The Euro2020 Thread

[whelk]

39 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

It was brilliant but you're right: a lot of hype for a tournament where we actually won two games (and one of those was against bloody Scotland).

The 4-1 v Holland was amazing and the whole thing was a great summer. 

The fact that we went through the entire semi final including extra time without Venables making a single substitution is absolutely astonishing to this day. Unthinkable today: unthinkable then really.

Italia 90 was better in that we were up against it and as you say Robson was hated in the press. The Platt goal especially was a fantastic moment to be a young kid watching football. I was that kid.

I managed to go to all the knock out games in Italy. Not much more than a kid myself but as pre corporate and PL was pretty easy to get tickets. Would recommend One Night in Turin as good nostalgia trip although we never won nothing (sic) so what’s the point!

Edited 13 June, 2021 by whelk

[S-Clarke]

I actually thought that was a decent showing to be honest. The call for Trippier was clearly due to experience in international tournaments. Mings and Shaw in the back 4 would have been a bit of a gamble in my eyes, especially against a proven top tournament team in Croatia.

Credit to Phillips, he did alright and buzzed around all game. Got in Modric and Kovacic's faces which meant Croatia couldn't ever really get a grip. That's something we didn't do right in the World Cup in 18, but we snuffed them out very well. It did get bitty towards the end but that was probably the game plan if we're honest.

Next Friday should be a good watch, but based on todays showing we will have way too much for both Scotland and the Czechs.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

I thought it was really good performance. People saying Croatia were poor but that was partly because they couldn't handle our pressing

[St.Jeweller]

12 minutes ago, whelk said:

I managed to go to all the knock out games in Italy. Not much more than a kid myself but as pre corporate and PL was pretty easy to get tickets. Would recommend One Night in Turin as good nostalgia trip although we never won nothing (sic) so what’s the point!

Or 'an evening with Gary Lineker' to remind us of what could have been.

[Chapel End]

14 minutes ago, Ex Lion Tamer said:

I thought it was really good performance. People saying Croatia were poor but that was partly because they couldn't handle our pressing

Croatia were poor, absolutely nowhere near the team that beat us in that semi.

We will get found out against a better team

Edited 13 June, 2021 by Chapel End

[Antrimsaint]

2 hours ago, whelk said:

Now for the big one……Austria v North Macedonia

Quite enjoyable actually. Both really committed and up for it. Great game.

[Saint Garrett]

A pretty meh performance, not a lot in it, Croatia were really poor. Hope the lack of intensity was due to the heat, but a dull game.

But, 1-0 win in opening game, wins a win. Sets up Friday nicely, here’s hoping Scotland can nick a win tomorrow vs Czechs 

[verlaine1979]

Austria look surprisingly decent. Couple of great deliveries for their first two goals.

[The Cat]

17 minutes ago, verlaine1979 said:

Austria look surprisingly decent. Couple of great deliveries for their first two goals.

They have a team full of players from decent Bundesliga clubs so should be technically good, although recent results have been a bit erratic including a 4-0 hammering by Denmark.

[The Cat]

34 minutes ago, Chapel End said:

Croatia were poor, absolutely nowhere near the team that beat us in that semi.

We will get found out against a better team

Recent results back that up. Some very poor ones.

[Badger]

 

26 minutes ago, verlaine1979 said:

Austria look surprisingly decent. Couple of great deliveries for their first two goals.

 

6 minutes ago, The Cat said:

They have a team full of players from decent Bundesliga clubs so should be technically good, although recent results have been a bit erratic including a 4-0 hammering by Denmark.

Don't think he showed up well in the parts of two games I've seen of Austria but their 'Crouch-clone' up front Kalajdzic has had a half decent season for Stuttgart. Shame Ralph hasn't got the readies available to bring him and or some of his team mates in.

[whelk]

I fancy Ukraine against Holland. Betting been going very well so far and most games gone as expected. Know very little about Ukraine but Holland can be v shit and also v good I think.

[whelk]

14 minutes ago, Badger said:

 

 

Don't think he showed up well in the parts of two games I've seen of Austria but their 'Crouch-clone' up front Kalajdzic has had a half decent season for Stuttgart. Shame Ralph hasn't got the readies available to bring him and or some of his team mates in.

Hartson said he had ‘a good touch for a big man’ with no sense of irony 

[Minsk]

3 hours ago, CB Fry said:

All in all really good.

He got the team selection correct - Kalvin Phillips was simply excellent and Mings proved me wrong, nicely solid and he will take a lot of confidence from that. Rice solid.

Well done Sterling. Kane barely broke sweat.

Best tournament opening performance I can remember.

Pretty much this.

Thought Phillips was MoM, followed by Sterling.

I don't rate Mings at all but he had a very good game today.

I wasn't impressed to see Trippier starting at LB ahead of Shaw, but understand the reasoning for it and proved to be the right call. That said, would like to see Shaw start against Scotland with Trippier moving to RB. Walker made some decent tackles and interceptions today but couldn't pass the ball for toffee.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

45 minutes ago, The Cat said:

Recent results back that up. Some very poor ones.

Fair play, it does seem they are not the team they once were.

I can also remember us struggling against Trinidad and Tobago in a world cup though, so I'll take that as a good performance

Edited 13 June, 2021 by Ex Lion Tamer

[Baird of the land]

Is Steklenburg really the best dutch keeper?

[Ex Lion Tamer]

27 minutes ago, Minsk said:

Pretty much this.

Thought Phillips was MoM, followed by Sterling.

I don't rate Mings at all but he had a very good game today.

I wasn't impressed to see Trippier starting at LB ahead of Shaw, but understand the reasoning for it and proved to be the right call. That said, would like to see Shaw start against Scotland with Trippier moving to RB. Walker made some decent tackles and interceptions today but couldn't pass the ball for toffee.

Without being complacent, I'd like to see a fair bit of rotation in the next one to keep the squad fresh, especially in the wide forward positions

[CB Fry]

Just now, Baird of the land said:

Is Steklenburg really the best dutch keeper?

Ha - I was just about to write something similar. I had to look him up because my assumption was it was just coincidence or he had a younger brother who played for Ajax or something.

Another ex Saint at the tournament then.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Ally McCoist is one of the best co commentators around. Excellent. 

[Turkish]

40 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Ha - I was just about to write something similar. I had to look him up because my assumption was it was just coincidence or he had a younger brother who played for Ajax or something.

Another ex Saint at the tournament then.

I thought he retired 5 years ago

[whelk]

McCoist so obviously enjoys football. Great pairing him and Tyldesley - who is now moving to national treasure level - couldn’t stand him a few years ago.

[whelk]

Four goal scorers all beginning with W or later. Must be a record 

[Antrimsaint]

You can shove Hoddle up your ar**...... some game this.

[Lighthouse]

Wouldn’t mind if our scouts had been keeping an eye on Yaremchuk as a possible Ings replacement. Goal and assist tonight, decent scoring rate in Belgium. Probably out of our price range, having said that.

[skintsaint]

7 hours ago, Minsk said:

Thought Phillips was MoM, followed by Sterling.

Sterling was garbage last night sorry. Broke down a lot of good moves especially first half. Typically scored although tried his best to delay the shot to get the defender in to block it 😄

Was a pretty drab game but with Southgate in charge it was expected. Kane looked crap as well but wasn't really given much service apart from the cross he should have scored from - shocking miss really for him. 

Scotland tonight. Think they will lose. Then we will finish them off Friday about 3 nil. Grealish to come in for Stirling, Shaw for Walker and stick Trippier right back for a better balance. Mount was anonymous as well last night but not too many other options there, maybe swap for Henderson if he can do 45mins.

[SKD]

16 hours ago, Chapel End said:

Croatia were poor, absolutely nowhere near the team that beat us in that semi.

We will get found out against a better team

I found this pretty funny. Whilst you’re absolutely right, if this was said about saints after a win you’d accuse them of being a troll. 

[supersonic]

8 hours ago, skintsaint said:

Sterling was garbage last night sorry. Broke down a lot of good moves especially first half. Typically scored although tried his best to delay the shot to get the defender in to block it 😄

Was a pretty drab game but with Southgate in charge it was expected. Kane looked crap as well but wasn't really given much service apart from the cross he should have scored from - shocking miss really for him. 

Scotland tonight. Think they will lose. Then we will finish them off Friday about 3 nil. Grealish to come in for Stirling, Shaw for Walker and stick Trippier right back for a better balance. Mount was anonymous as well last night but not too many other options there, maybe swap for Henderson if he can do 45mins.

Unless Sterling picks up an injury, he'll rightfully start v Scotland.

If anything, Grealish will start over Foden

[Saint Garrett]

27 minutes ago, supersonic said:

Unless Sterling picks up an injury, he'll rightfully start v Scotland.

If anything, Grealish will start over Foden

Or Mount,

Neither of them did much yesterday. Foden very unlucky with that early chance, but did little else I thought.  

Odd really, as there weren't many particularly good performances yesterday from England players but it was relatively comfortable. 

Phillips and Mings the standouts, which I don't think many people predicted.

[supersonic]

13 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

Or Mount,

Neither of them did much yesterday. Foden very unlucky with that early chance, but did little else I thought.  

Odd really, as there weren't many particularly good performances yesterday from England players but it was relatively comfortable. 

Phillips and Mings the standouts, which I don't think many people predicted.

I thought Mount did alright yesterday, without being spectacular.

Would like to see a 3 (Any 3 of Sterling, Foden, Sancho, Grealish, Mount and Rashford) play just behind Kane and have 2 holding in midfield behind them v Scotland. 

 

[offsidetrap]

Armtrong starts.. Adams on bench..

[Saint Garrett]

22 minutes ago, offsidetrap said:

Armtrong starts.. Adams on bench..

Strange and a shame....

[Saint Keef]

I don't think I could ever support Scotland but good luck to Stuey. Our best player this season and thoroughly deserves this. Hope Che gets some minutes as well. Che seems like very much a confidence player and if he were to bang a couple in for Scotland in this tournament it could make a big difference for us next season. 

[Pilchards]

Adams scores you goals for sure.

Sticking him on the bench after being one of the better players will fuck up his confidence. Saints did it to him and it looks like Scotland are doing the same.

 

[Baird of the land]

45 minutes ago, offsidetrap said:

Armtrong starts.. Adams on bench..

Thought Adams would start. Maybe being loyal to players that got them there. 

[Saint Garrett]

13 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Thought Adams would start. Maybe being loyal to players that got them there. 

Apparently so, plus supposedly the 2 playing up front played really well against Czechs when they played them and beat them last time.

Expect Che to come on second half.

[igsey]

Scotland a strange team, playing some very nice stuff at times with some glaring individual errors. Their RB and RCB in particular both making mistakes. 

Armstrong looking good, supporting Robertson on the left. 

[SKD]

4 minutes ago, igsey said:

Scotland a strange team, playing some very nice stuff at times with some glaring individual errors. Their RB and RCB in particular both making mistakes. 

Armstrong looking good, supporting Robertson on the left. 

They’re a team full of pretty average but hard working player. Your Armstrong / Steve Davis types, will give you 7/10 Every game, nothing spectacular and know their quality.  Pretty much the opposite of England. 
 

Think they look alright on the counter attack and add Adams in will be a bit more dangerous in that sense. Look very open at the back though and I think England will tear them apart, but wouldn’t be surprised if they went 1-0 up. 

[Saint Garrett]

Scotland started well, dont look to have much of a threat with the front 2 though.  All the danger seems to be coming from Robertson / McGinn / Armstrong so far.

England should beat both of these sides, and should be Czech with ease.  They look really poor. 

Adams to come on second half and win them the game for me...

[trousers]

Oops

[Saint Garrett]

Against the run of play, great header though. 

[SKD]

Against the run of play but That’s been coming to be fair. A few times they’ve got in behind and haven’t made the most of it. Way to open with these wing back (Robertson in particular) bombing on. 

Edited 14 June, 2021 by SKD

[trousers]

Anywhere else on the pitch and the Scots get a free kick for that challenge on McTomminay

[OttawaSaint]

Forwards not up to much. Christie one good run and the terrible O’Donnell blocked him off. Dykes shouldn’t be on the field, QPR? Need Che on there instead. Robertson was trying to calm every down but then didn’t keep a cool head when presented with a good chance. Can’t see where a goal can come from, low quality and nervous play.

[igsey]

Adams on for Christie at half time. Slightly surprising that it's not for Dykes instead, who did nothing apart from constantly mistime jumps. 

[OttawaSaint]

Just now, igsey said:

Adams on for Christie at half time. Slightly surprising that it's not for Dykes instead, who did nothing apart from constantly mistime jumps. 

My thought exactly. Che to win headers for Christie runs. Dykes is awful.

[SW5 SAINT]

It’s all Southampton at the moment….

[saint1977]

Adams made positive difference already with touch and hold up. Scots nearly scored twice already this half, Scots well in this game as long as they don’t give a soft one away at the back as Czechs starting to panic. 

Edited 14 June, 2021 by saint1977

[OttawaSaint]

Adams has improved Scotland already.

[OttawaSaint]

Fuck. Dumbass Hendry.

[trousers]

Game over