England v Spain , Will You Be Watching?

[Gomersall]

1 minute ago, Hopping Mad said:

And yet it really wasn't like that. Did you actually watch any football in the 70s and 80s?

It was down Plough Lane.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

The better team won, the team that were best all tournament. Still an incredible achievement for England to get to two euros finals in a row.

[Hopping Mad]

Just now, Gomersall said:

It was down Plough Lane.

Yes, Wimbledon and Watford.

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

Hopefully that's the last we'll see of both Southgate and Kane. 

[Damien]

5 minutes ago, Hopping Mad said:

And yet it really wasn't like that. Did you actually watch any football in the 70s and 80s?

Yes, I obviously didn't mean a carbon copy. I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to think literally the same but hey ho. It was reminiscent though in that when in doubt just hoof it 50 yards.

Edited July 14, 2024 by Damien

[Gomersall]

Just now, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Hopefully that's the last we'll see of both Southgate and Kane. 

And Walker, just not international class IMO.

[Damien]

5 minutes ago, Hopping Mad said:

And yet it really wasn't like that. Did you actually watch any football in the 70s and 80s?

Yes, I obviously didn't mean a carbon copy. I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to think literally the same but hey ho. It was reminiscent though in that when in doubt just hoof it 50 yards.

Edited July 14, 2024 by Damien

[The Hallucinating Goose]

1 minute ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Hopefully that's the last we'll see of both Southgate and Kane. 

I second that. 

[Gomersall]

Just now, Damien said:

Yes, I obviously didn't mean a carbon copy. I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to think literally the same but hey ho. It was reminiscent though in that when in doubt just hoof it 5o yards.

To be fair a lot of the hoofing came off the back of tapping it across the defence and inviting Spain to pressure us causing the player to go route A.

[moorside roughyed]

The better team won on the day. They can't really moan though, I've got work tomorrow they haven't have they?

[Damien]

Just now, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I second that. 

I third that. Kane really didn't offer much all tournament. It was like Sam Tomkins in RLWC2021 all over again in that a captain was chosen and they would keep his place no matter what. The other options always offered much more when they came on.

[GeordieSaint]

4 minutes ago, Gomersall said:

And Walker, just not international class IMO.

Spot on. Has pace. Not much else. 

[Damien]

7 minutes ago, Gomersall said:

To be fair a lot of the hoofing came off the back of tapping it across the defence and inviting Spain to pressure us causing the player to go route A.

Yep Spain are very good. And that's the rub when it comes to Football, there's a lot of quality teams and it takes an awful lot of stars to align to beat everyone else in a major tournament.

Just to note a lot of that hoofing came from Pickford, his distribution was very poor.

Edited July 14, 2024 by Damien

[HawkMan]

Why do we need to go behind to start playing aggressively? Southgate is why. Credit to him for getting to two finals,  but at this level we need a more of a creative risk taking coach.

It just occurred to me that Graham Potter has recently turned down a number of job opportunities, he might be an early shout for the next coach. My personal choice would be Pochettino, he has a great record for developing young talent and not being afraid to use young players in big games. Chelsea have made a mistake IMO by sacking him.

Edited July 14, 2024 by HawkMan

[GeordieSaint]

6 minutes ago, HawkMan said:

Why do we need to go behind to start playing aggressively? Southgate is why. Credit to him for getting to two finals,  but at this level we need a more of a creative risk taking coach.

My personal choice would be Pochettino.

Sod that. Offer Klopp £20m a year. Play on the front foot. 

[17 stone giant]

Congrats to Spain. Worthy winners on the night and the best performing team throughout the entire tournament. A tremendous run to beat Italy, hosts Germany, France and England all in 90 minutes.

From an England perspective, I've enjoyed this tournament. We've had plenty of dire moments, some narrow escapes, and a fair bit of luck, but it's just great to be contesting another final. The Watkins winner against Netherlands will stay with me for years.

I think it's time now for Southgate to go. I think he's been good for England, but he's had four tournaments and I think it's time to see if someone else can do even better. Maybe they won't and we'll look back on the Southgate years as a golden period, but it's only right that someone else gets a chance.

He's a great guy and I'm saddened that we've just fallen short again, but that's life.

[Gerrumonside ref]

The game went as expected for me and the Spanish were good value for the win.

[Maximus Decimus]

It's hard to feel too down, we were the second best team and it would've been a lucky win.

It was like losing to Brazil in 2002, I didn't feel so bad because we'd been outclassed. It feels way worse losing on pens or when you do well and don't deserve to lose.

Southgate should go here yes. I don't think he was the problem here, but let's face it we were lucky to get here. He's a great guy and done a great job in ways people don't understand, but these players need a better system.

I'm gutted and again wondering if it'll ever happen in my lifetime. Glass half-full people will say we're getting closer, people like me think we likely won't get this close again for a long time.

[corvusxiii]

Don't watch much football and yes the Ref can influence the result of course but it doesn't seem anything like RL. Have I missed something?

[Maximus Decimus]

6 minutes ago, 17 stone giant said:

Congrats to Spain. Worthy winners on the night and the best performing team throughout the entire tournament. A tremendous run to beat Italy, hosts Germany, France and England all in 90 minutes.

From an England perspective, I've enjoyed this tournament. We've had plenty of dire moments, some narrow escapes, and a fair bit of luck, but it's just great to be contesting another final. The Watkins winner against Netherlands will stay with me for years.

I think it's time now for Southgate to go. I think he's been good for England, but he's had four tournaments and I think it's time to see if someone else can do even better. Maybe they won't and we'll look back on the Southgate years as a golden period, but it's only right that someone else gets a chance.

He's a great guy and I'm saddened that we've just fallen short again, but that's life.

I think undoubtedly we'll look back at it as a golden period.

There is so much luck involved in football, that we might be a lot better and not make a final.

His record of semi-final, final, quarter-final, final will be very very hard to match regardless of how lucky he's been.

[Maximus Decimus]

1 minute ago, corvusxiii said:

Don't watch much football and yes the Ref can influence the result of course but it doesn't seem anything like RL. Have I missed something?

The last 4 minutes was a disgrace. Two ordinary/arguable fouls that were dragged out and the ref blew the whistle dead on 4 mins.

[Maximus Decimus]

I'll say it again, STOP THE CLOCK

[GeordieSaint]

45 minutes ago, Damien said:

I third that. Kane really didn't offer much all tournament. It was like Sam Tomkins in RLWC2021 all over again in that a captain was chosen and they would keep his place no matter what. The other options always offered much more when they came on.

Horrific stat flying around that Kane has had 1 x touch in total in the opposition box in the 2021/2024 finals combined. 

[Damien]

1 minute ago, GeordieSaint said:

Horrific stat flying around that Kane has had 1 x touch in total in the opposition box in the 2021/2024 finals combined. 

I just thought he looked way off the pace needed at this level and just looked too old and slow. Hence why I wouldn't be surprised at stats like that.

[Gerrumonside ref]

I think Southgate’s coaching team have probably reached the end of the road this time, but there is no natural English successor waiting in the wings to take over.

Statistically if not stylistically, he will go down as the second greatest England manager so far and his achievement is even amplified by the absolute mess he inherited.

I believe the squad was right this time, but the first XI were fitful and disappointing  on the whole despite reaching the final.