Euro 2021/21

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, TomF said:

In England’s case you have the bizzare situation that finishing 1st means they play a 2nd place team out of a group containing France, Germany, Portugal and Hungry. Finishing 2nd they potentially get a much easier last 16 tie.. 

in normal times I’d have every group sussed, the various permutations, etc….I well out of touch this summer.

[havanatopia]

1 hour ago, TomF said:

In England’s case you have the bizzare situation that finishing 1st means they play a 2nd place team out of a group containing France, Germany, Portugal and Hungry. Finishing 2nd they potentially get a much easier last 16 tie.. 

I think we will finish top and France too; the other three are no better than we are. Nothing to worry about.

If Ukraine play like that in their next two games they will qualify with a canter. They play just the same in the last tournaments where I watched them.. I am assuming Shevchenko has been in place sometime or carried on the same gung ho attitude from before and when needed. Very entertaining from both sides. I think we can beat them both though but I would actually fear the Ukrainians more.

[pillred]

10 hours ago, Son of Fred said:

I actually am.

Cool!

[Baba Yaga]

7 hours ago, JonDolman said:

I thought we made them look poor. I think an England side from years ago could have done that

Just rewatching the 2nd half and I think you make a fair point. Minutes 45-70 we dominated possession and when Croatia got the ball we pressed them and they got nowhere. In the last 20 they passed it around more but couldn't play it through our midfield and when they took it wide they also didn't get any good chances from their crosses. From what I saw Modric was playing really deep and on the few occasions he engaged our midfield they were all over him. It was quite a stop start half as well which played into our hands, looking back it was all very comfortable.

[BS2 Red]

8 hours ago, Davefevs said:

in normal times I’d have every group sussed, the various permutations, etc….I well out of touch this summer.

I'm the same. I also keep forgetting that a lot of the third placed teams qualify for the next round.

[Guest]

They've got some front.. then again it is that s**trag

[MarcusX]

13 hours ago, Phileas Fogg said:

I think that should be taken as a given though. Obviously the coaches and management are technically more 'qualified' than fans, but it doesn't mean fans can't have an opinion otherwise what's the point. There will be many times when coaches and managers get things wrong and fans should be able to debate and discuss anything they want about the sport. They pay enough money via tickets, merchandise or tv subscriptions to be able to have an opinion. 

Of course an opinion, but fans need to accept they will never have the full facts. They dont know who's woken up feeling ill, or had a bad nights sleep, or had some bad news in the family. Even things such as player relations and personality clashes. The things that at the top level make a big difference. When it results in personal abuse e.g. Southgates "a clown", "clueless", etc it's ridiculous. Everyone gets things wrong but one thing's for sure he knows more and is more qualified than 99% of England fans.

Not to mention the ones who question team selection without knowing the rules and criteria

12 hours ago, BCFC Grim said:

Exactly right.....

Can someone please give explain why two goal keepers were named on the bench rather than one of the two really good players that were left out? 

Secondly, today was decent but I feel some are hyping it more than it was ( especially the BBC) . It was a start, nothing more. Improvement definitely needed, although we never really looked like conceding.

 

[MarcusX]

10 hours ago, TomF said:

In England’s case you have the bizzare situation that finishing 1st means they play a 2nd place team out of a group containing France, Germany, Portugal and Hungry. Finishing 2nd they potentially get a much easier last 16 tie.. 

After the moaning about "easy games" at the World Cup I'd like to see us play the best teams and just go for it. You've got to beat someone decent at some point - imagine the confidence from despatching a Germany or Portugal early on, especially with it being at Wembley we'd have a massive chance

[Phileas Fogg]

7 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

Of course an opinion, but fans need to accept they will never have the full facts. They dont know who's woken up feeling ill, or had a bad nights sleep, or had some bad news in the family. Even things such as player relations and personality clashes. The things that at the top level make a big difference. When it results in personal abuse e.g. Southgates "a clown", "clueless", etc it's ridiculous. Everyone gets things wrong but one thing's for sure he knows more and is more qualified than 99% of England fans.

Not to mention the ones who question team selection without knowing the rules and criteria

 

In fairness I had no idea about the 2 keepers rule until this thread so it serves an educational purpose too.

I think most fans accept that as a given. Some use football as a bit of a venting exercise so naturally there's lots of exaggeration and hyperbole. Of course he's more qualified, but my point is that it'll always be this way. Fans will give their view, exaggerate it a bit and get their point across. 

1 minute ago, MarcusX said:

After the moaning about "easy games" at the World Cup I'd like to see us play the best teams and just go for it. You've got to beat someone decent at some point - imagine the confidence from despatching a Germany or Portugal early on, especially with it being at Wembley we'd have a massive chance

Agreed - Portugal or Germany would be tough, but at Wembley and off the back of winning (potentially) all 3 group games I think we'd give it a really good go. 

Ideally I'd like to avoid France if possible, but I don't think we've got much to fear from any other team really. 

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

After the moaning about "easy games" at the World Cup I'd like to see us play the best teams and just go for it. You've got to beat someone decent at some point - imagine the confidence from despatching a Germany or Portugal early on, especially with it being at Wembley we'd have a massive chance

I think just more worried that the other group could turn up all sorts of situations and we end up playing France in the L16.. that would be tough - mind you if we dispose of the current WC holders then expectation might go through the roof and just worry about the pressure on the team then.  Playing at Wembley is certainly a massive advantage. 

[Davefevs]

6 hours ago, Baba Yaga said:

Just rewatching the 2nd half and I think you make a fair point. Minutes 45-70 we dominated possession and when Croatia got the ball we pressed them and they got nowhere. In the last 20 they passed it around more but couldn't play it through our midfield and when they took it wide they also didn't get any good chances from their crosses. From what I saw Modric was playing really deep and on the few occasions he engaged our midfield they were all over him. It was quite a stop start half as well which played into our hands, looking back it was all very comfortable.

Luca Modric.

Pass Map

Actions map:

I’d say Mount and Phillips did a very good job on him, Rice too.  Nothing around our box!

 

 

[BCFC Grim]

47 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

Of course an opinion, but fans need to accept they will never have the full facts. They dont know who's woken up feeling ill, or had a bad nights sleep, or had some bad news in the family. Even things such as player relations and personality clashes. The things that at the top level make a big difference. When it results in personal abuse e.g. Southgates "a clown", "clueless", etc it's ridiculous. Everyone gets things wrong but one thing's for sure he knows more and is more qualified than 99% of England fans.

Not to mention the ones who question team selection without knowing the rules and criteria

 

I asked for clarification of the rules as it made no sense.......Clown.

[Port Said Red]

14 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

Denmark's Euro 2020 match against Finland should not have restarted after midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed mid-game, coach Kasper Hjulmand says.

"No, we should not have played," Hjulmand said on Sunday.  “Players have different reactions to shocks and trauma but we'll try to get back to normal as much as possible. I get the feelings from the players that maybe the time is too short to try to play football again, but maybe we can use it as a force to get together and try to go out and do our best in the next match."

Thanks for confirming. Good to see that there was no outside pressure, even if it was felt by some that the players made the wrong decision.

[MarcusX]

1 hour ago, Phileas Fogg said:

In fairness I had no idea about the 2 keepers rule until this thread so it serves an educational purpose too.

I think most fans accept that as a given. Some use football as a bit of a venting exercise so naturally there's lots of exaggeration and hyperbole. Of course he's more qualified, but my point is that it'll always be this way. Fans will give their view, exaggerate it a bit and get their point across. 

Agreed - Portugal or Germany would be tough, but at Wembley and off the back of winning (potentially) all 3 group games I think we'd give it a really good go. 

Ideally I'd like to avoid France if possible, but I don't think we've got much to fear from any other team really. 

We'd be flying, but we'd need to manage expectations. If France end up second though, that means they're beatable. 

1 hour ago, TomF said:

I think just more worried that the other group could turn up all sorts of situations and we end up playing France in the L16.. that would be tough - mind you if we dispose of the current WC holders then expectation might go through the roof and just worry about the pressure on the team then.  Playing at Wembley is certainly a massive advantage. 

As above you're right we'd have to manage those expectations. I dont think Gareth would let them get carried away, he's been there as player and manager he knows how it feels.

I think France would be tough, but I think we can beat them if we show up its a shame we wont have a full crowd at Wembley

[Phileas Fogg]

28 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

We'd be flying, but we'd need to manage expectations. If France end up second though, that means they're beatable. 

As above you're right we'd have to manage those expectations. I dont think Gareth would let them get carried away, he's been there as player and manager he knows how it feels.

I think France would be tough, but I think we can beat them if we show up its a shame we wont have a full crowd at Wembley

I think we probably will finish on 9 points. I think we have genuine depth and quality within our squad now, especially in attack. Unless they raise their game hugely I can't see Scotland getting anything from us and I'd definitely fancy us against Czech Republic.

It's amazing really to compare this squad even to the Euro 2012 one and the strength/depth we have

 

1	GK	Joe Hart	19 April 1987 (aged 25)	22	0	Manchester City
13	GK	Robert Green	18 January 1980 (aged 32)	12	0	West Ham United
23	GK	Jack Butland	10 March 1993 (aged 19)	0	0	Birmingham City
2	DF	Glen Johnson	23 August 1984 (aged 27)	40	1	Liverpool
3	DF	Ashley Cole	20 December 1980 (aged 31)	98	0	Chelsea
5	DF	Martin Kelly	27 April 1990 (aged 22)	1	0	Liverpool
6	DF	John Terry	7 December 1980 (aged 31)	77	6	Chelsea
12	DF	Leighton Baines	11 December 1984 (aged 27)	8	0	Everton
14	DF	Phil Jones	21 February 1992 (aged 20)	5	0	Manchester United
15	DF	Joleon Lescott	16 August 1982 (aged 29)	20	1	Manchester City
18	DF	Phil Jagielka	17 August 1982 (aged 29)	12	0	Everton
4	MF	Steven Gerrard (captain)	30 May 1980 (aged 32)	96	19	Liverpool
8	MF	Jordan Henderson	17 June 1990 (aged 21)	5	0	Liverpool
11	MF	Ashley Young	9 July 1985 (aged 26)	25	6	Manchester United
16	MF	James Milner	4 January 1986 (aged 26)	30	0	Manchester City
17	MF	Scott Parker	13 October 1980 (aged 31)	17	0	Tottenham Hotspur
19	MF	Stewart Downing	22 July 1984 (aged 27)	34	0	Liverpool
20	MF	Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain	15 August 1993 (aged 18)	5	0	Arsenal
7	FW	Theo Walcott	16 March 1989 (aged 23)	28	4	Arsenal
9	FW	Andy Carroll	6 January 1989 (aged 23)	7	2	Liverpool
10	FW	Wayne Rooney	24 October 1985 (aged 26)	76	29	Manchester United
21	FW	Jermain Defoe	7 October 1982 (aged 29)	48	15	Tottenham Hotspur
22	FW	Danny Welbeck	26 November 1990 (aged 21)

[MarcusX]

On 13/06/2021 at 08:58, Port Said Red said:

It had to be played some time, they made the best choice. Your wording in other posts suggests outside pressure which has shown not to be the case.

Sounding like they were "forced" or at least made to feel they had to play.

Sorry its Daily Mail but heard it on the radio and had to find a source:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-9683821/Peter-Schmeichel-insists-UEFA-threatened-Denmark-3-0-forfeit-defeat-against-Finland.html

[Port Said Red]

27 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

Sounding like they were "forced" or at least made to feel they had to play.

Sorry its Daily Mail but heard it on the radio and had to find a source:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-9683821/Peter-Schmeichel-insists-UEFA-threatened-Denmark-3-0-forfeit-defeat-against-Finland.html

Imagine the uproar if that was true. Even UEFA wouldn't be that stupid.

[grifty]

47 minutes ago, Phileas Fogg said:

I think we probably will finish on 9 points. I think we have genuine depth and quality within our squad now, especially in attack. Unless they raise their game hugely I can't see Scotland getting anything from us and I'd definitely fancy us against Czech Republic.

It's amazing really to compare this squad even to the Euro 2012 one and the strength/depth we have

 

1	GK	Joe Hart	19 April 1987 (aged 25)	22	0	Manchester City
13	GK	Robert Green	18 January 1980 (aged 32)	12	0	West Ham United
23	GK	Jack Butland	10 March 1993 (aged 19)	0	0	Birmingham City
2	DF	Glen Johnson	23 August 1984 (aged 27)	40	1	Liverpool
3	DF	Ashley Cole	20 December 1980 (aged 31)	98	0	Chelsea
5	DF	Martin Kelly	27 April 1990 (aged 22)	1	0	Liverpool
6	DF	John Terry	7 December 1980 (aged 31)	77	6	Chelsea
12	DF	Leighton Baines	11 December 1984 (aged 27)	8	0	Everton
14	DF	Phil Jones	21 February 1992 (aged 20)	5	0	Manchester United
15	DF	Joleon Lescott	16 August 1982 (aged 29)	20	1	Manchester City
18	DF	Phil Jagielka	17 August 1982 (aged 29)	12	0	Everton
4	MF	Steven Gerrard (captain)	30 May 1980 (aged 32)	96	19	Liverpool
8	MF	Jordan Henderson	17 June 1990 (aged 21)	5	0	Liverpool
11	MF	Ashley Young	9 July 1985 (aged 26)	25	6	Manchester United
16	MF	James Milner	4 January 1986 (aged 26)	30	0	Manchester City
17	MF	Scott Parker	13 October 1980 (aged 31)	17	0	Tottenham Hotspur
19	MF	Stewart Downing	22 July 1984 (aged 27)	34	0	Liverpool
20	MF	Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain	15 August 1993 (aged 18)	5	0	Arsenal
7	FW	Theo Walcott	16 March 1989 (aged 23)	28	4	Arsenal
9	FW	Andy Carroll	6 January 1989 (aged 23)	7	2	Liverpool
10	FW	Wayne Rooney	24 October 1985 (aged 26)	76	29	Manchester United
21	FW	Jermain Defoe	7 October 1982 (aged 29)	48	15	Tottenham Hotspur
22	FW	Danny Welbeck	26 November 1990 (aged 21)

You'd probably only take Rooney, Gerrard and Terry from that team

[grifty]

49 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

Sounding like they were "forced" or at least made to feel they had to play.

Sorry its Daily Mail but heard it on the radio and had to find a source:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-9683821/Peter-Schmeichel-insists-UEFA-threatened-Denmark-3-0-forfeit-defeat-against-Finland.html

Well they had 3 options. Play now, play the next day or Finland get the win, as per the rules of the tournament. not sure what else UEFA should/could do.

If Eriksen had passed on the pitch I think we would have been looking at a different scenario, but he didn't, he's making jokes apparently today.

IMO the Danish team should have agreed to play the next day. Would have given them the chance to re-group, see how Christian was and go from there.

Also, had they won the game, would Peter have mentioned it? I doubt it...

[2015]

52 minutes ago, Phileas Fogg said:

It's amazing really to compare this squad even to the Euro 2012 one and the strength/depth we have

1	GK	Joe Hart	19 April 1987 (aged 25)	22	0	Manchester City
13	GK	Robert Green	18 January 1980 (aged 32)	12	0	West Ham United
23	GK	Jack Butland	10 March 1993 (aged 19)	0	0	Birmingham City
2	DF	Glen Johnson	23 August 1984 (aged 27)	40	1	Liverpool
3	DF	Ashley Cole	20 December 1980 (aged 31)	98	0	Chelsea
5	DF	Martin Kelly	27 April 1990 (aged 22)	1	0	Liverpool
6	DF	John Terry	7 December 1980 (aged 31)	77	6	Chelsea
12	DF	Leighton Baines	11 December 1984 (aged 27)	8	0	Everton
14	DF	Phil Jones	21 February 1992 (aged 20)	5	0	Manchester United
15	DF	Joleon Lescott	16 August 1982 (aged 29)	20	1	Manchester City
18	DF	Phil Jagielka	17 August 1982 (aged 29)	12	0	Everton
4	MF	Steven Gerrard (captain)	30 May 1980 (aged 32)	96	19	Liverpool
8	MF	Jordan Henderson	17 June 1990 (aged 21)	5	0	Liverpool
11	MF	Ashley Young	9 July 1985 (aged 26)	25	6	Manchester United
16	MF	James Milner	4 January 1986 (aged 26)	30	0	Manchester City
17	MF	Scott Parker	13 October 1980 (aged 31)	17	0	Tottenham Hotspur
19	MF	Stewart Downing	22 July 1984 (aged 27)	34	0	Liverpool
20	MF	Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain	15 August 1993 (aged 18)	5	0	Arsenal
7	FW	Theo Walcott	16 March 1989 (aged 23)	28	4	Arsenal
9	FW	Andy Carroll	6 January 1989 (aged 23)	7	2	Liverpool
10	FW	Wayne Rooney	24 October 1985 (aged 26)	76	29	Manchester United
21	FW	Jermain Defoe	7 October 1982 (aged 29)	48	15	Tottenham Hotspur
22	FW	Danny Welbeck	26 November 1990 (aged 21)

Between 2008 and 2016 it really felt like England were on the decline and the lack of talent coming through the ranks was pretty poor. 

I think the loan market has been used very well by the Premier League clubs since then (Mount, Grealish, Tammy, Kane, James) and because there has to be a cap on the amount of English players in a squad it has forced clubs in the Prem to look at young English talent and play them (Foden, Trent, Stones, Shaw, Rice, Grealish).

Our academy set up as a Country has improved massively during the last 10 years, which has focused coaching more on the continental game of having the ball at your feet than what English football focused on in the past (Strength and speed). 

Long may it continue.

[Selred]

7 minutes ago, grifty said:

IMO the Danish team should have agreed to play the next day. Would have given them the chance to re-group, see how Christian was and go from there.

 

I disagree, I think shock would of set in. Also players have really strict food prep so they are in best condition for the day, the day after would affect their performance in many ways.

[One Team]

Scotland vs Kalas later, lets hope he scores against them!

[Phileas Fogg]

28 minutes ago, grifty said:

You'd probably only take Rooney, Gerrard and Terry from that team

Agreed. I think at the time Andy Carroll was a good option to have but DCL is much better. Amazingly poor side really. 

[Super]

33 minutes ago, grifty said:

You'd probably only take Rooney, Gerrard and Terry from that team

Not Ashley Cole?

[2015]

1 minute ago, Super said:

Not Ashley Cole?

I think you'd take Rooney, Gerrard, Terry, Cole, Lescott (Our current CB aren't the best) and Joe Hart (Was good in 2012 lets not forget).

Also lets not forget Rooney and Gerrard massively flattered to deceive in an England shirt most of their career. Just great club players

[Super]

Just now, 2015 said:

I think you'd take Rooney, Gerrard, Terry, Cole, Lescott (Our current CB aren't the best) and Joe Hart (Was good in 2012 lets not forget).

Also lets not forget Rooney and Gerrard massively flattered to deceive in an England shirt most of their career. Just great club players

Cole was one of the few world class players we had.

[2015]

Just now, Super said:

Cole was one of the few world class players we had.

Best left back in the World at his peak

[Super]

21 hours ago, Shaun Taylor said:

I'd swap him for Keown

Jenas seems to be on everything these days. Put the One Show on the other day and he is a presenter on that ffs

[2015]

Also think it was criminal not giving Michael Carrick a chance to play for England more around Euro 2012 era, someone who could dictate the pace of a game and be a deep lying playmaker which we cried out for. Far better than Parker and Barry. He'd have walked into the current squad imo.

[Redstart]

4 minutes ago, Super said:

Jenas seems to be on everything these days. Put the One Show on the other day and he is a presenter on that ffs

Who the hell watches the One Show ffs