Exactly this, if England fans start acting like we have a god given right to reach the final, other nations will slaughter us for being so arrogant. But then if we enjoy the win and accept it as a good acheivement given our usual tournament performances people are trying to downplay it. Can't have it both ways.
England - Euro 2021 Discussion | FA chairman: Southgate to be offered new contract until Euro 2024
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I reckon Grealish will start against Ukraine (and so will Mount), with Trippier and Saka dropping to the bench.
Tickets are sold out now. Before the Germany match there were cat 1 tickets available €945 (!!). I believe capacity currently capped at 60,000, so there is a possibility that it increases and more tickets become available at short notice.
Portugal do set up defensively as do France. Sorry but you're wrong. This idea of 'scoring early' as some sort of a measure of success is goal post shifting and frankly bollocks.
In which half? They changed the setup in the second half as they were behind. As we saw whilst being more potent going forward they were much easier to attack. The press are reporting that some of the players were upset with how poorly Pogba defended which hints at why Deschamps sets his team the way he does. Personally I think he had it right. The idea that they underachieved with him as manager is silly. I do agree to a degree that Southgate might be a little too cautious, especially against weaker nations.
That said, international football is about getting the win and if he continues to do that he'll be vindicated. I actually think he's vindicated already.
France were in no way a defensive side in 2018. Making sure your rapid attackers had space to run into does not make you defensive. They scored 11 goals in 4 knockout games ffs.
https://trainingground.guru/articles/tactical-lessons-from-the-world-cup
https://statsbomb.com/2018/07/frances-defense-steals-the-world-cup-show/
They were defensive but they were very efficient with their shots. As an example, in the World Cup they had a lower xG than in any of England's games so far but scored 4. They were also reliant on goals from set-pieces.
https://www.infogol.net/en/blog/world-cup/france-vs-croatia-world-cup-final-expected-goals-review
They played Matuidi on the LW didn't they if I remember rightly?
Sissoko in 2016 Matudi in 2018.
Maybe we should put Fred there
Maybe we should put Fred there
I wonder if Rabiot was the weak link for them this time in the middle. A different profile to those two players.
I would agree 100%. Not on the level of the other French players
The obscene pressure that yesterday would have brought to England, yesterday was the final so now it's just about getting over the line, everyone now is declaring them winners so the pressure they will now be under will be as intense as any team that an England team would have played under.
Not sure If there's team is good enough to get over the line, don't think England were massively impressive yesterday but they took their chances and Germany didn't
Not sure If there's team is good enough to get over the line, don't think England were massively impressive yesterday but they took their chances and Germany didn't
Unbelievable. You do realise how many times England has managed to reach a semi-final in a World Cup, throughout the history of the tournament? And that the last time that was done was almost 30 years before the Russia WC? And on that basis, you feel that being basically satisified about that is to set the bar too low?
That is absolutely beyond reason. You deserve to be unhappy and disappointed - you're setting yourself up for it.
The first.
Pogba is what he is (and the players could look at several other teammates, especially Mbappe, before Pogba). My point was purely that a midfield with Pogba/Kante is not the same as Rice/KP. That's all.
(Oh PS,edit. They DEFINITELY underachieved)
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Even if they show as sold out keep checking as previous games have shown as sold out then tickets available then sold out then tickets available. Just make sure you have 900euros spare for a ticket.
Well this is a very aggressive and presumptive post. Calm down buddy.
My point was that it all depends on how YOU perceive it. You can be happy that England made progress. Absolutely fine. No problem with that at all. I'm sure many people like Rio or Southgate himself will be happy to see this progress.
Other people will feel that this group of players can (and maybe should due to the remaining teams) win because man for man, England are as good or better than any remaining team... I'm sure Roy Keane will sit in this camp. Southgate himself has been saying that these players are not bogged down by the history of England past failures as most weren't even born to see those.
There's room for both opinions.
As for that bolded bit, don't be so presumptuous. I was born in Germany and live in England and my family are from the east. I don't "support" any country, I just watch international tournaments as generally a neutral fan.
Denmark scored after an awful defensive mistake, then couldn't further capitalize on their lead even when we were playing awful throughout the first half. We dominated them second half, got two goals and saw the game out.
Portugal was evenly matched, we got the first goal through a moment of individual class and then saw the game out relatively easy, they just weren't good enough. The narrative that we've been lucky to get to where we are right now is simply not accurate.
We beat you twice at the World Cup and finished higher so to say that it's less likely to yield success is also based on nothing, England have proven as much as us in that respect = nothing.
I would very much like that.
The back 5 is set now - Pickford, Shaw, Stones, Maguire, Walker should be in the team until the end barring any injuries. I'd like to see one of Rice and Phillips drop out for Mount, which allows us to have more attacking impetus but I have made my peace with Southgate's preferences, and I'm kind of OK with them now.
Kane and Sterling are certs, so it's really just two positions that are up for grabs, barring any injuries - the third midfielder alongside the two DMs and the third attacker alongside Kane and Sterling.
Difficult to say.
Spain would dominate the midfield area for sure and control of the game but it's not the greatest front three ever for them even if Morata scored a nice goal the other day and defensively Croatia showed hit in a few crosses and goals will come.
Italy near impossible to beat in Rome but at Wembley was surprised how slowly they moved the ball from side to side so that could be leveller although historically Italy always been a tough match up for England although actually rarely met in major tournaments, can only remember the 0-0 in 2012 in recent times.
Belgium one England don't want. Beat them twice in last World cup, recently in nations league and I don't think England would handle De Bruyne-Lukaku at all. However KDB injury could put a spot to all that as then it would be easier to isolate Lukaku.
Argentina and Holland in 2014 world cup would also be good examples of very conservative play in knock out rounds despite Argentina in particularly being overflown with countless attacking options even without bringing Messi into the debate.
Does Grealish start the next game you reckon?
If we meet you in the final it would almost 100% mean that KDB has been fit enough te play tbh
Agreed. I was saying much the same before the game last night - there was much gnashing of teeth over the lineup, but nine of the eleven basically pick themselves, so we were really only arguing about two players. I thought Trippier and (to a slightly lesser extent) Saka were perfectly good choices against Germany, as it enabled us to control their wingbacks (their only real attacking outlet in the group stage) and counterattack with pace.
We'll need a bit more creativity vs Ukraine, so it would make sense for Grealish and Mount to come in.
Yes, probably. Saka to drop to the bench.
Yes.
Can see England switching to 4-3-3 given both CMs are on yellows and he'll want to get Mount back in the team aswell.
Probably the worst game of football ever involving top sides.
Just so. The criticism is just as clueless in both cases. ALL teams rely on individuals to win games. As well as tactics. And if you manage to watch Southgates and OGs' teams and notice no tactics, then you've got a problem.
Those two goals weren't purely about individual skill of one player, they were brilliant moves.
They were, and England have the players to produce such moves all game long instead of the last 20-30mins or so, but seemingly you can't criticize the manager for that because they won.
Well, that's where we disagree. In my view, if you're dissatisfied about reaching the WC semi-final, then your expectations simply aren't rooted in the real world. Good for you if you're a neutral, but I don't think what I wrote in the bolded is either very excitable or very aggressive. It is I think on the contrary a measured and reasonable summation of what quite a lot of fans are choosing to do to themselves.
It's quite funny this take from fans.
On one hand, very critical on Southgate because he relies on individuals, even though our goals have been very good team goals, and on the other hand, talk up France as if they play some great attacking football.
France play exactly the same defensive way relying on the pass from Pogba to Mbappe. Apparently, thats attacking play though.
Before the tournament: yes, semis would be great looking at the last 30 years of England at big tournaments.
During the tournament if your way to the final is Colombia-Sweden-Croatia: definitely entitled to be dissatisfied or at least very disappointed that you didn't make it.
This tournament as well: before you'd say depending on circumstances a QF or semis exit wouldn't be the worst, but right now I'd be extremely dissatisfied as an England fan if they don't make it to the final.
Who says that France plays great attacking football? They don't, just like England they can produce it if they want / are allowed to, but are restricted by their manager's cautious approach. Doubt the French cared when they won the WC, just like no Englishman would care if you win the EC, but that doesn't make it less true.
Again, being good defensively does not make you a defensive team. 11 goals in 4 games...
Grealish has to start after last night. I mean, we became a different side after he came on. Also expecting one of Rice and Phillips to make way for Mount too - most likely Phillips.
And switch Sterling then (being as Grealish and Saka play different sides)?
Saka has been one of our best players in the first half of our last 2 games. I wouldn’t be so sure he gets dropped, he’s done very well.
having said that, the full backs and wide players have been rotated.
I would like to see a bit of rotation, our bench options are just as strong as what’s on the pitch. Keeping players fresh will be important.
having said that, the full backs and wide players have been rotated.
I would like to see a bit of rotation, our bench options are just as strong as what’s on the pitch. Keeping players fresh will be important.
Can continue to play Sterling and Saka wide with Grealish given free roam, I’m not sure we’ll play the back 5 against Ukraine so might return to 3 mids.
I agree that we disagree, as I said, there is room for differing opinions.
"That is absolutely beyond reason. You deserve to be unhappy and disappointed - you're setting yourself up for it."
That's a measured and reasonable summation? Really?
Fair enough if that's what you felt initially but then I told you I'm a neutral and you double down on that? As a neutral, why would I be disappointed if someone doesn't win the tournament?
Let's England lose in the SF, I will think "damn, that was a great opportunity to get to the final. Germans were knocked out. England didn't need to play Italy, France, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain... it's a missed opportunity that may not present itself again in years"... This was exactly what I thought in the WC. England avoided any of the real big boys and it was a massively missed opportunity. But I wasn't "unhappy" or "disappointed".
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Agree actually, I think Saka has looked good in spells but faded which is to be expected with his age and experience. For that reason he may be a better option to come on against tired legs (especially with Ukraine playing ET last night). I’d personally like to see Sancho but can understand if Southgate doesn’t want to disrupt things too much.
Yes, Sterling to the right flank (with Walker).
Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire Shaw
Phillips Rice Mount
Sterling Kane Grealish
Walker Stones Maguire Shaw
Phillips Rice Mount
Sterling Kane Grealish