Euro 2016 - 10th June-10th July

Glen Miller wrote:I think we are actually better suited to playing against a team like France than we would have been against Italy, the likely alternative from that situation.

I can see what you mean. As hosts you'd think that once they hit the 1/4 finals the initiative would be on them to come out and play rather than sit back like teams England have faced in the group stages and would likely face in Italy.

I made a mistake-it would have been Belgium, not Italy in the QFs.  I still have no idea how good Belgium is, but I suspect it would be easier on paper.  But your hypothetical is what I am hoping for.

It's all pretty silly, at the end of the day.  I'm only mapping out which team we will lose to and when.

Iceland in the next round imo.

Jesus Christ, the stick Henderson is getting. Was I watching a different game? He didn't do much wrong imo. Was involved in our better attacking moments. People's Club agendas have blinded them so badly when it comes to him. He created our best chance, ffs (Through ball to Vardy) I am not Henderson's biggest fan anymore, but he was decent. Rooney came on and was, imo, awful. His first 2 long passes went off the pitch and beyond that, he didn't really do much in the way of creating chances, yet it's Hendo who's getting bollocked. I like Wilshere, but he was pretty poor last night. I'm not sure what was going on with him, his passes seem to be very misplaced, etc. Wasn't the Wilshere I'm used to seeing, but I still think he should get another chance ahead of Alli, again.

Biggest question going forward is probably, do we start Walker or Clyne? I didn't expect Clyne to have such a fire performance last night. He's really given Roy a selection headache there, as Walker has been good too. 

Lallana has the technique of a Spanish player. He'd be so good if he had better end product, ffs, but still, he's instrumental to this side atm. Our best creator.

Thought Rashford should have come on, not Kane, and should have replaced Vadry, not Sturridge. That was pretty poor from Roy. Sturridge seemed like the only player capable of beating a man and creating something.

Oh, also too much stock is being put in how Wales have looked better than us, but tbh, Russia, Wales and Slovakia all really parked the bus against us. Teams haven't really done that against Wales. If Russia/Wales/Slovakia came at us, we'd have won comfortably.

I think we'll do better against the better sides in the Tournament.

Scott_LFC wrote:Oh, also too much stock is being put in how Wales have looked better than us, but tbh, Russia, Wales and Slovakia all really parked the bus against us. Teams haven't really done that against Wales. If Russia/Wales/Slovakia came at us, we'd have won comfortably.

I think we'll do better against the better sides in the Tournament.

So you're upset with the other teams for using tinpot tactics, but it's ok if England do it?

Wtf are you on about?

Nothing?

Scott_LFC wrote:

Biggest question going forward is probably, do we start Walker or Clyne? I didn't expect Clyne to have such a fire performance last night. He's really given Roy a selection headache there, as Walker has been good too.

I would consider playing Clyne at LB.

Croatia have probably been the best side in the tournament thus far.

If I'm not mistaken aren't England, Italy, Spain, France and Germany all on the same side of the draw now? Lol, England fucked up big time finishing 2nd.

Getting 1st would have meant a bracket with Poland, Switzerland, Croatia, Belgium/Sweden, one or two of the shits from Group E and Northern Ireland/Turkey/Albania/Slovakia

Yeah, I didn't think too much of finishing second until today.  Semis could have been a real possibility.

I thought Croatia were exceptional against Turkey and except for that disastrous period against Czech Republic, they have been by far the best team.  7 points from one of the stronger groups is an excellent return, especially without Modric.  They could cruise to the final with a bit of luck.

Such a missed opportunity.  Roy Hodgson must have been some sort of humanitarian leader in a past life to be in this job.

I'm glad we're gonna be facing harder teams. I think it'll spark something in our players and as I've mentioned before, they won't be parking the bus against us.

Scott_LFC wrote:I'm glad we're gonna be facing harder teams. I think it'll spark something in our players and as I've mentioned before, they won't be parking the bus against us.

Are you saying that England have more of a chance of beating France/Germany/Italy/Spain than they do of beating Northern Ireland/Switzerland/Austria/Belgium or just that England will play better against the former?

We'll play better and it'll be more entertaining. Cba with the shit, boring match ups. The group games were horrendous. Think we have a 50/50 chance of beating France/Germany/Italy/Spain on our day with the right team selection.

Yeah but what are the chance of it being "our day" and us making the right team selection?  I think you need to factor that into your chances of it happening.

I have a feeling we'll do alright.

Iceland have done Portugal a massive favour.

Parasect wrote:I'm sure we could squeeze a Steven Naismith in somewhere.

No! Fuck Scotland.

Imagine a midfield without Scott Brown.

I'm just glad that the 3rd-place permutations nonsense is over.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

Scott_LFC wrote:I'm glad we're gonna be facing harder teams. I think it'll spark something in our players and as I've mentioned before, they won't be parking the bus against us.

Are you saying that England have more of a chance of beating France/Germany/Italy/Spain than they do of beating Northern Ireland/Switzerland/Austria/Belgium or just that England will play better against the former?

Going back to this:

Spain were beaten by Croatia
Germany were held to a draw by Poland
Italy were beaten by Ireland
France were held to a draw by Switzerland

We've got a good chance.

Scott_LFC wrote:

ResurrectionRooney wrote:
Are you saying that England have more of a chance of beating France/Germany/Italy/Spain than they do of beating Northern Ireland/Switzerland/Austria/Belgium or just that England will play better against the former?

Going back to this:

Spain were beaten by Croatia
Germany were held to a draw by Poland
Italy were beaten by Ireland
France were held to a draw by Switzerland

We've got a good chance.

The crap teams had crap results as well you know.

I do kind of see his point, dominating possession against dregs isn't exactly working for us. We were unable to unlock the Russian defence who were bar far the worst team in the tournament and failed to create anything bar one chance against Slovakia. We've probably got a good chance if we play on the counter against a team that will actually press us as we've been completely out of ideas in possession so far this tournament.

Exactly. We've got the players for it too.

Robbie Brady you fucking legend. That is all.

Northen Irleand out of Europe twice in two days because of Wales.

A valiant effort.

Who's going to replace Roy?

Someone that resembles a football manager.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

Scott_LFC wrote:I'm glad we're gonna be facing harder teams. I think it'll spark something in our players and as I've mentioned before, they won't be parking the bus against us.

Are you saying that England have more of a chance of beating France/Germany/Italy/Spain than they do of beating Northern Ireland/Switzerland/Austria/Belgium or just that England will play better against the former?

Lol.