Originally Posted by
Shaqiri Is Boss
Ultimately the best team won, which at least is more than you can say than the defeats against Croatia and Italy previously, where they were undoubtedly opportunities missed. That being said, Spain were still there for the taking. On the one hand they've beaten the likes of Germany, Spain, Croatia, done something no other side has done in winning 7 games in one tournament, but they aren't the Spain of 2008-12.
Southgate has undoubtedly raised our base levels from the lows of Iceland or the fossils of Capello & Hodgson, but there were huge opportunities missed because he clearly doesn't have that.... oomph. I heard someone make the comparison he was the Tim Henman of football which probably isn't too far off. Nice guy, did something no one had done for years/decades, but ultimately either wasn't good enough or missed huge chances.
Onto the team, god I fucking hate Walker. He's fucking shit. He has an ungodly amount of pace which gets him out of trouble, but the reason he has to use his pace so often is because he can't fucking defend. And shock, he was massively out of position for both goals.
Pickford did well, but his kicking was atrocious. The saves he made were standard (the one from Yamal he tipped around the post was decent granted) but he looked shaky on crosses and those punches were awful. And yet again because he's an attention seeking cunt he caused panic going for a ball and backtracking. And he's a cunt.
Kane was clearly fucked. On the one hand it's a shame someone who has been brilliant for so many years seems to fall down at the final hurdle everytime, but ultimately one has to wonder how much of that is on him. You can argue that's not 4/5 huge games he has cost his team because he clearly isn't fully fit. But then you could also argue that is on the manager. But regardless of his performances, the idea of smashing it up to him is one thing, he was still doing an OK job of that, but he had no one near him when he was found. Those few occasions he wasn't dropping deeper than Beckenbauer.
Foden was, yet again, bloody terrible. Bellingham looked knackered and was trying too much. Saka lively but can't be relied on every time. Mainoo a boy who was overawed. Rice I don't think has had a good game all tournament (I know I may get lynched for saying that here). It's all well and good excusing him carrying Trent in midfield (which I agree doesn't work at all unless you're playing a pub team) but when he isn't making simple passes then that's on him. Guehi isn't good enough. He did alright but nothing incredible.
At this point I can't be arsed going through them all, but we looked a different team when we hit with pace, forward instinct and put teams on the backfoot. That meant when the likes of Watkins, Palmer and Saka were combining. Which wasn't for very long at all. Gordon may as well have been on holiday. At 1-1, for about 3 minutes, it looked like we were on the up and could take the initiative. So we sat back and invited Spain back into it. When we had to attack again, at 2-1 down we probably should have scored with that one cleared off the line.
The chance was there and we didn't take it. Credit to Southgate for us being in the position in the first place, better managers than him have not got that far, but it's his aura of mediocrity which has stopped England from taking that final step. Luis Garciaaaa, he drinks sangriaaa.
