The Euro 2024 Championship Thread

[yyuryyub]

"A group containing Slovenia, Slovakia and Demark."

Not Slovakia - Serbia.

Denmark vs Germany will be interesting.

[the0ni0nking]

"A group containing Slovenia, Slovakia and Demark."

Not Slovakia - Serbia.

Denmark vs Germany will be interesting.

Haha - oops. Shows how nauseating every game was given I've forgotten who we played already!

[monabri]

Apparently there is a shortage of grass seed in Germany....it has all been snapped up by the groundsman at Gelsenkirchen in anticipation of some serious wear and tear in the centre of the pitch. All that passing of the ball from side to side is likely to badly cut up the pitch.

[monabri]

"Doff"..

[nimnarb]

Think the powers that be decided to take a soccer break and watch England whilst they did maintenance on this site, as it was down for several hours, or was that just me?

Anyway, we are through,(and unbeaten) but with all that talent on display, just is putting off the inevitable, surely? What say yee?

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/arti ... 00y6x3j07o

Germany 1 Swiss 1
France 1 Poland 1
Italy 1 Croatia 1
France managed beat mighty Albania 1-0

Kane rightly said these games are tough. We are not the only fancied side finding that. The media and public should get behind the team 100% and maybe have slightly more realistic expectations.

BoE

Agree with the above and I, who have always supported England, just cannot suffer(any more) all this sideways and backwards passing. They are being booed off the field due to boring the fans to sleep, and they have paid a lot of money and time in travel and accommodation to see them. At least have a go with 75% of the time in the opposing side's half. Yes, a lot of draws as was posted and yes, the press has hyped our lot to super, invincible stardom.

I just want to see some exciting, technical, forward pressing motion from our lads, preferably in the right direction with accurate passing. Spain, Portugal, as examples. Is this possible? Been also watching Copa América(not sure if available in the UK) and also not producing many goals, against supposedly inferior teams, but seeing Argentina with Messi and Co, show they still have it, and Messi himself, at 38 or whatever, slowing down a bit, but still a machine, and far superior in skills, determination and excitement to 2 Bellingham's and double his age.

Lastly, Southgate, why does he leave the subs until too late? And stop justifying yourself in advance(telling the press he has never seen anything like it when we are top of our group) as opposed to letting us know that he will make changes, and do the best he can with such talent plus make an effort to produce enthralling attacking footie. Please send Luke Shaw home, as don't need recovering half fit individuals on the side, and let Doku start next!!! The only one I have seen who can produce City form (as in have a go)in this format. Phew!!!

[nimnarb]

Luke Shaw home, as don't need recovering half fit individuals on the side, and let Doku start next!!! The only one I have seen who can produce City form (as in have a go)in this format. Phew!!!


Yes, I know, Doku, plays for Belgium Wishful thinking.

[monabri]

Foden has left the camp and returned to the UK to attend to a family matter (GF is expecting their 3rd child).

[kiloran]

Foden has left the camp and returned to the UK to attend to a family matter (GF is expecting their 3rd child).

Sounds like a lack of planning. Didn't he know the dates of the Euros?

--kiloran

[Bubblesofearth]

A group containing Slovenia, Slovakia and Demark.

I doubt the average Joe on the street would be able to name a single player who plays for Slovenia (a team ranked lower than Iraq) or Slovakia (while ranked higher than Slovenia they're still only 45th in the world) - because they're not very good.

While I'm not a booing type of person, the idea that the performances in winning the group have been remotely close to good enough is laughable.

Your argument would be more convincing if you managed to get the teams in our group right

[nimnarb]

Georgia on my mind...

Good match against Portugal, albeit they are basically apart from Ronaldo, missing some star players. Georgia have a few up-and-coming stars themselves. Perhaps what we are seeing here for these Euros with many of the “unrated” teams, that for the first time, the so-called underdogs are no longer and the landscape is totally changing.

[Howyoudoin]

Slovakia up next then for England instead of the Netherlands. Didn’t see that coming.

HYD

[Bubblesofearth]

I just want to see some exciting, technical, forward pressing motion from our lads, preferably in the right direction with accurate passing. Spain, Portugal, as examples. Is this possible?

Exciting stuff from Portugal this evening

BoE

[nimnarb]

indeed.

[Leothebear]

Slovakia up next then for England instead of the Netherlands. Didn’t see that coming.

HYD

GS, if nothing else, sure is lucky with the draws.

[marronier]

When were the group stages of any tournament finals ever about entertainment ? The ruling sentiment is don't risk losing until you've qualified. Only the small fry have to give it a go and sometimes provide a shock result.

I well remember , several years ago , the words of a manager , interviewed after a dreadfully boring 0-0 draw , "That may have been painful for the fans to watch but from a professional point of view ,it was technically perfect ".

Just accept it, England were technically perfect.

[Bubblesofearth]

When were the group stages of any tournament finals ever about entertainment ? The ruling sentiment is don't risk losing until you've qualified. Only the small fry have to give it a go and sometimes provide a shock result.

I well remember , several years ago , the words of a manager , interviewed after a dreadfully boring 0-0 draw , "That may have been painful for the fans to watch but from a professional point of view ,it was technically perfect ".

Just accept it, England were technically perfect.

The whole structure of the 24 team tournament seems off to me. 36 games to eliminate just 8 teams then 15 knockout games. With the guarantee that most of the group games are always going to be far less exciting than the knockout ones.

IMO it would be better to start with 32 teams and either straight knockout or 8 groups of 4 with half the teams eliminated in the group stage.

BoE

[simoan]

When were the group stages of any tournament finals ever about entertainment ? The ruling sentiment is don't risk losing until you've qualified. Only the small fry have to give it a go and sometimes provide a shock result.

I well remember , several years ago , the words of a manager , interviewed after a dreadfully boring 0-0 draw , "That may have been painful for the fans to watch but from a professional point of view ,it was technically perfect ".

Just accept it, England were technically perfect.

The whole structure of the 24 team tournament seems off to me. 36 games to eliminate just 8 teams then 15 knockout games. With the guarantee that most of the group games are always going to be far less exciting than the knockout ones.

IMO it would be better to start with 32 teams and either straight knockout or 8 groups of 4 with half the teams eliminated in the group stage.

BoE

Completely agree. It's the format that ensures the approach teams take to the group stage. When you can qualify for the knockouts with three draws UEFA get all they deserve for their greed.

[Howyoudoin]

When were the group stages of any tournament finals ever about entertainment ? The ruling sentiment is don't risk losing until you've qualified. Only the small fry have to give it a go and sometimes provide a shock result.

I well remember , several years ago , the words of a manager , interviewed after a dreadfully boring 0-0 draw , "That may have been painful for the fans to watch but from a professional point of view ,it was technically perfect ".

Just accept it, England were technically perfect.

In the 2000s I followed England around the World for around 8 years as a member of EnglandFans, watching them play ‘technically perfect’ football without troubling the latter stages of tournaments.

I eventually realised that I was enjoying the trips far more than the match itself and rescinded my membership. For some reason it seems to be a nigh on impossible job to get a squad of very talented England players to play together as a team.

HYD

[BigB]

When were the group stages of any tournament finals ever about entertainment ? The ruling sentiment is don't risk losing until you've qualified. Only the small fry have to give it a go and sometimes provide a shock result.

I well remember , several years ago , the words of a manager , interviewed after a dreadfully boring 0-0 draw , "That may have been painful for the fans to watch but from a professional point of view ,it was technically perfect ".

Just accept it, England were technically perfect.

In the 2000s I followed England around the World for around 8 years as a member of EnglandFans, watching them play ‘technically perfect’ football without troubling the latter stages of tournaments.

I eventually realised that I was enjoying the trips far more than the match itself and rescinded my membership. For some reason it seems to be a nigh on impossible job to get a squad of very talented England players to play together as a team.

HYD

I've been watching England in/not_in major tournaments since 78. I'd say only on 3 occasions have they looked good and also done well - 86 Mexico, 90 Italia & Euro 96.

Since then we've had SGE in the 00s who did well in getting them to qualify routinely, and this last period with GS when he's made qualification and par (QF/SF) look routine. On paper GS has done very well, but with a handful of performances as exception, the football is very dull and uninspiring.

[nimnarb]

Slovakia up next then for England instead of the Netherlands. Didn’t see that coming.

HYD

GS, if nothing else, sure is lucky with the draws.

Avoided, Spain, France, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Italy and wouldn't play any of them(or avoid most) until the finals. Is that right? If so, when was the last time we were in such a position?