Euro 2024

[Letters]

So typical the British VAR guys taking ages

Yep. Of course it’s our lot who take forever and bollox if up anyway

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://youtu.be/NNv2RHR62Rs?si=G1XP_KbNWcZ9LGGv

English referees :haha:

[Letters]

Entry of the Gladiators :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Tbf i do think the whole 'not interfering with play' thing is BS, if someone's off they're off

True. If you’re not interfering in play what are you doing on the pitch

But those are the rules and should be applied

[Letters]

True. If you’re not interfering in play what are you doing on the pitch

But those are the rules and should be applied

It’s obviously not true that every player is affecting the play at every moment.
If a player happens to be offside but the goal would definitely have gone in regardless of that player’s position then it should be given IMO.

[Letters]

Wenger :bow:

[Letters]

0-0 FT

Dull.

[Mac76]

It’s obviously not true that every player is affecting the play at every moment.
If a player happens to be offside but the goal would definitely have gone in regardless of that player’s position then it should be given IMO.

Not when it's close as that, I've got no issue with that being disallowed

[HCZ_Reborn]

Neither side for me really overexerted themselves, the Dutch slowed the game down…but the French didn’t seem to mind, both teams went for the win (obviously the French more so) but neither are going to be unhappy with a draw, this was illustrated by Mbappe staying on the bench.

[Mac76]

France confirming they can't win without Mbappe

And Rabiot was dreadful, worst player on the pitch

[Letters]

Not when it's close as that, I've got no issue with that being disallowed

Watch the replay.
When the attacker hits the ball the other Dutch player really isn’t that close to the ‘keeper, he’s not in the ‘keeper’s eye line. The keeper couldn’t get there, he failed to dive because his legs were too far apart, he wasn’t getting there. Nothing to do with where that player was.

[HCZ_Reborn]

France confirming they can't win without Mbappe

And Rabiot was dreadful, worst player on the pitch

I thought he was excellent

So consistent, without hesitation he fucked up every French attack he was involved with

Yeah I don’t get why he’s playing, I said the same about Kante but Kante has been France’s best player over the two games

[Mac76]

Watch the replay.
When the attacker hits the ball the other Dutch player really isn’t that close to the ‘keeper, he’s not in the ‘keeper’s eye line. The keeper couldn’t get there, he failed to dive because his legs were too far apart, he wasn’t getting there. Nothing to do with where that player was.

I do get it but I just think that's too close, albeit it I'd like the Dutch to have scored

The not interfering thing was supposed to be when you've got a guy offside right over the other side of the pitch, not a couple of yards from the goalie, for me it's 50-50, yes ok because of what you say I'd have thought it just about ok if it had stood but equally can see why it didn't

[Mac76]

I thought he was excellent

So consistent, without hesitation he fucked up every French attack he was involved with

:lol:

I just couldn't believe it when he didn't shoot when in front of goal

[Letters]

I do get it but I just think that's too close, albeit it I'd like the Dutch to have scored

The not interfering thing was supposed to be when you've got a guy offside right over the other side of the pitch, not a couple of yards from the goalie, for me it's 50-50, yes ok because of what you say I'd have thought it just about ok if it had stood but equally can see why it didn't

Apparently the rule is:

“The attacking player is penalised for preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the goalkeeper's line of vision."

By that rule I don’t see how the goal can be disallowed, he’s clearly not in the ‘keeper’s line of vision. He was a bit close to the ‘keeper I guess, although I don’t believe the ‘keeper was getting there regardless. Overall I like the “interfering with play” rule, I like any rule which favours attacking play. The metric for me is whether the goal would have been scored if the offside player hadn’t been there. Last night I reckon it would have. Obviously you have to make a judgement call in these situations.

[Mac76]

Apparently the rule is:

“The attacking player is penalised for preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the goalkeeper's line of vision."

By that rule I don’t see how the goal can be disallowed, he’s clearly not in the ‘keeper’s line of vision. He was a bit close to the ‘keeper I guess, although I don’t believe the ‘keeper was getting there regardless. Overall I like the “interfering with play” rule, I like any rule which favours attacking play. The metric for me is whether the goal would have been scored if the offside player hadn’t been there. Last night I reckon it would have. Obviously you have to make a judgement call in these situations.

ok, that's fair I just think there's got to be some influence on the goalie if someone's standing a few feet away, though I get your favouring attacking play point

but if them's the rules then it's clear our great English officials cocked it up, no surprise there...

[Letters]

ok, that's fair I just think there's got to be some influence on the goalie if someone's standing a few feet away, though I get your favouring attacking play point

but if them's the rules then it's clear our great English officials cocked it up, no surprise there...
It’s not just whether they got the decision right, they took forever over it.
One thing which has immediately been noticeable in this tournament is how quick the decisions have been made. Not with our lot :doh:

[Mac76]

Oh the time it took was a farce and all very PGMOL

I'm still a bit mixed on the decision, it feels like maybe Dumfries doesn't quite fit into any of the criteria (I've read the full UEFA offside rule now), but at the same time his general presence is surely hard for a goalie to ignore, it feels like the officials made a d3cision in the spirit, rather than the letter, of the law

Anyway, whatever, as you sae the time taken showed up English officials good and proper

[HCZ_Reborn]

Danny Murphy is so shit

Howling for a Georgia penalty when it’s never one in a million years

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pelanty to Georgia!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Georgia!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Save to stop it being 1-1!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Turkey: Bayındır, Çelik, Akaydin, Kökçü, Aktürkoğlu, Çalhanoğlu, Bardakcı, Kadıoğlu, Yılmaz, Ayhan, Akgün
Subs: Çakır, Demiral, Yokuşlu, Güler, Tosun, Yazıcı, Kaplan, Özcan, Yüksek, Müldür, Yıldız, Kılıçsoy, Yıldırım

Portugal: Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes; Palhinha, Vitinha, Fernandes, Bernardo, Leão; Ronaldo
Subs: Patrício, Sá, Semedo, Dalot, Ramos, Félix, Danilo, Inácio, Neves, Nunes, Neves, Jota, Silva, Neto, Conceição

[HCZ_Reborn]

Turkey should be ahead

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 B Silva!

[Letters]

2-0

OG strikes again. Worst one yet :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What an OG. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-3 Fernandes.

[Letters]

Bloody hell that was awful defence

[Mac76]

Looks like Turkey are getting cooked :rimshot:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Trossard dropped for Belgium

[Mac76]

Trossard dropped for Belgium

He wasn't great in their last game tbh

[HCZ_Reborn]

Tielemans scores within two minutes

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Tielemans!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good save to deny Romania!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good save to deny Doku.

[Letters]

Trossard come on :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How is this still only 1-0. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Does Doku actually do anything?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 Lukaku, what a ball from De Bruyne!

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

:haha:

Poor Lukaku.

Disallowed again.

[Letters]

Lukaku. 2-0 What a goal.
Fantastic ball and smart finish

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Disallowed. :lol:

[Letters]

:haha:

Poor Lukaku.

Disallowed again.

Oh :lol:

I paused it to make some tea and am still a bit behind

[Letters]

It is basically impossible to celebrate any goal now.

[Letters]

2-0. Probably. Who knows any more?

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

This could be offside as well :lol:

No, it's given.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 De Bruyne!

[Letters]

Oh Trossard :lol:
Awful cross

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

McCoist going mental at Trossard :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

That was a poor decision to disallow Lukaku’s goal. Games gone mad if that’s offside.

[Letters]

That was a poor decision to disallow Lukaku’s goal. Games gone mad if that’s offside.
I’ve completely changed my mind about VAR.
It’s ruling out far too many goals, and spoiling too many “moments”.
I used to think that if technology can get these things right then why keep getting them wrong. What I hadn’t accounted for was how tight many offside decisions are. Top attacking players are right on the shoulder of the last defender, it’s often impossible to tell in the moment whether they’re onside or not. VAR has revealed that quite often they are actually offside, but it’s so marginal that without technology no one would have known that.
So what’s worse? Getting these decisions wrong or ruining too many moments? I’ve come to the view that the latter is wrong. No issue with goal line technology, in instances where the ball is cleared off the line and it’s close no-one is really sure whether it was a goal or not. That’s where technology can be used to sort things out. But with these tight offside calls no-one could see the player was offside, for all the fans know it’s a goal, they’re celebrating and then the moment is ruined by VAR.
Just deal with the really obvious stuff and leave the really marginal ones alone.
It’s ruining the experience of watching games for the fans, and that’s worse than getting things wrong.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I’ve completely changed my mind about VAR.
It’s ruling out far too many goals, and spoiling too many “moments”.
I used to think that if technology can get these things right then why keep getting them wrong. What I hadn’t accounted for was how tight many offside decisions are. Top attacking players are right on the shoulder of the last defender, it’s often impossible to tell in the moment whether they’re onside or not. VAR has revealed that quite often they are actually offside, but it’s so marginal that without technology no one would have known that.
So what’s worse? Getting these decisions wrong or ruining too many moments? I’ve come to the view that the latter is wrong. No issue with goal line technology, in instances where the ball is cleared off the line and it’s close no-one is really sure whether it was a goal or not. That’s where technology can be used to sort things out. But with these tight offside calls no-one could see the player was offside, for all the fans know it’s a goal, they’re celebrating and then the moment is ruined by VAR.
Just deal with the really obvious stuff and leave the really marginal ones alone.
It’s ruining the experience of watching games for the fans, and that’s worse than getting things wrong.

I agree; it's not worth celebrating any marginal goal because of the spectre of VAR. It's getting that way with set pieces as well; you can never be sure they won't find some tiny nudge, or a stray offside shoulder in the build up.
It'll get to the stage where the only goals teams will try and score are cut backs from the by-line and every game will be some horrible Guardiola-esque nightmare.

Makes you wonder just how many goals from the past would have been chalked off for one reason or another.

There's one thing wanted to cut out the egregious mistakes, but it's a whole other thing where the game is played to the letter of the rule book. Yes, more decisions will be "correct" but the game will be completely sterile, and at that point I'd rather just watch someone playing FIFA because it amounts to the same thing anyway.

I can't see VAR going anywhere though, I think the only solution would be to change the laws to eliminate the likes of last night's offside. Though I don't really have any faith those in charge would do that successfully. They'd likely make it even worse.

[Letters]

I was talking to a mate about this and he said they could add some tolerance.
That would fix it. It would deal with the really glaring mistakes and leave all the marginal stuff alone.
Getting things right feels like the right thing to do, but we’ve seen how that works in practice and it’s made the experience of watching football worse.

[Mac76]

Which game are people watching tonight - I'm watching Scotland as there's more jeopardy though I might flick over to Germany a bit

[WMUG]

Yeah I'll be watching them. I tend to support the other UK teams as well as Ireland, partly out of kinship and partly because it really pisses them off.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Which game are people watching tonight - I'm watching Scotland as there's more jeopardy though I might flick over to Germany a bit

Both.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Switzerland: Sommer; Akanji, Rodriguez, Schar; Widmer, Freuler, Xhaka, Rieder; Aebischer, Embolo; Ndoye.
Subs: Stergiou, Elvedi, Zakaria, Okafor, Steffen, Mvogo, Zuber, Zesiger, Sierro

Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Mittelstadt; Andrich, Kroos; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz.
Subs: Raum, Gross, Fullkrug, Fuhrich, Baumann, Muller, Beier, Schlotterbeck, Anton, Sane, Henrichs, ter Stegen, Koch, Can, Undav.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Scotland: Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, McKenna; Ralston, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson, McTominay, McGinn; Adams. Subs: Kelly, Clark, Christie, Shankland, Cooper, Armstrong, Morgan, Conway, Jack, McCrorie, McLean, Taylor, Forrest.

Hungary: Gulasci, Dardai, Orban, Botka, Styles, Bolla, Kerkez, Schafer, Varga, Sallai, Szoboszlai. Subs: Dibusz, Szappanos, Lang, Balogh, Szalai, Fiola, Nego, A, Nagy, Adam, Kleinheisler, Gazdag, Z. Nagy, Csoboth, Horváth, Kata.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Switzerland 0-1 Germany, Andrich!

This might be disallowed tbf.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Switzerland 0-1 Germany, Andrich!

This might be disallowed tbf.

And it is. Quite rightly. Musiala got none of the ball

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stays 0-0.

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-0 Switzerland N’Doye

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Switzerland 1-0 Germany, Ndoye!

[Letters]

Scotland 0-0 HT

Not a great half. Scotland had a lot of possession but haven’t done much with it.
Hungary had the best chance although I have a feeling it would have been chalked off for offside.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Watched small amounts of the Scotland game but it’s the incapable vs the unwilling

Germany vs Switzerland much better entertainment value

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Checking for a pelanty in the Scotland v Hungary game. This looks bad too

[Marc Overmars]

He was definitely knocked out cold.

Hopefully it’s just a case of bringing him round and nothing more serious.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Disallowed goal for Switzerland.

[Letters]

Great hit from Xhaka. Good save
(I turned over, at HCZ’s suggestion)

[Letters]

1-1 Germany

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hungary hit the post!

[HCZ_Reborn]

He was definitely knocked out cold.

Hopefully it’s just a case of bringing him round and nothing more serious.

Worrying that the screens were up when he was taken off the pitch, must have been quite a knock to still be unconscious

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cbance for Scotland!

[Letters]

Hungary 1-0, right at the death :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 Hungary!!!

Scotland. :haha:

[Letters]

Haggis :haha:
The Krankies :haha:
The Loch Ness Monster :haha:

[Letters]

It’s the ‘istory of Scotland, we believe in the history

[Mac76]

Scotland weren't good at all but they should have had a pel, i think Hungary just had a little more quality though that's not saying much...

[HCZ_Reborn]

No argument that Hungary were deserved winners, Scotland controlled possession but Hungary had far more chances.

[Mac76]

Bit of a dilemma tonight with Croatia v Italy and Albania v Spain - apparenty Albania are quite fun though and Spain are playing well so will go with that I think

[Letters]

I watched the second half of the previous Albania game vs Croatia. A heroic draw with a late goal which was no less than they deserved.
I think that's likely to be the more fun game.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Bit of a dilemma tonight with Croatia v Italy and Albania v Spain - apparenty Albania are quite fun though and Spain are playing well so will go with that I think

I will watch Croatia vs Italy as there will be something riding on that game (can’t see Albania beating Spain, but can see Croatia beating Italy) but last night I tended to switch between the two although it ended up being 75% Germany-Switzerland

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Albania: Strakosha, Mitaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Balliu, Laci, Ramadani, Asllani, Bajrami, Manaj, Asani.
Subs: Berisha, Kastrati, Hysaj, Gjasula, Broja, Mihaj, Seferi, Berisha, Muci, Ismajli, Abrashi, Kumbulla, Aliji, Hoxha.

Spain: Raya, Grimaldo, Laporte, Vivian, Navas, Olmo, Zubimendi, Marino, Oyarzabal, Joselu, Torres.
Subs: Remiro, Simon, Carvajal, Le Normand, Morata, Ruiz, Baena, Williams, Yamal, Pedri, Cucurella, Lopez.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Croatia: Livakovic; Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Sucic, Kramaric, Pasalic
Subs: Erlic, Majer, Labrovic, Perisic, Budimir, Petkovic, Ivanusec, Sosa, Pjaca, Vida, Juranovic, Ivusic, Marco Pasalic, Baturina

Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Darmian; Barella, Jorginho; Raspadori, Pellegrini, Dimarco; Retegui
Subs: Buongiorno, Gatti, Frattesi, Scamacca, Vicario, Chiesa, Bellanova, Cristante, Mancini, Zaccagni, Fagioli, El Shaarawy, Cambiaso, Folorunsho, Meret

[Letters]

1-0 Spain

Great finish

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Albania 0-1 Spain, Torres!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

]Retegui header wide!

[Letters]

Really good save from Croatia

[HCZ_Reborn]

Why are Germany and Spain in competition for ugliest away kit?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Raya. :bow:

[Letters]

This would be a bullshit penalty

[Letters]

It is a bullshit penalty

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pelanty for Croatia I think.

[Marc Overmars]

Modric has it saved!

[Letters]

Saved :lol:

Old man Modric :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Donnarumma saves it!

[Letters]

And now it’s 1-0 Croatia!

[Letters]

Modric! :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Modric too. That's crazy.

[Letters]

Donnarumma saves it!

You’re watching on iPlayer again aren’t you? :lol:

[Letters]

Bastoni should have scored then.

[Letters]

1-1!!

[Letters]

97tb minute. Ouch!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brutal for Croatia.

[Letters]

Wow. Almost literally the last kick.

[Marc Overmars]

2 late equalisers have fucked Croatia.

[HCZ_Reborn]

2 late equalisers have fucked Croatia.

I think they were unlucky even in the Spain game

Italy were poor, didn’t even come out to play until were 1-0 down. Lot of old players in that Croatia team though, didn’t have the legs to see it out

[HCZ_Reborn]

Netherlands-Austria game tomorrow worth watching because it’s likely we will play one of these two teams in the round of 16

[Mac76]

Watched the firat half of Albania v Spain and then the second half of Croatia v Italy, think I saw the best of both

Shame for Croatia but at least Jorgi's through :bow:

[Letters]

Apparently England are now through whatever we do tomorrow :lol:

[Mac76]

Apparently England are now through whatever we do tomorrow :lol:

great...

[Letters]

Or, to put it another way...

It's Coming Home! :scarf: :trophy:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Mbappe starts for France which solidifies my claim that they weren’t really going all out to beat the Netherlands

Different kettle of poissons today, want to finish top of the group. Which I think they will as I don’t see the Dutch beating the Austrians

[Mac76]

i'm watching the Dutch game as that's got more to play for, France and Poland are already through/out respectively

[Mac76]

Jonathan Pearce doing the Dutch game commentary :(

[HCZ_Reborn]

OG strikes again

This time for Austria

[Mac76]

1-0 Austria

Hilarious OG by the Dutch :haha:

[Letters]

Jonathan Pearce doing the Dutch game commentary :(

I prefer him on TV
The screaming he did on radio was tiresome

[Mac76]

I prefer him on TV
The screaming he did on radio was tiresome

Maybe but he can just witter on sometimes while ignoring what's happening, then sometimes erupt into sanctimonious faux outrage over something very minor

[HCZ_Reborn]

Usually have the game on mute

[Letters]

Why is all this pass pass pass pass stuff lauded?
What’s entertaining is quick incisive passing, not all this side to side shit

[Mac76]

Danny Murphy seems to agree with you

[Letters]

Malden clean through for the Netherlands and cocks it right up

[Mac76]

Malen misses a sitter for the Dutcb

[HCZ_Reborn]

Why is all this pass pass pass pass stuff lauded?
What’s entertaining is quick incisive passing, not all this side to side shit

It’s also near to impossible for any sustained period with the amount of pressing and closing down or teams doing a deep block

[Letters]

Just seen a replay of the og
Pick that one out :haha:

[Mac76]

Should be 2-0

[Mac76]

Austria are really good up until they have a shot

[Letters]

Netherlands should have had a couple too.

[Letters]

1-1!

[Mac76]

Good move and good finish by Gakpo

[Letters]

2-1 Austria!

[Mac76]

2-1

Good game

[Letters]

That could be given as an og too but I reckon it was going in anyway.
France 1-0 up. Pel

[Mac76]

Dutch bringing a Spud on - do they actually want to lose?

[Letters]

2-2? They’re claiming handball but didn’t look like it to me

[Mac76]

That goal's legit i think

[Letters]

There’s clearly no hand ball there. What is taking so long?

[Letters]

Given. Rightly so.

Always liked VAR

[Letters]

3-2 Austria! What a game!

[Mac76]

3-2 :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Holy shit

[McNamara That Ghost...]

France 1-1 Poland, Lewandowski pelanty!

[Letters]

Holy shit

Correct :lol:

Oh, and France 1-1. Another pel!

[Letters]

What a finish to potentially make it 4-2 but rightly chalked off for offside

I’m sure the England game will be this good

[Letters]

Decent chance for Netherlands to equalise but headed over

[Mac76]

6 mins ET :popcorn:

[Mac76]

Weghorst :lol:

[Letters]

3-2 FT

What a game!

[Mac76]

3-2 HT, great game

Austria top of the group :clap:

Rangnick :bow:

Man Ure :pal:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Gallagher, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Kane
Subs: Ramsdale, Henderson, Shaw, Alexander-Arnold, Konsa, Dunk, Toney, Gordon, Watkins, Bowen, Eze, Gomez, Palmer, Wharton, Mainoo

Slovenia: Oblak, Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza, Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar, Sporar, Sesko
Subs: Balkovec, Blazic, Stankovic, Verbic, Lovric, Belec, Kurtic, Horvat, Vekic, Vipotnik, Celar, Brekalo, Zugelj, Zeljkovic, Ilicic

[Mac76]

No Watkins still, we're in for load of turgid shite again

[HCZ_Reborn]

There’s not one side that’s especially impressed me without qualification

France and England the two pre tournament favourites have tried to outdo each other in being terrible

Germany look like they can be got at, at the back

Spain for me lack a consistent goalscorer


Portugal? I think the 3-0 win over Turkey flattered them. Turkey had plenty of chances and committed suicide in defence

[McNamara That Ghost...]

France, Portugal, Spain and Germany all on the same side of the draw. :wacko:

[dazthegooner]

Think we play France if we win tonight:yikes:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Think we play France if we win tonight:yikes:

No Netherlands, France will play the runners up of Group E

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

England's side of the draw looking like it's [on paper] comparatively weaker. We'll probably stumble our way through to the semis or the final, and be beaten by the first half-decent side we face.

[Mac76]

England's side of the draw looking like it's [on paper] comparatively weaker. We'll probably stumble our way through to the semis or the final, and be beaten by the first half-decent side we face.

Of course, it's always the way, I just want someone to put their studs through K**t so we can watch Watkins instead

[Marc Overmars]

I suspect we’ll win this well but there’s no doubt we’ll be losing to the first decent team we face.

[Mac76]

Slovenia need to win and will be going for it, good luck ti them i say, let's see one decent side play at least

[Letters]

England's side of the draw looking like it's [on paper] comparatively weaker. We'll probably stumble our way through to the semis or the final, and be beaten by the first half-decent side we face.

That’s usually what we do.

So far it’s the usual slog.

[Letters]

First good move and Saka puts the ball in the net but Foden was offside.

[WMUG]

Best football we've played all tournament and it was offside :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Foden. :doh:

[dazthegooner]

But not before the commentator say it was Saka that was offside.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Trying to decide who’s been worse Trippier or Foden

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Oblak. :bow:

[Marc Overmars]

Shite. Again.

[Letters]

Another excellent half from us.


Nah, just kidding. More shite.

[dazthegooner]

If we play a bit better we might actually reach the level of shite.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Southgate is just such a shit coach.

[Mac76]

Another excellent half from us.


Nah, just kidding. More shite.

And to add insult to injury we now get the fat Aussie talking about it

[Letters]

And to add insult to injury we now get the fat Aussie talking about it

:lol: Mate!

[HCZ_Reborn]

So Trippier and Foden been our worst players so Southgate reacts by bringing on Mainoo for Gallagher

[HCZ_Reborn]

I’d rather Postecoglou was in the commentary box than Lee Dixon or Sam Matterface

[Letters]

Better start to the second half.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Better start to the second half.

Well yes in the sense that although we are creating fuck all, so are Slovenia

[dazthegooner]

Someone I know is on holiday in Malta as they're an hour ahead I'm trying to find out how this match ends. :lol:

[Letters]

Well yes in the sense that although we are creating fuck all, so are Slovenia
We are showing a lot more purpose in this half so far.
Hasn’t got us the goal yet but we are looking more dangerous.
Best we’ve played in the tournament (which perhaps says something about the other performances)

[Letters]

Someone I know is on holiday in Malta as they're an hour ahead I'm trying to find out how this match ends. :lol:

:haha:

[Mac76]

Ffs southgate get the whale off and put Watkins on, we need some pace up front

[HCZ_Reborn]

HOW the fuck is Foden still on the pitch?

Takes Saka off for Palmer

[HCZ_Reborn]

Trippier you cunt

[dazthegooner]

Cunts are sometimes usefull.

[Mac76]

Slovenia have been dreadful this half, it's embarassing for England that they can't score against them

[Mac76]

HOW the fuck is K**t still on the pitch?



No idea

[Mac76]

TAA coming on

[HCZ_Reborn]

TAA coming on

As a replacement for Trippier, that’s a substitution that makes sense

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This is appalling.

[Marc Overmars]

Won the group with 1 win and 2 goals scored.

Southgate is unmatched.

[Letters]

Won the group with 1 win and 2 goals scored.

Southgate is unmatched.

:haha:

Now we'll go and paint the town beige.

[Mac76]

The best thing about the whole game was the Slovenia kit, really nice shade of blue that :good:

[HCZ_Reborn]

So unless something weird happens tomorrow, looks like we play the Dutch on Sunday

[Marc Overmars]

For what it’s worth, Mainoo should be starting with Rice.

Foden was toilet again but Southgate won’t have the bottle to drop him.

[dazthegooner]

For what it’s worth, Mainoo should be starting with Rice.

Foden was toilet again but Southgate won’t have the bottle to drop him.

Well the two comedians commentating thought he was one of our best players.

[HCZ_Reborn]

For what it’s worth, Mainoo should be starting with Rice.

Foden was toilet again but Southgate won’t have the bottle to drop him.

For what it’s worth I agree with all of that

[HCZ_Reborn]

Pickford 6 - Virtual Spectator

Trippier 3 - Even the defensive part of his game is rotten

Guehi 4 - Manages to fuck up simple interceptions


Stones 5 - Needs to step up and protect his centre back partner


Walker 5 - Anonymous


Rice 6.5 - Better than against Denmark


Gallagher 5 - Anonymous, he’s not a starter


Bellingham 5 - Did fuck all


Foden 2 - And that’s generous, it’s bad enough for him to play poorly by himself but he’s fucking up the play of other people around him


Saka 7 - Would have been a goalscorer tonight if Foden had bothered to time his run better


Kane 5 - Wasn’t so much the wandering Jew tonight but noticeably out of position when Mainoo squared it across goal



Subs


Mainoo 7 - Needs to start Sunday


Palmer 6 - Did ok, but coming on for Saka meant defenders doubled up on him and whilst he’s physically stronger than Saka doesn’t have his raw pace



Alexander Arnold and Gordon 6 - May have made more impact if they’d actually come on earlier

[Mac76]

We should start with the players we finished with but also have Watkins for Kane

Not sure aboit leaving out Saka but he isn't getting into the games much and I thought Palmer looked good on the right

Or we have Saka and have Palmer elsewhere - I just thought in five minutes he did more than most of the rest of the team

[HCZ_Reborn]

Zinchenko dropped for Ukraine, Trossard back in the starting lineup for Belgium

[Mac76]

That Ukraine no 11 is hopeless

as for the Slovakia goal, how slow was the Romanian keeper

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think this tournament has been a bit of a fizzle really, not got going after a fairly promising start. I even think I’d be less upset about England’s diabolical football if there was excitement going on elsewhere.

Hoping the knockout rounds might liven things up, however I suspect you’ll get a lot of teams playing for pels

[Mac76]

Austria v Holland yesterday was very good, and these two on now may not be great auality all through but should be exciting there's a lot to play for

[HCZ_Reborn]

Austria v Holland yesterday was very good, and these two on now may not be great auality all through but should be exciting there's a lot to play for

I agree that was a good game but it was more of an outlier when compared to the competition as a whole

[dazthegooner]

When you make the tournament bigger and where you can qualify for the knock out stages with 3 draws it doesn't bode well. Hopefully the knockout stages will change this.

[Mac76]

annoyingly i missed some of the games people said were really great - i think Georgia v Turkey was one

[Letters]

Absolutely tipping down :lol:

[Mac76]

i've got both games on now - two teams in yellow, two teams in (more or less) blue, a bit confusing... :lol:

[Mac76]

Dogpick messes up again

[Letters]

Turned over to the Ukraine game.
Is that the right thing to do?

[Letters]

(I think it is, more jeopardy in this one, a draw suits both teams in the other one)

[Letters]

What a run! And then he* hits it straight at the ‘keeper

*he being some Ukrainian

[Letters]

Corner for Belgium. Which is probably enough to close the game out

[HCZ_Reborn]

FT Ukraine 0 Tintin 0

[McNamara That Ghost...]

All four finishing on four points. :lol:

Feel sorry for Ukraine really.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I never liked this finishing in third place and potentially progressing nonsense in tournament football (it’s a replica of the model the World Cup adopted between 1986 and 1994)

When the World Cup originally expanded from 16 to 24 teams, it was piloted with two group stages…one group stage with four teams in per group, and one with three teams in per group.


In the second round group stage it meant that teams couldn’t play for draws or penalties…England went out after winning all their games in the group stage but not being able to beat West Germany or Spain.

Italy the eventual winners had to beat Brazil in their group because although they’d won against Argentina, Brazil had a superior goal difference.

Now taking away the fact that the 1982 World Cup took place just over a year before I was born, you watch it back now and it’s stood the test of time as being one of the greatest World Cup tournaments of all time, and I think the format massively contributed to this.


Of course the main problem is that a European tournament doesn’t need 24 teams to begin with, 16 is sufficient. Just as 32 is sufficient for the World Cup…and expanding it to 48 will just increase the amount of utterly pointless games against totally incapable teams

[HCZ_Reborn]

Georgia 1-0 up against Turkey

[Marc Overmars]

Tough on Ukraine going out with 4 points. :rose:

[Mac76]

Georgia 1-0 up against Turkey

That's impressive seeing as they're playing Portugal :haha: :haha:

[HCZ_Reborn]

That's impressive seeing as they're playing Portugal :haha: :haha:

I’m watching the Czech-Turkey game

I make no apologies :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Barak sent off for nothing

Two yellow cards…one for a slight shirt tug

One for a non foul where he got the ball and the Turkey player caught him

[HCZ_Reborn]

The third round of group stage matches has been distinctly goal phobic (16 goals in 12 games so far)

Still though, would laugh my bollocks off if Georgia beat Portugal

[HCZ_Reborn]

Calhanoglu gives Turkey the lead

[HCZ_Reborn]

:lol: missed this. Georgia 2-0 up now

[Mac76]

2-0 Georgia :haha:

[HCZ_Reborn]

As things stand we are playing Slovakia on Sunday

Another congested snore fest against a post communist country

Lovely little nugget. Czechoslovakia was attenuated during the Second World War creating the short lived Slovak republic, which was a fascist vassal state to Nazi Germany (given great support by the Catholic Church).

So this lovely place was so rife with antisemitism that they actually paid the Nazis the take away their Jews, the only country under Nazi supervision that didn’t have the deportation of Jews enforced on them

[HCZ_Reborn]

Soucek equalises for Czechia!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Tosin scores for Turkey 2-1. More injury time heartbreak for Czechs

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/32461/13159838/jude-bellingham-rested-kobbie-mainoo-in-sky-sports-writers-pick-their-england-xis-to-face-slovakia-at-euro-2024

The amount of these imbeciles who would drop Saka

I would however consider playing Saka at left back (well a wing back)

Id play three at the back - Walker, Stones and Guehi (he’s useless but no other option) and Alexander Arnold as the other wing back


Rice and Mainoo


Bellingham and Palmer playing behind Kane

[Mac76]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/32461/13159838/jude-bellingham-rested-kobbie-mainoo-in-sky-sports-writers-pick-their-england-xis-to-face-slovakia-at-euro-2024

The amount of these imbeciles who would drop Saka

I would however consider playing Saka at left back (well a wing back)

Id play three at the back - Walker, Stones and Guehi (he’s useless but no other option) and Alexander Arnold as the other wing back


Rice and Mainoo


Bellingham and Palmer playing behind Kane

Yes I agree with Saka at left wing-back especially if it means playing both him and Palmer

but quite genuinely how anyone can even countenance continuing with Kane is beyond me when we have Watkins and even Tony on the bench

And no it's not anti-Spud bias, I haven't said a word about Walker or Trippier (though the latter should be dropped as it happens as he's out of position and not good enough)

And Guehi is not useless, he's doing perfectly well in a lame team

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yes I agree with Saka at left wing-back especially if it means playing both him and Palmer

but quite genuinely how anyone can even countenance continuing with Kane is beyond me when we have Watkins and even Tony on the bench

And no it's not anti-Spud bias, I haven't said a word about Walker or Trippier (though the latter should be dropped as it happens as he's out of position and not good enough)

And Guehi is not useless, he's doing perfectly well in a lame team

I would say it’s equally beyond me that anyone thinks Guehi is not yet another large drag factor on this team. You can see that his inability on the ball, his indecision when it comes to interceptions etc affects the play of those around him including Stones, Pickford and Rice. I would add Trippier to that but there’s no excusing his inadequacies.


Kane is the captain of the team, he has consistently been one of the top strikers in Europe for a long time and granted he’s been poor in this tournament but he is a superior player to Watkins. I don’t say that to be dismissive of Ollie Watkins, I think he’s an excellent striker…one who id love at Arsenal. Playing two strikers is very 1990s ish but actually I think we’ve missed a trick by not having them both on the pitch at some point during games as I think they’d compliment each other really well.

With your views on Kane it’s Anti Kane Bias and like with other users on this board (myself included) a need to be Right, you have a habit of taking against players to the point of being totally exclusionary of anything positive about them

You said I took a similar stance about Alexander-Arnold. My issue was him playing in midfield, and it’s clear even the clueless Southgate saw that as unsustainable.

But there’s many things about his game I like. But he’s a wingback in the mould of a Roberto Carlos (albeit on the right)…good free kick taker, good burst of pace but you do have to set up teams in a certain way to get the best out of him.

I think Trippier is a fairly good right sided full back, but I don’t think he suits playing for England as he’s completely bereft of pace and I find it frustrating that he demands the ball in advanced areas when he lacks the ability to do anything with it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Switzerland: Sommer, Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez, Aebischer, Freuler, Xhaka, Rieder, Vargas, Ndoye, Embolo
Subs: Stergiou, Elvedi, Zakaria, Okafor, Steffen, Mvogo, Zuber, Zesiger, Sierro, Duah, Kobel, Shaqiri, Jashari, Amdouni

Italy: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Darmian, Cristante, Fagioli, Barella, Chiesa, Scamacca, El Shaarawy
Subs: Buongiorno, Gatti, Frattesi, Jorginho, Pellegrini, Raspadori, Vicario, Bellanova, Retegui, Zaccagni, Cambiaso, Folorunsho, Meret, Dimarco.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ah a save!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Ah a save!

I think even Embolo thought he was offside (he wasn’t)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great block from Akanji,

[HCZ_Reborn]

Italians made too many changes. Players not finding each other with passes, Swiss press is decent but this is mainly Italy playing like strangers. Switzerland should be ahead imo

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Switzerland 1-0 Italy!

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-0 Switzerland Freuler


No less than they deserve

[Letters]

Good goal

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Time for Jorginho. :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Time for Jorginho. :bow:

You’d think it probably wouldn’t be too long into the second half before he does come on, assuming he’s fit

[Letters]

What a free kick by Switzerland! Good save

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Very good Donnarumma.

[Letters]

1-0 HT

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 Vargas, what a strike!

[Letters]

2-0!

Holy shit, what a hit!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Lovely goal

[Letters]

The Italian manager is the most Italian looking man I’ve ever seen

[Letters]

Switzerland hit their own post! That would have been a weird og

[HCZ_Reborn]

The Italian manager is the most Italian looking man I’ve ever seen

https://media01.stockfood.com/largepreviews/MzQ5OTI2ODg0/11287964-A-stereotypical-Italian-man-eating-pizza.jpg