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

[Lewis]

I bet we could have all got through those stewards. What a missed opportunity.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

But the official news is that no one breached security. They wouldn't lie would they?

[Lewis]

I know someone who goes to most England games, and has been to every Wembley one during this, but couldn't get a ticket for tonight. How have they been allocated?

[Don]

Paulo Bandini lookin' tidy.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/654064837432967198/863850891961958440/20210711_193437.jpg

[Magic]

I just love Chiellini, the big clown.

[Shindig]

So I played some Euro 2020 on PES today as the Italians. They strolled it with Ciro Immobile scoring 13. 5 coming against North Madeonia who somehow made it to the second round. England lost in the other half of the draw to Spain. I learned absolutely nothing aside from the fact that match engine can't deal with crosses.

[Waffdon]

Ian Wright is great. ITV’s pundits are much better but their commentators might somehow be worse than Jenas

[Bernanke]

This is terrible.

[Baz]

QUESTION
Would you rather England won the Euros or the club you support won the Carabao Cup?

League cup all day long for me.

[Lewis]

Nonce.

[Shindig]

I'd take the Euros all day long. There's a lead up to this that's kind of all-consuming.

[Pepe]

Got to love the buildup to finals. Then the games are always shit.

[igor_balis]

I'd take this over a league cup or fa cup, but I'd definitely rather west brom somehow do a Leicester.

[Lewis]

Harry Maguire pre-assist.

[Magic]

Fucking hell. :D

[Spikey M]

:drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:uhoh:

[randomlegend]

Shaw :cool:

[Pepe]

Oh dear.

[Boydy]

What a start.

[Waffdon]

What a finish that was

[Lewis]

That was actually a really great goal.

[Pepe]

That finish. :drool:

[Gray Fox]

That was fantastic and most of all composed from everyone involved

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I thought he was going to miss. He placed it perfectly though.

[Disco]

84 minutes of time-wasting please.

[Yevrah]

Please not 85 minutes of dropping deep. If we don’t do that, we’ve won this.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Emerson might as well not be there.

[SincereTheRebel]

This Shawberto Carlos has been great. Was he smashing it at Man Utd?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's been great since Mourinho fucked off.

[Lewis]

He's been good for United, but not as good as he has been in this tournament. I think wing-back covers his ball-watching up, and Harry Maguire is more solid behind him because he isn't trying to do two lots of defending like he does at United.

[7om]

Why are we sitting back lie this ffs. We’re dangerous going forward.

[Lewis]

Are we sitting back? I think they've just finally got into it so we're doing a bit of defending.

[Spikey M]

This ref is terrible

[Pepe]

Ref's alright.

Italy looks like they could get something here. We'll see.

[Baz]

Emerson might as well not be there.

And England would have been better with 10 men, if Mount wasn’t there.

[randomlegend]

Mount is a proper fraud.

[Waffdon]

Immobile is utterly pointless. A worse touch you will not see

[ScousePig]

QUESTION
Would you rather England won the Euros or the club you support won the Carabao Cup?

League cup all day long for me.

For us (and most other teams) you can replace the league cup with a regular league win.

Or maybe a corner.

[Spikey M]

ScOuSe NoT eNgLiSh

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And England would have been better with 10 men, if Mount wasn’t there.

Yeah he's been shocking so far.

[Serj]

Kuipers is pretty great.

[Mike]

Someone is setting of fireworks here, cos we’re winning at half time…. :uhoh:

[Foe]

It’s coming home.

This England bus is going to be parked on the 18 yard line soon.

Harry Kane and all defending within 40 yards of the goal is quite something to see. Effective though.

[Manc]

Inviting pressure with forty minutes gone is vintage England. We desperately need someone who can carry the ball up the pitch ala 2018 Lingard.

[Pepe]

Parking the bus is how you win things.

[Spikey M]

I'm not sure it's bus parking necessarily. Dropping deep naturaly makes the opposition play a higher backline and we absolutely murder them when it comes to pace. We just can't find the right passes.

[Spikey M]

Where did you put the Whisky Jim?

[Serj]

Insigne is having a really poor game.

[Lewis]

Harry Kane has been immense. What a time to finally turn up in a big game.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cristante instead of Locatelli is strange.

When I saw Cristante I thought he was being hooked for Emerson.

[Spikey M]

I'd be putting Saka on and have him running at Bonucci.

[Spikey M]

Or Grealish.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Saka or Grealish would probably win the game here but it feels like Southgate is too scared to pull the trigger.

[Mellberg]

I'd be taking Mount off here. Doesn't have to be for Grealish, although probably should be.

[Bernanke]

Chiesa is on another level.

[Serj]

Basically has to carry the entire attack, the others there have been invisible at best.

[Spikey M]

Fuck sake

[Lewis]

Shit.

[7om]

Fuck you monghow

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mount at fault there.

[randomlegend]

Was formulating an Insignefecant pun as that went in.

We're sitting back too much.

[Boydy]

Stones would have cleared that if Chiellini hadn't wrestled him to the ground.

[Pepe]

We got a game. :drool:

[Lewis]

John Stones bullied out of it.

[Spikey M]

Make a fucking change waistcoat.

[Lewis]

We need a jammy set piece because this is going Croatia.

[Magic]

Chiesa is on another level.

He looks like he's topped up on pureo at half time

[Panda Bear]

lol

[Waffdon]

England look absolutely knackered

[Baz]

I swear Pickfords got whatever condition the bloke in Memento has. Just “wakes up” confused and suddenly someone’s kicking a ball at him.

[Boydy]

I swear Pickfords got whatever condition the bloke in Memento has. Just “wakes up” confused and suddenly someone’s kicking a ball at him.

:lol:

[Boydy]

How was that not a foul in the centre circle there? He fucking clotheslined Kane.

[igor_balis]

Grealish please

[Spikey M]

We're losing this.

[7om]

We’re losing this.

[Boydy]

Why is Mason fucking Mount still on?

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is every England game ever. Heads completely gone.

[Mellberg]

Get Grealish on for Mount fucking immediately.

[Pepe]

England looks lost since the goal. Might still get lucky though.

[Manc]

Need to show some bottle.

[Baz]

Get Grealish on for Mount fucking immediately.

Or Foden.

Except he’s not on the bench but 2 keepers are

[Pepe]

A Sterling dive might do it.

[Mellberg]

Or Foden.

Except he’s not on the bench but 2 keepers are

Injured.

[randomlegend]

Southgate's favouritism is infuriating. Mount is dogshit, Grealish is brilliant, Mount starts every game.

[Magic]

Bernadecci or however you say it looks like a gay PR executive.

[Pepe]

Best thing that could happen to England.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mount works off the ball. He's the correct start. However Grealish should have been on 20 minutes ago.

[-james-]

This is unbearable.

[Boydy]

Also don't know why he took Rice off. He was having a great game.

[Mellberg]

Mount works off the ball. He's the correct start. However Grealish should have been on 20 minutes ago.

Yeah, 100% right starting side, hence going ahead, but should've been changed straight after half time when it was obvious we were well under the cosh.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also Mount is the only set piece taker.

[Lewis]

That is a tremendous foul.

[randomlegend]

Should be giving reds for that shit.

[7om]

I’d be putting my life savings on Italy now.

[randomlegend]

Mount works off the ball. He's the correct start. However Grealish should have been on 20 minutes ago.

Jorginho and Verrati have run rings around his HARD WORK PRESSING MATE. Like playing piggy in the middle with a shitty little terrier.

[Shindig]

That was a torrid 45 minutes. Italy got their pressing game going and we had nowt to hit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We have zero chance in penalties, so we'll have to fluke a winner.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How did Yev's money making scheme go btw?

[Waffdon]

England’s bench should win it for them. Italy should have won that in 90 mins but don’t have much off the bench. No idea why Cristante was brought on

[igor_balis]

Make a fucking sub ffs

[randomlegend]

This is cowardly from Southgate. You're blessed with a bench full of actually good players and you're too scared to use them.

[Lewis]

How did Yev's money making scheme go btw?

At least he'll get some stand-up material out of it.

[Magic]

It's the penalty miss all over again. Perennial bottle job.

[Spikey M]

How did Yev's money making scheme go btw?

Not as well as your Step Mums.

[Lewis]

rekt

[igor_balis]

Grealish for mount immediately ffs

[Spikey M]

Watch him take Phillips off for him instead

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mrs Grealish 69, ugh.

[Magic]

Mount taking it quickly to try and stay on. :harold:

[Lewis]

This is cowardly from Southgate. You're blessed with a bench full of actually good players and you're too scared to use them.

Still haunted by Ole Gunnar Binman settling for extra time against Villarreal and then swapping defenders.

[7om]

It boggles my mind that Saka came on so much earlier than Grealish.

[Panda Bear]

i have enjoyed how southgate has planned england around harry kane only getting to touch the ball if there's a contested long ball or a giveaway

[Jimmy Floyd]

It boggles my mind that Saka came on so much earlier than Grealish.

He was clearly waiting for Italy to come onto us at 0-1, unfortunately it never got that far.

[Spikey M]

"Mrs Grealish 69" has a suspicious jawline.

[randomlegend]

That's a red.

[Spikey M]

That's a red. This ref is a dickhead.

[Magic]

First time he's actually deserved to roll about.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The ultimate piece of cowardly reffing.

[Lewis]

"Mrs Grealish 69" has a suspicious jawline.

Mancini in a blonde wig.

[Foe]

A red in any other game of the tournament.

Silly challenge.

[Lewis]

I'm creating burner accounts to racially abuse whoever misses their penalties who wants one?

[randomlegend]

Isn't Donnarumma a penalty wizard or have I made that up?

[Baz]

PENALTIES LETS HAVE IT hahaha

[7om]

I'm creating burner accounts to racially abuse whoever misses their penalties who wants one?

Prince George should order them all to be hung should we lose.

[Manc]

:sick:

[Magic]

Desperately feel for the Englishman that misses the key penalty.

[randomlegend]

Donnarumma 15 saved out of 44. Pickford 11 saved out of 46.

[Spikey M]

I can't. Fuck sake

[Lewis]

Get the lasers going.

[Lewis]

That fucking pants full of shit run-up what a fanny.

[randomlegend]

Maguire on second pen ahhh

[randomlegend]

What a pen. Slabhead :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Surprised by that Maguire pen.

[Spikey M]

School dinner nonce

[Lewis]

What was that performance?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sir Rashford lol.

[Boydy]

Too much fannying about in Rashford's run up.

[Spikey M]

We're fucked

[Boydy]

Another stupid fucking run up.

[randomlegend]

Bringing people on just to take pens is really brutal imo.

[Lewis]

I'm creating burner accounts to racially abuse whoever misses their penalties who wants one?

I've got nineteen ready to go. PM me for the logins.

[randomlegend]

What a fucking save

[Lewis]

lol you stupid cunt.

[Panda Bear]

oh no

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I hate Jorginho's pens.

[Spikey M]

:(

[randomlegend]

What are players like Grealish and Henderson doing letting Saka take that penalty. Fucking cowards.

[7om]

Unforgivable final three penalties. Fuck off.

[Magic]

Why did he let all the young black kids go first?

[Boydy]

Why are some of the youngest players in the team taking the most important penalties?

[P_3]

Poor Saka. Too much pressure on his young shoulders.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Putting a 19 year old through that is some of the worst management I have ever seen. That could ruin his life. Fucking Henderson comes off and you let a kid take the 5th one.

Needless to say Rashford and Sancho can fuck off and take their 'sneakers' with them.

[Boydy]

What are players like Grealish and Henderson doing letting Saka take that penalty. Fucking cowards.

Yeah, really not fair on Saka or Sancho.

[Panda Bear]

What are players like Grealish and Henderson doing letting Saka take that penalty. Fucking cowards.tbf Henderson got subbed

[Spikey M]

On the plus side, this is all Man Utd and Arsenal's fault.

[Lewis]

This is eerily quiet.

[Yevrah]

Gutted. Absolutely gutted.

[Waffdon]

Hahahahhahahahah

[randomlegend]

Rashford and Sancho are experienced enough to be taking them if they wanted (although as I said I think bringing people on just to take a penalty is extremely harsh), but Saka having to be the one to step up for the last one ahead of some of the players who didn't take one is ridiculous.

[randomlegend]

tbf Henderson got subbed

Oops my bad. Point stands though.

[Baz]

1414341622876315656

[Panda Bear]

sucks for you guys

Southgate parking the bus for 68' was stupid

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Pickford was brilliant.

Grealish should have taken one over Saka.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The palaver that Rashford went through on his was an absolute joke. Put your fucking foot through it.

[Shindig]

I'll be philosophical about this and say failure is still progress.

[Boydy]

Gutted. Absolutely gutted.

How much money did you win though?

[Foe]

That must’ve been torture as an England fan. They played such shit anti football. Came within a whisker though, so guess that’s what to expect in Qatar too.

Trippier is raging.

So relieved.

[Panda Bear]

what a waste of harry kane's talents too

[Boydy]

Southgate OUT.

[Manc]

Heartbroken.

[Foe]

Gutted. Absolutely gutted.

£2k up though right? Does it help?

[Luke Emia]

I'll be philosophical about this and say failure is still progress.

It’s not thought. First decent team they have played the normal thing has happened. Score early, sit back and defend then ultimately lose the game.

[Yevrah]

The run ups were utterly horrendous, as were we for most of the second half onwards.

I won £150 though, so not all bad.

[Yevrah]

£2k up though right? Does it help?

I cashed out over the weekend. Put £100 back in before Italy scored.

[Yevrah]

It’s not thought. First decent team they have played the normal thing has happened. Score early, sit back and defend then ultimately lose the game.

Yep. No progress has been made. Best team in the tournament won though.

[Lewis]

Yevrah lad at least we beat Southgate. That's something.

[Shindig]

It wasn't so much parking the bus as the trying to leave said car park but the place is packed. Sterling was kept relatively quiet and Rice was the only other midfielder really willing to run the ball up the pitch.

[Foe]

How fucking good was chiesa though? What a talent he is.

Harry Kane might as well have been Danny ings.

[Waffdon]

Jorginho and Verrari absolutely ran that game

[randomlegend]

Moaning about run-ups is retarded, loads of penalties get missed with "normal" run-ups and loads of bangers get scored with flouncy run-ups.

Southgate's management of this game was appalling.

[Yevrah]

Yevrah lad at least we beat Southgate. That's something.

How do you mean Lewis?

[Yevrah]

Southgate's management of this game was appalling.

How so?

[Panda Bear]

It wasn't so much parking the bus as the trying to leave said car park but the place is packed. Sterling was kept relatively quiet and Rice was the only other midfielder really willing to run the ball up the pitch.sterling stumbled, overran or underran the ball every decisive moment he was part of

if you judged him based on today, you wouldn't know he could dribble

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm so pissed off. It's the sort of overthought wank that comes about from being locked in a training camp for weeks. Just give it to the mentally strong people and let them put their foot through it. Not the kids.

[Lewis]

How do you mean Lewis?

This was like a greatest hits compilation for his management. Gets it right early on (Good Gareth), but then just stands there whilst it gets away from him and makes shit/cowardly substitutions (Shit Southgate). We said in 2018 that we would never get a better chance to do something, and then we got one, and we've fucked it up in the EXACT same way.

[Serj]

So, so needlessly negative from England. They could have given the Italian fullbacks so many problems but chose to not do anything creative until the second half of extra time. Incredible.

[Luca]

:drool:

Don where you at, my man?

[Jimmy Floyd]

So, so needlessly negative from England. They could have given the Italian fullbacks so many problems but chose to not do anything creative until the second half of extra time. Incredible.

We got to the final being negative, it was never going to be any different.

[Don]

To think I called this Aryan victory before a ball had even been kicked. This is one of the truly sweet ones. The ammunition I have in these pages :rasta:

[Yevrah]

This was like a greatest hits compilation for his management. Gets it right early on (Good Gareth), but then just stands there whilst it gets away from him and makes shit/cowardly substitutions (Shit Southgate). We said in 2018 that we would never get a better chance to do something, and then we got one, and we've fucked it up in the EXACT same way.

Can't disagree with any of that. At least he won't be knighted, but we're not getting rid of him anytime soon.

[Panda Bear]

How so?shitty negative tactics as the blanket statement

relying on pacy counterattacks during the parking the bus phase

not changing anything up for the second half as if Mancini wouldn't correct his team at halftime to counter England's negativity

setting up to have no incisive vertical movement be it through passing or dribbling through the centre of the pitch esp after rice was subbed off

leaving mount on for as long as he did

leaving grealish off for as long as he did

having saka be the fifth taker, him volunteering to do so be damned

overall: the best way to preserve a lead is to get more lead, i.e. keep trying to score. parking the bus is cowardice

[randomlegend]

How so?

Not making further changes in the second half when it clearly wasn't working. We looked so much better when Grealish came on, should have been on way earlier. Constant favouritism with selection; wah wah wah Man Utd bias but Sancho is a far better player than Saka. Bringing two players on who get literally a minute on the pitch before being expected to take a penalty. Letting Saka be the fifth penalty taker ahead of players like Grealish, Sterling, Walker is unforgivable I don't care how much he wanted to take it.

He didn't have a clue what to do through the whole game to change it when it wasn't going right. Just keep the same and hope it suddenly works.

Italy changed their forward players about four times, meanwhile we've got Grealish, Sancho, Rashford sat on the bench for almost the whole game. It's not even always about them being "better" than who's on the pitch or not, you just need fresh legs to stretch the opposition after 90+ minutes of football (especially when their centre backs are mid 30s).

Just cowardly, clueless rubbish.

[-james-]

I'm surprised at how much this hurts.

[Yevrah]

shitty negative tactics as the blanket statement

relying on pacy counterattacks during the parking the bus phase

not changing anything up for the second half as if Mancini wouldn't correct his team at halftime to counter England's negativity

setting up to have no incisive vertical movement be it through passing or dribbling through the centre of the pitch esp after rice was subbed off

leaving mount on for as long as he did

leaving grealish off for as long as he did

having saka be the fifth taker, him volunteering to do so be damned

overall: the best way to preserve a lead is to get more lead, i.e. keep trying to score. parking the bus is cowardice

At 2-0 it would have been over, so can't disagree we should have gone for it.

I think biggest learning from tonight is, we're not a good team.

[Lewis]

Jesus the match stats make it look even worse.

[Yevrah]

I'm surprised at how much this hurts.

It's not sunk in yet that we were even in a final, so I guess I'll feel the same as you do now when it does.

[-james-]

At 2-0 it would have been over, so can't disagree we should have gone for it.

I think biggest learning from tonight is, we're not a good team.

This is the absolute worst take.

[randomlegend]

At 2-0 it would have been over, so can't disagree we should have gone for it.

I think biggest learning from tonight is, we're not a good team.

We have good players who got to a final in spite of the manager.

[Offshore Toon]

Who brings on Henderson over Grealish at 1-1? Southgate needs sacked. The squad and everything else was enough, but that moron fucked up again.

[7om]

I'm surprised at how much this hurts.

It’s the hope that kills you.

[Yevrah]

This is the absolute worst take.

You can explain to me where I've gone wrong with it if you like.

[Foe]

Not sending Sterling/saka running at Emerson palmieri every minute of the 90 when possible is mental.

Boy looked lost.

[Spikey M]

You can explain to me where I've gone wrong with it if you like.

"We're not a good team"

We were excellent.

[Manc]

What a dog shit year.

[igor_balis]

I think Southgate got his overall strategy bang on, and proved me wrong (i.e. being really defensive), but i just don't trust him to make the little changes (e.g. SUBS). Even a div like me could see the momentum had shifted in the second half tonight, and that we were desperate for subs.

[-james-]

You can explain to me where I've gone wrong with it if you like.

Italy were the best team at the tournament and deserved to win it. England gave them a very good run for their money and were the second or third best team. They are clearly talented, well drilled and motivated, and crucially most of them are yet to peak. Tactics were bad for most of the game tonight but there are lots of extremely encouraging elements.

[Boydy]

I don't really see why Saka kept getting games. I never saw anything particularly good from him.

[P_3]

Semi-final followed by a final, back to back. The only way is up.

[igor_balis]

I mean, I love a England are shit pile on as much as the next guy, but losing the final on pens...c'mon now.

[Foe]

Imagine paying £4K for a ticket to watch that though. Brutal.

[Serj]

We got to the final being negative, it was never going to be any different.

Doesn't make it less needless though. Exploiting the opposition's weakness at least somewhat with the players at their disposal (which is what lead to the goal in the first place) would have been nice to see.

I might be understating the quality of the Italian defence a bit, mind you.

[Foe]

I’m very scared for the next few years though. James is right.

That entire eleven has room to grow, maybe need to hope another stud striker appears (Greenwood?) but you’ve a hell of a squad to build on.

[Panda Bear]

re: saka

I think he would have looked a better if he was able to run onto through balls from an angle (e.g. from a central midfielder advanced enough up field to play it) rather than being isolated and tasked to beat his man wide with no open channel available to run in

dude spent the entire game either cutting inside to little support or being hauled down

[Panda Bear]

also Italy was sticking their dudes on your fullbacks pretty tight in the second half to prevent your wingers/wide forwards from being able to easily recycle possession by passing back to their fullback, so not having a central midfielder playing in an advanced role that could carry the ball was especially glaring since there was no release valve

[Kikó]

England could have impacted the game with earlier subs. Southgate suffers the same affliction as Ole and doesn't trust players until too late.

Good tournament and I'm still happy as my other nation won.

[randomlegend]

England could have impacted the game Ruth earlier subs. Southgate suffers the same affliction as Ole and doesn't trust players until too late.


It's even worse than it is with Ole because England's bench was absolutely stacked.

[Spikey M]

re: saka

I think he would have looked a better if he was able to run onto through balls from an angle (e.g. from a central midfielder advanced enough up field to play it) rather than being isolated and tasked to beat his man wide with no open channel available to run in

dude spent the entire game either cutting inside to little support or being hauled down

What the fuck is that capital letter doing in your post?

Disgusting.

[Panda Bear]

What the fuck is that capital letter doing in your post?

Disgusting.

I let my phone do its thing

[Kikó]

It's even worse than it is with Ole because England's bench was absolutely stacked.

Probably but I'm not sure OGS would do better even with better options.

[Luke Emia]

Also if Sterling isn’t taking a pen what is he still doing on the pitch? His legs were gone by 80 minutes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've got the proper hump, Moscow 2008 style. Jorginho is a fucking prick, fuck off.

[Lewis]

Has Frank Lampard gone grey in a month?

[phonics]

Do you think Southgate will do another Pizza Hut advert.

[phonics]

I'm amazed at how mad/sad I am about it. I've just been making random intermittent sighing/pfft noises.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Do you think Southgate will do another Pizza Hut advert.

I wish. Imagine that era when they didn't all take themselves so seriously.

[Waffdon]

I've got the proper hump, Moscow 2008 style. Jorginho is a fucking prick, fuck off.

Mount should have been all over him all game but instead let him run the show

[phonics]

Seeing the stats they showed during the interviews caught me off guard. I didn't feel that it was a 65% posession 20-5 shot game.

[Ian]

I dunno if it helps the people who were more positive than me but I expected nothing and thought I was far too cynical and jaded for "England penalty shootout exit" to get me but sure enough it's made me a lot sadder than I think fht it would / could.

[Baz]

I should have watched Love Island.

[Waffdon]

Seeing the stats they showed during the interviews caught me off guard. I didn't feel that it was a 65% posession 20-5 shot game.

Huh? England camped their own half from 15 mins onwards barring a few moments. Surprised England had that much possession if anything

[Ian]

First half and second were only subtly different. First we barely had the ball but comfortably had them at arm's length for the most part. First 20 (?) of the second it was full England mode.

[ItalAussie]

That was a lot for 5am on a Monday.

[7om]

If we go out against Germany or get bummed by some other mugs I’d just lol it off and not care but this hurts. The hope, the disappointment and feeling terribly sorry for the lads who’ve worked their arses off for nothing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We are a negative team and we would have won it that way if Marcus Rashford had kicked a ball straight. Being more positive we might have gone out earlier. For us to be a positive, front-foot team we would need a different manager and probably at least one imaginary driving central midfielder.

You can win many ways in football.

[Lewis]

Anyway, wasn't it a great tournament? The best I've seen I think.

[Waffdon]

3 black players missing a penalty was it? That’ll be fun over the next few weeks

[Lewis]

Jadons Ancho looks mixed-race, but Wikipedia seems to suggest otherwise. Somebody ask him on Instagram.

[ItalAussie]

England were decent, Italy a little better - mostly because Veratti and Jorginho kept control in the middle. England looked more dangerous when they were in scoring positions, which Italy struggled to do. That's all pretty consistent with how the tournament had gone so far, to be honest. Both teams should be in the mix at the next World Cup, but I'd be a little happier if Italy could score more consistently.

England dropped back after the goal, and I can't help but think that it let Italy play themselves into the game after a slightly awkward start. I also can't imagine that substituting players on just for a penalty shootout is particularly helpful for their psyche going into it. It just seems like a bad idea to me.

Delighted to see Chiellini win a major trophy. Donnarumma is a hell of a shot-stopper, and could be exactly what PSG need.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Incidentally I have never been more certain of anything in my life that I was of Bonucci scoring his penalty. This is mental strength, something stats and analysis just don't cover.

[ItalAussie]

Incidentally I have never been more certain of anything in my life that I was of Bonucci scoring his penalty. This is mental strength, something stats and analysis just don't cover.

Agreed. Belotti though. I can't tell if he was definitely 100% telegraphing his shot, or if he just always looks like there's nothing going on behind his eyes. Maybe both.

[Manc]

What a horror show Rashford has had since beginning his political career. A truly woeful footballer.

[Ian]

Agreed. Belotti though. I can't tell if he was definitely 100% telegraphing his shot, or if he just always looks like there's nothing going on behind his eyes. Maybe both.

Belotti was so obviously not scoring from his, too much wobbling Adam's apple.

[phonics]

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I understand the intention but what's this hypothetical coversation here. "Alright Gary, don't go home and beat your missus and I'll see you at work tomorrow."

[Ian]

Go a step further. If you know your mate is a wife beater kick his head in and dump him in a canal. Be each others alibi. Victimless crime.

[Lewis]

The only person who picked Italy to win was Baz (although Spoon had them as finalists and Taz 'liked' them). Well done Baz. Which is odd when you see all this 'Italy were the best/strongest side', as if they have obviously better players than us. They don't. They just don't have a berk in charge of what they do have.

[Ian]

Italy bent us over for half of the second half and still needed us to chuck one in for them.

Sadly we did. And then Englanded the fuck out of those penalties.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've just realised: we're going to win the World Cup, and win it easily.

The World Cup is basically another European Championship ('the Euros' can fuck off) with South American football now on a sad decline. Italy won't be that good again (they never are) and I don't think France will either. If we learn anything from this and Croatia, we should be flying by the time we get to that.

Only slight worry is if Kane will still be walking by then.

[Serj]

England had a better squad than Italy. The only better squad at the tournament was probably France (lol).

But then, as Jimmy said, England were only two kicks away from victory, so maybe Southgate is on to something that will come together next year.