[Football] EUROs: Multi-country format

[Swansman]

All of the four semi-final teams played all their group games at home. Its almost as if weeks of zigzagging through Europe is disadvantageous.

 

[Bry Nylon]

All of the four semi-final teams played all their group games at home. Its almost as if weeks of zigzagging through Europe is disadvantageous.

That's a bit cynical. England are in the quarters because we are brilliant and football is coming home. I know this because I heard it on the television and read it on the internet.

 

[Justice]

That's a bit cynical. England are in the quarters because we are brilliant and football is coming home. I know this because I heard it on the television and read it on the internet.

We are in the semi finals do keep up.

 

[Bry Nylon]

We are in the semi finals do keep up.

Oh yeah

 

[vagabond]

All of the four semi-final teams played all their group games at home. Its almost as if weeks of zigzagging through Europe is disadvantageous.

Well we’re due a bit of home advantage surely. First time since ‘96.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

All of the four semi-final teams played all their group games at home. Its almost as if weeks of zigzagging through Europe is disadvantageous.

This is all true, but even if Martin Braithwaite brings himself down with a massive diarrhetic shit when free in front of an open goal to see England through to the final, and even if the entire Italian or Spanish finalists have to be replaced by their under 23 understudies owing to an outbreak of new variant Covid, and England manage to beat them in a penalty shoot out to steal the trophy, I won't give one tiny wee* shit, because WE DESERVE IT.

We invented the game.

For decades we have been cruelly cheated by foreigners, simulating injury, exercising deviousness, and the bias of malign referees, many of them French. (And, let's face it, we have also been a bit shit over the years as well).

We, the English football supporters deserve this trophy and, by fuxy, we're going to get it. Well, maybe, maybe not. But if we do we will have earned it. Every tiny fragment. Fact.

*a nod to our Scottish contingent. Och aye, the nicky nacky noo, Jimmies. Well, THPP, anyway.

 

[Springal]

All of the four semi-final teams played all their group games at home. Its almost as if weeks of zigzagging through Europe is disadvantageous.

Didn’t do the Germans much good

 

[AZ Gull]

All of the four semi-final teams played all their group games at home. Its almost as if weeks of zigzagging through Europe is disadvantageous.

That, and having inferior squads.

 

[Poojah]

Didn’t do the Germans much good

I’m not sure using the example of Germany being knocked out by England, in England, is a brilliant way of arguing that home advantage hasn’t been a factor.

With the exception of one game, England have been able to stay in their home country with consistent and familiar training facilities and match day routines. They of course haven’t had the inconvenience of regular international travel, and have had the massive advantage of an increasingly sizeable and passionate home support. Suddenly being thrust into the middle of a partisan crowd after 18 months of playing in empty, soulless stadiums must be quite a tough adjustment to make for the opposition, whilst it’s an obvious bonus for the England players.

This isn’t taking anything away from what’s been achieved so far - the whole team (management through to players) have been exemplary. But it’s hard to imagine that playing most of our games at home hasn’t been at least a little bit advantageous.