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

[jcdenton08]

MATCH ONE

Netherlands vs Austria

17:00 on BBC Two

Olympiastadion Berlin

Match preview: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c5111xzve6pt



MATCH TWO

France vs Poland

17:00 on BBC One

BVB Stadion Dortmund

Match preview: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c3gggdy0x62t



MATCH THREE

England vs Slovenia

20:00 on ITV1

Cologne Stadium

Match preview: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c8000g2nj98t



MATCH FOUR

Denmark vs Serbia

20:00 on ITV4

Fußball Arena München

Match preview: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c977792vyznt

 

[AZ Gull]

Your England is very small (if I may be so bold).

 

[jcdenton08]

Easy route through to the final here lads, no excuses. A comfortable 3-0 win - Heskey hattrick and Zaha with the other two. Let’s show these Scandis what we’re made of!*




*Were loose

 

[lawros left foot]

Nicked from twitter.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

This campaign stinks of South African World Cup and 2016 Euros

Disjointed
Players having a pop at the media/fans for calling out the dreadful performances
Seems like a splintered squad
Manager knows he's gone after
Feeble excuses
Unfit players selected

 

[Guinness Boy]

This campaign stinks of South African World Cup and 2016 Euros

Disjointed
Players having a pop at the media/fans for calling out the dreadful performances
Seems like a splintered squad
Manager knows he's gone after
Feeble excuses
Unfit players selected

To go deep in this competition we need to drop Kane or find a system that prevents him playing too deep. I don’t think Waistcoat will do either.

In Dublin for work for the next few days so will be hiding with my Geordie mate in a pub full of “Slovenian” Irishmen.

Lovely place, Slovenia, btw and TERRIBLY good at football…..

 

[jcdenton08]

I don’t like our current shape. At all. Kane is completely isolated. But there’s no way Southgate is changing it at this point; he’s too stubborn, even when it’s simply not working.

I’d go for this;

In possession in our third, the fullbacks stay wide (hence picking Shaw for natural left sided width, which we’ve sorely lacked) and Bellingham and/or Foden drop into a two or three alongside Rice to receive the ball from Pickford or the two centrebacks. This provides five low risk out-balls, one on either flank and three in a tight cluster in the centre.

Transitioning forward, I’d ask Bellingham and Foden to stay narrow and Rice to effectively carry water, his sole aim sweeping behind those two and releasing the ball as quickly as possible to them.

I would be asking Kane to play back to goal and come towards the ball, and Watkins to play on the shoulder of the last defender, not tracking back at all and basically goal-hanging. What you don’t want is both of them dropping into a 10 position.

This leaves Palmer as the free man, operating exclusively in the opposition half between the opposition midfield and defensive lines looking to feed Watkins.

All of this depends on quick, direct play and absolutely zero fannying about. It depends on having the five players with solely attacking duties in the transition, all running their bollocks off.

The fullbacks are defensive players in this system, and should be keeping a tight back four with the centrebacks.

That attacking 5 would give any defensive 5 in the tournament a very tough game, and we should back ourselves.

Two teams of 5.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I don’t like our current shape. At all. Kane is completely isolated. But there’s no way Southgate is changing it at this point; he’s too stubborn, even when it’s simply not working.

I’d go for this;

View attachment 184646


In possession in our third, the fullbacks stay wide (hence picking Shaw for natural left sided width, which we’ve sorely lacked) and Bellingham and/or Foden drop into a two or three alongside Rice to receive the ball from Pickford or the two centrebacks. This provides five low risk out-balls, one on either flank and three in a tight cluster in the centre.

Transitioning forward, I’d ask Bellingham and Foden to stay narrow and Rice to effectively carry water, his sole aim sweeping behind those two and releasing the ball as quickly as possible to them.

I would be asking Kane to play back to goal and come towards the ball, and Watkins to play on the shoulder of the last defender, not tracking back at all and basically goal-hanging. What you don’t want is both of them dropping into a 10 position.

This leaves Palmer as the free man, operating exclusively in the opposition half between the opposition midfield and defensive lines looking to feed Watkins.

All of this depends on quick, direct play and absolutely zero fannying about. It depends on having the five players with solely attacking duties in the transition, all running their bollocks off.

The fullbacks are defensive players in this system, and should be keeping a tight back four with the centrebacks.

That attacking 5 would give any defensive 5 in the tournament a very tough game, and we should back ourselves.

Two teams of 5.

When can you start?

 

[banjo]

 

[essbee1]

For f**k's sake Southgate - put Palmer in the starting line-up.

 

[hart's shirt]

As posted on yesterday's thread, it'll be interesting to see what qualification already secured will do on England's intensity.

There are still questions to be answered to fans, pundits and media with regards to failing to press home the advantage.

Going a goal up early against Slovenia will not entitle them to sit back and defend for 60-70 minutes.

 

[Eeyore]

Further to the question about the number of countries that border Germany. Who was the last non island host of a major international football tournament to not have any countries bordering them ?

I've looked it up. And it's a very surprising one.

 

[Hotchilidog]

I just want England to look like the better team this evening and start playing with some confidence. At the moment the England camp does not appear to be a happy one, a snappy media (no change there) but an increasingly irritated manager and squad. My hope is that they finally shut the critics (myself included) up this evening.

 

[Charles 'Charley' Charles]

Further to the question about the number of countries that border Germany. Who was the last host of a major international football tournament to not have any countries bordering them ?

I've looked it up. And it's a very surprising one.

Australia for the Womens World Cup last year would be my first guess.

 

[Mellotron]

Going a goal up early against Slovenia will not entitle them to sit back and defend for 60-70 minutes.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I’ll be putting a small England flag on the dashboard of my van today….i’d just like to apologise if that distracts anyone while I am driving from job to job …oh hang on I’m not a taxi driver and in London….scrap that

 

[Eeyore]

Australia for the Womens World Cup last year would be my first guess.

Well, yes. I should have specified last non- Island venue.

I think the answer, surprisingly, is Russia 2018

 

[Mellotron]

If the only change is Gallagher for Trent, it suggests Southgate doesn't understand the extent of the problems.

We cannot win a major tournament without a functioning left side of the pitch.

 

[veuve]

Bart and Jacob both starting.

 

[pasty]

Bart and Jacob both starting.

Damn. Don’t know which one to watch now