59 minutes ago, DarkMata said:

And the best 2 managers in my life time Venables and Hoddle were only given one tournament.  Both played entertaining football and unlucky to go out.  A time when we went out with a bang feeling unlucky to go home, rather than the current situation where we know we played terrible and deserved to lose.  

Id love us to win the Euros but strangely I feel like I will still look back at the Euro 96 and World Cup 98 tournaments more fondly.

Venables was great. Imagine Venables at his peak, working with this current crop - certain he would have us playing great, attacking football and he wouldn't leave it so late to make f**king changes like Southgate!

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

The format and the timing of international tourney encourage team to play struggle ball. 

 

France have been struggling for a while but yeah it's been especially bad now. 

1 hour ago, dermott said:

France are doing their usual Deschamps thing. Making it through. They're handicapped this time by neither Greizmann nor Mbappe being fully fit. Greizmann has been their key, their link up player, their playmaker. Apart from his masked broken nose, which is handicapping him, Mbappe is carrying a knee problem. We'll see.

And if they were to win it I doubt you would hear a single fan of theirs complain, whereas you will still have England fans moaning. 

1 hour ago, Remodez said:

And if they were to win it I doubt you would hear a single fan of theirs complain, whereas you will still have England fans moaning. 

It's a DNA thing.

On 07/07/2024 at 12:55, bluetrooper said:

I think any other manaager with the talent at his disposal should have won a competition from 3 semis and 1 final. Southgate has the winning ethic of a spurs manager.

1. Will welcome Gareth Southgate's resignation if he wins or bottles it like a spud. I would have gladly welcomed his resignation after any of the last few competitions. 

2. we lose and he can f*ck off faster. 

Well behind the team but the players have carried the gaffer. 

 

There is the issue - there are no way the current generation are more talented and than the group players from the 70's, 80's, 90's and the 2000's yet some of these teams didn't even qualify for some tournaments 

8 hours ago, Remodez said:

Have you not watched France in the past year or so, I would argue they are worse than us given their stacked team. 

France have also been awful, but they have something on their side that England doesn't have, knowing how to win.

Southgate and England have hired and had in the Euros 24 camp since the start a "breathing expert"...and tbf they all seem to be still breathing....wait til Todd hears about this...

On 08/07/2024 at 06:05, dermott said:

France are doing their usual Deschamps thing. Making it through. They're handicapped this time by neither Greizmann nor Mbappe being fully fit. Greizmann has been their key, their link up player, their playmaker. Apart from his masked broken nose, which is handicapping him, Mbappe is carrying a knee problem. We'll see.

France like England have been very dreary and like England they rely on individual talents to get them through. I have said it before and I shall say it again: England currently play a system that is working well, but does nothing. Then they go a goal behind and play no system and just rely on the fact that they have outstanding individually talented players. This is it. This is what we got.

Tactics. Strategy. Plan. Yeah, we do not really have that in abundance.

Spain have easily been the best "team" thus far and they also have some great players. However, they are very beatable. You can feel their weakness and vulnerability. I can see the Frenchies beating them today. Spain almost seem too "sensitive" at times.

13 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

France like England have been very dreary and like England they rely on individual talents to get them through. I have said it before and I shall say it again: England currently play a system that is working well, but does nothing. Then they go a goal behind and play no system and just rely on the fact that they have outstanding individually talented players. This is it. This is what we got.

 

Tactics. Strategy. Plan. Yeah, we do not really have that in abundance.

 

Spain have easily been the best "team" thus far and they also have some great players. However, they are very beatable. You can feel their weakness and vulnerability. I can see the Frenchies beating them today. Spain almost seem too "sensitive" at times.

England v Spain final.

Give the ball in behind Cucurella to Saka. 

England tournament win and we can finally see the back of Southgate. 

Happy 2024 everyone. 

22 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

France like England have been very dreary and like England they rely on individual talents to get them through. I have said it before and I shall say it again: England currently play a system that is working well, but does nothing. Then they go a goal behind and play no system and just rely on the fact that they have outstanding individually talented players. This is it. This is what we got.

 

Tactics. Strategy. Plan. Yeah, we do not really have that in abundance.

 

Spain have easily been the best "team" thus far and they also have some great players. However, they are very beatable. You can feel their weakness and vulnerability. I can see the Frenchies beating them today. Spain almost seem too "sensitive" at times.

Spanish defence fragile v Germany.

40 minutes ago, dermott said:

Spanish defence fragile v Germany.

France will probably scoore their first goal from open play  I want Spain to win though, that will make a lovely Spanish colleague of mine very happy.

20 minutes ago, Valerie said:

France will probably scoore their first goal from open play  I want Spain to win though, that will make a lovely Spanish colleague of mine very happy.

I'm conflicted. I have dear friends in Paris, we rent a holiday place together every summer in the SW, down near the Spanish border. On the other hand, I like the Spanish game and that child on the right who needs his nappy changed at half time is astonishing. 

I want Spain to win but I have a feeling France/mbappe might finally show up!

I hope not. 🙏 

4 minutes ago, Simplymo said:

I want Spain to win but I have a feeling France/mbappe might finally show up!

I hope not. 🙏 

Griezmann is the key, he wasn't fully fit coming into the event and did his knee no good with a fall on the touchline in one of the games.

34 minutes ago, dermott said:

Griezmann is the key, he wasn't fully fit coming into the event and did his knee no good with a fall on the touchline in one of the games.

Don't worry about Griezmann, he'll comfort himself with a new hairdo.

1 hour ago, dermott said:

I'm conflicted. I have dear friends in Paris, we rent a holiday place together every summer in the SW, down near the Spanish border. On the other hand, I like the Spanish game and that child on the right who needs his nappy changed at half time is astonishing. 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/09/lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-baby-photos-spain

55 minutes ago, dermott said:

Griezmann is the key, he wasn't fully fit coming into the event and did his knee no good with a fall on the touchline in one of the games.

I honestly rate griezman as a complete footballer higher than mbappe. When on his day, he's one of the best footballers out there.

Mbappe though...he does fk all for 90-99% of the game, then bam. He does a worldie or creates something magical with a team mate, etc..

But...I personally wouldn't want mbappe in my team. How can you justify playing with 10 men for most of the game waiting for one or 2 moments of brilliance. It's a really hard decision to make.

20 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Don't worry about Griezmann, he'll comfort himself with a new hairdo.

He needs to stop doing that, took me forever to recognise him in the first game.

On 07/07/2024 at 22:49, carrickblue said:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/07/marc-cucurella-spain-euro-2024-football

Cucurella came into his own in the away game v Villa and has stood out since then. The guy has so much energy and commitment, I'm very much a fan now.

And he starts tonight!!

Only England and French fans (and @Valerie) want England and France in the final. Neutrals will be cheering on Spain and Netherlands because they have at least tried to entertain.

Doesn't the Spain anthem have words, except perhaps La-la-la? Never seen such a silent, sullen bunch of players and staff.

Quite sad seeing Kante bossing games. Miss that guy. 

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Only England and French fans (and @Valerie) want England and France in the final. Neutrals will be cheering on Spain and Netherlands because they have at least tried to entertain.

It's almost creepy how well you know me  

Why is Cucurella being booed? Anyone know?

8 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Doesn't the Spain anthem have words, except perhaps La-la-la? Never seen such a silent, sullen bunch of players and staff.

It doesn't have words. 

1 minute ago, carrickblue said:

Why is Cucurella being booed? Anyone know?

Chelsea supporters in the stands?

Edited July 9, 20242 yr by Valerie