The Footie Thread

[BrianM]

England have a great chance to win this tournament now.
They shouldn't have anything to fear by what I've seen the last couple of weeks.
Southgate has to let the leashes go a bit and let the players play.

 

[Orikoru]

Was it on here that someone was saying Sommer wasn't worth his place in the team of the tournament?

Tell me about it - that's 8 goals conceded in 4 games for him now! Shocking.

 

[Orikoru]

Tournament is really spicing up

Let's hope we don't ruin it later lol

The knockout games have been exciting, and the draw has opened right up for us to go all the way. So expect a disappointing 1-0 defeat later.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

There is genuinely no team to fear left in based on performances so far. I was worried about Italy and Belgium until they played their last games, no worries now. France looked untouchable for about 10 minutes last night but it was not enough and now they have gone. Saying that, all other countries will be saying exactly the same because no one will be losing sleep over England.

It is a great chance for every country remaining to win. The great fear for me is not losing tonight but losing in the manner we have played in the tournament so far. Now that would be criminal.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

There is genuinely no team to fear left in based on performances so far. I was worried about Italy and Belgium until they played their last games, no worries now. France looked untouchable for about 10 minutes last night but it was not enough and now they have gone. Saying that, all other countries will be saying exactly the same because no one will be losing sleep over England.

It is a great chance for every country remaining to win. The great fear for me is not losing tonight but losing in the manner we have played in the tournament so far. Now that would be criminal.

Or, as it’s Southgate, change nothing in the hope we scrape past the Germans and move on.
Don’t think he’ll win over many doubters if the game is full of attacking football and we lose 3-2 or 4-3 etc, all that will happen then is we’ll say, I told you so and I knew our defence/keeper are crap.

 

[Don Barzini]

Negative performance from England. Holding on to 0-0 by 70 minutes. Germans score at least one late winner.

(And I obviously hope I'm spectacularly wrong!)

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Or, as it’s Southgate, change nothing in the hope we scrape past the Germans and move on.
Don’t think he’ll win over many doubters if the game is full of attacking football and we lose 3-2 or 4-3 etc, all that will happen then is we’ll say, I told you so and I knew our defence/keeper are crap.

He is a pragmatic coach and doesn't care about performance. I get that. I'd hate to see us go out without having given it a proper go though. I'm sure you are right, I doubt we will change how we play and 1-0 will be his target.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

He is a pragmatic coach and doesn't care about performance. I get that. I'd hate to see us go out without having given it a proper go though. I'm sure you are right, I doubt we will change how we play and 1-0 will be his target.

2-0 would do me.. just score more goals

 

[Junior]

No one is talking about Italy? Sure they win ugly sometimes but they know how to get it done. Unbeaten in 30 matches (France 2018 was the last time they were beaten) is some record.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

No one is talking about Italy? Sure they win ugly sometimes but they know how to get it done. Unbeaten in 30 matches (France 2018 was the last time they were beaten) is some record.

I think a lot of people were talking about them in the group stage. They were awful in the knockout game though and that has stopped the chatter. Once the memory of that has gone then we will be back looking at them again. As you say, their record is excellent. I'm really looking forward to their game v Spain.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

The games and results of the last few days are exactly the reasons England won't play the all out attack some people believe we should.

Southgate has even given his reasons why.

Either way it doesn't matter. People will moan if we win. People will moan if we lose. People will moan if we are too defensive. People will moan if we are too attacking.

People will moan if we win the bloody tournament.

 

[Orikoru]

My prediction is he goes to the back five, to counter Germany's wing backs who caused Portugal all sorts of problems. I reckon it'll be:

Pickers
Walker - Stones - Maguire
Trips - Hendo - Rice - Shaw
Foden/Mount
Sterling - Kane​

Logic suggests Mount shouldn't play after not training with the team, but he's very much Southgate's favourite so he may throw him in regardless. If not then Foden, who should be fresh having not played the last game. I don't think we'll keep another clean sheet, I reckon it'll be 1-1 after 90 mins, but we'll get another goal in extra time as we have far superior attacking options on the bench than they do.

 

[Rooter]

I'll take a 1-0 all day long! Almost had a coronary last night and I was a neutral! (Well, A token swiss for the night!)

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The games and results of the last few days are exactly the reasons England won't play the all out attack some people believe we should.

Southgate has even given his reasons why.

Either way it doesn't matter. People will moan if we win. People will moan if we lose. People will moan if we are too defensive. People will moan if we are too attacking.

People will moan if we win the bloody tournament.

Ultimately if we win then Southgate is a hero. If we lose, playing as we are, then he will get mullered. Playing this way doesn't give you any credit in the bank, ask Jose . It is particularly the case when on paper our strength is going forward. Southgate knows the score but it is how he sets up.

 

[IanM]

I predict much stress and much peeking from behind the sofa

 

[Bunkermagnet]

It won’t matter who we put out, if we continue to play the pedestrian football that is our default we won’t win
Im not expecting a change or progress for us tonight.

 

[Junior]

I think a lot of people were talking about them in the group stage. They were awful in the knockout game though and that has stopped the chatter. Once the memory of that has gone then we will be back looking at them again. As you say, their record is excellent. I'm really looking forward to their game v Spain.

Teams that win tournaments often start slow and then peak in the knockouts. I fancy them before us and Germany.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Teams that win tournaments often start slow and then peak in the knockouts. I fancy them before us and Germany.

Are Italy not doing the reverse though?

I agree with your last point

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Teams that win tournaments often start slow and then peak in the knockouts. I fancy them before us and Germany.

But is that the Italian blood in you?

 

[harpo_72]

My prediction is he goes to the back five, to counter Germany's wing backs who caused Portugal all sorts of problems. I reckon it'll be:

Pickers
Walker - Stones - Maguire
Trips - Hendo - Rice - Shaw
Foden/Mount
Sterling - Kane​

Logic suggests Mount shouldn't play after not training with the team, but he's very much Southgate's favourite so he may throw him in regardless. If not then Foden, who should be fresh having not played the last game. I don't think we'll keep another clean sheet, I reckon it'll be 1-1 after 90 mins, but we'll get another goal in extra time as we have far superior attacking options on the bench than they do.

Consider the subs as well…not sure he has used the full quota yet. But last nights game was very much influenced by them