England U21 v Italy U21 ko 19.45

[Quinney]

OK, JFC is not the greatest, but I have a lot of sympathy for him. He was almost an ever present in getting them to the finals and when they got there he was first to be dropped. When he did get a chance against Italy, by all accounts, he was picked as a distribution player, rather than the holding link up role his is used to. The papers then slate him this morning for not being as good as Barkley. OK, he isn't, but neither does he play the same position. All a bit unfair on the lad.

From watching the game he seemed to be sitting pretty deep as a holding midfield player, having not watched many U21 games I thought he played further forward for them. He didn't have a good game but then he certainly wasn't alone in that.

 

[perseus]

In perspective: http://www1.skysports.com/football/portugal-u21-vs-germany-u21/333265

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

In perspective: http://www1.skysports.com/football/portugal-u21-vs-germany-u21/333265

Still no excuse for that tepid display against Sweden and not turning up against the Italiens.