[Football] Euros 2024 - Matchday 12 (Netherlands vs Austria, France vs Poland, England vs Slovenia & Denmark vs Serbia)

[Brovion]

Maybe Southgate has been picking a side to get through group games and will now pick a side to win knock out games

Yes, I'm clutching at that straw too!

We knew the group was going to be tough with well-organised teams just sitting back against us. Hopefully we'll do better against teams that want to attack and give us some space. History, and our recent form, is against us (is it two wins in seven now?), but, well, you know, hope springs eternal ...

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

If Foden hadn't been offside last night, or his shot that hit the post against Denmark had gone in, we'd be top. If's and but's are irrelevant, the fact remains we are top of the group.

Congratulations for admiring mediocrity

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Yes. It’s a tournament. Not sure anyone has impressed so far.

You haven't watched Spain yet then?

 

[lost in london]

Southgate needs to grow a pair, stop just picking the best players in the squad, and instead pick the best team. We need width, players who can dribble, and some speed. If that means dropping Foden or Bellingham so be it.

 

[essbee1]

You'll all be embarrassed when we win it.......................................................

But not half as embarassed as you'll be when we get stuffed by Romania 4-0 (or other)
in the knockouts.

 

[aftershavedave]

It's not based on how they finish in order 1-4, that's irrelevant. It's only determined by which four groups the teams going through come from.

If 3rd place from Group E and 3rd place from Group F both go through tonight (eliminating Hungary), the four teams through are CDEF and we play 3rd place from E.

If 3rd place from E go through with Hungary and 3rd place from F go out tonight, the four teams through are ACDE and we play 3rd place from D (Netherlands).

If 3rd place from E go out and 3rd place from F go through with Hungary tonight, the four teams are ACDF and we play 3rd from D (Netherlands).

It's nothing to do with where they finish or how they're ranked within those four going through.

It's just a list UEFA drew up for all 15 possible combinations of third placed teams going through:

If ABCD, x happens
If ABCE, y happens
etc etc.

It's a ridiculous situation caused by the new '6 groups of 4' format. That's UEFA for you.

After a lot of uncertainty it basically now boils down to: Hungary out, we play 3E - Hungary through, we play Netherlands.

Thanks for this!

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

I find it unbelievable that Southgate and co are trying to spin another f***ing diabolical performance against a shit team, despite the dissatisfaction which has clearly been shown in the media and with the fans.

One of the greatest things about football is that it generally provides debate and different opinions, but there is no debate to be had with this England side. It's shit and we'll lose as soon as we play a half decent side. We may be able to fluke one knockout round but we're toast when we get any of the decent sides.

I just don't get what is going on in Southgate's head. Wtf is he doing watching that iPad during games? I can only conclude he's doing the modern equivalent of f***ing Angry Birds or some shit.

Should have been sacked after the Italy final IMO, how he wasn't after 2022 is beyond me. How he can have the gall to continue to occupy the position after the shite he has presided over is a mystery.

But it all comes back to the FA; f*** getting the best guy for the job, f*** getting someone with any kind of track record, just go for the boring twat that won't provoke any controversy. The whole organisation needs ripping apart. Get these gormless execs out and get some people in that have some nous in how to build a team we can actually be proud of.

This ^^^^

Back to last night...

What has happened to Bellingham?

Southgate is still experimenting with regards to central midfield whilst a tournament is going on - absolute joke.

No balance to the team.

Really hope Luke Shaw is fit for Sunday, desperately need a left footed left back.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

They might be marginally better (the top club sides, stuffed with the best players from across the world, are usually better than international sides these days), but I don't think the difference is so great as to account for his total apparent 'shit-ness'.

I'm not one to say "We're Ingerland, we've got the best players so we should win!" but it is baffling how a team that contains the EPL player of the season, the La Liga player of the season and the top scorer in the Bunderliga can look SO pedestrian, disjointed and toothless. (There's a stat somewhere that shows England have the slowest build-up of all the teams in the Euros).

It's the old 'Lampard/Gerrard' debate multiplied by ten.

I have long said, England pick the best players...this is not always the best team. This is nothing new. Lampard/Gerrard were incapable of playing in the same team BUT they were always picked and shoe-horned in as the best players. I think this is the issue. Ideally England would choose one of Lampard or Gerrard, stuck with this, and have an excellent back up if the first choice was injured. Same with Bellingham and Foden now.

Central midfield is a key area, all good teams have a good player here (Kroos, Schweinstiger, Pirlo, that Croatian bloke who looks a bit tired now), but for England it is shockingly bad, who else can play there as the games pass Rice by and Gallagher is not up to much. Attacking players, England have lots of choice, but a poor central midfield and dodgy defence impede them immensly.

 

[Scappa]

This ^^^^

Back to last night...

What has happened to Bellingham?

Southgate is still experimenting with regards to central midfield whilst a tournament is going on - absolute joke.

No balance to the team.

Really hope Luke Shaw is fit for Sunday, desperately need a left footed left back.

How could he possibly have expected that he would be without the footballing God that is Kalvin Phillips?! Such a cruel blow.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

I dunno if I'm alone in this because I'm terrible at understanding the game or that didn't have the benefit (lol) of the English commentary team. But I thought Foden was one of the few who said "f*** it give me the ball" got central and tried to make stuff happen.

That volley was a joke but he's the key for me.

 

[rippleman]

I dunno if I'm alone in this because I'm terrible at understanding the game or that didn't have the benefit (lol) of the English commentary team. But I thought Foden was one of the few who said "f*** it give me the ball" got central and tried to make stuff happen.

That volley was a joke but he's the key for me.

Foden was so much better last night as he clearly had enough being played as a left winger and was all over the shop demanding posession and trying to create. Why Southgate thinks Foden is a left winger is beyond me. Foden has also been hamstrung by having that tit Trippier playing behind him. He is rubbish. But then why take an injured left back to the tournament in the first place? What had Levi done wrong to be left at home.

But for me the biggest problem has been Kane. Huffing and puffing around the place and taking potshots from distance. He is dropping far too deep and he is so slow he is cluttering up the midfield space. He is past it. We have plenty enough attacking talent in the squad. Southgate should grow "big balls" to tell Kane he really isn't up to it any more.

 

[Withdean South Stand]

It's time to play Saka at left back, Palmer on the right wing, Foden as the number 10 and Gordon on the left. Rice and Mainoo or Bellingham alongside him.

Pickford
Walker
Stones
Guehi
Saka
Rice
Mainoo/Bellingham
Palmer
Foden
Gordon
Kane

That's a team to win the tournament, despite Southgate in the dugout.

 

[Braggfan]

Foden was so much better last night as he clearly had enough being played as a left winger and was all over the shop demanding posession and trying to create. Why Southgate thinks Foden is a left winger is beyond me. Foden has also been hamstrung by having that tit Trippier playing behind him. He is rubbish. But then why take an injured left back to the tournament in the first place? What had Levi done wrong to be left at home.

But for me the biggest problem has been Kane. Huffing and puffing around the place and taking potshots from distance. He is dropping far too deep and he is so slow he is cluttering up the midfield space. He is past it. We have plenty enough attacking talent in the squad. Southgate should grow "big balls" to tell Kane he really isn't up to it any more.

Personally I don't understand the criticism of Kane. He's playing no different to how he has always played for England. He has never been a player who presses hard and fast. He's doing exactly what he's always done and what has made him England's top goal scorer. He looks exactly the same to previous tournaments. The fact that he's not getting involved or getting chances, is solely down to our midfield. If Southgate wants to change the style, tempo etc, then he needs to solve his midfield problems.

 

[fruitnveg]

It's time to play Saka at left back, Palmer on the right wing, Foden as the number 10 and Gordon on the left. Rice and Mainoo or Bellingham alongside him.

Pickford
Walker
Stones
Guehi
Saka
Rice
Mainoo/Bellingham
Palmer
Foden
Gordon
Kane

That's a team to win the tournament, despite Southgate in the dugout.

On his showings so far this tournament, i'd have Rice nowhere near the team. Wharton in his place and send the useless Arsenal prat back to England early so he can relearn what it means to play football.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

The disconnect between supposedly world class England players and their club/country form has been going on for decades..eg trying to shoehorn Gerrard and Lampard into a functioning midfield. Maybe there is always too much hype. The FA clearly have a large part to play in all of this and the direction they choose to go in with the next managerial appointment. I think it’s the Spanish manager that has worked his way up through the youth teams with the same core of players playing the same system that is bringing about their current success. When GS was appointed from the U21’s off the back of the investment in grass roots and St George’s Park etc, whilst he was reluctant it made sense to me..continuity, knowing the players. Surely long term success needs to be driven by this kind of model rather than comedy appointments such as Sam Allardyce.

The problem is that football changes over time and the same system will only work for so long or else we would still be playing 2-3-5

 

[Dorset Seagull]

How could he possibly have expected that he would be without the footballing God that is Kalvin Phillips?! Such a cruel blow.

He could have taken him!

 

[pb21]

But for me the biggest problem has been Kane. Huffing and puffing around the place and taking potshots from distance. He is dropping far too deep and he is so slow he is cluttering up the midfield space. He is past it. We have plenty enough attacking talent in the squad. Southgate should grow "big balls" to tell Kane he really isn't up to it any more.

I agree to an extent, but I think he should still start, but staying up the pitch and out of the way of Foden and Bellingham. It was a duffed clearance from Kane in our half that led to Denmark’s goal last week, but he shouldn’t really be doing that.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

He could have taken him!

Good point.

 

[Withdean South Stand]

On his showings so far this tournament, i'd have Rice nowhere near the team. Wharton in his place and send the useless Arsenal prat back to England early so he can relearn what it means to play football.

Are you mental? Rice has been outstanding screening the defence and does have the legs to get forward, is useful at set pieces in both boxes, etc.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Are you mental? Rice has been outstanding screening the defence and does have the legs to get forward, is useful at set pieces in both boxes, etc.

The 3 games have passed him by imho. He’s been very poor.