1 hour ago, ducavis said:

Think we have blue-tinted specs when it comes to our players in the Euros. Was the worst player on the pitch, if he put in such a performance for us we would have wanted him hauled off at half time. Could be a formation thing, only positive is bar Kante he covered the most distance on the pitch. 

I don't think he the worst player at all, he was actually one of their better players but because they were pretty woeful there wasn't really a high bar.

Am I the only one that keeps needing a few seconds when the name F. Torres pops up? The "Huh?" response just lingers and lingers.

Edited June 16, 20215 yr by Valerie

Have to say the referees are really good so far and consistant to another.

They let the game run, dont buy into stupid antics and var is only really used for offside and very tricky situation. They dont examine every little dispute. 

Another lovely goal chalked off. Since VAR came in offside has become a pain in the arse, yes it's offside, but did a few inches really give him an advantage ? I wouldnt mind them changing the offside to a simple feet only rule, no other body parts, just feet, it makes sense.

4 minutes ago, coco said:

Another lovely goal chalked off. Since VAR came in offside has become a pain in the arse, yes it's offside, but did a few inches really give him an advantage ? I wouldnt mind them changing the offside to a simple feet only rule, no other body parts, just feet, it makes sense.

I agree, simplify the rule so that they only have to consider the players' feet, and always give the forward the benefit of the doubt if it's not obvious with the naked eye that he's offside. If they have to start drawing lines and angles then it's too close to call and should be considered onside. I have no evidence for this, but there definitely seems to be more goals ruled out these days, which isn't good for the game.

On 15/06/2021 at 13:38, ForeverCarefree said:

Is it just me or is there a general lack of quality in European international sides at the moment? 

Maybe it's just nostalgia but there used to be a few sides that even if they didn't perform well in the competition the team was stacked with stars. 

I look at the teams in the Euros and outside of the France squad and maybe to a lesser extent Germany and Portugal there's barely a squad I look at and think "wow". 

I think a lot of it is to do with the fact the best coaches/tacticans are at club level.

If Hiddink or LVG were in their prime's today they would be an instant gamechanger for whichever international sides got them.

The less the VAR is involved in a game, the better the refs and VAR look. The technology has to be working in goals, possible offsides that lead to a goal and to check possible reds, but mostly behind scenes. In the CL final and in this European championship it is going quite unnoticed. In the PL the system is abused.

Now that Bale skied his penalty, I have no expectation of Wales holding on to their lead.

Ampadu coming on!

Love seeing Ampadu being the most mature player on the pitch and probably the youngest too!

Edited June 16, 20215 yr by Butterhampton FC

4 minutes ago, Butterhampton FC said:

Love seeing Ampadu being the most mature player on the pitch and probably the youngest too!

He was on the edge of a booking for not removing himself from the talking to the referee just had with a few players after the bit of fisticuffs, despite being summoned by the ref to walk away.

2-0 Wales!

Edited June 16, 20215 yr by Valerie

Bale does it again despite his penalty miss, two assists.

Ramsey's finish was top drawer for the first.

8 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Bale does it again despite his penalty miss, two assists.

Ramsey's finish was top drawer for the first.

Turkey were bloody awful though.. 

3 minutes ago, guddy69 said:

Turkey were bloody awful though.. 

Yep very poor offensively.

Italy are looking great, was that Jorginho with the volley pass to Berardi?

Locatelli with the volley and the finish ! What a player.

13 hours ago, ducavis said:

Think we have blue-tinted specs when it comes to our players in the Euros. Was the worst player on the pitch, if he put in such a performance for us we would have wanted him hauled off at half time. Could be a formation thing, only positive is bar Kante he covered the most distance on the pitch. 

Michael Cox disagrees. 

 

 

I will never tire of seeing Jorginho passionately gesticulating at an attacking team mate for not making a run or making himself available for a pass and then rolling a back pass 5 yards to a centre back as if that's not what he would have done all along. 

47 minutes ago, DidierDrogbalala said:

Italy are looking great, was that Jorginho with the volley pass to Berardi?

Locatelli started and finished it

26 minutes ago, charierre said:

Locatelli started and finished it

Yeah very Lampard esque performance from him today.

Italy look like a well balanced team. Be interesting to see how they evolve in the competition.

Italy with a back to back 3:0 win.

They look to be more in tune than Germany from what I can see, they have a real striker and several wingers and inside forwards, Germany looks like they have a few fast players for the counter-attack that needs to play with a possession-based players like Gundogan and without a real striker, almost as if Bayern is missing Lewandowski or something...

I'm guessing they should do well against the runner up from group C so they can have a nice run in this Euro if they keep playing like this.

 

 

56 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Michael Cox disagrees. 

Cox falls into his 'football as chess' trap as always, as if you have the pieces in the perfect shape that's enough. Structures and systems are fine but you've got to have players capable of exploiting them. 

I thought Havertz was dire. He looked slow and ponderous with the ball as did all of Germany's front line. Kroos kept playing great balls into the right areas and the German attackers could do zero with them.

A few thoughts on this morning's games:

- Switzerland are cooked. They were so slow and players didn't run at all. Always taking two touches when one would do. Zero movement off the ball. A team of too many Big Time Charlies who haven't lived up to their potential. Xhaka and Shaqiri the worst offenders with Embolo and Akanji also sloppy if not disinterested. Wouldn't be surprised if Turkey roll them. They are along way from where they were in previous years.

- Bale wants his own ball for Wales. Still a handy player, but he took the selfish option every time last night. Note how he ran off from his team mates as if he had scored when he assisted Roberts for the second. All of his teammates ran to Roberts and he was off the other side by himself. Not great signs for when they play the proper teams.

 

@Spiller86 Not sure if him celebrating the goal/assist by himself is a result of spending too much time with Spuds or with Ronaldo 

8 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

@Spiller86 Not sure if him celebrating the goal/assist by himself is a result of spending too much time with Spuds or with Ronaldo 

Probably both!