Deserved draw honestly.
Day 11 | Albania vs Spain | Croatia vs Italy
- Thread starter top1whoisman
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran are here to talk about a frustrating 2 points dropped at Crystal Palace. They then discuss the regeneration of Old Trafford. Finally, Nik is joined by special guest Michael Statham from the Football Oranje podcast - who gives us a more in depth look at our EL opposition FC Twente, and then runs through the (many) Dutch connections currently at United.
Croatia relying on us to score 3 tomorrow. 
May aswell get on your flights now
May aswell get on your flights nowLineker ”Croatia out unless England win by at least three goals”
They’re out then
They’re out then
He’s more of a LB that can also play CB I think, but yeah he’s brilliant. Sadly looks like he’s on his way to Juve.
We'll beat them. Half of their starting XI play in Serie A (Sommer, Ricardo Rodriguez, Ndoye, Aebischer, Freuler) and if they were italians no one of them would even be good enough to be called by Spalletti.
The only one that would play in our Starting XI is Xhaka over Jorginho so I'm not scared by Suisse.. Italy vs England in the QF will be very possible
Both Italy and Croatia are shadows of former teams. For Croatia, it's age and you have a smaller population so one of those once in a couple of decade teams, but what the hell has happened to Italian football?
Bar Chiesa, that attacking line-up is not far off Championship quality.
Bar Chiesa, that attacking line-up is not far off Championship quality.
That finish was a beauty
Damn could have got Portugal v Italy or Belgium v Italy.. providing their win their groups.
You can't really compare the 1930s to modern day football.
I think Serie A not being as rich as the PL or even the La Liga or Bundesliga I think probably played a big part in them producing fewer world class players. They just fell behind as soon as money became a bigger factor in football than it used to be. If you look at the 1980s, 1990s, teams from all over Europe could be competitive in the CL, for example. Nowadays, that's impossible. Italy remained a top 5 league, but I think they most certainly suffered from it too. The big 3 (Inter, Juve, Milan) aren't as rich as they probably should be, and the rest of the league is even worse off financially. Funnily enough, the Super League would be hugely beneficial to both Italian and Spanish clubs, as they could actually compete financially with English clubs. As it stands, a mid-table PL team can probably outspend at least 15 Serie A and 15 La Liga teams.
However, performances at international tournaments aren't just a reflection of these issues. Overall, international football is way behind club football, so all you need is a good 13-15 decent players, a half-decent coach, a good team spirit, and if it clicks, you can win the Euros or even the World Cup. Italy themselves winning the Euros 3 years ago is a great example of this. Their squad wasn't anything special at all, and they won with fecking Roberto Mancini of all people...the guy who hasn't been at a big club since 2016 and his last club gig was Zenit. International football is mostly for managers on the decline who cannot cut it at the highest level of club football anymore. Except Nagelsmann, he shouldn't really be managing Germany, tbh.
Rooney on Croatia: "I think they'll be a little bit disappointed"
You think?
You think?
Yeah looks amazing. His Fbref stats are quite insane.
With him and Licha we would never have issues playing out from the back :b
Pure magic.
Could use Calafiori at left back when Luke Shaw is injured again i guess. Or Licha.
Dont think one of them would struggle for playtime either way
That was a great second half.
Italy have the experience but Switzerland look a far better team
Yet he cannot really play as a CB because he is a liability whenever he forgets his main duties (3 games out of 3 now). Play him 20 meters ahead, instead of Jorginho, and field Mancini or Gatti as a natural CB with Bastoni.
That's one game I'm not going to watch.
Order is restored: Italy and France are through.
Scotland the other night and Croatia today. Why don't players make professional fouls and take a yellow when you're that deep in injury time and there's a counter on?
Croatian goalkeeper on the 6-meter line on that goal.
That alone won't be enough. Denmark also has to either win or lose by more than three goals and Czechia and Georgia both have to lose.Croatia relying on us to score 3 tomorrow.
And only if the Czechs lose against turkeyLineker ”Croatia out unless England win by at least three goals”
They’re out then
Modric with a John Terry slip…
You want a left footed CB? There is your answer, Calafiori. Brilliant player. Sign him up rather than wasting your time and money Ineos on that fecking lumberjack Branthwaite.
The best Italian players rarely leave Italy though. He’s Juve bound isn’t he?
What the second half lacked in terms of quality, it compensated for in terms of sheer drama.
It's always sad to see legends of the game take their last bow for their countries. That's that for Luka Modric, I think. What a phenomenal player, what a phenomenal career.
It's always sad to see legends of the game take their last bow for their countries. That's that for Luka Modric, I think. What a phenomenal player, what a phenomenal career.
Doubt anyone can turn his head away from Juve, apart from maybe Madrid or Barcelona..but those two can't really spend a lot of money these days.
Nah, they're eliminatedCroatia relying on us to score 3 tomorrow.
Yep. Staying at home. Like all the dreamy Italian CB's I've loved from afar.
We rarely sign players like that. That’s to smart for us to do. We’d rather waste the 50s/60s/70 mils on average players.
Italy have some quality young CBs, with Buongiorno and Scalvini next in line.
They did but ref played advantage. Croatia had a counter attack before where the guy could've just ran to the corner flag but he passed inside and they lost the ball so with a minute left there's where they were eliminated tonight baring a miracle.
Just reduces the stakes. More football, slightly less exciting. Shit was probably a strong word though.
Braithwaite
Think he’s gettable for 40/50m.
I rest my case.