Day 12 | England v Slovenia + Denmark v Serbia | France v Poland + Netherlands v Austria

[FreakyJim]

I don’t know. England look solid to me, dull but getting the job done. I think they’ll do alright in the knockouts.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

I can see scenarios where Gallagher would be useful, but I don't see why you would choose him in a game where you want to control possession. He's just not that type of player. If you need energy, pressing and a threat on the counter he's definitely a viable option. That's why you'd play him against a France or Spain. Against any team in this group though, I really can't wrap my head around playing anyone other than Mainoo. He's much better suited to possession and progressing the ball from deep.

Yeh Gallagher would be useful if we want someone to carry the water bottles, maybe clean the toilets. That sort of thing, maybe he can mow the grass too and for that reason he’s well worth his place in the squad. The energy and enthusiasm he brings to such a role would be massive.

 

[Zen86]

Leaving him and Rashford at home, not taking either, no matter how they played this season, was mental.

They would just be sat on the bench anyway. If ever there was a game to change it up and find a formula that works, this was it. This XI is going out in the next round no matter who they play.

 

[Yagami]

Gallagher needs to come off ASAP, but the problem is he'd only come off for Trent. Trust Southgate to come into this tournament with only him and Trent as options he'd use alongside Rice after finally developing a couple of promising technical ones.

 

[Buster15]

Palmer Gordon and Mainoo need the nod.

And Watkins up front.

 

[100]

He could’ve played a completely new attack and have the excuse that he was resting players rather than dropping them

 

[moses]

I don’t know. England look solid to me, dull but getting the job done. I think they’ll do alright in the knockouts.

Yep. They're on course to win the group even drawing. They'll be fine. But they are very laboured.

 

[Red Stone]

He's not underrated. He's young. Unfair to expect him to carry a national side, especially a struggling one with a rabid press corps.

He's in a team with Bellingham, Foden, Kane, Saka, Rice, Stones and Walker. He could play every minute without ever being the one expected to carry anything.

 

[Dazzmondo]

I don't think they need Kobbie. They need a new shape. Foden and Bellingham in front of Rice with two wide players would work much better.

I suspect most teams would destroy that midfield on the counter tbh. Rice would be left on his own the same way Casemiro was for us last season. I see no reason why the results would be any different.

 

[Stadjer]

This gave me trauma.

Mizzclickz on phone

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

I don't know why Southgate dropped Rashford Grealish and Henderson if he was going to not trust any of their replacements. He might as well have taken the older more established ones.

Mainoo, Wharton, Gordon, Palmer. I think combined the 4 of them have seen 4 minutes of game time so far.

 

[Buster15]

A fit Shaw and a natural left sided forward would improve this team an insane amount

Yeh we know that.

 

[ThierryHenry14]

What this pathetic display shows is what some of us have been saying. Overrated players from fans and media. Thats it. A lot of these players wouldn't be anywhere near other national teams. Some of those so called star player have been riding along other players in their clubs. Getting credit they didn't actually deserve.

The club managers are better at getting the chemistry right for the team so that players compliment each other. Southgate just doesn't seems to be good at it.

 

[DWelbz19]

I don't think they need Kobbie. They need a new shape. Foden and Bellingham in front of Rice with two wide players would work much better.

Declan Rice pisses his pants receiving the ball from deep. He needs someone beside him. Putting two no.10s in front makes the scenario worse

 

[Telsim]

Bellingham is such a fraud. Farmers' league flat track bully.

Bellingham isn't a fraud. Southgate would make Ruud van Nistelrooy look like a Championship striker. The entire English team is performing under their level. That's his unique ability and it's nothing new.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

He's not underrated. He's young. Unfair to expect him to carry a national side, especially a struggling one with a rabid press corps.

He isn’t expected to carry the side. He’s expected to do what he’s done for minute one at Utd. Help beat the press, drive through midfield etc. He won’t dominate the game and he will likely be on the periphery but at least his good moments are bloody good. What does Gallagher actually bring?

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

What this pathetic display shows is what some of us have been saying. Overrated players from fans and media. Thats it. A lot of these players wouldn't be anywhere near other national teams. Some of those so called star player have been riding along other players in their clubs. Getting credit they didn't actually deserve.

Kane, Saka, Foden, and Bellingham have had a combined output of 116 goals and 48 assists this season.

It takes some special skill to make them all look collectively toothless against Slovenia.

Any of those four can individually walk into and instantly transform a lot of clubs and national teams. I don't think the players are the issue.

 

[Delano]

With the players in this this team, having Rice as a single pivot and 4 to 5 players occupying or roaming into a 10 is completely unbalanced. The fact our back 4 doesn't move up doesn't help.

Gallagher is not solving our problem. If you take Wharton and Mainoo, play them.

 

[always_hoping]

It really doesn't appear that football's going home.

This type of football might be a cure for insomnia.

 

[Bobski]

Leaving him and Rashford at home, not taking either, no matter how they played this season, was mental.

Fairly typical England to go into an international tournament and take Eze, Wharton, Mainoo, Gordon, Palmer and Toney, with a combined 15 caps (or whatever) between them. Doesn't really scream planning.

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

Can Croatia still qualify?

Yes, Denmark, Portugal and Turkiye have to win their games at least 1-0 and England has to win by 3 or more goals. Easy peasy. Own goal about to show up for England any second now. Three times. Or four.

Not too sure mate, it was something I heard about Croatia on how they can qualify. Some other boffin on here might know.

What is boffin?

 

[WeePat]

I suspect most teams would destroy that midfield on the counter tbh. Rice would be left on his own the same way Casemiro was for us last season. I see no reason why the results would be any different.

Rice did it with Havertz and Odegaard in midfield with him. He’s capable. He’s better with a sitting, passing DM behind him but he’s reasonably good at being the lone sitting DM too.

 

[Semper Fudge]

Yeh we know that.

No need to be grumpy, Buster. Have a warm milk.

 

[moses]

I suspect most teams would destroy that midfield on the counter tbh. Rice would be left on his own the same way Casemiro was for us last season. I see no reason why the results would be any different.

It's Slovenia, and if Rice just sits then it wouldn't be an issue. Therre would be enough in front of him to attack with the full backs slightly advanced.

 

[DWelbz19]

A fit Shaw and a natural left sided forward would improve this team an insane amount

Well, duh. Luke Shaw is quite literally our best national team player over the last euros and World Cup

 

[FootballHQ]

Betting odds on BET365 currently to win the tournament outright:

England 4/1
Germany 9/2
France 5/1
Portugal 6/1
Belgium 18/1

Seriously unless it's just insurance betting from Scottish, Welsh and Irish punters who on earth is betting on England to win this tournament after watching these two and a half games, it is money down the drain.

Portugal at 6s is a decent price at least.

 

[joedirt87]

Genuine question, isn't Kalvin Philips a defensive minded player? Why does Southgate say he's missing a player like that?

Kalvin played more of the box to box role under Southgate from what I remember when they had success in the euros. I don’t really think it’s relevant either since he went away from that in the last World Cup.

 

[duffer]

Gordon, Watkins and Palmer for Kane, Foden and Saka if I was boss.

 

[The Firestarter]

I think the press (and now social media) slaughter post-tournament is etched into the psyches of the players. None want to be the one hung, drawn and quartered.

Even last tournament, some players were left devastated by the fallout

Hopefully Mainoo stays on the bench

 

[moses]

He isn’t expected to carry the side. He’s expected to do what he’s done for minute one at Utd. Help beat the press, drive through midfield etc. He won’t dominate the game and he will likely be on the periphery but at least his good moments are bloody good. What does Gallagher actually bring?

I said take Gallagher off a few times.

 

[That_Bloke]

Not taking Grealish was a huge blunder

Definitely.

 

[WeePat]

Does anyone think Bellingham should be dropped?

 

[Insanity]

Not taking Grealish was a huge blunder

He can play Gordon on the left and have Foden & Jude or Foden & Mainoo on either side with Rice sitting back to make it more functional and provide pace, power and ability to get behind on both wings. However, Southgate is struck in his ways and refuses to do anything that would help the midfield and the attack.

 

[Pexbo]

Mainoo?

Thank feck. About fecking time

 

[duffer]

Come on Mainoo!

 

[saivet]

Mainoo on for Gallagher?

 

[leontas]

Have you been listening in on the Slovenian half-time talk?

I think you misspelled Gareth.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

Mainoo coming on?

 

[ThierryHenry14]

Rice did it with Havertz and Odegaard in midfield with him. He’s capable. He’s better with a sitting, passing DM behind him but he’s reasonably good at being the lone sitting DM too.

Arteta ditched this idea after 2 months.

 

[moses]

Declan Rice pisses his pants receiving the ball from deep. He needs someone beside him. Putting two no.10s in front makes the scenario worse

It's literally what he does at his club. He doesn't need to receive the ball. The other two won't be bothered playing as 10s.