The Euro 2024 Thread

[Badger]

1 hour ago, East Kent Saint said:

Remember Roy's England bored their way to the USA world cup then Roy changed to full on attack mode , that went well😄

Better than Graham Taylor’s England who didn’t make it to a USA World Cup. 

[Turkish]

13 hours ago, Badger said:

Better than Graham Taylor’s England who didn’t make it to a USA World Cup. 

Prior to that were absolutely dreadful in Euro 92. IIRC two 0-0 draws then lost 2-1 against Sweden. Carlton Palmer starting in centre of midfield said it all 

[Badger]

3 hours ago, Turkish said:

Prior to that were absolutely dreadful in Euro 92. IIRC two 0-0 draws then lost 2-1 against Sweden. Carlton Palmer starting in centre of midfield said it all 

Wasn’t that the great England era with Geoff Thomas in midfield as well ? 
 

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, Badger said:

Wasn’t that the great England era with Geoff Thomas in midfield as well ? 
 

yep, other players getting game time for England were Keith Curle, Andy Sinton 

[Badger]

15 minutes ago, Turkish said:

yep, other players getting game time for England were Keith Curle, Andy Sinton 

Taylor was unfortunate in losing Gascoigne for a large part of his time in charge (although did drop him at one point as well). 
 

But seeing those names it really was an era of journeymen playing, despite MLT being available.

[Tommy Mulgrew]

I think England might benefit from Slovakian players being distracted:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13579421/Meet-former-Miss-Slovakia-national-team-England-Euro-2024.html

Either that or Slovakia might be inspired to raise their, er, game.

[Doctoroncall]

A translation from Fermín de la Calle who reports in El Periódico (Spain). 

Seems an accurate interpretation of England’s performance so far:

Seduced by the attacking exuberance of Jude Bellingham in La Liga, Spaniards had England down as one of the strongest candidates to win the European Championship. On top of the Real Madrid player, who has arrived in Germany looking mentally exhausted, there were other interesting ingredients such as Phil Foden, who shone for Manchester City, Harry Kane, who comes from a Bayern Munich team obliged to win every week, and the emergence of Cole Palmer. As the Spanish phrase goes, Gareth Southgate had plenty of wicker to weave a basket.

But yet again England have proven to be a collection of football stickers, star players, with no footballing empathy among each other. It is jarring to see Trent Alexander-Arnold in the double pivot position in midfield, a vital role for which he does not have the knowhow. And although Bellingham thinks he can do everything well, he is not Toni Kroos. England lack a “quarterback”, a Rodri or Vitinha who can manage and make sense of the resources they have. It’s heartbreaking to see England play with no clear idea, no pattern, no mechanism. The antithesis of Luis de la Fuente’s Spain, they have too many pianists and no one to carry the piano on to the stage. Southgate’s tactical plans have made average players of stars. There’s still no sign of an England team.

[sfc4prem]

40 minutes ago, Doctoroncall said:

 

A translation from Fermín de la Calle who reports in El Periódico (Spain). 

Seems an accurate interpretation of England’s performance so far:

Seduced by the attacking exuberance of Jude Bellingham in La Liga, Spaniards had England down as one of the strongest candidates to win the European Championship. On top of the Real Madrid player, who has arrived in Germany looking mentally exhausted, there were other interesting ingredients such as Phil Foden, who shone for Manchester City, Harry Kane, who comes from a Bayern Munich team obliged to win every week, and the emergence of Cole Palmer. As the Spanish phrase goes, Gareth Southgate had plenty of wicker to weave a basket.

But yet again England have proven to be a collection of football stickers, star players, with no footballing empathy among each other. It is jarring to see Trent Alexander-Arnold in the double pivot position in midfield, a vital role for which he does not have the knowhow. And although Bellingham thinks he can do everything well, he is not Toni Kroos. England lack a “quarterback”, a Rodri or Vitinha who can manage and make sense of the resources they have. It’s heartbreaking to see England play with no clear idea, no pattern, no mechanism. The antithesis of Luis de la Fuente’s Spain, they have too many pianists and no one to carry the piano on to the stage. Southgate’s tactical plans have made average players of stars. There’s still no sign of an England team.

Incisively accurate. We need a Flynn Downes.

[gio1saints]

33 minutes ago, Doctoroncall said:

 

A translation from Fermín de la Calle who reports in El Periódico (Spain). 

Seems an accurate interpretation of England’s performance so far:

Seduced by the attacking exuberance of Jude Bellingham in La Liga, Spaniards had England down as one of the strongest candidates to win the European Championship. On top of the Real Madrid player, who has arrived in Germany looking mentally exhausted, there were other interesting ingredients such as Phil Foden, who shone for Manchester City, Harry Kane, who comes from a Bayern Munich team obliged to win every week, and the emergence of Cole Palmer. As the Spanish phrase goes, Gareth Southgate had plenty of wicker to weave a basket.

But yet again England have proven to be a collection of football stickers, star players, with no footballing empathy among each other. It is jarring to see Trent Alexander-Arnold in the double pivot position in midfield, a vital role for which he does not have the knowhow. And although Bellingham thinks he can do everything well, he is not Toni Kroos. England lack a “quarterback”, a Rodri or Vitinha who can manage and make sense of the resources they have. It’s heartbreaking to see England play with no clear idea, no pattern, no mechanism. The antithesis of Luis de la Fuente’s Spain, they have too many pianists and no one to carry the piano on to the stage. Southgate’s tactical plans have made average players of stars. There’s still no sign of an England team.

All true. But at least we have the players to do something about it. 

(1) Bad players and it’s not a team : Bad and prospects very low. 

(2) Bad players and it’s a team though : Can win the Euros but shouldn’t ( but Italy and Greece and Czechs did ) 

(3)Good players and no team : Bad but there’s still some hope via individual brilliance. 

(4) Good players and good team : Best chance to win Euros. 
 

England currently a hard (3). 
 

 

[gio1saints]

Watching Italy be useless is like watching peak Saints playing PB football- badly- Spalletti will not survive this match whatever the result. 
PS. That half was the WORSt ive ever seen Italy play. Unbelievable how pathetic they were. They surely cannot be as bad as that second half. If Swiss only got one against that dog shit then who knows - second half might be better. Don’t write them off- yet. But boy oh boy that was horrific. 

Edited 29 June, 2024 by gio1saints

[Holmes_and_Watson]

7 hours ago, sfc4prem said:

Incisively accurate. We need a Flynn Downes.

When Southgate said he had noone to fill the Phillips role, he was really kicking himself for not being brave enough to reach down a division for Downes.

And to put KWP on the left of defence.

[gio1saints]

Oh dear …it can get worst. Maybe Italy can do a LCFC kind of result….

[SNSUN]

Italy are not even fighting for this. Switzerland are in total control. They should just pass it round Saints style and they'll be in the Quarter Finals facing Slovakia. 😜

I mean England. Yes, England. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[CB Fry]

This is going to be an absolute doddle for England to win Euro 24.

[saintant]

Watching that match Italy reminded me so much of England under Southgate - they offered nothing and looked clueless. Can anyone really imagine England beating this Swiss side assuming we bumble through against Slovakia. Switzerland were everything England are not and we will need massive improvements all over the pitch just to make any sort of game of it.

[bangkoksaint]

See they’re playing ‘our song’ for the Swiss!! Brings back great memories hearing that and seeing them dance!

[trousers]

By jove, it's bladdy well coming home, isn't it, what?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Sadly, the cat didn't move until after I sat listening to the panel drivel on about Southgate. What a collection of clowns they are, offering not an original thought between them.

[skintsaint]

Well this is all opening up nicely for England.........so lets lose tomorrow.

[saintant]

18 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Well this is all opening up nicely for England.........so lets lose tomorrow.

You mean you would have rather played Switzerland than Italy in the next round if we beat Slovakia?

[skintsaint]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

You mean you would have rather played Switzerland than Italy in the next round if we beat Slovakia?

Yep - Italy always do the number on us in knock out competitions.

[SNSUN]

English ref English VAR! Classic!

[AlexLaw76]

2 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

English ref English VAR! Classic!

Eh? Right decision 

[AlexLaw76]

Germany are playing kinda like how I thought England would

 

[AlexLaw76]

Maybe not now 

[skintsaint]

😅

[skintsaint]

Play stopped due to the weather

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Christina Unkel able to give the guidance on lightning strikes on the games. Good commentary line up on ITV.

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Christina Unkel able to give the guidance on lightning strikes on the games. Good commentary line up on ITV.

Also here expert opinion on a blatant foul the ref gave at the time

now she’s back on it with the lightning 🤦

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Just now, Turkish said:

Also here expert opinion on a blatant foul the ref gave at the time

now she’s back on it with the lightning 🤦

I have my favourites, and I am sticking to them. 🙂

[Turkish]

Just now, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I have my favourites, and I am sticking to them. 🙂

Gabby Logan is looking fabulous improving with age 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Disallowed goal and conceding a penalty in the space of a minute or so. A tough minute for Denmark.

[Elmore Saint]

Got to feel for Denmark here - a toenail offside one minute, then an outrageous penalty the next.....

ITV 'tators are right - the rules (and their application) aren't fit for purpose. 

[Saint Gifford]

Just embarrassing from the English contingent. 
 

We have this to look forward to next season…………
 

[Elmore Saint]

and I thought that stuttering penalties were not allowed - or did they change that?

[Mixedkebab]

Clive tyldseley genuinely thinks he is an offbeat, irreverent voice of the people. 
 

[Elmore Saint]

1 minute ago, Mixedkebab said:

Clive tyldseley genuinely thinks he is an offbeat, irreverent voice of the people. 
 

It's his last game for ITV tonight, so I guess can be less restrained....

[East Kent Saint]

Our saintsweb ref says it is now allowed apparently . (Stuttering penalty run ups that is)
Pity the game has been turned on it’s head by VAR  , another late offside decision ffs

German attackers now doing Che impressions 😄

Edited 29 June, 2024 by East Kent Saint

[Saint NL]

Who missed VAR when we were in the championship? We have this shit to look forward to next season 😂

[adrian lord]

They’re ruining football by over complicating the intra-game governance. VAR should not be used to forensically analyse every aspect of play looking for technical fouls.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Saints kid does well.

[East Kent Saint]

Musiana , sign him up !

[Mixedkebab]

13 minutes ago, Elmore Saint said:

It's his last game for ITV tonight, so I guess can be less restrained....

Really, that’s great news 👍 

[Saint NL]

https://x.com/alanshearer/status/1807151476927778895?t=qt4YmIppLLsg8cftXJTe_Q&s=19

 

Alan Shearer agrees

[egg]

11 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

https://x.com/alanshearer/status/1807151476927778895?t=qt4YmIppLLsg8cftXJTe_Q&s=19

 

Alan Shearer agrees

Nice and succinct from Alan. He's right. 

[Oldandtired]

50 minutes ago, adrian lord said:

They’re ruining football by over complicating the intra-game governance. VAR should not be used to forensically analyse every aspect of play looking for technical fouls.

And to add insult to injury having the decisions explained by an American woman to a Premier League manager and two top ex footballers. It's bollocks.... I can see me getting very irate next season.

[Lighthouse]

So now the path ahead is clear. Kane will score a tap-in in an otherwise anonymous performance, to ‘silence the doubters’, as we scrape past Slovakia 1-0. Then we beat Switzerland on penalties after a turgid 0-0 and many people will proclaim it ridiculous that Southgate still gets criticised when he’s just delivered us his third semifinal at a major tournament.

[Turkish]

17 minutes ago, Oldandtired said:

And to add insult to injury having the decisions explained by an American woman to a Premier League manager and two top ex footballers. It's bollocks.... I can see me getting very irate next season.

What is the point of this yank bird? She was fucking trying to explain lightening storms earlier 🤣🤣

oh she’s there because she’s an expert in her field not because of tockenism 🤣🤣

[Turkish]

Just now, Lighthouse said:

So now the path ahead is clear. Kane will score a tap-in in an otherwise anonymous performance, to ‘silence the doubters’, as we scrape past Slovakia 1-0. Then we beat Switzerland on penalties after a turgid 0-0 and many people will proclaim it ridiculous that Southgate still gets criticised when he’s just delivered us his third semifinal at a major tournament.

Which we lose

meanwhile the “it coming home” brigade who never usually care about football go into overdrive 

then when we lose the birds on social media get themselves at it about how the men never do do it quite as well as women 

[Dark Munster]

3 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

So now the path ahead is clear. Kane will score a tap-in in an otherwise anonymous performance, to ‘silence the doubters’, as we scrape past Slovakia 1-0. Then we beat Switzerland on penalties after a turgid 0-0 and many people will proclaim it ridiculous that Southgate still gets criticised when he’s just delivered us his third semifinal at a major tournament.