Italy are just fabulous to watch. So different to the traditional 1-0 type Italian sides
@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.
Yep, typical fucking cheating Italians... I'll never forgive them for what they did against the All Whites
@no-quarter how could you sleep at night
Can someone who knows about soccer tell me the point of Luke shaw? I see a holding midfielder with no attacking instinct whose signature move is a gentle tap backwards to the defensive line.
Am I missing something?
@billy-tell I know nothing about football, but they should ban the back pass to the goal keeper. So zzzzzzz
?
?
@billy-tell well I don't see a point in any of them so far, hoping the more gin i have the ball will start looking the right shape and the players might fill out a bit and look less fragile.
Forgot how often footballers fall over and roll around, some guy in the banana colour just randomly decided to limbo on his own and has done himself a right mischief!
@billy-tell I know nothing about football, but they should ban the back pass to the goal keeper. So zzzzzzz
I think in ice hockey once you go over half way you can’t pass it back over the centre Line.
@billy-tell basketball has that too
@billy-tell said in Euros:
Can someone who knows about soccer tell me the point of Luke shaw? I see a holding midfielder with no attacking instinct whose signature move is a gentle tap backwards to the defensive line.
Am I missing something?
Ha ha. He must have heard you. Two assists now
@billy-tell snap
@billy-tell said in Euros:
Can someone who knows about soccer tell me the point of Luke shaw? I see a holding midfielder with no attacking instinct whose signature move is a gentle tap backwards to the defensive line.
Am I missing something?
Yes. He is a defender. For starters. Left back tonight in a back 4.
@billy-tell said in Euros:
Can someone who knows about soccer tell me the point of Luke shaw? I see a holding midfielder with no attacking instinct whose signature move is a gentle tap backwards to the defensive line.
Am I missing something?
Yes. He is a defender. For starters. Left back tonight in a back 4.
Yeah I get that but he pushes up into midfield gets the ball and then tamely passes it back.
I suppose with Sterling doing his thing he doesn’t really need to offer much.
@billy-tell said in Euros:
Can someone who knows about soccer tell me the point of Luke shaw? I see a holding midfielder with no attacking instinct whose signature move is a gentle tap backwards to the defensive line.
Am I missing something?
Yes. He is a defender. For starters. Left back tonight in a back 4.
His crosses have been extraordinary.
Strong performance by England. Seven clean sheets in a row. Their biggest ever win in the knock out rounds of a major championship.
@billy-tell said in Euros:
@billy-tell said in Euros:
Can someone who knows about soccer tell me the point of Luke shaw? I see a holding midfielder with no attacking instinct whose signature move is a gentle tap backwards to the defensive line.
Am I missing something?
Yes. He is a defender. For starters. Left back tonight in a back 4.
Yeah I get that but he pushes up into midfield gets the ball and then tamely passes it back.
I suppose with Sterling doing his thing he doesn’t really need to offer much.
It is probably their weakest position in their 11, or maybe the goalkeeper, but that is relative, they have good players. When I lived in England they literally had no left back or left footed winger for about 2 years until a 20 year old Ashley Cole turned up on scene.
What he brings, defensive solidity and a good left foot for set pieces. Doesnt seem to have much pace, not much overlapping. Chilwell, who is other player in his position is more attacking but hasnt played a minute. In fact Trippier has been played out of position on left twice now ahead of Chilwell.
I dont watch enough football to properly answer though.
There's other factors. Whether playing back 4 or back 3 with wing backs, what formation opposition play and hence where the space is (Ukraine switched to back 4 after injury so less space to overlap into in theory, but that is 'off camera'). International v club football and whether have cohesion to high press and play ultra attacking full backs such as TTA.
@billy-tell said in Euros:
@billy-tell said in Euros:
Can someone who knows about soccer tell me the point of Luke shaw? I see a holding midfielder with no attacking instinct whose signature move is a gentle tap backwards to the defensive line.
Am I missing something?
Yes. He is a defender. For starters. Left back tonight in a back 4.
Yeah I get that but he pushes up into midfield gets the ball and then tamely passes it back.
I suppose with Sterling doing his thing he doesn’t really need to offer much.
It is probably their weakest position in their 11, or maybe the goalkeeper, but that is relative, they have good players. When I lived in England they literally had no left back or left footed winger for about 2 years until a 20 year old Ashley Cole turned up on scene.
What he brings, defensive solidity and a good left foot for set pieces. Doesnt seem to have much pace, not much overlapping. Chilwell, who is other player in his position is more attacking but hasnt played a minute. In fact Trippier has been played out of position on left twice now ahead of Chilwell.
I dont watch enough football to properly answer though.
There's other factors. Whether playing back 4 or back 3 with wing backs, what formation opposition play and hence where the space is (Ukraine switched to back 4 after injury so less space to overlap into in theory, but that is 'off camera'). International v club football and whether have cohesion to high press and play ultra attacking full backs such as TTA.
Shaw did cross to Kane and Maguire for their goals....
@mikethesnow Losing in another SF? 
Watching England the way that they play was unrecogniseable from the team of the 80-90's.
Project England might have actually worked.
Bya nd large they were so comfortable on the ball. It was their first touch that made them stand out from their predecessors and gave them the time to actually create things.
Very un Ing-ga-lund like. Albeit was only Ukraine
Watching England the way that they play was unrecogniseable from the team of the 80-90's.
Project England might have actually worked.
Bya nd large they were so comfortable on the ball. It was their first touch that made them stand out from their predecessors and gave them the time to actually create things.
Very un Ing-ga-lund like. Albeit was only Ukraine
You are right. Very little route 1 football there. Guys like Hoddle and Gazza would have loved playing with these guys
Watching England the way that they play was unrecogniseable from the team of the 80-90's.
Project England might have actually worked.
Bya nd large they were so comfortable on the ball. It was their first touch that made them stand out from their predecessors and gave them the time to actually create things.
Very un Ing-ga-lund like. Albeit was only Ukraine
Not even that far back. Just 10 years ago.
Even if it wasn't route 1 on a boggy pitch football 10 years ago, it was still high-paced higher risk miracle passes etc. Result being losing possession all the time and blowing ass chasing leather for 90 minutes with 30% possession against mediocre teams like a Paraguay etc.
Also partially answers part of the the Luke Shaw "what does he do" question from further back. Not losing possession is good when your're playing summer football at the end of a 10 month season.
Watching England the way that they play was unrecogniseable from the team of the 80-90's.
Project England might have actually worked.
Bya nd large they were so comfortable on the ball. It was their first touch that made them stand out from their predecessors and gave them the time to actually create things.
Very un Ing-ga-lund like. Albeit was only Ukraine
England is definitely producing players with mastery of the basic skills. But still with the old-fashioned threat from set pieces intact.
Potential weaknesses are as follows.
- High goal to chance ratio - it's a good thing but maybe a day of bad luck in front of goal is due. If they go a goal behind, will they cope?
- The defence - no goals conceded is very impressive but that is mainly due to the press and the fact they aren't committing many forward. The times they have been exposed, the actual defenders have looked shaky as hell.
- Will they cope with being pressed - opposition has mainly sat back allowing Maguire and Stones to exchange unlimited passes. Will it all fall apart against a team that presses.
The good thing is that 2 of the other teams have plenty more weaknesses than England. Italy are favoured to reach the final and will be a real test.