Euro 2024

[Sidi Fidi Gold]

I'm absolutely gutted for Scotland with England scoring that injury time equaliser, they must be absolutely devastated. Slovakia won't be too happy either.

[JonM]

Some excellent quotes from England fans who left minutes before the end of injury time

 

 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

What a goal from Georgia!

[gingerjon]

And that, *that*, is football ...

[gingerjon]

11 minutes ago, JonM said:

Some excellent quotes from England fans who left minutes before the end of injury time

 

 

The worst people. May their beer always be flat and their wives unfaithful.

[The Masked Poster]

6 hours ago, HawkMan said:

Not quite up there with the excitement at France v England at Stade Ernest- Wallon , but they're trying bless 'em.

You'll have to forgive me mate. I was raised on average players like Cruyff, Pele, Beckenbaur etc. 

[Sidi Fidi Gold]

3 minutes ago, The Masked Poster said:

You'll have to forgive me mate. I was raised on average players like Cruyff, Pele, Beckenbaur etc. 

Not a patch on Carlton Palmer and Jeff Thomas.

[Sidi Fidi Gold]

6 minutes ago, Sidi Fidi Gold said:

Not a patch on Carlton Palmer and Jeff Thomas.

Or even Geoff Thomas.

[17 stone giant]

37 minutes ago, JonM said:

Some excellent quotes from England fans who left minutes before the end of injury time

 

 

I hope Maximus and gingerjon got their tram without too much of a delay.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

33 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

And that, *that*, is football ...

I don't think I've ever seen a team that can counter attack better than Georgia. Alright they haven't got anything else in attack but their counter is incredible.

[gingerjon]

8 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I don't think I've ever seen a team that can counter attack better than Georgia. Alright they haven't got anything else in attack but their counter is incredible.

Literally just said the same to someone else.

Years ago, Rangers had a system where the ball would go to the middle and then Hateley and McCoist would run off it to the right and left, one would get it and set up the other. It was the foundation of how they went deep in European competitions. But they could also do other things if needed.

Georgia ‘just’ have a sweeping counter and other than that it’s rope a dope. I can’t think of any side I’ve seen that is so accomplished and consistently dangerous with it.

[Maximus Decimus]

42 minutes ago, 17 stone giant said:

I hope Maximus and gingerjon got their tram without too much of a delay.

Such a weird feeling. I wasn't just resigned to going out, I was basically making plans as if we were out.

I can't believe we're somehow still in it. 

[HawkMan]

Spain...wow...it's just like watching England.

[Maximus Decimus]

For all the excitement and the great escape, it can't mask what was an objectively terrible performance.

We've escaped against a minnow, but demonstrated little hope that things will improve. Southgate got very lucky because he was in for a world of criticism had we gone out: playing the same way as the previous 3 games, bringing like no-one on, wasting the lucky draw etc

The biggest positive is that it could light a fire up them. Switzerland are good but it's certainly winnable if things go our way.

On another note, I thought the referee was bad. He was overly card happy then stopped showing them even though one yellow-carded player was continually doing bad fouls. Then, in injury time he started giving it every time a Slovakian player went down. 

 

[Maximus Decimus]

1 hour ago, JonM said:

Certainly agree that Switzerland will start as strong favourites.

Not according to the bookies.

England are 11/10 and Switzerland 3-1 in ordinary time. 

You've gotta respect the bookies, but this is not evidence based.

[Gomersall]

15 minutes ago, Maximus Decimus said:

For all the excitement and the great escape, it can't mask what was an objectively terrible performance.

We've escaped against a minnow, but demonstrated little hope that things will improve. Southgate got very lucky because he was in for a world of criticism had we gone out: playing the same way as the previous 3 games, bringing like no-one on, wasting the lucky draw etc

The biggest positive is that it could light a fire up them. Switzerland are good but it's certainly winnable if things go our way.

On another note, I thought the referee was bad. He was overly card happy then stopped showing them even though one yellow-carded player was continually doing bad fouls. Then, in injury time he started giving it every time a Slovakian player went down. 

 

I thought the Slovaks were very cynical. They reminded me of how Italy used to play forty years ago.

[gingerjon]

10 hours ago, Maximus Decimus said:

Not according to the bookies.

England are 11/10 and Switzerland 3-1 in ordinary time. 

You've gotta respect the bookies, but this is not evidence based.

Odds for England by English bookies have to follow the trend that English fans are (a) big spenders and (b) massively deluded about how likely England are to win.

[gingerjon]

10 hours ago, Maximus Decimus said:

For all the excitement and the great escape, it can't mask what was an objectively terrible performance.

I don't think anyone is seriously saying England played well - I certainly haven't seen anyone do an about face on that.

The ref was weirdly bad so he'll almost certainly get the final now.

[JonM]

In fairness to the bookies, this Swiss team failed to beat a pretty dreadful Scotland team, the only team in their qualifying group who did.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

1 hour ago, JonM said:

In fairness to the bookies, this Swiss team failed to beat a pretty dreadful Scotland team, the only team in their qualifying group who did.

In fairness to Switzerland, their high press they put on Italy was flawless, world class, and should they do that to us with how we cautiously and slowly to the point of snails pace pass the ball along the back line we are gonna get stripped of that ball every time we get it and get absolutely slaughtered.

[Maximus Decimus]

4 hours ago, gingerjon said:

I don't think anyone is seriously saying England played well - I certainly haven't seen anyone do an about face on that.

The ref was weirdly bad so he'll almost certainly get the final now.

He set out determined to give yellows and fair enough, but completely shied away when it meant a red might be given.

I thought we were very lucky with their goal. If he goes down after thr contact from Guehi, it's a penalty and Guehi is off as he was already on a yellow.

[Maximus Decimus]

1 hour ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

In fairness to Switzerland, their high press they put on Italy was flawless, world class, and should they do that to us with how we cautiously and slowly to the point of snails pace pass the ball along the back line we are gonna get stripped of that ball every time we get it and get absolutely slaughtered.

Have faith that Southgate will change the system...

He's like the Lord Melchett of football manager.

'So, are we going to change the system around and admit it isn't working?'

'Exactly, exactly what the enemy would expect us to do and therefore exactly what we shan't do!'

 

I'm actually hopeful that injuries might force some changes that end up being positive.

Edited July 1 by Maximus Decimus

[17 stone giant]

It was low on quality, but high on drama. And because we won, I'm finding it easy to look back with fondness at the match - especially the two goals. There have been plenty of dramatic England matches involving extra time or penalties over the years, and this is another of those to add to the collection. Thankfully we came out on top on this occasion, so for me it feels great. I'd take that over having played brilliantly but losing.

We can dissect the performances and review everything once we're out. Until then, I'm just enjoying being in the tournament. I've got a friends meet up next weekend and it would have been flat if England had gone out. But we're not, we're in the QF next Saturday against Switzerland.

Come on England!

 

 

[Maximus Decimus]

1 hour ago, 17 stone giant said:

It was low on quality, but high on drama. And because we won, I'm finding it easy to look back with fondness at the match - especially the two goals. There have been plenty of dramatic England matches involving extra time or penalties over the years, and this is another of those to add to the collection. Thankfully we came out on top on this occasion, so for me it feels great. I'd take that over having played brilliantly but losing.

We can dissect the performances and review everything once we're out. Until then, I'm just enjoying being in the tournament. I've got a friends meet up next weekend and it would have been flat if England had gone out. But we're not, we're in the QF next Saturday against Switzerland.

Come on England!

 

 

I think that's why I did my post about it not overshadowing the reality of a bad performance.

Because it was euphoric at the time. It's the first I've even had a glimmer of the 'it's coming home' stuff and dancing round the room to World in Motion.

Anything from here is a bonus, because we were out, we were gone and I was already planning my week as if we were gone. It wasn't just a late winner, it was at the point where Slovakia were dragging out injury time and nothing was happening.

I can't think of a comparable sporting event for one or my teams.

[gingerjon]

2 hours ago, Maximus Decimus said:

I can't think of a comparable sporting event for one or my teams.

One that springs to mind is England beating Australia by two runs at Edgbaston in 2005. That was essentially done, all dice had been rolled, and we were sinking back to a belief that the summer was going to just be like it always ended up being when the Aussies came.