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.
@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.
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.
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.
@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.
@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.
Some comments about Southgate “getting his revenge”. Does coaching a team to a win mean you get revenge for missing a penalty?
@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.
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.
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.
@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.
Spain a better side but their strikers are useless.
Switzerland really bottled the penalties. Probably fatigue a factor.
Neither side was winning the tournament either way. I hope Italy or Belgium smash Spain.
At least I have the ABs.
@billy-tell said in Euros:
Switzerland really bottled the penalties. Probably fatigue a factor.
Yeah, a lot of tired penalty attempts there.
Italy deserved their win over Belgium but they still have some drama queens in their team. I'll be supporting them though. 
@billy-tell said in Euros:
Switzerland really bottled the penalties. Probably fatigue a factor.
Yeah, a lot of tired penalty attempts there.
Italy deserved their win over Belgium but they still have some drama queens in their team. I'll be supporting them though.
The last minutes were painful. But some of their play is exquisite.
@mikethesnow The replay of Immobile was hilarious. A miraculous recovery once the goal was scored. 
Schmeichel was right to say he should have been yellow-carded for diving.