Day 17: England vs Germany | Sweden vs Ukraine (Ro16 7&8)

If only we could get rid of Belgium and England. Other nations can actually play.
 
I thought Sweden had their tactics wrong. But then they equalized with a heavily deflected goal, which means they've actually got their tactics right.
 
padr81 said:
No they didn't, people forget just how dull that Greece team were and we're thankfully nothing like them (although full credit to them for their achievments). How many of our goals are relying on booting set pieces to the big man? We're actually playing better football than Portugal in 2016. We've scored 4 in 4 games and conceded 0 but we've also hit the woodwork 3 times (Foden, Sterling and Stones). We played more defensively today than in the group but we were playing Germany, the idea we can play them off the park by playing Grealish, Sancho and Rashford or someone ahead of Sterling and Kane is insanity.

Lets say the fans picked the team today, does Sterling get on the pitch (the guy who scored our first 3 goals of the tournie), does Kane come out 2nd half. Do we have Walker adding his pace on the cover to CB.. no we don't, we probably go out with something like Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Rice, Mount, Foden, Sancho, Kane, Grealish cuz we is England and have some many amazing youngsters get mullered on the counter and call him team selection naive when we're on the plane.

In our 4 games according to SkySports we've created 10 clear cut chances and conceded 2 against. The much lauded Italy (who have been a joy to watch) have created 10 clear cut chances for and 2 against as well in 4 games against weaker opposition. We might not be as easy on the eye but we aren't fecking Greece and lets not sink to false narratives because Jack "Maradona" Grealish isn't starting. I'd say something if it was prime Scholes or Gerrard or Charlton we were benching but its a 25 year old who's spent most his career in the championship and had a good 2 seasons...

All that said I've love to see Grealish start on the left with Raz on the right but and this is not aimed at you personally but those having hissy fits at a manager for not playing said player with 2 years top level football behind him at 25 is incredible.after we've just beaten fecking Germany for the first time in ages in a football match that really mattered.
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Bang on. I really dont often agree with yuo but spot on
 
Hope Sweden goes through, would be nice to see both our Scandinavian brothers go far in the tournament :)
 
Bit surprising that no big club is in for Forsberg, he is a quality player and would do well pretty much anywhere
 
I feel Forsberg has really gone under the radar in world football.
 
Forsberg in good form in this tournament. Sweden got a good front 3, rest of team much weaker to what they had 15 years ago though.
 
I think Sweden would pose more of a threat to England than Ukraine.
 
Gordon S said:
Bit surprising that no big club is in for Forsberg, he is a quality player and would do well pretty much anywhere
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Agree. First year in Bundesliga he was amazing with something like 19 assists and a decent number of goals.
But he’s had his problems with injuries.
 
Acole9 said:
I think Sweden would pose more of a threat to England than Ukraine.
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I think Isak could hurt Stones and Maguire with his speed. Apart from that, England should walk over any of Sweden or Ukraine.
 
Grylte said:
Just sad we're not in, i don't feel we're far beind them :(



Then i would probably have to be on Denmark's side because of Eriksen, sorry!
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You’re not. It’s a shame, would have loved to see your team play. Such an exciting team!
 
padr81 said:
No they didn't, people forget just how dull that Greece team were and we're thankfully nothing like them (although full credit to them for their achievments). How many of our goals are relying on booting set pieces to the big man?
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They absolutely used all their pieces to the optimal level with Dellas, Seiteridis and, a lesser extent, Charisteas being their stars. The main thing with that Greek side is what they did with what they had was absolutely commendable. Perhaps if England were going through the other side of the bracket that approach would be understandable.

padr81 said:
We're actually playing better football than Portugal in 2016. We've scored 4 in 4 games and conceded 0 but we've also hit the woodwork 3 times (Foden, Sterling and Stones).
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You're not making strong equivalences for me. Portugal also played like they had to with obvious weaknesses in their squad. England have the players right there to adopt any approach they want. It's not the same.

England are not progressing the ball well at all and look bereft of ideas through the middle, which is not being pounced upon because of the opposition to date. That's all well and good if not exposed, but if it is, again questions have to be asked.
padr81 said:
We played more defensively today than in the group but we were playing Germany, the idea we can play them off the park by playing Grealish, Sancho and Rashford or someone ahead of Sterling and Kane is insanity.
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Germany were very beatable. A really poor German side and one of, if not the worst seen since the early 80's. England have had managers who, I believe, would have put them to the sword today. Many have said this was England's real chance to really smash a German side in a major tournament, so they weren't fancied like the usual German stock is.

padr81 said:
Lets say the fans picked the team today, does Sterling get on the pitch (the guy who scored our first 3 goals of the tournie), does Kane come out 2nd half. Do we have Walker adding his pace on the cover to CB.. no we don't, we probably go out with something like Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Rice, Mount, Foden, Sancho, Kane, Grealish cuz we is England and have some many amazing youngsters get mullered on the counter and call him team selection naive when we're on the plane.

In our 4 games according to SkySports we've created 10 clear cut chances and conceded 2 against. The much lauded Italy (who have been a joy to watch) have created 10 clear cut chances for and 2 against as well in 4 games against weaker opposition. We might not be as easy on the eye but we aren't fecking Greece and lets not sink to false narratives because Jack "Maradona" Grealish isn't starting. I'd say something if it was prime Scholes or Gerrard or Charlton we were benching but its a 25 year old who's spent most his career in the championship and had a good 2 seasons...

All that said I've love to see Grealish start on the left with Raz on the right but and this is not aimed at you personally but those having hissy fits at a manager for not playing said player with 2 years top level football behind him at 25 is incredible.after we've just beaten fecking Germany for the first time in ages in a football match that really mattered.
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As disparaging as I might sound, if England win the whole thing like this, fair play, but if they go out having not optmised the squad, it's a massive, massive waste of both talent and a very genuine opportunity to win the tournament. You can't be having rueful 'what could have beens' for the best chance England have had to be at least in a European championship final. If that ultra negative style falls short, it will be a most bitter pill to swallow.
 
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