Most liked posts in thread: Germany again

I won’t lie, that was the usual emotional ordeal but it was a fantastic win, Germany are not as good as they were, but we’re not exactly shoe ins for anything ourselves, so it’s a fantastic achievement for a side with so many young players. Have to say, Gareth got it right, good subs at the right time, he was right to keep Kane on though, I thought he could maybe have been subbed for Rashford’s pace. Shows what I know.

just need to keep our feet on the ground, no easy games lie ahead. Everyone will fancy their chances.

 

Maybe. But I wonder how much he was playing to orders. I think we set up to have Stirling and Saka running directly and taking on their central defenders. I'd rather have him chance his arm and potentially win free kicks or penalties than play percentages all the time.
As Gary Neville has said, we don't have a Hoddle or Modric-type playmaker to pull teams apart. So Southgate's game plan is to make us exceedingly difficult to score against and then rely on our plethora of talented attackers to produce moments of magic to nick us goals. I think Stirling has been told to just go out there and take people on, knowing that we have Phillips and Rice protecting the defence if he loses the ball. Yes, he overdoes it sometimes, but I think Southgate has told him to back himself and keep doing it.

 

Thats us done then.

 

for me only decent side in this is italy. whether or not it is down to who they have played against or are the real deal remains to be seen.

Group F on paper should have been a hard group but i do think we would have got first or second in that group watching those teams play. this euros is wide open. Game On

 

Me too

 

I only watched the extra time of Italy v Austria. The Wembley pitch grass looked too long. It's no wonder the England team's passing is so slow and laborious.

 

1 side of the draw is likely to be,

Italy v Belgium/Portugal
France v Spain

The other side of the draw is,

Denmark v Czech Rep
Sweden/Ukraine v England/Germany

The win against Czech Rep doesn't look too shabby now in hindsight.

 

The pedestrian football we have displayed is a million miles away from where teams can be effective.Too slow, too predictable, too easy to defend against (5 across the back). We have the best League in the world for entertainment, we win many major club competitions playing the English/ Prem way.
Why the heck are we trying to play in a way that is ineffective. Our squad thrives on pace, right?

 

When you say 'we', the key players for our successful sides are generally not British. We overstate the quality of our players significantly.

 

We as in theEngland football team who with a couple of exceptions all play in the Prem, so they play the uptempo football I refer to week one week out. Happy to clarify.

 

I'd like to see a bit more energy too. I think there's a question as to whether the players are physically able to do that, at the end of the manic and condensed season they've had. A lot of players look leggy to me. And then there's a broader point that international football is much less frantic. If you're not organised, you're easily picked off by quality players. At international level, most tournaments are won by those who're solid defensively.

 

Other countries players have just finished their season too
We seem to be that “ organised” we are frankly comatose. They can’t express themselves imho?
As said we are so easy to defend against with opposition’s 5 across the back. With our three at the back , I fear it won’t be long. I hope I’m wrong but….

 

I think we’ve lacked balance in our selection. I don’t rate Southgate at all.

 

There is something not right with a team that sees Kane as an ineffective lonely figure . They just put two defenders on him. I find it hard to knock our National team but it’s pedestrian. Remind us of a team last season?

 

Kane needs runners, like he does at Spurs. We need Sancho to play tomorrow, with either Sterling or Rashford on the left.

 

Rashford not had enough game time so far , but when he’s come on against 5 he’s not shown anything. Grealish should start clearly , but yes Sancho is a shout!

 

Early days but if France go out and England beat Germany, will we have ever had a better chance?

 

The Germany team is better man for man, than ours, their manager is better and they have a proven tournament mentality. I just don't see us beating them - unless we're bang at it and get a bit of luck