Euro 2024

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-4 Barcola!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mendes keeps them in it.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Ha lovely Portugal out

[Mac76]

France win - great pels

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hernandez scores, France through!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Most importantly, Ronaldo. :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

Through to the semis without a player scoring a goal in open play. :lol:

Would be quite impressive if they pubbed past Spain.

[Mac76]

I do have a bit of sympathy for Felix, he's a good player

[Letters]

Most importantly, Ronaldo. :haha:

:gp:

[HCZ_Reborn]

I thought France’s performance last night was disgraceful. I imagine that many Les Bleus fans want Deschamps gone as readily as we want Southgate gone. To be defensively strong is one thing, and Kounde and Saliba especially are excellent but the complete lack of ambition to get forward despite their attacking talent is shameful

Portugal? Well it clearly seems that Martinez lacks the balls to not pander to the whims of Ronaldo, every game for them he’s a passenger yet he stays on the pitch and harms their chances when you could have players like Gonçalo Guedes instead.

And having a decent squad of depth means sod all when you have that preening arrogant arse taking up a space that could be given to a team player

[Mac76]

To be fair they'd obviously had a word re him taking all the FKs and corners, that said.Bruno's corners were grade A shite so it made no difference

[HCZ_Reborn]

To be fair they'd obviously had a word re him taking all the FKs and corners, that said.Bruno's corners were grade A shite so it made no difference

True although it took them to the 1/4 finals to do that, and he’s sure as hell not in that team on merit

[HCZ_Reborn]

Talking about Southgate replacements with someone, and it felt to me that we were selling ourselves short with names like Potter or Howe. I like Eddie Howe but when you see how obsequious he is to the Saudi owners of the club, doesn’t give me faith that he will have a spine with the FA

I’m thinking an attempt should be made for Klopp, now I’m 90% sure he wouldn’t be interested. But I think if you don’t ask, you don’t get. And given the silly money we spent on procuring Fabio Capello, it’s worth a shot

[Mac76]

yes, I don't think Potter or Howe have the right psychological profile to work with the biggest players, they would pander to the Kanes and Trippiers as much as Southgate

Something tells me Klopp wouldn't want to manage England though I might be wrong, I'm not sure I see him as a national team manager and if he did it would probably be Germany or maybe a minnow team just to see how far he could get with them

[McNamara That Ghost...]

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

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

[Mac76]

What he should have picked:

Pickford, White (although of course he's not there because Steve Holland is a c*** and Southgate has no guts), Stones, Guehi, Saka, Rice, Wharton, Palmer, Bellingham, Gordon, Watkins.

Saka at LB ofc which he's actually very good at and the squad has no other options

I would have had Ram ahead of Pickford but Ram's had so little football it's probably unwise

[HCZ_Reborn]

This is England’s 15th quarter final in all tournaments, our record in the previous 14 is Won 4 outright, Won 1 on a penalty shoot out (against Spain in Euro 96) lost three in a penalty shoot out (Portugal twice and Italy) and Lost 6 outright

[Mac76]

Micah Richards losing his shit :lol:

[Mac76]

Didn't know Guehi was banned i guess it's Konsa then

[HCZ_Reborn]

Didn't know Guehi was banned i guess it's Konsa then

Yeah got booked quite early on against Slovakia I think

[Mac76]

Mess up from Freuler in the box, so much poor attacking play in this tournament

[HCZ_Reborn]

Genuinely don’t get why linesmen have been flagging about thirty seconds after the original offside offence

[HCZ_Reborn]

That can’t be right. Just seen England press Switzerland on the ball in their half

Ah that’s more like it, pointless sideways passing

[HCZ_Reborn]

That’s worrying. Bellingham successfully closed down a Swiss player in their third. Dangerously ambitious

[HCZ_Reborn]

Kane waddling towards the box when Saka drives it low across goal

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nobody following in Saka's ball in far post, again.

[Mac76]

If Watkins had been there to get on the end of that Saka ball we'd be 1-0 up now, it's hopeless as long as the whale is there

[HCZ_Reborn]

If Watkins had been there to get on the end of that Saka ball we'd be 1-0 up now, it's hopeless as long as the whale is there

I could have got there with a bit of determination (I’d have skied it into the crowd but that’s neither here or there) that wasn’t even a case of Kane being slow or carrying too much weight, he simply couldn’t be bothered to move himself

[Mac76]

Actually a decent start for England but they need a striker to make it count

[HCZ_Reborn]

Actually a decent start for England but they need a striker to make it count

As always the best opportunities always come from the right because of the insistence of playing Trippier

[HCZ_Reborn]

Complete waste of a corner

[Mac76]

England can be grateful the Swiss' play is almost glacial at times

[HCZ_Reborn]

Trippier once again ruins a promising attacking move

[HCZ_Reborn]

Saka again being our best attacking threat

[Mac76]

Better from England, if he subs the whale for Watkins we could actually win this

[Mac76]

Lineker saying Kane has stayed high, that's rubbish, he's dropping back again

Amazing how Ronaldo gets criticised for being a self-indulgent has-been, but Cpt Beefhead gets away with it

[HCZ_Reborn]

Having three at the back means we are more comfortable pressing, that and I think not having Guehi at the back

Konsa should stay in, quick and good on the ball

[Mac76]

Yes, Konsa has been v good

[Mac76]

The cowards in the studio have obvs decided to leave K*** alone, Shearer got it right on the commentary though he was nowhere near two excellent crosses from Saka

Even Theo's letting him off the hook, wtf

[HCZ_Reborn]

Notice that Bellingham chose not to pass to Trippier there, good call

[HCZ_Reborn]

Xhaka took too long…….yyyyeeeppp

[Mac76]

Two awful corners by the Swiss and then the usual dive by K***, pretty dire stuff

[Mac76]

K*** puts the elbow in and is rightly booked

[HCZ_Reborn]

Bellingham tapping Xhaka on the side of the face “come on get up you cunt!”

[Mac76]

1-0 to the Swiss :haha:

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-0 Switzerland Embolo


Stones and Walker terrible again

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England :haha:

Hopeless.

[Letters]

It’s the history of England… :(

[Niall_Quinn]

If you gave Southgate a Ferrari GT and the open roads of the Alps - he'd use it to do the weekly shop.

[HCZ_Reborn]

If you gave Southgate a Ferrari GT and the open roads of the Alps - he'd use it to do the weekly shop.

:lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Even manage to make a mess of the subs they are making.

[HCZ_Reborn]

SAKA!!!!

[Letters]

SAKA!!!

1-1

[Mac76]

Saka !

[McNamara That Ghost...]

SAKA!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh no - Rio Ferdinand is going to have to say "Saka" now.

[Niall_Quinn]

Who the fuck is Eze and why is he playing at such a (theoretically) high level?

[Mac76]

If the Swiss could keep their cool in front of goal they'd be home and dry

[Mac76]

Eze rolling his eyes as Southgate gives instructions :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

There should be some sort of competition, albeit with lesser odds than winning the national lottery, that revolves around the impossibility of Harry Kane getting subbed.

[Niall_Quinn]

Geniuses in the studio reckon our striker (sic) should get in the box. No wonder they make the big money.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great strike from Rice.

[HCZ_Reborn]

N’Doye off for Zakaria. Are Swiss going for pels?

[Niall_Quinn]

Foden is genuinely shit. But he's done very well making a PR career for himself.

[HCZ_Reborn]

How many more times does Daniele Orsato need to tell Schar to behave himself

[HCZ_Reborn]

Foden is genuinely shit. But he's done very well making a PR career for himself.

Palmer a bit chunky and not quick enough for my liking but done far more in 20+ minutes than Foden done all game

[Niall_Quinn]

Xhaka is such a good player. Better than Rice? Don't know. Similar.

[Niall_Quinn]

Palmer a bit chunky and not quick enough for my liking but done far more in 20+ minutes than Foden done all game

Yeah, good player. The kind you need if you want to break global Pep ball.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yeah, good player. The kind you need if you want to break global Pep ball.

And just to make our point even more, Foden is a cunt again

[Niall_Quinn]

How many more times does Daniele Orsato need to tell Schar to behave himself

Good ref. Very fair. Made himself incidental instead of the main event. Reminds me of the old fashioned (proper) refs.

And Saka hasn't been diving today. I like to see that.

[Niall_Quinn]

We all know where this is going - right? Just hope it isn't Saka that misses.

[Mac76]

How many more times does Daniele Orsato need to tell Schar to behave himself

We should just be running at Schar at every opportunity

Or we could just sub K**t for Watkins and win that way

[Niall_Quinn]

Obviously the German league is weak if that useless piece of shit Kane is dominating it. Maybe they all just move at 3mph. He's such fucking baggage.

[Letters]

Kane fouling Southgate

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kane goes in to the boxes!

[Niall_Quinn]

Hilarious - Kane just wiped out Southgate. If that isn't a sign then nothing is.

[Mac76]

K**t subbed :faint:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kane off, Toney on.

[Niall_Quinn]

Finally, that gigantic useless turd has been subbed.

[Niall_Quinn]

After we lose on pens, will that go down as the worst striker performance in the history of international competition? Yes, it will.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Foden off, Alexander-Arnold on.

[Niall_Quinn]

Swiss are much the better team, but with the inferior players. Says everything about Southgate. He's the John Major of football history. The wrong man for the job in every sense. Very modern.

[Niall_Quinn]

Saka has actually played very well - considering the shit show he's part of.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brilliant defending from Saka. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Little embarrassing. Hanging on against Brazil Switzerland.

[Letters]

Oh bloody hell

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pelanties!

[Niall_Quinn]

That looked a pen to me. Considering of you even touch a player with your boot in the box - pen. But challenge the man instead of the ball? No pen? That was a pen.

[Mac76]

We all know what happens now - we'll pub our way through and continue to stink out the tournament

[Niall_Quinn]

So skipping past the habitual pen loss, Southgate is going now - right?

[Mac76]

That looked a pen to me. Considering of you even touch a player with your boot in the box - pen. But challenge the man instead of the ball? No pen? That was a pen.

Toney was looking for it, nothing to see move on

[Niall_Quinn]

Toney was looking for it, nothing to see move on

Only interested in what the defender was doing. Pen.

[Niall_Quinn]

I really don't know what I'd do if I ever met Lineker or Ferdinand. Assuming I resisted the irroestiable urge to smash their skulls and piss in the debris.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Palmer.

[Niall_Quinn]

Good pen boy. Looks a professional.

[Letters]

Pickford Saves!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Wow - did he take money for that effort? Telegraphed it, tapped it. The very worst pen you could ever take.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Akanji. :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh crap, it's going to be Saka - right?

[Letters]

Saka! 3-1

[Niall_Quinn]

Come on dude!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

SAKA!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

GET IN! Tahnk fuck for that.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Shaqiri scores!

[Niall_Quinn]

Don't care who wins now, unless Rice is taking one.

[Letters]

TONEY! 4-2 :sick:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Toney scores!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AA scores!! England through!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Semi-finals again somehow

[Niall_Quinn]

Must admit, surpised those shitkickers managed to conduct a pen shootout without shitting the bed. There's always a first time. Oh well, Southgate gets a reprieve.

[Niall_Quinn]

Could we still sack him anyway - just for a laugh?

[HCZ_Reborn]

Could we still sack him anyway - just for a laugh?

I don’t see why not

[Niall_Quinn]

I don’t see why not

It would certainly bring the nation together.

[Mac76]

Only interested in what the defender was doing. Pen.

He was defending. No pel

[Niall_Quinn]

Well, it's something to watch next time I suppose. This is so far removed from international tournaments of decades passed it's a joke. It's like YouTube shorts. Oh, that's interesting, for 15 seconds. But I guess the money is rolling in for the few, so that's a plus?

[Niall_Quinn]

He was defending. No pel

I'm not arguing that you aren't wrong 100% of the time. I conceded that years ago.

[Mac76]

Semi-finals again somehow

I reckon they might actually go all the way this time, despite Southgate's best efforts the quality is just about getting the Dog and Duck through each game

If only we started rach game witth 11 men instead of 10 plus K**t it would actually be fairly easy

[Niall_Quinn]

OMG, the lads did it for the nation according to that strange creature on the panel? Sure they did. As well as the million quid a week. Let's not pretend sport or nation has anything to do with this, in a nation of a billion illegal immigrants. Do people buy this shit? Is it playing? Intrigued to know.

[Niall_Quinn]

They have a woman doing the interviews, for some strange reason.

[dostoy]

Surely this now means that Rice and Saka are not going to be ready for Arsenal's first league game of the season.

[Niall_Quinn]

Surely this now means that Rice and Saka are not going to be ready for Arsenal's first league game of the season.

Why not? They get paid a million quid for having a shit. Normal people need to be ready every Monday morning, and they are getting paid enough to just about survive.

[Marc Overmars]

Better but still not very good let’s be honest.

Fuck it though, let’s hope we pub our way to glory.

[Niall_Quinn]

Better but still not very good let’s be honest.

Fuck it though, let’s hope we pub our way to glory.

Why would we want that? Surely we want football to win. Although, considering every single team in this tournament is pure shit, that will be difficult. So yes, let's hope out stinky shit rises above their reeking excrement. It's so fucking sd. This isn't football.

[Mac76]

Better but still not very good let’s be honest.

Fuck it though, let’s hope we pub our way to glory.

I think they might well do, the biggest counter-argument is having a serial loser as captain

[Mac76]

Why would we want that? Surely we want football to win. Although, considering every single team in this tournament is pure shit, that will be difficult. So yes, let's hope out stinky shit rises above their reeking excrement. It's so fucking sd. This isn't football.

I take it there's a discount on spirits at Tesco?

[Niall_Quinn]

I take it there's a discount on spirits at Tesco?

Oh go on then. Name that master team who's wowing you. Explain the bits you like the most.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Player ratings

Pickford 6 - Made a good save from Shaqiri but distribution poor


Walker 5 - Lazy and looks overweight


Stones 6.5 - Looked more assured without Guehi but failed to make interception before Embolo tap in


Konsa 7.5 - Quick, strong, good decision making


Trippier 4 - No pace, no awareness, and when he ridiculously gets up field he doesn’t defend either



Rice 6.5 - Bit careless on the ball at times



Mainoo 7.5 - Why was he taken off and Foden allowed to stay on



Foden 5 - Largely anonymous which was an improvement on previous games


Bellingham 6 - Foden drifting wide gave him more time to shine, but still a bit of a petulant dickhead



Saka 8 - Best player on the pitch


Kane 5 - Moron


Subs:


Shaw 6.5 - Gave us a bit more width


Palmer 7 - Did more than Bellingham or Foden



Eze 6 - Hard worker and quick, but technically poor and can’t cross a ball to save his life


Toney 6 - Brought on for Pels


Alexander Arnold 6 - Also brought on for Pels

[Niall_Quinn]

Best player on the pitch was Xhaka. By a mile. One master and ten journeymen. They did quite well.

[Mac76]

Oh go on then. Name that master team who's wowing you. Explain the bits you like the most.

It was less about your point than the way you chose to express it

[Mac76]

@hcz largely agree with the ratings except K**t was a 2 at best

[Niall_Quinn]

Kane 5 - Moron

Why don't you just suck his cock?

[Niall_Quinn]

It was less about your point than the way you chose to express it

Oh dear, did I invade your safe space?

[Mac76]

Oh dear, did I invade your safe space?

Oh here we go again, go on call me snowflake or karen if it allows you to believe you're a real man

[HCZ_Reborn]

Kane 5 - Moron

Why don't you just suck his cock?

No thanks, no one is stopping you though since you brought it up

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh here we go again, go on call me snowflake or karen if it allows you to believe you're a real man

You are not a very sturdy man. Can I say that much?

[Mac76]

You are not a very sturdy man. Can I say that much?

You can say what you like, we all know it's the ramblings of a sad drunk

[Niall_Quinn]

So everything I told you about the Biden presidency was the ramblings of a drunk man? Are you capable of being honest? Let's see.

[HCZ_Reborn]

So everything I told you about the Biden presidency was the ramblings of a drunk man? Are you capable of being honest? Let's see.

I dunno id have to read what you wrote, if like most of the people I come across online Gliding seamlessly and effortlessly between he’s a globalist master criminal and he wears Adult nappies


Pick a fucking lane.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Xavi Simons has a forehead like the Mekon

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Netherlands: Verbruggen, Dumfries, de Vrij, van Dijk, Ake, Reijnders, Schouten, Bergwijn, Simons, Gakpo, Depay.
Subs: Geertruida, de Ligt, Wijnaldum, Weghorst, Bijlow, van de Ven, Veerman, Blind, Brobbey, Zirkzee, Flekken, Gravenberch, Frimpong, Malen.

Turkey: Gunok, Muldur, Akaydin, Bardakci, Kadioglu, Ayhan, Ozcan, Guler, Calhanoglu, Yildiz, Yilmaz.
Subs: Celik, Yokuslu, Akturkoglu, Tosun, Yazici, Bayindir, Kaplan, Kahveci, Cakir, Kilicsoy, Akgun, Yildirim.

[Niall_Quinn]

I dunno id have to read what you wrote, if like most of the people I come across online Gliding seamlessly and effortlessly between he’s a globalist master criminal and he wears Adult nappies


Pick a fucking lane.

You mean you didn't read it at the time and remember. Yet you feel now you can make a judgement? Hmm, says much about you and little about me. Quick to judeg, slow to read. Sounds like a labour voter. I mean you voted for those absolute frauds, right? Didn't listen to me about that either? Wow, maybe an ear syringe?

[Letters]

1-0 Turkey!

Great ball, good header

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 Turkey!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Xavi Simons has a forehead like the Mekon

I don't know who either of those people are. But I take your word for it. Fucking melon heads.

I'm practising to become a standup voter.

[HCZ_Reborn]

You mean you didn't read it at the time and remember. Yet you feel now you can make a judgement? Hmm, says much about you and little about me. Quick to judeg, slow to read. Sounds like a labour voter. I mean you voted for those absolute frauds, right? Didn't listen to me about that either? Wow, maybe an ear syringe?

So you’re basically doing what you’ve accused me of doing

No didn’t vote

[Niall_Quinn]

0-1 Turkey!!

Fuck them, Christmas is coming!

[Niall_Quinn]

So you’re basically doing what you’ve accused me of doing

No didn’t vote

Good for you. At least you can't be held responsible for what comes next - in a way. Because you still believe in the system so you kind of give it a pass, and disbelieve your lying eyes in the process. But it's better than actually cheering the cunts on.

No, I'm doing wht I've always done. Oppose goverment because I know what it is and why it is.

[Letters]

Oppose goverment.
How?

[Niall_Quinn]

How?

Kill them

[Letters]

Kill them
I see. But you’re not doing that.
What are you doing?

Not a dig, I’m just genuinely curious. To me it sounds like saying you oppose a hurricane. You have no power to do it feels a bit meaningless. What in practice can an individual do to oppose government?

[Niall_Quinn]

I see. But you’re not doing that.
What are you doing?

Not a dig, I’m just genuinely curious. To me it sounds like saying you oppose a hurricane. You have no power to do it feels a bit meaningless. What in practice can an individual do to oppose government?

It's a parable.

We must kill Russians, right? With taxpayer money? It's the right thing to do, regardless of the party.

So sure, I'm not doing anything, except going along with it. Does that count?

[Niall_Quinn]

I see. But you’re not doing that.
What are you doing?

Not a dig, I’m just genuinely curious. To me it sounds like saying you oppose a hurricane. You have no power to do it feels a bit meaningless. What in practice can an individual do to oppose government?

Yes, I absolutely oppose a hurricane. And I'll lose. But I'll easily win a battle made by some meagre man, if I'm prepared to oppose a hurricane.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Damn what a challenge.

[Niall_Quinn]

Damn what a challenge.

What, winning the Euros with Southgate in charge. Don't misquote me - I never siad that!

[Letters]

1-1!

Another good goal

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 De Vrij!

[Niall_Quinn]

Is it worth watching? Or a repeat of the last bore fest?

[Niall_Quinn]

Any good players?

[Letters]

2-1 Netherlands!

What a ball across

[Letters]

Is it worth watching? Or a repeat of the last bore fest?

It's been better than most of the games. Which isn't saying much but i'm enjoying it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 Gakpo!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's an OG again. :haha:

What a player.

Sign him up, Arteta.

[Niall_Quinn]

It's been better than most of the games. Which isn't saying much but i'm enjoying it.

Might watch then.

[HCZ_Reborn]

It's an OG again. :haha:

What a player.

Sign him up, Arteta.

I feel like Gakpo got the last touch

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How is it not 2-2.

[Letters]

Turkey had a couple of brilliant chances. Excellent blocks from the Dutch.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 Netherlands, FT!!

[Mac76]

The first 5 mins of Turkey-Holland was better quality than the whole 120 mins of the England game

[Letters]

The first 5 mins of Turkey-Holland was better quality than the whole 120 mins of the England game

Can you imagine how dull an England vs France final would be?!

[Mac76]

Can you imagine how dull an England vs France final would be?!

At least you'd know.you could start watching on 120 mins, just before the pels...

[HCZ_Reborn]

I’m not going to lie, whilst it would be nice to see England win a major tournament, I think that would be massively overshadowed by Southgate taking it as a vindication of his football. France for all their horrendous negativity were well organised and well drilled, and watching them is bad enough.

NQ I think had a point when he said Switzerland were a superior team with inferior players

[Marc Overmars]

Most of the nations are superior teams to England because we’re not the sum of our parts. Southgate is just fortunate that he has so many difference makers at the top end of the pitch to bail him out. I’m convinced a better coach would have won a tournament for us by now however you don’t need to play good football to win a tournament which has been proven on many occasions.

[WMUG]

I’m not going to lie, whilst it would be nice to see England win a major tournament, I think that would be massively overshadowed by Southgate taking it as a vindication of his football. France for all their horrendous negativity were well organised and well drilled, and watching them is bad enough.

NQ I think had a point when he said Switzerland were a superior team with inferior players

Nah, that'd be a historical footnote. He's gone at the end of the tournament regardless of what happens, whether he personally takes that as a vindication of his style is an irrelevance. A more modern manager will come in to replace him (I'm hoping for Potter, but we'll see) and make better use of the plethora of talent we have up top which will set us in good stead for the future regardless of the outcome of this particular summer.

[Letters]

A more modern manager will come in to replace him (I'm hoping for Potter, but we'll see) and make better use of the plethora of talent we have up top which will set us in good stead for the future regardless of the outcome of this particular summer.
As long as I’ve been following football there’s been an endless cycle of
New England manager, optimism, honeymoon period, flirtation with success then some poor results, press and fans get on the manager’s back, they get sacked and round and round we go.

The assertion that “if we’d had so and so manager then we’d have…”
It’s all speculative and impossible to prove or disprove so almost pointless discussing.

World Cup semi-final then Euros final then World Cup Quarters (lost to eventual finalists) and then at worst the Euro semi-final. It’s the best run in my lifetime. Which doesn’t mean I think Southgate hasn’t made mistakes. But I don’t buy we’d have been sweeping all before us under a different manager

[WMUG]

Oh I'm not saying I don't think Southgate's done a good job, he is literally (by results) the best manager we've had since 1966.

He's had a great run of tournaments as you say, and vital to that has been building a sense of camaraderie in the team which by all accounts massively held us back in the big 4 era, as well as getting the penalty hoodoo off our backs.

It's just that he did that with way worse squads than we have access to now, especially in 2018. Then, we were coming back off some truly abysmal results and dire expectations, which it turns out was the kind of environment he thrives in: making relatively mediocre players into something greater than the sum of their parts.

Now we have some of the best talent in the world in almost all of our attacking positions. We don't need somebody to make them better than they already are, we need someone to put them together in such a way that they express the best of themselves.

Southgate has proven in this tournament that he's not the man to do that. He's taken us as far as he can, which – and I cannot state this enough – is a fucking long way.

So as a great man once said: thanks for the memories, but it's time to say goodbye.

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh I'm not saying I don't think Southgate's done a good job, he is literally (by results) the best manager we've had since 1966.

He's had a great run of tournaments as you say, and vital to that has been building a sense of camaraderie in the team which by all accounts massively held us back in the big 4 era, as well as getting the penalty hoodoo off our backs.

It's just that he did that with way worse squads than we have access to now, especially in 2018. Then, we were coming back off some truly abysmal results and dire expectations, which it turns out was the kind of environment he thrives in: making relatively mediocre players into something greater than the sum of their parts.

Now we have some of the best talent in the world in almost all of our attacking positions. We don't need somebody to make them better than they already are, we need someone to put them together in such a way that they express the best of themselves.

Southgate has proven in this tournament that he's not the man to do that. He's taken us as far as he can, which – and I cannot state this enough – is a fucking long way.

So as a great man once said: thanks for the memories, but it's time to say goodbye.

Rice and Saka saved his sorry, incompetent arse. Sounds biased. Arsenal players, right? But still true. Watch the goal. There's NO way Rice was following used car saleseman Southgate's plan when he ran ahead of Saka and opened up the space inside. Southgate's abuse of Rice has been horrendous. Literally he's sent him out to NOT play, but to STOP the opposition playing. And that's a sure sign of a loser. If Soutgate somehow continues to fluke these results and wins something, it will be his players (minus Kane of course) who have covered for the fact the man knows nothing and has 2 fewer balls than required.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Rice and Saka saved his sorry, incompetent arse. Sounds biased. Arsenal players, right? But still true. Watch the goal. There's NO way Rice was following used car saleseman Southgate's plan when he ran ahead of Saka and opened up the space inside. Southgate's abuse of Rice has been horrendous. Literally he's sent him out to NOT play, but to STOP the opposition playing. And that's a sure sign of a loser. If Soutgate somehow continues to fluke these results and wins something, it will be his players (minus Kane of course) who have covered for the fact the man knows nothing and has 2 fewer balls than required.

Id go further and say those two have been the best players for England in this tournament (low bar to get over I know)

[Mac76]

Largely agree with Wmug, Southgate has had some merits in the past including for me, though I know others don't like it, his stances on moral issues at times. However the better our players have got the more he's fallen short and he's without doubt become hostage to some of them while ignoring others

The treatment of White was a disgrace, he should have sacked that Johnny Vegas lookalike assistant years ago

I don't agree with Letters' fatalistic view of England, they could well pub this tournament but the point is they'd be odds-on favourites under a manager who did the job properly

If they get someone with a winning mentality and the strength not to kowtow to the big players then England would have a killer squad

[Mac76]

Id go further and say those two have been the best players for England in this tournament (low bar to get over I know)

Yes, also Watkins has been one of our best players, simply by showing how impotent we are up front without the striker who can think, run and keep their weight down

[HCZ_Reborn]

Largely agree with Wmug, Southgate has had some merits in the past including for me, though I know others don't like it, his stances on moral issues at times. However the better our players have got the more he's fallen short and he's without doubt become hostage to some of them while ignoring others

The treatment of White was a disgrace, he should have sacked that Johnny Vegas lookalike assistant years ago

I don't agree with Letters' fatalistic view of England, they could well pub this tournament but the point is they'd be odds-on favourites under a manager who did the job properly

If they get someone with a winning mentality and the strength not to kowtow to the big players then England would have a killer squad

I don’t think it’s unfair to say Southgate has been lucky, the record is the record and making three semi finals in four tournament surpasses almost every other England manager in terms of consistency….but we have had the draw open up for us. The only time we’ve come up against a big team before the semis was France in 2022 and we lost. Germany arguably a big team we got past but really this was a German side in the doldrums.


Against both Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi final (perhaps understandably as we have very little in the way of quality in midfield) and the final against Italy we took the lead and then just withdrew into our shells. A little bit more ambition and preparedness to take risk and we would have won Euro 2020.

That over cautious approach won’t change under Southgate, and in this tournament it’s not just been a case of being over cautious it’s a side that looks confused, doesn’t trust each other and seems so frightened of making mistakes that it ironically makes more of them.

I’ve watched Kane a lot for Bayern this season, he will drop deep for them to try and win the ball but when players behind him win the ball he makes runs into the box and has managed plenty of goals for Bayern. Opponents playing a deep block seem to make him more reticent, I don’t know what’s in that apology of a brain of his, he seems to think as captain he needs to get involved in every area of the pitch barring the area we need him in.


The two goals he has scored shows he’s perfectly capable of making well timed movement, I wouldn’t rule out that Southgate is getting him to play much deeper. Watkins as a player of pace is good at running off the shoulder of the last defender, but frankly haven’t seen a team push up enough or indeed England get the ball up the pitch quickly enough for him to profit off it. He cut a pretty frustrated figure when he came on against Denmark


As for being overweight? I think Walker is far more guilty of that


I’d consider playing Watkins and Toney against Netherlands, possible Kane injured himself against Switzerland and if we have someone to hold up the ball, could frighten Dutch with pace


Also Konsa should start he was excellent against Switzerland. If we must have Guehi back in the team, I’d drop Walker and play Konsa, Stones and Guehi as back three, Saka on the right and Shaw on the left

[HCZ_Reborn]

So my team against the Dutch

Pickford, Konsa, Stones, Guehi, Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Bellingham, Shaw, Toney, Watkins


No Walker, No Trippier, No Foden, No Kane (he’s still a top striker, but wants to get into the box less than Simon Cowell)


Think Palmer is better as impact substitute

[Mac76]

I don’t think it’s unfair to say Southgate has been lucky, the record is the record and making three semi finals in four tournament surpasses almost every other England manager in terms of consistency….but we have had the draw open up for us. The only time we’ve come up against a big team before the semis was France in 2022 and we lost. Germany arguably a big team we got past but really this was a German side in the doldrums.




Oh Southgate's been mega-lucky no argument about that, I said it not so far up this thread, England have had incredibly easy runs in these tournaments

[Mac76]

So my team against the Dutch

Pickford, Konsa, Stones, Guehi, Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Bellingham, Shaw, Toney, Watkins


No Walker, No Trippier, No Foden, No Kane (he’s still a top striker, but wants to get into the box less than Simon Cowell)


Think Palmer is better as impact substitute

so are you playing us with two up front or is one behind the lead striker?

[HCZ_Reborn]

so are you playing us with two up front or is one behind the lead striker?

Bit of a, bit of b.

[Letters]

Oh Southgate's been mega-lucky no argument about that, I said it not so far up this thread, England have had incredibly easy runs in these tournaments

Of course, before Southgate we failed to get out of the group in 2014 and lost to Iceland in 2016, so...
There's no doubt there's been some luck but I'd suggest you could say that about any manager. And there's no doubt we were lucky with the late goal against Slovakia. Overall I don't think we've been lucky in this tournament though. We've not played any proper teams yet though - although the Swiss weren't bad against an admittedly poor Italy. My main criticism would be how dull we've been.

[Marc Overmars]

It’s hard to really argue against the fact that Southgate has had some fortunate draws which has made us favourites to go deep into tournaments. The one time we faced a top side prior to the semis was France in Qatar and we bowed out. So I think people are right to mention luck and an inability to beat big teams.

I don’t think he needs to be completely shit on though, getting to semi finals used to be dreamland stuff for us but now it’s pretty much a bare minimum expectation. We need a new coach but he’s overseen a solid transformation with England. Better coaches than him have failed quite spectacularly in the past with arguably better players too.

[HCZ_Reborn]

It’s hard to really argue against the fact that Southgate has had some fortunate draws which has made us favourites to go deep into tournaments. The one time we faced a top side prior to the semis was France in Qatar and we bowed out. So I think people are right to mention luck and an inability to beat big teams.

I don’t think he needs to be completely shit on though, getting to semi finals used to be dreamland stuff for us but now it’s pretty much a bare minimum expectation. We need a new coach but he’s overseen a solid transformation with England. Better coaches than him have failed quite spectacularly in the past.

I don’t think anyone is shitting on him, the frustration is more with a play it safe FA that failed to move him on after the last World Cup. Plus I never single out Southgate, I think Deschamps is a pretty lousy French coach given the obscene talent he’s had to work with the past ten years

I think Roberto Martinez is a complete fraud, Koeman is probably frustrated that his Dutch team aren’t as negative and dirty as he usually sets his teams out to play and so forth

[Mac76]

Yes among the 'big' teams it's hard to find many managers that are positive although Nagelsman and in particular de la Fuente should get some plaudits

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yes among the 'big' teams it's hard to find many managers that are positive although Nagelsman and in particular de la Fuente should get some plaudits

Coaches generally don’t like international management. What you then have is people that have already won everything that matters at club level and are winding down their careers, Both Spain and Italy won world cups with Vicente Del Bosque and Marcello Lippi respectively.

The other alternative is the insider who has been part of overhauling the system like a Joachim Low. Southgate is an inside man in many respects because he was coach of the under 21s, but of course he’s not really an innovator.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Was reading a lot about Capello’s time as coach. And there’s a lot of parallels between him and Wenger in the early days in the way he tried to change the culture. In his case the inter-club rivalries and cliques as well as the diet. I think that works at club level when you’re with the players day in day out for nine months. But when you have a group of players for maybe a month during international tournaments, all they get is resentment towards this spiky Italian dude who barely understands the language being this austere, dictatorial figure.

[Marc Overmars]

Was reading a lot about Capello’s time as coach. And there’s a lot of parallels between him and Wenger in the early days in the way he tried to change the culture. In his case the inter-club rivalries and cliques as well as the diet. I think that works at club level when you’re with the players day in day out for nine months. But when you have a group of players for maybe a month during international tournaments, all they get is resentment towards this spiky Italian dude who barely understands the language being this austere, dictatorial figure.

The main problem back in those days was the players simply did not enjoy playing for England as they found it difficult to disconnect from the intensity of their club rivalries. One thing I’d give Southgate is that he seems to have fostered more of a club atmosphere amongst the team now which makes things a lot more palatable. Though I also think that’s because the modern player is different now and less tribal, they all seem to be best mates.

[Letters]

Nothing to do with anything really but this bloke:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Antwi

Is the dad of one of the boy's classmates (well, they were in the same class last year - they mixed up the classes this year and they now in different classes).

Don't really know him, know the mum a bit. She's literally a WAG! He's out there right now with the team, sounds like he works reasonably closely with Southgate.

[Mac76]

Nothing to do with anything really but this bloke:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Antwi

Is the dad of one of the boy's classmates (well, they were in the same class last year - they mixed up the classes this year and they now in different classes).

Don't really know him, know the mum a bit. She's literally a WAG! He's out there right now with the team, sounds like he works reasonably closely with Southgate.

enjoy the reflected glory while it lasts, win or lose he'll be out with Southgate and Johnny Vegas soon

[Mac76]

they all seem to be best mates.

...right up to the point where they're putting the studs and elbows in, diving and trying to get each other sent off :lol:

[Letters]

It's very dimly reflected :lol:
I saw the mum today and she said he might be home on Thursday! I said I reckon that's quite likely.
They've just had a baby so I guess she probably doesn't want him away too long. Apparently he aspires to be a manager.

[Letters]

The main problem back in those days was the players simply did not enjoy playing for England as they found it difficult to disconnect from the intensity of their club rivalries. One thing I’d give Southgate is that he seems to have fostered more of a club atmosphere amongst the team now which makes things a lot more palatable. Though I also think that’s because the modern player is different now and less tribal, they all seem to be best mates.

I don't think that should be underestimated. It's probably the biggest achievement of Arteta. He's not a really top manager, but we've spent a lot of money and he's managed to get a real togetherness in the squad, this translates to a relationship being restored between the club and fans.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I feel like Gakpo got the last touch

This was an OG in the end. :bow:

On fire this tournament.

[Letters]

Holland vs Spain would be a brilliant final.
England vs France would be a bloody awful one.

England vs Spain could be good, but I reckon we'd get wallopped.
Holland vs France, would be supporting the Dutch but France would probably pub it.

[Marc Overmars]

France have been dreadful but they’ve remained very strong at the back and it will be interesting to see if they can frustrate and spoil the football Spain are playing. I wouldn’t be surprised if they pubbed it through again.

[Mac76]

France have been dreadful but they’ve remained very strong at the back and it will be interesting to see if they can frustrate and spoil the football Spain are playing. I wouldn’t be surprised if they pubbed it through again.

me neither

[Mac76]

This is interesting, although I can't believe someone wrote a whole book about pel shootouts :lol:

https://x.com/GeirJordet/status/1810303161405489279

[HCZ_Reborn]

me neither

I think what doesn’t help Spain is being without Carvajal and Le Normand. Looking at their squad they don’t have great depth especially not in defensive positions

But then again if France show the same attacking ambition that they did against Portugal, not so much of a problem


But can see this going to pels, but a scrappy own goal or something wouldn’t surprise me either

[Letters]

As much as I can't stand James Cordon, this made him go up in my estimation a little

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crg4n2nx30wo

[HCZ_Reborn]

Spain as expected replace Carvajal and Le Normand with Navas and Nacho

France bring back Rabiot :lol: and Griezmann is dropped for Dembele who was the only French player against Portugal to show any attacking verve (Griezmann was appalling in that match)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spain: Simon, Jesus Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella, Olmo, Rodri, Fabian, Yamal, Morata, Williams.
Subs: Raya, Vivian, Merino, Joselu, Torres, Grimaldo, Remiro, Baena, Zubimendi, Oyarzabal, Lopez, Perez.

France: Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez, Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Muani, Mbappe.
Subs: Samba, Pavard, Mendy, Camavinga, Giroud, Thuram, Zaire Emery, Fofana, Coman, Clauss, Areola, Konate, Barcola, Griezmann

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fabian Ruiz. :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Navas dealing with Mbappe for 90 minutes, that should be interesting

[Letters]

1-0 FRANCE!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 Muani!

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-0 FRANCE!

Kolo Muani, shocking defending

[Marc Overmars]

How is Jesus Navas still a thing.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How is Jesus Navas still a thing.

At full back too :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

France playing football. :faint:

[Letters]

1-1! Holy shit, what a goal!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Oh what a goal from Yamal

[Marc Overmars]

Wow!!

Incredible from Yamal.

16 years old. :wacko:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

YAMAL!! Holy shit.

[Letters]

2-1! OG?

(2-1 to Spain)

[Marc Overmars]

Kounde OG! :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

OG scores again

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 Olmo/Kounde OG!!

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Ok this game at a little more entertaining than we've seen the last few weeks.



Sent from my M2101K6G using Tapatalk

[Letters]

Bit harsh to give that as an OG, it was almost certainly going in anyway.

Can you imagine England playing either of these? :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Williams is so good.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lucky deflection for France there.

[Letters]

Yamal tried to do it again, this one deflected away for a corner

[HCZ_Reborn]

2-1 Olmo/Kounde OG!!

Looks like goal been given to Olmo, which is odd because I thought it was more of an OG than the one which I still think should have been awarded to Gakpo rather than Muldur OG

[Letters]

Olmo gets the goal.

OG :pal:

[Letters]

Looks like goal been given to Olmo, which is odd because I thought it was more of an OG than the one which I still think should have been awarded to Gakpo rather than Muldur OG

I’m pretty sure it was going in, it was certainly past the ‘keeper and I think it was on target.
Giving it as an OG is a bit harsh.

Wow, that half flew by.
Good football :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Kolo Muani avoids a yellow card for being a dirty bugger

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rabiot is such an idiot.

[HCZ_Reborn]

How is Dani Olmo not playing for a bigger club than Leipzig

[HCZ_Reborn]

Williams is quick and technically good but don’t think he’s as intelligent a footballer as some of his team mates

[HCZ_Reborn]

Dembele all mouth and no trousers again

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Old man Navas off, Vivian on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Time for Bif. :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/theyoungones/images/5/50/Vyvyan_Basterd1.jpg

Vivian coming on

[HCZ_Reborn]

Almost a Desmond

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Camavinga, Griezmann and Barcola on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Upamecano heads straight down in to the ground!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hernandez. :haha:

[Letters]

Here comes Bif :cool:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good from Barcola so far.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fucking hell Yamal.

[Letters]

Giroud manages to concede a foul by just standing there

[Letters]

Mbappe :lol:

What a bum

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mbappe. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rodri hamstring?

[Letters]

That’s probably that

[Letters]

It is that.
Spain :bow:
Champions elect tbh