run mad. Betting on the opposite of what you want to happen is a well-worn thing. Go and do it if you like. My grandad used to bet on Labour to win every election, to ease the pain if they did.

I'm the biggest football fan in the office and also the only person who has turned up on time for an 8.30 start in my bit. Fucking part timers.

[Lofty]

Anyone unable to answer your proposed quiz should be handed a P45 upon arrival.

[Yevrah]

Yev, you've run mad. Betting on the opposite of what you want to happen is a well-worn thing. Go and do it if you like. My grandad used to bet on Labour to win every election, to ease the pain if they did.

I'm the biggest football fan in the office and also the only person who has turned up on time for an 8.30 start in my bit. Fucking part timers.

That’s everyone’s first response and then they think about manipulation through betfair via it going viral and they have another run at it.

Your Grandad may have been a trailblazer but he didn’t have the internet to help him.

People love England winning
People love a story
People love money
People hate bookies
People love finding things on the internet

I need specifics as to why it won’t work. Not that it’ll be hard or you’re mad. Everyone who did anything of note was probably told they were mad. Hell, my first boss in finance laughed at me when I asked him how to get further.

[Shindig]

You think that Yev post is mental when he starts off saying England were shit until injury time and then by the end of it he's both knighting and sacking the manager.

What chemicals are going in that hot tub?

"We're not suited to knockout football." We've only won five knockout games under him. :cab:

To put things in perspective, there are very, very few managers that transition from club to international football. Trappatoni and Capello completely fucked it. Andriy Shevchenko is getting some good out of Ukraine. You're not working with players on a daily basis, don't have a wealth of talent at your disposal and you're not in control of things like player development. The only time you really spend together is in a tournament.

I think Yev expects club performances on international level. That fallacy caught out Gerrard and Lampard's generation. To put things in perspective, Sam Allardyce. It could've been him taking us to Russia. Would have have managed this or would Yev be moaning about how "It's all too slow and terrible!" as we drop out to Columbia.

[Kikó]

https://img.gifglobe.com/grabs/partridgecloud/S02E06/gif/FpF9afIjgcgW.gif

[Yevrah]

Specifically I’d like to know as a concept how this is better or worse than GameStop.

[Ian]

Can we shunt this to the betting thread so the people who care can wank on about it and the rest of us can just shout IT'S COMING HOME at each other?

[Jimmy Floyd]

That’s everyone’s first response and then they think about manipulation through betfair via it going viral and they have another run at it.

Your Grandad may have been a trailblazer but he didn’t have the internet to help him.

People love England winning
People love a story
People love money
People hate bookies
People love finding things on the internet

I need specifics as to why it won’t work. Not that it’ll be hard or you’re mad. Everyone who did anything of note was probably told they were mad. Hell, my first boss in finance laughed at me when I asked him how to get further.

It'll be offset and more by the power of mug money, I'd have thought.

[Yevrah]

I’ll start it’s own thread soon.

[Spikey M]

I'm sure I read that retail gamblers basically have no impact on prices because the institutions have algorithms that scoop up any sniff of value.

[Andy]

I'm not going to bet against England. I don't think winning a couple of grand would help with my mood if England lost, the agony goes pretty quickly and I'd be back to Saints running my weekends in a couple of weeks anyway.

And on the other hand losing a couple of grand would sour the celebrations a bit if we win.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm sure I read that retail gamblers basically have no impact on prices because the institutions have algorithms that scoop up any sniff of value.

And this. Viral Yevrah isn't going to touch what Lord Chunkington can do as soon as the prices move away from what's realistic. The good Lord will just chuck half a million at the market and it'll be back to rights.

[phonics]

These politicians that tried to make the England team part of their ongoing culture war and then doing the ingerlund shit now they’re winning is so embarrassing.

[Yevrah]

You’re missing the bigger picture gents.

If I get tickets to the final out of this it’ll be a success.

[Yevrah]

I don’t really care about the money.

[Don]

These celebrations and Sunday's antics should hopefully accelerate the COVID wave, could do with it having already ran through the crowds by the time the clubs reopen.

[-james-]

The UK bookmakers will make bonkers money on a final involving England regardless of what the public ends up doing. I can guarantee they are licking the lips. The asian football market is too big for anything like this to be anything but a drop in the ocean. The real big boys bet on the likes of singbet, ibcbet, pinnacle, betisn and by kick off it takes hundreds of millions to shift the price. Any liabilities the bookies may have are laid off in Asia and they are extremely good at pricing games at the exact point that entices money on all outcomes.

I'm not sure that attempting to bash the bookies by having your money on a an exchange really holds either, considering it's potentially Joe Public's England bet you're laying and Mr. Betfair is skimming a cool 5% off both of you.

[SvN]

Yev has officially jumped the shark.

[Yevrah]

Apologies for derailing the thread, I'll tidy it up later and start a new one.

[niko_cee]

So much madness in here.

Absolutely loved the second half of extra time. I can only imagine how awful those last 5 minutes would have been as a Denmark fan, they literally had none of the ball. Was also bang up for what I thought was the plan (steal a goal and then use all our subs to bring on defenders) but he sort of bottled it after doing the Trippier/Grealish sub (:happycry:), could have had White and Mings on as well.

Never a penalty, but also never being overturned. What was the crack with the one where Kane got mown down? Was there a foul in the build up.

He's obviously going to go with the same basic team in the final, maybe even the Germany one. It'll be rancid but it might just work. Rice and Phillips are just horrific but I guess they do a lot I don't appreciate.

[Boydy]

Have you had any sleep, Yev?

:D

Lol

[SvN]

You can't because none of them have had as east draws as we have. Go and have a look. It just doesn't happen very often. Brazil in 2002 might be the closest example, but even then their run was harder than this. Far harder.

And your first line is absolute nonsense. It's football not conkers.

Our draw in 2018 was more favourable than this.

[Browning]

Yev must have been watching a different game if he thinks Denmark looked threatening every time they came forward. We had a 20 minute spell where our keeper was shitting his pants and yet they offered nothing except for a freekick that probably shouldn't have been given. There was no threat from them in the other 100+ minutes whatsoever.

[niko_cee]

Yev must have been watching a different game if he thinks Denmark looked threatening every time they came forward. We had a 20 minute spell where our keeper was shitting his pants and yet they offered nothing except for a freekick that probably shouldn't have been given. There was no threat from them in the other 100+ minutes whatsoever.

It's just innate terror, although our back 7 are quite prone to being exposed alarmingly, which is concerning when you'd imagine the whole idea of all out defence would be to stop that.

[Browning]

And as I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread, the biggest crime last night was Matterface (as if that's his name....) claiming Denmark were temporarily "down a member of staff".

[Jimmy Floyd]

And as I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread, the biggest crime last night was Matterface (as if that's his name....) claiming Denmark were temporarily "down a member of staff".

I heard that and genuinely assumed one of their backroom coaches had been sent off from the bench.

Also does anyone know what the 'UEFA delegate' was being informed about by a seething fourth official during extra time?

[Lofty]

Probably the laser shenanigans.

[Gray Fox]

Some twonk shone a laser pen in Kaspers eyes.

[Shindig]

Denmark did look dangerous from set pieces. Cramming everyone on the line for corners and the obvious cleverness with the free-kick. In open play, they lacked zip.

[Lofty]

Supposedly they are on about making a Monday a bank holiday if we win, though not sure how that works if England don't win, not like everyone can undrink the twenty pints.

[SvN]

No chance that can happen at this short notice.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not sure the fabled 'business leaders' will be signing off on that.

[Ian]

Even when Denmark had spells of lots of possession and "threat" they didn't actually look like scoring much. The nerves were there on a 'How are we going to England this?' basis but we were absolutely the better team and in however many extra times I've seen us go to that was far and away the most composed we've ever looked.

Though I have vague memories of us largely controlling the game (without looking like scoring, of course) in extra time in 2006 despite being a man down. Is that just my decrepit memory telling me lies?

[Manc]

Surely any talk of a bank holiday is from 2022 onwards?

[Kikó]

1413066303674503170?s=20

Not bad for the worst team to potentially win the Euros ever.

[Don]

That's probably including all the touches of their own shins as they pretended to go down and be hurt so slightly misleading.

[Kikó]

:happycry:

[-james-]

Denmark, who scored ten goals in their previous three games, had zero shots from inside the penalty area in 120 minutes. It was a dominant showing and it makes the recurrence of Yev hysteria all the stranger.

[Manc]

How does everyone rate the tournament thus far? Out of the 40+ games I've watched I can only recall two or three genuine shitters.

[Ian]

I've really enjoyed it for the most part. I am slightly biased as I love international tournaments anyway and after months of dead football which has felt meaningless it was just nice to get even the initial, small crowds back and games which felt like they had stakes. I don't think there have been any great teams but there are a bunch of fun ones and even some of the less good games have had fun moments or built to good closing periods which is kinda what matters really.

England's contribution to that has been mixed. I didn't see the Scotland game but the Croatia/Czech games were so serene I barely felt anything which was odd and you'd think not feeling the terror would be good but it robbed the games of something. To be honest even through the Germany and Denmark games I have mostly felt quite calm as well because they've looked composed so specifically from an England standpoint it's been an unusual tournament.

[Spikey M]

How does everyone rate the tournament thus far? Out of the 40+ games I've watched I can only recall two or three genuine shitters.

I've really enjoyed it, but I think it's probably equal parts the quality of the games and having fans back in the stadium.

[Disco]

It's been fun, Italy and England in particular. International football is so much better than club wank, good job the World Cup is only another year or so away.

[Ian]

That'll be novel, watching tournament football while it's dark and absolutely pissing down outside.

[Spikey M]

The World Cup being in the winter is a bit of a shitter, mind. Load of wank.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Really good tournament. Still think France v Switzerland is up there with the best games I've ever seen.

If you think the Qatar World Cup will be bad, wait for the American one in 16 groups of 3.

[Kikó]

It's been fun, Italy and England in particular. International football is so much better than club wank, good job the World Cup is only another year or so away.

Actually come around to this way of thinking...

[Ian]

Most international football is boring shit but the tournaments are as good as it gets.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If they played the qualifiers as a self-contained block rather than random 2 games here 2 games there, they would be a lot better too.

[Waffdon]

People who prefer international football over club football should be put on the sex offenders list.

[Yevrah]

As far as tournaments go it's the reverse for me. Even last night's x minutes of horror shits all over anything club football has to offer. I appreciate it might be different if I really cared about a club or one that did well, but the closest to that was Norwich in the early 90s and even though I was born there that's still miles away.

[Boydy]

Really good tournament. Still think France v Switzerland is up there with the best games I've ever seen.

If you think the Qatar World Cup will be bad, wait for the American one in 16 groups of 3.

They're doing what?

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're doing what?


The FIFA Council have unanimously approved a 48-team World Cup from 2026 at a vote in Zurich.

The plans overseen by president Gianni Infantino mean the tournament will now begin with 16 groups of three teams, with the top two advancing into a 32 team knock-out stage.

Infantino has previously suggested FIFA could introduce penalty shoot-outs after group matches that end in a draw in order to stop teams playing for a result that favours them both.

Flawless plan.

[Ian]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup#Format

I forgot about that. For fuck's sake.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Should have done 3 groups of 16, with the top 9 from each progressing to the 'Super 27'. From there we'll work it out somehow I guess.

I regret to confirm that the whisky is now catching up with me.

[Ian]

That sounds like more of a cricket world cup format.

[Jimmy Floyd]

1413097694155976709

Marca is at it as well. I don't think any of these countries are psychologically ready for England success.

[Manc]

I regret to confirm that the whisky is now catching up with me.

Scotch or Bourbon?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Aberlour blended.

Actually it might have been a single malt. Whatever it was, it worked.

[Ian]

I was on the Auchentoshan.

[randomlegend]

The penalty was a blatant penalty, idk what all the mongs are whining about. I expect the vast majority of these people have never actually played football and don't understand how destabilising it is to be clipped when running with the ball at speed.

[Waffdon]

1412879008065273856

England fans are some breed. Make the Old Firm fans look like cricket boys from Surrey

[Waffdon]

The penalty was a blatant penalty, idk what all the mongs are whining about. I expect the vast majority of these people have never actually played football and don't understand how destabilising it is to be clipped when running with the ball at speed.

Are you speaking from experience eh

[Lewis]

1413097694155976709

Marca is at it as well. I don't think any of these countries are psychologically ready for England success.

The last time we won something with a compulsive liar in office... Hardly promising for the future.

[Baz]

LOL at the shirtless guy getting absolutely suckerpunched.

[Pepe]

I expect the vast majority of these people have never actually played football and don't understand how destabilising it is to be clipped when running with the ball at speed.

Tell us more about your professional career.

[Waffdon]

LOL at the shirtless guy getting absolutely suckerpunched.

:lol:

I don’t even know where he came from. Must have circled round the crowd and hit him with the swiftest flank of 2021. More of the same
On Sunday pls

[Ian]

A few pissed-up mongs in a beer garden have a punch-up but they're English so that's definitely worse than the lads who wanted to trash their own city to celebrate a Rangers title win. If you want to have a dig at England fans stick with the much easier target of the masses of racists making themselves known.

The bitterness up here today is weapons-grade. Those of you who seem to live for the seethe of others would be having a grand old time.

[Waffdon]

A few pissed-up mongs in a beer garden have a punch-up but they're English so that's definitely worse than the lads who wanted to trash their own city to celebrate a Rangers title win. If you want to have a dig at England fans stick with the much easier target of the masses of racists making themselves known.

The bitterness up here today is weapons-grade. Those of you who seem to live for the seethe of others would be having a grand old time.

You alright hun

Rangers fans are just England fans to be fair. The same breed. Why do they always start smacking the fuck out of each other? It’s always the same. Even for club football when they go abroad. Proper weirdos

[randomlegend]

Tell us more about your professional career.

Yes, the experience of being tripped at speed is exclusive to professional footballers.

[Ian]

I believe the correct spelling is 'u alrite hun xxx.'

"Why do they always start smacking the fuck out of each other?"

If you're looking for a deeper answer than "If you give a lot of very stupid people a lot of alcohol then eventually they'll have a fight" I don't have one for you.

[Waffdon]

Did you get the penalty or were you called out for diving

[niko_cee]

VAR doesn't give it if it isn't given on the pitch I don't think, there was no smoking gun/step on foot frame to freeze. It probably was a foul though.

[randomlegend]

Rangers fans are just England fans to be fair.

That's a special kind of retarded even for you.

[Waffdon]

I believe the correct spelling is 'u alrite hun xxx.'

"Why do they always start smacking the fuck out of each other?"

If you're looking for a deeper answer than "If you give a lot of very stupid people a lot of alcohol then eventually they'll have a fight" I don't have one for you.

I didn’t have you down as someone taking this personally.

[Waffdon]

That's a special kind of retarded even for you.

Do elaborate, Sir. You won’t see a truer statement all week

[niko_cee]

Also, all football fans are bellends in mass groups. You just overlook it some times as you're either part of it, or are on the same side.

[Waffdon]

Most would pick a fight, if they were going to have one, with an opposition. Bit weird constantly fighting your own

[Queenslander]

I don't understand that video at all.

[niko_cee]

That'd probably be a hate crime though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you see the world entirely in terms of sectarian violence and flag-shagging Scottish nationalism, then Rangers = England is about right. That's all there is for certain Scots these days.

[Pepe]

Clipped at speed:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSBJxtEed1s

[Manc]

Is there any foreign muck left to come out of the woodwork or have we experienced the greatest hits?

[Jimmy Floyd]

After this tear-stained occasion I'm taking no more lectures on the hand of god, that's for sure.

[Waffdon]

If you see the world entirely in terms of sectarian violence and flag-shagging Scottish nationalism, then Rangers = England is about right. That's all there is for certain Scots these days.

You’re not wrong there, Sir. Thank god for back to reality with shitey Scottish football in person tomorrow.

[Lofty]

That twitter fight clip is from the World Cup. Was hoping for fresh bantz.

[Boydy]

Flawless plan.
Thought maybe they were going to have just one team going through from each group rather than adding an extra knockout round. Sounds like it'll make the group stages a bit shit but then we get another knockout round so swings and roundabouts, I guess.

Plus, better chance of NI or ROI qualifying.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, tournament knockout football is so good that a ridiculous group stage might be a price worth paying.

[Lewis]

GS was always really anti-England for somebody so STAUNCH. Probably some weird closet case complex.

[Spikey M]

There's a definite theme to the Anti-England mob.

[randomlegend]

Clipped at speed:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSBJxtEed1s

What's your point? He's clearly impeded by what's happening, it's just within the rules of the game so he does what he can to keep going. Footballers don't keep going when they're impeded because then they don't get a penalty.

Secondly, players in the NFL are going to be the top 0.0001% of being able to keep running when someone is trying to stop them. Hardly surprising he's good at it.

[Ian]

Also falling down isn't incentivised in the NFL. If it was, they'd fall down.

[Don]

RL using the 'you sound like you've never even played the game' line :harold:

[Pepe]

How many nutmegs will RL get on Don on the next kickabout?

[randomlegend]

I got an A* in GCSE PE I'll have you all know

[Lofty]

Also falling down isn't incentivised in the NFL. If it was, they'd fall down.

Exactly, like when you would play Join the Crew at school (British Bulldog except you had to beat the runners into submission rather than just catch them), you got clipped at speed playing that but funnily enough there was no incentive to fall over if you could help it.

[niko_cee]

I'm becoming increasingly convinced in my mind that we'll be going back 5 against Italy, probably Saka to miss out, to get Trippier in the team for set pieces*. Italy are quite rinky-dink aren't they? Verratti, Jorginho, all the forwards are all full manlets. All out defence, batter them with set pieces. Brutal but effective.

*as was pointed out in here, what the fuck was Sterling doing taking that direct freekick yesterday? Has he ever taken one before as a professional? It's that sort of mad shit (Kane on corners) that makes you worry about the whole set-up. Surely Mount can take a freekick? It is a bit of a problem area though, hence perhaps the need to get Trippier back in the side (you can't drop Walker though).

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Immobile is their tallest attacking option at 6'1 but he doesn't play like it. The most physical one is Belotti who I was stunned to learn is only 5'11.

I do feel like they should play Locatelli in midfield against England but I don't think they will.

[Kikó]

I'm pretty sure he'll try and match them as well with 3-5-2. Can see Foden starting as well.

[Spikey M]

Immobile is their tallest attacking option at 6'1 but he doesn't play like it. The most physical one is Belotti who I was stunned to learn is only 5'11.

I do feel like they should play Locatelli in midfield against England but I don't think they will.

Why are you sat googling player heights you freak?

[niko_cee]

Belotti looks like a mafia enforcer so yeah, quite surprised he's a bit of a midget too. He's probably more of a Sir Les Ferdinand type though with his sub-six-footedness.

[Manc]

A combined Italy/England eleven is quite difficult to pick.

[Shindig]

Yeah, tournament knockout football is so good that a ridiculous group stage might be a price worth paying.

This current format seemed to provide both, too be fair. It looked ridiculous on paper only for every game to be of some importance to someone, presumably.

[Waffdon]

A combined Italy/England eleven is quite difficult to pick.

Donnarumma; James, Bonucci, Maguire, Shaw; Jorginho, Mount, Barella; Sterling (only based on his England form, he’s been useless for City), Kane, Grealish

[Lewis]

I'd have Tammy Abraham in for Harry Kane and Callum Hudson-Odoi in somewhere.

[Shindig]

I'd want Frederico Chiesa involved.

[Lewis]

lol the UEFA laser charges are also for booing their anthem and letting off flares. Oh well. Make us play the next one behind closed doors.

[Alex]

What is this sudden horror at booing the oppositions national anthem? Am I grossly misremembering things, or have we pretty much booed the opposing teams national anthem at football for basically as long as I can remember watching football?

[Lewis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xECQIOLxQsI

[Manc]

Gave it a minute.

Donnarruma

Walker
Stones
Bonucci
Spinazzola

Barella
Jorginho
Mount

Insigne
Kane
Sterling

[Jimmy Floyd]

What is this sudden horror at booing the oppositions national anthem? Am I grossly misremembering things, or have we pretty much booed the opposing teams national anthem at football for basically as long as I can remember watching football?

This is the first time the #FBPE crowd have watched football in years, and fits nicely into their culture war narratives.

[Lewis]

The 'England without immigration' meme, but with the Manchester arena victims making up the match day squad.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gave it a minute.

Donnarruma

Walker
Stones
Bonucci
Spinazzola

Barella
Jorginho
Mount

Insigne
Kane
Sterling

Chiesa > Insigne for me and it's missing Grealish really. Although I'm not sure who drops out for him.

[niko_cee]

Walker

Trippier
Stones
Maguire
Shaw

Henderson (Rice if you must have a Hammer to win something)
Phillips
Mount

Sterling
Kane
Grealish

[Mellberg]

That Ian Walker or Mr Versatile?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's Des, playing sweeper-keeper.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That Ian Walker or Mr Versatile?

https://www.sportbible.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=720,quality=70,format=webp,fit=pad,dpr=1/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-images.sportbible.com%2Fs3%2Fcontent%2F6a0dbe555dc 38da458d2ab36bd7fd864.png

[Bernanke]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E5y5u-cXoAQxV-i?format=jpg&name=large

I know he looked 35 at 17, but come on... He looks like an older Brendan Gleeson.

[Lewis]

Younger than Ronaldo. Captain. Leader. Legend.

[Disco]

He'll have gone bald twice by 40.

[Shindig]

The viewing figures are in. 23.9m for the semi final. It makes me wonder what the hell happened for '66 to top the list. Like, there wasn't a telly (or 3) in every home like there is now. The final will push the 2012 Opening ceremony out of the all-time top ten, at least.

[Alex]

Christ. I know he's never been a youthful looking bloke, but he looks like he's been digitally aged for a film or something. :D

[randomlegend]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E5y5u-cXoAQxV-i?format=jpg&name=large

I know he looked 35 at 17, but come on... He looks like an older Brendan Gleeson.

He could easily be in his 60s looking at that.

[Lewis]

He must have had at least three top-ups on the original transplant. There is a 2019 interview with James Nesbitt where he says he's on his sixth.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just wear a wig if it bothers you that much. Eddie Jordan's been pulling one off for decades and no one is any the wiser.

[Baz]

The viewing figures are in. 23.9m for the semi final. It makes me wonder what the hell happened for '66 to top the list. Like, there wasn't a telly (or 3) in every home like there is now. The final will push the 2012 Opening ceremony out of the all-time top ten, at least.Love Island wasn’t on. (Presuming the figure takes into account people switching channels at half time.)

[Lewis]

1413233698523295744

[Waffdon]

Proper lolled at that last night. So good

[niko_cee]

My wife has been out and bought my son a blue England kit. I don't even know where to begin.Can someone please assure me there is no chance of England in blue and Italy in white on Sunday?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Italy (as the home team) have the choice, so if they choose white we're in all sorts of problems.

[Ian]

If they choose their away kit they should be banned from this and all future tournaments.

[Giggles]

Good evening chode smokers. Ye must all be up to 90 with the final coming up and all. Hasn’t been a bad tournament, I missed most of the early bits but the knockouts have been good, especially the Italy and Spain semi. Best two teams in the final anyway, England have more behind the first 11 so I’d reckon they’ll do it. Hopefully so, and enjoy it - nice way to close out this pain in the hole of a past 18 months for ye.
:thbup:

[niko_cee]

Hacked.

[Boydy]

Yeah, wtf, that's not the real Giggles.

[Pepe]

More broken than Yev. Covid is decimating our ranks.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Maybe this is another Long Covid symptom?

[Lewis]

I bet he's got a belter planned for the final. Maybe the zip line. A speech. Executing a paedophile before kick-off.

He's covered Number 10 in bunting and it's only Friday. Paedos quaking in their nonce boots.

[Spikey M]

Giggles :cool:

[Disco]

Use of 'hole' is authentic Giggles.

[Boydy]

1413512365723684873

:lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why have both TV channels gone for the worst pairings they've got?

[Lewis]

1413600596230172674

:harold:

[Luca]

That's incredibly fucking sad. :D

[Ian]

Christ. :D

[Yevrah]

That can't be real, can it?

[Disco]

The line at the bottom is slightly ironic given that William Wallace died in 1305.

[ItalAussie]

Obviously I hope Italy win this, but I feel like we'll be up against it playing in England.

Optimistic for the World Cup though, although it's unlikely France will bomb out a year from now.

[Baz]

League Two’s Tranmere beat Rangers today. :harold:

[Waffdon]

It’s a friendly. West Ham drew with Dundee yesterday.

[Baz]

League Two though, against the Scottish champions. Cmon.

[Bam]

League Two though, against the Scottish champions. Cmon.


Should be about the same quality then.

[Waffdon]

League Two though, against the Scottish champions. Cmon.

A top 7 side in the biggest league in the world drawing 2-2 with a team that finished 2nd with part time teams in its league last year. C’mon.

Rangers would have stayed up in the PL last year.

[Bam]

Rangers would have stayed up in the PL last year.

:roflol:

[Shindig]

They would have. The bottom 3 were completely shit.

[thommo]

Up until March we had a chance but we did then utterly shit the bed. 2 points from the last 10 games was woeful. I was quite glad that Parker buggered off at the end, to be honest.

[Offshore Toon]

You want England to win for the scenes in London tomorrow, but if they couldn't handle the pressure against Scotland they'll probably shit the bed tbh.

[-james-]

I'm extremely confident England are winning tomorrow. 2 or 3-0.

[Offshore Toon]

If Grealish starts and Italy wear blue then England will win. Otherwise, no.

[Mellberg]

Good luck tonight Emi Martinez :cool:

[Lewis]

I haven't paid any attention to this, but Brazil look like they have quite a good squad again. Having Casemiro and Fred as your central midfield whilst Fabinho warms the bench must be some sort of in-joke though.

[-james-]

Not many Euros games have been worse than this. Looking forward to Brazil getting merked by Norway or someone in Qatar.

[Waffdon]

Nearly 40 fouls :lol:

Yeah, a South American team getting past the last 16 will be a shock

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Messi :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1414038204940967939

Lovely pass by De Paul too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I thought Neymar wasn't going to cry but the waterworks are open for business.

[Gray Fox]

Brazil getting what they deserve for starting fucking Richarlison and Fred in a final.

That was worse than any single game of the Euros we're having now.

I think Neymar crying because he didn't get his own way again is the most beautiful sight in football. Bunch of overrated toss.

[niko_cee]

I haven't paid any attention to this, but Brazil look like they have quite a good squad again. Having Casemiro and Fred as your central midfield whilst Fabinho warms the bench must be some sort of in-joke though.

Do they still have Tité as a coach? He always had his favourites, to the exclusion of all logic. Bit like Deschamps avec La France.

[Manc]

https://theathletic.com/2699517/2021/07/11/i-lost-so-much-in-the-blink-of-an-eye-what-its-like-to-play-in-a-final-for-italy/?source=user-shared-article

Lovely piece.

Predictions for the big one? I really can't see past a sweaty victory either way.

[Yevrah]

There's a fair chance it's going to be pissing down at Wembley tonight.

[Kikó]

I'm extremely confident England are winning tomorrow. 2 or 3-0.

Why do you think this?

What I'm struggling with is how we bring the Italian line up to get behind them and how we minimise the Italian midfield from playing through us (namely Jorginho).

[niko_cee]

With passion and/or the all out defence low block.

"Mingzy and Coads" up front for the last 10.

[-james-]

I may have been several vodka tonics deep at time of posting.

I do think England will win though. Better at both ends of the pitch, who cares what happens in between? For all Italy have looked good, it's not like they've been creating loads in open play. I do worry that Stones or someone will have a moment which will lead to the same sort of goal as Italy's first in the Belgium game but that's about it.

I'm sure Mancini knows that Emerson vs Walker/Saka is a hell of a mismatch so I'm interested to see what they do about that.

[-james-]

Home crowd, set pieces, bench options, youthfulness, freshness all favour England too imo.

[Kikó]

I've got England winning on Pens in my head and that will definitely finish everyone off.

[Yevrah]

I still think England will win.

[Serj]

England really should win, Italy have had their best performances in the group stages and never looked that impressive afterwards. What could trip England up, I think, is if Italy improves upon the Danish recipe - in the first half they found a lot of space in the middle of the park with direct passing and little flick-ons, they just hardly ever created proper attacks out of it. Italy have more of a cutting edge in those areas, so if somebody like Insigne turns up that might be trouble.

2-1 England is still more likely, I'd say.

[Spikey M]

Ribs and wings in the slowcooker. Mrs suggested getting a Pizza like some Vespa shagging Vineyard merchant, so she's in the shed until the morning.

It's coming home.

[Reg]

I'm sure Mancini knows that Emerson vs Walker/Saka is a hell of a mismatch so I'm interested to see what they do about that.
As in, in England's favour?

That side is definitely the interesting one. Sancho in the space behind Emerson could be interesting but maybe Saka is the safer bet to track his runs.

[-james-]

As in, in England's favour?

That side is definitely the interesting one. Sancho in the space behind Emerson could be interesting but maybe Saka is the safer bet to track his runs.

Yeah England's favour. Was quite striking in the semi how much of a downgrade from Spinazzola Emerson is. I reckon it'll be Saka because as you say he's good in both directions.

[Don]

You're going down, you dirty porkface gammon cunts.

[Kikó]

Wow, it is coming home.

[Disco]

That's the biggest indicator yet.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why Taz?

[thommo]

Feeling genuinely nervous now. The enormity of the situation and the rarity of the occasion has hit me over the past couple of days.

[niko_cee]

how we minimise the Italian midfield from playing through us (namely Jorginho).

Surely the answer to this is having Mount constantly banter/hassle him out of existence.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I obviously want Italy to win but I'm starting to think that England will do it.

England have grown whilst the tournament has progressed whereas Italy have regressed. Losing Spinazzola was massive for them and Immobile has seemingly lost all ability to play and has resorted to constantly throwing himself to the floor.

I also think Italy looked more balanced with Locatelli starting when Verratti wasn't fit but that might have been because of the opposition.

[Bam]

You're going down, you dirty porkface gammon cunts.

You do know racism works both way?

[Gray Fox]

England need a professional performance. By that I mean do not get drawn into the Italian shithousery. Team wise both are quite even. Englands attack is better, but defensively Italy take it.

Italy have a weakness at full back, whereas Englands is defensively between the two CMs. It's going to be a horrible, scrappy 1 goal win for someone you'd think.

[Andy]

I am bricking it now. Every other big game I've cared about has been Southampton and I don't get the same nerves as I'm pissed and swept away with the atmosphere.

Waiting at home on my own for the game to kick off is horrendous. Got the first few friends heading over in the next hour or so and cracked my first beer so hopefully that will take my mind of things for a bit.

[Manc]

I was far more nervous for the Germany game.

[Lofty]

I was thinking it will be a nervy, low scoring affair but Taz's predictions have left me confident England will run riot.

[Don]

This page :drool:

[Kikó]

England on pens. The nation dies.

[Pepe]

Some lame set piece either way will do it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Some lame set piece either way will do it.

In off Maguire's arse.

[Foe]

England should have this.

You have some much talent on the pitch and bench it’s difficult to grudge.

Hopefully it’s at least a decent game. But I can see a 0-0 slog fest going to pens as neither team really wants to take a chance.

[Mellberg]

In off Maguire's arse.

1-0 Maguire = 80/1

[Disco]

Whatever happens I hope it's in normal time, I can't be arsed staying up for extra time let alone penalties.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1-0 Maguire = 80/1

What about 1-0 Maguire OG? Cover both bases.

[Manc]

Whatever happens I hope it's in normal time, I can't be arsed staying up for extra time let alone penalties.

Are you 12?

[Boydy]

Are you 12?
:D

I was gonna go the other way and call him an old man.

[Disco]

Almost 13 actually.

[Waffdon]

5 at the back with a front 3 of Mount, Sterling and Kane apparently. Not sure why you’d move back to the 3 at the back.

This is gonna be a shitfest

[niko_cee]

Drag them into the gutter!

[Manc]

That's asking a lot of Sterling.

[Shindig]

Makes sense if you want bodies out wide to cope with their pace.

[Magic]

3-3 with a Phillips pearler in the 119th to bring it home.

[Waffdon]

1414246103407529989

Pls gimme full scale riots if they lose

[Yevrah]

That looks horrific.

[Kikó]

Such fucking plebs.

[Don]

The gammon brigade going strong. If Bonucci and Chiellini are celebrating in Wembley turf at FT (ideally after a good 20 mins of celebrating every clearance) it truly will be scenes worth injecting for the next few months.

[Lewis]

Any aggro will be a Cabinet Office/Guardian/Oxfam psyop to give the hot-take wanker industry a convenient escape hatch if we lose.

'Having seen the best of England... I can no longer watch football...'

[Kikó]

If they'd let us out of lockdown earlier then everyone would have been better conditioned. If anything, this is the government's fault.

[Baz]

Pickford
Trippier Walker stones maguire shaw
Rice Phillips
Mount Sterling
Kane

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1414246103407529989

Pls gimme full scale riots if they lose

There will be riots even if they win.

Italian restaurants, pizzerias, Italian shops etc etc will be getting smashed in regardless of the result.

[Kikó]

1414235352936632320?s=19

Jesus.

[Lewis]

'There are a quarter of a million Italians in Britain, and they'll be made to suffer. Every restaurant, cafe, ice cream parlour, gambling den and nightclub in London, Liverpool and Glasgow will be smashed. Mr Bridger will drive them into the sea.'

:rave:

[Disco]

Harold looks well.

[Yevrah]

Getting naked in a PC World car park must be about as low as it gets.

[Magic]

Travel penis. :D

[Spikey M]

Must be cold.

[Waffdon]

1414261099696898059

They really do provide the best content. The steward volleying people :D

[Lewis]

https://i.imgur.com/7uZOzj9.png

Best meme I've seen for it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

lol at the guy around 25 seconds in who lost his wig.

Edit: On second viewing I think it's a hat, shame.

[Waffdon]

They’re all trying to get into Wembley without a ticket lol

[Dark Soldier]

Country is gonna burn if we don't win.

[Lewis]

Fabio Capello hasn't aged in thirty years.

[Magic]

Some tasty scenes everywhere. :drool: