Euros

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

@dogmeat said in Euros:

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

@dogmeat said in Euros:

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.

@dogmeat said in Euros:

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.

1. 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?
2. 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.
3. 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.

@kiwipie I don't want to overstate how good England are. I think their world ranking flatters them and they have had a dream draw. I also think the defence could fall apart at any moment, but just observing that technically they're the most gifted team I can remember. Which is allowing them to express themselves on the ball much more. Ironically given my reservations it is the defence where this confidence with the ball at their feet is most obvious.

@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?

Aged well.

I'm not soccer aficionado, but he's been my pick of the England team. Looks to be a very smart player and has featured in a lot of the big plays.

@bones 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?

Aged well.

I'm not soccer aficionado, but he's been my pick of the England team. Looks to be a very smart player and has featured in a lot of the big plays.

I wish someone would tell me I’ve aged well…

@billy-tell you've aged well

Spain v England Final for me

Watching this on German TV on Rab Island Croatia. Bastian Schweinsteiger is one of the experts. I see his wife is Ana Ivanovic. Nice work son.

Lively start from both sides

So far Spain strikers remain useless. Despite changes.

To my surprise Spain are dominating but the first touch of their strikers is just so poor.

Ha ha. Italy score on the counterattack. That’ll learn Spain for being so profligate.

@billy-tell said in Euros:

Ha ha. Italy score on the counterattack. That’ll learn Spain for being so profligate.

Great finish

Spain have wasted too many opportunities

But get a very nice goal

Morata of all people scores. Great game

Fabulous goal from Spain

1-1

Ref is fab. Not buying any BS.

Both very nice goals in their different ways but fuck the post-goal celebrations are embarrassing.

I wonder how long they spend practicing their oh so contrived slides and choreographed arm movements. /GOM

Spain deserve to win. They have been the better side. We see what happens though…

Olmo is motm. Been great for Spain and has taken his punishment like a man without rolling around.

shootout and Italy's first (crap - telegraphed kick is saved)

and Spains first attempt is even worse 0-0

@billy-tell said in Euros:

Olmo is motm. Been great for Spain and has taken his punishment like a man without rolling around.

Penalty effort was woeful though.

In surprising news morata misses.

Morata shit penalty Italy score and they win

@rapido said in Euros:

@billy-tell said in Euros:

Italy look AB-esque. Reckon they will go far in this tournament.

So, smashed in a semi with their heads in the clouds.

Italy do very well when they are more Bok-esque.

Better luck next time bro.

easy

Spain were the better team over the 90 mins but couldn't convert chances into goals.

That was a cool penalty by Jorginho.

@bovidae said in Euros:

Spain were the better team over the 90 mins but couldn't convert chances into goals.

That was a cool penalty by Jorginho.

Yep

Could have strolled home in regulation but squandered great chances

@bovidae While not completely comparable, Italy and their fast counter attack, not allowing defenses to set, is the trend in Ice Hockey over here. I know a different game but it makes sense to me. Spain, spent too much time knocking the ball around for what? Why risk a penalty shoot out?

@broughie said in Euros:

@bovidae While not completely comparable, Italy and their fast counter attack, not allowing defenses to set, is the trend in Ice Hockey over here. I know a different game but it makes sense to me. Spain, spent too much time knocking the ball around for what? Why risk a penalty shoot out?

Goal hangers tend to get decried compared with free flowing midfield and forward players, but by god did Spain need a Gary Lineker last night

Spain's setup with no recognised no.9 did actually confuse the Italian defence but hindered their ability to score themselves.

Well the time honoured tradition in tournament play is to cheer for the team which put your team out.

Seems a little self-serving when you think about it, to say 'we' lost to the eventual winners or finalists regardless at what stage 'they' won and how badly 'they' beat 'us'.

So to that end I'll be cheering for England tonight.

Another 4-0 victory would be excellent, but a ding dong 5-4 result to England would be better.

@mikethesnow said in Euros:

Well the time honoured tradition in tournament play is to cheer for the team which put your team out.

Seems a little self-serving when you think about it, to say 'we' lost to the eventual winners or finalists regardless at what stage 'they' won and how badly 'they' beat 'us'.

So to that end I'll be cheering for England tonight.

Another 4-0 victory would be excellent, but a ding dong 5-4 result to England would be better.

Just another 5 English goals and 3 danish ones required.

1-1. Denmark the better side. England rather nervous and making a lot of errors.

@sparky said in Euros:

1-1. Denmark the better side. England rather nervous and making a lot of errors.

Seems a pretty even game to me. Both sides with their moments.

@billy-tell said in Euros:

@sparky said in Euros:

1-1. Denmark the better side. England rather nervous and making a lot of errors.

Seems a pretty even game to me. Both sides with their moments.

A goal each would seem to indicate that, yes.