Euros

@rapido said in Euros:

It's the first time England have knocked out a good team since 1966. It's the first time since then that they've knocked out a former Euro or World Cup winner.

Their knockout record is appalling.

Their previous most glorious occasions were either the 1990 'round of 16' 1-0 win in the 119th minute v Belgium, or 0-0 quarter-final v Spain in Euro 96 which they won on penalties (Back when Spain were serial under-achievers themselves).

But, I do support England at football, so I'm happy. Maybe they're easy to support for me because they are usually no threat ... (and childhood influences that made me back them in first place).

That was at Wembley too. And the final (should they make it) is at Wembley too. I am not sure if their path to a potential final is all based at Wembley also. I actually think the fans would take victory very well and just enjoy a rare moment. A bit like the 2003 RWC win, I don't think they crowed about being #1 in the world, but they were just so pleased to have won something

England travel to Rome to play Ukraine.

I don't think this is a great German team and Flick will make big improvements. England won't have a better chance to make a final though.

@bovidae said in Euros:

England travel to Rome to play Ukraine.

I don't think this is a great German team and Flick will make big improvements. England won't have a better chance to make a final though.

Yup. If they can't do it this time, when will they do it?

Puts it in perspective when the England win was the first time they have ever progressed in the knock-out stages of the Euros except for beating Spain on penalties in 1996.

Both teams set out today to nullify the other which meant there was very little width on the flanks. England didn't actually fashion a chance in the 2nd half until Sterling scored and then Muller missed a great chance - set up by Sterling. England's defence looks very solid with that back 3 - Maguire and Stones control the air and Walker has the turbo to cover behind although the through ball did look Germany's best hope.

Sterling was excellent today as he often is for England and that opening goal was a pretty one, every player choosing the right pass and a perfect cross by Shaw.

:grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: Says he who picked a convincing England win in KPs Euro Tipping Contest!!!!

@mariner4life said in Euros:

English football fans are the fucking worst. All the expectation and demands of your average All Blacks fan, but without the remarkable history of results to base it on.

4 games. Have not conceded a goal. The wins look even better after the round of 16. Beat Germany to progress. Have the ukraine in the next round while all the other big sides go up the same side of the draw.

And yet I have read a lot of "boring" "dull" "lucky" "game wasn't as good as the games yesterday" shite, and about how they players are no good. Is the entire fan base made up of either the thug/hooligan/patriot types, or the we're-shit-and-this-is-a-waste-of-time-when-does-ManU-play-next types?

Fuck me, this is the 2nd good Tournament run in a row. Just enjoy the fucking ride!

I assure you, you couldn't be further from the truth on the ground. Perhaps you are just surrounded by expat Poms who are notorious for hanging shit on their home country? Or reading too much Aussie media which gets offended at the very thought that Australia isn't the best at absolutely everything that as ever existed.

The country is absolutely elated this morning, buzzing, happy, emotional. Seeing a crowded Wembley (not packed, but it may as well have been), seeing the team beat their old favourites. I've had 3 calls so far and a drop off at school, so probably spoken to 12 people. Every single one is buzzing & we talked the football.

Nowhere on the planet celebrates sporting results like England. You'll not see scenes like those at Wembley yesterday at any other sport, in any country.

The only negative nelly stuff I'm seeing ... in on TSF!

@majorrage said in Euros:

@mariner4life said in Euros:

English football fans are the fucking worst. All the expectation and demands of your average All Blacks fan, but without the remarkable history of results to base it on.

4 games. Have not conceded a goal. The wins look even better after the round of 16. Beat Germany to progress. Have the ukraine in the next round while all the other big sides go up the same side of the draw.

And yet I have read a lot of "boring" "dull" "lucky" "game wasn't as good as the games yesterday" shite, and about how they players are no good. Is the entire fan base made up of either the thug/hooligan/patriot types, or the we're-shit-and-this-is-a-waste-of-time-when-does-ManU-play-next types?

Fuck me, this is the 2nd good Tournament run in a row. Just enjoy the fucking ride!

Nowhere on the planet celebrates sporting results like England. You'll not see scenes like those at Wembley yesterday at any other sport, in any country.

The only negative nelly stuff I'm seeing ... in on TSF!

Wembley 1999

Hold My Beer

@mikethesnow said in Euros:

@majorrage said in Euros:

@mariner4life said in Euros:

English football fans are the fucking worst. All the expectation and demands of your average All Blacks fan, but without the remarkable history of results to base it on.

4 games. Have not conceded a goal. The wins look even better after the round of 16. Beat Germany to progress. Have the ukraine in the next round while all the other big sides go up the same side of the draw.

And yet I have read a lot of "boring" "dull" "lucky" "game wasn't as good as the games yesterday" shite, and about how they players are no good. Is the entire fan base made up of either the thug/hooligan/patriot types, or the we're-shit-and-this-is-a-waste-of-time-when-does-ManU-play-next types?

Fuck me, this is the 2nd good Tournament run in a row. Just enjoy the fucking ride!

Nowhere on the planet celebrates sporting results like England. You'll not see scenes like those at Wembley yesterday at any other sport, in any country.

The only negative nelly stuff I'm seeing ... in on TSF!

Wembley 1999

Hold My Beer

View embedded content

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one, but I will acknowledge your point of view!

@majorrage football365 mainly

And I'm glad I'm wrong

Check this out. The pundits.

@majorrage said in Euros:

Nowhere on the planet celebrates sporting results like England. You'll not see scenes like those at Wembley yesterday at any other sport, in any country.

Someone's drinking the GB News koolaid. Spain, Italy, Wales, Greece, Hungary, Ireland and France all really know how to celebrate sporting victories and that is just elsewhere in Europe. Apparently one or two people in New Zealand were quite happy after the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final. Sporting passions in South America, especially Argentina, are on another level.

@sparky sorry for thinking everything isn’t shit, all the time, in GB.

My views are on my experiences, not TV.

@majorrage said in Euros:

@sparky sorry for thinking everything isn’t shit, all the time, in GB.

My views are on my experiences, not TV.

No one on here, least of all me, is saying that everything in England is shit. I rather like living here. It's a wonderful place to bring up my family.

I am not uncritical of it or any other country including NZ. Exceptionalism may be a emotionally satisfying viewpoint but it doesn't stand up to factual scrutiny.

@majorrage said in Euros:

Nowhere on the planet celebrates sporting results like England. You'll not see scenes like those at Wembley yesterday at any other sport, in any country.

Come on, make a call like that on the Fern and expect to be shot down - you're saying you're basing it on your experiences but I suspect you haven't lived in all the football countries in the world to collect the data? There are a lot of countries that seriously lose their shit when they are doing well in a football tournament.

Unless the scenes you mean at Wembley are half-naked, fat, middle-aged men looking very angry when they should be happy. In which case, I agree with you, you don't see scenes like that at any other sport, in any country.

That game against Germany was definitely unusual given

• It was a win against Germany in a major tournament.
• Pandemic led to empty stadia but there was an over half-full Wembley.
• Not much to get excited about recently.

I've watched a lot of games in this tournament but at 4am and 7am you really don't get in a festive mood - it is all about keeping warm and wondering what to have for breakfast.

Definitely a buzz about Watford today, everyone talking about the game and where they'll be watching Saturday's game against Ukraine.

@kiwipie sorry for adding a bit of hyperbole in my post on the back of living in a country seriously elated after 18 months of a living hell.

I’ll keep it real going forwards, just for you.

An expat Pom I believe.

@sparky I think we all knew it was hyperbole by me snd I’m
Fine to be called out on it.

But it’s the macro-best I’ve, and I suspect a huge amount of the country, have felt in a looong time. Not going to apologize to those looking to be down on it.

Forgot you lived here honestly ….

@kiwipie said in Euros:

Puts it in perspective when the England win was the first time they have ever progressed in the knock-out stages of the Euros except for beating Spain on penalties in 1996.

So, that means this win v Germany means England have equalled Wales for number of Euro knockout victories.

@rapido said in Euros:

@kiwipie said in Euros:

Puts it in perspective when the England win was the first time they have ever progressed in the knock-out stages of the Euros except for beating Spain on penalties in 1996.

So, that means this win v Germany means England have equalled Wales for number of Euro knockout victories.

10 appearances compared with Wales’ 2

@majorrage said in Euros:

@kiwipie sorry for adding a bit of hyperbole in my post on the back of living in a country seriously elated after 18 months of a living hell.

I’ll keep it real going forwards, just for you.

An expat Pom I believe.

I am indeed and have watched every England tournament since World Cup 1970 (lost 3-2 to West Germany in the quarter-final after being 2-0 up) so I've experienced some disappointments. Some disasters (Iceland) and some poor teams. A major difference between 2016 and 2021 is that Roy really had no idea how he wanted to play (Rooney in midfield anyone?) and Southgate does and is not listening to the clamour of "experts" telling him their favourites should be picked.

England should definitely beat Ukraine which is a worry in itself given their history.

@kiwipie said in Euros:

@majorrage said in Euros:

@kiwipie sorry for adding a bit of hyperbole in my post on the back of living in a country seriously elated after 18 months of a living hell.

I’ll keep it real going forwards, just for you.

An expat Pom I believe.

I am indeed and have watched every England tournament since World Cup 1970 (lost 3-2 to West Germany in the quarter-final after being 2-0 up) so I've experienced some disappointments. Some disasters (Iceland) and some poor teams. A major difference between 2016 and 2021 is that Roy really had no idea how he wanted to play (Rooney in midfield anyone?) and Southgate does and is not listening to the clamour of "experts" telling him their favourites should be picked.

England should definitely beat Ukraine which is a worry in itself given their history.

Fuck that made me laugh!

I dont think tripping over against less fancied teams is an England problem, yes it can happen, eg Iceland.

The England problem has been failing at their first hard hurdle. Every time. Until yesterday.

@kiwipie said in Euros:

@majorrage said in Euros:

@kiwipie sorry for adding a bit of hyperbole in my post on the back of living in a country seriously elated after 18 months of a living hell.

I’ll keep it real going forwards, just for you.

An expat Pom I believe.

I am indeed and have watched every England tournament since World Cup 1970 (lost 3-2 to West Germany in the quarter-final after being 2-0 up) so I've experienced some disappointments. Some disasters (Iceland) and some poor teams. A major difference between 2016 and 2021 is that Roy really had no idea how he wanted to play (Rooney in midfield anyone?) and Southgate does and is not listening to the clamour of "experts" telling him their favourites should be picked.

England should definitely beat Ukraine which is a worry in itself given their history.

Indeed. for all the arrogant English things going around, I don't know a single one whose expecting a stroll to victory on Saturday.

@majorrage lovin’ the passion mate. It was amazing scenes and spine tingling stuff watching it. Even more enjoyable seeing the crowd scenes given there were 18,000+ new Covid cases the day before and people were about their business.

England to win 2-1 against Ukraine.

Just on the crowd stuff, the craziest, almost out of body experience I’ve ever had is European basketball. I’ve been fortunate enough to go to int’l football, Premier league, UEFA, NBA, college American football, AFL finals, World Cup Rugby, State of Origin at Suncorp - and that basketball was on another level.

Spain
Belgium
Czech Republic
Ukraine

@mikethesnow said in Euros:

Spain
Belgium
Czech Republic
Ukraine

Switzerland
Italy
Denmark
England

Spain
Italy
Denmark
England.

Spain
Belgium
Czech Republic
England

Some comments about Southgate “getting his revenge”. Does coaching a team to a win mean you get revenge for missing a penalty?

What time is the England game, NZ time?

@machpants 7am Sunday NZT

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's Belgium-Italy game. Belgium the no.1 ranked team, and Italy undefeated in their last 31 matches.

@bovidae said in Euros:

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's Belgium-Italy game. Belgium the no.1 ranked team, and Italy undefeated in their last 31 matches.

Shame that it looks like Kevin de Bruyne will miss the game along with Eden Hazard. Both are brilliant enough to change a game on their own (although Hazard hasn't done it for a while). Given Italy are likely to press, a good tactic for Belgium will be to get the ball long for Lukaku to terrorise and then get up in support. It will suit Belgium to sit back given their defensive weaknesses are more exposed when there is space behind them. Certainly the tie of the round and traditional roles are reversed - Italy are more the young starlets of promise and Belgium the experienced heads with a much better recent track record.

@kiwipie
de Bruyne is a chance of playing but he would be a huge loss if he couldn't.

I'd like Belgium to win the Euros as this is probably the last real opportunity for this "golden generation" to win a big tournament.

Spain could have wrapped this QF up in regulation but fucked about and Switzerland pegged them back and finished the 90 1-1 despite being down to 10 men

All Spain in Extra Time

Penalties
And misses and saves galore

Spain win it on penalties

@mikethesnow
Gutted for Switzerland.

@mofitzy_ said in Euros:

@mikethesnow
Gutted for Switzerland.

Bags of guts and commitment but Spain by far the better team

@mikethesnow
Sure but everyone loves a good underdog story.