The Euro 2024 Championship Thread

[monabri]

Worrying that we resorted to hoofing the ball up the pitch..usually to the opposition. This seems to be an England trait when panic sets in.

Foden is not playing well and not just tonight's match. Kane had a header ( good save !) but very little opportunity - too many crosses across the 6yd line with no one there to pop it in.

It's not coming home!

[Leothebear]

I thought Serbia played with real energy in the 2nd half. They also appeared to be physically stronger. Why was Foden left on the pitch? He was ineffectual for the whole game. As for subbing JB? Was GS trying to keep him fresh? Saka did look out gunned after a fine 1st half.

Once again GS looks very dodgy with substitutions.

Still we'd all have taken a shakey 1-0 at the start.

[Gerry557]

My only hope is that expectations get realigned.
We do improve as the games continue.
A new "superstar" emerges
We get a little luck
Luke Shaw gets fit
We don't end up with penalties.......... against Germany.

[Leothebear]

Worrying that we resorted to hoofing the ball up the pitch..usually to the opposition. This seems to be an England trait when panic sets in.

Foden is not playing well and not just tonight's match. Kane had a header ( good save !) but very little opportunity - too many crosses across the 6yd line with no one there to pop it in.

It's not coming home!

I think I'd rather that than faffing about in their own box with short passing. I predict they'll come a cropper in this competition if they carry on like that.

[nimnarb]

Been some entertaining matches and overall, well organized with no incidents. Of course not, vee are in Germany. Und Alles in Ordnung! Watched the Portugal match. They get it together, can go a fair way, but not too dissimilar to our lot, many stars, just messy at times and need to see more shots taken from well outside the penalty box, at least we saw a few here, and yet England seemed frightened to have a go. Thought the ref made some bad decisions and actually to have 70% possession and not put more chances away even though it was obvious what the Czechs were doing, well it sounds again similar to our Engerland.

Say what you like about Ronaldo, he is still a major threat and at least saw more of the ball than Kane did. Some stats.

This is approx and just going from memory now, but 2023/24 season for his Arab Club scored 35 goals in 31 games..streets ahead of most including Sane and Benzema who had a difficult season. Oh and he broke the record for the most goals ever scored in an Arab League. 200 mill plus helps, but he genuinely enjoys his footie and putting two fingers up. I would also, when getting all that criticism) if I was that good, and what's more he knows it.

Scored around 890 goals to date. Messi approx 838. He is 39!!! Judging on Pepe playing at 41, I think we will see him in the next world cup. I wasnt sure if I heard right but possibly as this is his 6th Euros and the lad that scored in extra time for Portugal, Ronaldo played with his Father 20 years ago perhaps who may manage Porto now......Dear me. correct me if Im wrong but incredible really.

However, many say pretty boy shouldn't be on the team and that Portugal have a better bench than what's on the field. Dunno? Again, why wait so late for the subs as look what damage they did. That Roberto Martinez gets about doesn't he? Be managing us next year!!!!! Hope not. Where is the special one when you need him. Parking the bus, somewhere outside Roma

Come on England. Get it together and Scotland, just have an all out go, you might surprise yourselves and us.

[Tedx]

Scotland 1-1 Switzerland

A ripping game. Scotland still in the tournament. Hungary next and we need to win

[nimnarb]

Here we go yet again and again......we score and then go to sleep......1-1 v Denmark. 33 mins in. This is no good for my BP.

[Tedx]

At least there’s some decent comedy on tonight.

[kiloran]

Here we go yet again and again......we score and then go to sleep......1-1 v Denmark. 33 mins in. This is no good for my BP.

We're really not very good, are we?

--kiloran

[nimnarb]

Speechless, but what else is new? The Woman's team has more balls than this lot!!! We still should qualify but really.....why take Kane off and Foden, at least he had a go a few times????

[monabri]

Fred Pontin said " Book Early"....for the flight home.

[nimnarb]

An Article I read said, "no sooner have Spain scored a goal they look for another as opposed to thinking the game is wrapped up, surprise, surprise?" The funny thing is (not been feeling well for the last few weeks) an EKG I had on Monday showed some not too healthy irregularities and I originally mentioned here(more as a joke) that this does no good for my blood pressure. Had an appointment this afternoon with a heart specialist, my pressure was 165/90, not the best, but the pulse rate was very low. Anything unusual recently the Doc asked, to which I replied, well, have noticed a few things, but just watching England play soccer gets my dander doing......took a bit of explaining.

[Leothebear]

I really do not believe GS has any idea what combination of his squad will make his best team. As for the players they looked lethargic, leaderless and clueless.

[simoan]

I really do not believe GS has any idea what combination of his squad will make his best team. As for the players they looked lethargic, leaderless and clueless.

You forgot to mention that some don’t look fully fit because they were injured towards the end of the season. But in reality, when you take away the quality of teammates most play with in the Premier League, they’re not actually as good as the hype would have you believe. Add to that they are playing for a manager who is not tactically astute, and there should be no great surprise at the performances. On the latter, it’s really naive management to just put all your best players on the pitch and expect it to work. Foden and Bellingham is starting to look like the Gerrard and Lampard problem of old.

[monabri]

Poll
Q: What will last longer, a turnip or the England Team at Euro 24?

[Leothebear]

France v Netherlands

No question that the Dutch player was offside. But did he interfere with play?
I think that shot would have gone in regardless of of the offside man. Still, a tough call.

[simoan]

France v Netherlands

No question that the Dutch player was offside. But did he interfere with play?
I think that shot would have gone in regardless of of the offside man. Still, a tough call.

Most notable thing was how long the VAR decision took compared to all others during the tournament so far. No surprise it was English officials in charge then.

[bungeejumper]

For those with an FT subscription, the FT's Robert Shrimsley has a great piece on how it feels to be a non-football fan at a time when the England squad getting ready for a game gets a higher ranking in the BBC's news agenda than Gaza, Ukraine, the election or [insert earth-shaking story of your choice.]

And about how not being a footie fan can seriously undermine your social standing, for a few months at least. It's at https://www.ft.com/content/935bf0d4-4da ... ab098d1828. The author, like Starmer (but clearly not Sunak), has his own "favourite" team for which he has to mouth his enthusiasm. But there is truth in there somewhere.

Once, a love of football showed a bloke still had some working-class cred. Now, frankly, it probably means you have a facial-skincare regime. I tell you it can be hard to cope in the tournament off-years when there are no adverts to advise you on Jude Bellingham’s preferred shaving gel.

I was born and raised in Watford, which is one reason why I don't have a football team. In the 1970s, I once paid to watch George Best putting two past West Bromwich Albion, which is my sole claim to footie cred. My personal advice to Shrimsley is to declare confess that he doesn't understand the offside rule, and never will. Cue a lot of pitying looks, but at least it'd give him an alibi and leave him free for more fruitful activities. It's worked for me, so far at least.

BJ

[monabri]

For those with an FT subscription, the FT's Robert Shrimsley has a great piece on how it feels to be a non-football fan at a time when the England squad getting ready for a game gets a higher ranking in the BBC's news agenda than Gaza, Ukraine, the election or [insert earth-shaking story of your choice.]

And about how not being a footie fan can seriously undermine your social standing, for a few months at least. It's at https://www.ft.com/content/935bf0d4-4da ... ab098d1828. The author, like Starmer (but clearly not Sunak), has his own "favourite" team for which he has to mouth his enthusiasm. But there is truth in there somewhere.

Once, a love of football showed a bloke still had some working-class cred. Now, frankly, it probably means you have a facial-skincare regime. I tell you it can be hard to cope in the tournament off-years when there are no adverts to advise you on Jude Bellingham’s preferred shaving gel.

I was born and raised in Watford, which is one reason why I don't have a football team. In the 1970s, I once paid to watch George Best putting two past West Bromwich Albion, which is my sole claim to footie cred. My personal advice to Shrimsley is to declare confess that he doesn't understand the offside rule, and never will. Cue a lot of pitying looks, but at least it'd give him an alibi and leave him free for more fruitful activities. It's worked for me, so far at least.

BJ

It's ok to not understand the offside rule......just ask a Netherlands fan from yesterday's match against France. They would contend that the English ref and his English linesmen didn't understand the rule neither!

[Lootman]

For those with an FT subscription, the FT's Robert Shrimsley has a great piece on how it feels to be a non-football fan at a time when the England squad getting ready for a game gets a higher ranking in the BBC's news agenda than Gaza, Ukraine, the election or [insert earth-shaking story of your choice.]

And about how not being a footie fan can seriously undermine your social standing, for a few months at least.

It helps in business too. One of my sons started a new job a couple of years ago and everyone in his office followed footie. My son felt left out of the banter so I tried to give him a crash course. During which I realised that it takes years and decades to really get that knowledge, because so much of the knowledge is historical and if you weren't there, you don't know. Think 1966 and 1996 for example.

But to your first point I think people are fed up of hearing about Gaza, Ukraine and the election, and want some light relief. And the England team is certainly providing light comic relief.