Sweden and Ukraine already providing more entertainment value without being brilliant. Just an open and less nervy game. 

Plus no Grealish, so that's refreshing. 

19 minutes ago, RMH said:

As far as I know, Mason nor Reece James can play for Wales, Scotland or Ireland. I don’t know Chilwell. But it is striking how much Billy Gilmour was appreciated by Scots v the support to Mount and James in England.

Mason can play for the independent nation state of Port Sea Island. All it requires is for him to reaffirm that he hates Scummers. 

Well done to England beating Germany.

The carrier pigeon has just arrived with the news here in Scotland.😀

30 minutes ago, RMH said:

As far as I know, Mason nor Reece James can play for Wales, Scotland or Ireland. I don’t know Chilwell. But it is striking how much Billy Gilmour was appreciated by Scots v the support to Mount and James in England.

No they are capped already is too late. I mean future uncapped players.

9 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

No they are capped already is too late. I mean future uncapped players.

Yes, but can you play for Wales, Scotland or Ireland if you haven’t got any inheritance from there? I don’t know the family trees of James, Mason or Chilwell, but if the didn’t have parents or grandparents from Scotland, Wales or Ireland I’d guess they could not play for them.

4 minutes ago, RMH said:

Yes, but can you play for Wales, Scotland or Ireland if you haven’t got any inheritance from there? I don’t know the family trees of James, Mason or Chilwell, but if the didn’t have parents or grandparents from Scotland, Wales or Ireland I’d guess they could not play for them.

Sure there is great aunt somewhere lol

7 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Sweden today plays against Ukraine, the memory of the wars against the Russians from 300+ years ago come to life...  The battle of Poltava in June 1709 where this Russian told the Swede to go home cause he's drunk:

 

History repeated itself, many casualties all over the pitch and Ukraine won!

So it's Ukraine yet I would have preferred Sweden.

Ukraine seem a counter attacking side with a lot of pace.

That could well cause us some problems.

Still after ET today that might work to England's favour. 

If only Werner stayed on instead of Muller 😄 Such an easy chance, and plenty of time to make his mind up instead of shooting from that far out. Hevetz looked like a good game player with every game, could have scored as well but that was a far tougher chance than Muller's, and that "assist" to Muller  was inch perfect

In the end, England took their chances and deserved to win.

I reckon Pickford has already secured the golden glove, can't believe we haven't conceded a single goal in 4 games

Have to say the VAR is pretty good at Euros, some of the legit goals would have been offside by the VAR in the EPL, and can't remember any real controversial VAR calls.

Good results for us so far,  Kante and the 3 Germans back earlier that expected.

5 hours ago, Term_X said:

Mason Mount being abused on twitter, most hated player in the country.

examples?

Good win for England aided by Germany profligacy. I mean we expect Timo to miss but I wonder how many one on ones Müller has missed in his career? I am thinking not many. 

Havertz was good but you feel like Germany are missing a striker to become contenders again. 

As for England surely they are now on track to make the final. The big favourites are gone and in my view this is England's best chance to win a tournament since Euro 96. 

7 hours ago, Gol15 said:

History repeated itself, many casualties all over the pitch and Ukraine won!

I'm now fully behind Ukraine because of Sheva. A short-lived hope probably...

Southgate team selection was very strange. Kane was clearly struggling so you need someone to create, you have mount, grealish, Sancho and your pick was saka. 

It remind me of our team when Mount didn't play, there is a disconnect between midfield and forwards. 

 

Edited June 30, 20215 yr by Bob stark

Golden generation of Chelsea players Terry, Lampard, Ashley Cole, J. Cole.. accomplish nothing with England, generally disliked. Fast forward to 2021, a team without any Chelsea players historically beat Germany and the whole country is in love with them. 😅 It’s a Chelsea thing.

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Southgate team selection was very strange. Kane was clearly struggling so you need someone to create, you have mount, grealish, Sancho and your pick was saka. 

It remind me of our team when Mount didn't play, there is a disconnect between midfield and forwards. 

 

Also bizarre, given Kane's struggles, that Calvert-Lewin wasn't even a bench option ...

Although I do believe there is anti-bias against Chelsea in some quarters I don't see this with Southgate.

Mount is not playing yet neither is Foden, it is the 3 at the back system.

James is losing out to Walker our fastest defender and you could argue against Trippier too yet James provides very few decent telling crosses and Trippier is more progressive.

The Shaw vs Chilwell debate is a good one and I was disappointed in the first half yesterday that Shaw did not get forward much though at times when he received the ball he reminded me of Chilwell in the same situation.

I think if we had gone with 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-3 or 4-3-2-1 we would have seen Mount yet we have gone with two defensive and mostly sitting Midfielders.

I think Saka and Sterling are better in tight spaces than Mount who is better running on to the ball.

The only consolation with our chaps not playing is they come back with a point to prove.

 

@Gol15 Impressed by what I saw of Emile Forsberg yesterday worked hard and see why is on 4 goals this tournament.

 

 

20 hours ago, chiefBlueCFC said:

please don't hate me but my German heritage requires me to root for die mannschaft

In English that translates to 'the pricks'.

2 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Also bizarre, given Kane's struggles, that Calvert-Lewin wasn't even a bench option ...

It was very strange decision but this is international tournament. You can get away with many stuff, because the level of football is not very high. 

 

41 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Although I do believe there is anti-bias against Chelsea in some quarters I don't see this with Southgate.

Mount is not playing yet neither is Foden, it is the 3 at the back system.

James is losing out to Walker our fastest defender and you could argue against Trippier too yet James provides very few decent telling crosses and Trippier is more progressive.

The Shaw vs Chilwell debate is a good one and I was disappointed in the first half yesterday that Shaw did not get forward much though at times when he received the ball he reminded me of Chilwell in the same situation.

I think if we had gone with 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-3 or 4-3-2-1 we would have seen Mount yet we have gone with two defensive and mostly sitting Midfielders.

I think Saka and Sterling are better in tight spaces than Mount who is better running on to the ball.

The only consolation with our chaps not playing is they come back with a point to prove.

 

@Gol15 Impressed by what I saw of Emile Forsberg yesterday worked hard and see why is on 4 goals this tournament.

 

 

Don't forget it was Steve Holland who brought this system to England, he's also far more experienced than Southgate and wouldn't be surprised if he called the shots on certain tactical things.

A little search on the web and I found these comments from Germans that made me laugh:

First the line up.

When I saw that Goretzka had been brought in I automatically assumed that Kroos was out. I celebrated. When the line ups came up on TV I yelled at the TV. Come the fxxk on. And look at what kroos did. Fxxk all. 
I liked the inclusion of Werner, but hated that Hummels got to start another game. Beyond this, it's the best we've got. 

Germany looked way better on the ball in the first half, but had less than I'd have liked. Trippier played well, Philips and Rice could both have seen red, but I'm not sure either SHOULD have. Hummels played well first half but I was waiting for the fxxk ups. 

Second half I was hoping for a bit more intensity, knowing we had been splitting the English defense enough that if we went up a gear and had more ball we'd win. For a short burst that was what happened. Then the first calamity occurred. 

Gnabry was brought on. Werner was taken off. 
It's a well known fact I loathe the little sh*t but he had been instrumental for the team. He had made dangerous runs in behind and stretched the defense. Muller had been MIA. What the fxxk was Low thinking? I genuinely think the cxxt has no clue what football even is and that Flick fxxking CARRIED him to a WC victory. 

Then the second calamity. Sterling went un picked up in the box. The fanny runs like a f**king woman holding her purse and I hope he gets hit by 3 cars. Fxxk Hummels. 

Then Muller. I'd have bet my life on him to score there. Fxxk you. 

Hard to say deserved by England, but there's an old adage that war is 2 sides waiting for the other to f**k up. By being less adventurous England were able to be more critical mistake free. Kudos.  

•  

 

3 hours ago, coco said:

In English that translates to 'the pricks'.

Stop talking about me and @Malta Blue please. 

1 hour ago, Munkworth said:

Stop talking about me and @Malta Blue please. 

Never crossed my mind for a minute.

Someone here was saying how good Emma Hayes was at commentary…

Is there anything she can’t do?